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Top Hawaiian Vacations

It is easy to have lots of questions when you are planning a trip to the Hawaiian Islands. If you are unsure of where to begin, perhaps try doing some island hopping instead of picking a single island to visit.

Regardless of where you travel around Hawaii, there are certain things you will find everywhere: delicious food or “ono grinds” which translates to good eats, amazing beaches, and happy people. Every island has a rich flavor to offer. O’ahu, the capital island offers the North Shore for surfing, a wonderful Buddhist Temple and an overall kinetic energy with hopping night life. Maui is home to hanging loose and relaxing; especially for beach bums.

Ancient Kaua’i offers towering sea cliffs and gorgeous sights. The Big Island of Hawaii is actually the youngest out of the islands. Here you can witness new land being born! Lana’i offers complete resort luxury. Enjoy living life on the rural outskirts of Moloka’i. Here native Hawaiian traditions still run strong. The Aloha State has everything you need for a sunny, sand filled vacation.

Islands At A Glance

1. O’ahu

Best for: Beaches, Museums, Food

Come to O’ahu if you desire multicultural modernism. It is excellent if you wish to explore how ancient Hawaii merges with the West and the East while greeting the 21st century. This small island offers a large city to explore. The majority of the state residents call “The Gathering Place” home. Here, everyone rubs elbows on city sidewalks, on the bus, on country streets and on the beach. There are numerous empty beaches not far from downtown Honolulu’s monuments, art galleries and museums.

Eating on O’ahu is an excellent experience. The Japanese gastropubs or izakaya is delicious. Also try offerings via island style food trucks; ideal when you are on the go. Some of the top chef’s in Hawaii are just waiting to serve up your food!

2. Hawai’i – The Big Island

Best for: Hiking, Culture, Wildlife

Check out the most active volcano on earth called Kilauea. It provides interesting hikes and stunning backgrounds of icy waterfall pools, emerald green amphitheater valleys and both ancient and active lava flows. The dense rain forest can be challenging yet rewarding, along with some of the loftiest summits you may ever discover.

Culture is a participatory event on the Big Island. It is meant to be not only observed but absorbed and experienced. You will be invited to watch fish being caught the traditional Hawaiian way. Dancing a hula and creating leis are just a few of the fun things you can do. Watch out for the night marchers here.

Experience the natural wildlife and watch as sea turtles glide up to a seaweed buffet, Spinner dolphins dance above the ocean and endangered nene cross the road on a regular basis. Humpback whales are the show-stoppers here during the winter months. Don’t forget your camera!

3. Maui

Best for: Beaches, Hiking, Food

Maui is renowned for its sun and surf. The glorious sand offers a beach for every person. If you are seeking a calm snorkeling cave or prefer to enjoy the wind and kite boarding attractions, they are all options. Some of the largest surfing waves on the planet reside here. Simply pack a picnic down on the sand and scan the horizon for whales during the winter.

Superb trails will take you to the most interesting places in Maui. For instance, do you want to see some bamboo forests? How about cascading waterfalls and exciting ridge-tops? There is a cindery volcanic national park that is quite memorable as well. Whether you want some challenging backcountry treks or prefer an easy stroll, Maui has got you covered.

There are numerous chef driven restaurants that are home to bountiful organic gardens. Grass-fed beef from pastures and fresh daily fish are often on the menu. Maui offers the raw ingredients to make mouth-watering regional creations.

4. Lana’i

Best for: Remoteness, History, Beaches

If you prefer a more isolated getaway, Lana’i is the place for you. It offers subtropical pleasure away from the rest of the world. The population is low and inviting. The landscape is serene and begs you to go on adventures to explore its unvisited locations.

For the majority of the 20th century, approximately the entire island supplied the world with pineapples. The crops have long since disappeared; however, the vintage plantation town of Lana’i City still takes center stage.

The main beach in Lana’i is called Hulupo’e Beach. It consists of a long crescent of sand on a bay that is great for snorkeling. It is backed by a spacious and tidy park.

5. Moloka’i

Best for: Culture, Adventure, History

Over fifty percent of the residents on Moloka’i have an indigenous heritage, making it the Most Hawaiian Island. Local people consistently favor preservation of the culture and the land over a variety of schemes that would attract more tourists. The aloha spirit is alive and well here and visitors enjoy the genuine atmosphere as opposed to the welcome that money can buy.

A young priest, known as Saint Damien travelled to the Kalaupapa Peninsula in 1873, a remote location on the island. He travelled there to take care of leprosy patients and became the first saint of America. Nowadays, this amazing peninsula is home to a national park and considered to be one of the top adventure centers in Hawaii.

The highest sea cliffs in the world are home to hidden waterfalls and delightfully misty rain forests. The wild adventure offered by the deserted beaches beckon to be explored and enjoyed.

6. Kaua’i

Best for: Beaches, Hiking, Food

The island of Kaua’i is home to many people who simply came for a visit and decided to stay. The closest traffic light is over 20 miles away. The laid back vibe penetrates the North Shore life. Predominant pass times include: hiking, and surfing. The sunniest location on the island is Po’ipu. It resembles a tropical version of summer camp. On the South Shore, the majority of days offer a plethora of activities.

Cliffs and canyons dominate the rugged terrain located on the Garden Island. There are sheer coastal cliffs and gaping chasms that offer distinguished green flora. This is also considered to be the wettest location on earth and therefore, is often shrouded in cloud cover. It is an extraordinary example of a dramatic landscape and ideal for taking many memorable pictures.

Island Hopping

With so much to offer, it is easy to see why many travellers wish to island hop and make the most of their visit to the Hawaiian Islands. Be sure to budget accordingly so that you can take time to sight see and relax in between your flights.

Plan a trip to the Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is one the world’s largest covered markets with more than 5,000 shops spread out over its 60 streets. The Bazaar attracts between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors each and every day. Much of the Bazaar has been laid out to support an area for each of the types of goods being sold in the market, such as areas for gold jewelry, leather, and carpets. The market is famous for its carpets, jewelry, spice, antiques, ceramics, and embroideries.

Since 1461, the bazaar has served as key trading center. Its labyrinthine vaults feature two domed buildings, which were built after Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror ordered its construction in 1455. In the 16th century, the bazaar was vastly enlarged during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, and in 1984, an earthquake led to another major restoration.

In the past, many of the valuables held in the Bazaar were stored in the high domed hall of the Cevahir Bedesten, which now holds items such as copperware, inlaid weapons, furniture, watches, clocks, old coins, and jewelry, among other things. Many visitors come to the Bazaar to spend an afternoon leisurely bargaining for purchases, spending time in one of the cafes, and watching the crowds of shoppers stroll by.

The Grand Bazaar has four main gates located at the ends of its two major streets. The complex also houses four fountains, two mosques, two hamams, and numerous restaurants and cafes. The Bazaar is open Monday to Saturday from 9 AM to 7 PM. The market is closed every Sundays and on band holidays.

The Grand Bazaar is still a thriving market with more than 25,000 workers hosting hundreds of thousands of visitors every day. The market recently started a restoration project to help improve the markets heating, lighting, and overall infrastructure to help it compete with some of the more modern shopping malls in Istanbul.

The hans or courtyards inside the market are also undergoing renovations. These new renovations have partly been done to help solve the Bazaar’s key problems, like lack of proper sanitation and proper toilet facilities. The market has also lacked certain controls to allow dealers to skive walls and remove columns in their shops to gain more space. The roof of the Bazaar has been considered a hazard and needs some renovations to make the market safer over the next few years.

Travel to the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

The Smithsonian controlled museum maintains the largest and most comprehensive collection of aviation and space artifacts, covering the many aspects of human flight, as well as many pieces of related art. The museum operates two landmark facilities that welcome as many as 8 million visitors each year, which make it the most visited museum in the US.

The museum features two buildings that maintain thousands of artifacts which are showcased in exhibitions on space exploration, aviation, and planetary science. At either of the locations, guests can find many programs, lectures, performance, and education activities that represent the history, technology, and science of flight.

The Washington, DC museum was officially opened in 1976 and is located in the heart of the Smithsonian complex. Here, guests can marvel at some of the most awe-inspiring icons of flight. The Chantilly, Virginia based Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is a massive museum with a hangar-like feel which can support many large space crafts and aircrafts. This site also contains the entire collection of space artifacts and aviation.

The National Air and Space Museum is the largest of the Smithsonian’s 19 museums and the Center for Earth and Planetary studies, which also serves as one of the Smithsonian’s 9 research centers.

There are more than 60,000 objects in the Museum’s collection which range in size from small microchips all the way up to Jetliners and Saturn V Rockets. More than 33% of the aircraft and spacecraft in the collection are one-of-a-kind pieces or they have been associated with a major milestone in flight.

The museum’s archives houses more than 12 thousand cubic feet of documents that record “flights” history, technology, and science. The museum also holds more than 14,000 film and video titles and more than 1.75 million photographs in the most complete collection of aviation and space images.

The museum in Washington, DC features 21 exhibit galleries, which include exhibits on the history of astronomy, the world wars, the Wright Brothers, the Apollo Space Program, and an exhibit on the relationship between time and navigation.

At the Udvar-Hazy Center, there are 3 connecting hangars that hold hundreds of aviation and space artifacts, which include the Space Shuttle Discovery; Charles Lindbergh memorabilia; astronaut gear and equipment; the Enola Gay, a B-29 Superfortress; and a NASA android.

The National Air and Space Museum hosts numerous lectures, family days, and special events that feature aviation and space pioneers, including scientists, astronauts, and pilots. Many of the exhibits have been put online, with most of the lectures being broadcast online. The Public Observatory often streams live images of the Sun.

Visit the Las Vegas Strip, Las Vegas, Nevada

The Las Vegas Strip refers to a region of the South Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada. It is internationally known for the concentration of casinos and resort hotels found within the vicinity. The Strip is roughly 6.8 km or 4.2 miles long. It is situated south of the Las Vegas city limits within the unincorporated towns of Winchester and Paradise.

The majority of the Strip has earned the designation of an “All-American Road.” It is a very scenic route to travel once the sun goes down. Out of the world’s 25 largest hotels by room count, 15 are located on the Strip, with a combined amount of more than 62,000 rooms. Many of the largest resort, casino and hotel properties in the world are found here.

Dramatic architecture is one of the signature aspects of the Las Vegas cityscape. There are a variety of modern restaurants, hotels, high-rises and casinos flanking the Strip. It has established he city as being one of the most popular tourist destinations.

The Pair-O-Dice Club was the first casino to be built in 1931 on Highway 91. The first casino to be built on what is now considered to be the Strip was the El Ranch Vegas. It opened with 63 rooms on April 3, 1941. The casino was alive and well for almost 20 years before being demolished by a fire in 1960. The success of this hotel spawned a second hotel on what would turn into the Strip in the future. It was called Hotel Last Frontier in and was constructed in 1942.

New York’s Bugsy Siegel and other organized crime figures took interest in the growing gaming center; leading to other resorts such as the opening of the Flamingo in 1946 and the Desert Inn which opened in 1950. The funding for a variety to projects was given by the American National Insurance Company. This was based in Galveston, Texas, an empire notorious for gambling.

The majority of the shows and attractions on the strip are found on the hotel casino properties. Some of the more popular attractions that are free, internationally recognized and visible from the Strip include the volcano at The Mirage, the fountains at Bellagio, and the Fall of Atlantis and Festival Fountain at Caesars Palace.

Numerous Cirque du Soleil shows attract thousands of visitors including: Zumanity for ages 18 and older, held at New York-New York, Kà at the MGM Grand, Mystère at Treasure Island, and O at Bellagio. There is also the ever popular Criss Angel Believe at the Luxor. There is currently only one movie theatre that is found right on the Strip; the 10 screen Regal Showcase Theatre in the Showcase Mall. It is next to the MGM Grand which initially opened in 1997 and is operated by Regal Entertainment Group.

Plan a trip to Tokyo Disneyland, Japan

Tokyo Disneyland is the 1st of 2 major theme parks located on the Tokyo Disney Resort in Urayasu, Japan. Located near Tokyo, this theme park is a 115-acre theme park was the first Disney Theme Park to be built outside of the United States. The park officially opened in 1983, and was designed in the same style as the Florida based Disney World and California based Disneyland. The park is one of only two Disney parks not wholly owned by the Walt Disney Company, but is leased out to the Oriental Land Company. Tokyo DisneySea, a companion park to Tokyo Disneyland, is the other park not owned by the Walt Disney Company.

Tokyo Disneyland has many of the same themes, features, and attractions that are found at the other Disneyland locations. In Tokyo, the Disney Theme park has 7 major themed areas, including Critter Country, Toontown, and the World Bazaar, in addition to Disney classics: Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Adventureland, and Westernland. Much of the parks features and attractions are base around the fables and stories created by the Walt Disney Corporation and its many feature films. Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Snow White’s Scary Adventures and Peter Pan’s Flight are just a few of the key attractions that are based on the classic characters and Disney films.

The park has been built to accommodate large crowds that come to visit the park, with numerous large open spaces. The park consistently ranks in the top 3 most visited theme parks around the world, hosting more than 13 million visitors every year. Tokyo Disneyland only trails its Disneyland sister parks in the US for most visitors to its park.

Critter Country – This is a small area of the park, housing one of the parks major attractions, Splash Mountain. Most of the shops restaurants, themes and even the landscapes have been designed around the key attraction.

Toontown – Toontown is based primarily on the Who Framed Roger Rabbit movie. The areas key attraction is the Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin.

World Bazaar – This section serves as the primary shopping area for the park and its main entry corridor. The general theme of this theme park is based on the early 20th-century America themes found in the Main Street, U.S.A. areas found in other Disney operated parks.

Fantasyland – The Cinderella Castle is the central attraction in Fantasyland. The castle is an exact replica of the one in Florida’s Magic Kingdom.

Tomorrowland – This section of the park is designed around a future world. It contains a more urban look and feel and features a couple thrilling rides: Space Tours: the Adventures Continue and popular Space Mountain.

Adventureland – Adventureland is made up of two distinctly unique sections: a jungle based themed area and a New Orleans themed area.

Westernland – this themed section is based around the concepts of Frontierland, which can be found in other Disney parks. Westernland is themed around ideas and themes of the “old west.”

Travel to the Eiffel Tower, Paris, France

The Eiffel Tower is Paris’s most famous landmark and probably Europe’s best known landmark. You would not visit Paris, France without seeing or taking note of the Eiffel Tower. You will be able to see the top of the tower from nearly every part of Paris, even if you do not plan to visit this famous structure. Once the tallest tower of its kind built in the world, it raises a total of 984 feet high or 300 m. When it was completed at the end of the 19th century, it was as twice as high as the Washington monument, which was the tallest structure built at the time.

The World Exhibition 1889

The Eiffel Tower was the key feature built for the World Exhibition in 1889, which was held in celebration of the French Revolution in 1789.

The construction of the tower was only meant to last for the duration of the exhibition, yet it still stands today. Contemporary artists of the time feared that the structure would lead to more structures without “individuality,” while many other Parisians feared that the structure would not fit into the architecture of the city.

Nowadays, the citizens of Paris do not have such an aversion to the structure as it has become a prominent world symbol and the key symbol for the City of Light.

Gustave Eiffel – Gustave Eiffel was the man behind the building of the Eiffel Tower. Eiffel was well known for his building techniques, as he took part in the building of the great viaduct at Garabit in 1884. He was also well known for the construction of the iron framework of the Statue of Liberty.

The entire structure took more than 2 years to complete, with each one of the 12,000 iron pieces being designed separately to give them the exact shape they needed. Using nearly 7 million nails, all the pieces were prefabricated to fit together.

The tower is roughly the size of an 81-storey building, which made it the largest man-made structure in the world for some 41 years until it was bested in 1930 by the New York City Chrysler Building.

The tower features 3 levels for visitors, with restaurants on the first and second level. The upper level is an observatory located some 900 feet or 276 m off the ground. Tickets can be purchased to ride the lift up the tower; however, patrons can ascend the tower by way of steps up to the second level. Typically, the third level is inaccessible by stairs and can be reached by an elevator.

Top Vacations in the US Part 2

Excited for your next vacation to the United States next year? It is a massive country and deciding where to visit can be tricky. The good news is that travel experts enjoy providing you with the basics so that you can determine what will work best for you and your family.

6. Kansas City, MO

There are more than 200 fountains within Kansas City, making it actually on par with Rome! Inviting people combined with wide open spaces enable you to relax and enjoy. There are more than 100 bar-b-que joints within the city to feast upon. The vibrant blues and jazz scenes serve as an anchor for an excellent African American community.

There are numerous walking neighborhoods to explore that offer intriguing history and excellent photo opportunities. For instance, the 1920s shopping district can be taken in via Country Club Plaza to the alluring locally owned bars and restaurants in Westport. The Crossroads Arts District is another fun place to see and explore.

Many World War I history lovers will find Kansas City particularly appealing. It is home to the National WWI Museum. Major events and celebrations will take place due to the fact that 2014 marks the war’s centennial. As well, the adjacent Liberty Memorial in the museum is receiving $5 million dollars for this year’s festivities.

7. Cumberland Island, GA

Cumberland Island is considered to be one of the most magical yet underdeveloped places in the USA. There are feral horses, tiny Fiddler Crabs, virgin beaches and windswept dunes. Check out the mossy old oak trees, gorgeous butterflies, skittish armadillos and amazing sunrises.

The majority of the Sea Islands in terms of continuously exposed land are comprised of this national seashore and its unspoiled paradise. There are approximately 18 miles of pristine sandy beach on the ocean side and you will be able to enjoy this all on your own. The remainder of the island is covered with dense maritime marsh, green forest, tidal creeks and mudflats. You can explore the ruins of the Dungeness Mansion which was once owned by the Carnegies. There are numerous hiking trails to explore, over 50 miles of them. Backcountry camping is a great option for more adventurous souls.

Another getaway to explore is St. Mary’s island. This is where the mainland facilities are located along with the ferry terminal. Some of the best sands in the South, without taking Florida into consideration are located at Stafford Beach. For non-campers, try staying at the extravagant old Greyfield Inn, home to the only restaurant on the island.

8. Las Vegas, NV

For 24 hour night life and entertainment, look no further. The city is shifting its focus away from gambling and trying to draw in more lower-rolling tourists in 2014. According to statistics, the per-person gaming revenue has dropped approximately thirty percent since 2006.

Check out the Arts District and Fremont East near downtown. These neighborhoods are lively and entertaining. Locals come here to eat and drink at the happening new galleries, café’s and bars. The Burlesque Hall of Fame is also nearby to enable travelers a perfect reason to venture off of the Strip. For those who want to explore the Strip, the High Roller, the tallest observation wheel in the world is an ideal place to start. It is part of the new LINQ district from Caesars’ a 550 million dollar venture expected to start up in the middle of 2014.

Explore the Indoor Skydiving or go-karting at Fast Lap. Check out Flightlinez for a zip lining adventure. There are numerous high-octane thrills to enjoy for those who need a break from the Blackjack table.

9. Sun Valley, ID

If you are seeking out an alternative to the ritzy resort areas of Colorado, particularly in the summer months when visitor numbers and costs are down, consider Sun Valley. There are great cultural events and mountain biking, camping, delicious food and hiking to take into consideration. During the winter months, check out the top of the line skiing facilities that can be discovered at the first purpose-built ski resort in the USA. Take the lifts with the rich and famous Hollywood A-listers to enjoy gorgeous scenery in a refined place without sprawling condos and fast food joints. No lift lines or crowds make it possible for you to ski and enjoy your day more.

The location itself is stunning, and as impressive as the snow. Visit nearby Ketchum which retains its rustic glory and authenticity regardless of the seasonal influxes. Stanley is situated a bit farther down the way. This is considered by many to be the most scenic town in the USA. It is nestled in the crook of the Salmon River. This location makes it an ideal place to launch a raft. The gorgeous Sawtooth Mountains provide a dramatic background and viewing point for wildlife.

Interestingly enough, Ernest Hemingway is also buried here. He had a huge draw and affection for Sun Valley. Allegedly, he completed “For Whom the Bell Tolls in room 206 of the Sun Valley Lodge between exploring the area on hunting and fishing excursions with friends Clark Gable and Gary Cooper.

10. Lana‘i, Hawaii

If you wish to flock to empty paradise beaches, diving and snorkeling options, and petroglyphs and shipwreck adventures, this unique island will not disappoint! Home to red-dirt roads, otherworldly rock formations and the favorite local dish of raw fish salad or poke markets, Lana’i is truly an exciting place to visit. Numerous 4WD trails and rugged hiking ensure that outdoor enthusiasts will be having a blast. This tiny town center offers small island charm with its candy coloured plantation style homes.

Lana’i is the smallest of the habitable Hawaiian Islands. It offers a mix of Asian and Hawaiian cultures, rugged shorelines, trendy resorts and relaxing getaways. In 2012, Oracle multi-billionaire, Larry Ellison purchased 98% of the island! He has major plans for the island. For example, bringing in numerous high end resorts and practically doubling the population.

Of course these high ideals leave some worried that Lana’i is on its way to becoming a playground for the wealthy; however, Mr. Ellison feels as though these changes will make it a “laboratory for sustainability” and wants to ensure that there will still be parts accessible to budget minded travelers. There will potentially be day trip excursions available from Maui. Many feel that this is an excellent idea, however, it remains to be seen if all will go according to plan.

The Blue Ginger Café, on the other hand, places all of their attention into the food and not into the décor. Stop in for breakfast and try their delicious muffins fresh from the oven. Or grab some food off the menu and head for a beach picnic!

Plan a trip to Notre-Dame de Paris, France

The Notre-Dame Cathedral is Paris, France is a cathedral church and one of the most famous Gothic cathedrals built during the middle ages. It is distinguished for its architecture, its size, and its antiquity. Notre-Dame is situated on one of Paris’s last remaining natural islands along the Seine and was built upon the ruins of two earlier period churches, dating back to an earlier Gallo-Roman temple dedicated to Jupiter.

The Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral was originally conceived by Maurice de Sully, who had the idea of converting the ruins of the two earlier basilicas into a much grander single building around 1160. In about 1163, Pope Alexander laid the foundation stone, while the consecration of the high alter took place in 1189. By 1250, the Nave, the western façade, and the choir were completed, while the chapels and porches in addition to other embellishments were added over the next 100 years.

The cathedral consists of a nave flanked by double aisles and square chapels, a short transept, and a choir and apse. It wasn’t until the 19th century restoration that the famous central spire was completed. There are two massive Gothic towers, built in the early 13th century, that crown the western façade of the cathedral. These Gothic towers are divided into three stories that are adorned by a row of Old Testament kings figures and doors that are adorned with Gothic carvings. The towers are about 68 meters high, though the spires were never added to the structure.

The cathedral’s interior is roughly 130 meters at its highest point. At the east end of the cathedral, the apse has large high windows above the eye line that are supported by Gothic styled single-arch flying buttresses. The 3 great rose windows are the only windows in the cathedral that still have their original glass.

Due to the damage and deterioration that the Notre-Dame Cathedral suffered over the centuries, major restorations were undertaken to rescue the building from possible destruction. In the mid-19th century, it was architect E.E. Viollet-le-Duc who was responsible for many of the major restorations that took place within the cathedral.

The French Cathedral also served as the setting for Victor Hugo’s 1831 masterpiece, Notre-Dame de Paris.

Travel to Everland Resort, Yongin, South Korea

Located in the city of Yongin, South Korea, Everland Resort is South Korea’s largest theme park. With more than 6.6 million visitors in 2011, the Everland Theme Park was the 13th most visited amusement park during that year. Everland is operated by a subsidiary of the Samsung Group, Samsung Everland.

It is interesting to note that “Everland” is an English term. In Korean the closest approximation is “Ebeoraendeu” – though there is no authentic Korean name for the park. The original name for the park was “Jayeon Nongwon” which means Natural Farm.

The Everland Resort has been designed with 5 distinct zones: Zoo-Topia, Magic Land, American Adventure, and Global Fair.

Zoo Topia – is the animal themed portion of the park. Zoo Topia features animal shows, pony rides, a petting zoo, and a small zoo that features penguins, sea lions, primates, polar bears and tigers. There is a safari bus ride that takes visitors on a ride through a contained habitat featuring bears and ligers. Guests can take a raft ride on the Amazon Express, where most visitors get wet to varying degrees. Zoo-Topia’s petting zoo has many animals such as goats and sheep to pet.

American Adventure – This part of the park features themes from American history, with 2 Wild West rides: the Rodeo and the “Eagle’s Fortress” thrill ride. Another part of the park includes Rock Ville, based on the 1950s and its music. The main attraction of Rock Ville is the Double Rock Spin which plays live bands near the Rolling X-Train, a roller coaster located within the American Adventure Park.

European Adventure – The architecture in this theme park imitates many different European styles, with numerous restaurants set in various European styles. Located in the European Adventure section also features a flower garden that is encircled by a train, many games, and arcades. The Mystery Mansion is one of the key attractions, where guests can shoot at the ghosts. The T-Express roller coaster made its debut in 2008, as South Korea’s only roller-coaster to be constructed out of wood.

Magic Land – Magic land features many elaborate rides and buildings, including a log flume, a robot ride, and a futuristic flying ride. Also located in Magic Land is a portion of the park set up called Aesop’s Village where the characters and the themes have been set around the fables of Aesop.

Global Fair – The Global Fair is a great area for food, for souvenir shopping, and for taking pictures as the visitors make their way out of the park. Here the guests are able to find restaurants, shops, lockers, and strollers.

Visit Times Square, New York

Times Square is located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It is situated at the junction of Seventh Avenue and Broadway, where a new pedestrian plaza has been constructed. Additionally, it stretches from West 42nd Street to West 47th Street. Times Square makes up a neighborhood as well as a commercial intersection. It has been dubbed “The Great White Way” and “The Center of the Universe,” due to its bright illumination.

The Broadway Theatre District is considered to be one of the main centers of the entertainment industry. As well, it is one of the busiest pedestrian intersections around. The October 2011 Survey in Travel and Leisure Magazine stated that Times Square hosts over 39 million visitors every year and is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the world. On a daily basis, approximately 330,000 people pass through Times Square. Many of these are people working in the area or are tourists.

Times Square was formerly known as Longacre Square. It was renamed in April 1904 once the New York Times transferred its headquarters to the newly built Times Building, which now goes by the name One Times Square. This is the location of the annual New Year’s Eve ball drop. The tradition started on December 31, 1907 and still continues to be celebrated with much fanfare to this day. It attracts thousands of people to the Square every New Year’s Eve.

Duffy Square is technically the northern triangle. This location was dedicated to Chaplin Francis P. Duffy in 1937 of New York City’s “Fighting 69th” Infantry Regiment. There is a memorial to Duffy there, as well as a statue of George M. Cohan. Also in the vicinity is the TKTS discount theatre tickets booth. In 2001, the Duffy Square and statue were listed on the National Register of Historic Places. An interesting note is that the stepped design red roof of the TKTS booth provides seating for a variety of events.

More than 360,000 pedestrian visitors come through Times Square every day. This equates to more than 131 million every year, making it the number one visited place on the globe. It actually accounts for greater attendance than all of the Disney theme parks in the world. Between March 2012 and February 2013 there were 128,794,000 visitors as compared to 126,479,000 for Walt Disney World attractions in 2012.

If simply counting tourists instead of residents, Times Square rates as the 2nd tourist attraction in the world after the Las Vegas Strip. This astronomical amount of traffic works out to $4.8 billion in annual retail, hotel and entertainment sales. Approximately $0.22 out of each dollar spent by visitors in New York City is being spent within Times Square.

The annual New Year’s Eve ball drop happens every year right in Times Square. On December 31, 1907, a ball was initially dropped to signify the New Year’s Day celebration. Since then, the square has been dedicated to holding the main celebration of New York City there ever since. Thousands of people come together on that night in order to witness the Waterford Crystal ball being lowered on a pole from on top of the building. This announces the start of the New Year. From 1904 to 1906, a lavish fireworks display used to be the show, until the ball drop replaced it. The city officials stopped the grand fireworks celebration due to the danger of fire.

Starting in 1908 and for over 80 years afterwards, Artkraft Strauss, the Times Square sign maker was responsible for lowering the ball. Due to wartime blackout restrictions during World War II, a minute of silence, followed by a recording of church bells replaced the ball drop ceremony. Currently, One Times Square and Countdown Entertainment run the New Year’s Eve event along with the Times Square Alliance.

Approximately 1 million revelers crowd Times Square on average for the New Year’s Eve celebrations. Statistics state that during the millennium celebration held on December 31, 1999, roughly 2 million people overflowed Times Square. They spread out from 6th Avenue to 8th Avenue, as well as back on Broadway and Seventh Avenues to 59th Street. This made it the largest gathering in Times Square since the celebrations marking the end of World War II in August 1945.