Summer Travel—What’s New in D.C., Las Vegas and Atlanta

WASHINGTON, D.C. The National Mall is sporting a new look these days. A real temple has been constructed at the popular tourist site as part of the 42nd annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival, which this year includes a celebration of the culture of the little-known Kingdom of Bhutan. Event organizers say carpenters from the Himalayan kingdom traveled to Washington to help build the authentic Bhutanese lhakhang, or temple, along with other examples of Bhutanese architecture. Once it is complete the temple will be one of the largest traditional buildings ever erected on the Mall. The exhibit, “Bhutan: Land of the Thunder … Continue reading

Sniff, Sniff…the Best Tearjerker Movie List – Part 1

We’ve all seen them – the movies that make our eyes well up with tears whether we want them to or not. It may be for a good reason or for a sad reason, but here are my top 10 tearjerkers: 10. Leaving Las Vegas No, this is not a conventional tearjerker and as far as I know, I am the only one in the world to openly sob when I saw this at the theater (with a date no less!). But, Nicolas Cage’s Ben is such a sad, lonely, and destructive character. When Sera comes to find him dying … Continue reading

Summer Lovin’: New York and Las Vegas

Still looking for the perfect place to spend part of your summer vacation? Take a look at why these famous cities should be at the top of your list: NEW YORK So you didn’t make it there in time to see Pope Benedict XVI preside over Sunday Mass, but that’s no reason to by pass the chance to sit in a seat at New York City’s Yankee Stadium, especially since time is running out for you to do so. This season marks the last that sports fans will be gathering in the House that Ruth Built. The 85-year-old Bronx ballpark … Continue reading

Rock ‘n’ Roll Summer

Thrill seekers have one more reason to celebrate this summer. If the invitation to explore the inner workings of the human body wasn’t enough to excite you, perhaps getting the chance to fly down a 155-foot-high Led Zeppelin inspired roller coaster will. The new thrill ride will be the star attraction at Hard Rock Park, which is slated to open later this month in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The 140-acre rock ‘n’ roll theme park will feature 40 attractions, including rides, restaurants, stores and live shows. To get the festivities off to a slammin’ start park officials are auctioning off … Continue reading

21: The MIT Blackjack Team

I finally got to see an honest too goodness grownup film this weekend – 21. It is about a MIT team of students who learned to count cards and tried to cheat the system in Las Vegas. Actually, this movie is based in part on a true story you might find interesting. If you don’t know, the game of 21 (also known as blackjack) is played between you and the dealer, even if other people are sitting at the table. You are dealt two cards each and can get more – the person who comes closest to 21 without going … Continue reading

Las Vegas’ Latest and Greatest Resort

It’s been nearly three years since the Strip in Las Vegas has welcomed a new hotel and The Palazzo Resort-Hotel-Casino plans to make the wait well worth it for guests. The $1.9 billion resort opens its doors to the public this weekend with a massive celebration complete with fireworks, a Diana Ross concert and a private dinner cooked up by the likes of Emeril Lagasse, Wolfgang Puck and Mario Batali. The Palazzo is now the tallest hotel tower in Vegas (featuring some 3,000 guest rooms) and some say it is slightly more elegant than its iconic sister property The Venetian … Continue reading

Ringing in the New Year at a Hotel

Where do you typically celebrate New Year’s Eve? On your couch? A friend’s house? Or, in the middle of Times Square? A new study shows that more and more Americans are trading in their fuzzy slippers and hot chocolate for a New Year’s Eve night out… at a hotel. And the city where the most New Year’s revelers hit hotels is none other than Las Vegas. This year Sin City is hosting a slew of celebrity studded parties where common folks can bid farewell to 2007. If you plan to make the trip you might want to leave now because … Continue reading

Travel Tidbits: Las Vegas Gets Kid Friendly and New York Tourists Hit the Books

Viva Las Vegas… for kids. In just a few hours the doors to a massive new kid-friendly shopping complex will open at the south end of The Strip just past Mandalay Bay. And, when I say massive, I’m not exaggerating. The shiny new Town Square shopping complex is a one-of-a-kind 1.5 million-square-foot open-air complex that developers dubbed a “lifestyle center.” It’s designed to look like an well preserved European village and houses more than 150 shops; a dozen restaurants; a 9,000-square-foot children’s park that includes mazes and a 25-foot-tall tree house; picnic areas; an 18-screen movie theater; a food Emporium; … Continue reading

Budget Travel Tips: Florida and Las Vegas

FLORIDA If your holiday travel plans include a trip to one of Florida’s many theme parks you can save your screams for the rides instead of shattering eardrums at the admission gate. Ticket prices at Florida theme parks are enough to send a lot of folks screaming from the gates, but if you are planning to visit the parks this holiday season you will be thrilled to learn that your wallet won’t be hit as hard as in years past. Busch Entertainment Corporation—–the owners of SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens and other Florida based theme parks—just unveiled new a new pricing … Continue reading

Unique Thanksgiving Travel Destinations

In my previous blog I mentioned that not everyone is planning to load up the family to go over the river and through the woods to grandma’s house for a lavish turkey spread this Thanksgiving. In fact, some families forgo the entire conversation-over-cranberry sauce tradition all together and opt for an extended holiday weekend shushing down the slopes in Colorado or feasting on pheasant in Hawaii. If you are looking for alternative locales to spend your Thanksgiving holiday consider some of these options: LAS VEGAS The glitz and glam of Sin City may be the antithesis of grandma’s chatskie-filled dining … Continue reading