Archive for July, 2008
Thursday, July 31st, 2008
I rode the Las Vegas monorail today; it runs along the backyards of Vegas’s giant hotels, all the way from the MGM to the Safari.
From its windows, you can see things you wouldn’t ordinarily glimpse from the Strip, like pools, and lounge chairs, and tanned bodies in tiny swimsuits, and white towels, and — wait a minute! — why are so many of those lounge chairs EMPTY?
Come to think of it, the traffic on the strip seems much lighter than I remember. The casinos seem quieter and less crammed. And the buffet restaurant lines are shorter, or even non-existent.
Where are the people? It’s the middle of summer. Shouldn’t this top American vacation destination be overflowing with visitors? I am curious, so I ask around.
Read on . . .
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Tags:best hotel deals in vegas, free things in vegas, how to save money in vegas, las vegas monorail, las vegas nevada, slot machines in vegas, tourist numbers are down in las vegas, vegas deals
Posted in Adventure Travel, Airline Fees, Airline Travel, Budget Travel, Las Vegas, Travel tips, United States, Variety | Comments Closed
Wednesday, July 30th, 2008
Are you planning a trip to that Mecca of Nevada: Las Vegas? Maybe you have never visited this city of bright lights and money-grabbing slots, or maybe you haven’t been there in awhile.
The good news? Many things haven’t changed.
The better news? Many things have changed. Especially at the airport and at the car rental building.
Read on . . .
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Tags:best buys in vegas, best margarita in vegas, best show in vegas, how to get to your rental car from the las vegas airpor, las vegas nevada, mccarran airport in vegas, vegas strip
Posted in Adventure Travel, Las Vegas, Photography tips, Tourist attractions, Travel tips, United States, Variety | No Comments »
Wednesday, July 30th, 2008
There are almost no words to describe traveling an authentic portion of Route 66. If time machines exist, then this is one of the finest.
There is an ambience of days gone by, the good old days, when Mom and Dad packed up the old Chevy with 3.5 kids, a dog, a cooler, Dad in his best driving hat, and Mom in her finest traveling clothes, and hit the road in search of adventures, or maybe a new life on the other side of Amercia.
The atmosphere, the sense of nostalgia along “The Mother Road” is so poignant, so acute, that it will bring tears to your eyes. At least, it did, to mine.
My husband and I set out yesterday in search of Americana history. We left Vegas about 7 AM and reached Kingman, Arizona about 3 hours later. With a few stops in the desert along the way, we had set up the perfect photo safari. But we had no idea just how perfect our day was going to be. Because the adventure that is Route 66 still lay ahead of us.
Read on . . .
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Tags:driving the mother road, great photography day trips in the united states, hackberry arizona, kingman arizona, old highway signs, photography along route 66, Route 66, seligman arizona, the best road trip in the united states
Posted in Adventure Travel, Arizona, Car shows, Family Vacations, Las Vegas, Route 66, Tourist attractions, Travel Destinations, Travel photography, Travel tips, Travel with kids, United States | No Comments »
Tuesday, July 29th, 2008
There is a place in Las Vegas that very few visitors know about. Even fewer will ever see it. It is a place called, “The Boneyard,” and it is a photographer’s dream, even if all you can get is a glimpse through the thick mesh and wire fence surrounding the compound.
The Boneyard is aptly named as it is a sanctuary for old Las Vegas neon signs – the bones of historic Vegas, if you will.
Read on . . .
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Tags:americana, las vegas history, neon musum in las vegas, old neon signs
Posted in Family Vacations, Las Vegas, Tourist attractions, Travel photography, United States, Variety | 3 Comments »
Monday, July 28th, 2008
I’m jaded when it comes to variety acts. I have owned an entertainment company for more than a quarter century, and there really isn’t much out there that turns my crank. I have had my fill of jugglers, magicians and comedians. I am married to a magician, and I still teach interactive comedy theatre, so, it is with great pleasure that I can say I have found a really good variety show in Vegas that’s not only fresh and exciting — it’s actually fun.
Read on . . .
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Tags:best shows to see in Vegas, miracle mile shops, planet hollywood las vegas, ultimate variety show, v theatre, wally eastwood
Posted in Budget Travel, Celebrities, Family Vacations, Las Vegas, Tourist attractions, Travel tips, Travel with kids, United States | No Comments »
Monday, July 28th, 2008
It’s all over for another year in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The race has been run – the IndyCar race, that is, since Champ Car merged with the Indy League earlier this year. It was the debut IRL race for Edmonton, and by all accounts, it was a success. Especially for at least one driver.
The big winner? Scott Dixon, of New Zealand (It was Scott Dixon’s 5th win for 2008.) He was followed by “Dancing With the Stars” champ, Helio Castroneves, then Justin Wilson, and finally, Canadian Champ Car driver, Paul Tracy, who had fought his way up from his 16th starting position.
Read on . . .
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Tags:danica patrick edmonton, edmonton alberta indycar race, Gene Simmons, paul tracy indycar edmonton, rexall edmonton indycar 2008, scott dixon fifth win 2008, who won the Edmonton IndyCar race
Posted in Adventure Travel, Alberta, Canada, Car shows, Family Vacations, Sports | Comments Closed
Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008
There I sat, minding my own business, reading my book when the most amazing thing happened. I gasped and shrieked as a storm erupted from the ceiling above my head. Tiny ice pellets fell all over me. What was this? I was stunned because I was sitting in the middle of a sleet storm while ON BOARD an Air Canada plane.
I felt it was worth mentioning to Air Canada’s customer service. How did I do it? Did I get any reaction? What I did may be of help to you in your next encounter with Air Canada customer service following a less than exemplary Air Canada flight. Read on . . .
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Tags:air canada complaints, air canada customer service, how to complain about a bad flight
Posted in Airline Travel, Canada, Travel - General Advice, Travel tips | 1 Comment »
Monday, July 14th, 2008
Harry Smith, from the CBS Early Show, referred to this zoo as a “zoolet.” And he’s right. New York’s Central Park zoo is a very tiny animal sanctuary, but it does prove the old adage that “Good things come in small packages.”
The Central Park zoo is the perfect destination if your time and your cash are a little short. The admission price is tiny, and it’ll take only a couple of hours to look around, but the animals are very exotic, and the little haven has a very inviting ambience.
Read on . . .
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Tags:delacourte clock, emerald boa, new york city central park zoo, polar bears
Posted in Family Vacations, New York, Tourist attractions, Travel with kids, Zoos | Comments Closed
Friday, July 11th, 2008
Planning our next trip is nearly as much fun as taking the trip itself. Well, nearly.
My husband and I are bound for one of our favorite hot spots, and I mean, hot! Las Vegas, Nevada. But we aren’t really into the Strip; we tend to tool around in other parts of Vegas, spending most of our time off the Strip, visiting spots like the Nevada Atomic Testing Museum.
But we have gotten the Route 66 bug, so we’ll go further afield this time. Also, known as the “Mother Road,” Route 66 is just barely visible on modern maps, but a little research shows parts of the roadway can be reached in just under a two-hour drive from Vegas. But it’ll be one hot drive, since we’ll be headed right into the Mojave Desert, at the height of summer heat. But the photo opportunities are just too hard to resist.
Read on . . .
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Tags:adobe photoshop techniques, atomic testing museum, ben willmore, chloride arizona, great american history photographs, kingman arizona, las vegas day trips, las vegas nevada, las vegas strip, Route 66, the mother road
Posted in Adventure Travel, Travel Destinations, Travel photography, United States, Variety | Comments Closed
Thursday, July 10th, 2008
If you have never taken the train, or you haven’t ridden the rails in some time, then check out the nearest Amtrak station. Especially when exploring a new city. That’s the Philadelphia Amtrak station showing above.
With the high cost of rental cars, gasoline, insurance, and with the irritation of battling traffic in a strange city, travel by Amtrak train is like a gift from heaven.
My husband and I have just decided to include at least one Amtrak day trip while traveling, and we are very glad we did. We took the Amtrak between New York City and Philadelphia, and loved the trip.
Read on . . .
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Tags:Amtrak train options, catching a train in the United States, taking a trip on Amtrak, travel by train across North America
Posted in Adventure Travel, Canada, Family Vacations, Train Travel, Travel - General Advice, Travel photography, Travel tips, Travel with kids, United States, Variety | Comments Closed
