Tag: Fireworks

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Photos and Video of The Cunard Ships' Royal Rendezvous on New York Harbor

January 14, 2011 at 10:24 AM | by | Comments (2)

Just as promised, last night saw the three Cunard ships—Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth—take to NY Harbor all at the same time for a little "Royal Rendezvous" and a lot of fireworks. This is only the second time that all three Queens have been together in NYC at the same moment, and the last was only in 2008, as the Queen Elizabeth II (now retired) made her final departure from the Big Apple after hundreds and hundreds of historical sailings. Needless to say, it was a very cool occasion.

We managed to take in the scene from the Cunard party in the lounge at the tippy-top of the Ritz-Carlton Battery Park, and still froze our bits and bobbles to death on the outdoor deck, catching these photographs.

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The Best Spots for Viewing Cunard's 'Royal Rendezvous' on NY Harbor Tomorrow

January 12, 2011 at 9:43 AM | by | Comments (0)


We took this video during 2008's Royal Rendezvous (the first), as the now-retired Queen Elizabeth II tooted her horn. Seen from Liberty State Park in New Jersey—not a recommended spot.

Tomorrow evening in New York Harbor, the three ships of Cunard's fleet—the Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth—will get together for the first time in three years, and for only the second time ever. The meeting of all ships in the harbor is called the "Royal Rendezvous" and cruise fanatics, ship-watchers and the generally curious will turn out in droves to watch the ships slide by and the massive accompanying fireworks display. And we'll be there too, of course.

We saw it three years ago, when the Queen Elizabeth II was making her final NYC departure, and this year there's a new ship making her first entrance: the Queen Elizabeth. She'll be the big and shiny one—ha. Anyways, we have to say that it is a very cool, very New York event, and the fireworks are awesome. They will feature Cunard red pyrotechnics, and even the Empire State Building will be lit up in red for the occasion. P>Now on to the best spots to watch everything:

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Kaboom! International Fireworks Competition Takes The Sky In Monaco

July 13, 2009 at 4:44 PM | by | Comments (0)

While stateside the year's highlights on the field of fireworks have already faded from the sky, this year's International Fireworks Competition is only getting started. The Monaco-based tourney kicked off last week with a €100,000 prize and high-powered bragging rights at stake.

Portugal and France face off against last year's champion Austria at the deep-water Port d'Hercule. The display with the best style, color, special effects and synchronization with music will get a repeat performance in November for Monaco's national holiday. Who knew the genteel principality was such a fan of the ol' boom boom pow?

Start strategizing your seat for the performances by Austria (July 24 at 10 and August 9 at 9:30) and France (August 23 at 9:30). Call the Jardin Exotique, which will be open free that night for viewing from its hillsides, at (377) 93 15 29 80 to reserve a seat if your yacht won't be available.

Related Stories:
· International Fireworks Festival [VisitMonaco.com]
· Daytime Fireworks, Cake, and "National Treasure" For The Fourth [Jaunted]
· Fireworks Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: pasujoba]

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MapQuesting The Fourth: A Tool For Last-Minute Partiers

July 2, 2009 at 2:34 PM | by | Comments (0)

Anyone suffering from last-minute Fourth of July plans-making? We're raising our hands over here, and so to give everybody some assistance in making this weekend super festive, MapQuest has added a new feature to their maps: Independence Day events plotted just like the maps show gas stations and Best Westerns.

It's not totally comprehensive, but searching your city or destination and then applying the little fireworks icon will reveal events like outdoor symphony concerts, fireworks-viewing river cruises, or even daytime air shows (yay, Battle Creek, MI).

For example, the MapQuest tool turned up the "Red, White and Zoo" event at Cleveland's Zoo, the "Pied Piper Parade" in Atlanta, and a Pancake Breakfast in Boise, ID. Now you can have an answer ready for when your similarly-slacking friends ask, "hey, what are we doing this weekend?"

Related Stories:
· Fourth of July: MapQuest shows locations for fireworks events [LA Times]
· Fourth Of July Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

[Image: Mapquest]

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Bombs Bursting In Air: Top Three Cities to Catch Fourth of July Fireworks

June 17, 2009 at 10:07 AM | by | Comments (0)

New York City: Along the Hudson Riverfront
This year just happens to be the 400th Anniversary of Henry Hudson's sailing up the river which would eventually bear his name, and to celebrate this, Macy's is moving their notoriously festive fireworks celebration from the East River to the Hudson. This means that the nation's largest fourth of July display will practically pair up with the Jersey City celebrations, which blast over Liberty State Park, to create one awesome night along the river.

Best viewing of the Macy's display at 9pm will be from the Hoboken waterfront, and Liberty State Park's is obviously best seen from the park. We're going to compromise and hit up the pier jutting out from the Starbucks near the Pavonia/Newport PATH subway station in Jersey City.

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Best NYE Fireworks Displays

December 12, 2008 at 10:00 AM | by | Comment (1)

Ooh! Ahhh! Nothing caps off a New Year's Eve party like a burst of brilliant fireworks to ring in the New Year. Don't just watch each time zone celebrate on CNN this year: Head to one of these cities to witness the awesomeness in person. We can already hear the fizz of sparks raining down on crowds of thousands:

The Wacky Object Display: New Orleans, Louisiana
The ball is boring. TripAdvisor's list of the quirkiest US celebrations has a fixation on oversize objects, from a giant Peep to a super-sized (supposedly) edible piece of bologna. We like the gumbo pot not necessarily because it's the best giant papier-mache marvel, but because it sounds like a more fun place to party than, say, Lebanon, Pennsylvania.

The Way-Over-The-Top Display: Copenhagen, Denmark
For those for whom too much is never enough--a common NYE party philosophy--Copenhagen's famous Tivoli Gardens offer a staggering five nights of fireworks December 26-30, each with its own theme (the four seasons are represented) and a soundtrack of live music.

The Self-Proclaimed Green Display: Sydney, Australia
The Harbour Bridge plays host to a kinder, less wasteful fireworks display at 9 om on New Year's Eve, with 80 percent of the leftover junk to be recycled and a surprise orange "special effect." Plus, its theme is "creation"! Sounds kind of eschatological to us.

Related Stories:
· Press Release: TripAdvisor Announces America's Top 10 Quirkiest New Year's Eve Events [Marketwatch]
· Creation Theme for Sydney's New Year's Eve Celebrations [The Epoch Times]

[Photo of Sydney's 2007 celebration: pixelpeddler]

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Rebel Travel: Remember, Remember, the Fifth of November

October 21, 2008 at 10:05 AM | by | Comments (0)

Most American celebration plans are currently focused on Election Day parties or Thanksgiving dinners, but if you're looking for more of an escape-minded November, Britons are prepping for one of their fave holidays: Guy Fawkes Day.

Celebrated every November 5, the holiday marks the anniversary of a rebel plan to blow up Parliament 403 years ago. The plot was foiled, and the UK went on to live at least another few centuries.

Since Britain doesn't have an independence day like all the countries it used to control, Guy Fawkes Day will have to do. Every November 5, British patriots--and "V for Vendetta" fans--light up the country's sky with massive bonfires and firework displays. Check out some of the biggest in London, Glasgow or Somerset County.

Related Stories:
· London Guy Fawkes Day [Official Site]
· Glasgow Guy Fawkes Day [Official Site]
· Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Day [Official Site]
· UK Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Y Canada News]

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Fourth of July Travel: Independence Day in Independence

July 3, 2008 at 11:35 AM | by | Comments (0)

The weekend's finally here! By now you should've finalized some sort of holiday action plan, but here's one last Fourth of July suggestion: Independence, Iowa. With just over 6,000 residents at last count, the town is certainly small, but as they say, "Everybody observes the Fourth of July, we celebrate it!"

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Fourth of July Travel: SoCal Edition

July 1, 2008 at 9:35 AM | by | Comment (1)

If you can't decide on a place to celebrate the Fourth of July this year, then give Southern California a chance to impress. It's probably the only place where you can see some fireworks, hit a beach celebration, catch a baseball game and stop at an amusement park.

Start out the SoCal celebrations at the July 4th Fireworks Spectacular: A Ball at the Bowl with the LA Dodgers. The Los Angeles Philharmonic celebrates the team's 50th anniversary with greats from team history along with baseball music. They also welcome special guest Randy Newman. The festivities take place July 2-4 and each evening ends with, what else, fireworks. Tickets will run you at least $10 for this one.

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Shopping in Naples: Pyrotechnics with Training Wheels

Where: Naples, Italy
June 26, 2008 at 12:00 PM | by | Comments (0)

Any Italy travel guide will advise you not to linger in the dodgier section of Naples near the Napoli Centrale train station. But we decided to ignore that suggestion, and after last night's stroll through the littered area, we did find some redeeming qualities. Like Carmine's fireworks bazaar in Piazza Mercato, your one-stop-shop for pyrotechnics and... kiddie tricycles?

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Celebrating the Phourth of July

June 26, 2008 at 10:15 AM | by | Comment (1)

When it comes to the Fourth of July, Philadelphia doesn't mess around. Things get started this Friday and continue through July 6 thanks to the celebration known as the Sunoco Welcome America Festival. This weekend there are family events during the day and free outdoor movies each night at different locations around the city, including a screening of "Rocky" on Saturday night.

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Fourth of July Travel: Goin' Quackers in Hawaii

June 24, 2008 at 9:45 AM | by | Comments (0)

If you love the Big Island of Hawaii and rubber duckies, then have we got a Fourth of July celebration for you: the 17th Annual Great Waikoloa Rubber Duckie Race. The whole day is filled with family fun including face painting, duck waddling contests and free-style quacking. There's even free popcorn and cotton candy.

The main draw of the event comes during the afternoon when the plastic ducks are released. The top 50 finishers are eligible for prizes, including a week-long stay at an Outrigger Villa or the Hilton Waikoloa Village. If your duck doesn't come in first, hope it comes in 17th, as that will get you 17 $100 bills.

Best of all, the proceeds from the event go to the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Hawaii. Last year the group was able to raise almost $40,000 for charity. Ducks start at $5 per bird, or get a $20 "quack pack" which includes three ducks and a shirt. If you didn't get up at the, uh, quack of dawn (sorry!), then you'll be able to stay up and enjoy the fireworks display around 9 pm.

Related Stories:
· Fourth of July Revelers Can Find Family Fun at Waikoloa Resort [Star Bulletin]
· Waikoloa Beach Resort [Official Site]
· Fourth of July coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: bitmap78]

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