Mount Dora

Downtown Mount Dora is a rarity in Central Florida: a walkable, old-timey village lined with cafes and antique shops. What’s more, it abuts the shoreline of the massive Lake Dora, so it’s a prime spot for sailing, fishing, and paddle-boating. Interested visitors should plan to hit Mount Dora on the weekend, when they can enjoy near-constant street fairs and outdoor entertainment. The village is about 35 miles from metro Orlando, and its many Bed and Breakfast-style inns are great alternatives to the city’s park-adjacent lodging.

Daytona Beach

Everyone’s heard of the famous 500, but Daytona’s Atlantic coastline also offers many non-vehicular pleasures. The beach is 23 miles of white sand, where timely visitors can witness the summer season’s widespread influx of sea turtles. Its boardwalk is a classic seaside amusement area, complete with go-karting and carnival games. Plus, for motorsports devotees, NASCAR’s official attraction “Daytona USA” offers stock car test drives and interactive racing games. Daytona Beach is 55 miles from downtown Orlando, an hour’s drive on the highway.

Kennedy Space Center

Anyone intrigued by space travel should consider a day with the Ultimate Space Experience tour, an all-inclusive jaunt from Orlando to Canaveral and back. Participants will tour Kennedy’s iconic Rocket Garden, the Astronaut Hall of Fame, and NASA’s Visitor Complex, and will have the rare opportunity to ride in a G-force Trainer. The tour requires a little over an hour in the bus to get to Kennedy’s Merritt Island, located on Florida’s Atlantic coastline.

Canaveral National Seashore

There’s little to Canaveral besides a beautiful beach, but that’s reason enough to travel the 40 miles from Orlando to the Atlantic. Canaveral’s beaches are a series of barrier islands surrounded by the ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway; visitors can take a slight detour from Klondike Beach or Playalinda to catch Florida’s native manatees in the Intracoastal’s Haulover Canal. The seaside park is close enough to the city for a day excursion, but also contains back-country campgrounds for inexpensive overnights.

Clearwater Beach

Clearwater’s white sand Gulf Coast beaches are a dedicated recreation area, providing visitors with such aquatic entertainment as Captain Memo’s Pirate Cruise, an island-themed tour replete with pirates, reggae, and booze. The Sea Screamer, the world’s largest speed boat, also treats its patrons to a unique experience: the boat reaches top speeds on its one-hour tours, and dolphins love to chase it in its wake. Clearwater is approximately 100 miles and a two hour drive from Orlando, but its attractions are worth the extra haul.

Check out the deals on hotels in Orlando, Daytona, Clearwater or anywhere in Florida at Hotels Cheap.

SkyVenture Indoor Skydiving

An entertaining and cost-effective way to pass a rainy afternoon indoors, SkyVenture approximates the sky diving experience safely and painlessly for people of all ages. It claims to be “the closest thing to skydiving you’ll ever do without having to jump out of an airplane,” so similar to the real thing that its wind tunnels serve as practice grounds for professionals. SkyVenture’s participants will most certainly feel the thrill of sky diving without the threat of broken bones.

SeaWorld’s Aquatica

SeaWorld’s newest I-Drive venture is at once a water park and an aquarium, providing its guests with thrill rides through various sea-creature habitats. Attractions notably include a raft ride through a tropical fish exhibit and a speed slide alongside a group of Commerson’s Dolphins (who apparently enjoy racing human riders). Aquatica also enjoys a reciprocal relationship with SeaWorld and Busch Gardens, so visitors will benefit from multi-park pass deals.

Festival Bay Mall

Festival Bay is a theme park-mall hybrid, housing extreme attractions like Ron Jon’s Surf Park and Vans’ Skate Park on its grounds. The Surf Park’s premises include several wave- and surf-pools in addition to its retail center, attracting both longtime surf enthusiasts and curious first-timers. Kids will also love the mall’s “Putting Edge,” a glow-in-the-dark mini golf course. For the pleasure of a slightly older crowd, Festival Bay also hosts a movie theatre, several restaurants, and the impressively large Bass Pro Shops.

Wonder Works

Wonder Works’ appealing premise is as follows: The distinctive, upside-down building was once a laboratory in the Bermuda Triangle, uprooted by a violent tornado and dropped in Orlando with all its experiments intact. Its indoor exhibitions include fighter jet flight simulators, earthquake simulators, virtual sports, and virtual combat. Visiting families can also enjoy laser tag and comedic dinner shows.

Orlando Premium Outlets and Prime Outlets International

No I-Drive visit is complete unless you take home some outlet steals. These two complexes offer a huge array of stores, though they specialize in discounted designer goods. The Prime Outlets host a large Saks Off 5th outlet, while the Premiums have Dior and Armani. Outlet shoppers should consider the extensive I-Ride trolley for transportation; rides are a dollar apiece, and the trolley hits all the major malls.

Click here to find cheap hotels in Orlando.

Make Yourself a Superhero…kind of.

It’s lesson number one in Bruce Wayne’s Facts of Life: Being a moneybags is only awesome if you turn your cash into aerodynamic outfits and total reckless abandon. Or, at the very least, scary outfits and total idiocy. Your choice.

The Mission

Winning a lot of money gambling in Vegas grants you some inalienable rights, one of which is your right to perform death-defying stunts without the requisite training and practice. You can do this because you can afford awesome equipment. Case in point is the BASE jumper’s wingsuit, the funny-looking contraption/garment that turns you into a flying squirrel. If you idolized Tanooki Suit Mario or Tails from Sonic as a kid, this is how you blow your spoils. Mind you, you might need to execute some financial maneuvers before you start gamboling off of tower rooftops. A proper wingsuit, the kind that turns you into an airborne neon superhero, costs around $1500. That’s chump change after you’ve outfoxed the whole World Poker Tour, but there’s a chance that you might need to bribe some BASE-friendly folks in order to procure references. Apparently the BASE community won’t sell equipment to any odd geezer with a million bones, on the chance that he might…die.

Unpleasantness aside, Vegas is prime territory for your transformation into Flying Squirrel Man. BASE is an acronym for Building Antenna Span Earth, so you should feel perfectly comfortable jumping off of Vegas’ Stratosphere Tower. It’s kind of a building and an antenna in one, after all. Even better, throw yourself off the Bellagio and land neatly on the ground in front of the poor bastards you just owned at poker. Refer to this instructional video for reassurance:

Difficulty: Proper difficult. Requires ingenuity, agility, proper scouting, balls of steel.

Legality: Iffy. You may or may not be considered a trespasser on certain rooftops and towers, and some people may want to arrest you upon your landing. But whatever, you can bail yourself out. Jail is the cherry on top of your BASE jumping sundae.

Cost: The wingsuit’s not going to break your new budget, but the legal fees and hospital bills might accumulate. You’d also do well to hire a film crew and a swift, nondescript getaway vehicle. Just sayin’.

Storybook Quality: Pretty much the most awe-inspiring episode of your life, even if you’re, like, a former P.O.W. and a presidential hopeful.

The Alternative

You and your friends hit up the Army-Navy and get some Ghillie suits. Those are the detritus-covered numbers that make you look like a boogey man. Use them to scare children, hide in the Rainforest Café, conjure up ‘Nam for some vets. Just make sure you go a little bigger than this young man:

Difficulty: Easy if you’re shameless.

Legality: Again, some people may want to arrest you, depending on your level of commitment.

Cost: Ghillie suits run about $150, and the Rainforest Café is a moderately priced eatery.

Storybook Quality: You can tell the story to your friends between bong rips, but you probably won’t regale your grandson with it. It’s kind of like the time I almost hit a steer on the highway.

Make Elvis Live…for a little bit.

Vegas is Vegas as we know it because it’s the King’s Vegas. You’re only experiencing the real Vegas if you have a run-in with Elvis himself. Why not orchestrate the best damn Elvis fiasco that Vegas ever saw? Vegas Elvis Vegas Vegas.

The Mission

Imagine you just won a lot of money. You want to throw the best party you possibly can, and your newly acquired budget and devil-may-care attitude afford you so, so many options. But crap! All the bands for hire in your town are shitty, and the only DJ plays that mid-noughties version of the Electric Slide in which the emcee barks instructions over a spare beat…it’s all too much to take.

You’d never run into this problem if your town had a top-notch Elvis Impersonator. Someone, say, like Eddie “E” Powers, the Best Elvis in Vegas. While Eddie’s used to putting on his Elvis suit for weddings and other formal gatherings, he might just lower his standards to accommodate your moneyed self and your scummy friends. A word to the wise: before approaching the Elvis of your choice, assess your budget and the extent of your depravity. What kinds of activities would you and your friends like to do with your Elvis? These are the questions I posed to Eddie:

-  Say I just won a ton of money gambling. How much would it cost to hire you as a personal entertainer for an evening, to follow my friends and me around Vegas and sing Elvis songs to us? I’d be willing to pay extra if you’d rock an acoustic guitar.

-  Have you ever performed in tandem with other Elvises? Could I hire you to front a parade of Elvises to, say, walk the strip for an hour singing Elvis songs? I think this would be a really cool spectacle for tourists and a great way to blow my winnings.

-  Apparently, when people win money in Vegas, they like to go shoot guns. Would you, in theory, participate in a fully protected Duel of the Elvises? Again, remember that our theoretical budget is limitless, and that shooting another Elvis would likely make you an international YouTube superstar.

Eddie’s kind and succinct reply informed me that he’d charge $2000 to be my “personal entertainer,” $1000 to parade the strip helming an Elvis swarm, and $3000 for “shooting another Elvis while being fully protected.” He also closed his e-mail with a characteristic and satisfying “Thank you, thank you very much.” Awesome.

Difficulty: Moderate. Involves planning, access to internet. May involve coordinating some Elvis transportation. May also involve fielding some Elvis enthusiasts, hangers-on, nosy inquirers. But, quoth the King himself, “”Adversity is sometimes hard upon a man; but for one man who can stand prosperity, there are a hundred that will stand adversity.”

Legality: You’re pretty much straight. Just make sure the firearms stay at the gun range and the Elvises are Kevlar’d out.

Cost: Eddie laid it all out for you. Now you just have to deal with your respective vendors, like the gun people. I hear tell that a few rounds with an automatic weapon cost about $100, so who the hell knows what they’ll charge for the Duel of the Elvises. You never know, though, they might be well into it.

Storybook Quality: Imagine the sweet smell of your YouTube video hitting all the front pages, all the major news outlets. This one’s for the ages.

The Alternative

Hellvis costume.

Difficulty: Really, it can’t be that hard to find a damn devil Elvis jumpsuit at a novelty shop in Las Vegas. Easy.

Legality: Perfectly legal, unless you let Hellvis go to your head. Once that happens, I pity the poor civil servant who has to arrest you.

Cost: Like 35 bucks. Negligible. You could even buy a fleet of them for your friends if that’s what you’re into.

Storybook Quality: Very little to speak of. Pretty much any story that begins with “Dude, remember the time we bought those Elvis costumes…” is bound for dismissal.

Become a Circus Freak…temporarily.

Say you went to Vegas and won a ton of money, but didn’t see anything particularly astounding because you were cloistered in poker rooms. What to do, then, but take the advice of Paul McCartney’s Grandfather in A Hard Day’s Night and go out “Parading the streets! Trailing your coat! Bowling along! Living!” Now that you’re in the money, you’re best off parading as some sort of ostentatious circus freak. It makes sense.

The Mission

Unless you’re into serious body modification and secretly lust after Gob Bluth-style fire implants, temporary freakdom is the way to go. With your newfound financial freedom, you can become a wicked Vegas snake man. Here’s the breakdown of what you’ll need:

-  One Male Lavender Albino Reticulated Python, easily obtainable from Vegas’ exotic pet boutique. Cost: $800

-  One Proven Adult Male Albino Ball Python, available at same boutique. Cost: $1200

*Note: I advise fashioning one snake into a turban atop your head while necklacing the other, Slash-style.

-  One Vertu Signature Cobra luxury mobile phone, diamond encrusted and purple-bejeweled with a lovely Cobra likeness. Cost: $310,000

-  One pair Gucci Snakeskin Boots from Gucci at the Bellagio. Cost: $2000

-  One Dodge Viper, that sports car named after a snake. Available at a Dodge dealership. Cost: $100,000, more or less. Hey, your car costs less than your cell phone! Cool!

-  One Parker Fly Mojo Guitar with snakeskin decoration. Call up the Vegas Guitar Center and bitch until they find you one. It might be a little difficult since there are only 50 in existence, but imagine how sweet it’ll look slung across your back. Every snake man needs his axe. Cost: EBay says it’s going for $5000, but I suspect your guitar salesman might tack on some fees for his trouble.

-  One pair reptilian contact lenses. You’re not a circus freak until it’s impossible to look you in the eye. Cost: $200

Difficulty: Not in the same vein as BASE jumping, but still really difficult, if only because it entails commitment to a very singular (reptilian) cause.

Legality: No one’s going to stop you.

Cost: Let’s see. Our itemized list adds up to $419,200. That’s a lot of money.

Storybook Quality: Um, only really valid if you’re writing the creepiest storybook ever.

The Alternative

Ever heard of Ron Bauer’s Private Studies? Do a little background research because this stuff is really weird. Ron Bauer’s magic card tricks have scary, explicit names and really vague descriptions. Through Bauer’s tutelage, you can master illusions like “Don Alan’s Sneaky Nudist Rides Again” and “Tony Chaudhuri’s Feminine Side.” From what I glean, “Nudist” apparently entails using a blank deck of cards, while “Feminine Side” is all about mortifying some dude for picking those fey red suits over the macho black ones. Bauer’s instruction packets are available at Houdini’s Magic Shop at the MGM Grand, which also sells strokes of pure genius like The Exploding Sex Report and the Jango Fett mask. In theory, you can become Vegas’ first Intergalactic Bounty Hunter/Street Illusionist. Or you can be kind of like this guy:

Difficulty: In fairness to Mr. Bauer, I haven’t attempted any of his methods. In fairness to David Blaine, his job could be really hard.

Legality: Just don’t be too pushy with the tourists. They’ve been warned about the likes of you.

Cost: The Private Studies cost between $10 and $12, while the Jango Fett mask is around $50.

Storybook Quality: Really, it all depends on your retention abilities. If you remember how to perform “Don Alan’s Sneaky Nudist Rides Again,” you can do it for your grandchildren. Maybe. So long as it’s not as nasty as it sounds.

Become a Spaceman…without leaving the Earth.

One time a homeless guy told me a funny joke for some money. He said, “What do you do if you see a spaceman?” “I don’t know,” I replied. He said, “You park, man.” In the spirit of this joke, the mission to become a spaceman has two distinct parts. The first is the expensive, Stephen Hawking-endorsed zero gravity experience, and the second is a little more interesting. Let’s take a look.

The Mission

Book a Zero Gravity Platinum Experience. You’ll get to float around, and you’ll also get a customized suit and some champagne. Zero G’s website offers some compelling insights: whilst floating, you can expect to, “see two teenagers playing catch with their father – yes, he’s the ball,” and you can also, “drink a bubble of water floating by you.” If these reports are any indication, then zero gravity is the grossest, most surreal experience you can ever hope to have in or out of Vegas. Just look at the Institutional Video:

That’s really cool and all, but it’s just a prelude to your real spaceman adventure. You know those Area 51 tours? Well, outside of Vegas there’s this road affectionately termed the “Extraterrestrial Highway,” mostly because it runs through all those desert towns full of UFO-spotting crazies and into the belly of the beast, the grounds of Area 51. The tours that run through the area are big on speculation and all-caps angry questions, like “IF THERE ARE NO ALIENS, WHY ARE THERE MEN IN BLACK PROTECTING THE PERIMETER [of Area 51]?” You can go on one of these for a good laugh, or you can be enterprising and create your own tour with your riches. Review some maps, rent a stretch Hummer, and hire this guy as your guide:

As you’ve gathered from the video, that’s Prophet Yahweh. He summons UFOs using passages from the Hebrew text of the Bible. He also thinks Prophet is his first name and not a title, like it’s akin to “Jim” rather than “Mr.” On a website advertising his spiritual guidance, there’s a headline asking if you’re “Looking for Prophet’s UFO site,” which is like the same as asking if you’re looking for Arnold’s Diner. As you might expect, Prophet is a controversial figure, an internet impresario, and a bit of a YouTube superstar. There are as many sites debunking his spiritual and UFO-seekin’ practices as there are sites advertising his services. He’s the perfect addition to your amateur spaceman operation, and I’m sure he won’t piss off the Men in Black when he starts chanting in their jurisdiction.

Difficulty: Okay, so I didn’t contact Prophet Yahweh. Whatever, that’s on you. I’ll classify this one as moderate, considering the guy is probably skint and looking for your millions. The spiritual advisor game isn’t as lucrative as it used to be.

Legality: The Men in Black are authorized to shoot to kill.

Cost: The Zero G Platinum Experience costs $8900, the Hummer rental is around $180 an hour, and Prophet Yahweh is a mystery. You could mitigate the cost by making some leaflets and taking along some tourists. Better yet, set up a website. You could parlay it into a career.

Storybook Quality: The Zero G drew the likes of Dr. Hawking, and Prophet Yahweh has been on the news. Assuming nothing really weird happens, you’ll tell the story for a good long while. However, considering the wholly strange variables, there’s a chance it could all take a turn for the legendary. Unless the Men in Black use that memory-eraser thing on you.

The Alternative

Put on your “E pluribus modem” t-shirt, eat your continental breakfast, and hit up Star Trek: The Experience. Engage in “4D” activities with Borgs and Klingons, get sloppy on the rum-filled “Warp Core Breach,” and purchase your own stuffed Tribble. If you’re skeptical, just listen to Krum:

Difficulty: Easy, warm, and friendly, like taking a nap.

Legality: I can’t attest to what will happen to you inside the Klingon Encounter. Dudes are litigious.

Cost: 45 bones for the full ride, but you can bet you’ll go home satisfied.

Storybook Quality: When I told my mom about this one, she was all, “now you’re speaking my language.” That means that you can tell your Chem teacher all about it when you get home and she’ll eat it up.

These adventures are much easier to afford when you are saving money on your hotel accommodations.  Hotels Cheap is your source for great deals on Vegas hotels.

Seattle’s aquatic surroundings lend the city its vintage maritime feel, and many of the area’s best attractions require steady sea legs despite being just a short drive from the airport and only a few minutes from downtown accommodations. Enjoy the local seafood, tour a Naval Destroyer, or act out your favorite Free Willy moments in the Puget Sound.

San Juan Safaris

Orca-spotting is a different breed of whale watching: the erstwhile “killer whales” leap into the air and seem to get kicks out of entertaining eager people. Safari patrons can choose to tour the San Juan Islands area in water taxis, kayaks, or, most excitingly, seaplanes. The company reputedly employs a network of whale spotters whose diligence ensures that tour participants have a very good chance of seeing orcas in action. Like many Seattle-area attractions, the Safaris’ peak season is May-September.

USS Turner Joy

This Naval Destroyer participated in the Gulf of Tonkin Incident and extensively in the Vietnam War. It’s now a museum ship, the bastion of the Bremerton Historic Ships Association. Moored in the Puget Sound, it’s regularly open for guided tours to interested visitors. True students of maritime history might want to book an overnight stay in the crew quarters, but for most visitors the 90-minute tour will suffice.

Ride the Ducks

Everyone knows the Ducks, the amphibious World War II vehicles that haunt cities with major waterways. Seattle’s Ducks follow the familiar formula, but the Puget Sound’s sheer abundance makes it a better trip than most. Enthusiastic captains guide patrons through downtown, Pike Place, and Pioneer Square on the 90-minute tour, and they typically encourage a healthy dose of rowdiness. That is, after all, why they hand out those “quacker” noisemakers. This tour is great for kids, though not for curmudgeons.

Chittenden Locks

Also known as the Ballard Locks, these shipping mechanicals are an impressive complex designed to regulate sea levels, salt water content, and guide incoming boats according to the levels of the Puget Sound. Most interestingly for visitors, the Locks include a “fish ladder” where salmon congregate. Interested parties can stop by the viewing room to catch the various salmon varietals on their grueling reproductive journeys. After educating yourself on the birds and bees of the fish community, retire to the adjacent Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Gardens.

Tillicum Village

Summers in Seattle offer visitors the Northwest’s best weather, and Tillicum Village tours run May-September in celebration. In the course of the four hour tour, each guest eats a cup of raw clams and a fire-and-cedar cooked Chinook salmon steak, as well as the dubious-sounding “chocolate salmon dessert.” We’re not sure if it’s a fishy truffle or a salmon-shaped confection, but either way it’s a Northwest original. Dancers in traditional Northwest Native American costume perform while you digest, and thereafter you’re allowed forty-five minutes of recess to watch artisans at work, peruse the gift shop, or walk the beach.

Before you tour Puget Sounds, take an online tour through Hotels Cheap to find the best hotel deals in and around Seattle.

Zero Gravity Thrill Amusement Park

This thrills-only attraction promises “Extreme Rides for Extreme Family Fun!” Of course, they apply the term “family” in a loose and nontraditional sense; kids have to be over 10 to take on the Zero Gravity experience. Rides include the “Nothing but Net,” which is a 16-story, parachute-less freefall onto a waiting net below, the “Texas Blastoff,” which flings patrons into the air for twists and flips, and classic Bungee Jumping. If you’ve got a steely reserve and an iron stomach, this is the amusement park for you.

Fair Park

The Fair Park complex, a National Historic Landmark and treasured bastion of kitsch, is comprised of nine museums, several performance venues, various relics of the annual Texas State Fair, and the Texas Star, which is the largest Ferris wheel in North America. The vicinity is also a prime shopping and dining destination, and the park hosts regular flea markets, antique fairs, and bazaars. Families will especially enjoy the grounds’ multitude of available amusements; the Dallas Aquarium and the Texas Discovery Gardens are among Dallas’ most kid-friendly spots.

The Sixth Floor Museum

The Sixth Floor Museum commemorates both the site of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination and the life and times of the man himself. Located on the very floor from which Lee Harvey Oswald presumably shot the President, the museum is a favorite of amateur political historians and conspiracy theorists. Exhibits showcase JFK’s political commitments and incendiary speeches, journalistic records of the tragedy, and home movies of the event. Perhaps the most intriguing holding is the Memory Book, an ever-expanding catalog of visitors’ impressions of the President.

Speedzone

Speedzone’s many motorsports-centered attractions include a family friendly go-cart track, a wild and free-form “slick track,” over 100 assorted video games and simulators, and, most importantly, a 300-horsepower dragster racecourse that enables participants to go from 0 to 70 in about 3 seconds. Participants describe the latter feat as a once in a lifetime experience. Should you tire of driving, the park also offers the “Fireball” Looping Rollercoaster, an innovative six-story thrill ride.

Dallas Heritage Village and Old City Park

Dallas is committed to preserving its strong ties to the Old West past, and Old City Park is its consummate effort. Unlike a standard museum, the Heritage Village presents its holdings as living history. That means that visitors should expect to speak with costumed, funny-accented historians who aim to replicate the social atmosphere of the Nineteenth Century. These knowledgeable guides will lead participants through various frozen-in-time offices and trade outposts, as well as the popular 1860s Living Farmstead.

Cheap rates here on hotels in Dallas, or anywhere, so you can enjoy your downtime even more.

Grab your Diane Dictaphone, lace up your saddle shoes, and get your trusty log out of storage. This tour encompasses all those unforgettable Twin Peaks icons that were the set pieces of a hilarious, wildly disturbing, and ultimately great series.

Peaks Icon: The Great Northern

Destination, Exterior Shots: The Salish Lodge, Snoqualmie

The Great Northern’s body double is the Salish Lodge, a photogenic if precarious establishment in rural Snoqualmie. If the Salish’s website is any indication, it’s imbued with a touch of the creepy decadence that was the Great Northern’s hallmark. The site asks prospective patrons, “Where else can you find a retreat nestled in the Northwest with wood-burning fireplaces and oversized whirlpool tubs in every guest room? Will life ever be the same after you’ve crawled into your featherbed and selected from the pillow menu a perfect cradle on which to lay your head?” We applaud the effort, but we think a stay at the Great Northern might not be life-altering for the featherbeds. And while we’re not sure what a pillow menu is, it’s safe to assume that all those businessmen appreciated the freedom of choice. Also, nice grammar, guys.

Destination, Interior Shots: The Kiana Lodge, Poulsbo

The Kiana’s slogan is “a true taste of the Northwest,” and its walls still display the epic painted paneling of Ben Horne’s den of iniquity. Enticements to visit are plentiful, according to the site: “During your stay you can swim in the zero-entry pool, take a reflective stroll through the Native Art Gallery and pamper yourself in their full-service Angeline Spa.” Native Art Gallery, eh Kiana? Have you got Jerry Horne in his relic glasses hiding in a utility closet? Johnny in a headdress assaulting a doll house in one of your guest suites? Audrey, anywhere, being awesome and freaking out Norwegians? A Ben Horne figure sitting atop a wobbly monument to his own craziness? While we understand that these businesses are legitimate and functioning, we think their viability will only increase in proportion with their embracing of their Twin Peaks heritage. Who among us wouldn’t want to stay an acid-trippy night in a reproduced Great Northern? Oh, what dreams would come.

On that note, let’s relive one of the GN’s finest moments. Ladies and Gentlemen, Benjamin Horne and his inspired Civil War delusion:

Peaks Icon: The Double R Diner

Destination: Twede’s Café, North Bend

Of all the attractions on this list, Twede’s is the most devoted to its Twin Peaks traditions. A mural of the “Welcome to Twin Peaks” sign adorns the building’s side, and the restaurant appeals to its devoted base with invitations for cherry pie and black coffee. Some patrons even report that the servers are Shelley and Norma-esque. Order the Cooper special or sample one of the many beef patty-based concoctions. Through the miracle of Internet menus, we now know what sustained the Double R’s regulars all those years ago. It was “Burgers from A-Z,” and the letter T burger is the Twin Peaks special. Twede’s is by far your best bet for kitschy Lynchiness, and the waitresses won’t brutalize you if you feel the need to announce your affection for your “damn fine cup of coffee.” They understand you’re just paying tribute to a deserving idol, one of television’s all-star B.A.M.F.s, this guy:

Peaks Icon: The Roadhouse

Destination: The Falls City Roadhouse

This Snoqualmie Valley establishment has undergone a series of Peaks-related changes, most notably a reversion to its proper name. Thing is, it’s a really nice restaurant and barely resembles the nightlife epicenter of the strangest little town in the Northwest. We don’t think Bobby Briggs ate Grand Marnier French Toast at the Roadhouse, nor do we think Ed and Norma kindled their clandestine affair over Edamame Hummus and Duck Confit. If, though, you’d like an excuse to eat a gourmet meal whilst doing something undeniably Peaksy, the Roadhouse is your place.

Pro tip: if you want to freak out your fellow diners at the Roadhouse, make like Audrey at the Double R:

Peaks Icon: Laura’s Beach

Destination: Snoqualmie Falls

Laura’s rocky resting place is, in reality, located just down river from the Great Northern. Well, at least, we think “down river” is the correct way to describe the position of the beach at the bottom of the 268-foot falls. Those falls are one of Washington’s most popular vistas, inspiring Lynchophiles and laymen alike with their majesty. Laura’s iconic blue-girl-in-body bag shots were staged near a large piece of driftwood at falls’ end that remains in its place today. Fanatics refer to it as “Laura’s Log,” and presumably you can too.

Speaking of fanatics, you might want to prepare for your TP tour by delving into the bowels of the Peaks Webiverse. That means reading Laura’s “diary” here.

Through its powerful tutelage, we learn that Laura resented her Homecoming Queen title, that she meditated on the subject of Killer BOB with alarming frequency, and that she believed that James Hurley would lead her out of the darkness.

Oh, James:

Peaks Icon: The Packard Mill

Destination: Forks, WA

Remember how frigging weird the Packard mill was? You had mean-ass Catherine, affable Pete, and sybaritic Josie, all entwined in the classical web of deception. Plus, you know, logging is alien and scary to most of us. Why not go and witness the sublime first-hand on a legit logging tour? The Forks, Washington (home of teeny tome Twilight!), Visitor Center offers free mill and forest tours to groups of twelve people on a thrice-weekly basis. The tours depart from the Forks Visitor Center every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9 a.m., but unfortunately they’re seasonal and suspended until the spring.

Tour participants rove through an updated logging facility, its surrounding replenished forest, and, most interestingly, through the oft-rocky history of the timber industry. And, as you may have guessed, the burgeoning future has been none too kind to the ol’ lumberjacks. Refer to this diatribe excerpt from an article on the tours: “Computers now run nearly everything at the mill,’ Yanish said.” Doesn’t that sound vaguely sinister, like a Texas Chainsaw-style stance on technology? It’s like logging is a stand-in for animal slaughter and dude is going to send you and your IPhone through the machinery. Or maybe we’re just expressing a healthy amount of dementophobia.

The moral of the story is: chance the logging tour, tread lightly, and leave your handheld devices in their respective holsters. You could end up in a Packard-style ‘splosion:

We leave you with this image of a junior Log Lady, the head officer of the Log Lady fan club, or perhaps the ol’ LL herself before she, um, got old. And back when she was still kinky, by the looks of it. The two-timing slag.

Let that one sink in, and long live David Lynch.

Click here to find the best rates and avialability on hotels for this trip or any other.

The far-off Key West is only a 3+ hour drive from Miami, and the islands between the two popular destinations house the country’s best beaches and recreation areas. Rent a car in the city and plot a southbound route on US 1, even if only for a day.

Key Largo

Distance from Miami: 52 miles, about 1 hour

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
Close-by Pennekamp offers the full experience of South Florida’s natural wonders. Key Largo’s visitors can enjoy glass bottom boat tours on a high speed catamaran, snorkeling tours through living reefs, and designated fishing and swimming sectors. For anyone who wants to stay the night, the park provides over 40 campgrounds within walking distance of its white sand beaches. With its wealth of available amusements, Pennekamp is the perfect escape from urban Miami.

Spiegel Grove
According to the source itself, “The USS Spiegel Grove is a Landing Ship Dock which has been sunk to create an artificial reef in Key Largo.” If you ever thought that the opening scenes of Titanic were cool-looking, Spiegel Grove is for you. Unfortunately for most tourists, you need scuba training to visit the depths of the wreck-turned-reef. Spiegel Grove provides preparatory classes, but they require a time commitment that pretty much excludes day-trippers. Still, if you’re up for the challenge, it’s one of the country’s best underwater destinations.

Islamorada

Distance from Miami: 71 miles, about 1 hour 30 minutes

Theater of the Sea Aquarium
Theater of the Sea is a big step up from your usual city aquarium, featuring interactive programs that are both inventive and family-friendly. Visitors can swim with dolphins, play with sea lions, feed stingrays, and snorkel with tropical fish. The programs are pricey, ranging from $55 for a basic poolside dolphin encounter to $135 for a full submerged session, and require advance reservations. A regular ticket, however, costs $20-$30 and includes admission to several shows.

Sport Fishing
Islamorada claims the title of “sport fishing capital of the world” thanks to its position at the convergence of Atlantic and Gulf waters. Seafarers in this upper key offer all manner of boat charters, including air-conditioned luxury tours and reef and wreck fishing. Participants at all skill levels can expect to catch Marlin, Snapper, Tuna, and Swordfish with the tutelage of Islamorada’s dedicated captains.

Marathon

Distance from Miami: 106 miles, about 2 hours 15 minutes

Crane Point
This catch-all historic site is home to a Museum of Natural History, a system of nature trails, a wild bird center, a children’s activity center, and the oldest house in the Florida Keys. What’s more, general admission is only $8 for adults, $5 for kids ages 6-18, and free for anyone under age 6. All proceeds from admission go to a non-profit dedicated to land preservation in the Keys, an organization for which Crane Point is a stronghold. Its ecological preserves house endangered species and evidence of human inhabitance from over 700 years ago, as well as more user-friendly attractions like a climbable pirate ship and a touch tank.

Sombrero Beach
Sombrero’s grounds are extensive, more park-like than most of the Keys’ tourist-friendly beaches. It’s got designated sectors for swimming, windsurfing, and boating, as well as grassy outposts for picnics, barbecues, baseball, and volleyball. Families with young children will find the park’s playgrounds a welcome distraction from the hot sands, while adventure enthusiasts will appreciate the area’s abundant snorkeling and fishing tours.

Big Pine Key

Distance from Miami: 127 miles, about 2 hours 45 minutes

Bahia Honda State Park
Bahia Honda’s website boldly advertises its distinction as the “Best Beach in the Continental U.S.” That’s big talk, but the park backs up its claims with photographic evidence. The water surrounding Big Pine Key is impossibly clear, and the white sand beaches are flecked with tall, shade-providing palms. Bahia Honda’s visitors can enjoy snorkel tours, kayak rentals, and boat slip rentals at reasonable rates.

Kayaking in the Key Deer Refuge
Dog-sized Key Deer make their home exclusively in the lower Keys, numbering only around 300 in total. Kayaking between Big Pine and No Name Keys is an adventure in its own right; touring companies offer both backwoods and sea kayaking packages, many of which include short hikes through the refuge. By all accounts, the diminutive deer are one of the Keys’ most memorable sights, and a large portion of Big Pine Key is designated for their preservation.

Key West

Distance from Miami: 158 miles, about 3 hours 20 minutes

Hemingway House
Ernest Hemingway’s abode is Key West’s favorite tourist attraction, preserved in its original by a dedicated society who also monitors the proliferation of the house’s population of polydactyl cats. Papa Hemingway’s furniture and art collection are on display for eager viewers, but for many it’s the sixty-or-so cats, descendents of Hemingway’s own, that make the visit. Visit the “bookstore” for a Hemingway text or, more popularly, a kitty-themed trinket.

Duval Street
Hit up Key West’s main drag for the best boutique shopping, gallery hopping, and nightlife south of…well, Miami. The island hosts a party scene that rivals any major city’s, and its main spots are conveniently clustered on this single street. Expect to encounter street performers, painted people in minimal clothing, and the odd drag queen in a night on Duval. Really, they’re the southernmost point’s utmost draw.

Most travelers fly into Miami Airport and make the drive to Key West.  For the best deals on hotels in Miami or Key West, visit Hotels Cheap.

The Back Bay’s most prestigious address houses Boston’s only rooftop pool, a seasonal luxury that complements the Colonnade’s modern aesthetic. Rooms are outfitted with pillow-top beds, flat-screen televisions, marble baths, and floor-to-ceiling windows for spectacular views of the bay and the Copley Square vicinity. Despite its modern and tech-friendly updates in its guest rooms, the hotel strives to maintain a classic ambience with its 1940s-inspired French restaurant, Brasserie Jo. The restaurant is one of the city’s preeminent destinations for French fare, and hotel patrons will appreciate its well-stocked bar.

The Liberty

If the Liberty exudes distinct personality, it’s all because of the Massachusetts penitentiary system. The building used to function as the Charles Street Jail, and features of its past life persevere in the hotel’s updated décor. In fact, the renovated lobby houses a few relic jail cells, and its bar is cleverly called Clink. Most guest rooms are contained in a new facility, an adjoining 16-story tower, and have little in common with their penal predecessors. Thanks to a $120 million renovation, the Liberty promises to be Boston’s premier ironically-named luxury hotel.

Boston Omni Parker House

This hotel encapsulates the dark-wood and whiskey glamour of old New England, and, owing to a $30 million restoration, now caters to the modern audience with unique style. The property originally opened as a hotel in 1855, and neighbors many of the city’s Revolutionary War-era landmarks. City Hall, Boston Common, and the Old South Meeting House are all located within a block of the Omni Parker. One of its best features is its classic bar, which boasts a fireplace and stained glass windows and serves a selection of fine whiskeys and Boston crème martinis.

The Hotel Commonwealth

The Commonwealth’s multi-tiered complex contains some of Boston’s best dining and shopping: its bottom floor is a retail promenade, housing jewelry stores, clothing boutiques, a photography gallery, and assorted other luxury outposts. The hotel’s restaurant, the Great Bay, is an acclaimed destination for all things seafood, while other on-site eateries offer more casual dining. Perhaps most enticing are the hotel’s guest rooms, which are outfitted with Frette linens, L’Occitane toiletries, and complimentary DVD libraries for in-room viewing.

The Fairmont Copley Plaza

This gilded hotel dates back to 1912. Its façade and lobby interior are both distinct and unmatched in the Boston area; two golden lions welcome patrons at the main entrance, while the interior features gold moldings, tiered and sculpted ceilings, an array of French decorative antiques, and elaborate chandeliers. Its Oak Room Steakhouse and Oak Bar are among the city’s most elegant venues, and the bar even offers a drink called the “Engaging Martini” that’s served with a spiffy, expensive diamond. In spite of this, the Fairmont’s greatest draw is the fact that guests can book walking or jogging time with its resident pup, a black lab named Katie Copley.

The Boston Harbor Hotel

This aptly named harbor-adjacent hotel prides itself on its universally high marks; Conde Nast’s Traveler Gold List named it as one of the world’s finest places to stay. It’s safe to say they were wowed by their rooms’ views, since the hotel’s wide bay windows overlook the marina’s many yachts and sailboats. Furthermore, the hotel is a veritable drinker’s paradise. Its on-site draws include a wine tasting restaurant that matches wines to menu items and a Scotch bar that offers an array of fine single malts. It’s also the home of the Boston Wine Festival, a tasting event that runs from January to April every year.

Luxury doesn’t have to mean paying top dollar.  In order to get the absolute best rates on these and other Boston hotels, click here.

The ever-changing Mission District has long been overlooked by San Francisco’s tourist crowds, but its current incarnation is a thriving arts sector and an ethnically rich enclave. In addition to its many galleries and creative strongholds, it houses some of the city’s best historical attractions and vintage architecture. Design a cultural walking tour around the sites, and then retire to the neighborhood’s authentic Mexican restaurants and moderately priced pubs.

Mission Dolores

The Mission District’s namesake structure is San Francisco’s oldest edifice, though today it’s dwarfed by a more photogenic basilica. Founded in 1776, the Mission housed generations of Franciscan monks and still offers daily worship services. The building’s presence itself is enough to draw in a more secular crowd; though it’s been refurbished, its interior is beautifully preserved.

Dolores Park

A popular site for sports, recreation, and the occasional ceremonial parade or political protest, Dolores Park is the Mission District’s bucolic center. A former refugee camp for earthquake victims, Dolores now boasts tennis and basketball courts, soccer fields, and playgrounds. Visitors are especially lucky to catch performance art or one of the yearly pride marches, and the park is SF’s place to be on Cinco de Mayo.

Precita Eyes Murals

Precita Eyes is an alliance of local artists dedicated to continuing the tradition of mural art in their predominantly Hispanic community. Their most famous work lines a tiny street called Balmy Alley, where residents encourage the painting of garages and walls for public enjoyment. In addition to its mural commitments, the Precita Eyes group offers classes in community art for locals of all ages.

Taqueria el Farolito

El Farolito is one of the Mission District’s best-reviewed Mexican eateries, offering an array of overstuffed burritos, homemade salsas, and tremendous platters. It has garnered a loyal local following, and while it’s not a typical tourist destination it offers the city’s finest in ethnic authenticity. Should you crave an inexpensive, potentially overwhelming burrito while touring the Mission, this is the place to get it.

Inner Mission Beer Parlor

Inner Mission’s international beer list focuses heavily on Belgian wheats, but also offers PBR for the discerning drinker. What’s more, the storied Wisconsin brew is only $2 a pint on Tuesdays. Stop in at happy hour while walking the Mission and you’ll likely encounter an impossibly good special on one of the bar’s many draughts. For the beer-reluctant, Inner Mission also offers a modest wine selection, assorted sake, and Korean soju cocktails.

Roxie Theater

Built in 1909, the Roxie is SF’s oldest working movie theater. Its many incarnations mimic the flux of the Mission District; in the 1960s, when the neighborhood declined, the Roxie became an adult cinema. Fortunately for today’s Mission, it utilized banned films and independent cinema to stage a resurgence and now hosts plenty of prestigious indies and documentaries. It’s also hosted several independent film festivals, much to the delight of the art-loving SF public.

Before you tour San Francisco’s Mission District, tour the great hotel prices and selection online at Hotels Cheap.

Stay in a Vintage Hotel: the Riviera

The Strip’s most authentic vintage hotel has been around since 1955, formerly hosting the likes of the Rat Pack. In fact, it was so popular with the crowd that Dean Martin was once its partial owner and it appeared in original Ocean’s Eleven. The Riv’s register of in-house entertainment includes a burlesque revue and a small comedy club, both of which bolster its traditional Vegas vibe. A stronghold on the Strip, the Riviera is a rare successful meld of classic atmosphere and new Vegas glitz.

Get Outfitted: Valentino’s Zootsuit Connection

Valentino’s offers Vegas’ most comprehensive vintage clothing collection, notably including, as its name states, a lot of Zootsuits. If you’re reaching for the bona fide, this is the place to find it. A fine trilby hat will serve you well if you’re not in the market for a full-on suit, though Valentino’s assortment may inspire you to boldness. Pick up a classic fleck blazer and a fedora for the poker rooms or a pinstriped number for a night out. When in Vegas, ask “why not?”

See the City’s Oldest Landmarks: the Neon Boneyard

Vegas’ Neon Museum is dedicated to the cause of preserving the city’s once-futuristic scene, housing over 150 signs and related relics of the bygone aesthetic. Its limited outdoor walking tour is open 24-hours a day to visitors of downtown Vegas’ Fremont Street Experience, but its more extensive guided tour requires an advance appointment. The Populuxe mementos preserved in the Boneyard include icons like the Hacienda Horse and Rider and Aladdin’s lamp, and they’ll all make for some stunning trip photography.

Eat (and Drink) in Classic Style: Napoleon’s at the Paris

Though its designers intended to conjure a distinctly French vibe, Napoleon’s is equally Old Vegas. Its leather furnishings, scotch selection, and cigar lounges make it an ideal evening destination for anyone who doesn’t want to brave the Strip’s dancing throngs. Vegas’ classiest joint also hosts nightly jazz, an impressive menu, and more champagne than the whole of France. As an alternative, try it for champagne brunch.

See the Icons Themselves: the Plaza’s Rat Pack Experience

The Plaza’s comedic spectacular approximates Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Dean Martin et al. in their traditional environs. The performers render the Pack’s most celebrated songs with the help of an orchestra and with special guests like Marilyn Monroe. What’s more, the Plaza’s downtown Vegas location will draw you off the Strip and into the original Sin City. Be sure to wander Fremont Street’s neon promenade while you’re there.

Vintage Vegas should certainly include a cheap hotel room along the strip, but you will find no better hotel deals than here.

What’s more romantic that heading to a tropical destination with your sweetheart? Cancun is one of the most popular places for couples to vacation as they search for the perfect romantic holiday. The people of Cancun are well aware of this, especially the tourism industry, and they’ve created some delightful destinations that are sure to light your fire.

Sunset Cruise

What is more romantic than a sunset? And when you’re in Cancun you not only get to take advantage of beautiful sunsets in a tropical paradise but you can do it from the ocean aboard a catamaran. For the active adventurous times, schedule time before your dinner cruise to use the same company for a snorkeling expedition, horseback riding, or an ATV & Speedboat adventure. If you and your special someone really like to live life to the fullest this sort of entertainment can be more romantic that the reclining sort could ever understand. But once your day of activity is over its time to relax and enjoy the views. Your excursion begins with a glass of champagne, cocktails and snacks. You can mingle and meet other vacationers and possible strike up a friendship that will last a lifetime, or you can huddle up together and experience the sunset reflecting off the ocean in seclusion. When darkness has settled you will retreat to a private beach for a candlelit surf and turf meal with live music and more cocktails.

Dolphin Discovery

If you’re like me, nothing stirs the soul quite like a friendly experience with a cuddly critter. Take that up a notch and dive into the water with dolphins and manatees for an experience that will create memories that last a lifetime. Your trip will begin with an educational lesson on the creatures you will soon be meeting. Intellectual stimulation with the heart at its core. Then you get an up close and personal experience with these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat. Staff will guide you through the experience and you’ll receive the most romantic token of all, a kiss from a dolphin and one from a manatee. It may not be the most typical translation of a romantic destination but it’s definitely an experience of a lifetime that will warm your heart forever.

La Isla Mujeres

Escape the crowded beaches with a day excursion to this tiny island where you can wile your time away exploring the local shopping options, tasting cuisine from the magnificent eateries, or relaxing in a top notch spa. If you want to step out of the normal boundaries, sign up for a scuba diving, snorkeling, or fishing expedition or really go out on a limb and swim with the sharks. But whatever you decide to do, make sure you take some time to relax and enjoy the beautiful beaches and the turquoise waters in their pristine best without the hustle and bustle of Cancun mainland.

A Day at the Spa

Cancun features a large number of spas and spa hotels so you can literally take your pick of what sort of treatment you want and what price range you want to be in. Revel in the luxury of complete relaxation and refresh your senses by a day at the spa. Nothing quite melts your worries and regular life away like a soothing massage. If you want to keep the romance in your day, which of course you do, look for a couple’s massage so the two of you can relax together.

Xcaret Cancun Eco Park

How about a natural water park for romance? At Xcaret you can experience an entirely different world of fun in the sun. Originally purchased as private land for a home, the owner began excavation and discovered ancient Mayan cenotes or sinkholes formed by cave ceilings that collapsed after about three million years of erosion. It was such an awe inspiring site that he decided this area should be shared by many and not just a privileged few. As a guest to Xcaret you have a load of aquatic activities to enjoy from a sharks tour, snuba, snoring, paradise river, dolphin experiences, a sea trek. Or you can spend an entire day at the beach, the lagoon, exploring underground rivers, or bathing in natural pools. Most of the excitement and beauty at Xcaret is below the water, but you don’t need to be an expert scuba diver to experience the joy, there are experiences for every level and in fact even non swimmers get a chance to see what lies beneath. Beyond the natural beauty, Xcaret has taken great lengths to not only respect but to restore some of the Mayan culture of the land. Check to see what celebration is happening during your visit and make a point to enjoy the festival at hand. Spent time exploring archaeological sites and sculptures and spend a moment of quite reflection together in the chapel. On the surface a water park may not seem romantic, but Xcaret steeped in history and beauty is a pretty romantic destination.

Romantic Dining

Nothing is more romantic after a day of sunning yourself on the beach or high adventure activity than a relaxing world class meal and a fine glass of wine. Luckily Cancun is simply filled with restaurants that reek of romance. The thing to remember when selecting your restaurant is that Cancun is basically divided into two sections, the Hotel Zone and the area outside the zone where the locals live. If you’re looking for swank elegance and top notch chefs from around the world, stick to the Hotel Zone. You’ll pay more but the hotels pull out all the stops to keep their guests in the zone. If you’re more adventurous and want to really experience all that Cancun has to offer, step outside of the zone and try some local cuisine. You’ll be delighted by the incredible views, the amazing local flavors and the hospitality of the natives.

Cancun is becoming a happening hotspot for destination weddings and honeymoons. The city caters to every sort of couple, from completely sedentary beach bums to high energy x-game enthusiasts. And the most romantic part of a Cancun vacation is spending time doing something you love with the person you love.

Hotels Cheap offers the best hotel rates and availability in Cancun.

( photo credit: RaubDaub)

Let’s just start with the size of Greece! The country of Greece encompasses more than 50,000 square miles. Yet, many people think of Greece only in terms of its beautiful islands. How many islands? There are about 140 inhabited islands, the largest being Crete.

Why travel to Greece? To learn more about its ancient civilization, to see its amazing landscape and spend some time on its beaches. Remember it is impossible to see all of a country in one trip so let’s concentrate on the mainland for this visit.

As always step one is to decide if you want to travel on your own or with an escorted tour. An escorted tour gives you the opportunity to see a variety of sights, have someone else do the planning and know up front what your price is going to be. The downside is that you move with the group and travel on their schedule. If you have never traveled to that part of the world and like the idea of being helped through all the possible travel complications then the escorted tour is for you. If you are more adventurous or more inclined to enjoy your own company then traveling on your own may be a good choice.

Traveling around Greece is not that difficult- they have a comprehensive public transportation system and English is widely spoken. Your starting point will most likely be Athens in the south. Arriving in Athens is a fairly easy task – the International Airport is serviced regularly by non stop flights from the US on Olympic Airlines, Air France and Delta. Athens is a large, crowded city that can be exhausting but is dominated by history, archeology and of course the Parthenon. There is a wide selection of accommodations with familiar names like Hilton, Westin and Marriott. There are also some excellent European chains like Golden Tulip and Sofitel.
Once you’re settled in begin your exploration. Walking is the best way to absorb the culture of this city. One of its greatest advantages is that most of the attractions are easily accessible by foot. The first stop for most people is the Acropolis – most are familiar with the image of the Parthenon sitting atop the hill and overlooking the city. The Parthenon is the remains of a temple to the goddess Athena – erected most likely in the 4th Century BC. Having explored the Parthenon however, take a further look around the Acropolis. You will find a museum, displaying carvings and friezes recovered from temples and also the Erechtheion temple. The holes in its northern walls were supposedly formed by Poseidon’s trident during his contest with Athena. The winner of the contest would have the city named after them……Athens!

Below the Acropolis are the remains of the Agora, the commercial center of ancient Athens. Here Aristotle and Socrates walked, talked – and went to the Dionysos Theatre to see the plays of Sophocles and Euripides.
Do plan on spending time at the National Archeological Museum. It houses the largest and most extensive collections in the country. There are pieces dating from 2000BC! A brief visit can be 2-3 hours but for a real understanding you may want to

One of the best bargains in Athens is the new “Line 400”. This special tourist bus departs every 30 minutes and makes stops at most of the major landmarks in the city. You pay for your ticket – currently € 5 – and can hop off and on anywhere on the route as often as you want. You can take the entire 90 minute circuit or use the bus to visit the Museum, the Acropolis, National Gallery, the shopping district and more. Your ticket price does not include admission to some of the sights but it is a convenient easy means of transportation. Check out all the stops and timetables here.

For a bit more modern culture, the city of Athens holds a festival twice a year. It is held in June-July and August-October in the ancient theatre of Herod Atticus. The program can include symphonies, classical drama and dance and opera.  Two other regions to consider in your tour of the mainland are Central Greece and the city of Thessaloniki in the north.

In central Greece you will see Mount Parnassus, sacred to the god Apollo and the Muses. This peak overlooks the sanctuary at Delphi with its imposing ruins. Delphi, home to the Oracle was long seen as the center of the universes to the Greek people. You will also see Mount Olympus, home to the great god Zeus.

Traveling north to Thessaloniki you are entering the region of Macedonia. Thessaloniki is the second largest city in the country and there are few others with its beauty. Situated on the waterfront and dominated by the White Tower, left behind by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent it is the capital of the region and a bustling lively city. You will find some of the countries most beautiful beaches and best food here.

Wherever you spend your time in Greece you will be welcomed warmly by the Greek people. They are proud of their ancient heritage and their modern cities and wish to share it with you time and time again.

And be sure to book your discounted hotels here.

( photo credit: nightrose)

New York City

Rockefeller Center. Not only does that midtown Art Deco office complex sport one of the most spectacular Christmas trees in the city, but you can go ice skating while you gaze up at it. For something even more special, splurge on an evening at the landmark Rainbow Room.

Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular. The annual Radio City Christmas Show has been wowing residents and visitors for 75 years. The spectacular, featuring the Rockettes, Santa, and a variety of holiday entertainers, runs through December 30 at the Art Deco Music Hall on W. 50th St. and 6th Avenue.

The Department Store Windows. Nowhere in the world has the number of fanciful and festive holiday department stores windows as New York City. Travel down Fifth Avenue and view the windows at Bergdorf Goodman, Sak’s Fifth Avenue, and Lord & Taylor. Then jog over to Broadway and 34th St. to see the windows at Macy’s. You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy the magic.

“The Nutcracker” by the New York Ballet. Another New York City tradition is the annual performances of George Balanchine’s version of “The Nutcracker” ballet, danced by the New York Ballet at Lincoln Center. The ballet runs through December 30.

Click here for the best deals on hotels in New York, or anywhere.

(cc: photo credit: david schriever)

You’re on your way to New Zealand. What’s the first thing to remember? You can ski in July and it’s warm in December.

New Zealand is in the Southern Hemisphere so all of the seasons are opposite those in North America or Europe. Their winter is your summer….school holidays can be from September to October…peak beach time is December to February…..you get the point.
You also need to know that New Zealand is not the same country as Australia. So many people lump them together in a sentence that they have become almost interchangeable in people’s mind. These two very different destinations are actually separated by the Tasman Sea – a distance of 1250 miles. New Zealand is made up of two large islands – the North Island and the South Island and a group of smaller islands.

There really is no bad time to visit New Zealand. Overall the weather is fairly mellow and there is a tremendous variety of things to see and do. New Zealand is a country that runs the gamut from glacial mountains to native forests and from beautiful beaches to cosmopolitan cities. Your decision about when to visit can be influenced by what you want to see and do.

If you visit in the Spring (Sept.-Nov.) you’ll see the countryside in all its glory. There will be blooming trees, rhododendron and daffodils. There may be rain through mid October and South Island may get light snow into September.

In Summer(Dec.-Feb.) you’ll be in the height of the tourist season. Prices will be their highest and crowds at their largest. Many of the local New Zealanders will also be on their holiday so expect some competition for space unless you’ve booked early.

Autumn(Mar.-May) will bring Fall colors and pleasant temperatures.

Winter(June-Aug.) is ski season. If you’re looking to ski there will be crowds but the rest of the country will be wide open for you.
New Zealand is 13 hours, by air, from the west coast of North America. You will cross the International Date Line on the way so you arrive in New Zealand 2 days later than you left – but return home 7 hours before you leave. Confused? Try to follow along…you leave Los Angeles on Monday at 7:30PM and fly for 13 hours. You expect to arrive on Tuesday morning. However, since you have crossed the date line you actually arrive in Auckland at 7:30AM on Wednesday. Now on your return you leave Auckland at 7:15PM on Monday and fly the same 13 hours- again you expect to arrive home on Tuesday but you have once again crossed the date line and so you land at 11:30AM on Monday.

You can visit New Zealand with an escorted tour. Most of the major companies, Tauck, Brendan, Celtic and Collette, among others, have packages to New Zealand. Most of these will include your air, accommodations, some meals and sightseeing. As always, if you are unsure of traveling on your own or just love the idea of “one stop shopping” then the escorted route is for you. You will, most likely, meet like minded people, you’ll never have to lug your bags through the airport and there will always be someone to answer your questions.

You can also visit New Zealand on a cruise ship. You can sail on Celebrity, Princess, Crystal or Royal Caribbean, among others and take advantage of their many and varied shore excursions. They offer stops at Auckland and the capital, Wellington on the North Island along with visits to Christchurch and Milford Sound on the South Island and still spend some tranquil days at sea. Most of the cruise lines also offer you the opportunity to extend your stay by adding on days before or after your cruise.

Many people like to explore New Zealand on their own. Making your way around the country is not difficult and visitors find renting a car the most flexible option. It is not an enormous country – it covers approximately 103,000 square miles but don’t try to see it all in one trip. While the distance between some cities may seem short many of the roads are 2 lanes and they can be steep and winding. Also, speeding down a road is the easiest way to miss some wonderful unexpected sight!

If you want to ski (remember that would be June/July/August) head for Queenstown. You can base yourself in this lively tourist resort and spend your days at Coronet Peak.

For a look at some wonderful Victorian Gothic architecture spend time in Christchurch. This is a great start for exploring the South Island of New Zealand. You will be within 2 hours of skiing, good surfing beaches and over 35 wineries. Over the last few years New Zealand wines have been increasingly honored at international competitions.

On the North Island you should spend some time in Auckland. Too many people use it as a landing point and miss its wonderful sailing, boating and fishing. There are also more than 900 restaurants and a very busy night life!

Wellington, the capital city, is home to the Museum of New Zealand. Explore this major attraction for a clearer understanding of the culture you will see throughout the country.

New Zealand is one of the most recently settled places in the world. Originally inhabited by Eastern Polynesians, who became known as the Maori, around 1300AD- then by the Dutch and finally by Captain Cook in the late 1700’s it is a mix of native and European, modern and ancient, past and future. It is an opportunity to experience it all and plan to return.

Before you go, check here for discount hotel accommodations in New Zealand and around the world.

( photo credit: tabasco_dude)

We began the new year hearing of riots and unrest in Kenya accompanied by various national governments giving tourists warnings against traveling there. And while many tourist organizations are saying that most travelers to Kenya are not at high risk, the predicted collapse of Kenyan tourism seems to be happening anyway. Obviously the saying about any publicity being good publicity doesn’t quite apply in this case:

Kenya Airways is about to cancel most of the direct flights to and from one of the main tourist cities, Mombasa. There is usually a direct London to Mombasa flight, but this will not run as of February 1, and the Mombasa to Johannesburg link will also be cancelled from January 27. This means that most travelers will need to enter Kenya via flights from South Africa to the capital, Nairobi.

The British Foreign Office has extended its ban on holiday flights to Kenya, even though the German government has lifted its ban. The lack of British tourists is bad news for Kenya which has already lost at least $80 million in tourism revenue.

Not everybody is staying away: the fifth Africa Canoeing Championships are due to take place from January 23 to 27 at Masinga Dam, and the United States team has already arrived to begin their preparation. Most other international teams are also expected to turn up as the event is used as a qualifier for the Olympics.

For discount hotels on travels anywhere around the world, be sure to visit Hotels Cheap.

(cc: photo credit: Edgar Thissen)