Editor’s note: This piece is part of a series of “city smackdowns” pitting rival cities against each other and letting you decide which one’s best. Check back tomorrow for an equally passionate argument for Tampa, Florida, site of the Republican National Convention. Then visit CNN iReport to defend your city of choice!
The laughter of old men playing chess in a courtyard.
The music from Alive after Five, a weekly summer outdoor concert series that draws hundreds of young professionals looking to loosen their ties and unwind after work.
The roar of the fans at Bank of America Stadium, where Panthers quarterback sensation Cam Newton has just breathed life into a good-as-dead team.
iReport: Share photos and tips for Charlotte
The drone of the ever-present street sweeper, keeping the city as sparkling as its skyscrapers.
The soft breeze rustling the blooming trees of spring.
The silence on a hot summer day when most Charlotteans flee the city for the cooling relief of Lake Norman, just 20 minutes north.
I last stood at that intersection in the center of the city more than two years ago, right before I moved to Atlanta. I thought foolishly then that I needed a bigger city.
The truth is, I’ve never missed Charlotte more.
iReport: Share photos and tips for Tampa
The people
I grew up in Northern Virginia, which — if you’re from the D.C. area — you know is not really the South, despite its geographical location below the Mason-Dixon line. Southern, I am not. I take my tea unsweet, still haven’t acquired a taste for collards and find it physically impossible for my mouth to form the word “y’all.”
So why did I fall in love with Charlotte, North Cackalacky?
A former colleague of mine at The Charlotte Observer once wrote that the best icebreaker question in Charlotte is, “Where are you from?”
The region, with 1.8 million residents, is teeming with newcomers, making it a melting pot of accents and cultures.
City smackdown: New York vs. Los Angeles
In my group of friends, we hailed from Iowa, Indiana, New York, Boston and Michigan. Out of all of us, only one was part of the increasingly endangered species known as native Charlotteans.
A big part of the draw is Charlotte’s banking institutions. The city is home to Bank of America, and Wells Fargo’s East Coast offices are headquartered there. But the mild year-round weather and its proximity to the beach and the mountains — Charleston’s just three hours away and Asheville a mere two — are what entice people to lay down roots.
Destination USA: Miami beyond the beaches
The food
The diversity of Charlotte’s residents makes for an equally eclectic restaurant scene.
My favorite Indian restaurant to date is Copper, in the streetcar suburb of Dilworth. When I crave a burger, I immediately think of Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar. On a cold winter night, nothing warms you up like the chicken and dumplings at Dish in the funky neighborhood of Plaza Midwood, where tattooed and pierced waiters serve up comfort food with a side of sass.
Have a sweet tooth? My mouth still waters at the thought of the salted caramel brownies at Amelie’s French Bakery in the NoDa (North Davidson) Historic Arts District. Open 24/7, the Parisian-style bakery is typically filled with local entrepreneurs and college students sipping coffee and munching on pastries over their laptops.
I could begin a debate about how Eastern North Carolina-style barbecue is superior to all others, but that’s another column. Instead, if you’re in Charlotte, get a pork barbecue plate at Bill Spoon’s, a local institution in south Charlotte since 1963. When its namesake owner died in 2007, it prompted an outpouring of condolences from the community. Spoon’s grandson still operates the restaurant, keeping up Bill’s legacy of good ‘cue and better service.
And finally, no visit to Charlotte is complete without stopping at Price’s Chicken Coop for the best fried chicken you will ever eat. Walk across the street and grab a spot on the grass to savor the crispy decadence: There is no seating inside, and lines form long before the noon lunch hour. At your first bite, you’ll realize why actor-singer Lenny Kravitz said recently that the thing he misses most about filming “Hunger Games” in Charlotte is Price’s chicken.
North Carolina lures ‘Hunger Games’ fans
The lifestyle
I lived in Charlotte for five years, two of which were spent covering the city’s nightlife and entertainment scene for the newspaper. As part of my job, I attended concerts, took in touring Broadway plays, sipped cocktails at almost every local watering hole, partied with NASCAR drivers and Panthers players, and rubbed elbows with the city’s leaders at high-end charity events.
Since I’ve left, the number of attractions has grown even further, with the opening of the NASCAR Hall of Fame and a four-venue arts complex comprised of three museums and an intimate theater. The Levine Center for the Arts takes up an entire uptown block, and each building is more visually stunning than the last.
But the things I miss the most are running into friends at Target and Trader Joe’s, being on a first-name basis with local business owners and being within an easy 15-minute drive of almost everything.
This is the New South: Small-town charm and Southern hospitality are ever-present, but in a bustling, modern city with a lively arts and entertainment scene.
Come September, Charlotte will be on the world’s stage as an estimated 35,000 people, hundreds of news media and President Barack Obama descend on the city for the 2012 Democratic National Convention. It will easily be the biggest event to ever happen in Charlotte, whose local leaders have been consistently billing it as a world-class city worthy of such events. If you’re one of those attending the convention, you might find the intersection of Trade and Tryon too busy to stop and take it all in.
Charlotte, let this former resident be the first to congratulate you. You have arrived.
Tampa or Charlotte? Cast your vote above and share photos and support for your city on iReport.com.
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With $152.5 million opening weekend at the box office, the movie based on the New York Times bestseller by Suzanne Collins had the third best opening weekend of all time (and the best ever opening for a non-sequel), according to Hollywood.com. And its frenzied fans are already showing up at movie locations around the state to see where scenes were shot.
“People are obsessed with ‘The Hunger Games,’ ” says Marnee Revri, a Raleigh-based travel agent affiliated with Frosch Entertainment, who booked travel for the movie’s cast and crew and blogged about it. “I think there will be a bigger interest in people coming to visit, the same as the ‘Twilight’ movies. Kids are going to want to (see) where it was filmed.”
Find Katniss Everdeen’s hidden pond
Many scenes were filmed in the woods of DuPont State Forest, a 10,400-acre wilderness where waterfalls, lakes and fishing streams made ideal settings for the movie’s outdoor scenes. Fans are likely to follow forest trails in search of character Katniss Everdeen’s pond, the bottom of Triple Falls waterfall and the remnants of the fireball sequence. A hike to Hooker Falls, Triple Falls and High Falls is part of the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy’s eight-hike challenge. Rated “easy,” the 2.6-mile waterfall hike has an elevation gain of 160 feet. (Triple Falls also stars in Michael Mann’s movie “The Last of the Mohicans.”)
It’s true that the abandoned Henry River Mill Village, about 70 miles from Asheville in the small town of Hildebran, was home to the film’s “District 12″ Mellark family bakery and the Everdeens’ shanty. But it’s private property — so just look as you’re driving by — and respect any “No Trespassing” signs.
Party where the stars hung out
Parents of tweens and teens on this movie tour, take note. The movie’s stars spent their after-work hours in Asheville, a town you’ll enjoy independent of your child’s movie obsession. With its funky architecture, independent spirit and thriving restaurant and brewing scene, artsy Asheville didn’t need a movie to confirm its tourist appeal. Actors reportedly dined at the Laughing Seed Café, Lexington Avenue Brewery, Wasabi and the Southern Kitchen and Bar. They also stopped by Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, the local independent bookseller.
Cast member Woody Harrelson enjoyed the 46-foot rock-climbing wall at the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, which served as the capitol in the film. (The center will host the U.S. Olympic Trials for canoe slalom April 12-14.) Harrelson also enjoyed playing chess with locals at Amélie’s French bakery in Charlotte.
Not a “Hunger Games” fan?
You could still be inspired to learn some post-apocalyptic survival skills. If you’re in decent physical shape, learn to survive in the wilderness by taking courses at Nantahala Outdoor Center. Summer programs at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown include courses on cooking over an open fire, cooking with wild edibles, beekeeping and woodworking.
If you prefer the work of Patrick Swayze, Kevin Costner or Daniel Day Lewis, you’re in luck. “Dirty Dancing,” “Bull Durham” and “The Last of the Mohicans” were all shot in North Carolina. While your younger family members obsess on “The Hunger Games,” you can celebrate the 25th anniversary of “Dirty Dancing” this year with the 3rd annual Dirty Dancing Festival at Lake Lure (August 17-19).
Fans of the “Ironman” series can expect the third installment of the movie, which is in pre-production in Wilmington, to draw attention to that location. And with North Carolina’s tax incentives for productions filmed in the state, expect more movie and television shows to bring their projects there.
Make me a schedule
Don’t want to plan your entire trip yourself? The North Carolina Division of Tourism has made it easy for movie fans to make their “Hunger Games” plans. The office has a four-day itinerary and a list of 12 places to experience the movie.
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We consulted travel experts and real travelers to get their tips for making a long weekend holiday just as much fun — and just as satisfying — as a week-long vacation. The surprising thing? Our go-to advice for saving on hotels and airfare when on vacation could actually ruin your short trip.
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Mistake #1: Booking a hotel too far from the action
“I think this is the biggest mistake [that travelers make when planning short getaways],” says travel expert John E. DiScala of JohnnyJet.com, “It generally takes time to get to and from a city when you stay farther out, and you’re going to have to pay more for transport, too.” If you’re going to Disneyland for a short visit for example, he says, it’s worth paying extra to stay at a hotel right near the attractions.
The same goes for short city visits, too. “You could possibly save money by staying in Hoboken [New Jersey] if you go to New York and public transport into the city is not expensive,” he says, “But it will take more time — you have to factor that in and figure out if it’s worth it.”
So while, yes, saving money by staying a bit outside of town is usually smart advice, on short trips it’s a bad idea. After you do the math, chances are that even paying $50 more per night for a more centrally located hotel can end up being worth it for the time you’ll save.
Mistake #2: Checking a bag
Nothing is worse than arriving in Manchester, New Hampshire, and finding out that your bag is on its way to Manchester, England. It could take four days to get it back-meaning you’ll have it just in time to check it for your flight home.
With all the savvy packing tips out there, there’s usually no reason why you should check a suitcase for a short break.
“If it’s a warmer climate, it’s fairly easy to pack light,” says Mike Cooney of the Florida-based travel agency Cooney World Adventures. “But for colder climates you have the option of dressing in layers so you don’t have to pack as much in the actual bag itself.”
If you have sports equipment that must be checked (skis, a surfboard), consider shipping it ahead of time or, better yet, opt for rental gear instead. And checking a bag usually requires more time at the airport-instead you can spend more time seeing the sights and then head straight to security on the way home.
Budget Travel: 11 new hotel wonders
Mistake #3: Trying to make the most of every second
Instead of rushing between Chelsea and Midtown — two neighborhoods in opposite parts of town — to see five different art exhibitions during a short trip to New York City, your time might better be spent really delving into just one or two spots during your stay.
Figure out your goals for the trip ahead of time, says DiScala, and then schedule your activities accordingly. “Some people want to see it all, and others will go to Paris for a weekend and just want to hang at one café and soak in the culture,” he says.
And be realistic about what you can actually see in just a couple days. In the end it all comes down to personal preference — think about what you’re looking to get out of your getaway and what you and your travel partners can sanely handle. After all, the last thing you want is to come back from your vacation feeling like you need a vacation.
Mistake #4: Booking a flight with multiple connections
The flights that float to the top when you’re looking for cheap airfare on sites like Orbitz or Expedia are usually the ones that involve switching planes at an airline’s hub. It’s a fine way to save some dollars — until you find yourself spending extra hours on layovers and facing potential delays.
“It’s worth it to pay extra to get the nonstop option, especially when you have a short amount of time in a place,” says DiScala, who logs more than 150,000 air miles per year, “If there’s a cancellation or weather delays in a hub city, there goes your vacation.”
It’s also worth avoiding destinations that require various forms of transportation to reach, such as islands only accessible by an infrequent ferry or resorts that require a private shuttle ride (especially one that doesn’t depart until other passengers have arrived).
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Mistake #5: Winging it
On a recent girls getaway with four friends to Miami Beach, Janet Malin of Tampa, Florida, found herself wishing she’d figured out her group’s dining logistics ahead of time.
“We got to the hotel and had a few drinks by the pool, and next thing we knew it was time to go out for dinner,” she recalls, “But we hadn’t booked a table anywhere and couldn’t decide on a place we all wanted to hit.”
The group ended up wandering aimlessly around South Beach before settling on a random place. Sure, it’s hard to predict weeks in advance if you (and your traveling companions) will be in the mood for Italian or if you’d rather have tapas on any given night, but reservations aren’t usually set in stone.
Research dining options ahead of time, or call your hotel’s concierge for recommendations after you book your room.
Mistake #6: Forgetting to prepare for a new time zone
Unlike some of the other tips on this list, the advice for dealing with jet lag on short vacations is the same as on longer getaways. “Anywhere you go, do everything possible to maintain the new time schedule you’re on,” advises Cooney. “If I’m flying to say San Francisco from the east coast, I would immediately go out after arriving at the hotel, walk around the city, have dinner, have a cup of coffee… the objective is to try and get on the new time zone as soon as possible.”
If it’s already nighttime in your destination when you step on the plane, pass on the in-flight meal and movie and pop in the earplugs for a snooze instead — that way you’ll be waking up with the locals, instead of feeling like it’s time to sleep when you touch down.
Plan lots of outdoor activities for your first day in a different time zone, too — the sunlight and fresh air will keep you energized. If there’s no avoiding a snooze, try to limit yourself to a 20-minute power nap.
Budget Travel: 8 items you never pack… but should
Mistake #7: Dressing for only one part of the day
Does anyone still wear fanny packs and those zip-off cargo pants anymore? We hope not. When your time is limited, avoid dressing like a tourist on urban exploration, which most likely requires heading back to the hotel to change for the evening. The key is smart layering.
For both men and women, a thin T-shirt with a cardigan or blazer is a good way to go in temperate climates. And for footwear, opt for comfortable leather shoes instead of the sneakers from your gym bag.
Plus, choosing clothes that you can wear all day and into the night makes packing a breeze, and diminishes the chance that you will have to check a bag (remember Mistake #2?).
Mistake #8: Mapping out where you are — once you get there
Unless you’re fine with just seeing where the wind blows you — and hey, we’re all for spontaneous travel at times — you’ll lose a lot of time on the ground if you don’t have at least an idea of the layout of your destination before you arrive.
If you are going international, grab cash from the ATM at the airport so you don’t have to search out a bank near your hotel. And make like grade school and do your homework: Study maps before you leave and figure out the best route to take from your hotel to the attractions and restaurants you plan to visit.
Pre-planning extends to knowing the physical location of the airport you fly into, too, as it relates to the city center, says Malin, who’s made the mistake of choosing a cheaper flight into a satellite airport that required more transit time to reach the city center.
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Editor’s note: Editor’s note: CNN’s Destination Adventure series takes a look at travel locations for the explorer at heart. This week, we’re visiting South Africa with Cape Town native Emily Smith. Have you ever been to South Africa? Share your story with CNN iReport.
Originally Published On: www.cnn.com – Original Article Here
Tune in to "Piers Morgan Tonight" at 9 ET for a closer look at how the media and government reacted to Hurricane Irene. Was it too much, and how much did it cost?
(CNN) — Hurricane Irene has come and gone, but many travelers are still going nowhere fast in the aftermath of the storm.
The airlines are just recovering after canceling thousands of flights over the weekend, some mass transit systems are still struggling, and train service remains sporadic in parts of the Northeast ravaged by Irene.
The problems created a ripple effect throughout the country, with fliers who were trying to get into the region also encountering frustrating delays.
"We got to go to work. How are we going to do that? Now we’re thinking of driving to New Jersey because we can’t stay here all this time," said Bridget Corg, who was trying to return home from Miami, CNN affiliate WSVN reported.
"I’m ready to go so I can go to work. Get to the airport, cancellation," said Jerry Delerme, who was trying to fly to New York from south Florida. "I’m flying standby, so that means I’m not getting home probably until (Tuesday)."
It will take a few days for everyone to get where they want to go, said Mateo Leras, a spokesman for JetBlue.
The airline is adding several flights Monday to take care of passengers who couldn’t fly over the weekend.
Airlines and airports getting back to normal
About 650,000 to 700,000 air travelers have been grounded since Friday because of flight cancellations prompted by Hurricane Irene, said Daniel Baker, CEO of FlightAware.com, a flight tracking service.
The good news is that many of the affected passengers made alternate arrangements, so not everyone is in the backlog that carriers are dealing with now, Baker added.
"The airlines are hoping to be back on a regular schedule this afternoon, and so at least the cancellations will dwindle down," Baker said.
"But it will be through the week" before the backlog is resolved, he said. "There’s no question that there’s really widespread ramifications."
Did Irene affect you? Share photos, video, but stay safe
Airlines are urging passengers to check their flight status before leaving for the airport.
Those who are stuck and must pay out-of-pocket to stay at a hotel should go online and look for some great last-minute rates, said Anne Banas, executive editor at SmarterTravel.
She recommended checking Hotels.com or downloading the Hotel Tonight smartphone app for a list of same-day deals.
"You can also sometimes call a local hotel and ask for a ‘distressed travelers rate.’ Usually it’s a discount they offer in situations like these, when there are storms and people can’t get out of town," Banas said. "Doesn’t always work."
But there’s hope stranded fliers will see an improvement soon.
Tuesday and Wednesday are usually the slowest air travel days of the week, which will help travelers get on the flights they want, said Todd Lehmacher, a spokesman for US Airways.
The airline reached out to 90,000 people ahead of the weekend to reschedule their itineraries, he said.
Most passengers were accommodated before the storm began, American Airlines spokeswoman Andrea Huguely said. The carrier is considering extra flights if there’s a lot of overflow and demand, she said.
Airlines including American and US Airways said they don’t expect any impact on Labor Day travel.
"This is a well-prepared(-for) and well-planned event," Baker said. "The airlines announced it really well, they canceled flights, and they’re getting back going again. … It comes off as very organized."
Still, some travelers abroad are having trouble coming back to the United States.
CNN’s Deborah Feyerick, who has been traveling in Greece, was supposed to return to New York on Sunday, but the first flight on which her airline could rebook her was Thursday.
Australian traveler Shaun Cunningham is stranded in Costa Rica. He was supposed to fly back to London via New York, but his travel agent told him he wouldn’t be able to take that route until September 10. So Cunningham paid 1,200 pounds for a one-way ticket that connects via a different country, allowing him to fly out sooner.
Meanwhile, train travel is still feeling the impact of Hurricane Irene.
All Amtrak service between Boston and Philadelphia is canceled because of the extensive flooding, debris on tracks and power issues due to the storm.
There’s also no Acela Express service between Boston and Washington.
New Jersey rail service is suspended until further notice, but bus and light rail service is operating on a modified schedule on Monday.
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority has suspended a number of regional rail lines.
Originally Published On: www.cnn.com – Original Article Here
Editor’s note: CNN’s Destination Adventure series takes a look at travel locations for the explorer at heart. This week, we’re taking a look at New Zealand. We’ll feature favorite regional foods, secrets from the locals and the best photos and stories from readers. Have you been to New Zealand? Share your story with CNN iReport.
(CNN) — A country of dramatically diverse environments, New Zealand offers an array of activities for outdoor enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike.
New Zealand’s remarkably varied landscape includes beaches, mountains, fjords, glaciers and rain forests, making it one of the most biologically diverse places on Earth. The small country consists of two main islands, the North Island and the South Island, each boasting a surprising variety of natural wonders as well as urban centers.
If you are planning on visiting New Zealand, be prepared to be mobile in order to experience all the country has to offer. Although the entire size of the island nation is roughly the same as Colorado, there are countless different environments and geographically distinct regions. The best way to truly see the country is to make sure you plan and come ready to explore.
That being said, there are also plenty of options for a more relaxing and peaceful vacation, but after the 12-24 hour plane ride it takes to get there, you should have had plenty of time to rest up.
Much of the country lies close to the coastline, making for an overall temperate climate. However, some areas can experience four seasons in one day, as the climate can shift dramatically due to sharp regional contrasts.
New Zealand was one of the last major land masses on Earth to be populated by humans and is the second-closest land mass to Antarctica, behind Chile. The Polynesian Maori arrived on the islands around 800 A.D. and it wasn’t until 1840 that they entered into a compact with Britain; they surrendered sovereignty but maintained territorial rights to the land.
The South Island
Christchurch is known as the gateway to the South Island and is New Zealand’s second-largest city. Often referred to as the "Garden City," Christchurch has an impressive park system and features neo-Gothic architecture dating back to the English settlers who founded the city. Here visitors have easy access to sunny beaches and snowy mountaintops within a short drive from the metropolitan center.
Travel south along the eastern coast of the South Island to the small town of Akaroa on Bank’s Peninsula. The route offers some breathtaking views of the mountainous countryside. Once there you can relax in the quaint former French settlement and soak up some of the local culture or take a boating tour of the harbor to see the rare Hector’s dolphins, seals and other marine life that thrive in the turquoise waters of the flooded volcano crater.
Experience history and learn a little something
Continuing farther down the coast of the South Island through the Southern Alps you will reach the hilly city of Dunedin, New Zealand’s largest city in terms of area. During the journey, be sure to stop at Koekohe Beach on the Otago coast to marvel at the Moeraki Boulders, huge almost perfectly spherical rocks that date back 60 million years.
The city of Dunedin is a cultural and environmental hot spot with a rich history. The city boasts a well-preserved historic district with Scottish roots, a vibrant art scene and a thriving university life.
For those interested in ecotourism, The New Zealand Marine Studies Centre, just outside Dunedin, is an attraction for those looking to learn more about southern New Zealand’s remarkably diverse marine life. The Royal Albatross Centre, about an hour outside the city, on the tip of the Otago Peninsula, offers a rare chance to see one of the world’s largest birds (with a wingspan of up to 11 feet) on the only mainland colony on the planet. Also just outside Dunedin is the Yellow Eyed Penguin Conservation Reserve where visitors can see the rarest penguins on the planet up close and in their native habitat.
Once you reach the bottom tip of the South Island, be sure to stop at Porpoise Bay along the Catlins coast and explore the abundance of rare wildlife and a Petrified Forest dating back to the Jurassic period. The Catlins coast landscape is sparsely populated and is dominated by lush forests and rocky coastal bays. Another must see site is the Cathedral Caves, located a short walk through a flourishing forest in the Waipati Beach Scenic Reserve. The coastal caverns can only be seen during low tide and connect under the cliffs, reaching heights of 100 feet.
Fiordland: Dramatic natural beauty
As you continue to wrap around the southern tip of the South Island and enter into New Zealand’s Fiordland, stop in the lakeside town of Te Anau. Known as the "gateway to the fiords," Te Anau has plenty to explore. Take a 30-minute boat ride across Lake Te Anau to visit the otherworldly glowworm caves. Those looking to stretch their legs a bit can check out the Kepler Track, across the shores of Lake Te Anau. The 100-mile trail can be broken up into more manageable portions and traverses a beautiful route from sandy beaches to lush forest to barren mountain tops, offering breathtaking views of Lake Te Anau and the surrounding mountains.
Milford Sound along the west coast of the South Island is one of New Zealand’s most beautiful and awe-inspiring natural wonders. Journey a few hours northwest of Te Anau through the steep, lush terrain of the Fiordland. Milford Sound was carved by ancient glaciers and is surrounded by towering cliffs that feature countless waterfalls. There are also several options for hiking on the series of trails that surround the sound and offer stunning views.
A thrill-seeker’s dream
Making your way back north up the western side of the South Island, make sure to visit the city of Queenstown. Known as the "adventure capital of the world," Queenstown is a thrill seeker’s dream. It’s chock full of activities to get your adrenaline pumping, ranging from high speed jet boating, canyon swinging to a variety of alpine activities such as skiing. It also is the birthplace of modern bungee jumping. Skydiving is a major attraction because jumpers can go as high as 15,000 feet, getting a breathtaking view of the county’s landscape from above. Queenstown has a lively feel and features a condensed city center with restaurants, bars and many tourist-oriented shops.
There are also several hiking options in and around Queenstown, including the mountain ranges that served as the dramatic backdrop for the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.
Take a stroll or a sip, and relax
Traveling farther north, stop off for a day in the serene lakeside town of Wanaka. Here you can explore the town’s picturesque parks that line the shore, offering views of the snow-capped mountains in the distance. Stop at the Rippon Vineyard and Winery and sample some wine while you enjoy the view. New Zealand is known for sauvignon blanc, which grows well in the temperate maritime climate. There are a plethora of wineries throughout the country, thanks to the ideal conditions created by coastal regions bordered by mountain ranges.
Where glaciers meet the forest
Continuing up along the west coast of the South Island through the Haast Pass you will reach the Franz Josef Glacier. This portion of the island is perpetually rainy and often cloudy, but offers stunning landscapes and some of the most easily accessible glaciers in the world. Take a guided hike up the Franz Josef Glacier and experience the rare formation up close as the glacier meets temperate forest.
Heading farther north toward the tip of the South Island, visitors can stop by the famous Pancake Rocks near Punakaiki, a series of visually astonishing limestone formations that have been eroded to create unique rock patterns that jet out from the coastline.
As you make your way farther north, be sure to make time to visit the Abel Tasman National Park, just over an hour north from the city of Nelson. Here, visitors can take a guided kayak tour in the Tasman Sea and take in the clear blue waters and golden sand beaches. Explore the many lagoons and coastal caves and be sure to stop and relax on one of the many deserted island beaches.
The North Island
From here, travel east to the town of Picton and catch the interisland ferry for a three-hour ride across the Cook Strait to the capital city of Wellington on the North Island. Once in Wellington, head up to the Mount Victoria lookout to get you bearings and take in the panoramic view of the city center and harbor. While in Wellington, check out the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa, the country’s free national museum, where you can get an overview on Maori history and the diverse natural environment. Wellington is also known for fine dining and nightlife, most of which can be explored on foot.
From Wellington, venture up toward the center of the North Island to the Tongariro National Park. The small town of Turangi is an ideal base for day trips into the park, where visitors can hike around New Zealand’s largest lake, Lake Taupo, experience world famous trout fishing on the Tongariro River and take in the sights of Mount Tongariro and other volcanoes within the park.
Continue around to the top of Lake Taupo and visit the surreal Craters of the Moon Scenic Reserve. This geothermal phenomenon is caused by magma heating up pools of water deep beneath the ground, causing steam to rise up eerily from the large craters and surrounding ground. Also, explore the nearby geothermal pool sites, which contain geysers, waterfalls, sulfur caves and a series of pools that vary widely in color because of the heated elements in the water.
From here continue north to the Bay of Plenty, one of the sunniest regions in the world. This area is a popular vacation destination for locals and features access to countless water activities and some of the country’s most pristine beaches. The region’s major city is Tauranga and visitors here will find a bounty of fresh seafood and local fruit such as the kiwi.
Discover Maori history and unwind
Travel just under an hour inland and stop off in the town of Rotorua, a place deeply rooted in Maori culture. Treat yourself to a relaxing day at the Polynesian Spas. Here, thermal pools range in temperature from 96 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit and contain minerals that are believed to have a variety of healing properties. Relax in the alkaline pools, surrounded by native flora, while you enjoy the view of Lake Rotorua.
From Rotorua, trek northwest to the city of Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city. Auckland is also known as the "City of Sails," because it is said to have more boats per capita than anywhere in the world. Auckland is a progressive, multicultural city with a bustling nightlife and a diverse population. While the sprawling, modern city has plenty of metropolitan delights, its natural beauty is never far away as it sits nestled between the Waitemata and Manuka harbors and atop a series of dormant volcanoes, surrounded by lush forest. Explore all the cultural and recreational activities the city has to offer or escape from it all and jet away to a remote island getaway in the nearby Hauraki Gulf.
Originally Published On: www.cnn.com – Original Article Here
Planning a romantic getaway? Don’t miss Travel + Leisure’s guide to the World’s Most Romantic Hotels.
Copyright 2010 American Express Publishing Corporation. All rights reserved.
Originally Published On: www.cnn.com – Original Article Here
Washington (CNN) — The Washington Monument was closed indefinitely Wednesday as engineers studied ways to repair cracks at the top of the capital’s iconic structure — one day after a rare 5.8-magnitude East Coast earthquake.
Among other things, several pieces of mortar fell inside the monument’s observation area during the earthquake, a National Parks Service spokesman said.
An outside structural engineering firm will conduct a more thorough damage assessment, and the monument may not be reopened to the public until after any necessary repairs are completed, the spokesman added.
Washington’s National Cathedral also was closed after sustaining what its staff described as "substantial damage," including numerous cracks in the building’s limestone blocks and broken pinnacles on its towers.
Most federal buildings and monuments in Washington, however, had reopened by late Tuesday — including the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials.
The quake struck at 1:51 p.m. Tuesday near the town of Mineral, Virginia, about 40 miles northwest of Richmond. Just 3.7 miles deep, it was felt from Georgia to northern New England.
No major injuries or extensive damage were immediately reported, but the quake prompted evacuations of numerous office buildings — including the U.S. Capitol — and affected operations at a nuclear power plant in Virginia.
Local officials across much of the Eastern Seaboard scrambled to determine what, if any, damage had been inflicted in various cities and states. North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue on Wednesday morning announced a "cursory inspection" of state buildings.
Some damage was reported at both the middle school and high school near the epicenter of the quake in Mineral, where a couple of houses also collapsed.
"It’s still kind of a state of shell shock here," CNN’s Brian Todd said Wednesday, reporting from the town. "People still just can’t believe this happened. This is a natural event that just does not happen on the East Coast."
With so many along the coast unaccustomed to earthquakes, many people were left wondering whether all that rumbling could have been caused by a truck, helicopter, an explosion or some other force.
Desi Fleming, a resident of Mineral, said the quake arrived with a rumbling "that sounded like a train coming to a stop." It knocked down two chimneys on the converted 1900-vintage home that now houses her parcel-shipping business.
Kate Duddy was alone in an office building elevator in Manhattan when the shaking started.
"I have never felt a quake before. It was scary having no idea what the cause was," she said. "I felt the vibrations, and the elevator stopped for a period of about five minutes."
At Washington’s National Zoo, some animals started reacting moments before the earthquake was felt by their human caretakers.
About five or 10 seconds before the earth shook, several apes abandoned their food and climbed to the top of a treelike structure, according to a statement from the zoo. A gorilla named Mandara grabbed her baby — named Kibibi — and also moved to the top of the structure.
At the same time, a flock of 64 flamingos grouped themselves together and remained huddled until the shaking stopped.
Farther south, the earthquake triggered an automatic shutdown of Virginia’s North Anna nuclear power plant after it lost electricity. Primary power was quickly restored to the cooling systems of two nuclear reactors that had been affected, according to Dominion Virginia Power.
The plant, less than 20 miles from the earthquake’s epicenter, briefly resorted to the use of back-up diesel generators, the company said. Dan Stoddard, Dominion’s senior vice president of nuclear operations, said there was no damage to the spent fuel pool at the plant.
The plant vented steam, but there was no release of radioactive material, according to Louisa County spokeswoman Amanda Reidelbach.
An emergency declaration at the plant was canceled shortly after 1 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Officials at the NRC, however, said they would continue to monitor the situation.
The quake also triggered low-level alerts at 12 other nuclear facilities across the East Coast and Michigan, U.S. authorities reported. All those alerts were quickly canceled, however.
Tuesday’s incident occurred in a known seismic zone in central Virginia, said Dave Russ of the U.S. Geological Survey. But the strength of the earthquake was a bit surprising. A 5.9 event occurred in 1897 near Blacksburg, Virginia, he said.
CNN’s Vito Maggiolo, Chris Lawrence, Susan Candiotti, Dan Lothian, Joe Sutton, Jim Acosta, Larry Shaughnessy, Matt Smith, Sarah Aarthun, Carol Cratty, Phil Gast, Dugald McConnell, Dana Ford, Lindy Royce-Bartlett, Catherine Shoichet and Tom Watkins contributed to this report.
Originally Published On: www.cnn.com – Original Article Here
Las Vegas (CNN) — The drag queen pointed at two men in the front row.
"Are you guys gay?" she said into a microphone, amused.
The response: A middle finger.
"Did you just flip me off?" Christopher Kenney, the Las Vegas drag queen with tall black hair (and taller black heels) said, offended. "You are the tackiest humans alive."
This crowd-host interaction at the start of a recent performance of "Zumanity," a Cirque de Soleil show with overt gay and lesbian themes, pretty much sums up the state of gay Las Vegas at the moment:
The city is trying to come out, but not everyone is ready.
Long a bastion of straight male culture, with its bachelor parties, strip clubs and Sinatra-esque swagger, this desert town has been making deliberate attempts since about 2005 to become a destination for gay and lesbian tourists, and to increase its own gay community.
The main reason for this shift, according to casinos and marketers? Money. Gay and lesbian people tend to travel more and spend more per capita than their straight counterparts, according to a report from Community Marketing Inc.
But there’s a cultural component, too. Sin City, the city "where anything goes," wants to welcome people of all kinds — both as tourists and residents. It has also courted families, women, blacks and Latinos.
More marketing muscle, however, is going toward presenting Vegas as a place where gays and lesbians can be comfortable and have a good time.
One summer magazine ad paid for by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority shows a conga line of men at an outdoor pool party. Another, for the New York-New York Hotel and Casino, shows a shirtless man in a bed: "Luck isn’t always a lady," the caption reads. Two high-heeled women play footsie in another convention bureau ad that says, "Take a break where anything goes."
The visitors bureau spent $700,000 on this ad campaign in fiscal year 2011.
The man behind those ads (as well as the "What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas" slogan) is Billy Vassiliadis, chief executive of the ad firm R&R Partners.
Vassiliadis said the ads, and general cultural trends, have helped Vegas’ gay and lesbian community become more visible and more robust.
Vegas, he said, isn’t trying to become a "gay city" — think San Francisco; Provincetown, Massachusetts; or South Beach in Miami — just a place where gay and lesbian people can feel comfortable. It’s "gay friendly," he said.
On the surface, these efforts seem to be working.
In 2010, Vegas was the No. 3 U.S. travel destination for gay and lesbian travelers, behind New York and San Francisco, according to a report from the group Community Marketing Inc. The Advocate named Las Vegas the third-gayest city in America this year.
The population of cohabitating gay couples in Nevada increased 87% from 2000 to 2010, to 9,321 couples, according to the census. In Clark County, which includes Las Vegas, same-sex partners account for 1% of households, according to an early analysis of 2010 census data by The Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles. In San Francisco County, by comparison, 3% of households are headed by same-sex couples.
The shift is easy enough to see around the city, too.
At a club called Krave, tucked away behind a construction site in the Planet Hollywood building, there are no showgirls, just men who dance in lavender boxer shorts and high-top sneakers. The pool at the Luxor hotel, which looks like a giant pyramid, hosts a weekly gay-themed party for men in skimpy swimsuits. A DJ blasts Beyonce dance mixes. The Paris hotel performs civil unions for same-sex couples. The Mirage throws "gay nights" at its clubs, including an event called "Closet Sundays." Some casinos have experimented with male "bevertainers," or cocktail waiters. The Wynn is developing a separate concierge service for LGBT-related requests. ("They sit behind pink desks," its designer joked.)
Multiple casino owners also train their employees to avoid gay-related faux pas, like assuming two men or women want separate beds.
"It’s the little things," said Steve Friess, a local newspaper columnist and author of the travel book "Gay Vegas." "They’re taught to say ‘Do you want one bed or two?’ — because maybe they want one bed, maybe they don’t."
But while tourists are seeing Vegas’ gay friendly side, some out-of-the-closet locals say it is all just a veneer for a city that is often hostile to gay people.
Taking in the strobe-lighted scene at a gay dance club on a recent Saturday night was Adam Hatch, who moved here from Phoenix expecting a cosmopolitan city that would be progressive and gay friendly.
He didn’t quite find it.
"It’s not as open-minded as everyone thinks," he said.
Earlier this year, Hatch, 25, was walking down the Vegas strip wearing a shirt with a rainbow flag on it, a symbol of gay pride. He caught the eye of some tourists, a group he said is generally less accepting than locals.
"They said, ‘We’d really like to beat a f– up. We’re gonna make it a holiday,’" Hatch recalled. Such encounters "happen quite a bit out here, actually," he said.
Bouncers at Krave, the gay nightclub right off the Las Vegas Strip, remember the night in 2007 when a man said he was beaten up as he left the venue.
"They were calling us f—-ts, queers," Thomas Lahey, who made the accusations, told a local TV news reporter at the time. "When they were kicking me in the face … they kept saying, ‘Do you like that f—-t?’"
Other Vegas locals say the city isn’t intolerant, just not exceptionally welcoming.
"Vegas is seen as very flamboyant, but it isn’t really gay friendly," said Mike Prevatt, a local reporter who is openly gay and who writes about Vegas nightlife.
"Vegas is a heterosexual playground, but it’s not a homosexual playground," said Michael Judkins, 33, who is the manager at a country-western gay bar in town, which has two sequined cowboy boots dangling over its two-step dance floor.
In other incidents, tourists are quietly offended by the cultural shift.
Edward Clark, a 35-year-old from Los Angeles, brought his four kids, ages 3 to 13, to the pool at The Luxor during a recent gay-themed party. He left in a huff.
"It shouldn’t be like that, you know, in front of the kids," he said, staring in awe at a sea of men playing beach ball and sunbathing in spandex swimsuits.
"It encourages the kids to think it’s normal, which it isn’t. Not that I have anything against them personally. … The world is getting so different."
Jason Dinant, the party’s host, said the gay-themed event was only for people age 21 and up and was confined to one of Luxor’s two pools. Vegas is finally having the coming-out party it deserves, he said, and it’s one that’s only going to get bigger and more integrated into the fabric of the city.
"It has always been titties and sin, but somehow us gays took it over," he said.
In a way, Vegas’ struggle mirrors what’s going on in the rest of the country, said Michael Weaver, senior vice president for marketing at The Wynn and an openly gay man who is credited with bringing about the recent push to bring more gay tourists to the city.
It takes some time for everyone to come around, he said.
Weaver dismissed stories of gay bashers as being outliers.
"I’ve never had anyone say anything (hateful) to me in Las Vegas — never, never," he said, adding that he has no qualms about holding hands with his partner in public. "Chicago, New York, Miami — yeah, I’ve had people make cat calls at me before. But in Vegas? Never once."
Kenney, the drag queen who was given the middle finger in the recent Vegas show, said he doesn’t often encounter anti-gay hecklers here, although he does recall audience members yelling "Oh, hell no!" when two men kiss at the end of "Zumanity."
"We have Middle America in our shows," he said. "You’re going to see people in their 80s and young people and bachelorettes, people who may have never seen a gay kiss."
Things are only improving for Vegas’ gay population, he said.
"We need people to come and to make it a gay community," he said. "Vegas is one of the entertainment capitals of the world. It is incredible fun, and the more gay people that come and visit — it will show Las Vegas and the casinos and the bars that this is a city that has a huge gay future. And you’re truly not going to have more fun anywhere else. I hope it’s going to be a gay mecca one day."
Originally Published On: www.cnn.com – Original Article Here
(LonelyPlanet.com) — Fifty years after the rise of the Berlin Wall, and now 22 years after its post-Wall rebirth, Berlin is a scene-stealing combo of glamour and grit, teeming with top museums and galleries, grand opera and guerrilla clubs, gourmet temples and ethnic snack shacks. Whether your tastes run to posh or punk, you can sate them in Berlin.
Despite its often hectic pace, Berlin functions on an exquisitely human scale. Traffic flows freely, public transportation is brilliant, you can walk without fear at night, clubs have no velvet ropes and your restaurant bill would only buy you a starter back home. Come and join the party and be swept away by the riches, quirks and vibrancy of this fascinating city. Here are ten things to add to the top of your list.
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1. Channeling your inner-archaeologist at the Pergamon museum
An Aladdin’s cave of treasures from ancient realms, the Pergamon museum is an essential entry on any list of must-see sights. Inside the vast complex, custom built on Museumsinsel (Museum Island) in 1930, is a feast of classical sculpture and monumental architecture from Greece, Rome, Babylon and the Middle East that will amaze and enlighten. Most of it was excavated and spirited to Berlin by German archaeologists at the turn of the 20th century.
2. Getting palace envy at Schloss Charlottenburg
An exquisite baroque palace, Schloss Charlottenburg evokes the onetime grandeur of the Prussian royals. It is particularly special to visit in the summer when you can fold a stroll, sunbathing session or picnic in the lush palace park into a day of peeking at royal treasures.
3. Losing your weekend on Berlin’s sizzling dance floors
Berlin’s reputation for intense and unbridled nightlife is rooted in the libertine 1920s when everyone from Marlene Dietrich to Christopher Isherwood partied like it was 1999. After reunification the club scene exploded, with the most vital venues taking over all sorts of dark, disused and derelict locations, from postal offices to power stations, bunkers to factories. From here, hard-edged techno conquered the world, using the impetus of reunification to tap into the simultaneous explosion of the UK rave scene and the popularity of ecstasy. Illegal and underground parties thrive, often taking over S-Bahn stations and trains, abandoned buildings, ATM foyers and other unlikely locales — at least until the police show up.
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4. Shopping for kitsch and couture in the Scheunenviertel
Retail therapy gets a unique Berlin twist in the Scheunenviertel, the ultimate shopping mecca for individualists. Boutiques here are edgy, stylish and definitely light years from high-street conformity. From couture to streetwear, home decorations to gourmet foods, accessories to art, you will find a diverse and mostly home-grown selection in this village-like labyrinth of lanes.
5. Standing before history at the Reichstag
Likely to give you more flashbacks to high-school history than any other Berlin landmark, this grand old building by Paul Wallot (1894) is where the German parliament, the Bundestag, has been hammering out its policies since 1999. This followed a total makeover by Lord Norman Foster, who preserved only the building’s historical shell while adding the striking glass dome, which is accessible by lift.
In the ’80s, megastars including David Bowie, Pink Floyd and Michael Jackson performed concerts on the lawn of the Reichstag, which rubbed up against the western side of the Berlin Wall. When word got out that East German fans were trying to eavesdrop from the other side, the stars turned some of the loudspeakers around, almost provoking an international incident!
6. Gaining insight into Jewish life at the Jewish Museum
Berlin’s Jewish Museum (Jüdisches Museum) is an eye-opening, emotional and interactive journey through 2,000 years of Jewish history in Germany, not just the 12 years of Nazi horror that such presentations often focus on. This exhibit deftly navigates through all major historic periods, from the Roman era to the community’s current renaissance, with stops in the Middle Ages and the Enlightenment.
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7. Mingling with old masters at the Gemäldegalerie
About 1,500 works span the arc of artistic vision between the 13th and 18th centuries, with key canvasses by Rembrandt, Titian, Goya, Botticelli, Holbein, Gainsborough, Canaletto, Hals, Rubens, Vermeer and other heavy hitters.
8. Roaming, picnicking and carousing in the Tiergarten
Berlin’s rulers used the grounds to hunt boar and pheasants before having them shaped into a public park by master landscape architect Peter Lenné in the 18th century. With its huge shady trees, groomed paths, woodsy groves, lakes, creeks and meadows, the Tiergarten is one of the world’s largest city parks and a wonderful retreat from the city bustle. It is popular for strolling, jogging, Frisbee tossing, picnicking, grill parties, sunbathing and even gay cruising (especially around the Löwenbrücke)ref.
9. Hobnobbing with high society on Kurfürstendamm
No trip to Berlin would be complete without a saunter along Kurfürstendamm (Ku’damm for short) in Charlottenburg. Along with its continuation, the Tauentzienstrasse, it is the city’s longest and busiest shopping strip, lined with everything from big department stores to high-street chains and designer boutiques for size zero fembots. Amid all this, the Gedächtniskirche (Memorial Church) stands quietly, if incongruously, as a poignant reminder of the absurdity of war.
10. Posing for pictures with the Brandenburg Gate
So where were you when the Berlin Wall fell? For tens of thousands the answer is ‘at the Brandenburg Gate’. Who can forget the images of the crowds of euphoric revelers perched atop the Wall, hugging complete strangers and shaking hands with border guards? Amid cheers and champagne, the Cold War was over and a new era of hope and freedom began.
Originally published as "Top 10 Berlin experiences" © 2011 Lonely Planet. All rights reserved.
© 2011 Lonely Planet. All rights reserved.
Originally Published On: www.cnn.com – Original Article Here