1,000 Places to See in the U.S.A. & Canada Before You Die
It’s a traveler’s life list, a guide, an inspiration, a memory book. Open it to check out where you’ve been, and where you should go next. What to see and what to do and what to show the kids. Where to eat and where to stay. And how to change your life.
Covering the U.S.A. and Canada like never before, here are 1,000 spectacular, compelling, essential, offbeat, utterly unforgettable places. Pristine beaches and national parks, world-class museums and the Corn Palace, mountain resorts, salmon-rich rivers, scenic byways, Chez Panisse and the country’s best taco, lush gardens and Holden Arboretum, mountain biking on the Maah Daah Hey trail, historic mansions, vineyards, hot springs, the Talladega Superspeedway, classic ballparks, and more. Includes more than 150 places of special interest to families, and, for every entry, the nuts and bolts of how and when to visit.
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Packing Must-Haves for Rail Journeys
Rail travel provides a myriad of opportunities unlike any other form of travel. It’s a potentially luxurious and casual way to get from point A to point B and it also offers you the opportunity to explore new areas. Rail travel also offers a few challenges, and one of them is what to pack.
Here are nine packing must-haves for rail journeys:
#1 An alarm clock. However, many phones and mobile devices have built-in alarm clocks. If you have this available to you, then packing an alarm clock is unnecessary.
#2 A pillow. A pillow will not only make the sleeping arrangements much more comfortable, it also makes daytime travel more pleasant.
#3 A blanket. Just like a pillow, it makes sleeping a bit more comfy, and it’s also nice to have one during the day if you get a chill.
#4 If you’re traveling with children, a mini DVD player is a wonderful way to buy time – particularly when they get tired of looking out the window. Read more »
Luxurious Honeymoon Travel Destinations
If you’re only going to do it once, you might as well do it right. So long Niagara Falls or a quaint retreat in the Poconos – today’s trend are luxurious honeymoons. Here are five super luxurious honeymoon travel destinations to get your mouth watering.
1. Santorini, Greece
Santorini is one of the most beautiful locations on the planet. With its white buildings and sparkling blue waters, it’s a dream honeymoon destination. And with the Perivolas, a group of 300 year-old restored caves, that also includes vineyards, wild fig trees, and amazing gardens, where guests are treated to luxury and tranquility. Room rates start at $565 per night. Visit http://www.perivolas.gr for more information.
2. Bali
Bali is a tropical paradise and the Oberoi is truly a most exotic and luxurious honeymoon travel destination. The honeymoon package at the Oberoi in Bali costs $1,400 for a private garden room villa; however, it includes three night’s stay, transfer to and from the airport, spa treatments, champagne, breakfast and a private dinner by candlelight. Awwww, how romantic!
For more information, visit http://www.oberoihotels.com/ Read more »
Pure Luxury – The Venice Simplon Orient Express
When most people think of rail travel, luxury is not the word that comes to mind. However, there are rail tours and trains that define luxury. One such service is the Venice Simplon Orient Express.
What Is the Venice Simplon Orient Express?
It is the Orient Express, the epitome of luxury and the railway that defined luxury travel. It’s a private luxury train service that travels from London to Venice.
Founded in 1982, the Venice Simplon has 35 cars including sleepers, restaurants and Pullman carriages. The first trip was made on 25 May 1982. The service is currently owned by Orient-Express Hotels Ltd.
It is the single most romantic and most stylish train anywhere in the world. When you close your eyes and imagine what train James Bond would ride on, it’s the Venice Simplon Orient Express – without a doubt.
Dining on the Orient Express
In addition to a bar car, there are three restaurant cars which serve lunch, dinner and brunch. These are:
* Lalique,
* Etoile du Nord
* Chinoise
Breakfast and afternoon tea are served to passengers in the comfort of the train’s luxury cabins. And an a la carte menu and 24-hour compartment service is available. Read more »
Rick Steves Silk Money Belt, Black, One Size
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Rail Passes 101
If you’re planning a trip by rail or doing an extended cross-country vacation where you’re going to be using the rail system, it pays to understand the rail pass system. Generally, a rail pass offers a financial advantage over buying single tickets every time you need to hop on board. Let’s take a look at the major destination countries and their rail pass systems.
#1 Europe
The Eurail or Eurorail provides travel throughout Europe. It services 25 countries and offers you the opportunity to pick and choose what countries you want to visit. There are four pass options:
* One country pass – this pass enables you to choose which one of 17 countries you want to visit. You also get to choose how many days, within a 30 day period, you’re going to be using your pass. Prices start at $49.
* Global Pass – this offers you unlimited travel throughout the continent over a predetermined period of days – two months for example. It also offers some benefits like cheap ferry rates. Read more »
European Scenic Rail Tours
Rail tours offer an unparalleled travel experience. They provide you the opportunity to explore the countryside in luxurious surroundings. And they take the travel responsibilities, which can be exhausting, out of your hands. All you have to do is sit back and enjoy the trip. And no trip is likely to be more beautiful and scenic than a European Rail tour. Here are three European scenic rail tours to check out.
1. Glacier Express
The Glacier Express is an express train connecting the two major mountain resorts of St. Moritz and Zermatt in the Swiss Alps. It is one of the most scenic rail trips available around the world and also one of the most popular. However, be forewarned – it’s not an express and rather has the reputation of being the slowest express train in the world.
Overall, a trip on the Glacier Express takes about seven and a half hours. It goes over the Oberalp pass at 6,670 feet in altitude. It also crosses 291 bridges and goes through 91 tunnels.
If you’ve ever longed to see the Swiss Alps and the Matterhorn, then the Glacier Express may be the perfect scenic rail tour for you. Read more »
North Americas Most Exciting Rail Trips
Looking for a trip by rail to explore some of the more beautiful and rugged areas of North America? Check out four of North America’s most exciting rail trips.
1. The Rocky Mountaineer
The Rocky Mountaineer is perhaps one of the most rugged and most beautiful railways in North America. Weaving its way through the Canadian Rockies, you just can’t see a more beautiful area any other way. The Rocky Mountaineer offers four distinct packages with travel durations lasting anywhere from two to eight days.
The First Passage to the West takes you through:
* Fraser Valley, Fraser and Thompson Canyons
* The Last Spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway
* Rogers Pass
* Spiral Tunnels
* Kicking Horse Pass
* Banff National Park
Journey Through the Clouds takes you through: Read more »
Traveler’s Choice Rio 2-Piece Lightweight Carry-On Luggage Set
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What Is a Medevac Plan and When Should I Invest in One
Sometimes vacations aren’t all we hope they’re going to be. Things happen and when you’re away from home, it pays to be extra protected. It pays to have insurance. If you’re traveling to a foreign country you may want to consider a Medevac plan.
A Medevac Plan is essentially health insurance or a medical evacuation plan. There are many reasons you may want to have this extra layer of protection on top of other health insurance and travel insurance coverage.
When Do You Need a Medevac Plan?
* If you’re traveling to a war-torn country or a country that’s experiencing violence or protesting against the government, you may want Medevac insurance.
* If you’re traveling to a country with poor health care, you may want a Medevac plan. This would help you if you came down with a medical emergency like appendicitis. Read more »
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