Airfarewatchdog(TM), the most inclusive source of airfare deals, researched and verified by experts, today urged travelers to not panic about media reports claiming that expensive airfares will be commonplace during peak holiday travel this year. The site's founder, George Hobica, notes, "Some routes, especially those served by a large number of airlines, have experienced wide fluctuations in price, and not just in the up direction."
Airfarewatchdog found fares from Newark to San Francisco, departing the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and returning the Sunday after, for over $600 round-trip including taxes. Two days later, seats could be had for $389 round-trip with taxes and two days after that, fares had begun to climb again.
To find a holiday airfare bargain, Hobica also suggests that travelers:
•Check fares every day, several times a day, and when travelers see a fare they can afford or consider reasonable - grab it.
•Don't hesitate to book a fare if they find a peak holiday airfare for long haul routes under $400 round-trip with tax, or under $300 on shorter haul routes.
•Fly airlines that give full "fare drop" refunds. Three airlines--Southwest, JetBlue, and Alaska--will refund the difference in full if a fare goes down between the time they buy and the time they fly. Refunds are in the form of a credit good for future travel; other airlines offer refunds, but deduct $100 to $150 from any money due, often wiping out any savings.
•Check airline sites directly, since airlines don't always share their entire seat inventory with third party search and aggregator sites.
Source: PRNewswire
Monday, November 2, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
The Top 10 Wacky Attractions in America
TripAdvisor, one of the best travel websites in my opinion, has announced the ten wackiest tourist spots in the United States, according to its travelers and editors.
1. Toilet Seat Museum, Alamo Heights, Texas
Barney Smith's unusual museum holds the top spot for the most wackiest tourist attraction. His collection of over 700 decorated toilet seat lids is displayed in his oversized garage and attracts over 1000 visitors a year. But don't ask to go to the bathroom, there isn't one available.
2. Carhenge, Alliance, Nebraska
England has Stonehenge, we have Carhenge. Basically it's a collection of old cars that have been painted grey to look like stone and arranged like the massive structures in Stonehenge.
3. Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo, Texas
And to truly convince the foreigner that we are a car-crazy nation, we point to this car-centered wacky attraction. It's ten half-buried graffiti-covered Cadillacs where the visitor is invited to spray paint on these colorful cars. It's a way to express your own artistic talent using old Cadillacs as your canvas.
4. Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia
I want to go to this museum! Two room house a huge collection of Pez dispensers through the ages; from the very first Pez that was sold in the 1950s. It even has the world's largest Pez dispenser (a snowman that stands seven feet, 10 inches tall).
5. Gatorland, Orlando, Florida
If alligators are your thing, then you can't miss this place. There are over 1000 alligators for you to enjoy and you can even feed them raw hot dogs or take a picture sitting on an alligator; that's something you don't get to do in Disney.
6. The Paris Texas Eiffel Tower, Paris, Texas
This other Paris has a tower that's 65 feet tall topped with a cowboy hat on top.
7. House on the Rock, Spring Green, Wisconsin
I guess it's the only museum sitting on top of a rock that's 60 feet tall that has an eclecting collection of stuff like automated musical instruments.
8. Stonehenge II, Kerrville, Texas
This tourist attraction not only has a replica of the original Stonehenge in Britain, but it even has a replica of the Easter Island statues. Who says you need a passport to visit ancient sites?
9. Extraterrestrial Highway, Rachel, Nevada
After years of reports of bizarre extraterrestrial behavior near top-secret government base Area 51, a stretch of Nevada State Route 375 was deemed the Extraterrestrial Highway. Be prepared and make sure that you bring a videocam when you ride on this highway.
10. Minnesota Twine Ball, Darwin, Minnesota
Remember that old I Love Lucy episode when the Ricardos and the Mertzes went on a cross-country car trip, got involved with a local situation and was rewarded with a huge ball of aluminum foil? Well this place actually has the world’s largest ball of twine, weighing 17,400 pounds and measuring 12 feet in diameter. Creator Francis A. Johnson worked on the creation for decades before he died and left behind a now-beloved landmark, housed safely in a gazebo for travelers to see. One TripAdvisor traveler said, “The very nice man opened the gazebo and let us take in the whole experience — the smell and touch of the ball.”
From PRNewswire
Barney Smith's unusual museum holds the top spot for the most wackiest tourist attraction. His collection of over 700 decorated toilet seat lids is displayed in his oversized garage and attracts over 1000 visitors a year. But don't ask to go to the bathroom, there isn't one available.
England has Stonehenge, we have Carhenge. Basically it's a collection of old cars that have been painted grey to look like stone and arranged like the massive structures in Stonehenge.
3. Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo, Texas
And to truly convince the foreigner that we are a car-crazy nation, we point to this car-centered wacky attraction. It's ten half-buried graffiti-covered Cadillacs where the visitor is invited to spray paint on these colorful cars. It's a way to express your own artistic talent using old Cadillacs as your canvas.
4. Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia
I want to go to this museum! Two room house a huge collection of Pez dispensers through the ages; from the very first Pez that was sold in the 1950s. It even has the world's largest Pez dispenser (a snowman that stands seven feet, 10 inches tall).
5. Gatorland, Orlando, Florida
If alligators are your thing, then you can't miss this place. There are over 1000 alligators for you to enjoy and you can even feed them raw hot dogs or take a picture sitting on an alligator; that's something you don't get to do in Disney.
6. The Paris Texas Eiffel Tower, Paris, Texas
This other Paris has a tower that's 65 feet tall topped with a cowboy hat on top.
7. House on the Rock, Spring Green, Wisconsin
I guess it's the only museum sitting on top of a rock that's 60 feet tall that has an eclecting collection of stuff like automated musical instruments.
8. Stonehenge II, Kerrville, Texas
This tourist attraction not only has a replica of the original Stonehenge in Britain, but it even has a replica of the Easter Island statues. Who says you need a passport to visit ancient sites?
9. Extraterrestrial Highway, Rachel, Nevada
After years of reports of bizarre extraterrestrial behavior near top-secret government base Area 51, a stretch of Nevada State Route 375 was deemed the Extraterrestrial Highway. Be prepared and make sure that you bring a videocam when you ride on this highway.
10. Minnesota Twine Ball, Darwin, Minnesota
Remember that old I Love Lucy episode when the Ricardos and the Mertzes went on a cross-country car trip, got involved with a local situation and was rewarded with a huge ball of aluminum foil? Well this place actually has the world’s largest ball of twine, weighing 17,400 pounds and measuring 12 feet in diameter. Creator Francis A. Johnson worked on the creation for decades before he died and left behind a now-beloved landmark, housed safely in a gazebo for travelers to see. One TripAdvisor traveler said, “The very nice man opened the gazebo and let us take in the whole experience — the smell and touch of the ball.”
From PRNewswire
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Portland Chinese Classical Garden
This block long garden is modeled on the estate of a retired scholar/administrator during the Ming Dynasty in Suzhou, one of the oldest cities in China. Portland is a sister city of Suzhou and received a lot of help from its artisans in transforming an old parking lot into a retired scholar's estate complete with gardens and man-made lake. It is literally an oasis in the middle of an urban jungle. The details are breathtaking. The overall effect is soothing and a Sunday afternoon can't be better spent.
There are guided tours that are included in the entrance fee which gives you some information on how and why things were constructed the way they are. There is also a tea house in which you can enjoy a cup of tea and some munchies.
Hidden mini-waterfall behind the willow tree.
Covered bridge leading to the living quarters from the Main Hall
Portal leading to the Scholar's Study
Entrance to Scholar's Study
Hanging lanterns in the Sitting Room
Mid-lake Pavillion
There are guided tours that are included in the entrance fee which gives you some information on how and why things were constructed the way they are. There is also a tea house in which you can enjoy a cup of tea and some munchies.
Hidden mini-waterfall behind the willow tree.
Covered bridge leading to the living quarters from the Main Hall
Portal leading to the Scholar's Study
Entrance to Scholar's Study
Hanging lanterns in the Sitting Room
Mid-lake Pavillion
Portland Japanese Garden Part 3: The Rest of the Gardens
As you stroll through the rest of the Garden, your heartbeat slows and you know that there is more than enough here to discover for a whole afternoon. And I would suggest just that you do take a whole afternoon to savor this very pretty place.
Moon Bridge and lower Strolling Pond
Lower Strolling Pond
Heavenly Falls
The Natural Garden
The Sand and Rock Garden
Moon Bridge and lower Strolling Pond
Lower Strolling Pond
Heavenly Falls
The Natural Garden
The Sand and Rock Garden
Portland Japanese Garden Part 2: Strolling Pond Garden
You walk towards the Strolling Pond Garden and you can smell (in this case) wonderful, natural things. I don't know what it is but it would come from a combination of fragrant flowers, plants and trees. The moon bridge which crosses the pond is so romantic, you can't help but linger for a long while.
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