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hms-chill · 5 years ago

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RWRB Study Guide: Chapter 4

Hi y’all! I’m going through Casey McQuiston’s Red, White & Royal Blue and defining/explaining references! Feel free to follow along, or block the tag #rwrbStudyGuide if you’re not interested!

The Willard (75): A luxury hotel just down the street from the White House, where rooms can cost up to $8,000 per night. It hosts the turkeys to be pardoned by the president.

Cornbread and Stuffing (75): Traditional Thanksgiving dishes. Pardoning turkeys are commonly named after foods associated with Thanksgiving, recently including Bread, Butter, Cheese, and Apple.

Pennsylvania Avenue (75): The street that the White House and Willard are on.

Until I pardon them (75): The pardoning of the turkeys is an actual American tradition. Americans began sending turkeys to the president around the same time we started celebrating Thanksgiving, and the tradition of pardoning them began with Clinton in 1999. Only one turkey is officially pardoned, but there is always a backup turkey, and you can read their names here.

En suite (76): A bathroom directly connected to a bedroom.

CNN (76): Cable News Network, a liberal news station.

Republican primary debate (76): A debate between candidates for the Republican (conservative) party, held before the party decides who they will nominate for the presidential race.

Summer home in Majorca (79): Majorca is an island in the Mediterranean, just off the coast of Spain.

Jurassic Park* (79): A movie in which dinosaurs escape from their cages and the main characters have to escape them.

Autoerotic asphyxiation (80): “erotic asphyxiation” is essentially sexual choking; if it’s “autoerotic” it would be Alex doing it to himself.

Silk pillow over my face (80): This may be a reference to the Shakespeare play Othello where (spoilers, though it’s been out for like 500 years) the title character smothers his wife with a pillow after rumors that she’s cheating on him.

Jaffa cakes (80): A British snack with a sponge cake base, a layer of orange jam, and topped with chocolate.

Jabba (81): Jabba the Hutt, a Star Wars character.

Great British Bake Off (81): A famously wholesome baking show that is technically a competition between home bakers from around the UK, though it is far from competitive.

Scandinavian skin care (81): Many luxury skincare brands have come from Scandinavian countries in the past few years.

Chopped (82): An incredibly competitive American cooking show.

The Manson tapes (82): A series of tapes revealing the dealings of the Manson Cult, which was responsible for nine murders in 1969.

David Bowie (82): A famously bisexual British actor and musician known for his bold presentation and stagecraft. He was admitted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. (listen here and here)

Seinfeld (82): An American sitcom from the 1990s. Wayne Knight, who played Dennis Nedry and had a very bad time in Jurassic Park, was also in Seinfeld.

Jeff Goldblum (82): An American actor (and force of chaos) known for his role as Dr. Ian Malcolm in Jurassic Park, a scientist who sees from the very beginning that maybe breeding massive predators is a bad idea.

The Post (84): The Washington Post

Oval Office (84): The president’s office in the White House

Lincoln Bedroom (85): A guest bedroom that is part of the Lincoln Suite in the White House, named after President Lincoln, who used to room as an office.

Chocolate shop on the first floor (85): According to the White House Museum online, there is a chocolate shop on the bottom floor of the White House that prepares the chocolates served in the White house.

The Atlantic (85): An American editorial magazine that covers news, politics, education, science, and more. It targets serious readers and “thought leaders”. (More)

Truman Balcony (85): A balcony overlooking the White House’s South Lawn (in the “back” of the White House).

Mijo (85): For those who haven’t read my fic “Speaking My Language” here, “mijo” is Spanish term of endearment that translates directly to “my son” (Mi hijo)

Washington monument (86): A tall obelisk on the National Mall in Washington, DC, dedicated to George Washington.

Eisenhower Building (86): The Eisenhower Executive Offices Building is a building that houses the executive Office of the President, including the Vice President’s office.

Los Bastardos (86): Spanish for “The bastards”.

Caldillo (86): a spicy Mexican beef stew.

Masa (86): A corn/maize dough used for making corn tortillas, tamales, and other Mexican/Latin American dishes.

Valedictorian (87): A student who ranks the highest in their graduating class in high school.

New Orleans (87): A city in Louisiana known for its vibrant blend of French and Creole culture, its jazz scene, and its Mardi Gras celebration. It is also Casey McQuinston’s hometown.

AP classes (90): Advanced placement classes are high school classes taught at a college level; at the end of the year, students take a test to determine whether or not they will get college credit for it.

Hanukkah (90): A Jewish celebration honoring the second rededicating of the temple in Jerusalem. It is not traditionally a major Jewish holiday, but it has become one of the best-known due to the fact that it occurs near Christmas every year.

“Good King Wenceslas” (91): A traditional Christmas song about a king who braves the cold to give alms to a poor peasant on Christmas.

Jim-jams (91): Pajamas.

Tiger sharks over a baby seal (91): According to my roommate, who loves sharks, tiger sharks are one of the most vicious types of sharks. They’re bottom feeders, so they wouldn’t necessarily get seals too often, but if they got one, they would be all over it.

Bougie (95): Fancy or upper class (from the French “bourgeoisie”).

Real Housewife (95): The Real Housewives of [City] are a string of semi-popular American reality TV shows.

East Room (95): An event and reception room in the White House.

Tramp stamp (96): A tattoo on the lower back, associated with less savory activities and a general air of trashiness.

Zac Posen (97): A gay, Jewish fashion designer from New York, known for his glamorous evening gowns and cocktail dresses.

Middle-shelf whiskey (97): A “middle shelf” alcohol is one step up from the cheapest option; a whiskey is a dark alcohol associated with Texas/the West.

“American Girl” (98): A 1976 rock song that has become a rock classic. (Listen here)

Center for American Progress (98): A liberal public policy research and advocacy organization.

Pez (candy) (99): A type of small, sweet pieces of candy that come from fancy, collectable Pez dispensers.

Sky writers (99): Sky writers use the trails of their airplanes to write things in the sky. It costs at least $3,500 for a single message.

“Get Low” (101): Despite its incredibly raunchy lyrics, this song was a common one at school dances in the early 2010s. I was in middle school in roughly 2010-2012, and I have vivid memories of people being into this song.

The Kid ‘n Play (102): A dance move pioneered by the hip-hop duo of the same name, loosely based on the Charleston. (see it here)

Vato (102): Mexican slang for “friend”, “person”, or “dude”.

Moët & Chandon (102): A luxury French champagne.

New Year’s Kiss (103): At least in the US, it’s traditionally considered good luck to kiss someone at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s.

Peach schnapps (103): Schnapps is a sweet, inexpensive, and very alcoholic drink.

Rookie NFL running back (103): A running back is a football position responsible for running with the ball. Most are either short and quick to avoid tackles or big and stocky to power through them.

Yacht kid (104): Someone rich.

Orion**(105): A winter northern hemisphere constellation of a hunter/warrior. According to Greek mythology, Orion was the only man (or person) the goddess Artemis ever loved, but she refused to give up her life with her huntresses for him. He began burning/destroying her forest in retribution, and she is forced to kill him.

America’s golden boy (105): A “golden boy” is a boy who is favored or put upon a pedestal.

Tequila (106): A type of alcohol that originates from central Mexico.

Bloke (106): British slang for a “regular dude” or everyday man.

Teen Vogue (106): An American magazine aimed at teenagers that used to focus on fashion and celebrity news, but has more recently shifted to dealing with serious social issues.

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*This movie is especially known for its special effects, which are incredible because they actually built animatronic dinosaurs and also got real scientists on the project to help them figure out how dinosaurs would move/act. After it came out, earth and environmental science departments around the world got a ton of funding to see if they could find any dinosaur DNA in fossils, as that’s a central part of the movie’s plot.

**According to a nerd astronomy class I took in like 4th grade, every culture who could see Orion saw a warrior, which is just... really cool to me. That so many people for so long saw the same thing in a set of stars.

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If there’s anything I missed or that you’d like more on, please let me know! And if you’d like to/are able, please consider buying me a ko-fi? I know not everyone can, and that’s fine, but these things take a lot of time/work and I’d really appreciate it! A massive thanks to @lyanna-wilson for the ko-fis the other day; they meant a ton!

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Chapter 1 // Chapter 3 // Chapter 5

#rwrb study guide #not fic #rwrb #rwrb analysis #alex claremont diaz #henry fox mountchristen windsor #henry fox mountchristen windsor x alex claremont diaz #bea fox mountchristen windsor #pez okonjo #june claremont diaz #nora holleran #super six #the white house trio #red white and royal blue #casey mcquiston #fic ref #reference

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180abroad · 6 years ago

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Days 146-147: Salt, Cemeteries, and Castles (Krakow, Part II)

Our last day and a half in Krakow was (mostly) much more pleasant and lighthearted than our morning in Auschwitz. We saw amazing salt sculptures, a magnificent castle, and--yes--a sobering cemetery.

Our morning Auschwitz tour included an afternoon tour of the famous Wieliczka salt mines near Krakow. We were dropped off in Krakow with an hour or so for lunch, so we headed over to a nearby Costa Coffee to recover.

The Costas in Krakow are an interesting departure from the ones in the UK. The comfortably generic coffeehouse décor is the same, but the food is fresh and local--unlike the somewhat mass-produced-feeling fare in the UK. We each had a ham, cheese, and tomato sandwich (fresh-made, not packaged) with blessedly cool iced coffees. I also sprang for a slice of “forest fruit” tart with raspberry, blackcurrant, redcurrant, and apricot. An unusual combination, but very tasty.

Stepping reluctantly out into the summer heat, we made our way back to the tour office and joined up with our group bound for the salt mines.

The trip out of town was a bit hectic. There was a bike race going on, and one of the streets cutting across central Krakow had been shut down. Our driver hadn't known, and we ended up stuck in a one-way side street with our bumper to the crowd-control tape. After calling back and forth with home base, our driver decided to just park the van and wait for ten minutes or so until the racers passed. He opened the van and several people hopped out to join the sidewalk spectators.

Jessica and I stayed inside the air-conditioned van. The exhausted part of me that was still reeling from the morning's trip to Auschwitz secretly hoped that the trip would be cancelled and we could head home for an early evening. But thankfully that didn't happen. It was a long, tiring excursion, but we both had a good time and saw some impressive engineering and incredible blue-collar artwork.

Tours into the mines had to be strictly timed for crowd control, so we had a few minutes to use the bathroom and chug some water. A misting station had been set up to help people stay cool.

Finally, it was time to enter. We took the stairs, and they seemed to go down forever. When we finally stopped descending, we were 64 meters--almost 20 stories--underground.

A huge source of wealth for the country since the Middle Ages, the salt mines are a source of national pride in Poland. The mirror-smooth, crystalline caves made of 90% pure salt are beautiful and fascinating, as are the surviving wooden cranes and other bits of old mining technology. But the obvious focus of the tour is the art.

For the past hundred years or so, the salt miners occupied their free time by carving strikingly intricate and well-realized statues. There are statues of contemporary folks, historical heroes, and religious icons. Looking at the distinctive style of the statues, I can’t help but think that the art designers for the Lord of the Rings movies could have taken heavy inspiration from these statues when designing the aesthetic of the dwarven art and architecture.

There are also a healthy handful of chapels. Like the Welsh slate miners, the Polish salt miners were intensely religious and God-fearing. But rather than make do with cramming as much church as possible into their off-days, the Polish salt miners filled the mines with churches that they could use every day.

And of course, everything from the ceiling to the floor was carved from the salt.

The crown jewel of the tour is the jaw-dropping St. Kinga Chapel, whose expansive walls are lined with remarkable recreations of iconic Christian art.

And, of course, the centerpiece within the chapel collection is a strikingly lifelike statue of the late Pope John Paul II. I haven't mentioned it yet, but Cracovians are absolutely nuts about their homeboy John Paul. To be fair, though, the adoration was pretty well earned. After so many centuries of being seen as a second-rate nation by the rest of Europe, for this deeply Catholic country to finally have a pope chosen from their own people must have been a point of transcendent pride and validation.

Anyway…

After an interesting hour or so touring the mines, it was time for us to queue up at the exit. The tour had taken us a further 71 meters underground, down to a depth of 40 stories. There was no way we were going to be climbing back up. Fortunately, there was an elevator. Unfortunately, the elevator wasn't especially big or especially fast. So we had to wait.

When it was finally our turn, I foolishly thought that our long day of walking was nearing its end. But it wasn't. The walk from the exit queue to the elevator proved comically long. It felt almost as long as the rest of the visit put together. Some of us started joking that the tour was just a ruse and that around the next corner would be a group of guards ready to escort us into our new lives as indentured miners.

And then the dinosaur attacked. (Not really, that was earlier. Apparently there are several overlapping tour routes, and at one point we stumbled across part of the kids' tour.)

But eventually, one of the turns turned out to be the final turn, and the promised elevator bore us up into the setting sunlight--a quarter-mile walk away from the building we'd entered through.

I’m glad we got to go to the salt mine. But if I had to pick one mine in all of Europe to visit, it would still be Llechwedd slate mine in Wales. The Wieliczka salt mine tour was heavy on wowing visuals but light on actual information about the miners themselves, which was what made the Welsh mine tour so impactful for us.

On the ride back into town, we passed right by the flat we were renting. As tired and footsore as we were, we each anticipated the 15-minute walk back from the tour office in the muggy evening air with dread. As if on cue, however, the driver pulled over to drop another group off at a nearby hotel. Jessica and I hopped out with them and gratefully strolled the half-block back to our flat. We threw some frozen pizzas in the oven and watched Disney's The Princess and the Frog, which I'd never seen before.

The next morning, as we left our flat to spend our last day in Krakow, I stopped to take a picture of a construction sign that had been amusing me since we first arrived.

Before I go on, let me admit upfront that this says a lot more about me and my ignorance than it does about the Polish language or anything else. Throughout our trip, we've seen a lot of signs in a lot of languages. And for the most part, they all fell into one of two categories. Either I could at least sort of understand them based on context and linguistic similarity or they were completely unintelligible.

But with Polish signs, my first reaction is not "I understand this" or "I don't understand this," but rather, "Am I drunk right now?"

Anyway, our first stop of the day was a sober-yet-uplifting continuation of yesterday's themes: Krakow's Jewish neighborhood of Kazimierz.

The neighborhood--originally a separate walled town--was named for 14th-century Polish king Kazimierz the Great. It was Kazimierz who first opened up Poland as a haven for the Jews being oppressed throughout Europe (and whose likeness we'd seen enshrined in salt the day before). Poland's Jewish population didn't exactly have an easy time of things over the centuries that followed, but they were at least usually relatively safe.

In the center of Kazimierz's Broad Street ("Ulica Szeroka"), a monument honors the 65 thousand Jewish Cracovians who were murdered by the Nazis.

We visited the Remu'h Synagogue, which houses Krakow's Old Jewish Cemetery. (As a man, I was asked to wear a yarmulke while I on the premises, and I happily obliged.)

We were mainly interested in the cemetery, but we visited the synagogue first. It was remarkable. The Synagogue dates back to 1553, and it has been beautifully maintained and restored. You can even still see the original 16th-century frescoes adorning the upper walls.

Thanks to our guidebook, we also learned a bit about traditional synagogue design. Like Christian basilicas and Islamic mosques, synagogues face east toward Jerusalem. At the front of the synagogue is the ark, where the scrolls of the Torah are stored. In Orthodox synagogues like this one, the speaker stands in an ornate cage in the middle of synagogue, facing east along with the congregation. (In Reformed synagogues, the speaker stands in the front and faces the congregation.)

Outside, we learned about Jewish cemeteries, too. (Or at least the ones in Eastern Europe.) Unlike the neat rows of Christian cemeteries, the Jewish graves have a somewhat more organic organizational aesthetic. (This would be much more evident at the Old Jewish Cemetery in Prague.) Most of the headstones were covered in small stones, which visitors place as a token of respect. We couldn't read the headstones, but some were clearly more notable by the mountain of stones placed on and around them.

Near the synagogue still stands the gravestone of Moses Isserles, the 16th-century rabbi who founded it.

For us, though, the most striking feature of the cemetery is also one of its newest--the walls. During the Nazi occupation, many of the Jewish graves were desecrated and smashed. After WWII, the caretakers did their best to restore the cemetery as much as possible. And as a memorial of the Nazi atrocities, they used the unsalvageable fragments of smashed headstones to line the cemetery walls.

Stepping back onto Broad Street, we found the place increasingly lively with visitors. Many were Jewish Americans, but there were plenty of diverse groups from around the world. This is the "uplifting" part of the "sober-yet-uplifting" thing I said earlier. For all the effort that the Nazis did to erase other cultures from the world, it was the Nazis who got erased. The Poles and the Jews are still right here where they've always been.

Near the Remu'h Synagogue is a bronze statue of a kindly looking man sitting contemplatively on a bench. The man is Jan Karski, a Catholic Pole and one of the first people to publicly speak out against the Nazi extermination camps--a charge so unimaginably heinous that the rest of the world didn't want to listen.

At the bottom of Broad Street stands the 14th-century Old Synagogue, the oldest Jewish building in Poland. It and the surrounding courtyard are conspicuously sunken below street level. It was built this way on purpose because medieval laws forbade Jewish buildings from standing taller than Christian buildings. So in order to make it as big as they wanted, the Jewish architects had to build down as well as up.

As fascinating as Kazimierz is, and as much as we no doubt would have enjoyed visiting inside the Old Synagogue and visiting all the other historic neighborhood sites, we had other things we wanted to get to on our last day in Krakow. So we bid farewell to the charming Jewish neighborhood and headed back north toward Wawel Castle.

The castle is huge and beautiful. Again, we didn't have the time or energy to justify buying a ticket to go inside, but there was plenty to see just wandering around the grounds, which were open to the public. Including the massive, Florence-inspired central courtyard.

Like the Palatine in Rome, Wawel Castle is built on top of a hill where an ancient Polish tribe is said to have lived. And as with the wolf-raised twin founders of Rome, Krakow has its own deliciously outlandish origin story. According to the legend, a fiendish dragon set up shop in a cave at the base of Wawel hill. The dragon demanded a weekly tribute of cattle, and if an offering was not made, the dragon would feast on the tribespeople instead.

The dragon was finally defeated by a clever cobbler, who fed the dragon a lamb stuffed with explosive sulphur. The dragon devoured the tainted lamb and was overcome with a thirst so great that he dove into the nearby Vistula and drank until he exploded.

King Krakus, the mythical founder of Krakow, was so impressed by the cobbler's ruse that he let the boy marry the princess and become the next king.

Today, a seven-headed metal dragon at the base of Wawel Hill spews a gout of flame every five minutes or so.

Leaving the castle behind us, we wandered back up to Market Square, where we had an early dinner at one of the touristy open-air restaurants. We're pretty sure it was actually the same Italian restaurant that Jessica ate at on her last night in Krakow eight years ago.

Given the prime tourist-trap location, I expected it to be a bit of a frivolous splurge--a celebration of our having successfully survived our first stop in Eastern Europe. But it turned out to be a thoroughly enjoyable and surprisingly affordable meal. In that way, at least, Krakow's Market Square is very much unlike the Italian cities it was built to emulate.

And we enjoyed a local Polish cider. A bit tart, as I recall, but not at all bad.

We headed back to our flat, but our day was far from over. We wouldn't be staying at our flat this night. We wouldn't be staying in any flat this night.

We would be taking the night train to Prague.

Next Post: The Night Train to Prague

Last Post: Auschwitz

#180abroad #krakow #poland #travel #salt mine #castle #kazimierz

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arizonaresort · 3 years ago

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Major Landmarks in Arizona

1. Grand Canyon National Park

Other canyons on the planet might be longer, wider, and deeper, but none is as well-known as the Grand Canyon, with its complicated layering, maze-like side canyons, vibrant colours, and epic visual scale. It's 277 miles long, 18 miles broad, and more than a mile deep, slicing through more than two billion years of geologic time and revealing some of the world's oldest rocks. You may choose between the more developed South Rim, which is open year-round and features drive-up views, museums, and mule rides, and the more remote North Rim, which is higher in elevation and closed to vehicles from mid-October to mid-May due to snow (skiers and snowshoers are welcome). The canyon is barely 10 miles wide on average, but there are no bridges for cars, so the 215-mile journey from one rim to the other takes five hours. Both rims have hotel and camping possibilities, as well as a variety of canyon-descending routes. You can also see it while rafting down the Colorado River.

2. Wupatki and Sunset Crater national monuments

Although the south of the state is now the most populous, the north-central plateau once had a larger population. Wupatki national monument, north of Flagstaff, is home to the ancient Pueblo people (previously known as the Anasazi). It contains the remnants of five pueblos made from slabs of the region's brick-red Moenkopi sandstone. The majority of Wupatki's enormous pueblos were built after the devastating eruption of the adjacent Sunset Crater volcano in 1085. The ash blanketed 800 square kilometres of land, prompting the region's temporary evacuation. However, the ash enhanced the soil for cultivation, and by 1100, Wupatki's pueblos were flourishing. The enormous cinder cone volcano and accompanying lavascapes are now protected by the Sunset Crater national monument

3. Canyon De Chelly national monument

Canyon De Chelly is regarded as a sacred site. The three stunning canyons, De Chelly, Del Muerto, and Monument, are carved into the sandstone bedrock of north-eastern Arizona, near Chinle, and are at the heart of numerous native legends.

These canyons have been inhabited for thousands of years, longer than any other area in North America; the Ancestral Puebloans, Anasazi, Hopi, and Navajo have all lived here. Canyon De Chelly, the only national monument not owned by the federal government, is now managed as a national monument on Navajo Tribal Trust Land.

4. Petrified Forest national park

What is today eastern Arizona was once a lush, subtropical rainforest when dinosaurs dominated the earth. An amazing collection of petrified trees within this national park preserves evidence of the dry desert's greener past. Fallen trees were buried by mud containing a lot of volcanic ash during the Late Triassic epoch. Quartz crystals gradually replaced organic wood substance over time, petrifying the trees. Petrified wood is extremely hard due to its high quartz content; it can only be cut with a diamond-tipped saw.

5. Meteor Crater national natural landmark

An iron-nickel meteor the size of three school buses sped across the sky and blasted into the earth with a force higher than 10 megatons of TNT around 50,000 years ago, when woolly mammoths and enormous ground sloths roamed eastern Arizona. The collision created a big circular hole in the earth's crust near Winslow, just off the freeway. It's a mile broad, 2.4 miles in circumference, and roughly 170 metres deep — and it's one of the best-preserved meteor craters on the planet. Although Meteor Crater is privately owned, it is open to the public and is designated as a national natural landmark.

#landmark #history #https://www.azrugoutlet.com/

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privatejetcharters · 3 years ago

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Private Flights to Colorado

Known for its many ski resorts, hiking trails, and climbing sites, Colorado attracts thousands of tourists every year. In summer, it offers ideal conditions for unforgettable walks. More than a third of the state’s territory is occupied by the amazing Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, which is very popular among fans of rafting and rock climbing. The northern part of Colorado is a resort area with sports complexes, magnificent hotels, and resorts.

Near the city of Aspen, there are resorts for snowboarding and cycling. Notable landmarks in Colorado include the Pikes Peak Cog Railway with beautiful landscapes, Colorado is the Garden of the Gods with its red “towers”, Mesa Verde National Park and Anasazi Caves, the National Dinosaur Monument, and the world’s tallest suspension bridge, Royal George, the most famous national park in the state of Rocky Mountain National Park, the Boulder campus with fantastic trails in the Flatirons as well as great restaurants, charming shops, and very friendly locals.

For private jet charter services Colorado, using our charter quote online tailored to your specific travel requirements.

#colorado #private jet #private jet charter #private flights

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ecgraphics-blog · 3 years ago

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Who Wants to see some Unforgettable Landscapes? An amazing week long self-drive vacation in South Dakota waits for you. Start your trip in Rapid City, where you'll be a short hour's drive away from several national parks and monuments. Next, you'll head east to explore the otherworldly beauty of Badlands National Park. In just 6 nights, you'll get a taste of all South Dakota has to offer! WHAT'S INCLUDED * Roundtrip economy class airfare to Rapid City (RAP) * Automatic rental car for the duration of your trip * Pick up and drop off RAP * 2 nights in Rapid City at Hotel Alex Johnson (Curio Collection by Hilton), or similar * 4 nights in Wall (near Badlands National Park) at the Best Western Plains Motel, or similar * Detailed day-by-day itinerary with trip highlights, hotel information, local guides, maps and daily driving instructions UNIQUE EXPLORATIONS * Travel up Skyline Drive for the best views of Rapid City. * See full-size replicas of dinosaurs at Dinosaur Park. * Drive the Badlands Loops State Scenic Highway. * Make the side trip to see Mount Rushmore. * Explore the Badlands' fossil sites. See if you can find your own fossil! PACKAGE OVERVIEW A vacation filled with fun and fossils! This trip is a great way to reignite your love of discovery. Two nights in Rapid City will get your vacation started. This family-friendly city is full of adventures that will delight everyone. Stay in the city to check out places like the Journey Museum and Learning Center or strike out a little farther and see iconic attractions like Mount Rushmore or Custer State Park - South Dakota's first state park. Then, drive off to the city of Wall! 4 nights in this area will put you right next to Badlands National Park, with spectacular views, outstanding sunsets and sunrises, and deep, dark nights where the Milky Way really stands out. Please Feel Free to Ask for a Detailed Itinerary Please note that some package inclusions may be restricted or unavailable at time of travel. We will substitute them with similar options of equivalent value, as available. $1,530 PER PERSON 6 NIGHTS (at Worldwide) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWL4GtZrFlV/?utm_medium=tumblr

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metawitches · 7 years ago

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Over Labor Day weekend 2017 (the 1st weekend in September) we visited Saguaro National Park and stayed in Tucson, AZ. We’d waited until September to take this trip in hopes of avoiding the worst of the summer heat, but Mother Nature had other ideas, so we were out with the cacti and lizards in the 100˚+ heat after all. Luckily, we are desert dwellers, so we knew how to prepare, and you can usually get a pretty good view of the National Parks without going far from your car.

We drove from Albuquerque to Tucson, since we’d never been that far south in New Mexico. Interstate Highway 25, which runs north/south between and Las Cruces, NM, about 40 miles from the Mexican border, also roughly follows El Camino Real from Santa Fe NM south to El Paso, TX. El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail was created by the Spanish conquistadors and colonists when Juan de Oñate led an expedition north from Mexico City to what is now Santa Fe, NM. The route formalized older footpaths and trade routes of the native peoples.

For the next 300 years, El Camino Real was the only wagon road into New Mexico and the Southwest, bringing thousands of colonists, missionaries and supply caravans from Southern New Spain into newly established Spanish towns that dotted the Rio Grande. The trail facilitated the introduction of horses, cattle, European agriculture and irrigation systems, exotic flora, and many cultural practices that still flourish in the region today. (From El Camino Real at nps.gov )

Someday, we’ll do the El Camino Real route justice and visit historic and interpretive sites in order, but for now, we stop here and there whenever we drive on part of it, and imagine what it was like.

From I-25, we turned west onto I-10, which took us all the way to Tucson. We encountered a border patrol stop not far west of Las Cruces. All cars were required to slow down so that they could see the passengers in the car. They only stopped cars when they didn’t like the look of the people inside. In a state that’s 48% Hispanic, at a spot that’s about 25 miles from the Mexican border. I’ll let you draw your own conclusions about who gets pulled over. 😡

Finally we reached our hotel, after an 8 hour drive (with stops). We stayed at the Lodge on the Desert, a gorgeous old 1930s hacienda that’s been updated into a 100 room boutique hotel. The grounds are landscaped with native desert plants and beautiful flowers, fountains, and a pool. The rooms have features such as Mexican tile, kiva fireplaces, and Spanish-Colonial style furniture. The complementary hot breakfast buffet can be enjoyed inside or outdoors in a courtyard with a fountain and fireplace. My only complaint is that the fixtures in the bathrooms were all built for giants, from the height of the sinks to the shower head. Everything else was lovely, especially the hardworking staff.

Saguaro National Park is made up of two separate districts, about 30 miles apart, on either side of Tucson. The Rincon Mountain District is on the eastern side, and the Tucson Mountain District is on the western side. Both parts of the park have scenic driving loops and visitor centers.

We started on the first day with the Rincon Mountain District. The visitor’s center is small, but it does have a few nice displays, and an orientation video. The park service staff is friendly and helpful. That’s been my experience at every national park, monument, wildlife refuge, etc., so it’s not unusual, but still nice. The driving loop has a large number of interpretive signs that explain what you’re seeing and the ecology and history of the area.

The saguaro are plentiful in this half of the park, but younger than in the western half. There were some major freezes in the 20th century that killed many of the saguaro in this section. I loved it though. It’s fascinating to see and read about the life stages of the saguaro. They tend to sprout under the shade of nurse plants, such as palo verde, making a pretty picture as the saguaro grows as large as its nurse plant. Sometimes a palo verde will be nursing several saguaro.

The east side was full of butterflies, especially huge butterflies. It was also grassy and flowery. We didn’t see much wildlife, other than the butterflies, probably because of the heat, but it was a beautiful and informative drive. Overall, I liked this half better on this trip, partly because this side of the park was much less crowded than the west side.

The west side is where the full grown saguaros live. The visitor’s center is bigger and fancier. There’s a very short interpretive trail just outside with the most common native plants labelled. That was the only trail we walked, because of the heat. There are also water bottle refill stations at both visitor centers.

The driving loop was unpaved (as of the weekend we were there- that could always change). It looked like it might have been bulldozed out recently, so maybe they’re planning to pave it. They weren’t any interpretive signs along the drive. We did see more birds, pollinators, lizards, and small mammals on this loop, despite the road being busier.

Metamaiden was especially taken with the full grown saguaros reaching for the sky. She liked the western district better.

After we left the western half of the national park, we stopped at the nearby Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. This wonderful place is a combination zoo, aquarium, botanical garden, natural history museum and art museum. The museum is dedicated to encouraging “people to live in harmony with the natural world by fostering love, appreciation, and understanding of the Sonoran Desert.”

85% of the museum is outdoors, so be prepared for the weather, but shade is readily available. The museum covers 21 acres with 2 miles of paths through various desert habitats, animal exhibits, art installations, and educational exhibits. It’s eclectic, fascinating, and fun. There were gorgeous flowers and giant butterflies everywhere. Hummingbirds get an aviary all to themselves.

Other highlights include the small aquarium, with its display of cute little garden eels; the otters, which can be viewed from above and underground; and the walk-in aviary with native birds such as a mother quail leading her babies across the paths. We only had time to see about a quarter of the museum. You could probably spend most of a day taking in the exhibits and attending the special live programs.

There are also restaurants and gift shops scattered throughout the grounds, and a bookstore near the entrance. The gift shops feature unique items, including regional arts, crafts and foods, many by Native American artists. The bookstore carries all of the books from the museum’s own ASDM Press, and many others on the human and natural history of the region, including books for children.

I was able to replace a book that I’d loaned out many years ago, Women’s Diaries of the Westward Journey, which is just what it sounds like- stories of female pioneers from 1840-1870 taken from primary sources, which I highly recommend. I also bought a second book, The Blue Tattoo: The Life of Olive Oatman, the true story of a 13 year old Mormon pioneer girl who was captured by Native Americans in 1851, assimilated into a tribe, traded back into European society at age 19, and ended up the wife of a wealthy Texas banker. Her chin was prominently tattooed while she was still a teenager with the tribes.

There were many other interesting sights to see in and around Tuscon that we couldn’t get to in just a weekend, so I have no doubt we’ll return someday. The largest rose bush in the world in the world, in Tombstone, AZ, won’t elude me forever.

El Camino Real: A Little History and a Few Photos

These were taken at and near a rest stop near Socorro, NM. Notice there are almost no trees for shade, but the ground is covered with spiky, spiny desert scrub that’s 2-4 feet high (about .5-1 meter). Imagine walking through that day after day in the blinding 100 degree heat, sometimes in winds of 20-30 miles and hour, no shade or rain in sight. The Rio Grande River is nearby, at least, but there were also hostile Native American tribes for parts of the journey. I am always in awe of what immigrants of all eras go through on their journeys.

This was the year 1598, years before the British established settlements in any part of North America.

Saguaro National Park- Rincon Mountain District: Cactus Forest Drive

This is the portion of the park that’s on the east side of Tuscon and was much less crowded when we were there. The saguaros are younger in this section than in the western part of the park. I included photos of the sign that explains the history behind the difference. We enjoyed seeing the mighty Saguaros during all of their life stages. It’s a bit like watching Groot grow up.

Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens)

Tucson in the Distance

Engelman’s Prickly Pear Cactus

Looking Back Toward the Visitors Center

Ocotillo and an Important Warning

Tortoise Xing

Chainfruit Cholla Cactus

Fishhook Barrel Cactus

Palo Verde Nursing a Young Saguaro

Where Have All the Sagauros Gone?

Saguaro National Park- Tucson Mountain District

These first three are views from the drive to the park. ☟

Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)

Saguaro skeleton.

This one has leftover flower remnants/seed pods on top of its arms.

Potential nest holes.

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

Click on any photo to enlarge.

Garden Eels. They are about as thick as a finger and up to 16 inches long.

Red Bird of Paradise, with and without butterflies.

Hummingbirds in the Hummingbird Aviary.

Passionflower and nest on cactus arms.

Dinosaur to Bird Evolution metal sculpture at the entrance to the Walk-In Aviary.

Birds in the aviary: (Clockwise from top left) Gambel’s Quail, Northern Bobwhite (2), Great-tailed Grackle, Steller’s Jay (2)

Otter and beaver, from above and below.

Sleeping Beaver. It was a long, busy day.

Sunset over El Camino Real on the drive back to Albuquerque.

Tucson, AZ and Saguaro National Park Weekend Trip Over Labor Day weekend 2017 (the 1st weekend in September) we visited Saguaro National Park and stayed in Tucson, AZ.

#Arizona #Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum #El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail #Lodge on the Desert #metacrone #Saguaro National Park #Tucson

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towneplacesuitesvernal · 7 months ago

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Make This Mother's Day Memorable at TownePlace Suites Vernal

Moms deserve to be celebrated every day, but Mother's Day is the perfect occasion to shower her with love, appreciation, and unforgettable experiences. This year, treat your mom to a unique getaway in Vernal, Utah, where adventure, relaxation, and lasting memories await.

TownePlace Suites Vernal, one of the best hotels near dinosaur national monument, offers the ideal home base for your Mother's Day celebration. Our spacious suites provide all the comforts of home, ensuring a relaxing and rejuvenating stay for you and your mom. Enjoy separate living and sleeping areas, fully equipped kitchens, and modern amenities designed to make your visit truly special.After a day of exploration, return to TownePlace Suites hotel Vernal, Utah and indulge in well-deserved relaxation. Treat your mom to a refreshing dip in our indoor pool or unwind in the hot tub. Enjoy a delicious meal together without the hassle of cooking, thanks to our fully equipped kitchens and nearby dining options. Book your stay at TownePlace Suites Vernal and create a special celebration she'll treasure forever.

#hotels vernal utah #marriott hotels #utah hotels #hotel near dinosaur national monument #green river utah hotels

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springhillsuite · 6 hours ago

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Book Hotel Rooms Near Me – Convenient Locations and Great Rates

Experience, comfort and convenience at Springhill Suites, Vernal's premier hotel for extended stays. Nestle near Vernal's oil and gas companies and just minutes from stunning Dinosaur National Monument, our hotel offers the ideal balance of work and fun.

Spacious Suites for Business and Leisure Enjoy large modern suites that are equipped with mini fridge, microwave and separate work and living areas. Perfect for business trips or family getaways with complementary Wi-Fi.

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Relaxation and Convenience Start your day with a free hot breakfast, unwind in our indoor pool and hot tub or stay active at a 24-hour fitness center. On-site barbecues, picnic areas. Inconvenience store Make it easy to settle in for an extended stay.

Book a room at Springhill Suites Vernal today and see why we are Uintah Basin's first choice for business and family travel. https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/velsh-springhill-suites-vernal/overview/

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ladystylestores · 4 years ago

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The Ultimate Southwest USA Road Trip Itinerary • The Blonde Abroad

Jen Tenzer is sharing her road trip itinerary for the Southwestern region of the USA!

The American Southwest is an absolutely stunning setting for a road trip and offers an unparalleled mix of gorgeous red rock views, national park hiking, mysticism, delicious (sometimes spicy!) food, and a rich culture steeped in Mexican and Native American history.

The dry heat makes it an ideal place to visit in the fall and spring months when you’re looking for a break from colder climates. Don’t forget, temperatures reach well over 100 degrees in the summer and the desert can still get snow in February!

This 2-week itinerary captures some of the best of the Southwest, including adventurous activities, nature walks, opportunities to unwind, foodie destinations, and cultural attractions.

The trip begins in Arizona, travels through New Mexico, and ends in Utah. You could easily travel this itinerary in the reverse direction and/or modify it to include more of Utah’s “Mighty 5” National Parks. There are some optional side trips in case you have more travel time!

Here’s the ultimate Southwest USA road trip itinerary!

Southwest Road Trip Highlights

Day 1: Arrive in Tuscon or Phoenix

Day 2-3: Sedona, Arizona

Day 4-5: The Grand Canyon

Day 6-8: Santa Fe, New Mexico

Day 9-12: Moab, Utah

Day 13-14: Salt Lake City, Utah

Day 1: Arrive in Tucson or Phoenix

This trip starts in either Tucson or Phoenix depending on convenience and uses either major city as more of a launchpad than a destination.

That being said, I’d highly recommend checking out Saguaro National Park just outside Tucson and/or hiking Camelback Mountain in Scottsdale.

Either city is a fantastic introduction to the scenery and overall laid back attitude of the Southwestern U.S.

Also, if you’re looking to add a bit of luxury to your road trip, both of these cities have gorgeous resorts where you can indulge! Start your trip with some spa time at Miraval Resort outside Tucson or at the Phoenician in Scottsdale; it’s the perfect way to begin a digital detox during your travels.

After you’ve melted into those well-deserved wind-in-your-hair vibes, drive the ~2 hours from Phoenix or ~3.5 hours from Tucson north to Sedona.

Sedona, Arizona

Day 2-3: Explore Sedona

Sedona is an adorable and mystical town set in the middle of the Arizona desert. It truly suits all appetites!

There are 200+ hiking trails surrounding the Sedona area. Slide Rock State Park is a great place for hiking that can also double as your camping spot; just make sure to reserve a campsite in advance.

Vortexes of Sedona

Some of the town’s most famous hiking trails, like Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock, travel through Sedona’s famed spiritual vortexes.

While I’m no expert on vortexes, they are believed to be specific locations on Earth where there is a swirling condensed center of spiritual energy. The Native Americans recognized the power of these places and often used them for sacred ceremonies.

Aside from hiking to them, you can experience Sedona’s vortexes through guided yoga and meditation classes out on the red rocks or from above in a sunrise hot air balloon ride. Even their local airport is an energy vortex you can visit!

What to Do + See in Downtown Sedona

Don’t forget to carve out some time to wander around the strip of downtown stores, which reflect this same woo-woo theme. Cute shops display gorgeous crystals in the windows and there are many spiritual healers available for service from psychic mediums to reiki healers.

I even had my aura read while in Sedona! (In case you’re curious, my aura is bright yellow and green with white light at the crown of my head.)

If the spirituality thing isn’t your jam, I’d highly recommend popping into a hidden gem called Blackbird Vintage, right off the main drag in Sedona. The shop owners have curated a high-quality collection of vintage Levi jeans, rock and roll tees, and other unique accessories.

Personally, I couldn’t resist a 1984 AC/DC tour t-shirt! (Check out their Etsy shop to see if anything new has come in, too!)

Where to Eat in Sedona

When you need to break away from the heat, a cold-pressed juice from Local Juicery is just what the doctor ordered. They also have a variety of colorful smoothies, salads, and bowls – all yummy!

I also recommend The Hudson, Mariposa’s Latin Grill, or Picazzo’s Healthy Italian Kitchen as dinner options.

Day 4-5: Explore the Grand Canyon

Where to Stay at the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon’s South Rim is about 2 hours north of Sedona. You have quite a few options on where to set up base camp for your canyon explorations.

Within the park, there are numerous camping options on the rim, as well as hotels run by the park—like The Grand Hotel and El Tovar. If you’re looking to stay down in the canyon, there are additional camping sites you can reserve as well as another park run lodging option called Phantom Ranch.

Just be mindful that any Grand Canyon National Park lodging options often book up roughly a year in advance!

If you don’t have that kind of advanced notice, there are plenty of hotel options located outside the park in Tusayan (~10 minutes drive), Williams (~1 hour) and Flagstaff (~1.5 hours). Tusayan is closest to the Grand Canyon, but is a very small town without many other attractions or restaurants.

Flagstaff is a larger college town with lots of restaurants, breweries, shops, and other activities (like seeing petroglyphs at nearby Walnut Canyon), but is a further drive from the park. Williams is a small historic town on old Route 66 that falls somewhere in the middle of these two in terms of size and distance.

What to Do at the Grand Canyon

You will likely want 2 full days to explore the Grand Canyon itself. Do not underestimate the difficulty of the hikes, particularly if you visit during warm months!

Because the canyon hikes are out-and-back, it’s sort of a reverse mountain; you end up with a hard, uphill battle after you’ve already burned through half the trail. For that reason, the rangers strongly discourage hiking from the rim to the river and back in a single day.

Plan on either hiking down to the river and staying somewhere in the canyon overnight or hiking only a portion of the trail and back up to the rim. There are various stop-off vistas with water sources and bathrooms that make for excellent turnaround points.

I loved hiking both the popular South Kaibab Trail and Bright Angel Trails, but was very happy that I turned around after 2-3 miles to head back up to the rim!

If you have some extra time to kill before heading out of northern Arizona, definitely check out Havasu Falls, Antelope Canyon, and/or Monument Valley as additional side trips!

The crater is massive at 700 feet deep and 3/4 mile wide.

Day 6: Drive to Santa Fe

The drive from the Grand Canyon to Santa Fe is lengthy at about ~7 hours, so you should assume this drive eats up a full day of travel. That being said, there are plenty of stops along I-40 to make the most of it!

For starters, about an hour east of Flagstaff is Meteor Crater where you can see the impact remains of a meteor that crashed to earth 50,000 years ago. The crater is massive at 700 feet deep and ¾ mile wide.

It was used as a training site for the Apollo missions because of its similarity to the moon’s surface. Pretty neat and something you probably won’t see again given it’s in the middle of the desert!

Make a Pit Stop in Winslow, Arizona

Another fun touristy pit stop to fill up on gas and food is Winslow, Arizona. This small town was made famous from the 1972 Eagles’ hit “Take it Easy” with the lyrics:

“Now I’m a-standin’ on the corner in Winslow, Arizona With such a fine sight to see It’s a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford Slowin’ down to have a look at me”

Across the street from your flatbed Ford photo op is Relic Road Brewing where you can pair a solid beer and burger before continuing along I-40.

Painted Desert + Petrified Forest

Lastly, spend a couple of hours checking out the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Park where you can see ancient dinosaur-era crystallized logs and gradient-colored teepee mountains.

All of these stops remain en route to your next Southwestern destination!

Day 7-8: Explore Santa Fe

Welcome to New Mexico! From the moment you pull into Santa Fe and see its beautiful Pueblo-style architecture, you know you’ve reached somewhere special. The town is rich with Mexican and Native American culture.

An amazing way to start your day in Santa Fe is at the Sage Bakehouse where you can sample their delicious artisan bread loaves, pastries, sandwiches, and quiches with a giant cup of coffee. I absolutely loved their homemade peach preserves atop some crusty sourdough!

You could spend hours wandering the tiny streets and shops of Santa Fe picking up perfect gifts – I scored a truly unique Mexican blanket, local salsa, and a painted silk scarf which were all absolute hits with friends and family.

Santa Fe is also an art lover’s dream with several local galleries and museums, including the Museum of International Folk Art and the Georgia O’Keefe Museum.

Where to Eat + Drink in Santa Fe

After a long day of walking around, grab a cocktail and a seat with a view at The Bell Tower Bar, a rooftop bar inside La Fonda hotel near the main square.

Santa Fe’s delicious food scene carries through to dinner. I’d highly recommend La Choza Restaurant to try NM’s famed red and green chili tacos. If you’re in the mood for Indian food, Paper Dosa is outstanding – foodies truly can’t go wrong in this town.

Other popular spots include Modern General Feed and Seed, Paloma Restaurant, and The Pantry.

Newspaper Rock has one of the largest collections of prehistoric petroglyphs in the U.S.

Day 9: Drive to Moab

The drive from Santa Fe to Moab is another long day of road tripping at about 6 hours. You can help break up the drive by stopping at various ancient ruins along the way, such as the Pueblo settlements of Bandelier National Monument, the beautiful Puye Cliff Dwellings, and/or Mesa Verde National Park.

Closer to Moab, check out Newspaper Rock where you can see one of the largest collections of prehistoric petroglyphs in the U.S.

If you have some more time to extend this leg of the trip, consider adding on Great Sand Dunes National Park where you can sled down the sand dunes or the Four Corners Monument where you can place your feet in 4 states at the same time.

Day 10-12: Explore Moab

With a Mars-like red rock landscape, two national parks, and tons of adventurous off-roading activities, the town of Moab is a must.

Before heading out for the trails, you will definitely want to fuel up with a flat white or egg sandwich at Moab Garage Co.

I visited this cute café multiple times during my stay to try their salads, sandwiches, and their special Nitroccino (essentially, an espresso milkshake)!

You will want a full day to explore each of Arches and Canyonlands NP’s, but don’t forget to leave some extra time to explore the town and take in a Hummer or ATV tour!

This town is famous for its off-roading trails and you will see loads of ATV’s trolling down the main street alongside the cars.

I took an ATV excursion with High Point Hummer & ATV Tours and had the BEST time speeding around the bumpy terrain outside Canyonlands at the Merrimack and Monitor Buttes. Other super popular off-roading trails nearby include Hell’s Revenge and Fins & Things.

Where to Eat in Moab

An extremely popular (outdoor) lunch spot to check out is the Quesadilla Mobilla food truck where I devoured a cheesy spinach and sweet potato combination that I will never forget!

I’d also recommend Fiesta Mexicana, Miguel’s Baja Grill, Jailhouse Café, and the Moab Brewery (you’ll see their beers on sale throughout Utah)!

Where to Stay in Moab

There are plenty of different places to stay in and around Moab including Airbnb’s with desert vista backyards, camping in Dead Horse Point State Park, and hotels at various price points.

I loved the pool and restaurant at the Hilton’s Hoodoo Moab, but also enjoyed a couple of relaxing nights at an Airbnb just outside town – the stargazing is crystal clear!

Great Salt Lake Desert

Park City

Day 13-14: Explore Salt Lake City

This city has so much to offer! Depending on what time of year you visit, you can spend your days skiing in nearby Park City or dipping your toes into the cool waters of the Great Salt Lake.

The city is set alongside the mountains so you get the benefit of many hiking trails and nature activities plus a trendy and well-established food scene.

Ensign Peak Trail just north of Capitol Hill is a lovely way to get a lay of the land and see the entire city from above. I loved walking around the Sugar House neighborhood and enjoying al fresco beer flights at the Wasatch Brew Pub.

There is also scooter-sharing all over SLC and it’s a fun way to breeze through different neighborhoods!

Where to Eat in Salt Lake City

I did my fair share of dining in this town and would highly recommend The Rose Establishment for chrysanthemum lattes and sweet treats.

Head to Current Fish & Oyster for incredibly fresh and upscale seafood.

And don’t miss out on Crown Burger! This SLC fast-food spot is famous for its pastrami topped cheeseburgers…which are even more delicious than they sound!

And don’t forget the fry sauce – Utah has a longstanding obsession with this ketchup and mayo combo; you’ll see it on nearly all fried food menus!

Outside of Salt Lake City

A couple of must-do quick drives just outside the city include Antelope Island State Park where bison roam freely, as well as the Bonneville Salt Flats where you’ll feel like you’ve traveled all the way to Bolivia!

Access to these salt flats is free via a rest stop west on I-80. You can even drive on it! The Bonneville Speedway nearby holds numerous land speed records for 400+ mph on the salt surface.

Just make sure to give your car a thorough scrub afterward to scrape off the corrosive salt, as well as whatever other red dirt your car has collected on this ultimate Southwest itinerary!

And there you have it, folks! The ultimate Southwest USA road trip itinerary. Are there any hot spots you would add to this route?

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wikitopx · 5 years ago

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In addition to the traditional attractions of D.C. - Smithsonian museum, United States Congress, monuments - you'll find fresh food, art and night views.

You can spend the morning browsing the farmers' market cache and contemporary exhibitions and taking afternoon views from the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument before watching the show at the Performing Arts Center John F. Kennedy. If you plan to visit at the end of March and into April, don't miss wandering along the Tidal Basin, where you'll find thousands of pink cherry blossoms, not to mention excellent conditions for exploring the city's neighborhoods.

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1. Lincoln Memorial

Although the Lincoln Memorial is just one of many County monuments, Honest Abe in real life is also one of the favorite places for visitors. History buffs can enjoy the man of two famous (though powerful) speeches, the second opening address and the Gettysburg Address, both of which are carved into the opposite walls of the monument.

Fans of art and architecture history will enjoy the building's striking design by Henry Bacon, complete with 38 Doric columns, 36 of which represent states in the Union. states when Lincoln died.

While most agree that the Lincoln Memorial is worth checking out during the day or at night, many tourists have recently said the most attractive time to visit is after dark when the attraction is lit. brighter and less crowded. In addition, evening temps will make the peak summer visit more comfortable.

2. Vietnam Veterans and Korean War Veterans Memorials

One of the most moving war memorials, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial - or "The Wall," as it is often referred to - is a long black granite wall with the names of more than 58,000 Americans lost. networks during the Vietnam War were raised on the surface.

Recent visitors have said their visits to the site are heartbreaking but stimulating and powerful, adding that even the most difficult people will find it difficult to read. the name of the wall.

If you are looking for a specific person, keep in mind that the names of the soldiers are organized by the date they died, not alphabetically. Also, reviewers recommend using the attraction's name books and visiting during the day when there's ample sunlight.

As you wander along the east side of the Mall, venture out to the Korean War Veterans Memorial. In honor of the 1.5 million people who served in the "Forgotten War," this privately-funded site features 19 stainless steel statues of soldiers in combat.

In a triangular area called the Field of Service, the soldiers' statues march toward an American flag. Next to the soldiers is a 164-foot-long granite wall of homage to the unknown armies that fought during the Korean War.

Another highlight of the monument is the Pool of Remembrance, a quiet place to reflect. However, some past visitors warn that the monument lacks signs, so young travelers may not understand as much as those who lived through the war.

3. The Tidal Basin

If you've never been to D.C. earlier, planning to spend some time along the Tidal Basin, a 2-mile-long pond that once associated with the Potomac River and acted as the backdrop for some of D.C.'s most favorite places.

Every spring, the Tidal Basin bursts with color when cherry blossom trees (given to D.C. from Tokyo) bloom into cotton candy-colored tufts, and they attract a lot of visitors. You can follow the path around the basin, but many visitors have recently suggested testing the waters on a rowing boat.

Paddleboats are available to rent starting March 15 for $18 per hour for a two-passenger boat or $30 per hour for a four-passenger boat. You can pick up a paddle boat every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from March 15 to October 9 from the marina near Maine Avenue.

Even if you don't make it to town for the cherry blossoms, you won't want to miss the three memorials that can be found along the Tidal Basin's shores: the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial.

4. Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

[caption id="attachment_703186" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] [/caption]

Attracting millions of people each year, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum contains a trove of celebrated aircraft, including Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Vega 5B, Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St.

Flyer 1903 Wright of Louis and Wilbur and Orville Wright, among others. The exhibition includes a flight simulator, an IMAX theater, and Einstein Observatory. And parents beware: The three-level gift shop is huge, so get ready for pleas from your kids.

Tourists recommend arriving in the morning to avoid the heaviest crowds, which will inevitably flock in, especially once summer rolls around. Some say that parts of the museum also start to look worn, but insist this is a must-visit site for families and aviation enthusiasts.

5. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

You need to be in the right mind to visit this serious museum focused on the brutality of the Holocaust during World War II. Upon entering the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, you will be issued with an identification card with the name and personal information of a person who has actually experienced the Holocaust;

As you move through the exhibits - Hitler rose to power, propagated anti-Semitism, the terror of the Ultimate Solution - you will be updated about the health of your being.

Past visitors are moved by this powerful museum but warn that its graphic collection is not ideal for young children. Many are particularly impressed with its informative, thorough and respectful display, plus you can easily spend a few hours browsing through its halls.

Tickets are free to visit the museum's permanent exhibition between September and February but are required in the spring and summer and often run out, so consider making your reservation online.

Exhibits and other facilities such as Memorial Hall, Survivors, and Victim Resource Center, library, restrooms, and gift shops can be accessed year-round without tickets.

6. National Gallery of Art

If you are an art connoisseur, you should stop by the National Art Gallery. Including the East Building, which houses the more modern works of the gallery (think: Henri Matisse and Mark Rothko), and the Western Building, which contains the old works of the collection (from Sandro Botticelli to Claude Monet), this museum has enough to fill an entire afternoon;

Pace yourself and maybe order a coffee, gelato or lunch at one of the gallery's five bars and cafes.

Also, if you're traveling in the summertime on a Friday evening, past visitors recommend heading into the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. for some jazz.

Or, tourists suggest catching one of the free concerts offered in the auditorium of the East Building and the East and West Garden courts of the West Building. Monday is available every Sunday night from February to June.

7. The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Many tourists strongly encourage visiting the John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center, built and named for the beloved US President Camelot. The Kennedy Center has the National Symphony Orchestra, the Suzanne Farrell Ballet Theater and the Washington National Opera, as well as a number of other theaters and music performances throughout the year.

Although ticket prices run a bit high, you can take in performance for free on the Millennium Stage. Past visitors love to take part in a program at the Kennedy Center, adding that the venue's rooftop terrace has spectacular views of the Potomac River and the surrounding area.

To learn about the history and architecture of the theater, recent visitors recommend taking one of the building's free guided tours. Tours are provided several times a day by theater volunteers on weekdays from 10 am to 5 pm. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 1 pm.

8. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

With over 126 million exhibits on display, this powerful Smithsonian museum at the National Mall attracts millions of visitors every year. Some of the museum's highlights include tarantula feedings in the O.

Orkin Insect Zoo and replicas of giant whales and other sea creatures in the Sant Ocean Hall are 23,000 square meters. You can also venture to the IMAX Theater Samuel C. Johnson for a show or the Butterfly Pavilion for some fun with colorful bugs.

And not stopping at the Smithsonian's Natural History Museum will be completed without stopping by David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins, which traces the history of human species over the past 6 million years and displays life-size models of early human faces generated using modern forensic techniques.

While the museum's famous National Fossil Hall is currently closed while it is undergoing renovation, the dinosaur fossils can be seen in the exhibition "The Last American Dinosaurs: Discovering a Lost World" on the floor. two.

9. Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture

Designed to replicate the three-tiered crowns found in Yoruban art from West Africa, with bronze-colored latticework accents that honor the United States' slave roots, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture opened on 2016 National Mall.

More than 36,000 African American artifacts are displayed inside, including photographs of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and a fedora once worn by Michael Jackson. Although you may have felt when looking around the hotel, past tourists said the museum was "phenomenal" and well worth a visit.

But remember, this institution is still fairly new, so you will need to get free entry from time to time. Same-day tickets are available every day at 6:30 a.m., while advance passes for visits that are three months away are released on the museum's ticket page on the first Wednesday of every month at 9 a.m.

Both are offered on a first-come, first-served basis until they run out. A limited number of walks are also available on weekdays beginning at 1 pm.

10. Washington National Cathedral

Construction first started on this grand cathedral - the sixth-largest in the world - in 1907, but it was not actually completed until 1990. Designed in the Gothic style, the Washington National Cathedral sits surrounded by gardens, creating a pleasant atmosphere for visitors.

Take a stroll around the church and see the tall tunnels and flying pillars, or step inside to admire its intricate stained glass windows. Another highlight is the church's Gargoyle Tour.

This tour - provided from May to September - gives you the opportunity to admire the stone steles and gutters of the building. (There is even a Darth Vader gutter appointed in the 1980s along the right side of the northwest tower.)

More ideals for you: Top 10 cheap hotels in Door County

From : https://wikitopx.com/travel/top-10-things-to-do-in-washington-dc-2-703180.html

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travelguideworldtour-blog · 6 years ago

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London Travel Guide – Tips for Visiting London

London is among the biggest & most densely populated cities on earth. Additionally, it is a frequent stop on many holiday trips, European vacations, or even last-minute vacations. Everybody wants to visit London! Individuals are interested in it by graphics of bars, museums, theatre, and even royalty. London is actually really just a cultural and fashion capital, a wonderful spot to really go outside, and also an remarkable location to consume. There is always something fresh to complete! The one issue with London is the fact that it is extremely, very costly; it may eat away at your allowance in the event that you are not attentive. Fortunately, you will find a lot of cheap or free things you can do in London which may meet your own time. But simply make certain to budget extra with this particular city — you’ll want it!

10 Top Tourist Attractions in London

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey is a large, mainly Gothic, church located just to the west at the Palace of Westminster. It really is but one of the very prominent religious buildings at the uk and will be the original place of coronation and burial site for English and, after, British monarchs. The majority of the current building dates from 1245 into 1272 if Henry III made a decision to reconstruct an old abbey from the Gothic design. The construction was later somewhat enlarged: the Chapel of Henry VII has been inserted between 1503 and 1512, whereas both West Front Towers date in 1745.

Palace of Westminster

The Palace of Westminster is the Chair of Parliament at the Uk. The present building largely dates from the 19th century as it was rebuilt after a fire at an excellent example of Victorian neo-Gothic structure. The House of Commons is found to the north of this construction and can be decorated with green leather upholstery, and also the House of Lords is found south west east and decorated with white leather upholstery.

St. Paul’s Cathedral

Built in the 17th century, St. Paul’s Cathedral is among London’s most famous & most recognizable sights. The Cathedral has been heroically rescued by fire fighters as it had been bombed during the 2nd World War. Its striking dome has been motivated from St Peter’s Basilica at Rome and climbs 118 meters into the crossover during its summit. This had been the greatest construction in London in 1710 to 1962, and its dome can also be one of the greatest on the planet.

Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square is actually really just a massive city square-foot Lord Horatio Nelson’s victory against Napoleon’s navy at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The fundamental monument over the square can be one tall pillar which the amount of Nelson stands over London. His island is surrounded by four gigantic dinosaurs and also a run of enormous fountains. More than an open plaza, Trafalgar Square is arguably amongst the very famed city squares in the world, and it has come to be a societal and political site for tourists and Londoners alike.

Tower of London

Currently home to the Crown Jewels, the Tower of London was built by William the Conqueror in 1078. It functioned as a prison out of 1100 into the mid twentieth century. This has caused the term”provided for the Tower”, which . Famous offenders Involve Sir Thomas More, King Henry VI, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard and Rudolph Hess. Now the Tower of London is now still amongst the hottest London tourist attractions.

London Eye

Situated on the banks of the River Thames, the London Eye can be a enormous, 135 meter high observation wheel carrying 32 outside glass-walled capsules. It gives fantastic views over central London. The wheel will not normally stop to undertake passengers whilst the spinning speed is slow enough to allow passengers to walk off the capsules in bottom level. It’s by far the most used tourist attraction from britain, seen by over 3.5 million people yearly.

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace may be your most important house of Queen Elizabeth II though it’s possessed by the British country and also really isn’t the monarch’s personal real estate. Even the Fore-court of Buckingham Palace can be employed for Changing of the Guard, a Significant service and tourist appeal. Between May and July the protector changes daily and on alternative days the remainder of the season. Since 1993, the palace country rooms are around the general public throughout August and September.

British Museum

Buckingham Palace maybe the essential house of Queen Elizabeth II though it’s owned by the British country and in addition is not the monarch’s real estate. The Fore Court of Buckingham Palace may be utilized for Changing of the Guard, a Substantial tourist and service attraction. Between May and July the shield varies each day and on other days the remaining of the growing summer season. Since 1993, the palace country places are round the average man or woman all through August and September.

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is a Joint bascule and suspension bridge from London, Across the River Thames. It’s near the Tower of London, that gives it its name, and it is now an iconic emblem of London. Construction started in 1886 and took eight years to build. The bridge includes 2 towers that are attached together in the top level in the shape of two flat paths that are intended to defy the forces of these suspended segments of their bridge.

Big Ben

The 150 year-old Big Ben clocktower is just one of the greatest attractions in London. The name Big Ben actually refers not to the clock tower , however into the 13 ton bell placed inside the tower also carries its name from the guy who ordered the bell, Sir Benjamin Hall. The presentday Big Ben shot has been assembled in 1858 after having a very first bell of 16 loads broken irreparably a couple of decades prior. The clock has turned into a favorite attraction, and it has appeared in several films. From the film Mars Attacks! As an instance the Big Ben is destroyed with a UFO attack.

Best Time To Visit

Spring starts early at the U.K., which is best in differently jelqing weather (still: package an umbrella). Mild winters and also conventional xmas markets create November and December hot, too.

London Transportation

Choose in the metro (known as the underground or tube; one ride starts at $2.60) for trucks, ships, commuter trains and flights. Transport is broken up into zones; so the farther the zone is out of central London, the more costly it’s going to be to arrive. If you should be at the town for a couple of days, buy a wise card, and then also consider per day ($9.90) per a week pass ($49.50).

London Weather

January is the coldest month, with a mean low of 7 °C and July is the hottest month, with a mean high of 19 °C.

Money Saving Tips

Visit all the free museums – The Majority of the museums in London are liberated — that the Museum of Londonthe British History Museum, the Natural History Museum, and the Science Museum are great. Get your fill of history without having to spend a pence! The National Gallery and the Tate Modern are free and therefore so are a few of my favorites.

Buy an Oyster Card – This prepaid credit card can help you help save you about 50 percent on each subway. If you anticipate utilizing the tubing alot, make this card! In the event you leave and possess extra on the card, then they can even refund the total amount!

People watch at the markets – Sunday is market day at London. There is the Camden Market, the Portobello Market, the Flower Market, and several thousand more choices. Folks today see, capture amazing photos, and relish local London lifetime without having to spend a dime.

Watch the changing of the guards – The changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace are at 11:30am, and also the horse guards in Whitehall shift at 11:00 am. All these are both interesting and free to see because you ingest authentic British flare.

Just walk and explore – London is a enormous metropolis, and also there are amazing historic buildings all over. I walked four hours and scarcely made a dent to the road I had been going to shoot (thus the requirement to find the Oyster Card.) Nevertheless, as soon as you walk and escape the tourist area across the Thames, then you are going to have to see London exactly the way in which the tourists do. You are able to get free maps of revealing walking paths round the funding from some one of London’s tourist advice shops.

Last minute theater tickets – You’re able to obtain last minute tickets into the theater from the state booth at Leicester Square. Availability varies each and every single day, so make sure you make it early.

Skip the cabs – Taxis are very pricey in London and certainly will eat into your budget by simply choosing them . I remained out past once the tube shut night and the cab to my hotel was 31 GBP! If you commence taking taxis anywhere, you are going to wind up spending tens of thousands of dollars every day, so bear this in your mind.

Master the night bus – To prevent taking costly flights, make certain you receive yourself a map of their nighttime bus paths and that means that you may return to your own hotel/hostel on the economical. These buses move throughout the town and in the suburbs. You might even utilize your Oyster card on those buses. In reality, buses are necessarily the most affordable public transport option!

Stay at a Hola Hostel – Hola Hostels is just really a system of hostels mostly in South and Central America, though they currently have locations around Europe, too. They provide you a 10% reduction with their associates, in addition to additional regional discounts for activities and food. Joining is completely totally absolutely free of charge, and also their hostels may also be devoted to environmentally sustainable techniques.

London Travel Guide – Tips for Visiting London

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campfiresandsandcastles · 6 years ago

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A Travel Guide for the Triangle Tour of East Texas: Dallas, Waco, Austin, Houston, and Fort Worth

We recently visited east Texas and travelled to 5 cities in 8 days. Our trip took us to Dallas, Waco, Austin, Houston, and Fort Worth, essentially making a large triangle on the map of Texas. Here I recount our whirlwind tour and provide some helpful hints for your future travels to these major cities of Texas.

Itinerary

Day One - Dallas

Day Two - Dallas

Day Three - Waco

Day Four - Austin

Day Five - The Woodlands, Houston

Day Six - Fort Worth

Day Seven - Forth Worth

Day One - Dallas

Arriving late the first day we spent the night near the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport at Dallas Marriott Las Colinas in Irving, Texas. The hotel had a perfect location given it was so close to the airport, but it was also across the street from the Toyota Music Factory, which provided lots of options for eating establishments, especially dinner. Plus, we came across the first of many larger-than-life bronze statues of western scenes that we soon learned are common across Texas. A square near the hotel had these beautiful stallions traversing a fountain. The area was under renovation when we visited, but the statues were still so majestic to see.

Meander Among 90,000 Pumpkins

We rented a car for our entire trip since we had a lot of driving ahead of us, and we spent the first full day in Dallas. The amount of attractions that Dallas has to offer is impressive. We spent the day at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, and since we visited in autumn, they had their Halloween and Thanksgiving display of over 90,000 pumpkins. The arboretum is beautiful and huge, spanning 66 acres. It is a popular spot to take wedding and quinceañera photos.

Plus, we paid to enter the children’s area named The Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden. I recommend visiting this section of the park, it has tons of environmental and science interactive displays including water cannons, a life-size tree to climb, and a maze.

The food options in this area are a bit slim, there’s a food spot advertised but it’s really only vending machines with tables for picnicking. Your best bet if you plan on staying in this section for any length of time with the kiddos is to bring a lunch. The main body of the arboretum has a stand to buy a quick lunch, plus a higher-end restaurant with linen tablecloths (it didn’t really look like a great place for young kids). We also saw a kiosk which looked like it served some yummy grilled cheese near the main entrance too.

Entrance to the arboretum was $15 for adults and $10 for children, plus an extra $3 for the children’s park.

We rounded out our first day with some very Americana activities including a trip to the arcade Dave and Buster’s, a visit to Half Price Books bookstore, and dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. The bookstore was so cool. It was huge and sold both used and new books. Plus, it had a large display of vinyl records, which just added to its retro vibe.

One observation I had about Dallas is that Dallasites (i.e., people from Dallas) do not stay home on Sundays, instead they go into the city. Every place we went to was packed with people. Strangely, the roads were not congested, but every place we visited – the arboretum, arcade, bookstore, and restaurant – was completely full of people. You go, Dallasites, way to take advantage of all your city has to offer!

We spent the night closer to the city of Dallas at Towneplace Suites Dallas Mesquite to be able to take full-advantage of time. This hotel was really lovely, but it ended up not being as close to downtown Dallas as we originally thought. But, we did get to park our rental car in the parking lot for free, which is difficult to find when you stay in the city of Dallas itself.

Day Two - Dallas

Feel Small Among Giants

As I said earlier, Dallas has a lot of attractions. We spent the second day in the Perot Museum of Nature and Science ($20 admission for adult, $13 for child). Such a cool place. First, the building itself is remarkable. It somewhat looks like the side of a limestone slab or cliff with cavities of blue glass in it which serves as an escalator. You actually start at the top level of the building and work your way down through the exhibits.

Plus, it’s full of these amazing life-size displays of dinosaur skeletons. You feel so minuscule standing under the skeleton of a brontosaurus-type dinosaur or realizing just how huge prehistoric turtles actually were. Plus, for fun, they periodically turn off the lights and project colored lights across the dinosaur bones creating a disco-type atmosphere.

Also, there are a number of just plain clever displays. One of our favorites was an interactive topographic map. It was a box of sand that showed the topography, by color, as you moved and piled the sand.

My son’s favorite display was a screen where you danced or moved around and dinosaur avatars mimicked your movement, so you can make breakdancing dinosaurs!

There was an additional temporary dinosaur exhibit at the museum that cost extra to attend ($10 for adult, $8 for child). However, we did not feel that the additional exhibit was any more spectacular than just their normal dinosaur display, and it wasn’t worth the additional cost. Also, the museum has a cafeteria, but unfortunately the food was not good. My husband’s hamburger, for example, was a shrunken charcoaled piece of meat, and it was overpriced, so I would not recommend eating at the museum.

Stand Among a Historic Must See

It seemed that it would have been a travesty if we visited downtown Dallas without stopping at Dealey Plaza, the site of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in 1963. It was such an impactful experience to actually stand on the grassy knoll and on the whited painted “X” on the street which indicates where the motorcade was positioned when the bullet killed the former president. Places we’ve only seen in grainy films from that day or television specials since then became hauntingly real. We simply walked around the historic area and read the various plaques and displays, but there is also a Sixth Floor Museum of the Texas School Book Depository and gift shop. Plus, there are plenty of willing tour guides and conspiracy theorists around this area if you want to “learn” even more.

Before we left Dallas for the night, we stopped at Pioneer Plaza to climb among the famous life-size bronze sculptures of 50 long-horned steers located at the corner of Young and Griffin Streets. Interestingly, if you climb up to the top of the hill that the steers are navigating down, there is a historic pioneer graveyard located there.

I was simply surprised to learn all of the attractions that the city of Dallas had to offer. Our two days there did not even scratch the surface of the various venues we would have liked to have visited. So, here’s a list of additional attractions that may be of interest to you, and be sure to let me know about your experience when you visit any of them:

Texas Theatre in the Oak Cliff neighborhood where Lee Harvey Oswald was found and arrested

Dallas World Aquarium

Galleria – Shopping mall with an ice rink in the center

NorthPark Center – High-end shopping mall, with notable sculptures.

Dallas Heritage Village at Old City Park

Texas Discovery Gardens – Ten themed gardens and they release butterflies at noon.

Fountain Place – 5th largest building in Dallas and home to Ewing Oil in the TV show “Dallas” with 172 fountains. Located at 1445 Ross Ave.

Dallas Museum of Art – Eclectic display. Free to enter. Plus, Klyde Warren Park located across the street has food trucks.

This night we spent the night in Waco at Waco South Towneplace Suites to be ready for our next day in this famous Fixer Upper town. Just a short walk from the hotel was Saltgrass Steak House, which provided a hearty Texas meal with plenty of red meat and the most delicious pumpkin cheesecake.

Day Three - Waco

Waco, the city made famous by just two events, the Branch Davidian raid with David Koresh in the early 90s, and the more recent hit HGTV show Fixer Upper which reveals the life of the sweet Christian family of Chip and Joanna Gaines as they flip houses from outdated 70’s-style ranches to shiplap laden gorgeousness. Just to note, we visited because of the latter, not the former.

In preparation for visiting this city, I even listened to the audio version of Chip Gaines’ then-recently published book “Capital Gaines” during the flight. It provides good insight into how this couple turned a small, home decoration store and construction business into the major enterprise it is today, while sharing some honest truths about running a small business. Surprisingly though, for all of Chip’s charisma and antics on the show, his voice was pretty monotone on the audio book and I have to admit did lull me to sleep a few times.

Come Hungry and Eat Well

We started our morning of the third day eating breakfast at the diner that Chip and Joanna Gaines recently opened named Magnolia Table where they serve Texas-size portions of French Toast, pancakes, eggs, and housemade tater tots. The employees at the restaurant are plentiful and beyond friendly. We were even greeted in the parking lot by an employee stationed there just to say hello to everyone who got out of their car. The diner also has a gift shop and an outdoor café where you can order coffee and such while you wait to be called for your table. Be prepared though, this places is popular, and for that reason they have a well-oiled machine of Disneyland-esque employees that politely redirect you if you attempt to (heaven forbid) try to walk into the restaurant. Thou shall not peak behind the curtain until your name is on the waiting list and you’re called inside to be seated. No looky-loos.

Visit a Paleontological Dig

With our bellies full, we journeyed to the north side of town to see a very cool place, the Waco Mammoth National Monument. For a nominal entrance fee of $5 for adults and $4 for children, you take a guided tour down a short path to this active paleontological site where they have discovered the nation’s only recorded discovery of a nursery herd of Columbian mammoths. This place was well worth the stop. You can actually peer down on real dinosaur bones that are still encased in the ground. Our guide was so knowledgeable and entertaining, it was such a pleasant and educational experience. I highly, highly recommend it.

The Real Reason for Staying in Waco

We then visited the Mecca of Waco, Texas, that is Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Market at the Silos. The property consists of a bakery, a home goods store, a garden center, a grassy area for romping around and playing lawn games, and a slew of food trucks. We stood in the line for the bakery that wrapped around the corner for their famous cupcakes, ate lunch from the food trucks, and wandered through the store picking up small items that would fit in our suitcase. The Market has free parking that is connected to the property off of 8th Street plus there is street parking, so feel free to skip the lots that offer parking for a mere $10. And like any good Christian store, the Market is closed on Sundays. They also have a discount store called the Warehouse Shop located on Bosque Blvd.

There are three other attractions in Waco that we did not visit but are worth mentioning. Again, if you check these, please let me know what you find:

Dr. Pepper Museum – I mean, why not?!

Harp Design Co. shop – The carpentry and now home good store made famous by Joanna Gaines’ devotion to the work of Clint Harp in Fixer Upper.

Baylor University

Overall, I was surprised that the city of Waco did not take more advantage of the fame that Fixer Upper brought to their city. The Market brings tens of thousands of people to Waco every day, but the city doesn’t seem to have capitalized on these visitors. The areas around both Magnolia Table and the Silos appear to be exactly the same as they were before the attractions existed. The shops and businesses are few and mostly look older and a bit rundown. There are no attractions in these areas of the city other than these two establishments. I guess I just expected the area to be bustling with boutique shops and restaurants, but none were to be found.

We finished the day by traveling to Austin to spend the night. We stayed the night at the boutique hotel called Hotel San Jose located in the South Congress area. The hotel is clean and hip and a refurbished two-story motel with polished cement floors in the rooms, a small outdoor bamboo-lined siting area, and tiny rectangular pool. We really liked it and it is a nice alternative to the sometimes sterile large-chain hotels.

We grabbed dinner at a burger place on South Congress in Austin called Hopdoddy Burger Bar, which is a chain restaurant, but they made some outstanding burgers.

Day Four - Austin

Pay Homage to the Lone Star State

We started our day in Austin at the Texas State Capitol. This is such a beautiful building. Rather than disrupt the charm of the original building when they needed to renovate for additional space, they decided to tunnel underneath the land to create underground offices for the expansion. You are welcome to enter the building, peer up at the ceiling of the rotunda, and find your way through the underground labyrinth with its skylights that allow natural light in from above.

Walk 6th Street

From there we walked the famed 6th Street that is lined with nightclubs and bars. When my husband and I visited Austin a decade ago we loved the evening we spent at Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar, but we had to pass this time given we had underaged kids in tow. I have to say that 6th street also seemed a lot grittier since the last time we visited. I know it’s best visited at night, but I was surprised by the amount of filth. We did manage to snag some donuts from the famous VooDoo Doughnut which serves crazy donut concoctions 24 hours a day…but cash only, no credit cards accepted.

Travel by Scooter

The real fun we had was when we visited the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail which is a paved trail along Lady Bird Lake (a.k.a. the Colorado River) in downtown Austin. We walked the area of the trail by The Long Center for the Performing Arts. The area is resplendent with rentable scooters and my kids each rode one around the trail. It is this amazing phenomenon that is happening around some of the larger cities (sorry if you’re already aware of this scooter invasion…we’ve been living out of the country for a bit). Rentable scooters are simply ditched in various popular areas, you activate and pay for them by using an app, ride them around for however long you choose, and then drop them wherever you choose. The scooters available in this park belonged to Bird and Uber. The kids had the most fun scootering while my husband and I enjoyed a peaceful walk.

Do Not Miss the Bats’ Mass Exodus

From the trail, we walked under South Congress Avenue Bridge and watched the massive amounts of bats that roost there during the day take flight at dusk from under the bridge. Just a constant stream of black little beings fly out together in mass and disperse into the night. It’s a major attraction of Austin and a definite must-see.

We ate dinner at Lucy’s Fried Chicken on South Congress which is obviously famous for its yummy fried chicken, but also its oysters. The décor is Texas retro with plenty of neon signs. We enjoyed sitting outside in their area with picnic tables lighted by string lights. Oh, and you’re encouraged to leave your mark on the walls of the restaurant too, so bring a Sharpie.

Overall, Austin has changed since our visit 10 years ago. It used to have a funkier vibe and was awash with food truck parks, but the vibe is now more business and the parks are virtually non-existent. Instead, they’ve been replaced by paved parking lots and high-rise buildings that employ the tech influx from Silicon Valley. Most troubling is that my favorite restaurant in Austin, Frank, which served the most delectable melt-in-your-mouth pork butt sandwich I have ever eaten, was shuttered. A notice on the door stated they had not paid their taxes. Beer steins still lined the bar and empty chairs sat around tables with their place settings intact, as if all of the patrons and staff had simply left mid-service. It made us wonder if the major migration of Californians to Austin had changed the atmosphere of the city, and just simply made it too expensive for the funky, homespun haunts of the past. I hate to think that another Googleplex will be standing in this spot during my next visit to Austin, but I would not be surprised.

Day Five - The Woodlands, Houston

I’m hesitant to even say we visited Houston, because we really did not. Instead, we traveled from Austin to the northern area of Houston called The Woodlands. Part of the purpose of this trip was to explore potential areas that we may be interested to live in in the future, hence The Woodlands. The Woodlands is a beautiful area in northern Houston that has done a very good job of doing what the name implies, maintaining the woods. All of the streets in this area are tree-lined, and even the strip malls are placed a good distance from the street and hidden behind stretches of trees.

This master-planned community has a central area with a town green, lined with high-end stores. Think Tiffany and Rolex-type stores. It is a really beautiful area, but we ultimately wondered if we may not have the income level or age level to fit in with the other patrons. It seemed like a great community if you’re retired, drive a high-end car or SUV, and enjoy passing your afternoons having lunch at an outdoor cafe on the green talking about your golf club membership. In contrast, we lunched at Potbelly Sandwich Shop, which is a chain sandwich and soup shop that I frequented during my college days in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

From The Woodlands we journeyed back through Dallas and ultimately landed in Fort Worth for the night. We stayed at the Courtyard Marriott at Fort Worth’s Historic Stockyards which had the coolest Texas cowboy decor. It was by-far the nicest Courtyard we’ve ever stayed at. And…wait for it…they even have a Starbucks inside.

Day Six - Fort Worth

I LOVED Fort Worth! What a pleasant surprise. First of all, the Fort Worth Visitor Center website is full of useful, clear information on the city and things to do in it. It is probably the best and most organized tourist bureau website I have ever seen. I highly recommend visiting their website before traveling to Fort Worth.

Watch a Long-Horn Cattle Drive

Our hotel was located in the area of the famed Fort Worth Stockyards. The Stockyards is a multi-block area of old-time saloons, western wear shops, the rodeo, and typical western-type things. I loved every bit of it. Twice a day they do a long-horned cattle drive right down the center of the street.

We also watched an entertaining old-time shootout complete with a stern Sheriff and his comical deputy side-kick. The area also has plenty of BBQ restaurants and stores selling cow hides, saddles, and spurs.

Plus, the Stockyards Championship Rodeo is held every Friday and Saturday at 8pm. Our hotel gave us free tickets and we had a blast. I sure do love my rodeos and this one did not disappoint. It had all of the traditional competitions including bull riding, barrel racing, and team calf roping. Plus, it had some fun activities for kids of different age groups to come down in the arena and run around for a prize, and they had a hilarious audience participation game that I won’t share anything else about because I don’t want to spoil the surprise ending…

Walk Among a Waterfall in the Middle of Downtown

We also drove and walked around downtown Fort Worth and visited Sundance Square. It is a cool area with water fountains, an outdoor area with chairs for sitting, and shopping. In the south area of downtown, we stopped at the Fort Worth Water Gardens. The Water Gardens are these large water displays that you can walk around and interact with right in the middle of the city. One is a waterfall feature where you can walk down large steps to reach the bottom by the rushing water. Another is a large tranquil man-made pond that is sunk 20 feet below ground.

Fort Worth is also home to:

TCU (Texas Christian University) – Beautiful grounds with a huge football stadium. The horned frogs and purple banners are displayed everywhere throughout the city.

Kimbell Art Museum

Fort Worth Museum of Science and History – An interactive museum

Texas Ballet Theater

Panther Island Pavilion – A beach where everyone sits in inflatables to see a band playing on the side of the river. So unique and cool.

Fort Worth Zoo – With a splash zone.

Day Seven - Fort Worth

Our second day in Fort Worth was spent driving around the city and outlying areas looking for potential areas to live in the future, just in case. We really loved this city and were so impressed with the city’s cleanliness. The roads, sidewalks, parks, and buildings were all so clean and well maintained. It was remarkable and impressive. The citizens definitely take pride in their city, and it shows.

We spent the final night back in Irving at the same hotel where it all began (Dallas Marriott Las Colinas in Irving, Texas) to be near the airport for our very early flight out the next morning.

Helpful Hints

Location: Dallas, Waco, Austin, Houston, and Fort Worth are located in the eastern side of Texas, forming a large triangle between Dallas, Austin and Houston.

Accommodations: We are avid Marriott Rewards members, so this trip we stayed at Marriott accommodations that best suited us and our every growing teen-age kids, except in Austin where we chose a boutique hotel in a popular area of town.

Tolls: Be prepared to pay lots of tolls as you navigate through Texas. However, you cannot pay cash for the tolls, they are all automatic tolls charged via your license plate. So, if you rent a car, be sure to read the fine print on how the rental car company handles the tolls or you may be hit with a large toll charge when you’re done, which will amount to mostly fees charged by the rental car company itself. Ask me how I know.

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orientcitiesllc · 6 years ago

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entertainment and historic journey to Georgia for 14-day

Our program includes the most famous and beautiful tourist places in Georgia , we have prepared the program very carefully with long experience in the field of tourism in Georgia , We will inform you of the most important tourist areas in Georgia, hoping that our programs will accept your satisfaction and your approbation

Day 1 : Arrival to Tbilisi AirPort , You will be met by the representatives of Orient Cities LLC: Tour Manager and Guide. Tour guide will meet you at the airport and transfer to the hotel for resting Then we go to the famous restaurant call (Al-Khankali ) for hospitality ,Where the wonderful atmosphere of Georgian society, musical activities and Georgian folk dancing, and then we will return to the hotel to resting and prepare for the next day. overnight at a hotel in Tbilisi

Day 2: After breakfast at the hotel, start our trips by visiting the Botanical Garden in Tbilisi (Heydar Aliyev Park) then we take a tour and an enjoyable adventure where the beautiful scenery and beautiful nature down to waterfall of the forest where we can take beautiful memorial photos near to the waterfall. we continues the trip to the statue of Georgian mother, which is one of the most important tourist attractions in the capital Tbilisi and then we descend the Chairlifts, which passes over the Metkvari river to see the old Tbilisi from the top , Then we visit Nariqala, the oldest castle which is one of the most important historical monuments in the capital Tbilisi , its built in the 4th century to protect the city from enemy attacks. The castle walls remained intact in spite of an earthquake in 1827 that destroyed several parts of the castle which is built in the 6th century . We conclude our tour by going to an Arab or Turkish restaurant for lunch and then to the hotel for rest.

After the resting we go to Pombora Park or (Pomboraz Parki) Located on the highest mountain of Metasminda. This place includes many restaurants , cafés, and games for adults and young people, Where we take the most beautiful souvenirs pictures from the top of the mountain, then we will back to the hotel for rest and overnight.

Day 3: After breakfast at the hotel we will leave Tbilisi and trip to Borjomi .Trip to picturesque Borjomi valley rich of diverse nature and mineral watersBorjomi spa town, famous with its mineral water “Borjomi”. Visit the park and taste mineral water. overnight at a hotel in Borjomi.

Day 4 : We will have breakfast at the hotel and then we will leave borjomi and tirp to Ahletsikha city Which it was the center of the Ottoman Empire and Russia At the present time it has been renovated Ahletsikha castle – called band Castle, its includes family palace of Jakeli, where the historical museum was built in 1923 and its renovated today and opened to visitors in 2012 as part of Georgian National Museum . It will be an interesting trip to this historic edifice !

We leave Ahletsikha city and continue our trip to Vardzia (the city of caves), built by George King III in the 12th century. It is one of the important places to visit to see the creativity digging caves through the rocks and then we will return to Borjomi for rest and overnight after the end of our interesting tour.

Day 5 : Visit Kutaisi Driving to Second largest city of Georgia founded about 40 centuries ago, former capital of the west Georgian Kingdom Colkhics, to which is related the myth of Golden Fleece and Argonauts. Visiting Bagrati Temple (11th century A.D.) and Gelati Monastery (12th century). Sataplia Grotto, where the prints of dinosaurs are found. Overnight in Batumi.

Day 6 : Visit Makhuntseti Waterfall The first destination from Batumi will be to Makhuntseti waterfall is located near the town of Keda, at 335 meters above sea level. Near the waterfall several picnic sites are available for visitors. While visiting the waterfall it is also possible to visit nearby tourist attractions, including the ancient arched stone Makhuntseti Bridge, Adjarian wine houses, and private wine cellars scattered throughout Keda Municipality. and then will Visit

Botanical garden which is located in Batumi, Georgia. It’s 10 km far from the city center Boasting one of the widest varieties of flora in the world. Overnight in Batumi

Day 7: After breakfast in the hotel, we leave Batumi and go to Kutaisi city , to the Tsakaltopo area, where we visit the fascinating Martvili area To rise the inflatable boats and a fantastic adventure descend to the slope below the cave, and then back the hotel for overnight

Day 8: we will Leave Kutaisi city at 9:00 am and return to the capital Tbilisi to rest in the hotel , then visit the Cathedral of Samiba , the largest religious edifice at all and one of the largest cathedrals in the world , Which is located on the shore of Kora river in the capital Tbilisi and was built on the basis of traditional (classical) building , and is one of the most beautiful tourist places in the capital , then we will return to the hotel after the end of our tour

Day 9: After breakfast we go to Ananori and visit Ananori Castle and the beautiful area which around . Then we continue to Gudhauri town and the endless mountain till the Caucasus Mountains, which are about 5500 meters above sea . We take the jeeps cars to go to top of the high mountain to take unforgettable pictures near the Gergetti church. We can also visit the waterfall which called Gvelti. We back down to eat in a Georgian restaurant and at the end of our wonderful tour we going to the hotel for overnight and resting .

Day 10: we will Leave Kazabighe city and back to the capital Tbilisi, we will stop in the road, especially in the Godawari city, where we can have a wonderful adventure to rise the balloon, and continue our way to the capital Tbilisi to rest and stay at the hotel

Day 11: We go to Metzkheta city, the oldest capital of Georgia, to see Metkvari and Arajoy rivers and visit the Church of Sveti Tskhovili. This church dating back to the eleventh century and it was religious center of the country for hundreds years. It has houses , a gate, a bell tower, and religious residences.. This cathedral was included on UNESCO World Heritage List. And then go to the top of mountain where the spectacular vision of Mtkvari and Arajoy rivers and then return to the capital Tbilisi for overnight .

Day 12: After breakfast we visit Costaba Lake , its also called Turtle Lake, where we can take a boat and then visit the Fake Park which is nearby the lake . then we will go to the hotel to rest after lunch at a restaurant.

After resting we go to famous Street called Rostaville, and we can see the old Parliament , freedom Square, and to the Schardini Street, which is full of Oriental and European cafes and restaurants . Our tour ends with Europa Park (Riga Park) and one of the most famous tourist attractions in the capital Is the glass bridge which is called (Peace Bridge) .

Day 13: Activities: After breakfast at the hotel We will go for shopping and buy gifts in the popular market Tbilisi Mall . We also will visit the East Point , which includes many recreational facilities for adults and children such as (bowling, billiards, movies, children’s games, etc.), and then will return to the hotel for resting and sleep and preparation for leaving next day

Day 14: We go to Tbilisi airport for departure. by blessing of god .

For reservations and inquiries:

Whatsapp Available

Mobile: 00995558113471

Tourism Department Mustafa Yassin

Package Includes:

Transfer from and to Tbilisi Airport

Inland transportation

Tour Guide Hotel

Accommodation (In the cities) Double room

Guest House Accommodation (in the villages)

Museums Entrance fees

Internet packages

Price Exclude:

Flights

Single room supplement

Meals except described

Alcoholic beverages

Travel insurance

entertainment and historic journey to Georgia for 14-day entertainment and historic journey to Georgia for 14-day Our program includes the most famous and beautiful tourist places in Georgia , we have prepared the program very carefully with long experience in the field of tourism in Georgia , We will inform you of the most important tourist areas in Georgia, hoping that our programs will accept your satisfaction and your approbation…

#Tour Package to Georgia #السياحة في جورجيا #برنامج سياحي #برنامج سياحي الى جورجيا

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