Destination Archives - Page 21 of 44

June 5, 2014 by Jeremy

Where to Watch the World Cup in Brazil

As the opening kickoff for World Cup 2014 looms ever closer, football fanatics are traveling to South America’s biggest, most populated, and most lively country. While their choice of cities will be influenced by where their teams are playing, many consider themselves fans of the game in general, and thus, will be more flexible with regards to which host cities that they will visit.

Outside of the matches that will take place over the past month, these folks will be looking for extracurricular activities to keep themselves busy and entertained until the next game kicks off. With this in mind, we have listed three cities out of the twelve hosts that are the best places to watch the World Cup in Brazil, as they contain attractions that add value to a fan’s downtime in these cities.

While time spent in their football stadiums that will dominate much of the agenda, the highlights of the following cities will be truly what you will remember about your trip to Brazil.

1) Salvador

Salvador is home to the biggest Carnival in the world, so trust us: this city knows how to party! On top of this, Salvador also boasts some excellent urban beaches, with strips of sand suitable for swimming, and other rougher ones where surfers can catch some righteous waves. As far as games in Salvador are concerned, this boisterous burg will hosts games featuring: Spain vs. The Netherlands, June 13; Germany vs. Portugal, June 16; Switzerland vs. France, June 20; Bosnia vs. Iran, June 25, playoff matches, July 1 and July 5.

2) Manaus

Situated on the periphery of the Amazonian wilderness, Manaus derived its fortune in past decades from the rubber trade, as the trees that spawned a massive global commodity were discovered nearby. These days, Manaus makes much of its money as a staging point for adventures into the Amazon Basin, allowing those seeking to get in touch with the world’s most biodiverse forest environment a way to do so in a safe and efficient manner. Matches going down in Manaus during the World Cup include: England vs. Italy, June 14; Cameroon vs. Croatia, June 18; United States of America vs. Portugal, June 22; and Honduras vs. Switzerland, June 25.

3) Rio De Janeiro

We couldn’t write this article without acknowledging Brazil’s most famous city and centre of all of the biggest matches during the World Cup. Between games, the lively stretches of Copacabana will play host to hotly contested beach football and volleyball matches, as well as supporters just seeking to soak up a little sun amidst some of the most beautiful people in the world. You can also soar through the sky by launching a hang glider off the vertigo-inducing slopes of Sugarloaf Mountain, or just simply admire the Christ the Redeemer statue as he watches over Rio from above. In Rio, the games you can expect to see here include: Argentina vs. Bosnia, June 15; Spain vs. Chile, June 18; Belgium vs. Russia, June 22; Ecuador vs. France, June 25, playoff matches on June 28, July 4, and July 13 (the final!)

May 17, 2014 by Jeremy

Top Reasons To Visit Vienna

Tasteful food, classical music, eloquent palaces, grand museums, and old churches; these are among the top reasons to visit Vienna, Austria. Altogether, they make the city unique and a worthy travel destination.

The food is hearty

Vienna cuisine is best known for its proportions. Their meals are sizeable and will fill your stomach to a brink. Their fondness for pastries is reflected by foods like krapfen, mohnstrudel, gugelhupf, apfelstrudel, and sacher torte. The Viennese also love their meat with foods like pork roast and wiener schnitzel.

The drinks served in Vienna are equally exceptional. Some of their must-try beverages include melange and Gösser beer. For dessert, we recommend Italianische eis.

Its palaces and music are reminiscent of fairy tales

Two of the city’s most famous palaces include Schoenbrunn and Hofburg. Hofburg is located in the city center whereas Schoenbrunn is southwest of the suburbs. The imperial palaces are some of the top Vienna tourist attractions. Schoenbrunn Palace is home to Tiergarten, the first zoo garden in the world. In Hofburg, the Schatzkammer makes an interesting sight. Schatzkammer is an imperial vault that houses priceless artifacts including the Habsburgs’ treasury.

Pair up these palaces with classical music and you are close to being in a real-world fairy tale. Tunes to the waltz and classical western music by Brahms, Beethoven, Joseph Haydn, Schubert, and Strauss are often played in several venues across the city.

Immerse in culture and history at local museums

The Museumsquartier is a museums complex situated in Vienna. As one of the largest in the world, you are bound to drown in the city’s historical and cultural accounts. Apart from them, the museum also features exhibits from all over the world including artifacts of ancient Egypt, Rome, and Greece.

The Arsenal which was formerly a military complex is also one of the top reasons to visit Vienna. The museum specializes in local military history and artifacts.

See churches from the past

Vienna has a wide array of historic churches. St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Stefansdom) and St. Charles’ Church (Karlskirche) are two of the most popular.

Stefansdom is a Gothic cathedral located at the center of the city and towers over neighboring buildings. You can get a great view of Vienna’s cityscape from either tower. The cathedral also features stained glass windows and underground catacombs.

Karlskirche has Rococo architecture with a dominant green dome and two spiral columns. One of its highlights is the jewel-covered skeleton encased in glass.

May 15, 2014 by jfalbelda

A Florida Car Hire Adventure to Remember!

There are many different ways in which you can enjoy Florida. If you have young children in your family, there is every chance that your Florida holiday will be spent at the theme parks seeing the magic of Disney and Universal Studios. However, there is plenty more on offer in this part of America. Miami is the place to be if you want to see the rich lifestyle and enjoy a nightlife that never knows when to call it quits. There are also plenty of chances to get away from the city and head out into the swamps and peaceful nature of the Everglades. Sometimes it is too warm to do anything strenuous in Florida, which is why hiring a hire car and setting off on adventure is likely to be one of the best suggestions for a Florida holiday.

There is no getting away from the fact that you could easily spend your Florida holiday lying on the beach. If you need to get away, relax and recharge your batteries, this is the sort of destination that will refresh you and leave you all set to make the most of life again. However, if you find the idea of lying on a beach on the Gold Coast or in the south of Florida to be a little too quiet, get on the road and see an array of stunning panoramic views all along the Gulf coast.

See the stunning islands of Florida

You’ll even find that there are island all along Florida that are well worth checking out. Less than 15 miles from Fort Myers you will find Captiva and Sanibel, two stunning islands that will provide you with the best of everything. If you are keen to see the very best of Florida wildlife, but from a safe distance, you’ll find that the J N Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge is the ideal place to be. The park holds birds, otters, raccoons and alligators alongside a whole host of other animals so if you want to make the most of your time while seeing the very best of the local population, this is a must-see stop on your hire car itinerary.

Once you have had your fill of Florida wildlife, get back in your car and head south to Naples. This is a quiet yet very stylish resort, the perfect destination for shopping, strolling and enjoying some nightlife on the main drag on 5th Avenue. Life in the middle of Miami can be far too hectic for a summer holiday but heading to Naples will provide you with the ideal opportunity to blend everything that makes up for a relaxing yet interesting time.

Check out the Bohemian lifestyle of Siesta Key before hitting Tampa Bay

From here, you have a number of options and where you go to next is all down to you and what you are looking to see. If you have an artistic side and you are looking to have some bohemian interest in your life, why not head to the Siesta Key. This may sound like a resort that will put you to sleep but the reality of the matter is that this couldn’t be further from the truth. This is an excellent resort with a great deal of entertainment and places of interest to pique your interest.

Tampa Bay is also within easy reach when you have a hire car and it would be wrong to miss out on the local attractions in this area. No matter what you are looking for, there will be something of interest and if you crave some wild nightlife after a long day’s drive, you should make your to Ybor City. This is the home of entertainment in Tampa Bay and you’ll find everything you are possibly looking for. Just remember if you plan to be driving in the morning to keep things on a sensible level.

May 15, 2014 by Jeremy

Best beaches in Fuerteventura

As the warmth of spring continues to spread across Europe, thoughts of how one will spend their summer holidays are beginning to run through the minds of many, as many employers are beginning to request that their workers put in for their time off in the months ahead.

Looking through the papers and online, you may have noticed some deals on flights to Fuerteventura, and this has gotten the wheels in your head turning. Being home to a wide selection of amazing beaches, Fureteventura allows people of all sorts to enjoy their time in the sun, no matter their interests.

In the following paragraphs, we will play matchmaker between you, the sand craving public, and the best beaches in Fuerteventura. Let’s get started!

For families: Costa Calma

For those bringing along an entourage of little people on their holiday to Fuerteventura, basing your beach bumming activities along the sandy shores of Costa Calma is a sure way to ensure a happy holiday for all involved. The list of amenities is considerable, as restaurants, resorts, and stores containing supplies and provisions are all well within reach, and with 1.5 kilometers of wide sand available to spread a blanket and plant a sun umbrella, you’ll have plenty of room to enjoy the outstanding natural environment available here.

Another point in Costa Calma’s favor is that its sheltered location knocks down wave heights (Fuerteventura is notorious for big swells), making it much safer for your kids to splash around here than anywhere else on the island.

For those wanting to escape the crowds: Isla de Lobos

If solitude in the midst of awe-inspiring nature is what you seek from your Fuerteventura holiday, then taking a boat trek to the nearby island of Isla de Lobos will prove to be a fruitful endeavour. This isle is mostly an outcropping of volcanic rock in ocean off the main island, measuring a meek 4 square kilometers in size.

But this place contains a delicious white sand beach, numerous tidal pools with a soft sandy bottom, and excellent opportunities for awesome snorkeling and diving adventures. All of this takes places far from the frenetic pace of the main tourist areas, making it a must for the traveling introvert.

For those looking for a romantic long stroll on the beach: Playa de El Cofete

Couples seeking a romantic recharge after a hectic winter spent suffering in dismal weather and equally dismal workloads will find many secluded beaches on Fuerteventura.

However, there is perhaps no beach quite as spectacular as Playa de El Cofete, which is difficult to access, as passage is only available via a rutted trail, but with tall mountains in the background, a wild ocean pounding upon the beach with unimaginable ferocity, and fewer people within sight than fingers on your hands, it is a voyage well worth it.

Linger here and soak up the energy of this place, but don’t tell anybody else about this special beach … it’s our little secret!

May 10, 2014 by Jeremy

Explore The Top Reasons To Visit Balmoral

When traveling to Aberdeenshire in Scotland, you should ask yourself what the top reasons to visit Balmoral are. Balmoral is a castle and estate located in Aberdeenshire and one of Scotland’s precious treasures. Here are a few reasons why you should go to Balmoral during your trip to Aberdeenshire.

“The British Monarch owns it.”

Balmoral Estate is not just any estate. It is a privately owned property of the British Monarch. Queen Victoria purchased the estate in 1852 along with her consort, Prince Edward. Since then it had belonged to them. Upon its purchase, they found the estate house too small and replaced it with the Balmoral Castle.

“The Balmoral Castle.”

There are many things that make Balmoral Castle an interesting attraction. First of all, the castle was ordered by Queen Elizabeth and has been royal property since its construction. Second, while it was designed by William Smith of Aberdeen, Prince Albert made altercations and them too. Third, Balmoral Castle has a Scots Baronial architecture. It is an architectural style that originates from the 16th century and draws on the features of Medieval towers and castles and French Renaissance chateaux.

Perhaps one of the top reasons to visit Balmoral Castle is that Historic Scotland categorized it as a “category A” structure. Therefore, it is of great national importance whether it has to do with architecture or history.

“The estate has scenic landscapes.”

It covers more than 50,000 acres of ancient Caledonian woodlands and hills filled with heather. The stunning River Dee is located nearby too. Over the centuries, stewards of the Balmoral Estate preserved the architecture, wildlife, and greenery within its reach, creating an environment that is close to nature.

“It is open to tourists.”

Balmoral Estate may be royal property but it is open to tourists. Even though it isn’t available all year round, it is open from April until July each year. During these months, tourists are allowed to explore the estate gardens, grounds, and Castle Ballroom. Its availability to tourists is one of the top reasons to visit Balmoral.