Five Places to Meet the Presidents

With President’s Day coming up this weekend, many people may find it interesting to learn more about our former Presidents. For those interested in the life and history of the former presidents, visiting their former homes and libraries will offer an inside look into the lives of those who served as the nation’s leader.

According to CNN Travel, from simple log cabins to expansive estates, the presidential homes and the associated historic sites are open to the public. So, what are you waiting for? Visit these historic homes this President Day Weekend for an insight into lives of these former U.S. presidents.

Lincoln Birthplace in Hodgenville, Kentucky

1. Lincoln Birthplace

The Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site in Hodgenville, Kentucky features a replica of the log cabin where Lincoln was born.

2. Reagan library

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, California, houses all Reagan’s official presidential papers, records along with personal objects such as his sweater, movie memorabilia from his film career and even a glass jelly bean jar.

3. Mount Vernon

Visitors to Mount Vernon, Virginia can tour the carefully restored mansion, hike the nature trail or explore personal artifacts in a vast state-of-the-art museum on the grounds.

4. Jackson’s Hermitage

Visitors touring Jackson’s Hermitage can tour the mansion, stroll the formal gardens and see the original log cabin where the Jacksons lived for a time.

5. FDR’s home

The Franklin D. Roosevelt complex of sites in Hyde Park, New York features the lifelong home of a president, a museum and official presidential library all within walking distance of each other.

10 Best Romantic Islands Inns and Resorts

Looking for that ideal romantic hideaway this Valentine season? Whisk honey for that ideal romantic retreat at one of these lovey-dovey retreats.

Petit St. Vincent, Grenadines

The two hundred elegantly decorated cottages along the sun-kissed island in Caribbean offer an ideal setting and everything else that you need for that unforgettable romantic getaway.

The Inn on Peaks Island, Maine

The Inn is situated amidst all the fun and excitement of Casco Bay, two miles from downtown Portland. The Inn features six pleasantly furnished suites with fireplaces, private decks and spa tubs.

The Inn at Mama’s Fish House, Maui, Hawaii

Ideally located on Maui’s North Shore, the Inn has in store for couples a handful of cottages, equipped with great amenities.

The Collier Inn, Useppa Island, Florida

The 80-acre island on which the Inn is located is only accessible only by water and can be explored mostly by golf cart, contains neither cars nor roads. The Inn comprises seven antiques-filled suites.

Hotel del Coronado and Glorietta Bay Inn, Coronado Island, California

The beachfront hotel features thoughtfully appointed rooms in both the old and the new style.

English Country Garden B&B, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia

The English Country Garden Bed & Breakfast provides comfortable and luxurious rooms which include a tiny, secluded log cottage with a porch overlooking a small lake.

Casita de Maya, Cozumel, Mexico

Casita de Maya provides the perfect headquarters for a getaway. The four rooms at the cottage feature beautifully appointed in earthy colors, open onto a pretty little courtyard with a pool.

MacKaye Harbor Inn, Lopez Island, Washington

The MacKaye Harbor Inn, in a huge restored farmhouse near the south end of the Lopez Island is a great place for your next romantic getaway.

A Water’s Edge Retreat, Kelleys Island, Ohio

The bed-and-breakfast features bright coral-and-aqua exteriors along with traditional and refined rooms.

Jekyll Island Club Hotel, Jekyll Island, Georgia

The Jekyll Island Club Hotel occupies the clubhouse and several other historic buildings, including a couple of the cottages, keeping up the standards splendidly.

Economy Won’t Stop You From Taking a Spring Break!

The slow economy hasn’t stopped students from planning a spring vacation to their favorite hotspots. According to travel companies, the spring break bookings are continue to gain momentum as the students plan their once in a lifetime trip. Jason Chute, director of operations for StudentCity.com said, “A lot of times kids will go no matter what.”

Cancun and Jamaica are some of the most popular student spring break destinations, while Acapulco is a top pick for students and sun-downers who love to hang out late till night. Demands for trips to Asia and Australia are on a rise amongst those looking an adventure vacation.  Panama City Beach, Fla. Continues to be a top destination among college crowds and is once again the beach hosts mtvU’s Spring Break party March 8-21.

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Spectacular Holiday Light Displays

Holiday season is the most joyous time of the year. It’s time to celebrate with friends, family and relatives. Some prefer it spending hosting parties at home, while others, the outdoorsy types love to spend holidays away from it all! But, whether its Christmas at home or outside, light displays are one of the most exciting part of holiday celebrations; they’re free, they’re enchanting, and they require nothing of us, other than that we take a few minutes to enjoy them. Here are some of the world’s most dazzling light displays for you to enjoy:

Walt Disney World: Orlando

The annual celebrations at Hollywood Studios—known as “The Osborne Dancing Christmas Lights”- is truly enchanting.

Town Hall Building: Brussels

The 15th-century building on Brussels’ Grand Place turns out to be even more spectacular when illuminated every night during the month of December. The lightings here are accompanied by soft music. The ambiance is intoxicating!

Silver Dollar City: Branson, Missouri

The theme park of Silver Dollar City is already decked out for holidays. But the most enchanting of all is the nightly light-and-music show of its five-story Special Effects Christmas Tree. The tree is lit with thousands of glittering lights making it appear as if a dazzling star in the night sky.

Tivoli Gardens: Copenhagen

Tivoli Gardens is one of the oldest amusement parks in Europe. The entire park is turned into a Christmas village during the holidays.  The rides, concert hall, market stalls and willow trees are all decorated with blinking lights.

Palacio de Comunicaciones: Madrid

Palacio de Comunicaciones is Madrid’s City Hall that hosts a light-show spectacle that rivals the July Fourth celebrations in the New York City.

Harbour City: Kowloon, Hong Kong

Kowloon’s Harbour City is truly one of Asia’s best places to indulge in Christmas celebrations.  A shopper’s paradise with over 700-plus stores, Harbour City gets even more alluring during the Christmas when everything sparkles with thousands of twinkling lights.

Micronesia Mall: Dededo, Guam

The “Holiday Lights Experience” at Micronesia Mall is something that you shouldn’t miss. The show is centered around a 35-foot artificial tree, incorporating thousands of music-synched blinking lights.

10 Great Places to Celebrate Christmas

Christmas is a busy time of year as many of us hitting the roads and taking to the skies. The holidays can be a time to visit family, but a few people will choose to get AWAY from it all! If you aren’t the sort who wants to spend Christmas Day hosting relatives or hanging out at a friend’s house, here is just a sampler of some of the top Christmas destinations for you to target:

Las Vegas: Vegas is undoubtedly one of the top places to celebrate till the heart’s desire. Will festivities full swing and entertainment attractions galore; you’ll have a blast celebrating here. To top it all, the hotels too offer visually stunning decorations.

Disneyland, Orlando: For families there is no better place than Disney to celebrate Christmas. With fantastic decorations all across the park and the hotels too decorate tastefully, Disney’s charm is truly magical!!!

New York: The Times Square, the spectacular Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center and the amazing Christmas window displays at Macy’s make New York one of the most desirable Christmas travel destinations.

Honolulu, Oahu: The island of Oahu is one of the best visited winter destinations, full of warm and welcoming traditional culture and scenic natural beauty. While festivities at Oahu include Concert, Parades and live performances, Honolulu dazzles with spectacular light displays and Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremonies.

Bay of Islands, New Zealand: The Bay of Islands comprises some of the world’s most breathtaking natural scenery with more than 150 different small islands and secluded beaches, and you can plan your stay at small and cozy villas overlooking the azure blue waters of the ocean.

Meran, Southern Tirol Italy: Meran ranks amongst the world’s most popular ski destinations. Meran’s old town center was built during the 13th century and is offers excellent and shopping and dining experiences over the Christmas break.

Mexico City: Mexico City celebrates Christmas in its own way. Christmas customs here are an eclectic mixture of the old and the new, including elements from Europe, others developed in Mexico, and in recent years elements borrowed from the U.S.A.

Goa, India: Goans celebrate the arrival of the Magi with nine days of fireworks and partying. Crowds congregate to watch three boys in glittering costumes chosen as kings make their way to church on white horses. The fun culminates in The Feast of the Three Kings (Jan. 6), which is celebrated enthusiastically by both Christians and Hindus.

Boston USA: Boston’s old world feel with historic architecture and cobblestoned streets make it a real treat celebrating Christmas here!

Edinburgh, Scotland: Edinburgh is one of the best places to watch Christmas festivities in its full swing. Indulge in Christmas shopping and dining and watch spectacular firework displays at night.

Christmas Travel: Gift Ideas for Travelers

As a traveler you might have gifted your loved ones with something special that you have bought at your last destination. But, it’s time when you need to gift something really special – something that a fellow traveler will cherish forever. So, here are some gift ideas (from budget to little pricey) for all those pondering over, what to give away this Christmas:

GIFTS UNDER $25

Zagat Guide

Zagat guide combines all the valuable inputs, feedbacks and honest opinions on everything from restaurant ambience to quality of food, give travelers a great way to get to know a place before they spend their money there. Now Zagat is also coming up with reviews on hotels, resorts, spas and nightlife. Prices start from $4.95 each.

Space Bag

Space bags are ideal giveaways to those going out with lots of clothes in their luggage. These bags reduce the air between clothes and trim down the volume of sweaters, jeans and other soft objects by 75 percent. Price: $19.95

UNDER $50

Personal UV Germ Finder

This device from TravelSmith helps the hygiene- conscious travelers to detect even tiny traces of bacteria and viruses, allowing its user to “see” germs. Just turn off the lights, point the Germ Finder and then avoid all objects with soiled spots and stains. Price: $49.75.

UNDER $100

Magellan’s Gift Certificate

You can also give a gift certificate from Magellan’s that will a fellow traveler to choose from whatever he thinks is useful. Magellan’s has hundreds of options, from wrinkle-free clothes to language translators and luggage. Price from: $100.

UNDER $500

Track Your Travels Lighted World Map

Let your loved ones display their travel history with this world map. The map comes with 60 colorful pegs that are lit from behind by two 32-watt bulbs; the pegs light up as your recipient places them into each destination! Travelers can highlight where they’ve been or want to be! Price: $250

The ULTIMATE GIFT

What’s the best gift that you can give a traveler? It’s indeed a trip! You can check out the all inclusive deals less than $499 roundtrip at CheapOair and choose from destinations that you friend is planning of visiting. If you’re buying for a picky traveler and are reluctant to choose his or her destination, many airlines and hotels offer flexible gift cards.

This Winter Enjoy America’s National Parks – Without Crowds

Most travelers plan their trip to America’s national parks during summer holidays – when these places are experiencing the peak season. But, think how these places would be with fewer crowds, when hotels too offer lower prices? There are national parks where you can have a great visiting experience even in the winter months because they are located in regions that have mild winter temperatures and ample of sunshine.

You can plan a trip to the Virgin Islands National Park, that sees a lot of tourists even in winter months, or visit the Yellowstone National Park, where five percent of the three million annual guests come during the winter months. On your trip to the park you could be fortunate enough to watch an eruption of Yellowstone’s Old Faithful geyser and that too with few other guests.

In central Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave National Park, you can take a ranger-guided cave tour with less people as compared to taking a tour with 60-70 people during the peak summer season. Adventure enthusiasts shouldn’t miss the heart pumping winter sports at the Yellowstone National Park, where you can ski, snowshoe and snowmobile amid steaming geysers or even take a narrated tour that includes a winter view of the Grand Canyon.

Other good option is visiting the rugged Pacific beach of Olympic National Park, surrounded by the thundering sound of waves crashing ashore. One should consider, there are limited public facilities and lodging options available during the winter months.