Chicago is one of those hidden secrets as it’s a great big city with a lot of heart and loads of things to do but somehow it always seems to get overlooked. If you’re looking for a place to take the family for a weekend give Chicago a try, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

Shedd Aquarium

One of the best aquariums in the country (if you ask me) is the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. At the Shedd Aquarium you can explore the Wild Reef and get up close with some ferocious sharks, watch the Amazon Rising and spot giant turtles, poisonous frogs and a variety of fish, travel the Waters of the World in 90 different aquatic habitats, see a Caribbean Reef and watch a diving feed sharks, rays and a sea turtle. Or the highlight of the trip, Oceanarium Reimagined where you can see some of the aquarium’s largest animals in a performance or view the world’s most charming character, the beluga whale.

Metropolis Performing Arts Centre

The Metropolis Performing Arts Centre offers a slew of theatre excursions for you and your family and is ranked as one of the top 10 largest professional theaters in the Chicago area. The slate of performances changes often and includes a wide variety of programs. There is certain to be something that appeals to your family. Remember that some of the best actors around (Harrison Ford, Joan & John Cusack, Kim Novak, John Belushi, Bill Murray and many more) came from the Chicago area.

Adler Planetarium

Within walking distance of the Shedd Aquarium is the Adler Planetarium, if you’re not worn out the two together make a great day of learning and discovery. At the Definiti Space Theater you’ll experience a virtual trip into the outer reaches of space, the Sky Theater is a traditional planetarium experience held in the historic Zeiss planetarium, the Universe Theater is holding a special 400^th anniversary of the Galileo telescope event with a 3-D production with symphonic accompaniment. At the Doane Observatory you can use Chicago’s largest public telescope to actually view space with your own eyes. In addition, the planetarium features many temporary and permanent exhibits that give you a greater understanding of the universe around us and leave many with an unshakeable sense of awe.

Adventure Stage Chicago

If you have smaller children and want a theater experience that is geared toward their sensibilities then the Adventure Stage Chicago might be a better place to catch a performance. The Adventure Stage Chicago seeks to create dynamic performances that are specifically designed for children and that encourage imaginative thought. Shows are selected and performed with an audience of 8 to 14 year olds in mind. If your child is particularly interested in the theater check out the classes and camps schedule.

The Field Museum

The Field Museum is another interesting experience for both kids and adults. This museum is part of the lakefront Museum Campus along with the Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium. The Field Museum’s collections include many artifacts from the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 which are the core of the museum’s collection. There is a public learning center which is great for children as it provides an outreach program that brings artifacts and specimens to children. The Field Museum is still a working scientific research facility and serves as an international leader in evolutionary biology and paleontology, and archaeology and ethnography. But the two things that will probably thrill little ones the most is their current traveling exhibit Real Pirates which features more than 200 artifacts from the slave ship turned pirate ship, Whydah. The other hit with children is Sue, the world’s largest, most complete and best preserved Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Museum of Science and Industry

The actual Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago is a bit dated and although they’re doing their best to update some of the really old exhibits there are still things which feel a bit dated and remedial for our computer aged world. But the traveling exhibits at the Museum of Science and Industry is reason enough to come to the city. The best portable exhibits in the world typically make a stop at this museum. Currently Harry Potter: The Exhibition is being featured but past hits have included Gunther von Hagens’ Body Worlds, Titanic: The Exhibition, Leonardo Da Vinci: Man, Inventor, Genius, CSI: The Experience, Robots Like Us, City of the Future, Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination and many others. And don’t get me wrong, some of the permanent displays are really wonderful as well

Navy Pier

If you’re lucky enough to hit a day with good weather then the Navy Pier is a must. There is simply no lack of entertainment at the pier, from rides to restaurants, exhibitions to entertainment, shopping to dining cruises and tour boats all packed into 50 acres of Navy Pier. There is a 15 story Ferris wheel which gives you some of the best views of the city, a children’s museum that can occupy hours of time, and roving entertainers and the Pepsi Skyline Stage. And if all of that seems to hectic for you, take a walk along the promenade and enjoy the area gardens while your kids are enjoying something more frenetic.

CoCo Key West Water Resort

If you’re trying to find a place to stay with your family then CoCo Key West Water Resort might be just the ticket. This indoor water park is currently the largest in Illinois at 65,000 square feet of watery fun. With this as your overnight destination you may find that you don’t even want to explore the city around or you can skip the overnight and simply buy a day ticket for the water park. No matter which route you take, your kids will be very happy you decided to spend some time at CoCo Key West.

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to family attractions and activities in Chicago. It’s easy to find that your time has just slipped by and you’ve missed out on the boat tours of the city, a lesson in the great architecture and the World’s Fair, shopping along the Magnificent Mile, a ton of incredible parks and recreation activities not to mention all of the festivals which always seem to be happening.
Photo credit: JOE M500

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Family Attractions in Chicago

The Travel Photo of the Day is of an iceberg off Greenland and was taken by Rita Willaert

Photo credit: Rita Willaert

Greenland is a country within the Kingdom of Denmark that is situated on the largest island in the world, between the Arctic and Atlantic Seas. Despite the name of the country, Greenland is very much a frozen country and most of the citizens of Greenland live on the coasts of the island. Its location gives Greenlanders spectacular views of many icebergs and fjords throughout the country.

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Travel Photo of the Day Iceberg off Greenland

With a close friend about to embark on a month in Ecuador including a trip to one of the destinations I’ve always wanted to get to, the Galapagos Islands, I thought it was a good time to look at the new second edition of the Frommer’s Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands guide. The front cover with its “blue footed boobie” birds typifies one of the main reasons tourists visit Ecuador – to see the wilderness and nature of the Galapagos Islands.

If, like me, you’ve been dreaming and reading about a trip to this area for a long time, then the quick update at the very front of the guide on “What’s New” will be very handy – it includes information like the delay on the new international airport in Quito, new discoveries on the Galapagos and something I wasn’t looking for, but sounds great, a new surfing and Spanish combination school on the southern coast.

The rest of the guidebook follows the standard pattern of a Frommer’s guide: an overview of the best of Ecuador, a chapter on cultural matters, suggested itineraries and sections for each of the geographical regions of the country. Like all guidebooks, the information is only as up-to-date as the last time it was checked (and in the physical guidebook publishing world, this is not so recent) but there are numerous website links so you can check the latest.
photo credit: lowjumpingfrog

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Book Review: Frommer’s Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands

A trip to Dallas is sure to leave you fueled with the energy of this big southern city. Only the third largest city in Texas, Dallas is also the ninth largest city in the United States; what can I say, the grow them bigger in Texas.  Founded in 1841, Dallas was formally incorporated as a city in 1956. Normally being landlocked would hamper a city’s growth but the strength of the oil and cotton industries along with easy access from rail lines turned it into a major inland port.

There is so much to do in Dallas whether you’re a sports fan, art enthusiast, history buff or a foodie, there’s not only something but many, many things for everyone.

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

Not a shining moment in Dallas or American history, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy is seared in our countries consciousness forever. Pay homage to a fallen hero by examining exhibits that honor his life, death and legacy.  More a tribute to the President than a graphic depiction of his final hours, you will get to experience first hand accounts, interactive educational programming, original photographs and films, and a growing collection of more than 35,000 artifacts.

Dallas Heritage Village

Dallas Heritage Village at Old City Park gives visitors a unique look at Dallas as it was from 1840 to 1910. The museum is actually a collection of 38 historic structures on 13 wooded acres. A visit to the Dallas Heritage Village will give you a personal look at a working Civil War era farm, a traditional Jewish household, some stunningly proud Victorian homes, a school, a church and several commercial buildings.

Dallas Museum of Art

The Dallas Museum of Art is a cultural oasis jam packed with amazing permanent collections and internationally noted traveling exhibits, the current being a King Tut encore tour through three United States cities. The current collections feature incredible works of art from African culture, Modern and Ancient American artworks, Ancient Mediterranean sculptures, Asian art, Contemporary paintings, Decorative Arts, European masterpieces, pieces from the Pacific Islands, Provenance art, and the prized Reves Collection. There is simply too much to see at the Dallas Museum of Art for a one day excursion so plan on selecting only your favorites or returning time and time again.

Dallas World Aquarium

The Dallas World Aquarium brings the ocean to this landlocked metropolis. Once an old warehouse, the building saw new life in 1992 when the Aquarium opened to the public. The aquarium was such a popular respite for the throngs of visitors that an adjacent building was purchased in 1996 and added to the aquarium. The alley between the two buildings was also incorporated into the exhibits as it became known as the ORINOCO – Secrets of the River and served as the channel between freshwater and saltwater exhibits. In 2000 a new building was constructed and the Mundo Maya exhibit opened in 2004.

Crow Collection of Asian Art

If you’ve narrowed your art experience to Asian and Asian inspired art then perhaps you’ll want to skip the Dallas Museum of Art and go directly to the Crow Collection of Asian Art. The Crow is actually several galleries that are dedicated to Asian arts including works from China, Japan, India and Southeast Asia. The Crow collection began in the mid 1960s when Trammell and Margaret Crow bought their first piece of Asian art. Once purchased the Crows were addicted and the collection expanded.  Currently the collection features more than 4,000 pieces of art that span from 3500 B.C. to the early 20^th century. The entire collection is not on display to the public, the curator has selected the 569 best pieces for you to view.

Dallas Center of Contemporary Art

Likewise, if you’ve fallen for the contemporary art movement you may want to leave the broad reaching Dallas Museum of Art behind and spend a day exploring the targeted Dallas Center of Contemporary Art. This 12,000 square foot museum is flooded with natural light for optimum viewing. The museum is dedicated to finding and exploring art works that are new and unfamiliar and features ever changing exhibits. Expect some change as the Dallas Center of Contemporary Art moves into its own building in 2009.

photo credit: jimbowen0306

Baboon at Dallas Zoo

Dallas Zoo

The Dallas Zoo is the largest zoo in Texas (which is saying a lot) with a whopping 95 acres to explore and thousands of animals to examine. Founded in 1888 the Dallas Zoo is the first zoological park in the Southwest and has vowed to move with the times as evidenced by their commitment to conservation and management of living species in captivity. If you’re visiting the area over a holiday, check to see what special programs are going on for a value added experience.

McKinney Avenue Trolley

Take a tour of Dallas’s uptown and take a load off. The McKinney Avenue Trolley’s are a great way to sit back and take in the sites of the uptown region and they don’t cost a thing. That’s right, a free ride.  The McKinney Avenue Trolleys are carefully restored antique electric cars running on the city’s original streetcar tracks. Five cars are still operating and if you’re lucky you can hitch a ride on the air-conditioned car called Winnie.

Frontiers of Flight Museum

The Frontiers of Flight Museum takes you through several generations of aviation dreamers. The Dallas/Fort Worth area currently boasts that it is the aviation capital of the world, so what better place to learn everything there is to now about flight from the first dreamers who took to the air to the engineering geniuses who created today’s masterpieces. One of the most unique and popular exhibits at the Frontiers of Flight Museum is a must see, the Lighter Than Air exhibit features artifacts from the days of the great blimps, including some incredible surviving artifacts from the Hindenburg.

Museum of the American Railroad

Still interested in moving? How about the Museum of the American Railroad? One of the most comprehensive heavyweight passenger collections in the United States, the Museum of the American Railroad houses a pre World War II passenger train, a Railway Post Office and baggage car, coaches, lounge cars, Pullman sleeping cars and a dining car. The museum also features smaller artifacts that make the collection more complete. But the real highlight of the Museum of the American Railroad is when the 1914 parlor car and the 1937 dining car are open for special occasions and you can enjoy cocktails and fine dining aboard.

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This post originally came from Kathika Travel Blog. Stop by and read our most popular travel blog posts.

Sightseeing in Dallas

Italy’s a common destination for travel writers, but not so many of them head to Siciliy and decide to circumnavigate it on a Vespa scooter. But that’s what British travel and food writer Matthew Fort did and it led to his book Sweet Honey, Bitter Lemons: Travels in Sicily on a Vespa.

Fort was inspired by an earlier trip to Sicily with his brother, way back in 1973. Something about Sicily got into his blood; Fort thought

Sicily seemed different in some profound, subtle way that I couldn’t put my finger on. It was complex, convoluted, weird.

It turned into 33 years later before Fort got back to Sicily, by which time he had decided that cooking and eating were the keys to understanding the island, and that the best way to spend two months exploring it was on a Vespa scooter named Monica.

Sweet Honey, Bitter Lemons follows not only Fort’s modern day travels and the many interesting Sicilians he meets, but also dips back into his first trip and, most deliciously, even includes a bunch of recipes for some of the local delicacies he discovers on his journey. So be warned – if you haven’t had a solid meal before reading this book, it’s the kind that will definitely make you hungry.
photo credit: rayced

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Book Review: Sweet Honey, Bitter Lemons

The Hayden Planetarium in New York City’s Central Park offers the visitor a glimpse into the world of astrophysics through their fascinating exhibits, programs presented to the public, and a wealth of resources online and in print. The planetarium is operated through the American Museum of Natural History and admission to museum grants the visitor access to the planetarium’s excellent space shows.

The planetarium was built in 1935 using donations from Charles Hayden and a loan from the Reconstruction Finance Corporation with the purpose of providing the public a way to satisfy their curiosity about the universe and to experience their place in it. This original structure was demolished in 1997 and it wasn’t until 2000 that the new Rose Center for Earth and Space in which the planetarium was housed opened to the public. The planetarium in 1936 published it’s own magazine titled Sky, which merged in 1941 with another astronomy magazine called Telescope to form Sky & Telescope that is still in publication today. In the 1950s the planetarium satisfied the public’s craze for rocket ships with the world’s first space symposium and when the Apollo 11 landed on the moon in 1969, it was the Hayden’s Kenneth Franklin who ran commentary with Walter Cronkite during the event.

The Hayden’s Space Shows are a highlight of any trip to the planetarium. While sitting under a 67-foot hemispheric dome the visitor is made to feel he or she is a part of the experience of a journey into the cosmos. The digital video shows change on a regular basis so there is always some new aspect of our universe to see.

The planetarium is proud of its public programs on the first and final Tuesday of each month. During these presentations, the curious can spend an hour learning about our solar system, the physics of unvierse, or learn how to find constellations. Their program Virtual Universe on the first Tuesday of the month sends visitors on a tour of space via Digital Universe, a three-dimensional atlas that shows Earth’s place in the universe. The final Tuesday of the month is a live presentation under the stars. This Celestial Highlights program uses the Zeiss Mark IX Star Projector to show the position of star groups, planets, and the moon to help guide amateur astronomers in their own sky watching.

Special events at the planetarium have included occasions such as the Hayden’s 70th birthday, a look at space photography, and a discussion of Einstein’s relativity theory. Be sure to check their web site for current events. The annual event that brings some of the most brilliant minds in astrophysics to the planetarium is the Isaac Asimov Memorial Panel Debate. The debate occurs each spring and a group of panelists debate their way through the latest scientific topics.

Not only is the planetarium a terrific place to visit in person, their web site offers a host of materials for anyone interested in astronomy. Handy links on their web site include their own Digital Universe Atlas, science bulletins from the American Museum of Natural History, and astronomical images from the Hubble Space Telescope. The web site’s blog also is a great source of current information on recent discoveries in astronomy and space exploration.

In addition to feeding the public’s curiosity about astrophysics both in person and online, the Hayden Planetarium staff serves as consultants for books, movies, and art displays.

The planetarium can be visited daily from 10 am to 5:45 pm except for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. They are located in the Rose Center for Earth and Space at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City’s Central Park. The Hayden’s web site can be visited any time at www.haydenplanetarium.org.
photo credit: ericskiff

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Visiting the Hayden Planetarium

Sharks … while most of us have a healthy respect for sharks, for those who are willing to journey down from our world into theirs, there is beauty to be found …

In this picture Thomas Vignaud captured the transition from our world into theirs. The lush green island is Moorea located in French Polynesia, below the water a black tipped reef shark.

Photo credit: Autopsea

Shark with what they don

The South Pacific is well known for being an excellent shark dive location, its crystal clear blue waters provide excellent opportunities to observe sharks such as this picture taken near Rangiroa.

Photo credit: SF Brit

Swimming with Sharks in Rangiroa

For true shark fans nothing can measure up to cage diving and shark feeding with a great white shark as shown in this picture from Gansbaai, South Africa.

Photo credit: Deon Maritz

-Deon Maritz157

While South Africa is one of more famous great white diving locations, you can also find them all over the world. This picture below was taken from Isla Guadalupe, Mexico by Ken Bondy, and shows the size and power of a great white.

Photo credit: Ken Bondy

White Shark

Of course images of great white sharks are not immune from a bit of humor, such as this photoshopped image below. There are a few versions floating around the internet with different foreground characters. Another famous shark hoax picture has great white attacking a helicopter. Although the shark following a kayak off Capetown Africa is real and should be seen.

Photo credit: egarc2

the teen, the shark

We’re completely out of our element in the water, and sharks are right at home, so it can sometimes be a bit unsettling, if one sneaks up behind you and gives you a little nudge.

Photo credit: Oceanic Dreams

Wolfgang Leander

However some brave divers are comfortable enough to touch or even ride a shark.

Photo credit: Iggy.

Tiger shark & brave women

This is not something we recommend trying at home …

Photo credit: Iggy.

Touch

If you aren’t comfortable going for a dive there are lots of aquariums with sharks that you can view comfortably from behind a thick window. This photo below is of a nurse shark in the Cincinnati Aquarium.

Photo credit: Jeff Kubina

Shark-Jeff Kubina96

Both the Atlanta Aquarium and Okinawa Aquarium have the largest of all sharks, the whale shark on display.

Photo credit: cotaro70s

whale shark

Here’s a black tip reef shark from Australian Aquarium,

Photo credit: StormyDog

Shark

and another from La Rochelle, France Aquarium.

Photo credit: Jonas Witt

Shark-Jonas Witt19

Here’s a bull shark one of the more aggressive types of shark you can encounter, when diving.

Photo credit: eloyhouse

Bull shark

Here’s a basking shark a very peaceful shark off the coast of Cornwall England, with a few swimmers brave enough to come out and join it.

Photo credit: candiche

basking sharks at Cornwall

Thanks to all the photgrpahers who gave us special permission to use their pictures. If you’d like to see more pictures check out the Shark Lovers Group and Sharks Around the World group on flickr.

Photo credit: hermanusbackpackers

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Sharks from Flickr

Here is a list of Hotels under $75 per Night

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Hotels Under $75 per Night

If you are flying Virgin Atlantic you need to be aware of their luggage policies. This holds true for bags that you will check, as well as items that you may wish to carry on with you. While Virgin Atlantic is not too strict in this area, you should realize that there are some details that may change the way that you fly.

First things first, Virgin Atlantic baggage allowances are based on your route, as well as your ticket type. For routes including Transatlantic, Caribbean, Nigeria, and Kenya, each passenger is allowed two check two pieces of luggage.

Passengers on an economy ticket can check two bags with each one weighing up to 50 pounds. Premium economy passengers can check two bags weighing up to 70 pounds each. If you are flying upper class you can check three bags with each one weighing up to 70 pounds. No matter where you are seated, each bag must not exceed 62 inches when adding the width, depth, and height.

Virgin Atlantic passengers should also be aware that excess and overweight baggage fees do apply. These fees are based on the number of additional bags, the weight, and your final destination. For instance, an economy passenger flying to the United States are allowed two pieces of luggage. Any additional bags are charged at a rate of $150 for each flight.

Virgin Atlantic luggage policies can be confusing. If you are unsure of your restrictions, your best bet is to directly contact Virgin Atlantic to clarify your situation.

photo credit: Cubbie_n_Vegas

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What are Virgin Atlantic Luggage Policies?

It’s well known that Boston is a historic city filled with significance to the United States of America but not many people know that Boston actually is home to a remarkable 55 National Historic Landmarks. Rather than list them all here, we’ll just give you the run down on some of the most popular ones.

Old City Hall

Boston’s Old City Hall was home to the city council in from 1865 to 1969. The Old City Hall was one of the first French Second Empire style buildings built in the United States and unfortunately it is one of the only remaining French Second Empire buildings left standing. After 1969 the Old City Hall was converted to serve other functions and is now considered one of the early examples of successful adaptive reuse. The building made the National Historic Landmark list in 1970 and currently houses a number of businesses and restaurants including a Ruth’s Chris Steak House.

Faneuil Hall

Faneuil Hall is located near the waterfront and serves as the government center for Boston. Since 1742 Faneuil Hall has served as a marketplace and meeting hall and features many great speeches by famous orators of their day. Pay attention to the gilded grasshopper weather vane atop the building as it was once used as a test to determine if people were spies, they would be asked what animal lives atop Faneuil Hall and if they said grasshopper they were safe but if they said some other animal they were considered a spy. Faneuil Hall was rated the fourth most visited tourist site by Forbes Traveler in 2008.

Quincy Marketplace

Faneuil Hall Marketplace has been an important part of the Bostonian marketplace for more than 250 years and is still a hub for the city’s sights, sounds and tastes. Quincy Marketplace is located in Faneuil Hall and served as an indoor expansion of the marketplace where vendor stalls were placed for shopping in any sort of weather. Although the building still stands and still provides food for visitors the type of food has changed greatly, rather than fresh produce the stands are now full of fast food restaurants.

Paul Revere House

Even most school children know of the great American patriot, Paul Revere and his famous ride during the American Revolution. His three story colonial home was built around 1680 and is located where the Second Church of Boston, home of Increase Mather and Cotton Mather, was before the fire of 1676. Paul Revere owned the home from 1770 until 1800 although his family may have lived somewhere else during much of that time period. After it was sold it became a tenement with storefronts on the first store and in 1902 a relative of Paul Revere purchased the building to prevent demolition and restore it to its previous condition. The home was opened to the public in 1908 as one of the earliest historic house museums in the United States and can still be toured by the public today.

Tremont Street Subway

The Tremont Street Subway is a tunnel in the Boston subway system and is the oldest of its kind having opened in 1897. The tunnel once served to move streetcar lines off the streets but now it is a central part of the green line.

Fort Warren

Fort Warren is a historic fort located on Georges Island at the entrance to the Boston Harbor. Constructed from 1833 to 1861 the fort defended the harbor until the end of WWII and served as a prisoner of war camp during the Civil War. In 1947 the fort was decommissioned and currently serves as a tourist stop.

Trinity Church Boston

Photo credit: cogito ergo imago

Trinity Church Boston

The Trinity Church of Boston is a modern congregation reaching about 3,000 households regularly. Founded in 1733, the original site burned in the Great Boston Fire of 1872 and the current church was constructed from 1872 to 1877. It is noted as the birthplace and archetype of the Richardsonian Romanesque style architecture and became popular across American, Europe and Canada.

USS Constitution

Photo credit: ZeHawk

USS Constitution

The USS Constitution is a heavy frigate of the U.S. Navy and is the oldest commissioned naval vessel still afloat in the world. Launched in 1797 the Constitution was one of the original frigates commissioned by the Naval Act of 1794. Since then the Constitution has severed in many wars throughout the years and has also been an ambassador and training ship. The ship was eventually dry docked and much talk was made of its restoration and sailing again for its 200^th anniversary. In 1995 the Constitution was taken out of dry dock and on July 20^th 1997 she made her first sail in 116 years. Currently she has a crew of 60 who hold educational programs, host special events and appear in ceremonies. The ship has been undergoing a more extensive repair since 2007 and isn’t expected to be fully completed until September 2010.

Boston Public Garden

The Public Garden of Boston was established in 1837 by Horace Gray who was pressuring the city to establish the first public botanical garden in the United States. The 24 acre park features a variety of paths, flower beds, statues and fountains and a lake. The park is currently maintained by a joint effort of the Mayor’s Office, the Parks Department and the non-profit group, Friends of the Public Garden. It’s a great place to spend an afternoon relaxing and enjoying the weather.

Boston Common

Boston Common (sometimes referred to as Boston Commons) is one of the oldest parks in the country having been established in 1634. The 50 acre park is considered the anchor of the Emerald Necklace, a name given to a system of connected parks that wind through many Boston neighborhoods. Several different activities have taken place in the park from cattle grazing until 1830 and public hangings until 1817. Prior to the Revolution British troops camped on the park ground before heading into battle at Lexington and Concord. In its most recent incarnation the park has served as a location for celebrity speeches and casual recreational activities by all sorts of visitors.
photo credit: Tony the Misfit

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Historic Landmarks in Boston

When flying on an Alaska Airlines flight you need to be aware of the carry on luggage policy. This may allow you to skip the baggage checking process and the fees that go along with it.

Alaska Airlines allows each passenger to carry on one bag as well as one personal item. This may not sound like a lot, but for many people it is more than enough to get to their destination without having to check a bag.

Carry on bags are not permitted to be larger than 10″ H x 17″ W x 24″ L. In most cases this should be plenty big enough. To go along with this, you are also allowed to carry on a personal item which can be a purchase, laptop computer, briefcase or something similar. At least one of these items should be stowed beneath the seat in front of you.

Certain items do not count towards your carry on limit. They include strollers, coats, hats, umbrellas, assistive healthcare devices, child seats, and reading material. If you are unsure of what you can and cannot bring on board, call the airline in advance.

Being aware of Alaska Airlines carry on luggage policy will make your flight much more enjoyable, and hopefully less expensive.

photo credit: Cubbie_n_Vegas

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What is Alaska Airlines Carry on Luggage Policy?

If you’re on a diet and traveling you can ruin your entire diet routine or you can ruin your vacation by being too regimented. So, how do you find a happy medium where you can enjoy yourself and not destroy your healthy eating plan?

The first thing you need to do is get educated. You may have already done this when you started your diet but you may need a bit of a refresher course. Learn what the local cuisine is and what the calorie content is. If you’re concerned about other aspects of your diet check out those areas as well. This will help you determine if the sushi is a splurge or a healthy choice. Or which dessert is going to blow the diet for a week versus a dessert that will simply require an extra scenic hike. When you make your food choices you want to be educated on what is healthy and what isn’t.

Being proactive is also a great way to avoid extra calories, sugar, cholesterol or fat. Bring your own snacks so you aren’t tempted to grab something on the go that’s less healthy. And a good dieter knows that having healthy regular snacks prevents you from overeating later.

And finally, SPLURGE. Don’t go overboard and undo any good you’ve done, but make a point of trying some local cuisine treats and enjoying your vacation destination. There is really no rule that says you can’t share meals or desserts or that you have to finish every last bite. Use moderation but allow yourself a few extra treats while on vacation.

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Travel Tips for Dieters

Budget backpacking may be all that’s left for many of us when the world financial crisis hits our travel plans, so although Shane Gladigau’s new book Backpacker Basics: For Your First International Trip might be targeted at 18 – 25 year olds, the market might have just got a lot broader.

Based on Gladigau’s own experiences as a backpacker and working holiday-maker in Canada and Australia, Backpacker Basics is a slim book that actually holds a lot of information. If you’re well traveled, it will all seem like common sense, but for someone starting out with not much more than the aim to “see the world” (cheaply!) then it’s a good resource to start from.

Short chapters cover topics including what kind of bag to take, what to pack, how to plan ahead and what bookings to make, whether your should travel on your own, or with a friend, or even as part of a tour, and what precautions to take to ensure your trip is safe and healthy. One particularly useful section focuses on choosing a good hostel and how to avoid “bored backpacker syndrome” – the mistake some backpackers make of spending days in front of the hostel TV and evenings at the local bar with other ex-pats, and missing out on the entire traveling experience. All in all it’s a handy book for someone who’s thinking of traveling independently for the first time.

photo credit: rappensuncle

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Backpacking Basics for First-Timers

Hershey Gardens is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the state of Pennsylvania. Although this destination does not have anything to do with chocolate, there are plenty of good reasons to visit. Even though this may not sound like the most exciting attraction in the area, the majority of people who visit are pleased with their experience.

If you enjoy gardening of any kind you are sure to have a spectacular time walking the 23 acres that make up Hershey Gardens. Thanks to seasonal displays there is always something new to see. Even if you have been to Hershey Gardens in the past, you may want to check it out again to see what has changed.

Believe it or not, admission to Hershey Gardens is quite affordable: Adults – $10, Seniors 62+ – $9, and children age 3 to 12 – $6. Of course, if you are a member of Hershey Gardens you can visit the grounds for free no matter what time of the year it is.

Before you plan your trip, make sure you double check the hours of operation. The hours that it is open depends on the time of the year. For example, all of July and August Hershey Gardens is open from 9 am to 8 pm. But if you visit during an off peak time, such as January and February, it may not be open at all.

Hershey Gardens has been open to the public since 1937. Over the years it has expanded from a small 3.5 acre rose garden to what you see today. With more than 7,500 roses being displayed, as well as special attractions such as the Butterfly House, you can only imagine how much growth the attraction has experienced over the past 70 + years.

If you are interested in what is in bloom, all you have to do is visit the Hershey Gardens website. The “What’s in Bloom” page offers all the information you will ever need. Not only can you learn what is in bloom, but also the area of the gardens in which you can find particular species.

For a small admission fee you can experience many hours of joy at Hershey Gardens. This may not be the most popular tourist attraction in Hershey, Pennsylvania, but it is one that you cannot afford to miss.

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This post originally came from Kathika Travel Blog. Stop by and read our most popular travel blog posts.

Hershey Gardens

The Travel Photo of the Day is of Echo Lake Maine and was taken by shoothead

Photo credit: shoothead

While there are many Echo Lakes in the world, Maine’s Echo Lake has become one of the most popular freshwater recreation sites for locals and visitors to the area. Located on Mount Desert Island, Echo Lake offers a fascinating juxtaposition of the lake’s blue waters and the dramatic cliffs of Maine’s Beech Mountain. In the same visit to Echo Lake, one can lounge on the lake’s shore and go hiking on any of the hiking trails in the area.

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Travel Photo of the Day Echo Lake Maine

The National Aquarium in Baltimore, otherwise known as the Baltimore Aquarium is the area’s most popular attraction. The National Aquarium Institute runs the organization as a non-profit group and vows to inspire people to enjoy, respect, and protect the aquatic world. They do this through pioneering science, conservation, and educational programming as they delve into the issues facing the global aquatic habitats of the world.

The National Aquarium can easily fill a day with fun activities and can in fact probably fill a couple days as there are literally hundreds of exhibits featuring more than 16,500 animals. The current premier exhibits include a 4D Immersion Theater which brings you closer to the sights, sounds and smells of the action, a totally new theater experience. Another premiere exhibit is the Animal Planet Australia: Wild Extremes where the exciting environment of Australia is replicated by the Animal Planet to give you an exciting adventure like no other. And there’s nothing quite like the Baltimore Aquarium’s premier exhibit, Play! The Dolphin Show. View the Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins as they frolic and play or purchase a separate ticket to get the full dolphin experience.

Of the many, many animals at the Baltimore Aquarium a few of them are routinely featured, the current highlights are the chambered nautilus and the giant pacific octopus. These creatures are similar in that they’re all cephalopods, meaning head-foot, because their feet or tentacles are attached to their heads.

In addition to being related to the octopus, the chambered nautilus is also related to the squid, clam and snail, but it is the only cephalopod with a fully developed shell that it uses for protection. Using its more than ninety tentacles to grip their prey and bring it up to their firm beak, the chambered nautilus feeds on shrimp, crab, fish, and they even scavenge for dead animals. Although no one knows for sure it is believed that the chambered nautilus uses its sense of smell to find food.

The chambered nautilus is born with only four chambers in their shell and they occupy the outermost chamber, but as they nautilus grows they develop more chambers, most have about thirty of them. The chambers are usually filled with a combination of water and air to give them the buoyancy they want.

A chambered nautilus is considered a living fossil as they are basically the same as they were more than 400 million years ago, that’s about 265 million years before the first dinosaur appeared on the planet.

The chambered nautilus’s cousin, the great pacific octopus is another featured animal at the Baltimore Aquarium and he’s just as exciting and easier to see. This cephalopod has a big sack like body which is called a mantle from which the tentacles extend; underneath the mantle is the beak. Octopuses actually have a pretty developed brain and very sharp eyesight, so as you’re watching the octopus don’t be surprised if he’s watching you too.

If you’re lucky you’ll get to see the aquarium staff inviting the octopus to participate in an enrichment exercise. A Tupperware container with food inside is given to the octopus and he then uses his 1,800 suction cups to open the container to get at the food inside. Typically this cephalopod will feed on crabs, clams, snails, small fish and sometimes even other octopuses.

The great pacific octopus is the largest octopus in the world. Some reports have claimed that the largest ones were up to 30 feet long and weighed 600 pounds, but experts believe that’s a bit of an exaggeration and something more along the range of 25 feet and 400 pounds is more probable.

In addition to the two featured animals the National Aquarium of Baltimore has tens of thousands more, you can find Australian animals, amphibians, birds, fish, invertebrates, mammals and reptiles.

In addition to all the wonderful animal exhibits at the Baltimore Aquarium there are also many special events throughout the year which are meant to give guests a deeper understanding of the world around them in which they and the animals housed at the aquarium live.

The National Aquarium in Baltimore is not only committed to connecting its guests with the world inside the aquarium, but they’re also very concerned with extending the knowledge and resources gained through their daily operations to help Mother Nature. The conservation efforts have taken on a life of their own and include a large variety of activities. If you’re interested in becoming involved in some of the conservation events, peruse the website as there are many different activities you can participate in and ways to get involved in helping preserve the natural environment around  you.

If you’re looking for an even more personal and educational experience in the aquarium, check out the National Aquarium’s Immersion Tours. These tours are guided by experts in the field who will help you get a behind the scenes view of these animals in an up close and personal way. Currently the available Immersion Tours include the following: Dolphin Encounter, Little Explorers Tour: Stripes and Polka Dots, Breakfast with the Dolphins, Gallery Tour, Sharks! Behind-the-Scenes Tour, Rain Forest Sleepover, Sleepover with the Sharks, Wild Extremes Sleepover, and the Guest Diver Program. Definitely something for everyone and at least one experience that will be a once in a life time memory.

The National Aquarium in Baltimore recommends that if you’re planning a trip to their facility, whether you are from out of town or a local, begin your planning online at their online trip planner. It’s easier than ever to purchase your tickets, decide which exhibits you’re most interested in, what times the events occur and if there are any special programs going on on that day. Because the aquarium can get quite busy during peak hours and weekends it is recommended that you purchase your tickets online so you’re sure to gain entrance at your preferred time.

Tickets are sold daily beginning at 10:00 am and run until 4:00 pm on Mondays through Thursdays, 5:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays and Fridays have extended hours until 8:00 pm. The aquarium is open for an hour and a half after the tickets sales have ended for the day. As mentioned above, if the Baltimore Aquarium is particularly busy your ticket may not allow you entrance until a couple hours after it’s purchased, so it’s best to come with tickets in hand.

photo credit: Lyndi&Jason, photo credit: jessicafm

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National Aquarium in Baltimore

The Travel Photo of the Day is of the Manhattan Bridge and was taken by NJScott

Photo credit: NJScott

The Manhattan Bridge is a suspension bridge that spans New York City’s East River, connecting Lower Manhattan to Brooklyn on Long Island. Opened to traffic on December 31, 1909, the Manhattan Bridge can be crossed by car, subway train, bicycle, and foot. The Manhattan Bridge serves a vital part in ensuring that citizens of New York City can travel easily throughout the massive city.

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The Travel Photo of the Day is of the Manhattan Bridge

The seven, Spanish owned Canary Islands are located around 100 miles off the coast of West Africa. Close to the Tropic of Cancer and on a similar line of latitude to the Bahamas and parts of Florida and Mexico. Creating a clement year round climate that has earned the archipelago the epithet of the European Caribbean.

As the continents only genuine winter holiday destination the Canaries have become very popular with sun starved Northern Europeans, who flock here in their millions. But despite the package tourism and weight of arrivals some of the islands – such as Lanzarote – remain largely unspoiled. Boasting great natural beaches without a hotel in sight and a strong agrarian identity.

This is all thanks to the work of a local artist, César Manrique. Who campaigned against the worst excesses of mass market tourist development during the 1970´s. Successfully securing an island wide ban on high rise construction and ad billboards. A fairly radical move in Franco´s Spain.

However Manrique had lived and worked in the US for many years – where the hippy movement helped to foster a greater awareness of environmental issues.

Lanzarote had been subjected to a violent series of volcanic eruptions during the 18th and 19th centuries. Which covered about a third of the island in a sea of black lava. Creating a raw and other worldly terrain which Manrique was determined to preserve. So as well as fighting against untrammelled development he also sought to unite this unique scenery with his own creativity in order to create alternative attractions to the golf courses and theme parks being built for tourists elsewhere in Spain.

The best known expressions of this philosophy are the Jameos del Agua – a huge, 6km long volcanic tube, formed by the eruption of nearby Monte Coroña. Which Manrique transformed into a breathtaking underground grotto and concert space with the help of fellow architect Jesus Soto. Along with the Cesar Manrique Foundation – where the artist constructed a house and studio out of five underground bubbles in the lava flow.

Manrique´s creations won plaudits in the worlds of design and architecture – bringing Lanzarote to the attention of film stars and VIP´s such as Rita Heyworth, Peter Sellers and Omar Sharif. Who all visited Lanzarote in the early 1970´s in order to explore this fashionable new holiday destination.

Today all of Manrique´s creations are still open to the public and are the most popular tourist attractions on the island. Whilst thanks to his efforts Lanzarote was declared a UNESCO protected biosphere in 1994 – the first island in the world to enjoy this status.
photo credit: doug88888

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Holidays On The Island of Fire

The city of St. Louis is not only known for one of its landmarks but has earned a nickname based on it, the Gateway City. Although St. Louis is known for The Gateway Arch it’s also home to a huge number of popular landmarks which are very popular with tourists and locals alike.

The Gateway Arch

Of course the most popular landmark in St. Louis is its Gateway Arch which is the tallest man-made monument in the United States at 630 feet high. Construction began on the arch in 1963 and was completed in 1965, and is visited each year but about 1 million visitors. If you’re brave enough to take the elevator/tram to the top on a windy day you’ll notice that you not only feel like you’re moving but that you actually are swaying, the arch sways a maximum of 18 inches, nine inches on either side if the wind is raging at 150 mph or more, but the usual sway is about a half an inch, which is pretty hard to feel. In addition to riding to the top of the St. Louis Gateway Arch there are other things to do in the Gateway Arch Riverfront Area. Consider making a day of your adventure and spending time at the Museum of Westward Expansion, the Old Courthouse or taking a sightseeing cruise along the Mississippi River.

St. Louis Art Museum

The St. Louis Art Museum is one of the nation’s leading comprehensive art museums with more than 30,000 works of art. Look for great works from almost every time period and era. Spend extra time exploring the extensive collections of Oceanic art, pre-Columbian art, ancient Chinese bronzes, and European and American art of the 19^th and 20^th centuries with many key German paintings. In addition there is a library to peruse and several special events throughout the year. The best part of the museum is that it’s free to everyone.

Powell Symphony Hall

Powell Symphony Hall is home to the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and one of the most renowned concert halls in the United States. Erected in 1925 the theater originally presented the best live vaudeville and motion pictures, it wasn’t until later that the Hall became home to the Orchestra yet whatever its incarnation it draws a crowd with its incredible performances and lavish accommodations.

Photo credit: Matito

Old Courthouse and Arch

Historic Old Courthouse

St. Louis’s Historic Old Courthouse began its construction in 1826 and wasn’t completed until 1862. Having seen its share of famous trials and historical events, the courthouse pays homage to its most noted trail, the Dred Scott, Slavery and The Struggle to Be Free exhibit celebrates the suit by Dred Scott for freedom from slavery. The Old courthouse is part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Park which is open daily and free to the public. The park also features the Gateway Arch so this is a perfect activity to combine with a visit to the Arch.

Missouri Botanical Gardens

The Missouri Botanical Garden was founded in 1859 and is the national’s oldest botanical garden in continuous operation. With79 acres, including the 14 acre Japanese strolling garden, the original home to Henry Shaw is truly a magnificent beauty. Of note to flower lovers, the gardens house the world’s largest collection of rare and endangered orchids. If you’re headed to the Missouri Botanical Gardens in 2009 you’re in luck, it’s their 150^th anniversary, or the sesquicentennial, and there will be celebrations throughout the year. The gardens recommend you spend at least three hours visiting the grounds to get the most out of the experience, but feel free to stay longer if you want.

Soulard Farmer’s Market

St Louis used to have many public markets but the Soulard Farmer’s Market is the last remaining one of its kind. Soulard Farmer’s Market was created by Julia Cerre Soulard who donated two half blocks of real estate to the city in 1838. She wanted the property to remain as a public marketplace in perpetuity. There is a date of 1779 ascribed to the market’s founding but there are no historical facts to back this up. In fact the village of St. Louis (as it was at the time) was a walled fortress nearly a mile away so it is very doubtful that the market existed that far out of town at the time. The first building featured some new interior stalls which were more amenable for meat vendors. In the future an upstairs hall would be built and serve many different public functions until it was destroyed in a tornado in 1840. And the entire thing was razed to build a new facility in 1928. Soulard Farmer’s Market faced many ups and downs but has stood the test of time and is the only farmer’s market to have done so in St. Louis.

Anheuser-Busch Complex

One of the most famous companies headquartered in St. Louis is Anheuser-Busch and so it’s no wonder that three of their buildings are national historic landmarks, the Old School House, the Brew House and the Clydesdale Stable. The Old School House was originally constructed in 1868 and was originally known as the Lyon School. In 1907 the city no longer needed the building and sold it to Anheuser-Busch which promptly converted it into their central office until 1982. The Brew House was built in 1891 and 1892 and was the center of the St. Louis Brewery. The Romanesque building with its clock tower was quite impressive and the most modern, efficient brew house of its time, since then it’s been expanded over the years and has an annual capacity of 15.8 million barrels. The Clydesdale Stable was built in 1885 for $35,000 and was once a private stable for Adolphus Busch. As with all their buildings, no expense was spared at the time to make it the most impressive, beautiful stable around. It wasn’t until 1933 that August A. Busch, Jr. decided to use the stable to house the new signature Clydesdale horses.

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This post originally came from Kathika Travel Blog. Stop by and read our most popular travel blog posts.

Top Landmarks in St Louis

Rough Guides Europe on a Budget

It’s been a while since we checked in on the new travel guide books being produced by Rough Guides, and they’ve had a busy start to the 2010 publishing year. You’re in luck if you’re planning a trip to any of the following destinations, because they have hot off the press guides ready for you:

• At almost 1300 pages, the second edition of the Europe on a Budget guide is not something light to stuff in the corner of your backpack, but it is pretty comprehensive – and for the first time it also covers Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia and Bosnia-Hercegovina.
• For a city that really needs no more introduction, Rough Guides has produced their 12th edition of a guide to Paris – the old versions were already pretty good so the new one is simply an updated version.
• With Asia being such a popular destination for gap year travelers and backpackers on a budget, the new edition of the First-Time Asia Rough Guide is useful – it covers 21 different Asian countries with lots of tips for first-timers.
• Just in time for the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, there is a new edition of the Cape Town, The Winelands & the Garden Route guide for the western corner of South Africa.
• Finally, still pumping out lots of detailed Italian guides, there is a new edition of Venice & the Veneto, also published in February 2010.

Photo credit: AMANITO

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Travel Books: New From Rough Guides in 2010