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The Best Holiday Destinations

If you enjoy traveling, you should consider taking your holidays somewhere good. Here are the absolute best destinations to spend the holidays. No matter which destination you choose, it will be a vacation that you will never forget.

The Big Island of Hawaii

If you want to have a great time with your partner or your entire family, you should consider taking your holidays to the Big Island of Hawaii. The Big Island boasts all the paradise features such as the white sandy beaches and great restaurants. There is so much to explore on the island. Hiking, water-sports, cycling, and many other fun activities are available. Hawaii is also famous for its natural wonders like glacial lakes, high peaks, and active volcanoes. Hawaii is definitely a hot spot and a beautiful holiday destination.

Melbourne, Austrialia

Melbourne, Australia is also a wonderful holiday destination, and it’s known for its sporting interests and cultural scene. Melbourne is a gorgeous metropolitan city, but it has a laid-back atmosphere. There is so much to do in Melbourne from its amazing nightlife, great restaurants, and wonderful shops. If you have kids, they will love the art galleries and beautiful beaches.

Spain

Spain is a beautiful country and it has everything that a person could ever want out of a vacation. Take your children to the amazing city of Barcelona or to the seaside resorts. If you need a break, take  your family and relax in the countryside for a week. Spain is a huge country and there is so much to explore.

Egypt

When people think of Egypt, the Pyramids and the Sphinx usally come to mind. Egypt is a beautiful place and it’s the perfect destination for adventurous people or those who want to relax. There is a lot more to this country than you may think. If you have kids, you can take them for a relaxing sail or sightseeing. Egypt also has many luxurious resorts.

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Sesame: A Place to Remember

For a family vacation spot that combines imagination and an amusement park with something for everyone, Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pennsylvania is a must-visit attraction.

Children will be drawn to the familiar Sesame Street characters, whether their favorites are posing for pictures, performing at “Monster Rock Theater” or captivating the crowd in the park’s traditional parades featuring 11 larger-than-life floats.

The combination of dry and wet rides will assure there is something for everyone, regardless of age and size. There are plenty of “All By Myself” areas for children of any age and height, but even children who do not meet height requirements can still enjoy any ride accompanied by a parent.

One cannot help but notice the “Vapor Trail” rollercoaster upon entering the park. It is the perfect experience for a rookie coaster rider, but has enough twists and turns to make it an interesting ride for veteran riders as well. The “Blast Off” is another favorite as children and adults giggle their way through the bouncing ride, including a great view of the park for those moments at the top.

The water rides are clearly park favorites, perfect for those many hot days throughout the summer and all through the park’s six-month season. “Bert & Ernie’s Slip & Slide” features a curling ride down a slide with a grand finish into a pool with lifeguards waiting to ensure your safety. “Sesame Streak” allows one or two riders to ride through a chute on the way to the splash pool.

One of the places which best typifies the joy and smiles of the park’s participants is  “The Count’s Splash Castle” with multiple slides and levers. Be prepared for the screams of laughter when the 1,000-gallon eight-foot Count Dracula tipping bucket sends water all over the willing fun-seekers.

There are plenty more attractions and “Elmo’s Any 2-Day Ticket” is a great buy for a vacation that your family will never forget.

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Trip to Siesta Key

For northerners a holiday vacation might call for a reprieve from the snow and ice of the long winter months. Even though snow might be a part of the iconic vision of Christmas, for the people who have to live and work in snow covered streets for four or more months a break to spend time on the beach might be the break necessary to get through winter.

Even though recent headlines might call traveling to the Gulf of Mexico into question, visiting the region provides the dual purpose of injecting money into a battered region and warming up chilly northerners.

Forget seeing signs of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill on the western coast of Florida. The beaches near Sarasota remain 100 percent oil free. Sarasota beaches feature soft white sand, plenty of shells to sift through for souvenirs and the gentle waves of the Gulf of Mexico.

Siesta Key Beach was named one of the best beaches in the United States by Dr. Beach. The assessment uses more than 50 criteria including facilities, water quality, sand and safety.

Siesta Key also is recognized by the public since it has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the state of Florida. Siesta Key also features plenty of options for people seeking a slice of Florida nightlife. For parents seeking to take a vacation and that entertains both themselves and college age kids. Send the kids out for a night on the town, while enjoying the sights of the sun setting over the Gulf of Mexico.

It might not be difficult to convince the family to go on a trip to Florida lured by the weather alone. But the combination of dining, shopping and entertainment are enough to attract all members of the family to take the trip to Siesta Key.

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Forgotten Connecticut

While Connecticut might not be spacious, only Delaware and Rhode Island are small, the state still packs plenty of attractions to lure all types of travelers. The southwest corner of the state offers easy access to all the wonders of New York, without the crowds or the prices of staying in the city.

The Connecticut River Valley was once home to Harriet Beech Stowe and Mark Twain. The authors nurtured their talents in Hartford. Twain even left behind praise for the nature beauty of the capital city. While not as famous as Twain or Stowe, actor William Gillette left behind a 24-room castle that overlooks the river. The residence is now available for tours.

For tourists seeking the scenic outdoors, few states offer the sight of Connecticut. Rolling green valleys in Litchfield Hills and the covered bridges that stand over the Housatonic River are some of the lures that bring guests to Connecticut. The spectacular view of the 250-foot Kent Falls is another.

Connecticut is also home to one of the most recognized universities in the world. New Haven is the iconic college town that is best known Yale University. While the Ivy League giant might be the reason that most people know about New Haven, the city also produced the lollipop, the corkscrew and the steamboat.

Connecticut is also known for its location on the Atlantic Ocean. The state enjoys a proud maritime tradition. Mystic recreates this tradition with its refurbished mid-1800s seaport. The northeast corner is gaining a reputation as a tranquil setting away from the hustle of big city life. The small towns in this section of the state feel like taking a step back into Colonial times. Whether seeking out history, natural wonders or just a place to get away from it all, Connecticut provides something for nearly any traveler. Follow In the footsteps of Twain and seek out an under advertised piece of Americana.

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Hartford’s Hidden Gems

Off the beaten path travel destinations provide families with some of the best value and often some of the most fun. Rather than spending money on a tourist trap, families might be better served finding out locations that can serve as both entertainment and teaching opportunities for children and adults alike.

For people interested in American history, Hartford, Connecticut provides plenty of hidden gems to provide bonding experience for families. The Harriet Beecher Stowe house is one of these gems. Built in 1871, the house served as Stowe’s residence until her death in 1896. While the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin might be overlooked by some a tour of the residence provides tourist’s with the means to bring history to life and to display the importance of one of the more influential author’s in the history of the United States. Uncle Tom’s Cabin brought the inequality of slavery into the homes of many influential Americans. The paintings and the furnishings of the home provide guests with a slice of a very important life.

Stowe was not the only famous author to live in Hartford. Mark Twain once called the city home. He owned a 19-room Victorian Gothic home in Hartford from 1874 until 1841. He wrote some of his most important novels during this time including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and what many historians consider the greatest novel in American history-The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Almost 50,000 items that the author owned are on display at the house.

The nation’s oldest continuously operated public art museum also calls Hartford home. The museum boasts a large collection of Hudson River School landscape paintings and American art that spans five decades. The museum is home to works by Cole Church, Salvador Dali, Vincent van Gogh and Pablo Picasso.

Instead of trying to beat the crowds at a tourist trap, plenty of American history and can be found at affordable prices in places such as Hartford.

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Massachusetts Must Sees

Gather around children and you shall hear about the midnight ride of Paul Revere. But isn’t seeing believing?

Massachusetts not only allows tourists and historians to hear about this important caper in American history but also provides a tour of the actual route the horse bound patriot rode. Revere holding onto his three-corner hat as he raced to warn the American minutemen about the advancement of British troops remains one of the most retold stories in American history. And it is only a small slice of the history in the state.

Massachusetts might not be thought of as a travel destination, but it should be considered an American Mecca. Pilgrimages to the cradle of American democracy should be required for students of American history.

For thousands of college students, Massachusetts remains the destination. The Boston area alone is home to more than 50 colleges and universities. This includes Harvard, the oldest and perhaps the finest institution of higher learning in the country. This educational tradition attracted the talent of literary giants such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau and Edgar Allan Poe. All achieve fame and in some cases fortune while calling Massachusetts home.

Massachusetts remains the home of some of the sites made famous by these luminaries. Thoreau’s Walden Pond and Paul Revere’s Old North Church are within the borders of the state. Massachusetts is where the first shots of the American Revolution were fired, and where the fires that fueled the revolt were lit.

Where else can guests follow in the footsteps of such a diverse history? Whether seeking out Plymouth Rock, Boston Harbor or one of countless other important sites, Massachusetts provides plenty of treasure for guests willing to seek it out. Massachusetts provides a glimpse to the past while remaining a center for education and business.

Massachusetts is living history.

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Massachusetts: A Variety of Options

Massachusetts is best known for its history and it is probably rightly so. Massachusetts history predates the nation and is vital in understanding the cultural and political history of the United States. This is the location of the Salem Witch Trials, the Boston Tea Party and the Boston Massacre.

Freedom Trail runs through Boston. Along this route tourists can walk in the footsteps of Paul Revere and walk where the blood of colonials hit by British fire caused the Boston Massacre. Lexington and Concord sit close to Boston. The first Battle of the American Revolution is remembered at Minute Man National Historical Park.

While the recollection of the past is an important part of the reason to seek out Massachusetts, the past and the accomplishments of patriots are not the only reasons to take a vacation to Massachusetts. Boston remains a world class city that features some of the finest universities in the world. The first and perhaps the finest university in the United States sits within the borders of Massachusetts, but the promise of seeing the campus of Harvard University might not be enough to convince the family to take a trek to Massachusetts. Boston’s New England Aquarium might be.

The New England Aquarium provides guests with plenty of reasons to gap in awe of the exotic sea life behind the glass. The natural splendor of the aquarium is countered by the man made wonders within Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts. Pablo Picasso and Claude Monet both painted works that sit at the museum.

For guest seeking other forms of entertainment, the roller coasters at Six Flags New England can shock and awe children and adults. The Agawam based theme park is full of engineering wonders that were meant to get people to scream in a mix of joy and terror. Massachusetts offers entertainment for people with interests in almost any arena.

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Natural Wonders in Massachusetts

People seeking to better understand the lives of the American patriots that helped to form the nation are correct in seeking out Massachusetts, but that is hardly the only reason to pack up the family and head towards Boston. The state offers guests with the same natural wonders that attracted people from all locations before the actions of the Founding Fathers turned Boston into a tourist destination.

The Bay State caters to nature lovers and maintains one of the United State’s largest state park and forest systems. Jump on the water in Concord, where canoeing on the rivet this is the towns’ namesake is a summer tradition. The trip takes boaters underneath a replica of the Old North Bridge where the first shots in anger of the American Revolution occurred. Fall might be the best time for canoeing since the population of motorboats has decreased by then. The Charles River outside of Boston also offers plenty of great canoeing. For tourists seeking a rougher patch of water, Massachusetts even has white-water rafting. Although not as extreme as more mountainous areas, the Deerfield River provides rapid that get as extreme as Class IV. A section of the Deerfield River is used to generate electric power, and the New England Power Company ensures that the rapids will be flowing.

For tourists looking to stay dry, the Applachian Trial cuts through Massachusetts. The tallest peak in the state is Mount Greylock. On clear days, the top of Mount Greylock provides views into five different states. Massachusetts might be the most historically important state in the union, but history is not the only reason to divert the family towards Massachusetts for a trip. The state offers outdoor activities that range from hunting to mountain biking in a place that has attracted visitors for longer than there has been a United States.

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Reasons to Remember Boston

Boston does not mince words when attempting to attract guests. Rather than hide behind false modesty the city has floated out nicknames that include “The Cradle of Modern America”. Even though the proclamation might seem vain, Boston seems to earn the acclaim by producing vital cultural, scientific and political achievements.
Of all the mottos that might describe the city, the best might be the quote “We are first” from Boston Latin, the nations oldest continuous public school. Boston has been first in many areas.

The first university in the United States, Harvard, makes its home in Boston. The fist public park in the nation is the famous Boston Commons. It remains a tourist destination to this day. Ice skaters now man the park in the winter, and picnickers line the hills in the summer. But this area has been a gathering spot dating back to the era of the Puritans.

People continue to travel to Boston Common as it has been a historical gathering place for some of the most famous and important visitors to Boston. Figures ranging from Martin Luther King Jr. to Pope John Paul II inspired large gathering along this historic area.

Boston offers further public treasure at the Public Garden. The park features a mini version of the famous London Bridge and is dotted with tulips, elm tree and maples trees. The park’s pond can be navigated by the famous swan boats that have been operated by the same family since the 1870s.

Boston offers plenty of reasons to visit and some of the best and most famous sites fit any budget. A walking tour of the famous Boston Commons and the Public Gardens may not cost anything, but the memories will last a lifetime. Boston always tried to be memorable and influential. And its open urban areas have succeeded since the 17th century.

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Black Heritage in Boston

African-American history and heritage enjoys a rich tradition in Boston, and the city is a must stop for travelers seeking to understand the experience of people of African descent in the United States.

The bronze relief sculpture at the northeast corner of Boston Commons honors the Civil War’s first all African-American military unit. The commanding officer was Boston resident Robert Gould Shaw who recruited members from freed slaves living in the North. The statute appears in the 1989 film Glory, which tells the story of the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Regiment. The soldiers are remembered for their July 18, 1863 attack on the Confederate base at Battery Wagner in South Carolina. The assault produced the first African-American winner of the Medal of Honor.

The statue is a starting point for a rich Black Heritage Trail. National Park Service rangers can provide guided tours or give instructors on how to take a self-guided tour. Abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison founded the New England Anti-Slavery Society at the African Meeting House the oldest church in the United States that was constructed by free blacks.

This might be the highlight of the Black Heritage Trail that takes tourists through the hub of the abolitionist movement. Without Boston leading the way slavery might have lasted for another generation in the United States.

The Black Heritage trail goes over the same uneven brick sidewalks that influential abolitionists once walked. The same style gas street lamps still light the way in the Beacon Hill neighborhood. The tour includes many private residents that may not be entered, but the museum portion of the tour often features rare artifacts that depict life of the vibrant community of African-Americans in 19th century Boston.

Black history month might be in February, but in Boston the history of heritage of African Americans are always celebrated along the Black Heritage Trail.

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