Archive for June, 2008
Visting Vancouver Island
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Want to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday city life? Are you in need of some relaxation? This week we will explore several destinations that even adventuresome travelers will find invigorating!
Our first stop this week is scenic Vancouver Island. Pack your bags as well as your binoculars, as this island is abundant with wildlife! Make reservations for a whale watching trip—it’s a must! You will be mesmerized as the playful orcas frolic about in the open ocean. Be sure to keep those binoculars handy, as the island is home to over 220 species of birds! With a variety of outdoor activities including horseback riding, hiking, kayaking, and canoeing, Vancouver Island is truly a nature-lover’s dream.
When you take a break from exploring the great outdoors, you may find it relaxing to go wine tasting at one of the Island’s many vineyards. Home to the capital of Victoria, this island is loaded with history and culture galore! Several museums offer insight into the Island’s past. Some well known museums are the Royal BC Museum and the Maritime Museum of British Columbia. If you want a change of scenery, the convenient ferry service can take you on a day trip from Vancouver Island to the neighboring Gulf Islands. With so many sights to see, this laid back location will certainly keep you busy!
Realtraveler Bate’s Big Trip tells of adventures on Vancouver Island:
“We then did a second walk through more rain-forest down to Schooners Bay, at the end of Long Beach. It was a beautiful landscape, through the rain-forest a few km till we burst out onto a beach covered in enormous piles of driftwood, waves crashing on the enormous beach, the ocean full of densely forested islands and snow capped mountains in the background. We stayed here for a few hours, eating a picnic and climbing over the rocks and logs on the almost deserted beach, it was really magical.” (more…)
To plan your trip, visit:
Victoria Hotels
Vancouver Flights
Vancouver Hotels
Source: Teresa Nielsen
read comments (0)Montreal in the Summer
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In need of a getaway? Why not travel to magnificent Montreal, Canada.
The second largest city in Canada, Montreal offers plenty of sights to see within walking distance or a short bus ride! The Olympic Stadium, home the 1976 games, is most popular for its unique circular shape. While at the Stadium, climb to the top of the world’s tallest inclined tower, the Tower of Montreal! Visit historic Old Montreal, originally a French settlement, this site loaded with history that is sure to captivate you. Finally, be sure to walk through one of the many churches, especially the beautiful Basilica Notre-Dame de Montreal. Completed in 1829, this glorious Basilica is known for its stain glass windows and brilliant paintings.
Realtraveler Gidget Bones describes a day of sightseeing in Montreal:
“I am home after 7 wonderful days and 6 fantastic nights in Montreal! The city was much more than I expected. Everyone was very friendly, even when I spoke broken French to them. I was running the entire time between work and functions. I did get to walk around the city one day. I started at 9am on Saturday and finished at 10pm that night. I went shopping, and sight seeing. I stopped at every cathedral and took pictures. I went to Ste. Marie, China Town, Old Town, Latin Quarter, on the metro, there was so much history to see.” (more…)
To plan your trip to this exciting city, visit:
Montreal Flights
Montreal Hotels
Montreal Attractions
Source: Teresa Nielsen
Exploring Sydney
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Good day mate! We are off to visit one of Australia’s most stunning cities, Sydney! With dozens of attractions to choose from, Sydney is the perfect place to make a getaway. First stop, gain insight and discover the history of Australia at The Rocks. Here, visit the Sydney Observatory and the spectacular Sydney Harbour Bridge. Feeling adventurous? Take a guided tour of the bridge, and hold on tight as you climb to the top! Offering breathtaking views, this site provides a great way to see the entire city! Next, visit Darling Harbour—the name says it all! Home to many shops and eateries in Sydney, go for a stroll here and get a taste of the city and even visit the Sydney Aquarium! No trip to Australia is complete without a visit to Bondi Beach and the Royal Botanical Gardens.
Ian and Magda visited Sydney recently and shared their impressions:
“Sydney Harbor is the most famous harbor is Australia and perhaps in the world. For good reason. Centered around “Circular Quay”, the sight of the original settlement, the harbor offers incredible views in all directions, most views include the famous Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbor Bridge. On a sunny day (most days) ferries bring in commuters from all parts of the harbor and its surrounding bays, the morning sun sparkling on the gentle rippling surface of the shark infested waters, the Opera House bathed in morning gold. The Bridge spans the Harbor like a welcome home banner.” (more…)
Recounting her visit to Sydney, RealTravel enthusiast loraloralora writes:
“We got off at Circular Quay and decided to buy a DayTripper pass, which costs $16 and gives unlimited rides on the trains, ferries, and buses, as well as discounts at a lot of the things we wanted to see today. After we got the passes, we walked to the Opera House and got onto the 10:00am tour, which was great because we got there at 9:55. Our tour guide, Nick, met us right on time and told us that we’d be going up and down a lot of stairs on the tour. This was when we realized that between the BridgeClimb, the pylon lookout, the Blue Mountains hike, and the Opera House tour, Sydney is a city of stairs.” (more…)
To plan your trip, visit:
Sydney Hotels
Sydney Flights
Sydney Attractions
Source: Teresa Nielsen
New York in the Summer
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Come visit one of America’s most diverse and exciting cities, New York! Whether viewing the city from the top of the Empire State Building, or taking a leisurely stroll through Central Park, this dynamic destination will captivate you from beginning to end!
In the mood to window shop? Venture down Fifth Avenue and get a taste of some of the fanciest stores in town! After your stroll, hop on the ferry and visit one of the nation’s most famous landmarks, the Statue of Liberty. Be sure to explore Times Square and even discover the city on a double decker bus! Finally, end your busy day by catching a musical on Broadway. However you choose to travel the city, New York offers a plethora of sights and attractions that are sure to entertain and enthrall its visitors!
Realtravelers Leigh and Jo describe their trip in detail:
“We headed for a walk around Madison Square Garden and what is called Midtown. Lots of shops and thousands of people. We had a great time just walking around exploring and feeling very small against sky scraper after sky scraper. In the afternoon we decided to put our weekly metro passes into good use (very inexpensive $24 for the week!) and so got off at a stop by Central Park. It was such a lovely day so we decided to go to the shops and get food for a picnic.” (more…)
Need more reasons to visit this summer? Fourth of July sparkles in the city, there’s almost always a Mets or Yankees Baseball game, and you can even catch outdoor concerts, films and more!
To plan your trip, visit:
New York Hotels
New York Flights
New York Attractions
Source: Teresa Nielsen
Exploring Rome
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Rising gas prices hurting your pocketbook? Why not explore some enchanting cities by foot, bus, or even metro! This week we’ll share ideas on what cities you should explore this summer.
Today, we’ll begin in Rome! Start your trip by discovering the famous Via Cavour. Explore shops filled with the latest Italian fashion and work your way to the colossal Vittorio Emanuele II monument. Known for its grandeur, a trip to the Eternal City is not complete without touring the ancient Ruins, the Vatican, and of course the Colosseum. Just down the road from the Circus Maximus, visitors line up to place their hand in the mouth of the statue “Bocca di Vertia” or “Mouth of Truth,” more famously seen in the film Roman Holiday. Be sure to make reservations if you plan to admire works of art at the Villa Borghese or gaze at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. A sightseer’s heaven, allow yourself several days to realize the magnificence that is Rome!
Realtraveler D. Botelho reminisces about this great city:
“Rome was amazing. We spent 5 days there and we still didn’t see everything that we could have seen. The Pantheon, Basilica, and Colosseum were all amazing. The Trevi Fountain was glorious as well as the ruins of Rome. Words really cannot due any of these justice. Each one was carefully constructed over thousands of years could be the center of any other city. The fact that they are all within walking distance amazes me.” (more…)
Mike & Jac shared their trip to all of Rome’s great sites, including Vittorio Emmanual II:
“A late rise and a walk to the Vittorio Emmanual II monument which is massive and recently a lift and panoramic viewing platform had been opened to the public. It was well worth the admission fee with fabulous views of Roma (just a note we have had beautiful clear days since we arrived) and all of the main sights visible. We took a bus to Villa Borghese which is a large park area and home to Galleria Borghese which is the “second most beautiful museum in Roma” (limited viewings and we were pre booked in by Mary). After the visit at the gallery we hired a two seater four wheel electronic assisted bike (ie moped on 4 wheels).” (more…)
To plan your trip, visit:
Rome Hotels
Rome Flights
Source: Teresa Nielsen