USA Archives - Page 3 of 10

March 1, 2018 by Jeremy

Three Secrets for Scoring a Great Deal on Your Next Car

Buying a new car is a major financial investment for most people. If you’re a saver, you’ve likely spent hours working, and even more hours tabulating your savings waiting for the day you’re finally ready to bite the bullet. If you’re comfortable with financing most of your purchase, the wait might not have been so long until you’re ready. But, either way, there are a few important things to remember when buying a new car that will ensure you get a great deal on your purchase.

The first big secret is to know a whole lot about the car model or models you’re interested in well before you ever head to a car lot. You can do research on almost every car currently in production on reputable websites like Cars.com. You can filter your search results but specific makes and even trim levels of vehicles. There is also a comparison tool that allows you to look at several models side by side. Knowing all the details of the car model that will ultimately land in your sights will likely include knowing its value. Knowing this key piece of information will ensure you don’t fall for an inflated ticket prices at the dealership and will put leverage in your corner when it comes time for negotiations.

Another huge component of getting a great deal on your next car is to shop around. You might find the exact car you’re looking for at the first dealership you visit. But, there is nothing wrong with making the salesmen work for the deal. And, rest assured, any dealership that carries the kind of car you’re looking for, can get any model or special features you want. Be sure to visit a few dealerships before settling on a specific car and pick the one that is most reputable, and makes you feel most comfortable about doing business with them.

Finally, if you’re going to finance your next car purchase, make sure you know what’s lurking in your credit report well before a potential lender pulls it. If you have any less-than-stellar information in your report, it could save you thousands of dollars in interest to clean it up well before submitting your loan application.

February 1, 2018 by Jeremy

Florida’s 5 Greatest Tourist Attractions

The sunshine state is one of the most popular tourists destinations on the planet with over a 100 million people visiting each year. With a fabulous climate, beautiful countryside nice golden sandy breathtaking beaches and some of the world’s most impressive theme parks Florida has a wealth of incredible attractions. With so many attractions though it can be hard to choose which ones to visit, especially if time is limited.

Go on holiday to Florida and you sure to have an amazing time! We use the word ‘greatest’ because the places chosen on this list are truly special! So let’s take a look a Florida’s greatest tourist attractions to give us a better idea.

Universal Studios

Disneyland’s biggest rival Universal Studio theme Park is one of Florida’s greatest attractions. With growing numbers each year Universal studios in Florida is one of the top 10 most visited amusement parks in the world, which is likely to surpass 10 million visitors this year. The theme park consists of fantastic rides, exhibitions and other entertaining attraction all themed on television and film.

Kennedy Space Centre

This is the incredible site of all NASA’s human flights into space since the 1960’s.

The Kennedy Space Centre caters to tourism with its visitor complex where guests tours of important facilities as well as a rocket garden. The museum is a fantastic attraction too which can traces back all the historic moments in US space history with its brilliant and informative exhibitions and movies.

Everglades

Florida’s beautifully national park the Everglades made up of tropical wetlands is a must visit location in Florida. The national park is home to some of the United States best wildlife spotting opportunities with Crocodiles, the Manatee and the American Panther all living in the national park. The world heritage sight is an incredibly scenic place to be explored.

South Beach

Miami’s south beach is the place to see and be seen. This beautiful stretch of land hosts some of the wildest nightlife in the continent with its high end nightclubs and mix of electronic and latin beats. South beach hosts some of the biggest DJ’ across the world and is an all year round party destination. South Beach in itself is beautiful with sunny weather throughout the calendar, pure white sands and Caribbean blue sea.

Walt Disney World

The biggest of all of Disney 7 theme parks across the world & the biggest theme park on the planet! Walt Disney World is a dream come true for both adults and children alike. The parks incredible rides, brilliant shows and familiar characters make Walt Disney World a truly magical place. Every young child that grows up watching Disney films is drawn to this place which can be enjoyed well into our adulthoods. The music, the atmosphere and the pure happiness is something to be truly admired. Walt Disney World in Florida is perhaps the happiest place in the entire world. Attracting a total 20 million visitors a year and growing, Walt Disney World Park is undoubtedly Florida’s Greatest Attraction and for children at least the biggest attraction on the planet. Walt Disney would be very proud!

December 1, 2017 by Jeremy

7 Tips for Your First Long-Distance Motorcycle Trip

Perhaps you’re young, confident and maybe a little bit rash, and you’ve been dying to take your bike out for a long excursion. So you’ve decided to take an impulsive trip and are looking for some last minute tips. And that’s fine. There’s freedom in picking up your bag and heading out for an adventure just because you feel the call of the road.

Or maybe you’re the responsible type. You’ve been planning this road trip for months, even years. Finally, after waiting for all the pieces to come together, the time to go is finally near. You’ve got your destinations lined up, your hotel rooms reserved, and you’re researching advice online to make sure you haven’t overlooked anything.

Whatever the case, whether you’re planning to travel with your motorcycle stateside or in another country, you’ve come to the right place. The first thing you should know is to expect the unexpected, especially if this is your first time doing a solo motorcycle road trip. There are some things you can only learn the hard way, by facing obstacles head on and overcoming them. That being said, these 10 tips will help you mentally prepare yourself for the challenges ahead.

Your Endurance Will Be Tested

If you’re not accustomed to riding for more than just a few hours, then you may want to make some practice runs lasting a few hours before embarking on your trip. The road will test your focus, your endurance, and literally be a pain in the rear. The more experience you have riding for longer periods of time, the more pleasant your road trip will turn out.

Windshields Are a Godsend

Right now you may be thinking that windshields are unstylish and only fit for middle-aged men riding overly outfitted touring bikes, but you’ll change your mind fast once you’re on the freeway for a few hours. Riding against the wind at 65 to 80 miles per hour gets exhausting fast. If you don’t have a windshield already, do yourself a favor and invest in a proper windshield.

Posture Is Key

Unless you’ve had a lot of experience riding long distances, you may not realize how essential posture is to comfortable riding. Getting your seating and riding position right makes the difference between smooth sailing and killing your back and legs. If you want to ride without turning your body into a pretzel, seriously consider getting a backrest and some highway pegs. Also adjust your handlebars for optimal comfort before you hit the road.

Prepare for Some Unpredictable Weather

Riders in the know often joke that on a long road trip you’ll end up hot, cold and wet. Expect to encounter all kinds of weather conditions, whether it be hot sun or cold rain—and prepare yourself accordingly. Pack a few change of clothes and wear well-ventilated, waterproof equipment. However, no matter how many preparations you make, you should steel yourself for at least a little discomfort. After all, you’ll be on a motorcycle, completely exposed to the elements.

Earplugs Are Incredible

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), noise levels of 100 decibels become damaging to the ear after just 15 minutes of exposure. At a speed of about 74 mph (which is common for freeway riding), wind noise exceeds 100 decibels. The conclusion? Wear earplugs while riding, no matter how uncool it is. You know what’s not cool? Losing your hearing. Also, contrary to popular belief, earplugs don’t block out sound, they help your ears distinguish sounds better. In other words, you’ll be more aware of your surroundings with earplugs, not less. And as any good rider will tell you, awareness is key to safe riding.

Embrace Technology

There’s something romantic to the notion of riding with only the road and your thoughts on your mind for hours on end—and it’s an experience any rider should have at least once. However, you may want to consider using technology for your first trip since it will make your ride a lot more comfortable. A helmet with Bluetooth capabilities, for instance, can facilitate navigation and rider-to-rider communications. If your bike has cruise control, make use of it. It’ll help you maintain a constant speed for long periods of time and consequently discourage cars from dangerously passing you.

Get Plenty of Rest

Riding long distances is a physically and mentally draining experience, and you’ll have to listen to your body if you want to make it through your trip unscathed. Feel thirsty? Pull over and drink some water. Hungry? Pull over and get a snack. Your muscles feeling tight? Pull over and stretch. The last thing you want to do is overdo it, lose concentration and put yourself at risk of a bad motorcycle crash. Remember, every car is a potential killing machine, and you need to be awake, alert and focused on your ride from point A to B to C and so on.

One last and final tip: enjoy yourself. As long as you practice smart and safe riding strategies along with the tips above, you will have the time of your life, guaranteed. Now get out there and create some unforgettable memories! The road awaits.

November 28, 2016 by Jeremy

Top 8 things to do on a trip to Niagara Falls this Christmas

There are many things to do on a trip to Niagara Falls this Christmas

Photo by CC user Paolostefano1412 on Wikimedia Commons

If you’re planning on spending your winter break in the Niagara Falls region this year, here are just a few of the many events and activities waiting for you…

Take a Hornblower Cruise

No trip to Niagara would be complete without a catamaran cruise to all three waterfalls. No matter what time of year you go, this is always a thrilling experience, sailing up to the spray of the American, Bridal Veil and Horseshoe Falls.

Stay in a room with a view

If you stay in one of the best Niagara Falls hotels, you’ll be guaranteed to awaken every morning to the sight of the Horseshoe Falls from your bedroom. Imagine eating your breakfast as you look out onto this iconic natural phenomenon.

Go to the Winter Festival of Lights

From 19th November to 31st January next year, over one million people will be visiting the 8km of stunning landscape decked out in festive illuminations. From the Niagara Parks to Dufferin Islands and beyond, expect everything from Noah’s Ark to the world’s largest illuminated Canadian-American flag.

Try FlyBoarding

If you’re in the mood to try out a new water sport, you’ll find nothing more adventurous than FlyBoarding. You’ll be propelled up to 40ft in the air, as your very own “jetpack” uses traditional water-skiing technology with some added propulsion to send you skyward. Before you know it, you’ll be performing tricks just like the experts.

Visit Santa’s Grotto

If your little ones want to visit Santa, your best bet is to head for the Christmas Gift Show, on 3^rd and 4^th December at the Scotiabank Convention Centre. With over 100 stalls for you to explore, this festive-themed market will have tonnes of presents, sweet treats and demonstrations, with your very own Grotto for the kids to deliver their lists in person.

Walk through the botanical gardens

If you head towards the Niagara Parkway, there are a multitude of beautiful sights to greet you, the first of which is the famous floral clock. Right now, you’ll be able to see it with all 16,000 carpet bedding plants in their autumn/winter glory. Then, the 99 acres of perfectly manicured Botanical Gardens await you.

Take a zipline down the Falls

If you’re in the mood for something a little more adventurous, why not view the stunning scenery from above? WildPlay’s MistRider Zipline to the Falls is a brand new attraction for daredevils, and they’re located over Niagara Gorge and Niagara River, where you’ll sail past the American and Bridal Veil Falls before finishing at the Horseshoe Falls.

Enjoy festive fayre at McFarland House

For a touch of tradition during the Yuletide season, McFarland House will be decked out in Victorian splendour while you tour its hallways. This is a unique experience to see a restored period property, with a cup of mulled cider in one hand and a freshly-baked Christmas cookie in the other.

Where are you going for your Christmas getaway?

November 13, 2016 by Jeremy

Fun places to travel on a private jet in America

Photo by CC user mmordfin on Flickr

Have you come into some money recently and want to check out an awesome bucket list item? Have you thought about chartering your own private jet?

Whether you’ll be shouldering the cost yourself, or getting several friends to pitch in for the experience of a lifetime, there is no better feeling than boarding, traveling to, and arriving in an amazing destination in your own private plane.

If you are thinking about doing this, here are some great places you can go in America.

1) Chicago

When a craving for deep dish pizza, soulful jazz and blues music, or iconic sports teams hits, organizing a jet charter to Chicago will satisfy all of these needs handily.

In addition to the above mentioned attractions, the Windy City also has one of America’s most iconic skylines, including the Willis Tower, which was once the tallest building in the country.

Be sure to also stroll the Magnificent Mile, as it is home to one of the greatest concentrations of luxury shops in the United States.

2) Miami

If chasing warm weather at this time of year sounds like a much better idea to you, then a jet charter to Miami is what you should be shooting for.

Located just north of the Tropic of Cancer, this cosmopolitan city is home to people from all over Latin America and the world.

This gives this town a flavor that will call you back more than the fantastic beaches found up and down its coast.

Throughout South Beach, you’ll also find a world-class nightlife scene that will prove to be the perfect way to end a day spent soaking up all that Florida sunshine.

3) New York City

When it comes to exciting places in America, none can trump the attractions that can be found in the Big Apple.

Also referred to as The Crossroads of the World, New York City has given the world countless dishes, some of its most daring skyscrapers, and it has served as the USA’s welcome mat during the early days of immigration to this country.

Be sure to check out Midtown’s many world class restaurants, which give priceless views of this city’s brilliantly-lit up buildings at night. The prices may be high, but the chefs here deliver value that exceeds what you’ll pay for the dishes you’ll order here.

4) Los Angeles

What could be more baller than flying into Los Angeles, the home of Hollywood glitz and glamor, on a private jet?

With all the trappings of this center of showbiz, plus surfing beaches where legions of well-toned locals turn out on a nice day to show off their bodies, there will be plenty to do during the course of your stay.