Clifton's cafeteria and bars are a great destination in LA. Go for casual dining or hang out in the amazing lounge areas. The restored historic building is a delightful surprise in the downtown area.
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If you are considering taking the whole family to Maui, you should know about Blue Soul Maui Tours. They can help you plan the perfect vacation for all ages and interests. You cannot have a better experience than when Charlie Fleck plans your family’s ideal trip to Maui. This is Maui simplified by Blue Soul Tours. The best way to see Maui: contact Charlie today for a personalized vacation you will remember forever. To start planning your perfect Maui trip, contact Blue Soul Maui Tours at http://bluesoulmaui.com/ or Charlie can be reached at phone number 808.269.1038 or by email at charlie.bluesoulmaui@gmail.com. As another year comes to a close today, I am making my recommendations for the best destinations of the year. Below are five of my favorite destinations that I visited in 2012. My Top 5 Destinations for 2012: 1. Savannah, Georgia 2. New York City, New York 3. Las Vegas, Nevada 4. Carefree, Arizona 5. Monument Valley Please read about each of these destinations here at The Ideal Trip. I hope your year has been filled with wonderful travels and that 2013 will bring more happy adventures!! Brutally honest blogs from a brutally honest reviewer.
Visiting Sedona: Sedona is an excellent place to visit for all ages and activity levels. Sedona provides many activities for hiking, biking, off-roading, atvs, quads, jeeps, horseback riding, plane and helicopter touring, water features, shopping, dining and great sites to see. Sedona is not an old city. It was founded in 1902. There are also great activities in the surrounding area. Flagstaff, Jerome, and many historic attractions. If you are a local, or have never been here before, you will find lots to do. I have been here many times, lived here for a bit of time, and I am certain you will enjoy your visit. Here is a great resource you need to know about! If you are planning a trip to New York City or you live in the NYC area, join the Theater Development Fund (TDF) for discounted tickets to hundreds of Broadway shows, Off-Broadway shows, music performances, and dance productions. Bargains of up to 70% off full-price tickets to hundreds of live productions are available each year. Tickets are available to Off-Off Broadway shows for as little as $9 each. Membership is $30 annually, but only one person of your group must be a member to purchase tickets (up to 9 tickets per performance). I joined TDF and used their simple website to book all my live theater prior to a trip to NYC. This is one resource both theater-lovers and bargain-travelers will want to use.
To qualify for TDF membership, you must belong to one of the following groups: • Full-time Students (high school or above) • Full-time Teachers (primary or junior high school faculty, high school faculty, university or college faculty, teacher of drama/dance/music) • Recent Graduates (26 years of age and under) • Full-time Union Members • Retirees (no longer working and at least 62 years of age or older) • Full-time Civil Service Employees • Full-time Staff Members of Not-for-Profit Organizations • Full-time Non-Exempt Employees • Full-time Performing Arts Professionals • Members of the Armed Forces • Full-time Clergy For more information on discounted live performances available throughout the New York area and TDF membership, visit http://www.tdf.org/. For additional cost-savers, see the article on free tours in New York City at http://www.theidealtrip.com/new-york-city.html. Don’t Miss This--
Terracotta Warriors: Defenders of China's First Emperor, an immersive exhibition of rare artifacts, can be seen now through August 26th at Discovery Times Square in New York City. I was fortunate enough to personally see the Terracotta Warriors in their original location in Xian during a visit to China many years ago. The Terracotta Warriors are considered one of the most significant archaeological finds of all time and it is an exceptional experience to see these creations. I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to see the Terracotta Warriors while they are here in the United States. This rare exhibit was created especially for display this summer in its Northeast U.S. debut and features authentic Terracotta Warriors, many artifacts that were buried with the warriors, items from Ancient China dating back to 221 BCE that have never been seen in the United States, and the world premiere of a set of gates from an ancient Han burial chamber. Very few original Terracotta Warriors are allowed out of China at any given time, so this is your opportunity to see them up close and personal. In addition, this carefully curated exhibit includes items from sixteen major museums in China’s Shaanxi province, where the tomb is located. If you can’t get to China soon to see them there, be sure to get to this unique exhibition while it is available in New York. The Terracotta Warriors, discovered accidentally by well diggers in 1974, were unearthed from the tomb of China’s Emperor, Qin Shihuangdi, who built sections of the Great Wall of China, unified ancient China, and established a system of government that influenced China for more than 2,000 years. The warriors were buried in his tomb along with thousands of other artifacts needed to protect him in the afterlife. It is estimated that more than 1,000 artisans were needed to create the 8,000 individualized life-size warriors. Construction of the tomb began when the Emperor was only 13 years old and continued for nearly 40 years. According to historians, this feat involved more than 700,000 laborers. To date, nearly 2,000 warriors and horses have been unearthed. Some of the most unique ones are featured in the exhibit now showing at Discovery Times Square, a partnership museum and exhibition center from the Discovery Channel. Discovery Times Square is located at 226 West 44th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenues, directly across from Shubert Alley. Discovery Times Square is open 7 days a week. Get there soon, as the exhibition is now in its final few weeks. This is one you won’t want to miss! For tickets to Terracotta Warriors: Defenders of China's First Emperor, more information on the exhibit, and help planning your visit to Discovery Times Square see: http://www.discoverytsx.com/. For more information on a recommended travel itinerary in China, including a visit to Xian to view the excavation site of the Terracotta Warriors, see the Destinations article on China at: http://www.theidealtrip.com/china.html. Are you looking for travel ideas, something fun to do this weekend, a unique activity at your next destination, an easy way to meet locals in a particular city, or just want to find travel inspiration? Consider joining a Meetup group somewhere new at Meetup.com. There are more than 100,000 Meetup groups to choose from around the world. You could choose to meetup with theater lovers in New York City, surfers in California, hikers in Alaska, or photographers in Hawaii. And now through July 15th, you can enter to win a trip up to $5,000 to attend a Meetup event anywhere in the world by RSVPing your attendance at an upcoming Meetup. I have attended several meetup activities in the past and found it a great way to meet new people and enjoy the activities I love. I just signed up for an art class for women and am looking forward to trying my hand at a new activity. I encourage you to check it out, get inspired, and have fun!
1. Beaches- head for a lake, river, or ocean
2. Staycations- explore your own city or state as a tourist and take advantage of locals-only deals 3. Sports- look into a surfing camp or pro baseball game 4. Resorts- check out resorts that cater specifically to your interests or family 5. Hot Spots- see how hot it can get in the desert 6. Cool Spots- head for the highest mountain peaks 7. Quiet- think about getting away from it all in an RV 8. All Inclusive- compare prices for destinations with everything-is-included-fun 9. National or State Parks- always a great idea for getaways 10. Cruises – perfect for unique destinations and simplified trip planning I just got back from Kansas City, Missouri (with a short bi-state hop over to Kansas City, Kansas) and was pleasantly surprised by the variety of activities available in such a small city. Kansas City, Missouri is the larger of the two cities with the same name and has a nice metropolitan feel. Some of the distinctive neighborhoods are just perfect for family getaways or girlfriend weekends because they are compact, walk-able, and offer easy and convenient accommodations, food, entertainment, and relaxation options. I always appreciate a good travel destination where I know I can spend many happy days and not have to worry about finding enough activities to keep everyone occupied or worrying about having enough dining choices to satisfy everyone. Kansas City had several neighborhoods that met these “worry-free” criteria for me: Power and Light District, Westport, and the Country Club Plaza area. I am sure that a family staying near the Power and Light District would really enjoy the downtown activities such as The College Basketball Experience, theaters, and bowling. The girls looking for a get-together would enjoy the Plaza area with its great restaurants, coffee shops, movie theater, and shopping. And for those who are looking for some weekend nightlife, the Westport area delivers with multiple pubs, bars, restaurants, and lounges, including trolley transportation to/from Westport and 7 other entertainment areas around the city aboard the Kansas City Strip trolley. If you are like me and want a hassle-free trip when traveling with a group, be sure to look for destinations with:
1) A variety of activities (both energetic and low-key, as well as, indoors and outdoors), 2) A variety of dining choices (upscale, low-cost, new, familiar, and highly-recommended), and, 3) Convenient access to both activities and dining (within walking distance, by public transportation, or a short cab/car ride). Over many years of traveling with family and friends, I have found this combination always makes for an ideal group trip. |
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