$500 Travel Giveaway!

What do you get when you combine popular woman’s magazine, Woman’s World, and CheapOair?

Another $500 travel gift certificate giveaway!

Want a vacation, but don’t have the money? Plane tickets, hotels, rental cars, and more- it can get expensive fast. But everyone deserves a vacation, and that is why we have partnered with the popular magazine Woman’s World to give away two $500 gift certificates! The contest begins 12:01 am ET on July 7, 2009 and ends at 11:59 pm ET August 22, 2009.

Contest is open to all US and Canada residents, male or female, 18 years or older!

CheapOair and Woman’s World $500 Travel Giveaway

Great Travel Destinations for Kids

Vacations are great time to bond with your little ones, burn out their energy and take them to explore the world as they have seen it in their text books.
There are several cities that cater to kids superbly offering them everything they need.
So get cheap airline tickets to these wonderful destinations.

New York City

New York City is great place when it comes to spending the weekend or a long vacation with kids. With plethora of things to do and see the city promises to be a complete package.

1. Explore the Mott and Canal Streets, the center of Chinatown. Area is filled with shops and restaurants and is a great place for kids having fun shopping for jade jewelry, Chinese embroidered clothes, toys, zodiac animals. To conclude the exploration you can feast on some unusual flavored ice creams at Chinatown Ice Cream Factory
2. View the skyscrapers from the Empire State Building and check-out the Dinosaurs at the American Museum of Natural History
3. Shop with your kid’s at the most popular toy store in New York, FAO Schwarz. The store has been a massive hit with kids in New York since 1870.
4. New Yorkers love their food and there’s food everywhere you look. Feast on hot dogs and soft New York pretzels, while walking down any street at blue and yellow Sabrett umbrellas.

San Francisco

San Francisco is an ocean city and you’re never far from the San Francisco Bay when you spending your vacation with your kids. The city once considered an adults’ playground, now has an excess of attractions for you and your little one.

1. Visit the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. The museum includes a superb aquarium, planetarium, natural history exhibits, live rainforest and living roof.
2. Ride San Francisco’s famous cable cars. From the city center, pick up the streetcars on Market Street and ride down Market to the Ferry Building to Fisherman’s Wharf.
3. Cruise out to “The Rock,” site of Alcatraz prison and home of gangsters such as Al Capone and “Machine Gun” Kelly.
4. Eat at Mo’s Gourmet Hamburgers located in North Beach, just a few blocks away from Chinatown. It’s named after one of the Three Stooges and offers burgers, featuring a seven-ounce patty and a wide selection of toppings, freshly cut fries and milkshakes.

Los Angeles

Los Angeles is a city of neighborhoods. So rent a car, and explore the neighborhoods as you go on a mission of unveiling the hidden treasures of each and every neighborhood.

1. Taste the adventures of Jurassic Park and Shrek at Universal Studios Hollywood which claims to be the world’s largest movie studio and theme park.
2. Get a multi day pass to visit one the happiest places on earth – The Disneyland. Your kids surely won’t let you skip that.
3. Visit the Page Museum; it’s a treasure trove, filled with skeletons of saber tooth tigers, bison, ground sloths, mastodons, eagles, California condors and over 400 Dire wolf skulls.
4. Eat at Farmers Market located close to the museum. The joint has been popular with local families since the 1930’s. There’s a wide variety of restaurants and casual eats for breakfast, lunch or dinner – hot dogs, crepes, burritos, Chinese, barbeque, hamburgers, sushi, sandwiches, fish and chips, pizza you name and they have it.

So get a travel deal to the place and do share your experience with us.

Unique Experiences at Las Vegas

Gambling, slot machines, nightlife are some synonyms that best describe the “Sin City” Las Vegas. However, we explore some more components of this truly enthralling city – adventure, unique and extreme.
So grab your bags and book flights to Las Vegas as we explore the new definition of this wonderful city.

Chill out at Minus 5 Lounge

You would never witness a bar as cool as Minus 5 and we mean it literally. Nearly 18 tonnes of ice have gone into the creation of this ice-cold experience. Everything within the ice lounge is made entirely from ice, the walls that enclose you, the seats that you sit on and the amazing sculptures that surround you. Upon entering the bar guests are suited in insulated parkas, boots and gloves.  Once you done with dressing yourself for the occasion, you can enjoy the cocktails served in glasses made entirely of ice.

Grand Feast at the Rio

The Rio in Las Vegas holds the grandest buffet in perhaps the entire world at Carnival World Buffet. Recognized as the best buffet in Vegas year after year by guests the menu includes almost everything ranging from pizza to omelets, sushi to teppan yaki, fresh carved meats to Asian barbecue. The buffet boasts of more than 70 varieties of homemade pies, cakes and pastries and nine gelato flavors. With unique dining experience where the food is prepared in front of your eyes, the quality is guaranteed.

Skydive without Sky at Flyaway

Flyaway now known as Vegas Indoor Skydiving is America’s first indoor skydiving facility built in 1982. Here you can experience bodyflight during a simulated skydive experience. The experience is similar to skydiving with the addition of a mesh trampoline floor and foam padded walls. Guests are able to simulate the freefall aspect of skydiving without the use of an airplane or parachute. Each flyer will attend a brief training class, suit up in all the necessary flight gear, then jump in the tunnel and fly.

Meet the Wine Angels at Aureole

Aureole at Mandalay Bay and Casino Resort is creation of world renowned chef Charlie Palmer. Just in case you are wondering what’s amazing about this bar, here are the facts. The bar is nearly four stories high and has 9,865 bottles which are held in sandblasted Plexiglass wine racks.
The wine tower is fitted with mechanical hoists to lift the “wine angels” or stewardess up and down on all the four sides of this 42 foot tower in about 10 seconds.

So grab some cheap airline tickets and do visit these unique experiences.

Great Offbeat Islands of America

America is full of gorgeous unexplored islands, some can only be accessed by plane or boat and others are just in the neighborhood. Some, where human are still to dwell and some where little communities are thriving.
We explore some beautiful offbeat islands of America through this post.

So it’s time you found some cheap airline tickets and take a nice weekend break or a long vacation on one of these paradises.

Kodiak Island, Alaska

Kodiak Island is a large island on the south coast of the U.S. state of Alaska, separated from the Alaska mainland by the Shelikof Strait. The island has many deep, ice-free bays that provide sheltered anchorages for boats. The Kodiak bear and the king crab are native to the island. So in case you are interested in sports fishing and wildlife watching, in particular the Kodiak bears hunting salmons for food, Kodiak Island is the perfect spot for you.

Sapelo Island, Georgia

Sapelo Island is a state-protected island located in McIntosh County, Georgia. The island is only reachable by boat, with the primary ferry coming from the Sapelo Island Visitors Center in McIntosh County. The visitors to this place would be treated to natural community, forested uplands, vast salt marshes and the complex beach and dunes systems. The Geechee communities of Hog Hammock are the natives of the land.

Orcas Island, Washington

Orcas Island is the largest of the San Juan Islands which are located in the northwestern corner of Washington state in San Juan County. Orcas is home to an eclectic community of artisans and small cottage businesses. Its diverse landscape of mountains, wooded countryside and spectacular vistas make it a popular destination for both day trips and extended vacations. Orcas Island can be reached from the mainland via a leisurely ferry ride from Anacortes or by seaplane from Seattle or Portland.

Isle Royale, Michigan

Isle Royale is an island of the Great Lakes located in the northwest of Lake Superior. The island is primarily known for hiking, fishing, boating, sailing and observing nature. Accessible only by private boat, seaplane, National Park Service ferry service from Houghton. It’s covered in wilderness trails, some of which are quite challenging with steep grades. There are numerous campgrounds many of which are only accessible by water.

Block Island, Rhode Island

The island was named by the The Nature Conservancy as one of twelve sites in its list of “The Last Great Places” in the Western Hemisphere. The island is a popular summer tourist destination and is known for its excellent bicycling, hiking, sailing, fishing and beaches. Two historic lighthouses are present on the most remote of the offshore isles between Boston and New York City.

Hope you have found a travel deal to enjoy these beautiful islands.

Images Sourced from: www.wikipedia.com

Do Not Disturb!! The Quietest Destinations in The USA

You walk down the street and chances are that the scenes would remain pretty much the same, irrespective of what city you belong to – blaring horns, people talking and shouting, ringing cellphones, blasting radios.

So, does this mean that we are supposed to live with our fingers pressed against our ears, or ear buds stuck inside our ears trying to avoid all of this?

We explored and came across a few destinations that would take you away from all the hustle and bustle.

After exploring some of the fantastic destinations mentioned below, book cheap airline tickets for some tranquility.

Anza Borrego Desert State Park, California

Anza Borrego Desert State Park is the largest state park in California.  With nearly five hundred miles of dirt roads, wilderness areas, and miles of hiking trails, it offers visitors an unparalleled opportunity to experience the wonders of the California Desert.

Visitors say that the only sound heard, is from endangered Borrego sheep, golden eagles, iguanas and a flowing watercourse in the park.

 

 

Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Cape Cod, often referred to as simply “The Cape”, is a peninsula in the eastern most portion of the state of Massachusetts. Cape Cod has been the home to the Wampanoag tribe of Native Americans for many centuries.

Cape Cod is a land at sea with more than 500 miles of coast and beaches. The most common sound is water splashing on the beaches.

 

Hoh River Valley Forest, Washington

The Hoh River Valley extends from the foothills of Mount Olympus to the Pacific Ocean.

Located deep within the rainforests of Olympic National Park, it is, perhaps the largest roadless area in the United States.

The Hoh is home of the “One Square Inch Silence Project,” a fight to preserve just a single inch of landscape from human sound. 

Visitors can be sure of one thing, they will encounter “peace” and “calmness”.

 

Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is the results of 70 million years of volcanism, migration, and evolution — processes that thrust a bare land from the sea, and clothed it with unique ecosystems, and a distinct human culture.

The extraordinary natural diversity of the park was recognized in 1980 when it was named by UNESCO as a World Biosphere site, and in 1987, when UNESCO again honored the park as a World Heritage site. 

So, remove those ear buds and get yourself  a cheap travel deal  to explore these beautiful and great places.

Images Sourced from: www.wikipedia.com

Budget Friendly Beach Towns

If your idea of a dream vacation is to lounge on a beach chair at a quaint beach town versus heading off to the Maldives and St.Tropez, CheapOair has got a few budget travel beach vacation tips for you!

We decided to put together some really cool budget beach towns where you can relax, enjoy and have fun without denting your budget.

Grab your bags, get to packing and buy those cheap airline tickets you saw on the net. Soak up the sun, chill out on the sand and spalsh in the ocean.

Newport, Rhode Island

Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County. Rhode Island has long been known as a New England summer resort and is famous for the Newport Mansions.

Aquidneck Island is home to many beautiful beaches, most public and a few private. In Newport, the largest public beach, Easton’s beach or First Beach, both have a view of the famed Cliff Walk. Second Beach, in neighboring Middletown, is a fantastic beach for waves, a definite surfer’s beach. The area has beaches for every budget, from exclusive ones, to free, so that no one misses out on the fun.

 

Mexico Beach, Florida

Located in the Florida panhandle, Mexico Beach is a community on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico. The little town boasts a variety of hotels, rental houses and RV parks. During your stay, you can enjoy various activities like swimming, kayaking, fishing, recreational diving, eco-tours or just relax. The area is lined with number of budget restaurants, either on the beach or across the street. When you are in Mexico Beach, you are always within walking distance of the water.

Port Aransas, Texas

Port Aransas was a favorite for pirates in the early 1800’s. Captain Jean Lafitte and his hearty band of buccaneers spent lots of time on the Texas coast. Port Aransas is a city in Nueces County, Texas and has now become a multi-million dollar fishing, beach and resort village. Summer populations sometimes swell to 60,000 or more. It’s also become a well known college spring-break destination. If you’re traveling with family, once you arrive, the kids can explore the vast expanses of the coastline collecting shells while you sit back and relax.

Jekyll Island, Georgia

Jekyll Island is an island off the coast of the U.S. state of Georgia, in Glynn County and is one of the Sea Islands and one of the Golden Isles of Georgia. The beaches are frequented by vacationers and offer plethora of activities like bike trails, walks along the beaches and sandbars and Summer Waves to name a few.

Jekyll Island’s 10 miles of unspoiled beaches are perfect for sunbathing or swimming, for leisurely walks or refreshing jogs.

Folly Beach, South Carolina

Commonly referred by the locals as “Edge of America”. From picturesque sunrises and sunsets, to rich history, good food and expansive beaches, Folly Beach provides essentials to give visitors a new awareness of this unique and charming island town. Folly Beach is part of the Charleston metro area. Originally called Folly Island, Folly Beach is primarily a residential and family vacation beach. It has numerous restaurants, clubs and bars to cater to its visitors.

So are you ready to soak yourself in the sun in these budget-friendly beach towns.

Images sourced from: www.wikipedia.com

Travel to off-beat attractions in Florida

Florida has long been known in the travel circuit for its year round sunshine and glitzy theme parks like Walt Disney Park.
But beyond these attractions there are several off-beat attractions that are scattered about the state.
So book flights to Orlando in Florida as we explore these off-beat attractions which would leave you gaping with surprise and astonishment.

The Monkey Jungle

“The humans are caged and monkey runs free in the wild” this what the attraction says. Home to nearly 400 primates, most of them run free on a 30 acre reserve. It is one of the few protected habitats for endangered primates in the United States and the only one that the general public can explore.
There are dozens of species of primates in Monkey Jungle orangutans, gibbons, howlers, spider monkeys and squirrel monkeys.
The Wild Monkey Swimming Pool is a good place to just hang out, sit in the shade and watch the monkey’s splash and attack each other.

St. Augustine Old Jail

The jail was built by the same company that later built Alcatraz and was bankrolled by oil-and-railroad billionaire Henry Flager. The pink exterior has been restored and the prison again looks the way it did originally. It use to house convicts until 1953 after which it was transformed into a tourist attraction.
The guided tour led by the jailers includes a close-up view of the men’s and women’s cells, as well as a collection of weapons.
It’s a complete fun and learning outing for adults and children.

The Coral Castle

Coral Castle is a stone structure created by the Latvian American eccentric Edward Leedskalnin north of the city of Homestead, Florida. The structure comprises of numerous megalithic stones each weighing several tons. The grounds of Coral Castle consist of 1,100 tons of stones found in the forms of walls, carvings, furniture and a castle tower. The stones are fastened together without any mortar.
Many of the features and carvings of the castle are notable like the nine-ton revolving gate which is one of the most famous structures of the castle.

United States Astronaut Hall of Fame

Located in Titusville, Florida it features the world’s largest collection of personal astronaut memorabilia, focusing on those astronauts who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame, as well as spacecraft.
Among the Hall of Fames displays are two spacecrafts Sigma 7, the Mercury spacecraft piloted by Wally Schirra which orbited the Earth six times in 1962 and CSM Kitty Hawk, the Command Module used in the Apollo 14 spaceflight to the Moon.
Kids can try their hands at being an astronaut at the Astronaut Adventure room which acts as a simulator.

So now you can try your hands at something other than beaches, sun and theme parks while visiting Florida.

Images sourced from: www.wikipedia.com

Great Travel Getaways for Seniors

Age should not be a deciding factor and never stop you especially when it comes to traveling and exploring the beautiful destinations. Those with a passion for travel and are seniors should still be able to travel with zest, comfort and safety.
Senior travel has seen a lot of increase in traffic in the recent years and we are not talking about traveling to meet your grand children, but exploring the beauty of beaches, hiking and road trips.

So pack your bags and find some cheap airline tickets as we explore some great getaways for Senior Travel.

Soaking the Sun in Bahamas

The Bahamas is a tropical island chain in the Caribbean. The Bahamas is blessed with clear, turquoise waters that are home to ancient shipwrecks and a rainbow of coral reefs teeming with fish. The islands offers the senior travels with a wide array of options ranging from the islands’ bustling straw markets to haggle over spices, ceramics, handicrafts and local art to experiencing the experience the age-old traditions and legends of the islands at local cultural celebrations amidst costumes, food and song.

Recreation in a RV

In North America the term recreational vehicle, and its acronym RV, are generally used to refer to a vehicle equipped with living space and amenities found in a home.  The RV trips each year venture into regions such as southeastern California’s deserts, spectacular mountains on the Lewis and Clark route and Southern Texas’s Big Bend in the winter where wildlife and hot springs are abound.

Cruising the Rockies in a BMW

The Rocky Mountains of Canada are a vast land – filled with inspiring scenery, wildlife, a multitude of recreational activities for all ages and a lot of unique opportunities. There is no better way to explore the panoramic Canadian Rockies then from behind the wheels of a BMW.
The experience offers you an opportunity to witness the extravagantly beautiful vista of neighboring peaks stretching off into the endless blue sky and glimpses of picturesque Alpine lakes and grassy meadows.

Fishing at the Azores Islands

Situated at some distance from Lisbon and the European west coast the archipelago of the Azores was discovered during the first half of the 15th-century by Portuguese navigators.
The visitors to this place are spell bound by the sapphire blue and emerald green lakes, fertile prairies, volcanic cones and craters, colorful hydrangeas and azaleas, 15th century churches and majestic manor houses. The area is far less expensive than most European vacations, so it’s a perfect option for budget travelers as well. Fishing is a big industry here for locals and tourists you have the luxury to trawl, jig, do bottom fishing or live bait fishing.

Hope we have been able to give you some reasons to start celebrating your senior years.
Bon Voyage!!

Great Travel getaways for Yoga and Meditation

With increasing number of tourists every year new avenues of travel are coming into existence. One such popular avenue is Spiritual Travel i.e travelling for spiritual activities like yoga and meditation.
From yoga sessions to stay in ashrams spiritual travel has opened new avenues for the discerning traveler looking for peace and relaxation.
So pack your bags, get some cheap airline tickets as we explore some of the best getaways offering this opportunity.

Maya Spa Wellness Center, Mexico

Its located one and a half hours south of Cancun. The center is a perfect tropical retreat to stimulate your senses and immerse yourself in explorations of your body’s wisdom. The setting of the holistic spa and its idyllic surroundings offer the perfect antidote to high stressed city life. The properties of earth, wind, fire and water are combined to purify the mind, body and soul.
Its also offers yoga lessons in private or group ensuring that you have the perfect start your day.

Shoshoni Yoga Retreat, Colorado

Shoshoni Yoga Retreat is a premier yoga teacher training school. The yoga retreat center and residential ashram is located in the Colorado Rockies near Boulder, Colorado. The Retreat aims at assisting people in understanding and experiencing their true nature through the practice of yoga and immersion in a yogic lifestyle.
Located amidst the mountains of Colorado Rockies, Shoshoni is an ashram run by a resident staff of dedicated yogis who lend their skills in vegetarian cooking, yoga, meditation and music.

Green Gulch Farm Zen Center, California

Green Gulch Farm Zen Center, also known as Green Dragon Temple, is a Buddhist practice center in the Japanese Soto Zen tradition offering training in Zen meditation.
In addition to meditation retreats, offerings include classes and workshops on the Japanese tea ceremony and gardening.
Conveniently located in Marin County, just north of San Francisco, in a valley that opens out onto the Pacific Ocean besides the program of zen and study, it includes an organic farm and garden, as well as a guest house and conference center.

COMO Shambhala Retreat, Turks and Caicos

The Como Shambhala Retreat believes strongly in the policy of healthy eating, exercise and self-development. Shambhala, a Sanskrit word for ‘the sacred place of bliss’ offers a full range of experiences designed to challenge and inspire us to greater wellbeing.
The idyllic setting gives you a perfect opportunity to explore your body, mind and soul.

These getaways offer you with a perfect opportunity to uplift your mind and soul through yoga and meditation sessions.

Great Night Time Adventures

Nightlife is not all about partying, dancing and clubs anymore. With adventure becoming a popular catch phrase today in terms of travel industry, even the nightlife cannot remain untouched from it.
Today we explore some of the coolest adventures that happen under the starlit sky when the sun begins to set.
So get some cheap airline tickets and make sure that you do not miss out on the fun.

Kayaking at the San Juan Islands, Washington

Specialized packages are offered to adventure lovers which include multi-day kayaking adventure in San Juan Islands.  Washington’s legendary San Juan Islands are a kayaker’s paradise blessed with gorgeous scenery and incredible wildlife, including orca whales, Dall’s porpoise, harbor seals and bald eagles.
The adventure offers you an opportunity to visit the uninhabited Posey Island, paddling the shoreline past seals and sea stars and exploring the waters of surrounding islands.

Hiking the Jungle, Belize

Black Rock Lodge an eco-resort in the Cayo District of Belize offers an approximately two hours of guided tour to explore the depths of the jungle looking for wildlife. Many of Belize’s animals are nocturnal. The guided tour aims at introducing you to the wildlife that only come out at night.

In past people have confirmed citing various nocturnal animals like tarantulas, kinkajous, snakes, owls, northern potoos, common paraques, tyras, quatimundis and more.

Orienteering: Finding your way, Minnesota

Orienteering is the skill of finding one’s way through a series of checkpoints on an unfamiliar course using a map and a compass. Typically a course is set in a wilderness area and the participants are timed as they complete it. The night orienteering allows only a map and compass as your guide, en route to finding checkpoint flags hidden in dark woods.

Ski under the stars at Keystone, Colorado

Keystone in Colorado also offers “sunset” skiing on 15 lighted trails.  So when the sun does go down and most of the people take refuge in firewood lit warm rooms you have the opportunity to explore the area under the stars.
Keystone has the largest night operations in Colorado. Here you can watch the sun set on a pair of skis while cruising down a freshly groomed A51 terrain park. It’s for you to decide when your ski day ends and when apres ski begins.

So whether you choose hiking, kayaking or orienteering all  aim at a great way to experience a destination. A true adrenaline rushing experience in the dark.

Images sourced from: www.wikipedia.com

Great Family Vacation with Dolphins

A vacation is a time to take break from the hectic schedule and stress out, soaking yourself in comfort and activities to rejuvenate yourself.
One of the best ways to beat the stress is swimming and when you have dolphins as companion you know you are in for loads of fun.
We have carefully selected some the best locations which give you the opportunity to do so.

Dolphin Plus, Key Largo

Dolphin Plus is committed to the conservation and protection of marine mammals worldwide. Dolphins Plus offers a variety of daily Dolphin Swims and a Sea Lion Swim to individuals of all ages. Unlike many other dolphin facilities that limit a swim with dolphins program to a shallow water encounter, they provide a unique opportunity to enter dolphin’s homes for a true swimming with dolphins experience. You can participate in a variety of one-on-one dolphin encounters or sea-lion interactions, under the guidance of highly trained staff.

Discovery Cove, Florida

Discovery Cove is part of the SeaWorld group of properties. The highlight of a visit to Discovery Cove is the opportunity to swim with a bottlenose dolphin during a 30-minute interactive adventure. Accompanied by a trainer, groups of six to eight guests wade into shallow water and become acquainted with their dolphin through hugs, kisses and rubdowns. Then you can enjoy the exciting dorsal fin tow ride back to shore.
To visit thee unique aquatic theme park you need to schedule your visit in advance as they only allow entry to 1000 visitors per day.

Dolphin Discovery Cayman, Grand Cayman

Located directly across from Botswain’s Beach Turtle Farm in the West Bay area of Grand Cayman, Dolphin Discovery Cayman is 10km from George Town.
It offers three programs for participants: The Royal Dolphin Swim, Dolphin Swim Adventure, and Dolphin Lover’s Swim. All participants can experience the “dolphin song” in which these gentle mammals serenade their audience with their unique clicking noises. As well, there is plenty of opportunity for free time with the dolphins where participants can swim at their own leisure in each of the swim programs.

So pack your bags and get the travel deal to experience a vacation truly up, close and personal with nature.

Image sourced from: www.wikipedia.com

Travel to great Historical Destinations

People have always shown their keen interest in historical and cultural travel. Ever since tourism has existed people have been flocking historical sites. The greatest constructions of mankind attract millions of tourists to remote corners of the world.

So get a travel deal and book some cheap airline tickets as we get ready to explore these wonders.

Chichen Itza, Mexico

It is a large pre-Columbian archaeological site built by the Maya civilization located in the northern center of the Yucatan Peninsula, in the Yucatan state, present-day Mexico. The site exhibits a multitude of architectural styles, from what is called “Mexicanized” and reminiscent of styles seen in central Mexico to the Puuc style found among the Puuc Maya of the northern lowlands.

The Maya name “Chichen Itza” means “At the mouth of the well of the Itza”. The site contains many fine stone buildings in various states of preservation.

Great Serpent Mound, Ohio

The Great Serpent Mound is a 1,330-foot-long, three-foot-high prehistoric effigy mound located on a plateau of the Serpent Mound crater along Ohio Brush Creek in Adams County, Ohio.
The Serpent mound is the largest effigy mound in the world. While there are several burial mounds around the Serpent mound site, the Serpent itself does not contain any human remains and was not constructed for burial purposes.
Built by Adena culture in southern Ohio its one of the most important remaining Native American earthworks.

Machu Picchu, Peru

No historical tour would be ever complete without including one of the greatest wonder of world in the list. Machu Picchu was constructed around 1462, at the height of the Inca Empire. It was abandoned less than 100 years later.
The space is composed of 140 structures or features, including temples, sanctuaries, parks and residences that include houses with thatched roofs. There are more than one hundred flights of stone steps–often completely carved from a single block of granite and a great number of water fountains that are interconnected by channels and water drains perforated in the rock that were designed for the original irrigation system.

Tulum, Mexico

Tulum is the site of a Pre-Columbian Maya walled city serving as a major port for Coba. The ruins are located along the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. One of the best-preserved coastal Maya sites, Tulum is today a popular site for tourists.

Among some of the more spectacular buildings at the site is the Temple of the Frescoes that has figurines of the Maya “diving god” or Venus deity within the facade of temple.

Do let us know of your experience in case you visited any of these sites.

Images Sourced from: www.wikipedia.com

Top Destinations for Extreme Adventure

How far would you go for adventure, to break the shackles of normal routine of life and experience the rush of adrenaline.
I am sure after reading through our list of extreme sports destinations, the only thing on your mind would be to get a travel deal and experience the thrill of it. Afterall it cannot get any extreme than this.

The Weightless Experience – Zero G, Las Vegas

Defying the rules of gravity has always been fascinating and am sure many of us would love to experience this feeling.
The Zero G in Las Vegas offers you this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience true weightlessness.  It’s a must see for those interested in adventure tourism and space.

• On a specially modified Boeing 727, parabolic arcs are performed to create a weightless environment allowing you to float, flip and soar as if you were in space.
• The experience includes 12-15 parabolas, your own flight suit, a Regravitation Celebration, certificate of weightless completion, photos and video of your unique experience.

Riding the Ice -Lake Placid, New York

Lake Placid is not an unknown destination for adventure seekers. In 1980 the world’s attention was focused to Lake Placid when it hosted the Winter Olympics.  The venue has played host to “Miracle on Ice” when the 1980 U.S. Hockey team pulled off one of the biggest sports upsets in history by defeating the Soviet Union.

• During the months of July and August the public is invited to come inside for an evening of ice skating on one of the Olympic Center’s four ice surfaces.
• The daring ones can choose Bobsled Ride with a professional driver and brakeman down the state-of-the-art competition track at the Olympic Sports Complex, custom-built for a safe, comfortable, exhilarating ride of a lifetime.

Biking down the volcano – Maui, Hawaii, United States

The experience involves 28 miles of biking down Haleakala Crater, an extinct volcano. After sunrise on the extinct volcano, hop on your bike and descend from approximately 10,000 feet.You can bike down the Haleakala Crater with professional Maui tour guides.

Whilst trailing down the crater the view is extremely picturesque ranging from the views of West Maui Mountains to Maui’s small upcountry communities of Makawao, Hailiimaile and Paia.

Biking down a dormant volcano measuring 10,000 feet above sea level, now that’s real thrill.

Do let us know about your experience at any of these extreme destinations or of any other extreme sports that you would like to know about.

Images Sourced from: www.wikipedia.com

Travel to off-beat destinations

With the increase in stress levels due to work and hectic life, many are packing off to lesser known destinations. The offbeat destination promises to fulfill your craving for a vacation that would take you along a path less known and would help you discover a new realm altogether.
We have handpicked some of these lesser know travel destinations.
So get your back-packs, find some cheap airline tickets and get ready to explore.

Bolivia

This landlocked country boasts of the soaring peaks of Cordillera Real around Sorata, the hallucinogenic salt flats of Uyuni, the steamy jungles of the Amazon Basin and wildlife-rich grasslands of the Southeast. Bolivia is slowly emerging on travel radar, though it now has upscale hotels and international-standard restaurants. But to a large extent once here you would encounter long bus journeys along mountain passes, rough-and-tumble jeep trips across empty landscapes and chilly nights in low-frills hotels.

Paraguay

Paraguay is a country of fascinating contrasts and boasts of exotic natural reserves and massive man-made dams. Paraguay really is the forgotten country of Latin America, as very few people live there and very few people go there. Most of its architecture dates back to the nineteenth century, when some charismatic dictators established the Paraguayan identity. The country’s main sights are the countless waterfalls that are really worth a visit, but also some impressive Jesuit missions, several national parks and of course the plains, swamps and forests of the Gran Chaco.

Chile

Chile can be described as land of extremes. As a traveler you would be really spoilt for choices ranging from climbing an active volcano to running white-water rapids or paddling through ice-carved fjords. Hitchhiking in Chile is a common adventure, given enough time and patience. It is seen as a common form of travel for tourists or young. The main attractions for tourists are places of natural beauty situated in the extreme zones of the country: San Pedro de Atacama, in the north, is very popular with foreign tourists who arrive to admire the Incaic architecture, lakes and the Valley of the Moon.

These lesser known destination offer nice and a quiet place to get away. Do share your experiences with us!

Image sourced from: www.wikipedia.com

Great Destinations for Voluntourism

Travelling industry’s evolving nature has seen new brands of travelling coming up and the one climbing the popularity charts rapidly is voluntourism.

A perfect way to contribute to the society while travelling and the opportunities are endless – being part of an archaeological digs or teaching, you would be spoilt for options.

Basics of the Travel:

Skills: Voluntourism is a way to contribute to the society as well as great opportunity to develop your skill set. Make sure that you choose a program that gives you an opportunity to do both.

Location: Most of the opportunities are in developing countries. So it’s necessary to set your expectations accordingly. Carefully scan about the options that would be available in terms of food and lodging.

The Differences: Voluntourism exposes you to different cultures it goes without saying that you need to be open minded enough to accept and respect these differences.

Here is my choice list for Voluntourism

Archeological Digs in Inca

If history is what interests you, an archaeological dig at Inca would be a perfect choice. Its a great learning oppurtunity where you get to discover and learn about the pre-Hispanic, Incan agricultural terraces, roads and ancient walls.

Conserve the nature at Alaska

The wilderness of Alaska is home to thriving populations of North American wildlife. Voluntourism would help save animals and ecosystems of the area and could vary from trail maintenance, research, plant conservation etc.

Teaching at Orphanages

Teaching as part of voluntourism is good opportunity to impart to the society and people. You would have numerous options to do so in developing countries like Cambodia, Brazil etc. Teaching English, play sports or generally educating them about the world the options are endless.

Spreading Awareness

You can choose to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS through educational projects that teach about safe sex and HIV prevention, and provide care and support specially areas which are badly impacted by it. The option might lead you to developing countries in Africa like Ghana.

So it’s time that we pack our bags find a good travel deal and contribute to a cause.

Image sourced from: www.wikipedia.com