If you are one of them, then you might want to visit the Pensacola Naval Air Museum where rare airplanes which have been restored are on display. I think that this is going to be a big treat for airplane enthusiasts as they feature some planes which have changed the course of history.

MSN Travel writes:

Located at Pensacola Naval Air Station, the museum has:

- A seven-story atrium that features four Blue Angels jets hanging from the ceiling.

- An Imax theater that shows a film about the acrobatic flyers.

- A flight simulator that depicts a jet fighter swooping into battle during the first Iraq war.

- And a cafe that’s a re-creation of the officer’s club at Cubi Point in the Philippines.

But the backbone of the museum, which opened in 1963 and has been expanded three times, is its restored planes. The museum has the Navy’s S-3B Viking that President Bush flew when he landed on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and made his “Mission Accomplished” speech about the Iraq war. The first President Bush is also recognized at the museum — a trainer he flew as a 19-year-old World War II flight student hangs inside.

For more information, visit the museum’s web site or give them a call at 850-452-3604. Oh, did I mention that entrance is for free?

• If you’re traveling with an infant or a toddler, a car seat is always a must. If you’re traveling on a plane, make sure the car seat you have is FAA-approved.
• A baby sling or a baby carrier is a great idea for lugging your baby around. It keeps your hands free, but still keeps baby close to you for security, especially useful for crowded places. Plus, it’s easily stowed in your bag when not in use.
• If you feel like you’re going to do a lot of walking, and may not be able to handle carrying an active toddler around, consider bringing a foldable, lightweight stroller.
• Make out an emergency medical information sheet for your family. List down your doctor’s contact numbers, and any pertinent medical details like medications and their dosages, allergies, blood type. Be sure to include the usual prescribed medicines if your child gets a fever or colds, in case you can’t contact your doctor immediately.
• As a general rule, try to make sure the ratio of your kids’ clothes are 2:1; 2 outfits per day. I think that’s a reasonable precaution, considering how apt kids are to get dirty and messy. To minimize the load, check if there’s a laundromat, or a cheaper alternative to hotel laundry at the place you’re staying. If there is, you can cut your packing in half.

To be continued next post.

I am a huge Dan Brown fan. Perhaps it’s because he appeals to the conspiracy theorist in me. Along with millions, I enjoyed every chapter of The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons immensely. For those who wish to relive the whole thrill and excitement of the chase tenfold, I suggest giving the Da Vinci Code Tours a try.

Like all theme tours, the guide will take you to significant locations mentioned in the novels. From Rome to Edinburgh, you are sure to enjoy every step of the way. During a trip to Milan, you will get to visit Sforza Castle where your own guide will let you in on a few more recently uncovered Leonardo works. As a special treat, you will also get the chance to see the works of renowned tarot artist Osvaldo Menegazzi.

In Paris, you will be in awe of the Louvre Tour where your own ’symbologists’ will help you decipher the true meaning or the speculated messages intended by various masters. You will also get to cross the river Seine just as Silas did in the book and visit the Church of Saint Sulpice.

The journey Dan Brown took you when you read the book will be magnified as the tour actually brings you the experience of being like Robert Langdon himself or a conspiracy theorist “on the verge of revealing the greatest secret in the history of humankind.” The whole trip promises to be exciting as well as educational. Besides, to be in the company of people who share your enthusiasm and interest in the subject will certainly help make your whole trip memorable.

In recent years, a lot of things have been done to help the environment recover from past mistakes. Laws have been enacted to protect various wildlife. Organizations have been set up to ensure that these laws are being put into good use.

Also, there are now places where endangered species can stay in the meantime. The San Diego Zoo, for example, has its Zoological Society of San Diego’s center for Conservation and Research for Endangered Species (CRES). This is the largest zoo-based multidisciplinary research team in the world.

The zoo itself provides a lot of useful information to visitors and most importantly, kids. The zoo does not merely serve as a place of residency to animals but it also serves as an important vehicle of information and change. The management regularly hosts activities that will help everyone understand the world of animals more and even conduct seminars to further educate people about endangered species.

One of San Diego Zoo’s newest and most ambitious habitat is Joan B. Kroc’s Monkey Trails and Forest Tales. It serves as the naturalistic home to more than 30 species of African and Asian birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, some of the world’s most exotic and endangered wildlife. There’s even a huge ficus tree there that they call the Big Fig which is already 50 years old! Then, there’s the Polar Bear Plunge which houses four very adorable bears named Kalluk, Tatqiq, Chinook and Shikari. Of course, there are more exhibits just waiting to be discovered there.

Aside from the animals, the San Diego Zoo also boasts of a number of attractions including: a guided bus tour which covers about 75 percent of the whole zoo; the SkyFari Aerial Tram which looms over the treetops to the other end of the zoo; the Balboa Park Miniature Railroad and the ENTCO Wild Earth Safari Ride which allows you to explore the “wild.”

Right now, there really aren’t a lot of places where animals can seek refuge when compared to humans. Sometimes, we even take those places for granted. However, I think it would be a perfectly easy way of helping out the fight against animal extinction to at least pay these places a visit.

The San Diego Zoo is located on Zoo Drive in Balboa Park, just north of downtown San Diego along Park Boulevard.

First, and probably the most important consideration, is the price. Airline & cruise tickets, hotel & car rates, and even some local activities & services are usually cheaper online than thru your regular travel agent. That’s because online travel agencies usually get special rates due to the large volume of travelers who use their site. They also have a lower ratio of travel agents to customers, since most customers usually book on their own. These are savings they can pass on to their customers.

Another advantage is that most of these sites are very user-friendly. You don’t have to be particularly computer-savvy to surf their websites. Thus, most customers feel they can do a better research on their travel plans on their own, without feeling rushed or pressured as they might be, if they were dealing with a travel agent. This is a special consideration for those types of customers who love to shop & have several options with regards to their travel plans.

Another factor is the fact that these websites are accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. So let’s say, for example, you’re an extremely busy person who has no other time to make travel plans except when you get home from work. This would pose a problem since most travel agencies have regular business hours as well. Unlike with online travel websites, where you can even book your vacation details at 2 a.m. if you want to! Also, let’s say you’re already on your vacation in a place that has a different timezone. If problems were to come up, you might find it difficult to get hold of your travel agent in the middle of the night. Online travel agencies, however, usually have 24 hour customer service, even on holidays.

In my next post, I’ll discuss the other side of this article, the cons towards booking online. Hopefully, these articles will help you make a more informed decision on whether to book online or thru your friendly neighborhood travel agent.

Till next time!

The Quebec Winter Carnival is an ice palace built in Place Loto Quebec every year. What makes it amazing is that each season, a different concept and design is made to make sure that people who visit them will be treated to various sculptures and themes.

The experience is truly something worth remembering. The best part of it is that it is not limited to adults but the entire family as well. Going on tourist vacation is something that would truly be enchanting if the whole family would be on hand. All the more if these are places that conceptualize natural ideas such as that of the Quebec Winter Carnival that lures in the tourists each year.

[tags]quebec, winter carnival, family tours, europe[/tags]

The difference in cultures is indeed amazing. The simple things may end up being a big thing for people. Like in Taiwan, it is a sign of disrespect to fork your chopsticks against your food since it is a sign of death. When passing by a mourning family, it is customary not to look since it is a sign of bad luck.

For sure, various regions as well such as Europe and the American continents follow a certain culture that strangers may find different. Hence the need to adjust to their beliefs is indeed a must since it is quite embarrassing to offend the natural heritage while visiting their countries.

[tags]culture, tradition, customs, taiwan, asia, europe[/tags]

But for an adventure to feel accomplished, being there and actually seeing them right in front of them is still something that any tourist who can spare time will surely venture out too. Not all people are blessed with time and the money to go on such tours but if there is one thing to be expected from it, it is that of getting the monetary investment worth the trip. There will be souvenirs available from these regions but actual footage from photos or even videos is priceless as well.

[tags]tour, expeditions, culture, Paris, England[/tags]

Visiting and checking out the various countries of the world is more than plain enjoyment and pleasure. It is also about doing something different from a change from the usual sight-seeing and nature tours. Theme parks have defined tourism in another aspect, creating a twist to which people can expect something different from fantasy to reality type of endeavors today.

Most countries like the United States, Europe and Asia have catered to such theme park repertoires. Such theme park innovations have offered more than just for individual type of vacation holidays. Rather it has catered more on helping build closer family ties and providing entertainment.

A lot of these theme park ideas are familiar to most, with Walt Disney leading the pack for its offer of the Disneyland parks as the most identifiable among parks to visit today. Theme parks aim to provide pleasure and this is something truly valuable in the lives of most people looking for a worthy vacation today.

[tags]theme parks, tours, disneyland, fantasy, family[/tags]

It has become evident that outside the activities and recreation that people may do in such places, learning more about the historical nature of such countries has become a suitable factor towards promoting tourism as well. Additionally, some of the local accommodators like hotels, hostels and villas have done their share also, offering promotional accommodation packages as part of doing their share in contributing towards tourism for their respective countries.

Overall, such promotional gimmicks do their share as far as helping out regions gain the necessary traffic in being able to show off their current artifacts and preserved treasures. While most of these are known through books and articles, actually seeing them up and close is really different as far as overall appreciation is concerned.

[tags]tourist attraction, vacation holiday, history, museums, artifacts[/tags]

The usual transport towards them would be through the boat rides. While people can expect another type of experience in these island settings, it would be best to get the necessary information so that they can more or less have an idea of what makes island tour hopping unique from the usual standard tour packages.

Nature and roughing it in a sense, islands will provide the needed atmosphere that temporarily replaces the urban way most tourists are accustomed to. Besides, the usual recreation and activities can be done there, a lot more privately and away from the normal conservative tourist.

[tags]maine, island tours, island hopping, beaches[/tags]

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With regards to landmarks and wonders, the Taipei 101 is one monument that anyone should consider checking out. Getting its cue from its name, it stands for a 101 floor building, one of the tallest buildings along the country. While it has 101 floors, tourists are only allowed until the 89th floor for viewing. From this level alone, people will surely be at awe.

Getting to the 89th floor is a breeze using the hi-tech elevator that they have equipped the structure. It takes around 40 seconds to reach the allowable floor level, something that transports tourists to and from the allowable floor. In case someone finds himself looking for latest gadgets in Taichung, Taiwan, it would be best to drop by this landmark and see what it is made of.

[tags]taipei, taiwan, taipei 101, tallest building[/tags]

Cambodian cuisine is usually overshadowed by that of its neighbor Thailand, whose food as we all know is beloved throughout the world. In Thailand, cooking classes are offered in practically every hotel all over the country, but one wouldnt really expect there to be similar offerings in places like Phnom Penh.

Enter the “Cambodian Cooking Class”, the first of its kind in Phnom Penh. Organized and held at the Frizz Cafe and Restaurant on the Mekong River, this is the only place where travellers can try their hand at Khmer cooking in Cambodia.

Similar but with some pretty big differences to Thai cooking, Cambodian cooking is big on flavour but low on heat. Unlike Thai food, where the chillis are cooked within the dish, Khmer cooking puts its spices on the side, leaving the degree of edible fire to the diner.

Historically, Khmer cuisine actually dates back to the time of the Khmer Kingdom (in Angkor) a thousand years ago, whose empire included most of South East Asia. This means that the origins of South East Asia cuisines could very well be attributed to Cambodia. Also, the absence of chilli is also explained by its ancient roots as Khmer recipes originate way before the 16th century when chilli was introduced to Asia by the Portuguese.

But back to the cooking course. Read on below, but for more information visit the Cambodian Cooking Class website.

” Our cooking school offers you two standard cooking courses and a vegetarian course to choose from.

In principle Course 1 is conducted on even days of the month and Course 2 on odd days of the month. But of course we can always combine dishes just the way you like it. There is also a vegetarian Course 3. This one can also be combined with other dishes. E.g. the famous Khmer ‘Amok’ is not mentioned in the vegetarian course, as this dish traditionally is made with fish. However, it can be done using tofu as well. So, we can change courses to your needs, just let us know at the time of booking.

There are cooking classes every day of the week, except Sundays as that is our teacher-cook’s weekly day off.

Cooking class size is limited to 10 people, to ensure maximum participation and individual attention. All courses are $20 for a full day of fun, including transport to and from the cookery school and a colourful 16-page recipe booklet. ”

[tags]Cambodian food, Cambodian cooking class, Phnom Penh[/tags]