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U.S. wholesale prices up 0.3 percent in November

2011-12-18T02:00:00.000-08:00

U.S. wholesale prices up 0.3 percent in November
U.S. businesses paid slightly more in November for energy and wholesale goods as wholesale prices increased 0.3 percent, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

In November, the growth of the Producer Price Index (PPI), which measures price changes before they reach consumers, rose mainly because of higher food prices.

The PPI index declined 0.3 percent in October after a 0.8 percent increase in September, the department said.

Last month, energy prices edged up 0.1 percent after dropping 1.4 percent in the previous month. Food costs rose 1.0 percent in November.

Excluding the volatile food and energy sectors, the so called "core" wholesale prices rose only 0.1 percent in November than the previous month, the lowest level since May.

Over the past 12 months ending in November, wholesale prices rose 5.7 percent, the smallest year-over-year advance since a 5.6 percent rise in March 2011.

Editor: yan

English.news.cn 2011-12-15 22:54:19
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 (Xinhua)

U.S. jobless claims hit three-year low

2011-12-18T01:59:00.001-08:00

U.S. jobless claims hit three-year low
The number of Americans initially applying for unemployment aid last week dropped to the lowest level since May 2008, a positive sign for the outlook of the U.S. job market, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

The department said that the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims for jobless benefits was 366,000 in the week ending Dec. 10, a sharp decrease of 19,000 from the previous week's revised figure.

Fewer than 375,000 people applying for aid consistently signals that hiring is strong enough to lower the unemployment rate.

Meanwhile, the four-week moving average, which more closely watched claims figure, continued to dip to 387,750, the lowest level since July 2008.

The advance figure for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Dec. 3 was 3.603 million, an increase of 4,000 from one week earlier.

While there is more evidence for an improving labor market, few believe it will return to a normal level in the short term due to weak economic growth.

The weekly figures of jobless benefits application reflect the level of layoffs and indicate real-time condition of the American job market.

Editor: yan

English.news.cn 2011-12-15 22:53:29
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 (Xinhua)

Cain denies affair with Ginger White

2011-11-29T01:19:00.000-08:00

Cain denies affair with Ginger White
U.S. Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain denied on Monday the allegation that he’d had a 13-year extramarital affair with Atlanta-based businesswoman Ginger White.

The woman handed over her cell phone to Atlanta's FOX 5 News as a proof, in which there were 61 calls or text messages from a number she said was Cain's private cell phone.

Cain responded that the woman is "someone who I know, who is an acquaintance, who I thought was a friend," but he denied they had had an affair.

Cain suggested in a statement that the woman's allegation was another example of "dirty politics and smear tactics" and evidence some people were "afraid of a Cain presidency."

Cain said he would “not fight false claims as it is not what America needs or wants.”

Cain has been married to his wife, Gloria, for 43 years. His popularity has faded since one month ago when two women, Karen Kraushaar and Sharon Bialek, came forward to publicly accuse Cain of sexual harassment in the 1990s, while he was head of the National Restaurant Association.

White said she stood out because she had seen Cain disparage other women who have accused Cain of sexual harassment while he was at the restaurant association.

A report noted that White filed for bankruptcy 23 years ago and has been evicted from several residences. She described herself as an unemployed single mom trying to make ends meet.

(Agencies)

English.news.cn 2011-11-29 14:21:40 FeedbackPrintRSS
BEIJING, Nov. 29 (Xinhuanet)

U.S. regulators to notify 3 firms for violations in Gulf oil spill

2011-11-29T01:18:00.000-08:00

U.S. regulators to notify 3 firms for violations in Gulf oil spill
U.S. regulators said Monday they intended to issue new regulatory violation notices to three companies responsible for last year's devastating oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The so-called Incidents of Noncompliance notices would be sent to BP, which leased the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, Transocean, owner of Deepwater Horizon, and Halliburton, which performed the cement work on the failed Macondo well, in the next few weeks, said U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) Director Michael Bromwich.

The upcoming Incidents of Noncompliance are a step toward collecting penalties against the three companies.

BSEE last month issued an initial round of 15 violation notices to BP, Transocean and Halliburton, following a probe into the BP spill by the U.S. Coast Guard and BSEE's predecessor, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement.

Since issuing the initial notices, regulators have been studying the underlying information "that relates to the actual drilling of the well," Bromwich said.

"The new regulatory violations will be the result of that deeper dive into some of the underlying materials that were not specifically addressed or discussed in the joint agency report," he said.

The action also marks the first time the regulators have moved to sanction contractors for violating offshore regulations, instead of targeting well operators only.

BP's Macondo well ruptured after the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded and sank in April last year, spewing up to 4.9 million barrels of oil into the Gulf for nearly three months, making it the world's worst marine oil spill.

A government report released in September blamed BP and the other companies for a series of failures that helped lead to the spill.

Editor: Xiong Tong

English.news.cn 2011-11-29 14:08:31 FeedbackPrintRSS
HOUSTON, Nov. 28 (Xinhua)

More than 1 in 5 Americans economically insecure: report

2011-11-29T01:16:00.001-08:00

More than 1 in 5 Americans economically insecure: report
More than one in five Americans saw their available household income decline by a quarter or more in the past three years, according to a report released Monday.

They also lacked an adequate financial cushion to cope with this decline, which together with the 25 percent or more decrease of income, constitutes the major factors of economic insecurity, said the report.

The report updated an Economic Security Index (ESI) developed by Jacob Hacker, a political science professor at Yale University.

A record 20.5 percent of the American people faced this situation in the most recent economic downturn, a sharp increase from 14.3 percent in 1986. Roughly 62 million Americans were insecure in 2010, indicated the Index.

While economic insecurity increased across the country, the ESI found some groups suffered more than others in the past three years, such as those living in the West and the South more disadvantaged than those in the Northeast and North Central part of the country.

And levels of insecurity were much higher among those with limited education, as well as among racial minorities and younger workers.

The ESI is likely to remain high in the coming years, given continuing economic distress, said the report, adding that the economic security of Americans is under greater threat today than at any point over the last 25 years.

The novel ESI serves as another economic indicator, complementing unemployment and poverty rates to reflect the dynamic American financial well-being.

Editor: Xiong Tong

English.news.cn 2011-11-29 12:27:09 FeedbackPrintRSS
WASHINGTON, Nov. 28 (Xinhua)

U.S., European Union vow to revive growth, solve crisis

2011-11-29T00:37:00.001-08:00

U.S., EU vow to revive growth, solve crisis
The United States and the European Union (EU) on Monday vowed to work together to revive economic growth and solve financial crisis, a U.S.-EU joint statement said on Monday.

"We are committed to working together to reinvigorate economic growth, create jobs, and ensure financial stability," said the statement.

"We will do so by taking actions that address near-term growth concerns, as well as fiscal and financial vulnerabilities, and that strengthen the foundations of long-lasting and balanced growth," it said.

The United States welcomed the EU's "actions and determination" to take all steps necessary to restore financial stability and solve the eurozone crisis, and the EU looked forward to U.S. action on medium term fiscal consolidation, said the statement.

The two sides also agreed on the importance of working together with emerging economies to foster policies supporting sustained and balanced global growth.

The joint statement came after U.S. President Barack Obama hosted European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, and High Representative for foreign policy Catherine Ashton at the White House for the annual U.S.-EU summit.

The summit is focused on global economy, which is considered to have entered "a new and difficult phase" with risk of a double recession under the shadow of the ongoing financial crisis in Europe.

The two sides also vowed to intensify efforts to realize the untapped potential of transatlantic economic cooperation to generate new opportunities for jobs and growth, particularly in emerging sectors.

"We are committed to making the U.S.-EU trade and investment relationship - already the largest and most integrated in the world - stronger," said the statement.

Editor: yan

English.news.cn 2011-11-29 06:05:54 FeedbackPrintRSS
WASHINGTON, Nov. 28 (Xinhua)

Occupy L.A. protesters seek to thwart city's eviction bid through law

2011-11-29T00:33:00.000-08:00

Occupy L.A. protesters seek to thwart city's eviction bid through law
The leaders of Occupy L.A. movement have filed a complaint against the city of Los Angeles, claiming their civil and constitutional rights were violated by an eviction order and ask for a federal injunction to top the bid.

The complaint was filed by Mario Brito, Katherine Knox-Davies, Jesse Dotson and other participants since the city approved the group's plan to camp out outside the City Hall in early October. They named Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Charlie Beck, chief of Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, as defendants who are allegedly held accountable for the violation of the protesters' right and the eviction effort against the protesting mass.

The mayor and the city "engaged in arbitrary and capricious action in violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments by first approving the Occupy presences for 56 days before suddenly revoking permissions through the unilateral action of defendant Villaraigosa," they complained.

The group seeks a temporary restraining order or a permanent injunction for the city to forsake its bid to close the park outside the City Hall, and to evict protesters from their encampment.

Earlier, Villaraigosa said that during a meeting he had with about 150 religious leaders, the participants signed on a letter asking the city to work with them.

"I said we will allow them to really encourage people to moving on," he said. "I think almost universally people believe that this encampment is not sustainable."

He also said that social service providers are offering more beds for homeless protesters.

Four people were arrested during an early-morning police action aimed at clearing the major traffic intersections and streets around the City Hall of several hundred protesters after a midnight deadline of eviction has passed.

Most protesters complied with requests to clear the streets around City Hall to accommodate morning traffic. But a handful of arrests have been made.

"So far it's been peaceful," Los Angeles Police Department Commander Andy Smith told media.

Villaraigosa, when addressing the incident afterwards on a local television channel, said the city "will enforce that park closure at a time when it makes sense for our officers, for their safety and for the safety of protesters."

The city will enforce the eviction, "but we will do so in a way where we can ensure as much as possible a minimal amount of force is used to it," he added.

Meanwhile, some protesters still remain at the scene, pledging to hold on. Some of them are willing to be arrested for the cause.

Many of the protesters who used to holed up in the camps have packed up and gone, leaving deserted tents behind. A number of camps have been torn down after their occupants have left.

The authorities will move people out of the park on their time schedule which is based on "when it makes the most sense," chief Charlie Beck said.

Editor: yan

English.news.cn 2011-11-29 06:02:46 FeedbackPrintRSS
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 28 (Xinhua)

U.S. shuts down 150 websites to fight counterfeiting

2011-11-29T00:31:00.000-08:00

U.S. shuts down 150 websites to fight counterfeiting
Authorities have shut down 150 websites engaged in the illegal sale and distribution of counterfeit goods and copyrighted works, the U.S. Justice Department announced Monday.

The operation, executed by the Justice Department, Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations ( HSI) and other federal agencies, was timed to coincide with "Cyber Monday," the biggest on-line shopping day of the year.

"Through this operation we are aggressively targeting those who are selling counterfeit goods for their own personal gain while costing our economy much-needed revenue and jobs," Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement.

"Intellectual property crimes harm businesses and consumers, alike, threatening economic opportunity and financial stability, and today we have sent a clear message that the Department will remain ever vigilant in protecting the public's economic welfare and public safety through robust intellectual property enforcement, " he said.

The 150 seized domains are in the custody of the federal government. Visitors to the sites will now find a seizure banner that notifies them that the domain name has been seized by federal authorities.

During this crackdown, known as Operation In Our Sites, federal law enforcement agents made undercover purchases of a host of products, including professional sports jerseys, golf equipment, DVD sets, footwear, handbags and sunglasses, representing a variety of trademarks from on-line retailers who were suspected of selling counterfeit products.

Editor: yan

English.news.cn 2011-11-29 06:02:21 FeedbackPrintRSS
WASHINGTON, Nov. 28 (Xinhua)

U.S. President Barack Obama's travels called into question

2011-11-29T00:30:00.000-08:00

U.S. President Obama's travels called into question
As the election year approaches, U.S. President Barack Obama is traveling more and more to states that were considered as contentious in next year's presidential contest. The White House on Monday pushed back on the accusation, saying that Obama's travels had nothing to do with campaigning, and he is merely doing his job as president.

According to a report on Monday's Wall Street Journal, Obama will have logged his 56th event in a presidential battleground state this year when he visits Scranton, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday to promote his jobs package, putting him well ahead of the then President George W. Bush's record-breaking swing-state travel in 2003.

According to the paper, between Jan. 1 and Nov. 17 of his third year in office, Bill Clinton held 40 events in the battlegrounds of his time. Over that same stretch, George W. Bush held 49 events, drawing complaints from Democrats.

The White House, however, denied the accusation. Obama's Press Secretary Jay Carney said during his daily briefing on Monday that the trips were not politically driven. He said that as the election landscape shifts, it's not clear which states will be battleground next year. For example, In 2003 and 1995, Virginia wasn't a battleground state, so it wasn't included in the Bush and Clinton numbers.

"These are subjective assessments," he said of the comparisons.

Carney also said that many states were chosen because of their proximity to Washington, D.C. "He can't always go to the Mountain states or the Plains states or the West Coast," Carney said.

Editor: yan

English.news.cn 2011-11-29 04:45:47 FeedbackPrintRSS
WASHINGTON, Nov. 28 (Xinhua)

U.S. House ranking Democrat not to seek reelection

2011-11-29T00:29:00.000-08:00

U.S. House ranking Democrat not to seek reelection
Barney Frank, ranking Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives, announced Monday that he decided not to seek reelection.

The 16-term congressman of Massachusetts is the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee. He is known for coauthoring the so-called Dodd-Frank bill that was enacted in 2010 to overhaul the financial regulation rules.

"I was planning to run again, and then congressional redistricting came," Frank told reporters at a news conference in Newton, Massachusetts, attributing his decision in part to the redrawing of congressional boundaries after midterm elections last year, which made Frank's district more competitive than ever before.

"It would have been a tough campaign," he said. "I would have a hard time justifying to myself to do it."

The 71-year-old Frank is a legendary figure in Congress. He is the nation's most powerful openly-gay elected official, and championed the effort to successfully end a controversial law that bans gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military.

President Barack Obama praised Frank's service in Congress, particularly his leading role in passing the Wall Street reform law.

"This country has never had a Congressman like Barney Frank, and the House of Representatives will not be the same without him, " Obama said in a statement. "It is only thanks to his leadership that we were able to pass the most sweeping financial reform in history designed to protect consumers and prevent the kind of excessive risk-taking that led to the financial crisis from ever happening again."

Editor: yan

English.news.cn 2011-11-29 04:45:13 FeedbackPrintRSS
WASHINGTON, Nov. 28 (Xinhua)

White House says NATO strikes on Pakistani soldiers a "tragedy"

2011-11-29T00:20:00.000-08:00

White House says NATO strikes on Pakistani soldiers a "tragedy"
White House said on Monday that the NATO strikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers are a "tragedy, " vowing to carry out investigation on this deadly incident, amid the continuously deteriorating U.S.-Pakistani relations that have been seriously marred by multiple disputes this year.

At a regular briefing, White House spokesman Jay Carney said the U.S. reaction is that "the events that took those lives was a tragedy." The comments came after a total of 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 13 others injured when NATO fighter jets and helicopters bombed two border posts in Mohmand tribal region near the Afghan border early Saturday morning.

"We take this matter very seriously," Carney told reporters, vowing that the U.S. will investigate the matter and is "very keen " on finding out what exactly happened.

It is not the first time that Pakistani soldiers became the victims of NATO cross-border attacks. A Pakistani army spokesman said on Monday that a total of 72 Pakistani troops were killed and over 259 others injured in similar attacks over the past three years.

In an angry reaction to the attacks, the Pakistani government on Saturday night decided to close the NATO logistic supply lines in Pakistan with immediate effect and ordered the U.S. to vacate a key airbase in the country's southwest Balochistan province within 15 days.

Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani warned on Monday that his country's relationship with the U.S. can only continue with mutual respect and mutual interest.

The U.S.-Pakistani ties have been sent to a decade low by a series of disputes between the two countries, including the U.S. secret raid into Pakistan in May that killed Osama bin Laden and the quarrels on the al-Haqqani networks which is accused by the U. S. as a "veritable arm" of Pakistan's intelligence service.

Pakistan sees the killing of its soldiers and secret raids into the country as a violation of its sovereignty, while the U.S. always complains about insufficient cooperation from Pakistan on its counter-terrorism effort.

At the briefing, Carney described the relationship with Pakistan as "important" but "complicated."

He said it is in America's national security interest to maintain a cooperative relationship with Pakistan because of the shared interests in the fight against terrorism.

"So we will continue to work on that relationship," Carney added.

English.news.cn 2011-11-29 03:14:47 FeedbackPrintRSS
WASHINGTON, Nov. 28 (Xinhua)

U.S. urges Europe to move with "force and decisiveness" to tackle debt crisis

2011-11-29T00:19:00.000-08:00

U.S. urges Europe to move with "force and decisiveness" to tackle debt crisis
The White House stated on Monday that it is critical for Europe to move with "force and decisiveness" to fight the deepening sovereign debt crisis in the eurozone, saying the crisis continues to create a headwind for the global economy.

White House spokesman Jay Carney reiterated the U.S. stand as President Barack Obama was hosting a summit meeting with European Union leaders at the White House.

"Well, our position is and has been that it's critical for Europe to move with force and decisiveness now, particularly with new governments coming into place in Italy, Greece and Spain," Carney told reporters at a regular press briefing.

"We continue to believe that this is a European issue, that Europe has the resources and capacity to deal with it, and that they need to act decisively and conclusively to resolve this problem," he added.

The 17-nation eurozone is buffeted by a sovereign debt crisis, which was touched off by Greece and has begun to spread and touch the area's hard core, prompting fears about looming disintegration of the currency union.

Carney said the global economic situation and in particular the situation in Europe was one of the topics in Obama's talks with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

Obama would reiterate what the United States believes -- that Europe needs to take "decisive action, conclusive action" to handle this problem, and that it has the capacity to do so, the spokesman said.

"The president is concerned, as he's expressed, about the fact that this is a global economy and that the events in Europe obviously have an impact on our economy," Carney said. "It's created a headwind for much of the year and continues to create that headwind."

"That's why we believe it's in the United States' interest, but most obviously in Europe's interest, to act decisively to deal with this profound challenge," he added.

He noted that the U.S. has "a great deal of expertise and experience" to share with the Europeans, and has been in regular consultations with its counterparts from various European governments.

Obama himself has been in constant contact with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy over phone calls.

Editor: yan

English.news.cn 2011-11-29 03:13:58 FeedbackPrintRSS
WASHINGTON, Nov. 28 (Xinhua)

U.S. new home sales up 1.3 percent in October

2011-11-29T00:17:00.001-08:00

U.S. new home sales up 1.3 percent in October
Sales of new single-family houses in the United States rose modestly in October, but housing prices continued to fall, indicating the struggling property market, reported the U.S. Commerce Department on Monday.

Sales of new single-family houses in October were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 307,000 units, up 1.3 percent from the revised September rate of 303,000 units, and is 8.9 percent above the October 2010 estimate of 282,000 units, said the department.

The median sales price of new houses sold in October dipped to 212,300 U.S. dollars, 0.4 percent lower than in September.

Single-family housing starts accounted for around 70 percent of the total new home construction including houses and apartment buildings in the nation.

U.S. home prices have tumbled, the job market remains weak and unemployment has been stuck near 9 percent for more two years. Many economists held that the housing market would remain in low level of recovery for about three to five years.

The U.S. housing industry is suffering its worst slump in decades. Experts hold that the home price downturn, large inventory of foreclosured houses and a persisting credit crunch have been a major drag on the property sector as well as the overall economic recovery.

Editor: yan

English.news.cn 2011-11-29 01:25:35 FeedbackPrintRSS
WASHINGTON, Nov. 28 (Xinhua)

U.S. to digitize federal records

2011-11-29T00:16:00.000-08:00

U.S. to digitize federal records
U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday signed a memorandum to digitize federal records, aiming to save money and promote accountability and transparency.

In a statement, the White House said the memorandum directs agencies to "move into a digital-based records keeping system, a move that will save taxpayer dollars, promote accountability, and increase government transparency."

"The current federal records management system is based on an outdated approach involving paper and filing cabinets. Today's action will move the process into the digital age so the American public can have access to clear and accurate information about the decisions and actions of the Federal Government," said Obama.

The move is also a way to ease strains on the National Archives and Records Administration. Over the last ten years, according to the White House, the agency has taken in an average of 475 million pages of records per year. Recently there has been significant growth in the volume of electronic records being accessioned, and total archival electronic holdings currently total 142 terabytes.

According to a recent report by the National Archivist and Records Administration, agencies have done a poor job of managing the increased volume and diversity of information that come with advances in information technology. Many are unlikely to fully comply with legal requirements under the Federal Records Act.

Editor: yan

English.news.cn 2011-11-29 00:40:26 FeedbackPrintRSS
WASHINGTON, Nov. 28 (Xinhua)

U.S. Democrats assail GOP's Romney

2011-11-29T00:14:00.000-08:00

U.S. Democrats assail GOP's Romney
U.S. Democratic Party on Monday released an ad attacking Republican front-runner for that party's presidential nomination Mitt Romney, accusing the former Massachusetts governor of flipflopping.

The ad, called "Mitt vs Mitt," took a closer look at Romney's changing stands on various issues, including the economy, immigration, healthcare reform, woman's right to choose and workers' rights.

According to the Democratic National Committee (DNC), which paid for the ad, Romney's "fight against himself," and continues to "say and do whatever it takes to get elected, no matter how contradictory."

"Experts are predicting kind of a tough fight between Romney and his biggest ideological opponent: Mitt Romney from four years ago. Those guys don't agree on anything," said the ad.

The ad is running on TV screens in six markets, including Albuquerque, New Mexico, Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, Columbus, Ohio, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Romney, who has held steady during the past months on the front- runner spot, is facing new challenges inside the party from a surging Newt Gingrich, the former House of Representatives speaker. Gingrich on Sunday landed the endorsement of New Hampshire Union Leader, the main newspaper of the early primary state New Hampshire, where Romney has polled consistently as the leading candidate.

Editor: yan

English.news.cn 2011-11-29 00:34:03 FeedbackPrintRSS
WASHINGTON, Nov. 28 (Xinhua)

U.S. soldier accused of raping South Korean teenager

2011-10-21T22:28:00.000-07:00

U.S. soldier accused of raping S. Korean teenager

South Korean prosecutors on Friday demanded a 15-year prison sentence for a U.S. soldier accused of raping a South Korean teenager last month.

"There's no room for sympathy as the offender committed a hideous crime against a young student. And it's hard to believe his claim that he was too drunk," a prosecutor told a court in the city of Uijeongbu, north of Seoul, Yonhap news agency reported.

The 21-year-old U.S. army private of the 2nd Infantry Division stationed in Dongducheon is charged with raping the 18-year-old girl after breaking into her dormitory-style apartment near his unit on Sept. 24.

The prosecutors also requested that the offender to complete a treatment program aimed at sex offenders and that his identity to be made public.

During a trip to Seoul earlier this month, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell apologized for "the tragic and inexcusable rape."

The U.S. military has also apologized for the incident and imposed a month-long curfew on its troops in the country.

The accused will face a final hearing on Nov. 1.

Editor: Yang Lina

English.news.cn 2011-10-21 16:53:07 FeedbackPrintRSS
SEOUL, Oct, 21 (Xinhua)

S. Korean gov't, ruling party to pass trade deal with U.S. soon

2011-10-21T22:27:00.000-07:00

S. Korean gov't, ruling party to pass trade deal with U.S. soon

The South Korean government and the ruling party agreed Friday to ratify the long-pending free trade agreement with the United States, the party said.

They also agreed to the need to put in place protective measures for farmers, cattle ranchers, and self-employed business people that might potentially be hurt by the trade pact, according to the ruling Grand National Party.

Local reports said that the agreement might lead the government to increase financial support for potentially vulnerable industries from the current 22.1 trillion won.

The move comes as the ruling camp seeks to pass the deal, which some policy think tanks here say will create 350,000 new jobs and increase the country's gross domestic product by 5.66 percent.

Opposition lawmakers are fiercely resisting the passage of the pact, which they said is lopsided in favor of Washington.

The trade pact, passed by U.S. Congress earlier this month, was signed in 2007 and partially renegotiated last December.

Editor: Yang Lina

English.news.cn 2011-10-21 16:46:51 FeedbackPrintRSS
SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Xinhua)

U.S. congress members praise Sri Lanka for defeating rebels

2011-10-21T22:26:00.000-07:00

U.S. congress members praise Sri Lanka for defeating rebels

A visiting U.S. Congress delegation has praised Sri Lanka for defeating the Tamil Tiger rebels, the Sri Lankan president's office said on Friday.

The delegation led by U.S. Congressman Albert Benjamin Chandler had met Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and discussed the development in the country.

The U.S. Congress members had said that Sri Lanka and its leaders deserve much more praise from the international community than now for defeating the world's worst terrorist organization, according to the president's office.

The visiting delegation had also noted that leveling allegations against Sri Lanka is a matter for regret, the president's office said.

Sri Lanka has been accused of committing human rights abuses during the final stages of the war against the Tamil Tiger rebels in 2009.

Rajapaksa requested the Congressmen to reveal to the world the true image of Sri Lanka. He also elaborated on the development initiatives undertaken by the government across the country, the president's office said.

The delegation also met with Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa on Oct. 18, and discussed a range of issues including Tamil Tiger activities in foreign countries.

Editor: Yang Lina

English.news.cn 2011-10-21 16:39:01 FeedbackPrintRSS
COLOMBO, Oct. 21 (Xinhua)

Pakistani PM: U.S. must give peace a chance

2011-10-21T22:15:00.001-07:00

Pakistani PM: U.S. must give peace a chance

Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has called upon US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to give peace a chance as envisaged in the All Parties Conference's resolution, which reflects the sentiments of Pakistani nation, local media reported on Friday.

The prime minister made the remarks during his meeting Thursday night with Clinton, who called on him at the Prime Minister's House.

The prime minister reiterated the collective national view on the issue of peace in Afghanistan as articulated in the All Parties Conference's resolution.

Disagreements between the coalition partners in the war on terror should not undermine strategic relationship, said Gilani.

The discussion also focused on the bilateral relations, especially in the fields of security, economy, energy and investment.

Clinton, "I have too much respect for Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and for the country."

She recognized the importance of Pakistan in the context of peace and security in the region. She appreciated the All Parties Conference's resolution, which she said, was a right message from Pakistan to the world.

In the meeting, the Pakistan's side included Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Chief of Army Staff General Asfhaq Parvez Kayani, Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence Lt. General Ahmad Shuja Pasha, Foreign Secretary and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister.

Hillary Clinton was joined by General Patraeus, director CIA, Marc Grossman, U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan, Cameron Munter, chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempesy, and Lt. General Douglas Lute.

Editor: Xiong Tong

English.news.cn 2011-10-21 15:01:44 FeedbackPrintRSS
ISLAMABAD, Oct. 21 (Xinhua)

U.S. charges two for supporting terrorism

2011-10-21T20:27:00.000-07:00

U.S. charges two for supporting terrorism

Two men have been charged with conspiring with a U.S. woman known as "Jihad Jane" to provide material support to terrorists, the U.S. Justice Department said Thursday.

The Justice Department announced in a statement that charge was fired against Ali Charaf Damache, an Algerian man who resided in Ireland, and Mohammad Hassan Khalid, a Pakistani citizen and U.S. lawful permanent resident who resided in Maryland.

Damache was also charged with attempted identity theft to facilitate terrorism. If convicted, he faces a potential sentence of 45 years in prison, while Khalid faces 15 years.

Damache was arrested in Ireland in March 2010 where he is currently being held on unrelated charges. Khalid was arrested in Maryland in July 2011.

The indictment alleged that Damache and Khalid conspired with Colleen R. LaRose, also known as "Jihad Jane," Jamie Paulin Ramirez and others to provide material support and resources, including logistical support, recruitment services, financial support, identification documents and personnel, to a conspiracy to kill overseas.

LaRose had previously pleaded guilty to the charges in February. Ramirez pleaded guilty to similar charges in March.

"Today's indictment, which alleges a terrorist conspiracy involving individuals around the globe who connected via the Internet ... underscores the evolving nature of violent extremism, " said Assistant Attorney General Monaco. Enditem

Editor: yan

English.news.cn 2011-10-21 01:54:03 FeedbackPrintRSS
U.S. charges two for supporting terrorism

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 (Xinhua)

U.S. congressmen call for equitable economic opportunities in Sri Lanka

2011-10-21T19:29:00.001-07:00

U.S. congressmen call for equitable economic opportunities in Sri Lanka

Visiting US congressmen called on the Sri Lankan government to work hard on providing economic equitability and a balanced approach to formulating peace here on Thursday.

The Sri Lankan External Affairs Ministry has invited three U.S. congressmen to visit Sri Lanka and counter allegations of war crimes by seeing the present state of the country first hand.

Accordingly a three-member U.S. congressional delegation led by representative Albert Benjamin arrived in Sri Lanka accompanied by U.S. Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya.

U.S. delegation includes Representative Jack Kingston and Joseph Schuler.

Wickramasuriya stressed that the visit was expressly to give U. S. politicians a chance to see the current State of Sri Lanka even though they are not officially representing the American government.

The delegation emphasized on the economic opportunity for all of Sri Lankans. They urged the government to use this opportunity wisely and ensure equitable distribution of chances but they acknowledged that rebuilding would take time.

The congressmen urged the government to take steps in that regard as there will be many issues to surmount.

"We will make sure that the international community has a more balanced outlook when it comes to Sri Lanka," Schuler told media adding that they were very impressed by the progress that they had seen.

They also called on the Sri Lankan government to take a balanced approach when dealing with a political solution to the ethnic issue.

Editor: yan

English.news.cn 2011-10-20 23:00:08 FeedbackPrintRSS
COLOMBO Oct. 20 (Xinhua)

U.S. Secretary of State begins 2-day crucial visit to Pakistan

2011-10-21T19:27:00.000-07:00

U.S. Secretary of State begins 2-day crucial visit to Pakistan

U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, arrived here Thursday evening to push Pakistan for taking action against the armed groups blamed for cross-border attacks into Afghanistan, officials said.

Secretary Clinton began two-day Pakistan's visit after holding talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul. She said ahead of her Islamabad visit that she would press Pakistan to take action against the armed militants who enter Afghanistan for attacks on U.S.-led foreign and Afghan forces.

A ruling party Senator Sughra Imam and senior officials of the Foreign Ministry and U.S. diplomats welcomed Hillary Clinton on her arrival.

She will meet Pakistan's civil and military leadership, including President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. She will also hold formal talks with Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and both foreign ministers are likely to address a joint press conference after their talks on Friday.

She is accompanied by U.S. Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey, Central Intelligence Agency Director David Patraeus and Under-Secretary of Defence for Policy Michele Flournoy and US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Marc Grossman.

Section of U.S. media has described Clinton's visit as "a list-ditch effort" to salvage America's partnership with Pakistan, which is key to stability in Afghanistan at a time when the US has started withdrawal of troops.

The visit takes place at a time when Pak-US relationship has seen a sharp decline after the last month attack on the U.S. embassy in Kabul and the truck bomb blast at a major American military base in Afghanistan's Maidan Wardak province, blamed on the Taliban-linked Haqqani network.

Senior U.S. military leaders accused Pakistan's intelligence agency of supporting the Haqqani network in both attacks, the charges denied by Pakistan as irresponsible. The U.S. insists that Haqqani network operates from Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region along the border with Afghanistan.

Analysts say Hillary Clinton's visit will, among others, try to get soured relations with Pakistan back on track and push the leadership to act against the armed groups blamed for cross-border attacks into Afghanistan.

Secretary for Defense Leon Panetta and other US officials are asking Pakistan to take action against the Haqqani network in North Waziristan tribal region.

Pakistan has so far rejected the U.S. pressure for North Waziristan offensive and the Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani told parliamentarians at a rare briefing on Tuesday that it is up-to Pakistan if and when to launch military operation.

Editor: yan

English.news.cn 2011-10-20 22:57:57 FeedbackPrintRSS
by Muhammad Tahir

ISLAMABAD, Oct. 20 (Xinhua)

U.S. secretary of state arrives in Pakistan to mend fences

2011-10-21T19:18:00.000-07:00

U.S. secretary of state arrives in Pakistan to mend fences

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived here Thursday night to get soured relations with Pakistan back on track and push the leadership to act against the armed groups blamed for cross-border attacks into Afghanistan.

The relationship has seen a sharp decline after the last month attack on the U.S. embassy in Kabul and the truck bomb blast at a major American military base in Afghanistan's Maidan Wardak province, which were blamed on the Taliban-linked Haqqani network.

Senior U.S. military leaders accused Pakistan's intelligence agency of supporting the Haqqani network in both attacks, the charges denied by Pakistan as irresponsible. The U.S. side insists that Haqqani network operates from Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region along the border with Afghanistan.

Editor: yan

English.news.cn 2011-10-20 22:46:16 FeedbackPrintRSS
ISLAMABAD, Oct. 20 (Xinhua)

Clinton warns to pursue terrorists on Afghan-Pakistan borders

2011-10-21T19:03:00.001-07:00

Clinton warns to pursue terrorists on Afghan-Pakistan borders

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Thursday during her visit to Afghanistan that terrorists would be targeted in the border areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Addressing a joint press conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai here, she said that terrorists are the common enemy of both Afghanistan and Pakistan, adding that the two countries are suffering at the hands of terrorists.

"We have a very clear message to the insurgents on both sides of the border that we are going to fight you and we are going to seek you in your safe havens whether you are in the Afghan side or the Pakistani side," Clinton said.

She also said that the United States expects Pakistan to take the lead in war on terror because the terrorists also pose a threat to the Pakistanis as well as to others, and the terrorists are killing the innocent people in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Clinton, who is going to Islamabad of Pakistan later Thursday and will meet with Pakistani leaders, arrived in Kabul on Wednesday night. She exchanged views with Afghan President Karzai on the issues related to Kabul-Washington relations, war on terror, Afghan reconciliation efforts and the situation in Afghanistan.

"We had comprehensive discussion today. The situation in Afghanistan, Pakistan, situation in the region, Afghan-U.S. relations and strategic partnership with U.S. came under discussion in our meeting today,"Karzai told journalists.

The visit by the U.S. Secretary of State took place amid increasing militancy and Taliban-affiliated Haqqani Network attacks on U.S. embassy and NATO-led forces headquarters in Kabul on Sept. 13 which left over a dozen people dead and injured.

She also said, "terrorists are posing threat to both Pakistan and Afghanistan," adding, "we expect Pakistan to act upon its commitment in fighting terrorism."

The U.S. Secretary of State also said that U.S. wants to see a stable Afghanistan free of al-Qaida and Taliban insurgents and " we do not want terrorists to return to Afghanistan again."

She added that the United States will continue to support Afghanistan after 2014 when the withdrawal of NATO-led forces and transferring security charges to Afghan government is completed.

English.news.cn 2011-10-20 19:46:04

Terrorists to be targeted on Afghan-Pak border: Clinton

2011-10-21T18:34:00.001-07:00

Terrorists to be targeted on Afghan-Pak border: Clinton

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her visit to Afghanistan, on Thursday said that terrorists would be targeted on both sides of Afghanistan and Pakistan borders.

Addressing a joint press conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai here, she said that terrorists are the common enemy of both Afghanistan and Pakistan, saying both countries are suffering at the hands of terrorists.

She also said that the United States expects Pakistan to take the lead in war on terror because the terrorists also pose a threat to the Pakistanis as well as to others, as the terrorists are killing the innocent people in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

English.news.cn 2011-10-20 17:53:52 FeedbackPrintRSS
KABUL, Oct. 20 (Xinhua)

U.S. to donate half a million USD to Thailand for flood relief

2011-10-21T18:22:00.000-07:00

U.S. to donate half a million USD to Thailand for flood relief

The U.S. government is providing an additional 15 million baht (500,000 U.S. dollars) in humanitarian assistance to flood-stricken Thailand for flood relief efforts, its embassy said in a statement Thursday.

The funding will be given through the International Organization for Migration (IOM) so that Thai government could allocate the fund for procurement of water pumps, generators, water purification units, boats, motors and life vests. The country's capability to deliver emergency relief supplies would, in turn, increase, said the embassy.

The United States earlier this month gave 3 million baht (100, 000 U.S. dollars) to the Thai Red Cross Society for emergency flood response activities.

U.S. disaster response specialists and embassy personnel are closely monitoring the impact of the floods and assessing requirements for additional assistance, in close coordination with Thai government and international humanitarian relief agencies, added the statement.

On Oct. 15, about 10 experts on disaster handling from the U.S. base in Japan's Okinawa arrived at Thailand with some supplies to estimate the situation and provide suggestions to Thai government.

Thailand is among other Southeast Asian countries -- Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines and Vietnam -- which have been battered by heavy monsoon floods and tropical storms. According to estimation by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs issued recently, more than 700 people in the region were killed and over eight million affected. Thailand's worst flooding in over 50 years has claimed at least 320 lives while over 2.4 million people have suffered.

Editor: Yang Lina

English.news.cn 2011-10-20 17:21:27 FeedbackPrintRSS
BANGKOK, Oct. 20 (Xinhua)

Atlanta, Georgia

2008-05-23T21:12:00.000-07:00

If you're planning to tour the eastern USA, Atlanta, Georgia provides a great starting point. This modern metropolis, near the south Atlantic seacoast, offers a variety of sights, shopping, nightlife, sports and entertainment. Atlanta's proximity to Florida, the Georgia coast, and the Appalachian Mountains position it perfectly for the start of a driving tour of the eastern or southern USA.

Hartsville International Airport receives direct service from many European capitals and offers domestic flights to most US cities. It is located five miles south of downtown Atlanta. You can take a taxi from the airport to downtown for $20, or a shuttle bus for $8, or the train for $1.50. MARTA, Atlanta's mass transit system, can transport you around the city very efficiently and very economically. The International Information Counter at Hartsville Airport has MARTA maps and information.

Metropolitan business center of the southeast

During the American Civil War, Atlanta was burned to the ground by the advancing Union army. The city rebuilt around 140 years ago and hasn't stopped growing since. Atlanta is a business center and home to hundreds of corporate headquarters including Coke Cola, United Parcel Service and many more. It's a great hub of business activity. It is also a regional center for nightlife, entertainment and sports attractions. It has a temperate climate that makes club hopping, late night shopping and outdoor activities a pleasure all year round.

Buckhead is considered the center of Atlanta nightlife. Its history dates back to the 1800's when a tavern owner mounted a "buck's head" in his establishment near the corner of West Paces Ferry Road and Roswell Road. Whether you're seeking Latin music, a coffee house, a cigar bar, a romantic nook, a gay bar, or a disco, you will find it here. It is worth a walk through this affluent neighborhood simply to see the palatial homes, to sample the unique restaurants, and to browse in the luxury shops. You'll find currency exchanges and other services for international tourists and businesses in this area. Lennox Square Mall in Buckhead is the largest shopping mall in the southern USA. Art galleries, boutiques and small shops are plentiful, making it a perfect place to browse during the day.

In the heart of the old south

In almost every part of Atlanta, you can find interesting neighborhood nightclubs and bars featuring a wide variety of entertainments. The Grant Park area has a range of venues catering to crowds from country and western fans to rockers. Zoo Atlanta and the Atlanta Cyclorama & Civil War Museum are also located in the Grant Park area. The Cyclorama, a 42 feet-high 360-degree painting of the battle of Atlanta, has been on public display since 1898. The Museum is next to the zoo and opens daily from 9:30 AM until 4:30 PM, with admission prices of $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for children and $4.00 for seniors.

For a glimpse of the Old South, visit the Atlanta History Center at 130 West Paces Ferry Road. You'll find fascinating exhibits on everything from antebellum arts to Coke Cola, plus information about touring some of Atlanta's stately homes and gardens. The Southeastern Railway Museum in nearby Duluth, Georgia has over 80 pieces of rolling stock and is a must-visit for folks who like trains. If you're a Gone With the Wind fan, you can visit the house where author, Margaret Mitchell, lived in at 999 Peachtree Road. Tours are given continuously from 9:30 AM until 5:00 PM for an admission fee of $12. Literary tourists will also enjoy the Wren's Nest House Museum, home of J. C. Harris who authored the Uncle Remus tales.

Home of Martin Luther King

If you like modern history, visit the museum at the Carter Center or The Martin Luther King National Historic Site. The long anticipated reopening of Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Dr. King preached, is scheduled for December 2001. If you prefer modern culture, visit the World of Coke Cola for memorabilia and exhibits related to this distinctive US beverage . Underground Atlanta is one of the most popular attractions in the city spanning six blocks, twelve acres, and three levels with entertainment, shopping, and restaurants It is in the center of downtown near the Braves Baseball stadium, the CNN center, and the Georgia State Capital.

For shopping, Atlanta is a great place to end your tour of the USA. You will find a variety of retailers including upscale and funky as well as discount outlets. Bargain hunters seeking toiletries, blue jeans, and other American goods should head for the suburbs and explore Wal-Mart, or another discount store for good buys. For serious bargain hunters, there is a Tanger Factory Outlet Mall 30 miles south of Atlanta in Forest Grove.

Taste the southern cooking

For a real Southern culinary experience, have breakfast at a Waffle House restaurant and try some grits (a hot corn meal cereal) with your eggs and bacon. Grits are eaten with bunches of butter, salt and pepper as a breakfast side dish. Other specialties of the Southeast are southern bar-b-cue and "soul food". "Soul food" is African-American cooking and uses a lot of chicken and pork as well as interesting ways of preparing familiar vegetables. Corn bread and biscuits both accompany most soul food, which is often served with an ample coating of gravy.

Sixteen miles east of downtown Atlanta you'll find Stone Mountain State Park, home of the world's largest granite monolith. It is best known for the great equistrian sculpture of three Civil War Confederate Generals carved into its side. The park is open year round from 6AM until midnight. Stone Mountain's attractions include a laser show, an antebellum plantation, a railroad, a riverboat complex, a beach and waterslide complex as well as a sky lift and numerous areas of natural beauty. Camping and lodging are available on site.

Sports, culture and entertainment

West of Atlanta theme park fanciers will discover Six Flags Over Georgia, a mere twenty miles down Interstate 20. With over 100 rides, special areas for tiny tots, and a water park, Six Flags is a great day trip. It's open from late February until the end of October.

Sports fans will appreciate the variety of major league events in Atlanta. The NFL Atlanta Falcons play football, the National League Atlanta Braves play baseball and the NBA Atlanta Hawks play basketball in the city. NASCAR racing is featured at the Atlanta Speedway 20 miles south of the city. For cultural events, Atlanta offers a symphony, a ballet and a variety of theater companies.

Atlanta has enough tourist attractions and entertainment options to keep you busy for quite a few days --- but it is also a great place to see a slice of the "real America" to see how we work and play every day.

Written by : Diane Goldberg

Provided by USATourist.com

in Maryland

2008-05-23T21:09:00.000-07:00

Baltimore, Maryland

Baltimore, Maryland is situated along the shores of the vast Chesapeake Bay nearly 200 miles (over 300 km) inland from the Atlantic Ocean. It is located approximately 35 miles (60 km) northeast of Washington DC and 75 miles (125 km) southwest of Philadelphia Pennsylvania. It is one of the great eastern coast seaports of the United States with extensive facilities for container shipment and for the transport of automobiles via roll-on roll-off cargo vessels. It is an older city with plenty of character and many historically significant attractions.

The Inner Harbor

The old inner harbor basin located at the heart of downtown Baltimore has been refurbished and converted to a large entertainment and shopping area. The docks and streets surrounding the inner harbor now house museums, restaurants, shops, entertainment venues and hotels. The National Aquarium, the Maryland Science Center, Port Discovery Children's Museum, and the World Trade Center of Baltimore are all located around the basin. Docked along the Inner Harbor piers, you will also find: the USS Constellation (the last all-sail war ship built by the navy); the USS Torsk (a World War II vintage submarine); the lighthouse ship Chesapeake and the US Coast Guard Cutter Taney. They are all open to the public for tours. The Baltimore's Inner Harbor is a very colorful and historically interesting place to visit.

The Harbor Shops are located right on the Inner Harbor basin downtown. They contain a variety of shops, a fast food mall and an assortment of nice restaurants. You can buy a souvenir of Baltimore and sit down to feast on some genuine Maryland crab cakes while enjoying the harbor scenery. You can stroll along the esplanade to the nearby Science Center or the Aquarium or can tour the USS Constellation and the other museum ships. Water taxis depart from the pier just behind the Harbor Shops to take you to Fells Point, Little Italy or Fort McHenry. All-day tickets on the water taxis cost about $6.

The Old Neighborhoods

The city of Baltimore has many old ethnic neighborhoods. A few of them have been restored and refurbished into interesting shopping and dining locales with plenty of character. Little Italy is located just a few blocks east of downtown. It offers many Italian restaurants, groceries and pastry shops. It is only a 15-minute walk, a five-minute cab ride or a 10-minute water taxi ride from the center of downtown.

Fells Point, a small shipyard community located about 3 miles east of downtown along the harbor basin, has been revived as a shopping and entertainment center. The old central markets still offer a variety of meats, produce, ethnic delicacies and seafood. The surrounding shops have been beautifully restored and converted to bars, restaurants, boutiques, art galleries and antique shops. On weekends, live music and entertainment attract a lot of young folks. You can get to Fells Point via a 10-minute taxi ride or a 15-minute water taxi voyage.

The Federal Hill district of Baltimore lies just south of the Inner Harbor Basin. Its most prominent feature is the low hill situated directly south of the harbor. From its summit in Federal Hill Park, you get a great panoramic view of the entire city.

You can reach it by walking south along Light Street past the Maryland Science Center. It is less than a mile. The surrounding neighborhood is composed of neatly refurbished brick and stone fronted town houses, with a nice selection of small shops, restaurants, stores and neighborhood bars. The Cross Street Market offers a nice selection of meats, produce, seafood, pastries and flowers. This is a place where the residents of Baltimore go to shop and to eat.

Sports, Entertainment and Culture

Baltimore has an American League baseball team, the Orioles, who play their games at the beautiful Camden Yards stadium just a few blocks from the Inner Harbor. They also have a NFL football team, the Ravens, that play in a stadium just south of Camden Yards. They also have an Indoor soccer team, a professional lacrosse team and a women's football team. There are two thoroughbred horse racing tracks nearby including the famous Pimlico Race Course, home of the world famous Preakness. There are plenty of opportunities to see some great sports matches in Baltimore.

Baltimore has a symphony orchestra and an opera company. It has several theater venues in the area including two dinner theaters. There are dozens of art galleries and museum in the city including some unusual and interesting places like the National Cryptology Museum, the Antique Toy Museum, the Museum of Dentistry and the Nanny Jack collection of Afro-American memorabilia.

Getting to Baltimore

You can drive to Baltimore from New York City or Philadelphia by taking Interstate route 95 south. It is only four hours from NYC and only two hours from Philadelphia. From Washington DC it is less than one hour north on Route 95 or a bit longer if you take the Baltimore Washington Parkway or old Route one. You can fly into Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI) which is only a half-hour drive south of downtown. There are plenty of public transportation options from BWI to downtown Baltimore. You can take the MARC trains, the light rail, the AMTRAK passenger trains, the super shuttle vans or the taxis.

Route 95 skirts around Baltimore along a circular beltway known as route 695. Many hotels, motels and modestly priced accommodations can be found along route 95 or near the major exits from 695. Other accommodations are concentrated near BWI airport and along route one south of the city. Some of the finest hotel accommodations are located on or near the Inner Harbor in downtown Baltimore.

Shopping

Likewise, shopping centers are clustered near route 95 and route one and near some of the major exits from 695. The Towson Town Center Mall and the White Marsh Mall are located in the northern suburbs and the huge Arundel Mills Mall with nearly 200 factory outlets is just south of the city in Hanover Maryland. There are also some upscale malls and boutiques near the Inner Harbor area in downtown including Harborplace and the Gallery at Harborplace.

Nearby Attractions

Annapolis, capitol of the state of Maryland and one of the oldest cities in the USA, is located just 25 miles southeast of Baltimore. It is a lovely little city located in a picturesque setting on the Chesapeake Bay with some of the best preserved 18th and 19th century architecture in the country. It is home of the US Naval Academy and home of St. John's College, originally founded in 1696. This historically significant attraction is only a 30-minute drive from downtown Baltimore and it offers many interesting attractions.

Ellicott City is a charming village with a restored historical district located just a few miles south of the 695 beltway around Baltimore. The central business area has a selection of quaint shops, art galleries and restaurants.

Washington DC, our nation's capitol, is less than a one-hour drive south of Baltimore. You can take the MARC or the AMTRAK trains to Union Station, you can drive to one of the park and ride lots in the DC suburbs or you can drive all the way to downtown Washington. There are so many monuments, museums and historical attractions in the city that I will not attempt to list them all. It is one of the best tourist destinations in eastern USA.

Written by : Mike Leco

Provided by USATourist.com

Boston, Massachusetts

2008-05-23T21:06:00.000-07:00

Boston is one of America's oldest cities and first settled in 1630. The capital of Massachusetts, Boston is a city rich in history and tradition, yet vibrant and modern.

Located along the northeastern seaboard of the United States, Boston is about 200 miles northeast of New York City. Logan International Airport serves the area. Although only two miles north east of Boston, it will take you about 30 minutes by car or taxi to reach the city. Six bus companies provide non-stop service to and from the airport for about $6 each way, and they run every 15-30 minutes. The MBTA subway's Blue Line will take you into the city in about twenty minutes and costs less than $1. You can also take the Airport Water Shuttle. It takes about seven minutes and takes you to the Rowe Wharf on the Boston NE Waterfront. The shuttle operates every 15 minutes Monday-Friday, and every 30 minutes on Saturday and Sunday and costs $10 for adults, $5 for seniors. Children 12 and under ride free.

Climate

The summer months of July and August can be hot and humid in Boston. The average temperature in July is about 81?F (28?C). During the winter months of November to February, the weather can be wet and snowy. The average temperature in January is about 21?F (-6?C).

Getting Around

The easiest way to get around Boston is on foot and by subway. Although the streets do not follow any particular pattern, you'll find it easy to navigate. Wear comfortable walking shoes, especially for the granite paving stones you'll find in the Market place and the cobblestone streets of Beacon Hill. A note of caution: be careful when walking in the city and obey all traffic signals; Boston drivers are known for their aggressiveness.

Boston's subway system, also known as the T, has four major lines (red, blue, orange and green) that branch out from the center of the city. The "T" is efficient, safe, fast, and comfortable.

You'll find many information centers throughout the city that will provide you with helpful maps and brochures. A particularly good place is the Boston Common Information Kiosk. It's open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau, located at Prudential Plaza, provides multilingual maps.

Boston is a city of neighborhoods, colleges, and wonderful walking trails designed to help visitors learn about its glorious past.

Popular Walking Tours

The most popular tour is the Freedom Trail. It takes walkers along a 2 ? mile trail of popular sites from the American Revolution. The Freedom Trail begins at the Boston Common (the oldest public park in America) and ends at Bunker Hill in Charlestown. By following the well-marked red line, tourists will see 16 of Boston's most important historical sites including the Old Meeting House, Fanueil Hall, and Paul Revere's home. National Park rangers offer free-guided tours from April through November.

The Women's Heritage Trail traces the accomplishments of 80 renowned women on four self-guided tours. Maps are available for $5 at the Old State house and the National Park Service Visitor Center.

Black Heritage Trail takes tourists past 14 sites of historical significance from the 19th century. Along the 1 ? mile trail are the Robert Gould Shaw and 54th Regiment monument located in the Boston Common. The movie "Glory" was based on this young officer and his regiment comprised of the first black soldiers recruited for the North during the American Civil War. The Lewis and Harriet Hayden House, a stop on the Underground Railroad, provided a safe haven for runaway slaves on their way to Canada. The Abiel Smith School, the city's first public school for black children, now houses the museum of African-American history. Next door is the African Meeting House where abolitionist leaders such as Frederick Douglas spoke out against slavery. The oldest continuously operated black church in America, the Meeting House also offers historical and educational programs.

The Harborwalk is a self-guided tour that follows Boston's rich maritime history. You'll find maps for this walk at the information center on Boston Common.

The Neighborhoods of Boston

Boston is made up of many charming neighborhoods with fine restaurants and antique stores.

Back Bay is a virtual open-air museum of various residential architectural styles including Victorian, Italianate, and Gothic Revival.

Beacon Hill harkens to another era with its gas lamps, shade trees, brick sidewalks and grand townhouses built between 1800 and 1850. You'll enjoy strolling along the prettiest streets in Beacon Hill -- Chestnut and Mt. Vernon -- that open out into Louisburg Square. There are wonderful antique shops along Chestnut Street. Along Pinckney and Beacon streets, you'll find many homes designed by Charles Bullfinch.

Across Boston Harbor is Charlestown, a predominantly Irish working class neighborhood. You can reach Charlestown by trolley or a quick ferry trip from Long Wharf that costs $1. Charlestown is also home to the U.S.S. Constitution, a 44-gun frigate first commissioned in 1798. The Constitution is a living museum of Boston's shipbuilding past and is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free tours from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Along Boston's Waterfront is the New England Aquarium filled with sharks, live sea creatures, wonderful exhibits, and an interactive and educational Kids' Space. Open 363 days a year, (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends and holidays) the Aquarium also offers whale watching cruises and Science Sea cruises.

Museum of Fine Arts

The Museum of Fine Arts, at 465 Avenue of the Arts, is second only to New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art. A glorious grand staircase with colorful murals painted by John Singer Sargent welcomes visitors into the museum. Founded in 1870, the museum is divided into nine areas. It houses the finest and largest collection of Japanese art outside of Japan. There is also a large collection of impressionist paintings and major works by Homer Winslow, Edward Hopper, and over 60 paintings by John Singleton Copley. Other galleries feature art of Africa, sculptures and ceramics from the Ancient Americas, and a wonderful collection of tableware made by Revolutionary patriot and silversmith, Paul Revere.

Shopping

No trip to Boston is complete without a shopping spree at Filene's Basement department store, the second most popular tourist attraction in the city. At Filene's Basement you won?t find fancy d?cor, but you will see wooden bins piled with merchandise and racks of clothing from famous designers. Open seven days a week and major credit cards accepted.

One of Boston's most famous landmarks is FaneuiI Hall. An historic market place and greeting place built in 1742, it houses an information desk on the first floor for visitors and tourists. With its gourmet coffee shops and boutique store, it is a popular place for both locals and tourists. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Across from FaneuiI Hall is the Quincy Market/Faneuil Hall Market Place, a wonderful place for people watching and shopping. You'll find caf?'s with international and specialty foods, popular chain clothing stores, unique gift shops, book stores, open air bars and restaurants. Street jugglers, magicians, and entertainers perform daily. Open Monday-Sunday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

If you're in town on a Friday or Saturday, you'll want to check out the open-air Hay Market. From dusk to dawn, vendors with push carts sell everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to fish, meats and cheeses.

Outlet shopping is also very popular in the areas surrounding Boston. Fall River and New Bedford, about 45 minutes south of Boston, were once manufacturing centers for clothing. They now have more than 100 outlet stores where you'll find great buys on clothing, house wares, lingerie, and much more.

A Sports Town

The world's most prestigious race - the Boston Marathon -- takes place every third Monday in April on Patriot's Day. A local tradition for over 100 years, thousands of runners from around the world compete in the 26.2 mile race, while hundreds of thousands of spectators line the city streets to cheer them on their way.

Fenway Park is home to Boston's professional baseball team, the Red Sox. Built in 1912, Fenway is one of the oldest - and smallest -- ballparks in America. Its narrow wooden seats give the park a unique, old-fashioned charm. The Red Sox play April through September.

The Boston Bruins, of the National Hockey League, have won the Stanley Cup five times. A ferocious, hard-hitting team, they play in FleetCenter. Their regular season is October through April.

FleetCenter is also home to Boston's professional basketball team, the Celtics. With their green and white jerseys, the Celtics have been a familiar team at the NBA finals, and in fact, have won 16 NBA Championship titles. Their season runs October through April.

The New England Patriots of the National Football League currently play at Foxboro Stadium from September through December. Construction is underway for a new stadium, CMGI Field, which should be completed in spring, 2002.

Other Places to Explore

There are over 50 college campuses in the greater Boston area. Just across the Charles River is Cambridge, home of America's oldest university, Harvard. Harvard Square, a very popular spot for people watching, is also known for its street musicians performing on weekend nights and Sunday afternoons. Coffee shops, restaurants, and book stores are abundant in this town that caters to 30,000 students.

About 20 miles northwest of Boston are Lexington and Concord. Lexington is a quaint, quiet town of historic homes and taverns. Lexington is where Paul Revere made his historic ride to warn the townsfolk the British were coming. Concord, the home of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Walden Pond is about 22 miles northwest of Boston. You'll also find Sleepy Hollow Cemetery here. Both towns can be reached by subway.

Salem, where suspected witches and sorcerers faced interrogation and death, is 20 miles north east of Boston. The Salem Witch Museum is filled with interesting exhibits and the Witch Dungeon Museum historically recreates the witch trials. The Salem Trolley will take you to all the major points of interest. If you prefer walking, follow the Salem Heritage Trail. The red line will take you to the Peabody Essex Museum, the Salem Witch Museum, and the House of the Seven Gables.

You can go back in time to December 1627 when the pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. Plimoth Plantation, located about 30 miles southeast of Boston in Plymouth, is staffed by interpreters dressed as native American Indians, pilgrims, and sailors. It offers visitors a realistic look at everyday life of these early settlers and includes preserved and restored 17th century homes. You can also board a full-scale replica of the Mayflower. The Plantation is open April through November, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and until 7 p.m. in July and August. Admission for the Plantation and Mayflower Tour is $18.50; tour of the Mayflower only is $6.

Written by : Cathy Maxwell

Provided by USATourist.com

Branson, Missouri

2008-05-23T21:02:00.000-07:00

Branson, Missouri is a popular US attraction that is not very well known to foreign visitors. It is a family oriented vacation resort in the midlands of the USA that has become the "music theater capitol of the world." Dozens of theaters in Branson now offer shows mostly with country music or traditional family oriented themes. A whole array of other entertainment and tourist attractions are also available.

Branson, Missouri, Where the Wild and the Rustic Casts a Spell

The blue haze of early morning surrounded my encampment. Here and there campfires popped and crackled as their light projected strange shadows on nearby rocks and trees. Groups of people eating breakfast sat at lantern-lit picnic tables. Others still slept. The cool, morning air of the camping area slowly came to life with the sound of crickets.

I rolled my sleeping bag and packed my gear into the car. Sunlight shot through the morning mist. Suddenly, the camp became a palette of soft greens, rich reds, and vibrant yellows. Autumn had come to the Ozarks. From my campsite, I drove over hill and hollow toward the Ozark community of Branson, Missouri. I moved along the twisting road through a wild, rugged terrain. Narrow valleys with vast swatches of color were dominated by the zig-zag rhythm of surrounding ridges. Crystal streams sparkled under a leafy covering of trees in the morning sun. The fresh air carried the scent of burning hickory from distant campfires.

On one side of the highway, I passed Old Matt's Cabin, which stands in what is called the Shepherd of the Hills Farm. Author, Harold Bell Wright wrote his now famous novel "The Shepherd of the Hills" about this house (built in the late 1800s) and the family who lived there. At the farm's Old Mill Theater, from May until late October, a large, local cast recreates the story of the Shepherd on a vast outdoor stage.

Branson is a family version of Las Vegas

A few miles past the farm, large gaudy signs announce other kinds of entertainment. There was the Andy Williams Show, Boxcar Willies, Bobby Vinton Show, The Lawrence Welk Show, and the much acclaimed Foggy River Boys Theater. Today, Branson offers a vacation from a hectic work schedule. It is like a family version of Las Vegas in the hills of Southern Missouri.

For early adventurers like Hernando De Soto, who came to the area in 1541 and for seventeenth-century French trappers, it was a gruesome rugged area that demanded stamina and work. The origin of the name Ozarks has been widely disputed. However, French documents preserved in St. Louis, Missouri, refer to hunting expeditions made by French fur-traders "Aux Arcs," or into the territory of the Arkansas Indian tribe. French settlers customarily used only the first syllable of a long Indian tribal name.

Branson is a friendly informal community

The friendly informality of Branson made the little community a lively place. Residents hurried about their morning shopping. Tourists strolled the streets looking for special souvenirs for someone back home. Since I had planned to eat all my meals at restaurants, the first item on my agenda was finding a place to have breakfast. There were cafes and restaurant of every variety throughout Branson. So there was definitely a choice.

In the amiable atmosphere of the Inn where I chose to have breakfast, I dined on a smorgasbord breakfast of scrambled eggs, biscuits, gravy, ham, sausage, and a cinnamon roll with coffee. The restaurant was full, so the hostess seated me at a table with a dark eye, slightly gray-haired fellow who introduced himself as Earl Lynd. "There's lots around here to see," smiled my tablemate. "The Main attractions are Silver Dollar City, a huge theme park that allows a person to step back in time and also the School of the Ozarks." Over a cup of black coffee, Earl detailed many of the sights and some history of the area. "There are many retirees living here and they come from all over the United States." he explained. "Some are from and as far away as New York and Oregon". He mused. "The Ozarks seems to be a popular spot for all sorts of people".

The Kewpie doll was created in Branson

Rose O'Neill, one of the early advocates of equal rights for women, was an author illustrator, artist, world traveler and creator of the now famous Kewpie doll. She traveled extensively through the world, but she always returned to her home near Branson and the plot of land her family named "Bonniebrook". I learned that Kewpie was probably the most popular toy every created. There are many different varieties of the doll and the Kewpie had been represented on plates, in newspapers, magazines, coloring books, on fabrics, as ice cream and candy molds, as door knockers, and in many other ways. Ms. O'Neill wrote four novels, a book of poetry and several children's books she illustrated herself.

Rose first came to the Ozarks in 1896 and "Bonniebrook" became her retreat. In 1909 she created the Kewpie drawing and in 1913 with the help of a young New York artist she developed the Kewpie doll. This little doll made Rose O'Neill known throughout the world. Kewpie lovers come from all countries, they have come from as far away as Japan. In 1967, a week was dedicated to Rose O'Neil. Considering Rose's zest for living, they combined Kewpie and fiesta and named the occasion "Kewpiesta".

The Ozark hills are filled with old legends

The Ozark hills boast many stories of wonder, superstition and mystery. One such story is about the League of Law and Order that developed the nickname Baldknobbers.

At one time after the Civil War, the Ozark mountain communities were still in a state of unrest. A group of lawless men used violence to gain control of several of the county governments. These violators went unpunished because of their complete domination of these various governments. Finally, a band of 26 citizens came together to rid the Ozark Mountains of the malicious foes. Dressed in dark clothing and black head coverings they attached white beards or cattle horns for an even more morbid effect. The group named themselves Baldknobbers after the high barren hill where they held their first meetings. This vigilante group decided to rid the Ozarks of the criminals. Some of their tactics were quite brutal and the name Baldknobbers soon became attached to all ruthless venturers in the Ozark hills. Today, their memory lives on as a group of courageous neighbors who demonstrated their unity in a war against the lawless.

The most unique college in the US

On the campus of what is known as United States' most unique college - the School of the Ozarks, I took a guided tour led by a young student attending the school. As my young guide pointed out the various buildings around the campus, he explained the history of the school. He said the school, founded in 1906, was initially set up to provide an education for young persons of capable intellect but inadequate funds. My guide told me about the extensive arts and crafts program sponsored by the school and the various outlets the school provided for the exhibitions of the work.

The major attraction on campus is the Ralph Foster Museum. Devoted to the history of the Ozarks region, the museum's collections of more than 750,000 items represents history, antiques, archaeology, geology, mineralogy, natural history and westward expansion. The museum is open year round. Those who travel the Branson area today find that there is a certain spell cast by this wild rustic land that cannot be forgotten. Perhaps it's the excellent fishing that the many lakes provide, or the rugged beauty that surrounds the traveler at every step, or maybe it is the friendliness of the natives that sparks a certain something. Whatever it is - it's there and forever calling.

Written by : Ronald Harmon

Provided by USATourist.com

Chicago, Illinois

2008-05-23T21:01:00.000-07:00

The Windy City

Chicago is located in the northern part of the mid-western United States about 800 miles due west of New York City and over 2000 miles northeast of Los Angeles, California. It is usually considered the third great metropolis in the USA along with its East Coast and West Coast sister cities of New York and LA. The city is situated on the western shore of Lake Michigan, one of those five great inland seas known as the Great Lakes.

To the west of Chicago, lies the Great Plains of the Midwest. Vast expanses of flat lands much of them covered with wheat and cornfields extend nearly a thousand miles to the feet of the Rocky Mountains. With no natural barriers such as mountains or hills to protect it, the city is subjected to the full onslaught of the winds and storms that blow across these "Prairies". Thus, Chicago deserves to be called the "windy city", although it really earned that nickname from its abundance of "windy" politicians.

Expect Warm Summers and brutally cold winters

Summer months in Chicago are usually warm and sometimes even hot and humid with a fair amount of rainfall. Winters bring only a modest amount of snow but can become bitter cold when freezing temperatures combine with the icy winds. Late spring and early fall often produce the most comfortable weather with warm dry days and cool nights.

Downtown Chicago stretches along the shoreline of Lake Michigan from north to south for approximately 5 miles. It offers an impressive skyline of high buildings including the 110-floors Sears Tower. To the north, south and west, a great expanse of low office buildings, industrial plants and residential neighborhoods sprawl along the shore and out across the plains for at least 30 miles. On the east, a beautiful lakefront park hugs the shore of Lake Michigan.

O'Hare and Midway airports serve Chicago

O'Hare International Airport is located about 18 miles northwest of the downtown business center. It is one of the busiest air terminals in the world with over 2500 flights per day arriving from and departing to cities throughout the USA and to many international destinations. The John F. Kennedy Expressway (I-90) goes directly from the airport to downtown, but the drive can vary from 30 minutes during ideal conditions to 90 minutes or more during rush hour traffic. Fortunately, the high-speed trains departing from the lower level of terminal 3 provide convenient inexpensive transportation to the downtown "loop".

Chicago Midway Airport is a much smaller facility located less than 10 miles south west of the downtown loop. It accommodates many domestic flights to destinations in Eastern and Midwestern USA. Convenient inexpensive transportation from Midway to the downtown loop is available via elevated trains.

The Chicago streets are on a rectangular grid

Navigation in Chicago is not difficult as the city streets are laid out in a rectangular grid pattern with the downtown loop as its center. Four interstate highways radiate out from the center to facilitate cross-town travel. The John F. Kennedy Expressway (I-90, 94) heads northwest to O'Hare International where it connects with I-294, the major north-south interstate highway. The Dwight D. Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) and the Adlai E. Stevenson Expressway (I-55) lead into the western and southwestern suburbs where they also connect with I-294. The Dan Ryan Expressway, an extension of I-90, heads due south. The distances across this metropolitan area can be quite far and rush hour traffic can be quite heavy, so it can take two hours or more to drive across the city. Parking garages provide plenty of moderately priced parking in the downtown area.

This is a culturally diverse city

For many centuries, Native Americans used the She-caw-gu portage as a convenient connection between the upper reaches of the Mississippi River and the vast waterways of the Great Lakes System. In 1779, Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, a fur trader of French-African descent, created the first settlement at this strategic location. Since then, Chicago has attracted immigrants from all over the world. Their ethnic enclaves are reflected in the many culturally distinct neighborhoods throughout the city.

Greek town, Little Italy, Chinatown, Little Saigon and the Ukrainian Village are all located near the downtown loop with German, Polish, Afro-American and Hispanic American neighborhoods not far away. Each neighborhood offers a distinct cultural flavor with many ethnic shops and restaurants. When you go to Chicago, plan on visiting one or more of the ethnic neighborhoods to at least sample the cuisine.

Tourist attractions and shopping in the windy city

The major tourist attractions of Chicago include a trip to the observation deck at the 103rd floor of the Sears Tower and a tour along Lakeshore Drive with its beautiful parks, beaches and museums. Chicago offers visitors over a dozen major museums, two zoos, a large aquarium and a planetarium. It also offers lots of shopping opportunities and a variety of sports and entertainment.

The downtown loop area has many stores and shops especially along State Street, but the real heart of the Chicago shopping district lies just north of the Chicago River. The section of North Michigan Avenue across the river from downtown is known as the Magnificent Mile and is lined with world-class department stores, vertical shopping malls and many fine restaurants. As in most US cities, many large shopping malls and outlet centers are located in the suburban communities. For discount shopping, the Gurnee Mills Outlet Mall is along I-94 about one hour north of Chicago.

Entertainment in Chicago

Chicago has a world-class symphony, opera and ballet plus many other music and dance companies. It has a variety of theatrical companies. It is famous for its comedy clubs such as "Second City" where many famous stars began their careers. Chicago is also famous for its unique brand of Jazz music and "Chicago Style Blues" The area just north of downtown especially in the vicinity of Rush Street is an entertainment hot spot. It houses many famous establishments like Michael Jordan's club, the Excalibur Dance Club, the Rock and Roll MacDonald's, The Hard Rock Caf? and Planet Hollywood. This is also the home for many blues clubs like Blue Chicago, B.L.U.E.S., the House of Blues and Buddy Guy's Legends.

Sports in Chicago

Chicago has two professional baseball teams, the Chicago Cubs and the White Sox. They also have the Chicago Bears NFL football team, the Chicago Blackhawks NHL hockey team and the famous Chicago Bulls NBA basketball team. It is very difficult to get tickets to the football and hockey games and nearly impossible to find tickets for a Chicago Bulls game. There are several golf courses in the nearby suburbs, but most are only open from March through November. Harness racing and thoroughbred horse races can be seen at several suburban racetracks. Gambling is not permitted in the city, but gambling Casinos are located in the nearby communities of Joliet, Aurora and Elgin.

Written by : Mike Leco

Provided by USATourist.com

Disney World

2008-05-23T20:59:00.000-07:00

Disney World is a huge resort complex

Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida is not just a theme park, but a huge resort complex covering 47 square miles. The resort contains four separate theme parks, three water parks and 99 holes of golf on several different courses. Miles of outdoor recreation are available including hiking, biking, boating and swimming. It has three separate areas containing shopping, dining and entertainment facilities as well as a fourth area with nightclubs. A fairly new addition to the resort is the state of the art sports complex where Disney hosts a wide variety of sporting events. Finally, there are about 18 Disney owned and operated hotels and several non-Disney hotels in the resort. All this combined with many other attractions in the Orlando and central Florida area can be quite overwhelming.

No other Disney Park equals Disney World in Florida

No other Disney resort comes close to the size and diversity of Disney World Florida. If you have previously visited one of the other Disney resorts such as Disneyland California, Disneyland Paris or the new Disneyland Tokyo, you should still visit Disney World in Orlando, Florida. All other Disney resorts consist of a single theme park and are quite small compared to the massive resort complex in Florida. Each of the other parks are no larger than the Magic Kingdom theme park in Disney World, which is only one small part of the complex. Remember, that only the resort in Orlando, Florida is referred to as Disney World or Walt Disney World. The other parks are usually called Disneyland. The size and diversity of the Disney World resort ensures that it will probably remain the number one vacation destination in the world for years to come.

The main attractions at the resort are divided into four theme-parks

Magic Kingdom, the first theme park built at the resort, has rides, shows and attractions divided among seven fantasy areas. This is the place to find all your favorite Disney characters and attractions.

Epcot, the second theme park built at the resort, is divided into two areas: Future World and World Showcase. The attractions in Future World are based on modern and futuristic advances in communication, transportation, energy, agriculture and much more. World Showcase allows you to explore culture, cuisine, shopping and entertainment from many countries including Canada, UK, France, Japan, Morocco, US, Italy, Germany, China, Norway and Mexico.

The Disney-MGM Studios offers behind-the-scenes looks at the making of movies and popular TV shows and provides live original shows. There are also a number of thrilling rides or attractions based on blockbuster movies, which provide exciting stunts and amazing special effects.

Animal Kingdom is the newest and largest theme park to open in the Disney World resort. This 500-acre park is divided into three areas: The Real, The Mythical and The Extinct. The Real area features live animals in exotic landscapes and provides a safari-like experience. In The Mythical area, guests come face-to-face with magical and make believe creatures. In the Extinct Area, dinosaurs come to life.

The Water Parks are a great way to cool off

The four theme parks are the heart of Disney World, but there are many other attractions including three full-sized water parks. Typhoon Lagoon is a tropically landscaped 56-acre water park based around a huge wave pool that covers 2.5 acres and holds 2.75 million gallons of water. At certain times the pool is even used for surfing. Blizzard Beach is Disney's newest and largest water park and the most interesting. It is made to look like a snow-covered ski-resort and offers the most slides and the most thrilling attractions. River Country, the first water park built at Disney World, is actually a roped-off section of Bay Lake and is designed to give the feeling of "an old swimming hole." It is the most tame and relaxing. Spending a day at one of the Disney World water parks can be a pleasant break from the theme parks as well as a great way to cool off from the hot Florida sun.

There are many recreational activities

Disney World offers lots of outdoor recreation. It has five challenging 18-hole golf courses as well as a 9-hole beginner's course and a 36-hole miniature golf course for family fun. If you prefer tennis there are many courts throughout the resort including Disney's Contemporary Resort Racquet Club. Water sports are plentiful including water-skiing, parasailing, fishing and many types of boat rental. For the extremely adventurous, there is the Richard Petty driving experience where you can drive an actual Nascar racing car. The car has about 600 hp and can attain speeds of up to 160 mph.

Disney World even offers cruises and education

Disney World has still more vacation options such as the Disney Institute and the new Disney Cruise Line. The Disney Institute offers many great hands-on classes designed for fun and education. It is located in the Disney World resort so you are still close to all the other attractions as well. The Disney cruise line combines a Disney World resort vacation with a Caribbean cruise. You stay at the resort in Florida for several days, then board a Disney cruise ship and sail to Disney's own private-island resort in the Bahamas.

Work at Disney and earn college credits

Disney World has a special college program for young adults. Students can earn college credits while working and living in the Disney World resort. This program is extremely popular with young adults from around the world. Several links are included for anyone wanting more information.

As you can see, there is plenty to do at Walt Disney World, and there are many other attractions in the Orlando area and the rest of Florida. Some planning is required to get the most out of your Disney vacation but don't worry, the planning can be half the fun.

For more tips and information about Disney World, visit our Disney Tips page.

Written by: Gerry Leco

Provided by USATourist.com

in Louisiana

2008-05-23T20:57:00.000-07:00

New Orleans

The City that Care Forgot

New Orleans is the diamond set at the end of the Mississippi River as it spills into the Gulf of Mexico. It stands unique in America as the only city that strongly preserved its old world Spanish, French and African heritage. Originally built along canals (called bayous), the city is actually an island encompassing 363 miles, and it is the only major American City built below sea level (-4 to -6 feet). Known as "The Big Easy" and "The City that Care Forgot," New Orleans is not only the home of great food and great music, but also the Cities of the Dead, exotic nightlife, voodoo practices, and, most importantly, a unique blend of cultures that created the Creole and Cajun people.

The Creole and Cajun People

The French first settled New Orleans in 1717, based on a land grant given to Jean Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville, who named it after Phillipe, the duc d'Orleans. The land was literally a small island surrounded by the Mississippi River, huge Lake Pontchartrain, and swampy land. The thriving port city that emerged became the center of high society in the region. In 1762, all of Louisiana was given to the Spanish court but eventually reverted back to the French government before being sold to the U.S. as part of the Louisiana Purchase. The descendants of the early French and Spanish settlers are still referred to as Creoles, with their own cuisine and style of living.

The Cajun culture descended from the French settlers called "Acadians" who originally colonized Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in Canada. Expelled by the British in the 18th century, they fled south, ending up in colonies throughout Louisiana, particularly in the crown colony of New Orleans.

Together both cultures create New Orleans' distinctive atmosphere. The accent here is exclusive to the area and sounds nothing like a typical Southern accent. New Orleans itself is pronounced "N'awlins," and directions are never given in reference to North-South but rather by upriver or downriver.

New Orleans also boasts its own unique type of music. New Orleans jazz is brassier than that of Memphis and more upbeat playful than what you'll hear in New York or Chicago. Its roots are in rural Cajun music called zydeco, a happy dance music that uses violins, accordions and washboards.

Cajun food is hot and exotic. Often known as "country cooking," it usually involves a roux of fat and flower that adds body and color to the dish. Creole cooking is not as hot as Cajun, but it is very spicy and is famous for its sauces. The two styles are converging into a cuisine that is uniquely Louisiana. And no matter what is served for dinner, a praline, made of sugar, butter and pecans, is a great dessert treat.

The Districts

When local folks talk about the different sightseeing events, they often refer to the different neighborhoods, called districts. Each district is distinct from its neighbors and has its own assortment of wonderful sights.

The famed French Quarter is at the heart of downtown. The structures there are mostly tightly-knit two-story structures of Spanish-style brick and wrought iron. There, boutiques, art and antiques stores, and souvenir shops are open in the daytime, but at night that the Quarter comes alive with restaurants, gentlemen's clubs and blues bars. This area also includes the Jackson Square shopping area, the dock area for paddleboat and steamship river cruises, and the Aquarium of the Americas.

The Garden District is approximately five miles to the east of the French Quarter, bordered by St. Charles Ave. in the north and Magazine Street in the south. Here you will find lovely historic homes that look like dollhouses, with their large porches, fancy trim and wrought iron fencing. The local historical society encourages tours through this district to show off the elegance of a bygone era. The tours also include a stop at the Lafayette Cemetery, one of the Cities of the Dead.

Loyola and Tulane Universities are located in the University area, as is Audubon Park, the site of the Audubon Zoo and Aquarium. On the nearby banks of Mississippi River, you can board an air-conditioned J.J. Audubon river cruise.

How to Get Around

The airport is located close to Interstate 10, which is in the far eastern section of town. Airport shuttles and buses, which are far cheaper than taxis, are readily available. The shuttle costs $10 one way to your destination, while a bus to the downtown depot on Tulane Avenue is just $1.50.

You can easily tour by bus, or you can use the two streetcar systems. The St. Charles streetcar, more than 150 years old, is a living relic of New Orleans history. Running from Canal Street (at the edge of the French Quarter) to Audubon Park, it is a 13.13-mile stretch that is great for sightseeing. A round trip takes about an hour and a half.

A second streetcar line runs across the Riverfront. The cars, which travel a 1.9-mile route, are referred to as the "Ladies in Red." They connect the Jackson Square area to the newest West Side commercial developments along the river.

If you are planning a full day of bus and streetcar hopping, consider buying a visitor's pass from the hotel or in a local shop. It costs $5.00 for one day or $12 for three days. If you are driving your own car, park at your hotel or at a Park-and-Ride area outside of the downtown district, and then do your sightseeing by bus. Downtown parking can be hard to find and costly.

Shopping

Typical of a tourist center, New Orleans has a large variety of shopping areas. The French Quarter boutiques, souvenir shops, and art galleries do big daytime business, as do the shops at River Walk where you will find all of the well-known national chain stores. Within walking distance of the French Quarter is the Jackson Brewery, located at the end of St. Peter Street and on the river. It houses fifty restaurants and shops, many of which feature art, antique and craft items made by local artisans. Magazine Street boasts six miles of galleries, boutiques, jewelry stories, and antiques dealers.

Cooking Classes

For culinary delights, the famed New Orleans School of Cooking holds classes in two locations, an old molasses warehouse at 524 St. Louis Street, in the heart of the French Quarter, and at the Jackson Brewery on Decatur St. For a modest $20, you will receive informative and entertaining lessons in Cajun cooking, and, when the class is over, you get to eat the food that has been prepared, along with plenty of draft beer. Elsewhere in both buildings there are shops where you can buy everything you'll need to try the dishes at home.

New Orleans Holidays

By far, the most popular time to visit New Orleans is during the twelve days of Mardi Gras, which starts around January 6th and ends on Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. This is a time of parades, parties and masked balls that can best be described as a fun frenzy. However, if you can't visit during these times, you can still get a taste of the elaborate decorations by crossing the river by ferry to Newton Street where there are wonderful displays of classic floats and costumes at Mardi Gras World.

Other lesser-holiday celebrations include St. Patrick's Day in March, French Quarter Festival in the spring, and the Jazz and Heritage Festival in May. October includes several Oktoberfests, and all of December is celebrated as Creole Christmas with parades, pageantry and the Garden District shimmering with lights and decorations.

Climate

Because New Orleans is on the Gulf of Mexico, the weather remains relatively warm all year. Snow and ice rarely travel that far south, but the middle of spring and fall are known for their rainy seasons. Summers can be extremely hot and humid even though the city benefits from coastal breezes.

Hurricanes present the only important weather hazard in New Orleans. The Gulf Coast is in hurricane season from June until September. The city hasn't been hit head-on by a hurricane for many years, but any tropical storm visiting Eastern Texas or Mississippi can cause torrential rain and possible flooding in New Orleans.

Whether you are visiting for a family vacation, the Cajun food, or the frenzied fun of Mardi Gras, you won't be disappointed in the wonders and charm of this city.

Written by : Carla Lee Suson

Provided by USATourist.com

in Maine

2008-05-23T20:56:00.001-07:00

Kennebunkport, Maine

The northeastern section of the USA which includes the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island and Massachusetts are commonly called "the New England" states because they reminded early British settlers of their homeland. The northernmost of these states, Maine, has a rugged rocky coast and dense forests strewn with pristine lakes and rivers. Its scenic beauty and cool climate attracts many visitors during the summer months. Here is Ron Harmon's wonderful description of the picturesque seaside village of Kennebunkport, Maine.

The morning air was clear; and its freshness mixed with the smell of the sea made the surroundings invigorating. I had been in Kennebunkport the better part of a week and this was my first glimpse of the sun. For almost two weeks, a damp misty fog that makes everything at a distance resemble a watercolor painting had held the whole southern coast of Maine in its grasp. Although I had been enjoying my stay in the serene mood cast upon the area by the fog, the coastal village took on a new look under the rays of a bright summer sun.

People were coming out of "hiding." It's amazing I thought to myself, exactly what effect weather has on people. During the fog, a few people strolled the streets, but now under the sun, everything was alive.

Summer is a special time in Kennebunkport -- a time when fun seekers are plentiful and store proprietors keep busy. Along the streets, shopkeepers set "sale" items in front of their stores to attract customer's attention. Visitors were not only looking, but lots of them were buying as well. Young couples on bicycles pedaled by the shops so quickly that for an instant they became a blur of color. At several points along the avenue, college-aged individuals congregated to discuss their plans for the day.

Apart from the shops selling everything from autographed first edition books to original oil paintings, there were plenty of other things to see and do. A few blocks from the village, an old gristmill had been turned into a restaurant where visitors can dine in the atmosphere of a bygone era. Other mills around the area have been transformed into a museum and playhouses were famous entertainers "pack 'em in."

At Kennebunk Landing is the ornate "Wedding Cake" house built in 1846. Nearby, on Blueberry Hill stands the 200-year-old farmhouse of once-famous pop singer Jane Morgan. It is thought that the old farm is haunted - in fact Miss. Morgan believed the story so strongly that she gave the "spiritual occupants" the names of Ned and Nellie.

On Kennebunk Beach huge crumpled granite rocks dot the shoreline. A large group of persons at one end of the beach played in the cool waters of the Atlantic. Farther down, a young couple sat on top of one of the stones while a group of small children played in a tidal pool.

A few miles from Kennebunk beach is Perkins Cove. At one time, the cove's main industry was fishing, but for some reason, it has now become a home for artists. At Barnacle Billy's, a colorful eatery, one can sit on the sun deck and sip cool lemonade or dine on a lobster dinner. Boats of all sorts pass below the deck while lobster traps lay scattered on the shore. If lucky, a visitor might see one of the artists sitting in the noonday sun trying to sell his works. Most of the serious artists, however, have rented space at the cove and exhibit in a more professional style.

Evening in the Kennebunks is something special in itself. The hot pinks rich reds and tawny golden colors of a setting sun seem to change even the oldest houses into works of art. This little section of southern Maine is a place where a visitor could stay a whole summer, explore every "nook and cranny" and still not see it all. It is a place that lures a person back so many times that eventually it might be called home.

Written by : Ronald Harmon

Provided by USATourist.com

Seattle, Washington

2008-05-23T20:52:00.000-07:00

The Emerald City

Seattle, Washington is located in the far northwestern corner of the United States, if you don't consider Alaska. It is approximately 100 miles south of the Canadian border, nearly 3000 miles west of New York City and over 1000 miles north of Los Angeles, California. The city is situated on a series of low hills overlooking the deep-water harbor of Puget Sound about 75 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. It is nearly surrounded by water with Puget Sound on the west, Lake Washington a few miles to the east and Lake Union connecting them across the north.

Seattle is in the midst of some spectacular natural scenery

On clear days the Cascade Mountains are visible on the eastern horizon and the Olympic Mountains loom across the Sound to the west. The snowcapped volcanic peak of Mount Rainier dominates the southern view. This city is set in the midst of some of the most beautiful natural scenery in the USA.

The climate is surprisingly mild this far north. Warm currents off the Pacific Coast tend to moderate the local weather. Summers are never very hot and winters are not very cold. Little snow falls in the city. Seattle is often called the rainy city, but that is not accurate. The city does not receive a lot of rain, but it does get about 220 days of cloud cover every year, and most of the rain occurs during the winter months. Sunshine and blue skies can be rare from October through March.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport or Sea-Tac is located about 10 miles south of downtown Seattle just west of Interstate route 5. Transportation to downtown is available for $7.50 via express buses.

Seattle Center is a popular attraction

Seattle Center, dominated by the 605-feet high Space Needle, is located 1 mile north of downtown and is easily accessible via a short Monorail ride. For nine dollars, you can take an elevator to the top and appreciate a spectacular view of the city with its surrounding lakes and mountains. Seattle Center is also the location of the Pacific Science Center, the Children's Museum, the Children's Theater, the Opera House, the Bagley Wright Theatre, the Seattle Center Playhouse, the Key Arena and the new Experience Music Project. It also contains an amusement park, a video arcade, a fast food gallery and an assortment of shops.

Pike Place Market is located at the western edge of the central downtown area overlooking the Puget Sound waterfront. It offers an array of shops, kiosks and vendors selling fresh seafood, vegetables, flowers and all sorts of wonderful gifts. It is renowned for its flying fish market, where the seafood vendors toss their sales over the heads of amused spectators. The market also contains many restaurants, specialty shops and those ubiquitous Seattle coffee houses.

The Waterfront is just below Pike Place Market

The Seattle waterfront is located at the bottom of the hill just behind Pike Place Market. Many of the old fishing piers have been converted to restaurants, specialty shopping malls and tourist attractions. The Seattle Aquarium is here. Michelle says it is worth the price of admission just to see the adorable live sea otters. An Omni-Max theater offers an interesting view of the 1980 eruption of nearby Mount Saint Helens. Argosy Harbor Tours depart from a waterfront dock and provide a wonderful way to see the city from a different perspective. You can also find speedboat tours, sailing ship excursions and para-sailing adventures along the waterfront. There are some excellent seafood restaurants in this neighborhood.

Pioneer Square Historical District is just a short walk south of the Pike Place Market and the waterfront. This neighborhood contains many restored Victorian structures. It includes art galleries, antique shops, boutiques, a great bookstore and a lot of bistros, sidewalk cafes and bars. A great picturesque totem pole and a bronze statue of native chief Sealth adorn the square. An interesting underground tour of Seattle takes you beneath the streets and sidewalks surrounding Pioneer Square.

Seattle has a large thriving Asian community

The Chinatown/International District is a short walk up the hill from Pioneer Square. This colorful neighborhood is the home of a large population of immigrants from China, Japan, the Philippines, Korea and the Pacific Islands. There are many shops and grocery stores selling Asian products and many restaurants featuring various Asian cuisines. The Wing-Luke Asian Museum and the Hing-Hay Park are located here. The impressive Seattle Asian Art Museum with its extensive collection of oriental artifacts is located on nearby Capitol Hill.

The broad blue waters of Lake Washington border Seattle on the eastern side. Neighborhoods around the lake, Mercer Island and the eastern shore communities of Bellevue, Kirkland and Redmond are all upscale. They are primarily middle to upper income neighborhoods with fashionable shopping malls and some corporate offices. Redmond is home to that little company called Microsoft.

Lake Union and its surrounding communities are interesting

Lake Union bisects the city just north of downtown as it wends its way from Lake Washington on the east side to Puget Sound on the west. The lake is filled with activity from the commercial fishing vessels, motorboats, yachts, kayaks and seaplanes that continuously ply its waters. Houseboat communities on the lake were featured as Tom Hank's home in the film "Sleepless in Seattle." The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, located near the lakeside community of Ballard, are worth visiting. You can not only watch the incessant stream of maritime traffic navigating the locks, but you can also watch the incessant stream of migrating Salmon navigating the fish ladders.

Fremont, a community that once declared itself an independent republic of free thinkers, is located along the northern shores of Lake Union. Besides funky bars, sidewalk cafes and little shops featuring offbeat merchandise, it has a rocket ship, a bronze statue of Lenin and a huge troll beneath the bridge. Nearby are the Woodland Park Zoo and the campus of the University of Washington.

Some of the best attractions lie outside the city

Many of the best attractions in the Seattle area are located outside of the city. Olympic Peninsula with Olympic National Park lies across the Puget Sound, and on a clear day, its snowcapped peaks are visible from downtown. Mount Rainier National Park and Mt St. Helens National Monument are both only a 4-hour drive from downtown Seattle. The Cascade Mountains rise just beyond the eastern limits of the city. A few hours drive over Snoqualmie Pass takes you to the Columbia River Plateau and the Yakima Valley. This is the rich agricultural heartland of Washington and is its wine country. A few hours boat ride brings you to the San Juan Archipelago where you can view whales, seals and other wildlife in the natural splendor of unspoiled wilderness.

Shopping, Culture, Sports and Adventure abound

Seattle is a good city for shopping. It has a wide variety of department stores, boutiques and specialty shops right in the downtown area. Pike Place Market, the Waterfront, Pioneer Square, Fremont and the Chinatown/International District all offer lots of interesting shops featuring unusual merchandise. There are major shopping malls in Lynnwood, Bellevue, Northgate and South Center. For serious bargain hunters, there are large factory outlet malls in Auburn, 30 minutes south of downtown Seattle, and in Burlington, 65 miles north of the city.

Seattle has a symphony, a ballet, and over 400 theatre companies. It has a full complement of major league sports teams. The Seattle Seahawks, NFL football team, is currently playing in the Husky Stadium at the University of Washington while their new home is under construction. The Seattle Mariners, baseball team, plays at Safeco Field downtown. The Seattle Sonics, NBA basketball team, and the Seattle Thunderbirds, hockey team, both play at Key Arena in Seattle Center.

Seattle is most famous for its outdoor sports such as hiking, backpacking, skiing, fishing, hunting, mountain climbing, boating and kayaking. The opportunities for wilderness adventure are nearly limitless in this area of spectacular natural beauty.

Visit our Seattle Attractions page for more information about what to see and do in the Emerald City!

Written by : Mike Leco

Provided by USATourist.com

West Virginia Travel Guide

2008-05-23T20:50:00.000-07:00

in West Virginia

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is located at the convergence of the Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland state borders about 65 miles northwest of Washington DC and 80 miles west of Baltimore Maryland. The park, which includes the village of Harpers Ferry, is strategically situated at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers. It was the early pioneer's gateway to the westward route through the Appalachian Mountains and a significant military objective during the Civil War. It is most famous as the location of John Brown's aborted attempt to instigate a revolution against slavery.

A strategic location

Robert Harper founded the community in the mid-eighteenth century. He built a ferry across the Shenandoah River in 1761 and helped establish the town as a primary route for settlers seeking farmland in the fertile Shenandoah Valley to the south and for pioneers heading into the wilderness of the western frontier. George Washington, during his presidency, arranged to have one of the country's two arsenals situated at Harpers Ferry.

The location of the federal arsenal eventually attracted industrial development, which included munitions factories. By 1833, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal reached Harpers Ferry. A year later the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad arrived making the little town a strategic hub for transportation.

John Brown's raid

On October 16, 1859, John Brown, a volatile abolitionist, accompanied by his sons and a small band of 21 revolutionaries, led an attack on the arsenal at Harpers Ferry. Their avowed goal was to capture the munitions, distribute them to slaves throughout the southern states, and win the abolition of all slavery in the USA. The attempt failed. John Brown was captured and many of his men killed in a skirmish with federal army troops at the tiny firehouse that has become known as "John Brown's Fort". He was tried for treason and executed, but his ideas lived on. Just two years later, the great Civil War began and finally ended with the abolition of slavery that John Brown had unsuccessfully tried to achieve.

The strategic importance of Harpers Ferry was apparent during the Civil War when it was the scene of many battles, and changed hands between the northern and southern forces 8 times. During Union occupation it became a refuge for runaway slaves from the southern states. Shortly after the war, missionaries founded Storer College, an integrated university that welcomed all races including freed black slaves. In 1906, the Niagara Movement was founded on the campus of that college. It was the forerunner of the prestigious National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

The village of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

The picturesque village of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia clings to the rocky slopes of the promontory between the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers overlooking the steep wooded river valleys. Many of its shops and houses have been restored and preserved in the conditions of the Civil War era. Museums and historical exhibits have been constructed in some of the old buildings. Old houses have been converted to quaint restaurants, shops and galleries. It is a very pleasant place to visit.

Located only a two-hour drive from Washington DC or Baltimore, Maryland, this small picturesque historical site is a nice destination for a day excursion from either city. In an effort to preserve the environment of the village, the National Park Service has constructed a visitor center with parking one mile west of the Shenandoah Bridge just off route 340. They provide free shuttle busses to convey visitors to and from the town center. There is a $5 per vehicle entry fee that includes unlimited visitation for a 3-day period. The center is open every day from 9AM until 5PM except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Days.

Activities in the Area

Besides sightseeing in the quaint village and visiting its museums and exhibits, Harpers Ferry National Park offers hiking, bird watching, fishing and wildlife viewing. The great Appalachian Hiking Trail passes near the town. There are a few bed and breakfast establishments in Harpers Ferry and a selection of hotels located in the nearby towns of Martinsburg and Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

Written by : Mike Leco

Provided by USATourist.com

Florida Travel Guide

2008-04-23T03:33:00.000-07:00

Florida is a Tropical Peninsula

Florida, the "Sunshine State", is located on a large peninsula at the southern extreme of the eastern coast of the United States. It is just over 1000 miles (1.650 km) south of New York City. This flat sandy spit of land is approximately 100 miles (165 km) wide by 400 miles (660 km) long. It has nearly 400 miles (660 km) of eastern shoreline with sandy beaches on the Atlantic Ocean and and over 600 miles (1.000 km) of sandy beaches bordering the Gulf of Mexico on its western side. It is blessed with a very hospitable semi-tropical climate that offers hot rainy summers, mild winters and near ideal spring and fall temperatures. It is, however, subject to the threat of tropical storms and hurricanes during the late summer and fall.

The regions of Florida

Florida can be divided into several distinct geographical regions with differing features. These are the Eastern Coast of Florida, the Western Coast, Central Florida, the Panhandle and the Southern Tip with the Keys. Each region offers some unique features to attract visitors.

The Eastern Coast of Florida has some very nice beaches with moderately good surf on the Atlantic Ocean. Most of the beaches, especially those near Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Daytona and Jacksonville, tend do be commercialized for tourism. They offer plenty of high rise hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions and entertainment venues that cater to the beach loving tourists. The beaches near Saint Augustine and Melborne are a bit less commercial and tend to attract more family vacationers and local tourists.

The Western Coast of Florida is very different than the Atlantic Coast. The beaches on the Gulf of Mexico tend to be shallower, with less surf and with warmer waters. They are great for families with small children. The soft sands of the wide beaches extend far out into the sea, and one can wade hundreds of meters from shore without the water becoming very deep. While Clearwater caters to tourism, most of the other areas along the Gulf coast are far less commercialized. They tend to feature condominiums and rental cottages rather than high-rise hotels. During the summer months, the coastline is notorious for its daily thunderstorm activity with intense lightning. It is also famous for its beautiful sunsets.

Central Florida draws the most tourists

Central Florida is the most popular destination for tourists from all over the USA and from many other parts of the world. This is the home of Disney World, the largest amusement park on earth. Located just south of Orlando in central Florida, Disney World is surrounded by many other family-oriented amusements such as Universal Studios, Sea World and other attractions too numerous to mention. Combined, they make up the largest family amusement area on our planet. Central Florida is also known for its agricultural lands that produce oranges, citrus fruits, sugar cane, vegetables and beef.

The southern tip of Florida mostly consists of tropical jungle and swamplands. Everglades National Park covers nearly the entire tip of the peninsula southward from Miami and Naples. It contains a vast ocean of wet grasslands punctuated by islands of tropical forest and stretches of open waters. This vast wetland is infested with hordes of insects, wild birds, alligators, snakes and other wildlife.

A one hundred mile long (160 km) archipeligo of islands known as the Florida Keys stretches southwestward from the tip of the penninsula into the Gulf of Mexico. A 90 mile (150 km) long series of bridges and causeways connects these islands down to the town of Key West on its southern most tip. The only North American tropical reef lies just a few miles off shore. It is a veritable paradise for scuba divers and fisherman.

The Florida Panhandle is the narrow strip of land that extends westward from the top of the penninsula. It is bounded on the north by the state of Alabama and on the south by its Gulf Coast beaches. This is the least commercialized and least tourist oriented part of Florida. It has beautiful shallow white sand beaches with warm waters but few tourist oriented features. This part of Florida draws many permanent or seasonal residents and offers more condominiums and rental cottages than hotels. Panama City is the lone tourist oriented city on the panhandle, and is famous for its "Spring Break" festivities every March.

A retirement home for many Americans

Florida is a favorite retirement location for many senior citizens of the US. Many older folks move to Florida to enjoy the warm climate and to take advantage of all of the year-round recreational opportunities. Some of them maintain summer homes in the northern states near their children and grandchildren, but annually migrate to Florida for the winter months. The Florida natives call them "the Snow Birds".

A favorite Winter Vacation spot

Florida is the favorite winter vacation retreat for millions of Americans from the frigid northern states and Canadian provinces. It is also a popular vacation destination for foreign visitors. In the summer months, many families with children on school holidays brave the tropical heat of Florida to visit the Disney World entertainment complex. Early Spring is a good time to visit this semi-tropical land as the temperatures are usually warm but not oppressively hot. Experienced visitors tend to avoid Florida during the late summer and fall when the possibility of tropical storms and hurricanes are more likely to dampen any vacation.

Florida attractions

The most popular attraction in Florida is the huge variety of family entertainment activities centered around Disney World near Orlando. This is the number one vacation destination in the USA for families. The beautiful sandy beaches and the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico are the second most popular attraction. Golf, tennis, sports fishing and other outdoor activities are also very popular especially during the winter months when they are not available in northern climates.

Miami is a vibrant city along the southern Atlantic Coast with a distinctly Latin American atmoshere. Its "Little Havana" neighborhood and its many Hispanic residents create an enclave of South American and Carribean culture in the USA. The Kennedy Space Center visitors complex and the Cape Canaveral Space Launch facility are located along the East Coast not far from Orlando. They are popular destinations for tourists. A bit further north, the Historic city of Saint Augustine is one of the oldest colonies in North America.

Daytona Beach on the north Atlantic Coast and Panama City on the coast along the panhandle are the most popular destinations for the "Spring Break" festivities every March. Hundreds of thousands of university students on break from their studies descend on these two cities for several weeks of round-the-clock, non-stop parties on the beaches. If you are looking for wild parties, these are the places to go. If you are on a quiet family vacation, these are places to avoid during March.

Written by : Mike Leco

Information by : USATourist.com

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Colorado Travel Guide

2008-04-23T03:30:00.000-07:00

The Rocky Mountain State

Colorado is located in Southwestern United States of America. The rugged Rocky Mountain range dominates the western half of the state. It is a favorite destination for hikers, backpackers, campers and mountain climbers who love to trek through and enjoy the spectacular scenery. In the winter, it attracts numerous skiers and snowboarders to some of the best ski resorts in the USA.

Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak

Colorado Springs is located about 70 miles south of Denver near the base of 14,110 feet high Pikes Peak. The Garden of the Gods, in the western suburbs, contains some spectacular rock formations including a huge balancing rock. The city is home to the Professional Rodeo Hall of Fame, the US Air Force Academy, a museum of Anasazi Indian culture, and a Ghost Town museum. Suburban Manitou Springs has a refurbished old west flavor with many restaurants and unique shops as well as a cog-wheeled train that ascend to the summit of Pikes Peak. A partially paved road to the summit of the peak begins a few miles west of the city.

See the Old West

Colorado is a great place to experience the Wild West of the US. Working cattle ranches and guest ranches abound both in the eastern Great Plains of Colorado and in the Rocky Mountain high country. This is still the land of cowboys and Indians. Old West gold and silver mining towns survive in the mountains along side many abandoned ghost towns.

Land of Wilderness Adventure

Colorado has thousands of miles of well-maintained trails through the mountains, forests and plains. These attract hikers, backpackers, trekkers, wilderness campers and mountain climbers as well as horseback riders and mountain bikers. The Rocky Mountains offer some excellent rock climbing and mountain climbing challenges. Many of the streams and rivers provide excellent kayaking, canoeing and rafting adventures. Throughout Colorado, you can find numerous wilderness outfitters, guides, guest-ranches and horse stables to satisfy your thirst for adventure.

Great Ski Country

Colorado attracts thousands of skiers and snowboarders every winter between December and March. Some of the best skiing in North America can be found at Aspen, Vail, Steamboat Springs and Breckenridge, located in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.

Denver, the mile high city

Denver, the capitol of Colorado, is a sprawling metropolitan center on the Great Plains at the eastern foot of the Rocky Mountains. The city is located at an altitude of over 5,000 feet, which is about one mile above sea level. It has a thriving commercial district with many opportunities to enjoy shopping, entertainment, cultural and sports events. A short one or two hour drive from downtown brings you into the heart of the Rocky Mountains for some of the best wilderness hiking, mountain climbing and skiing in the US.

Written by : Mike Leco

Information by : USATourist.com

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California Travel Guide

2008-04-23T03:18:00.001-07:00

California - The Golden State

California is located on the western coast of the United States. It extends along the Pacific Ocean from the Mexican border in the south for nearly 900 miles (1400 km) to its northern border with the state of Oregon. The state is approximately 200 miles (300 km) wide from its western beaches to its eastern deserts bordering the states of Nevada and Arizona.

California has a series of unique geological features that extend north to south along nearly the entire length of the state. They create a wide variety of scenery and climates that help to make California a great place to visit.

California's Tropical Beaches to Rugged Coast

The coastline of California extends from the soft sandy tropical beaches of San Diego near the Mexican border to the rugged northern coasts near Oregon. In the southern part of the state, warm Pacific waters and the famous California surf attract many tourists to its palm shaded beaches. As you go further north, the coastline becomes more scenic, but the waters are cooler and sandy beaches are scarcer. In northern California, hiking along rocky cliffs and visiting secluded beaches to see seals, sea otters or whales are more popular than swimming.

The coastal mountains stretch along the western fringe of the entire state. These low volcanic peaks form a protective barrier shielding the inner lands from the full force of the Pacific Ocean weather. In some places, the ridges are a few miles inland with flat coastal steps where cities like Los Angeles and San Diego are built. At Big Sur just south of Monterey, the mountains plunge right into the ocean to form spectacular coastal scenery. A gap in the mountains near San Francisco allows the Pacific Ocean to flow into a large protected bay behind the coastal range.

Central Valley, the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the desert

A broad flat valley runs down the center of the state east of the Coastal Mountains and west of the higher Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. Known as the Central Valley, this once arid desert plain is now some of the richest farmlands in the USA thanks to the liberal use of irrigation. The Central Valley is 50 to 100 miles wide (90 - 150 km) and is covered with farms, orchards and vineyards.

The Sierra Nevada Mountain Range forms a 400-mile long north-south wall of snow-capped peaks approximately 100 miles east of the Pacific shoreline. Much of the mountainous area is preserved as natural wilderness with few roads and limited access. From Bakersfield, just east of Los Angeles, to Yosemite, nearly 200 miles north, there is no road traversing this range from east to west. Approaching the mountains from the west, takes you through 50 miles of escalating hills and forested slopes before you reach the snow capped ridges. From the east, the snowcapped peaks rise almost directly from the floor of the desert to form a spectacular wall of granite extending from horizon to horizon.

A narrow strip of California lies east of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range in a parched rain-shadow desert with waterless mountains and desiccated valleys. This is the beginning of the barren Basin and Range Country that extend through the state of Nevada. It includes the vast wasteland of the Mojave Desert and the austere beauty of Death Valley.

Los Angeles and San Francisco, California

The major city in California is the multi-ethnic metropolis of Los Angeles, home to Hollywood movie stars, business moguls, California surfers and four million inhabitants. It is actually a conglomeration of several dozen communities that have coalesced into the largest city on the west coast of the US. From its tropical beaches and cosmopolitan shopping malls, it is only a few hours to the giant Redwood forests of the Sierra Nevada wilderness or to year round golfing under the endless blue skies in the Palm Springs desert.

San Francisco, the other great California city, is located nearly 400 miles (600 km) to the north. This beautiful city hugs the slopes of a hilly peninsula on the shores of a vast blue bay amid the coastal mountains. It is less metropolitan than Los Angeles and lacks the warm sandy beaches but is much more picturesque. Yosemite National Park with its spectacular alpine vistas is only four hours drive to the east. The California Wine Country of Sonoma and Napa Valley is less than an hour to the north.

Many wonderful attractions in California

Between these two major cities, lie many beautiful coastal towns like Monterey and Santa Barbara plus the spectacular scenic coastline of Big Sur. Forests of giant redwoods, and snowcapped mountain peaks are easily accessible in the Sierra Nevada high country just a few hours to the east. The Mojave desert and the resort city of Palm Springs are not far from Los Angeles. California offers many wonderful attractions in such proximity that you are never more than a short drive from another attraction in a different landscape and a different climate. California is a great place to visit.

Written by : Mike Leco

Information by : USATourist.com

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Arizona Travel Guide

2008-04-23T03:15:00.000-07:00

Arizona has more than just the Grand Canyon

Arizona, the Grand Canyon State, is located in southwestern USA just east of California and just north of the Mexican Border. It is most famous for the Grand Canyon, but the state also has many other wonderful attractions and a wide variety of climates.

Arizona's climate varies considerably, from the stark beauty of the warm dry Sonoran desert to the high cool mountains in the northern part of state. The elevation changes dramatically from 70 feet (20 meters) on the Colorado River south of Yuma, to 12,633 feet (4.000 meters) at the San Francisco Peaks north of Flagstaff. In Arizona you can water ski one day and snow ski the next.

Arizona is typical of the Southwest

Arizona typifies the Southwest. It exhibits a colorful Native American (Indian) flavor blended with a powerful Spanish heritage. It is home to the largest Indian reservations in the USA. Spanish Conquistadors established settlements near the present site of Tucson in 1539. But, Arizona's history as a cattle-producing state makes it the home of that famous icon of the old west- the American cowboy.

Story and song have immortalized the town of Tombstone, in the southeast corner of the state, famous for its "Shoot Out at the O.K. Corral." Although many films have been made about Tombstone, most of them were filmed in Tucson (pronounced too-sawn), home of Old Tucson Studios. A short drive east from Tucson is the Saguaro (pronounced sah-war-o) National Monument, where you can view the finest specimens of the giant saguaro cactus which grow only in the Sonoran desert.

They even have the London Bridge in Arizona

Visitors may be surprised to find the original London Bridge in Arizona. Moved here from England in 1970, London Bridge is the focal point of Lake Havasu City, located on one of Arizona's many large man-made lakes. Lake Havasu is in the northwest corner of the state on the Colorado River.

Phoenix, the capital city of Arizona, boasts a population of over 4 million, and has been designated the "Best Run City in the World." Named after the legendary bird that rose from its own ashes, Phoenix is built atop the ancient Hohokam civilization and is located in south central Arizona. It is home to many cosmopolitan activities and has numerous museums, theaters, and performing arts events including the Phoenix Symphony. You can visit the campus of Arizona State University and view the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, one of the United State's most famous architects. You can also attend a big-league football, baseball, or basketball game.

See mystical Sedona and the magnificent Grand Canyon

Two hours north of Phoenix, in the center of the state, you can visit mystical Sedona famous for its beautiful rock formations and its sacred "vortexes" with their reputed concentrations of cosmic power. Stop at Jerome, a ghost town turned into an art colony perched steeply on a mountainside with spectacular views.

The Grand Canyon, one of the great natural wonders of the world lies near the northern border of Arizona. The south rim visitor's center is accessible via a one-and-half hour drive from Flagstaff. A steam-powered train offers excursions to the canyon from the town of Williams. Williams lies on a surviving piece of historic old Route 66 about 30 miles west of Flagstaff.

Arizona has plenty to offer everyone

Arizona offers plenty of wide-open spaces. It also offers mountains, lakes, and forests for fishing, hunting, boating, hiking, river-rafting, camping, horseback riding and jeep touring. Don't miss the Four Corners region, home to Navajo and Hopi Indian Reservations in the northeastern part of the state. This is an area of many natural wonders including the Petrified Forest, the Painted Desert, and Monument Valley.

If you are less adventuresome, Arizona has many fine golf courses and old mining towns where you can pan for real gold. Many Indian reservations offer casino gambling. You can find great shopping in Nogales and other Mexican border towns, as well as in the cities and at many Native American festivals held throughout the year.

Travel tips for Arizona

You can visit Arizona any time of the year, but the desert areas are most comfortable from October through April. Wear winter clothing at the higher elevations from November to March. Wear lightweight, very cool clothing in the lower elevations from April to October.

Arizona's climate is dry and very sunny, even in the higher elevations. Be sure to drink plenty of water and when hiking or driving, always carry water. Sunscreen or sunblock is recommended for most outdoor activities, even in winter - the mild climate can be misleading and sunburn occurs quickly. Wear comfortable, sturdy shoes for walking and never venture into the desert or wilderness areas alone. When camping, secure all food from predators and scavengers, and never put your foot into an empty shoe without first checking for scorpions. Bring plenty of film for your camera! You will wish to take many pictures of this beautiful state!

Written by : Catt Foy

Information by : USATourist.com

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Alaska Travel Guide

2008-04-23T02:33:00.000-07:00

The Last Frontier

Alaska, with its immense tracts of pristine wilderness, is quite possibly the most beautiful state in the USA. The name itself is based on the Eskimo word meaning "great lands," which only begins to describe its near limitless coasts, countless inland waterways and great snow-capped mountain ranges.

Alaska has diverse features and extreme climates

The most impressive aspect of Alaska is its size. It covers nearly 600,000 square miles (1,500,000 sq. km.) with over 33,000 miles (55,000 km) of shoreline and 1,800 islands. The interior has over 50,000 glaciers, 3,000 rivers and three million lakes. It contains 17 of the 20 highest mountain peaks in the USA including the 20,320 feet (6,194 meter) Denali.

Alaska's two "panhandles" reach southward to embrace the warm Pacific Ocean currents which bless them with surprisingly moderate climates for such northern lands. On the western handle, the volcanically active Aleutian Islands extend over 1,000 miles into the northwestern Pacific where they enjoy cool summers and only moderately cold winters. The eastern handle extending down along the coast of northern Canada enjoys cool summers, mild winters and the most rainfall in North America.

The Interior plateau of Alaska suffers an extreme continental climate with surprisingly warm summers and fiercely cold winters. Temperatures can reach 100 F (+38 C) in the summer and drop below -55 F (-48 C) in the winter. The North Slope along the Arctic Coast is classic arctic tundra, a treeless semi-desert climate with extremely cold winters.

Summer days and winter nights become very long at these high latitudes. As you travel further north in Alaska, the summer days can stretch up to 22 hours. Alaskan natives call this "the land of the midnight sun." Equally long winter nights often bring spectacular displays of dancing celestial lights known as the Aurora Borealis.

Alaska has lots of attractions and few people

Alaska is very thinly populated with less than one person per square mile. Most of the population is concentrated in a few cities and towns along the coast. The native population includes the Inuit living primarily along the coast of the arctic Bering Sea, the Aleuts living on the islands of the western panhandle, and Native Americans (Indians) living mostly along the eastern panhandle. The current population also includes many migrants from the "lower 48" states plus European and Asian immigrants.

The scenic attractions of Alaska can be divided into several distinct areas with the city of Anchorage roughly at the center. Copper Valley, Mat-Su Valley, the Kenai Peninsula and Chena River State Recreation Area are all located near Anchorage, and are readily accessible by car or ferryboat. Many excursion cruises and charter boats depart from Anchorage, Seward or the nearby port of Homer to visit the beautiful Kenai fjords, Kodiak Island with its large population of wildlife, and Prince William Sound. It is also possible to visit the Aleutian Islands of the southwest panhandle from there, but that requires a much longer boat ride or a commuter flight.

You need a floatplane or boat to see most of this state

Denali National Park and Fairbanks lie north of Anchorage and can be reached from the city on Route 3 or from the Canadian border via the Alaska Highway. It is possible to reach the vast majority of the interior only by charter floatplane or by boats along the inland waterways. Fortunately, Alaska has a huge number of "bush pilots" with small aircraft willing to taxi you almost anywhere for a fee.

Alaska has lots of attractions and few people

The islands and towns of the southeastern panhandle are most easily reached by commuter plane. You can drive only to Skagway or to Haines via the Alaska Highway. Alaska Marine Highway ferries travel from Bellingham, Washington, or Prince Rupert, Canada, to Sitka, Juneau and Haines with numerous stops at many of the shoreline communities. They can be a very convenient means of transportation between the seaside towns along the panhandle.

There are four ways to get to Alaska from the continental United States: air, boat, train or car. Although Juneau is the state capitol, most flights go in and out of Fairbanks or Anchorage, since they are larger and provide easy access to more of the state. There are daily direct flights from most major cities in the "lower 48" states. Within the state, there are frequent commuter flights between cities plus charter helicopters and small planes providing transportation to the more remote locations.

You can travel by luxurious cruise line or inexpensive ferry

Several commercial cruise lines offer wonderful 4 to 7-day excursions departing from Seattle or Vancouver, Canada. They usually follow the coastline up to Prince William Sound and back with glacier viewing, whale watching and stopovers in Sitka and Skagway. A combined land-sea excursion often includes a visit to Denali and other interior attractions. Cruises can be expensive, but they are a very comfortable way to see Alaska.

As a less expensive alternative, try the ferries of the Inland Marine Highway. They depart weekly from Bellingham, 70 miles north of Seattle, to Sitka, Juneau, Skagway and Haines, with stops at many coastal villages on the way. For about $250, you can purchase a ticket that allows you to hop on and off the boats at any of the stops. Cabins cost extra, but you are welcome to spread your sleeping bag on one of the many chaise longues in the solarium or even to pitch your tent on the open deck. The trip takes about 3 days.

The Alaska Highway is a long scenic way to travel

There is no direct railroad connection between the "lower 48" states and Alaska. Once inside the state, 470 miles of railroad extend from Seward, through Denali to Fairbanks. The trains are very comfortable with large windows and domed observation cars for scenic viewing. Despite the harsh winters, this railroad runs all year round.

Finally, the brave and hearty spirited folks can drive the infamous Alaska Highway. It starts at Dawson Creek in British Columbia and ends 1,422 miles north in Delta Junction Alaska. The road was first built during World War II and was unpaved for much of its bumpy potholed length. Now, it is in good condition and used by many thousands of brave travelers every year. From Seattle to Fairbanks is a drive of over 2,300 miles. It usually requires about four or five days of driving to navigate the full length of the Alaska Highway.

Safety Tips

Whether you are a hunter, angler, photographer, naturalist, snow lover or just someone who appreciates unspoiled wilderness, you will fall in love with this great state. But, whenever you go to Alaska, winter or summer, you should always remember that it is still a wild land. You should always take safety precautions, like letting someone know your itinerary. The winters can be harsh and overwhelming, so be sure to pack plenty of cold weather gear. During the summer the greatest threat comes from bears. When hiking, you should always make plenty of noise to avoid startling any bear. Some people even recommend attaching small bells to your pack and carrying pepper spray for defense.

Written by : Carla Lee Suson

Information by : USATourist.com

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Washington DC Travel Guide

2008-04-23T02:29:00.000-07:00

Washington DC is located near the middle of the eastern coast of the USA. It is 230 miles south of New York City, less than an hour drive to Baltimore and slightly more than two hours to Philadelphia. The city is near the vast Chesepeake Bay about 100 miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean. The surrounding landscape is nearly flat with some gently rolling hills and shallow valleys. Summers can get quite warm with temperatures often exceeding 80 degrees F during June through August. Winters can be quite cold with temperatures intermittently falling below freezing from December through March. They get a modest amount of precipitation evenly distributed throughout the year. Occasional Atlantic storms can bring deluges or can dump large amounts of snow on the area in the winter.

Washington DC is more than a city but not quite a state. It is a "district" created by the Congress of the United States in 1790 as a place to meet and transact their affairs of government. It was originally a ten-mile, square of land straddling the Potomac River between Virginia and Maryland. They called it the District of Columbia and named the new capital city, to be constructed within, Washington in honor of our founding father and first president.

A city planned by a French engineer

Washington DC is one of the few cities in the USA that was built according to a plan. In 1790, President Washington hired a French engineer from Lafayette's army named Pierre L'Enfant to design a glorious capital city similar to Paris. The complete name of the city is Washington, District of Columbia. Most people call it Washington DC or just DC.

Today Washington DC is a city of variety and contrast. The central area is beautifully designed with broad avenues lined with magnificent buildings and monuments set in spacious green parks. The surrounding neighborhoods vary from modern commercial districts and upscale residential neighborhoods to ethnic enclaves and working class neighborhoods. The city houses a myriad of workers, diplomats, politicians and immigrants from many lands. It is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the US with numerous ethnic neighborhoods and restaurants featuring a wide variety of exotic cuisines. Suburban communities in nearby Virginia and Maryland house an army of government workers and businesses supporting the operation of our huge federal bureaucracy.

Most of it is free

There is a lot to see in Washington DC and most of it is free. You can tour the US Capitol Building, the White House, the Supreme Court and many federal government agencies like the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (where they print the money) and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) (where they shoot a machine gun). You can visit the Washington Memorial, the Lincoln, Jefferson and Roosevelt Memorials. You can see Arlington National Cemetery, the Vietnam memorial, the Korean War memorial and the Battle of Iwo Jima memorial. You can even spend several days touring the many parts of the Smithsonian Institute, one of the largest and finest collection of museums in the world. None of it will cost anything!

Washington DC offers many historical and educational attractions, a variety of cultural and entertainment activities, plenty of multi-ethnic dining experiences and an array of shopping opportunities. Outside of the city, there are many civil war battlefields within a short drive; and President Washington's home at Mount Vernon is just south of DC. The port city of Baltimore and Anapolis, home of the US Naval Acadamy, are within an hour drive. Even Piladelphia and New York City are within a half-day drive.

Three major airports

DC is served by three major airports. Washington National Airport, now called Reagan International, is just across the Potomac river from the district. It offers many domestic flights to cities throughout the USA. Dulles Airport is located in suburban Virginia 30 miles west of the city. It offers many international flights and a variety of domestic connections. Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI) is about 30 miles north of DC near the outskirts of Baltimore. It offers both domestic and international travel options.

The DC Metro, or subway system is quite good. It offers easy access from Washington International Airport and from numerous "Park and Ride" locations around the city to most of the major attractions. On weekdays, the parking situation in the city can be quite difficult. I recommend parking outside of the downtown area and using the Metro. On weekends and holidays when the government beaurocrats desert their offices, downtown parking is readily available.

Navigating the baffling street system

Driving in DC can be frustrating. The beltway system around the city is quite good, but access to and from the central area is not so easy. All major roads often become congested during the busy hours of early morning and late afternoon.

The well-planned street system is an easy to comprehend grid that is often difficult to maneuver. The north-south streets are numbered and the east-west streets are lettered beginning at the Capitol and extending in both direction. You can have two 3rd streets (one to the east of the Capitol and one to the west), and you can have two "D" streets (one to the north of the capitol and one to the south). That is why the city is divided into quadrants. The intersections of 7th street and "C street" can occur in the NE, SE, NW and SW sectors. You must specify the quadrant to find an address. There is a series of broad avenues that radiate out from the Capitol like the spokes of a wheel. They produce some complex angular intersections that can baffle even the most experienced drivers.

Visit our Washington D.C. Attractions for information about the best sights in and around DC!

Written by : Mike Leco

Information by : USATourist.com

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New York City Travel Guide

2008-04-23T02:25:00.000-07:00

New York City is the "Big Apple"

New York City is located on the eastern coast of the United States about 1000 miles north of Florida and 200 miles South of Boston. It is situated at the mouth of the Hudson River, and is divided into five districts called boroughs. Long Island stretches almost 100 miles to the east of New York City and the state of New Jersey lies just across the Hudson River to the west. The "Big Apple", as the city is often called, is the largest city in the US with over 7 million residents. It is filled with a diverse mixture of inhabitants including immigrants from many countries. Some of its many neighborhoods, such as Chinatown, Little Italy, and Spanish Harlem reflect the rich ethnic heritages of the resident's original homelands.

Manhattan borough, the business and commercial center of New York City, is situated on a large island in the middle of the Hudson River. Just south of it, across the main harbor, lies the borough of Staten Island, a large residential community. Across the East River branch of the Hudson, the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens are situated on the western tip of Long Island. The borough of Bronx is on the mainland to the north. New Jersey lies across the Hudson to the west.

Manhattan Island is the heart of New York City

Manhattan Island is about two miles wide and over 12 miles long. It contains most of the business, economic, entertainment and cultural sights of the city. A four-miles long by half-mile wide Central Park, located at the very center of the island, neatly divides the city into sectors. The southern part of the island is called "Downtown" and the section directly south of Central Park is called "mid-town". Everything from the middle of the park to the northern tip of the island is usually called "Uptown". The part of the island closest to Long Island is called the "East Side" and the part closer to the Hudson River is the "West Side". The two neighborhoods lying on either side of Central Park are called "Upper East Side" and "Upper West Side".

The numbered streets of Manhattan all run east-west beginning with First Street just above Greenwich Village, and extending all the way up to 218th Street at the far northern tip of Up-town. Avenues run north-south beginning with First Avenue on the East Side and extending to Twelfth Avenue along the Hudson River on the West Side. These numbered Avenues are interspersed with named Avenues such as Park Avenue, Lexington, Madison and Broadway. Broadway is a bit unusual as it starts out as a typical north-south avenue in the middle of the island downtown, but angles sharply to the west just below Central Park and continues on up the West Side to the top of the island.

Navigation in Manhattan is not difficult

Navigation in Manhattan is not difficult as long as you remember compass directions and use the proper terminology. Subways and Busses go "uptown" when heading north to the higher numbered streets and go "downtown" when heading south. They go to the "East Side" or the "West Side" when crossing the island. Building Numbers, especially on the avenues, often do not follow a logical pattern. When asking directions, always try to specify the nearest intersection of streets and avenues. For example: "On Broadway, near 42nd Street" or "near Third and fifty fourth".

Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island are bedroom communities

Brooklyn is across the East River on the southwestern tip of Long Island. It is accessible via bridge or tunnel. This borough is nearly four times as large as Manhattan Island and has a population of about four million. It is one of the primary bedroom communities for New York City. Unlike Manhattan, there are few tall buildings in Brooklyn. Typically, the tree-lined streets are filled with brownstone townhouses and small apartment buildings. There are very few hotels in Brooklyn, but those few offer a quiet alternative to the noisy hectic streets of Manhattan. Coney Island Beach and Amusement park are located along the southern shore and John F. Kennedy Airport lies just east of Brooklyn.

Queens is north of Brooklyn on the tip of Long Island. It is also a residential community with many high-rise apartment complexes. LaGuardia airport, Shea Stadium and the crumbling ruins of the old World's Fair are located there. There are a few hotels near the airport. The Bronx is another mainly residential community almost due north of Manhattan on the mainland. The large and impressive Bronx Zoo is located there.

Staten Island is due south of Manhattan across the main harbor basin. It is most easily reached via the Staten Island ferry from Battery Park on the southern tip of Manhattan. The ferry ride offers spectacular views of the New York skyline and the Statue of Liberty and is absolutely free for all pedestrians. Staten Island has a small town atmosphere with many single-family homes.

Three airports serve New York City

There are three major airports near New York City. John F Kennedy (JFK) airport is on Long Island about 12 miles east of Manhattan. LaGuardia is in Queens about 6 miles from downtown and Newark airport is across the Hudson river in New Jersey about 12 miles to the southwest of the city. Ready access is available from each airport via taxi or bus. Public transportation is excellent in New York City. Busses, subway trains and taxis provide the most convenient means of transportation. New York City is one of the few cities in the USA with adequate train service. Commuter trains cover most of the nearby communities and neighboring states. Longer distance passenger trains travel the east coast corridor and go to many major cities across the country.

New York is the "city that never sleeps"

New York is one of the most exciting cities in the world. It is often called "the city that never sleeps." In fact, Times Square at midnight seems more vibrant and active than most other cities at noon. New York has many tourist attractions like the Statue of Liberty, the United Nations headquarters, the Empire State building and over 300 museums. It is renown for its wide variety of entertainments including the world famous Broadway theaters. There are over 30,000 restaurants in New York City plus countless bars and clubs. If you like big cities and lots of excitement, the Big Apple is a great place to visit.

Written by : Mike Leco

Information by : USATourist.com

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Las Vegas Travel Guide

2008-04-23T00:47:00.000-07:00

Las Vegas, Nevada is a vibrant pulsating city and the largest adult playground in the world. It is a community that was created from the wastelands of the Mojave Desert in Nevada specifically to provide a gambling and entertainment oasis for the titillation seeking residents of post-war Los Angeles. Everything in Las Vegas has been done (or overdone) on a grand and spectacular scale. Along the Las Vegas strip, a black glass pyramid rises over a hundred meters above the desert with a larger than full sized replica of the Sphinx at its entry. Next to it, sits a larger than life castle with garishly colored turrets. Across the street, is a scaled-down skyline of New York City complete with a Brooklyn Bridge and a Statue of Liberty. Beyond that, you can see a half-sized replica of the Eifel Tower, a near full sized replica of the Piazza San Marco from Venice and a large volcano that erupts flames every thirty minutes. In Las Vegas, you often ask yourself, "Is this really a city, or am I visiting some futuristic amusement park on another planet?"

On any given evening in Las Vegas, you will find hundreds of entertainment events such as the renown Las Vegas stage shows, world class sporting events, performances by world famous entertainers plus music, dance and comedy at large and small venues throughout the city. This city never seems to sleep. The frivolity continues long into the night and the serious gamblers continue their pursuit of riches until well after the morning sun has risen on a new day.

The city was created by a reputed gangster

In 1931 gambling was legalized in the barren desert state of Nevada while it remained illegal in the more populous neighboring state of California. As early as 1940, the first hotel casino named El Rancho Vegas was constructed on the outskirts of a sleepy desert community in the Mojave Desert of southern Nevada known as Las Vegas. A second hotel casino named the Last Frontier was opened a year later. Both profited from their proximity to the large gambling population living in Los Angeles and other southern California communities. In December of 1946, Bugsy Siegal a reputed New York gangster, then living in Beverly Hills California, and managing various illegal gambling operations on the West Coast, built a lavish new hotel casino named the Flamingo. He dreamed of creating a whole new resort city in the desert dedicated to gambling and entertainment. Unfortunately, Bugsy was shot to death in his Beverly Hills home in 1947; so he never got to see his dream fulfilled; but the legacy of lavish hotel casinos controlled by gangsters persisted in Las Vegas for many decades to come.

Today, this desert gambling oasis is a thriving city with more than one million inhabitants and over 38 million visitors a year. It is one of the fastest growing cities in the USA, with up to 5,000 new residents settling there every month. It has fourteen of the fifteen largest hotels in the USA and over 130,000 rooms available to visitors. Gambling and entertainment are still its biggest attractions and its largest industries. Supposedly, all the mafia gangsters have been removed from the Las Vegas gambling scene, only to be replaced by large corporate owners. (Is that an improvement?) In 1999, Oscar Goodman, the flamboyant lawyer whose spirited defense of many reputed gangsters and criminals earned him the unofficial title of "mouthpiece for the mob", was elected mayor of Las Vegas. He seems to be a most appropriate character to lead the government of "Sin City" USA.

Las Vegas Boulevard is "the Strip"

Las Vegas is located in the southwestern corner of Nevada near the borders of California and Arizona. It is 275 miles (450 km) from Los Angeles and less than a four-hours drive on excellent interstate highway. The city is situated in a broad flat desert valley surrounded by barren arid mountains. It receives only about 2 inches (5 cm) of rain per year; yet the city is an oasis of green grass, flowers and palm trees all subsisting on imported water. A vast checkerboard of low suburban homes sprawls across the valley floor for dozens of miles in every direction with new tracts of houses eternally sprouting like fields of cactus in the surrounding desert.

All the action is centered on one broad avenue that stretches from the southern fringe of the city northward for a dozen miles until it reaches the heart of old downtown. This is Las Vegas Boulevard, commonly known as "the Strip". McCarran International Airport is located adjacent to the southern end of the Strip, and nearly all of the major casinos are lined up along its sides. A drive down Las Vegas Boulevard takes you past the pyramid of Luxor casino, the skyline of New York casino, the Eifel Tower of Paris casino, the great tent of the Circus casino and the lofty tower of the Stratosphere casino. Eventually, it takes you to downtown Vegas and Fremont Street, home of the historic old gambling parlors like Binyons and the Golden Nugget. Just driving down the strip past all these spectacular casino resorts is a fantastic experience. At night, "the strip" comes alive with miles of colored neon and millions of dancing, pulsating lights.

The Bargains are often "off the Strip"

Most of the newest, grandest Las Vegas casino hotels are located along the southern end of the strip near McCarran Airport. Even the smallest of these newer casino hotels has over 2,000 rooms with MGM Grand offering more than 5,000 rooms. Each casino contains thousands of slot machines, hundreds of gaming tables, multiple restaurants, numerous shops, theaters featuring "Las Vegas Shows" plus numerous bars, cocktail lounges and smaller entertainment venues.

Along the northern part of the Strip, a few miles away from McCarran Airport, and also in the downtown area even further north, the casinos are older and a bit less spectacular. That means they usually offer their accommodations, their all-you-can-eat buffets, and their shows at bargain prices to entice you to come and gamble at their facility. There are also a few large casino hotels like Sam's Town and Boulder Station located well away from the strip. Those isolated casinos often offer some super-saver bargains.

Las Vegas Weddings

Since the early days when Las Vegas was but a sleepy town in the desert, Nevada has had a reputation as a very permissive state that allowed legal gambling, legal prostitution and easy divorce. Many California citizens would drive across the state line to Las Vegas in order to obtain quick-and-easy divorces from their unwanted spouses. Since divorces were often instigated by the desire to marry a new mate, Las Vegas began offering quick-and-easy weddings to go along with the quick-and-easy divorces. Wedding chapels sprouted along the Strip to accommodate this unique industry of legal mate swapping.

Today, many other states offer quick no-fault divorces, so the "Las Vegas divorce" is no longer in great demand. The city has, however, kept its reputation for quick-and-easy marriages. The wedding chapels are still visible along the strip and in the downtown area near the Clark County Court House. Nearly all the major casinos have wedding chapels or wedding rooms. The City marriage office is open until midnight every weekday and open 24 hours a day from Friday until Sunday. If you suddenly decide you want to get married at 4AM on a Sunday morning, you can easily do it in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas Entertainment

Since the time of Bugsy Siegel, Las Vegas has been renowned not only for its gambling, but also for its free flowing liquor, its fine dining and its extravagant entertainment especially at the Las Vegas Shows. All these original ingredients are still available in even greater variety and quantity in modern-day Las Vegas.

The famous old Las Vegas Shows were typically variety shows featuring headline entertainment, well known bands, scantily-clad dancing girls and ribald humor. You can still find some of those shows on the Strip. The afternoon performances and the early evening performances are usually toned-down family-oriented presentations, while the late night performances are more adult oriented featuing nudity, risque humor and adult themes. A typical old-time Las Vegas Show in family-oriented theme is held at the Stratosphere Casino every afternoon, and the admission is very reasonably priced.

Some of the newer shows are even more extravagant productions than the old-time ones. Cirque du Soliel runs about a half dozen fabulous productions in Las Vegas including: Mystere, Ka, O, and Zumanity. Each production is set in an immense specially-constructed theater with fantastic sets and technological marvels. The prices are fairly expensive, but they are certainly amazing feats of entertainment.

At least two or more Broadway-style productions of musicals or plays are constantly featured in Las Vegas. There are a number of Las Vegas "regulars" playing at Casinos throughout the city, and new famous, world renown entertainers appear for limited engagements nearly every week. In addition to all this, there are free shows and free entertainments available at many of the casinos nearly every day. There is certainly no lack of entertaining diversions in this town.

Las Vegas Dining

Good food in large quanities has been the staple of Las Vegas hospitality since the early days, and the all-you-can-eat buffet was a renown attraction at nearly every casino. They are still popular and almost universally available. The more isolated and the less popular casinos offer their buffets at ridiculously low prices just to attract gamblers to their gaming tables. The newer casinos often feature higher priced buffets with better quality foods. All of them provide unlimited quantities.

For more serious dining, Las Vegas provides hundreds of good restaurants in the casinos and throughout the city. Each of the large casinos offers at least four or six restaurants ranging from inexpensive snack bars and all-you-can-eat buffets to high-class, expensive, five-star restaurants.

This is a gateway to the Southwest

Las Vegas is ideally situated for anyone that would like to explore the Southwest of the USA. It is centrally located amongst some of the greatest natural attractions in the USA like the Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park. McCarran Airport has nearly 500 flights per day arriving from both domestic and international destinations, so access is convenient and often very economical.

The desert landscape surrounding Las Vegas is stark and forbidding but strangely beautiful. Red Rock Canyon, just 20 miles west of the city, looks just like hollywood scenery for a cowboy movie. Boulder Dam and Lake Mead, located just 25 miles east of the city provides the strangely contrasting images of deep blue waters set among stark arid hills and barren rock formations. About 60 miles to the north, the Valley of Fire offers some unique hiking and sightseeing opportunities in a volcanically created environment of strange contorted rocks, lava fields and ancient Native American runes.

Tours depart from Las Vegas to many sights

Grand Canyon National Park, one of the great natural wonders of the world, is only 150 miles east of Las Vegas. The drive to the South Rim Visitors Center is 300 miles by road, while the slightly less spectacular West Rim is only a 150-miles drive from downtown Las Vegas. Death Valley National Park is about 150 driving miles to the west and can easily be seen on a one-day drive from Las Vegas. Zion National Park is about 150 driving miles to the north east, and Bryce Canyon is about 80 miles past it. If you do not wish to drive to any of the attractions, there are many tour options to these great natural wonders via bus, airplane and helicopter.

If you intend to visit Las Vegas for a few days or more, you need only leave the gambling parlors for a single day or even only a half day to see some of this spectacular Southwest scenery. There are numerous tours departing from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon, Death valley, Zion National Park, Boulder Dam, Lake Mead, the Valley of Fire and other interesting places. The tours can be via airplane, helicopter, bus, van, jeep or even hummer. Normally, the tour operators pick you up at your hotel, take you on a guided tour of the attraction, then return you to your hotel later in the day. This is a very convenient way to see some of the fabulous scenery in a very limited amount of time. Naturally, you can always rent a car and tour these same fabulous sights on your own.

Written by : Mike Leco

Information by : USATourist.com

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