Top five tourist attractions in the USA – Part 13

From coast to coast, north to south, and everywhere in between, the United States has some terrific tourist destinations that every American should see at least once. Some are majestic natural wonders; others are manmade feats of wonder. Here are just five of these great wonders and reasons why you should visit them.

Everglades National Park, Florida-

The largest subtropical preserve in the United States, the Everglades is a worldwide preserve, home to many rare and endangered species, some indigenous to only the Everglades. Everglades National Park opened as a wildlife sanctuary in 1947 and greets almost one million visitors annually.

Because of the number of indigenous endangered species living in the Everglades every American should take the opportunity to place the Everglades on their “must see” list before the ability to view some of these rare wildlife specimens are gone.

New York City, New York-

New York City is the largest city in the world and has all the glitz and glam to go along with its title. An estimated 8 million people live in the Big Apple. New York City is headquarters to the United Nations and is a worldwide leader in the commerce and finance industries. The city is a melting pot of cultures and is the arts and entertainment capital of the world. New York City has many districts within its five boroughs, all with their own different flavors that add to the uniqueness of the city.

For both its historic value and its importance to the world everyone should visit this ultra modern city where most of our ancestors first set foot when they came to America.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming/Montana/Idaho-

Yellowstone is bound to make most Americans “must see” list. Yellowstone National Park is the world’s first national park, designated as such in 1872 by President Grant. Yellowstone is over 3400 square miles in area and most of the park remains wild. Mother Nature really puts on a show of splendor in Yellowstone.

You are guaranteed to see many different types of wildlife in Yellowstone some of which are threatened or endangered. Traveling through Yellowstone is an educational adventure for the entire family.

Disneyworld, Central Florida-

Located in central Florida, Disneyworld attracts almost 50 million visitors per year in its four Kingdoms (Epcot, Magic Kingdom, MGM, Animal Kingdom) combined. That’s more visitors than any other tourist attraction in the US. The four

Las Vegas travel: The entertainment capital of the world – Part 4

Millions of people travel to Las Vegas, Nevada every year. They are drawn by the over-the-top advertising of the joys of drinking, gambling and the do what ever you want atmosphere of the Las Vegas scene. Coming from a small Midwestern town I too was taken in by the excitement of a 24 hour a day city. So much so that I moved to Las Vegas just over a year ago. Do I regret the move, not at all, but I did learn that there is another side to Las Vegas and many great reasons to visit this world class city.

Relatively inexpensive travel destination

Even in trying economic times Las Vegas continues to be a great travel destination and travel value. Because the city is so dependent on tourism there is much competition between hotels and casinos for your business. It is not uncommon to find hotel rooms for $40 -$50 a night during the off season. Off season in Las Vegas typically runs from June through August because of the intense heat and November through January because of the Holidays. Most people don’t travel to Las Vegas during the holidays but these are great times to get a low price on a hotel and airfare travel package.

World class entertainment

Without question anyone you want to see in the entertainment industry eventually comes to Las Vegas. This is fantastic if your a devoted fan but also great if you just like quality entertainment. One of the great things about Las Vegas is that there are several discount ticket locations right on the strip where you can get same day tickets for up to 50% off the ticket price.

Free lounge entertainment

There are many lounge entertainers through the casinos in Las Vegas. There are free and most of them do several shows a week. Stop by any casino and check out the free entertainment. You can stop and have a drink of two and meet other visitors like yourself. Even the lounge entertainers here are top notch talented performers.

Melting pot of the world culture

You can truly meet people from all over the world in Las Vegas. As a relatively new local I am always amazed at the many different countries represented by the visitors to our city. Because of this diversity you will also find a fantastic selection of food from all over the world in our restaurants. From celebrity chefs to fast food you can find a dish that reminds you of home at any of the casinos on the strip.

Multi million dollar playground

Don’t forget to enjoy the architecture and beauty of the multi-million dollar hotels and casinos in Las Vegas. You will find fine art and luxurious and one-of-a-kind decor in many of the casinos and clubs. Much of this goes unnoticed take time to walk around and explore the many cultural aspects of this city.

Natural scenery

Get away from strip and visit places like Red Rock. Las Vegas is cradled by beautiful mountain ranges that seem to embrace the city and yet provide a stark contrast to it. You can go up to the mountains and enjoy many outdoor activities such as skiing, snowboarding and hiking in addition to a reprieve from the sometimes overwhelming heat.

I hope you have learned something new about the great city of Las Vegas or at least been inspired to see it in a different light!

Places to see before you die: Reasons to add New York City to the list – Part 20

Simply, New York City is the Capital of the World. Manhattan has something for people of all interests. The city showcases extravagant Broadway Shows, fascinating museums, exquisite restaurants, and an unbelievable mix of people of hundreds of backgrounds. Manhattan is where thousands of immigrants came over from Europe and Asia. Bringing their culture with them, it has caused New York City to become the great Melting Pot of America. Manhattan For the Savoy shopper, they will find themselves in heaven. From the lavish department stores of Midtown, to the chic boutiques of Chelsea, Manhattan holds the means to satisfy any shoppaholic. Another factor is the food. People of all cultures have brought their traditional dishes to New York. Now, anyone can sample the flavors of India, Mexico, Italy, France, and others, all on the same city block. Artists, musicians, actors, and other artistic flock the streets of the cultural haven. Everyone can find something in New York. For authors, it is the world’s publishing capital. For chefs, it is the food capital. For artists it is the arts capital. Quite simply: Manhattan is the world’s capital. The city does not just represent one country. It represents people of all countries, backgrounds, religion, and walks of life. Many people are attracted to the high paced life style, culture, and over all, the city atmosphere.