Browsing: United States of America

Visiting the Grand Canyon is truly a classic American vacation. Most folks have taken the helicopter ride over the canyon or hiked partially down the north or the south rims – definitely inspiring! But how many people have actually spent their vacation in the Havasu canyon? Never heard of it? Well you not the only one, and that’s too bad because it is a piece of paradise right in our backyard.

If you look at

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Grey’s Anatomy has made Seattle famous for ferry rides (and hot doctors), but there’s plenty more in this city. You can easily find fun things to do for a day – or even a week.  It’s also a very walkable city so you can try to keep fit while enjoying some of Seattle’s best treats, like gourmet food and chocolate. The only thing you can’t be guaranteed of enjoying is the weather. Bring the umbrella …

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Fourth of July. Independence Day. July 4th. Whatever you call it, it is one of the few truly American holidays and the Brits are still a little miffed! While the big cities and metropolitan areas put on spectacular shows, the true taste of Americana lies in the small town celebrations that take place all across the country. You are never far from a bicycle parade, a baby-kissing politician, some fireworks, and the bright …

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Most tourists believe that a trip to Hollywood guarantees a glimpse at some of Tinseltown’s biggest celebrities.  The truth is that unless you know where to look, the only stars you will be gazing at will be the celestial ones in the night sky.

B-list and below stars often want to be photographed for publicity purposes and they show up at restaurants and clubs where they know the paparazzi will find them.   A-list stars, such …

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To see and really know the Islands of Hawaii takes a minimum of six trips, one for each island. I for one would be willing to make that kind of commitment. But each island in Hawaii is a world of its own, and each deserves a leisurely pace, an opportunity to get to know it up close and personal. Far too many visitors to the islands make the mistake of trying to see and do …

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Getting away from the daily grind always has a reinvigorating effect on the psyche. Sometimes all it takes is an hour or two and other times it might take several weeks!  I have a friend who is still “reinvigorating” for a third year as he sails the world.  With Father’s Day coming up, why not consider reinvigorating yourself a little bit. The ladies are never shy about splurging on a spa treatment, so why not …

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Just a short, two hour drive heading north from the oppressive heat that strikes Phoenix during the summer months, is Flagstaff, Arizona.  While not the most picturesque drive imaginable, it is easy and direct. When temperatures are topping the triple digits on a daily basis, Flagstaff is a wonderful respite to get away from the heat and sink into nature, food and relaxation. It is not uncommon to leave Phoenix on a 118 degree day, …

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A wilting figure sits on a sunny Las Vegas sidewalk. His mouth feels as parched as the Nevada desert that surrounds him. Somewhere in the back of his head, a popstar taunts “that’s what you get for waking up in Vegas” repeatedly. His hangover thuds through his head as the lights of Sin City just won’t stop flickering. His voice cracks, “Hey man, you wanna buy an iPod? I gotta get money to get home.” …

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If you’re any sort of rock music fan, pack a bag and go to Memphis right now. Get up! Go! Tennessee’s largest city is heralded as the birthplace of rock and roll and it’s the ultimate musical pilgrimage for any music lover to embark upon.

Once you get there, you’ll be walking in the footsteps of great musical trailblazers like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and B.B. King, to name but a few. …

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Stop and smell the mustard on your own version of Spring Break this year. Smell the mustard?

Mustard is blooming in Napa Valley…stark vines stand out among the neon yellow at their feet. Great photos…even better wines. With about 400 wineries in the Napa area alone, this is one of the best times of the year to visit. Less tourists than summer means more personalized attention from winery owners and winemakers.

Make sure you do …

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The first St. Patrick’s Day Parade was celebrated in New York City, not Ireland, in 1762. That first parade consisted of a band of Irish ex-patriots and Irish military serving with the British Army which was stationed in New York City.  The wearing of the green was a source of Irish pride; but at the time was banned in Ireland. The participants in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade reveled in their ability to freely speak …

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Americans love fake experiences. We love authentic fake food at fast food outlets, authentic fake socializing online via Facebook and Twitter, authentic fake Rain Forests at shopping malls, authentic fake politicians who pretend to govern, authentic fake travel writers who…wait…scratch that last item. To paraphrase the great P.T. Barnum –“No one ever went broke by over-estimating America’s appetite for authentic fake travel experiences.” Which leads me to today’s subject…ORLANDO!

This year the Hilton World

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If you are like most who have never been to Hawaii, the state’s islands blend into a mass of unpronounceable vowels and indistinct images of a tropical paradise. The geography of the islands is not difficult, however, and all it takes is one trip to make visitors long to become experts. So if you have never been, or if you have only been to one island, this introduction should whet your appetite and familiarize you …

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