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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On a pleasant sunny summer day you may want to ride the Trax line to downtown Salt Lake City to visit the historic Union Pacific Railroad depot and shop at the outdoor Gateway Mall. 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. Desert Spring Flowers Spring has finally sprung and it is time to think about finding the ideal sunny weather destinations. If you are looking to thaw out from a cold winter, seeking out some sunshine and flowers, or planning your future summer travels, this is the time to Think Spring. You can find the desert in bloom in Southern Arizona right now and this is a good time to visit the uncrowded beaches of Florida. The Caribbean is a good place for sun seekers this time of year and it is an ideal time to visit the Hawaiian Islands. Wherever you travel in the coming months I hope you will find it to be a time of renewal that lifts your spirits and refreshes you in both mind and body. 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!! 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. Preparations for my next trip are well underway. I am off to New York City in the early fall. New York City is truly one of the Great Cities of the World. And I am really looking forward to spending time there to do and see the things that are unique to that city. Follow this blog as I report on the best tips for planning the ideal trip to New York City. I will tell you about helpful time-, sanity- and money-saving hints for your visit to NYC. I will share cost-cutting options for Broadway theater tickets, free things to do in New York, ways to feel like a local New Yorker, how to maximize your time in the city, find delicious and inexpensive dining, and recommend the best sites for you to see. I know you will find this information helpful whether you are planning an upcoming trip to New York City like I am, are an armchair traveler, or just looking for good ideas that make travel better no matter where you go. Read more and take a big bite of the Big Apple with me!
Have you visited New York City recently? Are you a New Yorker? Do you have great advice or recommendations to share with others? Click on “Add Comment” below or email me at theidealtrip@gmail.com to tell me about it. I look forward to your comments! 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 hope you are one of the lucky ones planning an upcoming cruise. I have now been on 15 cruises (most recently the Mediterranean on Holland America Line) and have loved every one of them! If you are wondering how to plan for your first day, from embarkation to a candle lit dinner, plan for the essential items to make it a great day. For cruise vacations, I recommend boarding the ship wearing an outfit that is appropriate for the whole day. Resort wear or basic travel pieces that can be dressed up or down are the best since they can carry you through the entire day and through multiple activities. You will likely be without your baggage for a while after boarding, until it is delivered to the cabin, so make sure you are dressed appropriately for both sunning on the deck and casual dining in the restaurants. You may also want to bring a swimsuit and sunscreen in the bag full of the necessities you carry onboard yourself so that you (or the kids) can enjoy the pool or spa right away.
For a selection of travel-friendly clothing that will take you from sun deck to dining room, check out http://www.travelsmith.com/. For high fashion resort wear for all ages that will take you from day into evening, check out http://www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/fabulous-fashion/fabulous-at-every-age-november-1111. Beach trips mean lots of water and sand. But, it is unlikely that you want to pack all that water and sand in your suitcase at the end of your vacation. Instead, start your beach trip prepared to deal with all those wet and sandy clothes, shoes, and swimsuits. If you regularly travel to the beach (or lake) you may want to consider purchasing a suitcase with specialized compartments made for dirty or wet clothes. If you do not make trips frequently enough to justify new luggage, just pack some small bags specifically for that purpose. You could bring reusable nylon bags, zip lock bags of all sizes, or re-use clean plastic grocery bags to handle those items you don’t want to put in the suitcase or trunk of the car. If you have large items, you may even want to bring along a few garbage bags to handle the bulky beach towels, swim shoes, and sandy beach toys. I always carry some zip lock bags in several sizes in my suitcase no matter where I travel. They weigh almost nothing and have proven invaluable on a variety of occasions. Save your sanity on your next trip by adding a few water-proof bags to your suitcase. Enjoy your beach vacation!
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