5/13/2008 at 2:00 PM
Tags: Italy Travel, Attractions, Tourist Attractions (all tags)
We hate to pick on Venice--and we think everyone should try to get there to see it--but after cruising amidst the sea of tourists this weekend we fear the once romantic gondola ride is a dying art, replaced by a cookie cutter experience that isn't anything to write home about. The trouble starts with the price tag.
A half-hour ride for an Italian native starts at €50 ($77). For real tourists, especially non-Europeans, 30 minutes begin at €80. Depending on how motivated your gondolier is feeling, he may spend 10 of those 30 minutes pushing off the dock and turning his gondola in the correct direction. If "Let's get a move on, chief" isn't in your Italian phrasebook, you're basically stuck.
And, oh yes, it gets worse...
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by CourtScott
5/09/2008 at 9:30 AM
Tags: Disneyland, China Travel, Theme Parks, Attractions, Disney (all tags)
In the eternal struggle to make Hong Kong's Disneyland pay its way, the park has just opened the Hong Kong version of the classic It's A Small World ride.
Small World's been having a tricky year, with alterations planned for the original in California, possibly to accommodate fatter passengers. In Hong Kong, they're hoping that the world-peace style message of the ride will bring in a few more customers.
The Hong Kong version has a couple of unique features--those new Disney dolls are there--but the most significant is that four new languages have been added to that never-ending, high-pitched singing. Now you get Cantonese, Putonghua, Tagalog and Korean versions as well. We'll see if that brings the crowds in.
Related Stories:
· Hong Kong Disneyland Launches Classic Attraction [The Star]
· Disneyland's Small World Ride to Get Some Changes [Jaunted]
· Year of Mickey Mouse in a Mao Suit [Jaunted]
[Photo: jimmiehomeschoolmom]
by amandak
5/07/2008 at 4:15 PM
Tags: Roller Coasters, Led Zeppelin, Theme Parks, Attractions (all tags)
For smooth-jazz lovers, it's a "Highway to Hell": South Carolina's Hard Rock Park promises all the thrills of your local theme park with a much better soundtrack.
While the tourist attraction doesn't have its official grand opening till June 2, a "sound check" is letting ride aficionados get their first look at Hard Rock's first theme park.
The coasters in this $400 million park are designed to be extra quiet so riders will be able to hear the corresponding songs--even over all the screaming.
Besides the "Life In The Fast Lane" and "Nights In White Satin" rides, the park boasts a memorial to dead musicians, a Mount Rockmore and a "Bohemian Rhapsody"-themed fireworks show. Alas, there will be no "Love Roller Coaster."
Related Stories:
· Hard Rock Park [Official Site]
· Led Zeppelin Ride Centerpiece of Rock and Roll Theme Park [Jaunted]
[Photo: Wikipedia]
by egw
5/07/2008 at 3:00 PM
Tags: Turkmenistan, Monuments, Attractions, Big Things (all tags)
Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.
--P B Shelley, "Ozymandias"
Not even a giant self-portrait in sculpture can assure immortality, as fans of the late president of Turkmenistan are discovering. Saparmurat Niyazov's reign as president for life abruptly ended in 2006 with his death, and now a 246-foot-tall tower with a rotating gold statue of him at the top is facing exile from the center of the capital city of Ashgabat, says Reuters.
The new president's rationale for moving the tower, known as the Arch of Neutrality, is that it belongs on Neutrality Avenue, in the south of the city. But it's hard not to see the symbolism of removing a very prominent statue of the man who called himself "Turkmenbashi," or "Leader of all Turkmen," marking the final chapter of his 21-year reign.
Related Stories:
· Turkmenistan to Move Gold Statue [Reuters]
· Ding-Dong! The Dictator's Dead! [Jaunted]
· Turkmenistan: It's Not Kazakhstan [Jaunted]
[Photo: lonebiker2007]
by egw
5/07/2008 at 12:05 PM
Tags: Dubai Travel, Attractions, Big Things, Legoland, Wendy Perrin (all tags)
Oh, hell yes. Legoland is coming to Dubai. Now we finally have a reason to go!
Given that recent developments include bridges and a replica of a French city, it's about time for something more appealing to the kids--and those of us who act like kids. The new park, scheduled to open by 2011, will have just about everything you want:
Similar to the existing four Legoland Parks at Billund, Denmark; Germany; Windsor and California, Legoland Dubailand [will feature] more than 40 interactive...kid-powered rides, cool building challenges, spectacular Lego models, interactive attractions, family-friendly coasters and shows.
Now the only drama is figuring out how you'll get your kids to behave on the long-haul to Dubai. Lucikly, mom-travel expert Wendy Perrin has some tips on that.
Related Stories:
· New Legoland Park in Dubai [Press Release, via]
· On Holiday with Lego Blocks [Jaunted]
· Prepare for the New Lyon (Not in France) [Jaunted]
[Photo of Legoland Windsor: garybembridge]
by pbb
5/06/2008 at 12:00 PM
Tags: Boats, Italy Travel, Tourist Attractions, Attractions, Events, Spring Travel (all tags)
Venice is opening its normally protected waterways to the public this Sunday for the 34th annual Vogalonga rowing event. The "Long Row" began in the 70s as a peaceful protest--"the revenge of oars over engines"--and now thousands of boating clubs, rowers and tourists come to experience the colorful spring regatta.
If you're keen to participate, the rules are rather uncharacteristically pretty lax. You'll need a row boat of any weight and size, some oars and at least one rower. The deadline for entrants is this Thursday so we suggest you quickly round up a few friends, hire a dinghy and submit your €15 entry fee. (Considering gondaliers are charging tourists upwards of €80 for a 30 minute float down the Grand Canal, the enrollment cost for Vogalonga is cheap!)
According to Wikipedia, some have even tried swimming the 19 mile route, but can hardly recommend it without at least some inflatable swimmies. If you haven't got your sea legs, take a front, uh, row seat near the Cannaragio Canal. It's a less touristy area and a perfect spot to watch the thousands of boats enter Venice.
Post-click, check out a groovy Vogalonga video montage with moody elevator music.
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by CourtScott
5/01/2008 at 10:32 AM
Tags: Protests, Landmarks, Attractions, Tourist Attractions, Hawaii Travel, Oahu Travel (all tags)
A separatist group occupied the Iolani Palace in Honolulu yesterday, closing the landmark to tourists to protest the "occupation" of Hawaii by the United States. The peaceful demonstration by the Hawaiian Kingdom Government lasted about eight hours, and no arrests were made.
The group says it wants to reestablish the Iolani Palace as the seat of the islands' sovereign government. The HKG plans to reoccupy the grounds today, though the organization doesn't plan to lock people out like they did Wednesday. Still, might not be the best day to visit.
The palace was the residence of the last two Hawaiian monarchs and it's now a National Historic Landmark. When it's not being occupied, you can visit on a docent-led "Grand Tour" for $20 or just take a self-guided tour of some of the galleries for $6.
Related Stories:
· Group Occupies Hawaii Palace [Honolulu Advertiser]
· Hawaiian Sovereignty Seekers Take over Palace Grounds [AP, via Google]
· Iolani Palace [Official Site]
· Hawaii Travel coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: PeterWebb]
by pbb
4/23/2008 at 4:30 PM
Tags: Attractions, Zoos, Animals, Videos (all tags)
Valencia, the third largest city in Spain, has just opened the first phase of a $94 million, state-of-the-art zoo called Bioparc Valencia.
The zoo spans 25 acres and is home to 4,000 animals from 250 species including the old zoo favorites and stand-bys: antelope, zebras, gorillas and leopards.
Yet it's not your grandparents zoo where you walk around and point at animals in cages. The Bioparc reproduces the vegetation, terrain and sounds of the animals' ecosystem while hiding all the man-made stuff like barriers so you can feel a little less guilty about observing animals taken from their natural habitats.
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by juliana
