World Travel and Tourist Destinations

Washington DC is widely known for its political climate. However, this city is not only the capital of the United States of America and home to its politicians, it is a city with a wealth of history. Tourists have the opportunity to check out both in this stunning city.

White House tours take visitors through a range of different locations of the country’s Presidential home. See the various improvements and changes rendered by the various occupants in the over 200 years of existence, including the changes since it was burned in 1814. The Library of Congress is another political tourist must if you are interested in the politics behind the country.

Washington DC is home to many other less political tours, like the famous ghost tour that takes tourist on a night trip to see some of the most famous haunts in the USA. With over a dozen locations under the Smithsonian, there is something of interest for everyone. The National Zoo houses a wild range of exotic animals; two Air and Space Museums will entertain the most avid aviators; the Postal Museum illustrates the country’s lavish history in terms of commemorative stamps; and the internationally known Natural History Museum to keep the kids very entertained. The National Children’s Museum and National Aquarium are a couple of other musts for the kids.

This capital has a rich night life for those who want to get out after the kids have gone to bed. With plenty of different theater venues and upscale restaurants, Washington DC can keep the midnight oil burning. For those with more mature tastes, the Washington National Opera can provide more elevated music and entertainment found only in the most cultured cities.

Finally, the exquisitely kept Memorial Park is an absolute must for everyone. From the monuments remembering some of the country’s greatest presidents to the solemn memorials to those who served in the countries wars, this park will leave an imprint on the hearts and minds of all.

Paris France, the dream of every girl for when she goes on honeymoon. There is good reason why this city is known for love; however, like every other city, it has its own troubled history and dark past. Of course one of the best things about Paris is the diverse architecture found throughout the city.

The best place to begin is at the Eiffel Tower. Ironically, this famed monument of France was originally disliked and nearly torn down shortly after its unveiling. Fortunately, this modern marvel remains erect and well, the tower beckons people to the city, particularly in the evening as the lights running up the tower illuminate the skyline. France’s next famous monument is the Louvre. With many of the world’s most famous art housed within its walls, the Louvre is a place where a tourist can easily spend a week and never have a repeat viewing. Another French marvel immortalized by Victor Hugo is the Notre Dame Cathedral. Roughly two hundred years after its conception, this monument was finally finished, and today stands as a reminder of the enthusiasm behind the Catholic religion for architecture. As the world’ most famous Gothic building, Notre Dame de Paris is sure to inspire awe as much now as it did following its completion.

There are plenty of other outdoor attractions that are not solely based on architecture and art. Tours down the Seine river will give you a firsthand look at just how much there is to see in the city of love. Even the French cemeteries can be romantic. Although it is difficult not to be solemn when strolling through Pere-Lachaise Cemetery, one cannot help but feel the beauty of the place and be at peace. Surprisingly, many famous people throughout history have be interred here instead of in their native lands, including Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrison. For a more somber walk, tour the city on one of the French Revolution Walks, and see the city through the eyes of a revolution.

Much like London, Seattle is famous for its cloudy days; also like London, Seattle is rich in activities, history, and attractions. Located on the western portion of the Washington State, Seattle is bound to the east by the Cascades Mountains and to the east by the Puget Sound, providing a wide range of activities for water lovers, outdoor enthusiast should city escape be desired. Ferries take passenger from the main city area to many different locations on the other side of the Puget Sound to check out some of the less travelled locations.

Within the city, there are many famous landmarks and markets to keep tourist busy. One of the first places to visit is Pike Place Market. Home to the first Starbucks (still in operation and serving just like it did when it first opened), street musicians, and fish tossing, you will be hard pressed to find a more engaging or entertaining experience when out shopping for food. Especially as you order your fish and watch the workers toss your fresh order around before packaging it and handing it over. Not too far from the market is the Underground Seattle Tour. See a side of Seattle that has been hidden for decades, as the city is built upon older sections of itself.

Get a different kind of tour of the city on one of the Ride the Ducks. These tours take visitors around the city and over water while explaining the history and landmarks. As the birthplace of Jimmy Hendrix and grunge, Seattle has a rich musical history housed in the Music Experience Project. Domed in some very different architecture, this museum also has tickets to live events and hosts different music experiences year round. Right outside the Music Experience Project is an amusement park. Towering over all of these amusements is the famous Seattle Space Needle. Cloud or sun, check out the beauty of this city from the observation deck. For a romantic time, reserve a seat in the rotating restaurant.

How were the Incans able to create such magnificent architecture upon a mountain top, with stones so perfectly placed that they still remain today in nearly the same condition as when the city was complete? And whatever happened to the Incas who once lived in the now vacant city of Machu Picchu? The world is yet to produce credible answers to these questions. One of the best ways to get a feel for just how difficult it must have been to make and impossible it is to explain the disappearance is to take a hiking tour up this ancient Incan mountain.

This is a rough trip through jungles and into elevations with less oxygen, so hikers beware before planning a trip. You will need to make sure to be checked out by a physician prior to attempting this vacation. All guides must be registered with the government before the trip begins, so you are sure to have someone knowledgeable of the trek.

The hike will begin at one of the modern day towns. With a guide to help you find your way, and porters to help you carry the load, you are well prepared to head out with the group. You will encounter many of the native animals, such as chinchillas, Andean Condors, and for those who are lucky, the shy, nearly extinct spectacled bear (don’t worry, they are herbivores). After four grueling days of hiking up the mountain, you will experience the marvel of this city made before Europeans even knew about the Americas. Its masonry is absolutely amazing, with stones perfectly lined up in a way that we today have only recently begun to achieve. You will be allowed to wonder the paths of this city abandoned by its people. Wild llama and other animals still inhabit the top of Machu Picchu. Take some time to relax before heading back by train.

Most vacations are end up being a sorry end to any diet, but there is one way to see Europe without having to worry about gaining a pound. As one of the most bike friendly places in the world, Europe offers many fantastic tours that can take you through a country, or even through several for those who are real bicycle enthusiasts. Europe may be one of the smallest continents, but it has more diversity of culture and architecture than almost anywhere else in the world.

Tours can take visitors through almost every country in Europe. For people are not native to Europe, the best way to go is on a guided tour. The guide can give you all the information you need to know about the routes to go and the best times to get moving (or provide the motivation if you tend to be a late sleeper). They can also give you information and history on the different places along the way. Guided tours also include lodgings and food, meaning you won’t have to find a place to eat or sleep at the end of a long day. For the native European or experienced European traveler, there are plenty of self tours.

Tours can be planned according to the tourist’s interests. If it is castles and architecture that spark your interest, there are tours that will make sure to take you past some of the continents best. Bikers wishing to have more of a natural route, there are plans that will provide tourists with routes over mountains and some of the most famous forests in Europe. If it is a challenge you want, or if the regular biking is enough of a challenge, guides will lead groups according to difficulty and biking experience. There are even tours that cater to a particular weather and climate.

The word Australia conjures up so many images of exotic animals, outback adventures, and outlandish experiences, but in the cities, Austria rivals any other city for sophistication and urban excitement. From the famous Sydney Opera House to an exuberant nightlife, Sydney has what you expect from a city, with an Australian twist.

Visit the Royal Botanic Gardens, which is open year round and are free to the public. Lying within this amazing garden is the ruins of the Garden Palace, built just for exhibitions. Although the original was mostly destroyed in the early 1880s, the Government House was built near the location and serves as an extraordinary reminder of the former glory of the Garden Palace. For the true architect lover, the city is rife with stylish and unusually buildings and structures. This includes the Harbor Bridge. Perhaps the most intrigue aspect of the bridge is the Bridge Climb, and yes, it is exactly what it sounds like. Take a breath-taking (and perhaps terrifying) view of the city from the peak of the bridge. The total time to complete the climb is three hours, and don’t take any of your personal belongs because you will have to leave them behind before you start.

The Australian Aquarium is unrivalled in types of sea life presented, and as would be expected a good number of the animals that can be viewed are indigenous. Likewise, the Australia Zoo is a must for all families. It is a show that is presented as only the Australians can imagine. For those who cannot get enough wildlife, roughly an hour out of the city’s center is the Featherdale Wildlife Park. The park is home to native animals only and is probably the best way to experience Australian wildlife if you do not want to leave the comforts of the city.