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Dream Destinations for a Delightful Thanksgiving Day

By Liz Kaadou

Need a little pick-me-up when turkey time rolls around this year? Instead of spending the holidays at home slaving over dinner preparations and autumn decor, why not explore a few cities stuffed to the brim with enticing Thanksgiving festivities. Take a scrumptious bite out of these delicious destination getaways. Whether you are looking for adventure, warmth, tradition or family fun- these cities offer a Thanksgiving menu packed with spectacular specials guaranteed to make you say YUM!

 

NEW YORK CITY - The City That Never Sleeps literally lives up to its name for the Thanksgiving season.  The city boasts the beloved Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, filled with flying-high floats, marvelous marching bands and guest appearances from some of your favorite celebs. Catch a Broadway play, ice skate in Rockefeller Center, and if you are really daring- join the crazy crowds on Black Friday for some serious sales on Saks Fifth Avenue.

 

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - We can thank the Native Americans for the time-honored traditions of tummy-filling turkey, scrumptious sweet potatoes and succulent cranberry sauce.  Since Thanksgiving would not exist without them, why not spend the holidays in the proud home of numerous Indian Reservations, like the Navajo Reservation.  Learn about their history and culture with a tour of the Heard Museum or take a walk down the Apache Trail.

 

DENVER, COLORADO - Ski-lovers around the world get ready to slither down the slopes.  November marks the start of ski season with the opening of some of Colorado’s riveting resorts, including Aspen, Breckenridge and Cooper Mountain. What better way to spend Turkey Day than feeling the rush of the slopes followed by a delectable and delicious meal? 

 

MIAMI, FLORIDA -  The Magic City offers travelers a mix of warmth and winter with its famous North Miami Winternational Thanksgiving Day Parade.  Enjoy sunny weather with a winter theme! Plus, you can take a dip in the glistening waters of South Beach and pick and chose from exceptional eateries!

For even more Thanksgiving Day destinations, Click Here.

Source: www.vacationrentals.com

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Unknown Tourist Attractions Around the Globe

By Liz Kaadou

Looking for a little slice of private paradise? We all know about the tourist hot-spots around the globe like Paris, New York and Milan, but what about those hidden hideaways tucked away somewhere in between? Here are a few of the best kept secret tourist attractions anxiously awaiting your arrival.

Graskop, South Africa- a small town perched in the Panorama tourist region of Mpumalanga, South Africa.  Boasting a mix of hip-hop artists and Afrikaner farmers, this secret destination offers up traditional African culture and art.  It is also only a few minutes from some of Earth's wonders, like God's Window, the Lisbon Waterfalls and Blyde River Canyon. Known for its gold panning, abseiling and river rafting, this is the perfect place for any adventure seeking traveler!

Weymouth, England- situated along the English Channel and surrounded by sandy, sunshine filled beaches and beautiful Georgian homes, this large town is home to one of the best diving locations in the world. Waters surrounding the city are riddled with Roman shipwrecks and submarines from both world wars.  The beaches attract thousands of visitors each summer with firework festivals and drag boat racing. If you are looking for a little English charm, this is definitely the place to be.

Willunga, Australia- take a drip down under and experience a taste of heaven, with an overflow of red wines and local pizza parlors. This trendy town is situated in the McLaren Vale area and is home to numerous festivals including the Tour Down Under and the historic Almond Blossom Festival. It also encompasses a number of beaches for sunny family outings and barbeque's.

Gaziantep, Turkey- the aroma of flavorful, exotic foods and spices fill the air of this popular province in south central Turkey.  Home to the breathtakingly gorgeous Gaziantep castle, this province is known for its use of a scrumptious secret ingredient in almost all of its savory dessert dishes - pistachios!

Source: Hotel & Resort Insider

For more travel ideas from RTM, visit our Travel Channel.

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Take a Vacation - At Home!

By Liz Kaadou

 

Not much bang for the buck these days when it comes to traveling? With the current state of our economy, the last thing you need to worry about is purchasing pricey airline tickets and shelling out your savings account for a swanky hotel stay.  It may be time to rethink the traditional vacation, and opt for a more convenient, economical choice, otherwise known as a “staycation.” This new travel trend simply means spending your vacation in the comfort of your own home and saving tons of money while you're at it.  Even though you won’t be soaking up the sun along the beach, these simple suggestions will make other travelers green with staycation envy.

 

1) Explore your own city – dig a little deeper for hidden treasures right under your nose. Most cities have fun festivals during the year, house community centers that offer theater productions, free dance classes and art exhibits, and many even have historical districts with antique shops and exceptional eateries. Check out local parks or lakes in the area for a little fishing fun or picnic party. It’s okay to be a tourist for the week, remember you are on vacation!

 

2) Unplug yourself – if you were flying high in the sky all electronic devices would have to be turned off, so adhere to vacation rules and wander far away from the wireless world.  After all, the whole idea of a vacation is to escape reality for a few days, so set your phone to go to voicemail and check your messages periodically like you would on a traditional vacation.

 

3) Travel the World in a Week – invite friends to your staycation and pick destination theme nights for everyday of the week. Themes could range from "a night in Paris" to "a luau in Hawaii." 

4) Family Adventure Week - spend your staycation as a family. Plan a fun adventure for the week like building a tree house, having a family talent show contest or even creating a time capsule and filling it with great memories. 

For more travel ideas from RTM, visit our Travel Channel.

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The Top Five Most Haunted Hotels in America

These five hotels may seem just like normal places to visit, with their wonderful amenities, pools and customer service. But if you ask the right people, you could end up convinced that they are haunted - try staying there and you'll know for sure. This top five guide will tell you exactly where to stay and what to expect, in the chances that one of the supposed ghosts will give you a haunt!

 

1. Hotel Provincial: New Orleans, Louisiana - In the center of New Orleans' French Quarter, this gorgeous and charming Victorian hotel used to house a military hospital and 19th century living quarters. Ghost sightings (particularly of soldiers) and other haunted happenings have been reported by numerous honeymooners and guests. Try buliding number five, apparently it is the most haunted of all.

 

2. The Heathman Hotel: Portland, Oregon - This urban hotel in the heart of downtown Portland has a strange "3" enigma. Only guests that stay in a room whose last digits are "03" report strange events - especially room 703, where a man was supposedly almost suffocated by his bed sheets before his suitcases were thrown at him by a dark man who disappeared into the closet.

3. The Carolina Inn: Chapel Hill, North Carolina - Paranormal investigators have documented 20 ghosts in this historic, southernly charming hotel. Guests report being followed by a man who disappears when they turn around. There is another ghost who walks the halls trying to find a door that isn't locked.

 

4. The Sagamore Resort: Bolton Landing, New York - This sports paradise situated in the Adirondack Mountains is said to be home to many lost spirits, like a lost little boy, abusive couple, and a lady in white who blows a cold chill upon sleeping guests' eyelids.

 

5. The Crescent Hotel: Eureka Springs, Arkansas - This hotel has quite an extensive history, but in the '30's one crazy doctor made it into a "hospital and health care center", where the miracle cure was to drink the water. It is now said that the spring water flowing beneath the hotel is high in energy, attracting lost spirits. It is reported that the hotel is haunted by Dr. Norman Baker and other ghosts, some dressed like an assortment of cancer patients, waiters, or even construction workers.

 

(Source: Haunted America Tours)

 

For more about haunted hotels from RTM, read Spooky Stays at America's Haunted Houses.

 

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Halloween Weekend Getaways for Grown-Ups

Travel-Ticker.com, an inspirational travel website, just announced its list of the five best Halloween getaway ideas for 2009. Halloween is not a holiday just for trick-or-treaters; it is a much-loved holiday for adults, too (some even fall into both categories!). “Since Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, it provides consumers with the opportunity to check out the festivities in other cities with a weekend getaway," explains Barbara Messing, Vice President of Travel-Ticker.com.

 

Below are Travel-Ticker.com's top five best places to go for Halloween weekend getaways, which are sure to put a spell on you:

 

1. Universal Studios Los Angeles: Located in the heart of the entertainment district overlooking the Hollywood Hills, the infamous "West Hollywood Halloween Costume Carnival," and "Halloween Horror Nights" at Universal Studios are must-see “Hollyweird” attractions.  The Six Flags "Fright Fest" at Magic Mountain, Knott's "Scary Farm" Halloween Haunt and "Dare to walk the Plank of the Queen Mary" in Long Beach are also nearby in SoCal.

 

2. Las Vegas: Real spine-tingling savings at the hip and trendy Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Stay for as little as $41 midweek and $71 on weekends, or snag a stay at the just-opened Paradise Tower for as little as $53. Whether you choose from one of the costumed clubs, or Haunted Vegas Tours, Sin City offers up some of the best Halloween celebrations around – whatever tickles your fancy!

 

3. Orlando: Universal Orlando hotel with shuttle service to parks, or the Four Points by Sheraton Orlando are both only $59/night. Enjoy family festivities at "Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party" at Disneyworld, "Shamu's Halloween Spooktacular" at SeaWorld Orlando, "Zoo Boo Bash" at Central Florida's Zoo or spooktacular fun at "Halloween Horror Nights" at Universal Studios. You can't go wrong with the lowest rates of the year!

 

4. Atlanta: The W Atlanta, a charmed, chic TripAdvisor in Atlanta’s trendy and action-packed neighborhood offers access to the "Little 5 Points Halloween Festival and Parade". Also visit the haunted hot spots in the metro-Atlanta area such as the Civil War era Devil's Turnaroun Cemetery.

 

5. Nationwide: Bite into the Big Apple and slither down to the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade, or delight in the frightful trip up to Sleepy Hallow, NY. Get your broomstick over to Boston and visit Salem, MA which is home to the witch trials of 1692 and the annual month-long "Haunted Happenings Festival" of ghost tours. Join the San Francisco haunts for Yerba Buena's Halloween Costume Walk or the spooky, kooky club celebrations.

 

(Source: Travel-Ticker.com)

 

For travel tips from RTM, visit our Travel Advice & Tips section.

 

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Amusement Parks Across the Nation Get Scary

In search of a mini October getaway? One option for a Halloween-time getaway is to check out one of the 81% of all amusement parks that become haunted during this month. Haunted attractions at amusement parks have become more and more prevalent over the last 15 years, offering events from terrifying to family-friendly.

Some current Halloween events include:

Adventure Landing in Jacksonville Beach, Fla., hosts the annual “Hall of Terror” haunted house attraction beginning Friday, Oct. 9. In addition to the haunted house experience, guests float down the “Haunted River Ride” filled with surprises.

Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, Pa., unleashes “Terror Behind the Walls” select evenings from Sept 18 – Nov. 7, featuring five haunted attractions housed within the 11-acre abandoned prison. New for 2009, the penitentiary adds the “Infirmary” attraction, inviting visitors into the prison’s long-abandoned operating rooms, recovery wards, sterilization chambers, and morgue.

Kings Island near Cincinnati, Ohio, revisits its “Halloween Haunt 2009” for adult park-goers ready for a scare. Now 16 full nights with more terror, the event features more than 500 creatures and costumed characters, 13 haunted attractions, and hair-raising rides, including the new “Diamondback” coaster. The event runs during select times Thursdays through Sundays, Sept. 25 – Oct. 31.

New for 2009, Playland-Not-at-the-Beach Museum of Fun in El Cerrito, Calif., celebrates the Halloween season every weekend in October by turning out the lights and letting guests experience “The Haunted Museum.” Each weekend will be different: Oct. 3 – 4 is “Witches' Weekend”; Oct. 10 – 11 is devoted to “Great Ghosts”; Oct.17 – 18 is “The Dark Mystery”; Oct. 24 – 25 is “Zombies Alive”; and the weekend of Halloween the “Killer Klowns Take Over.”

See the International Association of Amusement Parks' entire list here.

For more travel ideas from RTM, visit our Adventure Travel section.

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Oh, the Wonders of Travel: Coming Back Home

By Sara Hoffman

As someone who's been traveling back and forth, this way and that way her whole life, I've always experienced a twinge of homesickness upon arrival home from a vacation or even a little trip. Yep, homesick for vacation - talk about confused. But coming home is a wonder of travel, too - right up there with experiencing other cultures, meeting new people, and having fresh experiences. Home looks different from elsewhere - from a plane, a boat, or even the expressway.

Travel makes you see things differently, including the way you see life at home. Gazing out the window of an airplane literally offers a fresh view of your hometown - all the roads you drive and places you visit are dwarfed in landscapes not noticeable from the ground. Sure, it could make home seem dreary or stressful in comparison to some sunny island resort, or hilly mountain region, but it also makes you appreciate those everyday comforts - luxurious or not - and the people you get to come home to.

Travel time, whether driving or riding along, has always been a time - and is now one of the only times - for me to think and reflect on life. That reflective thought combined with the new experiences of travel and reminiscent experience of coming home can be, well, kinda magical.

And if there's no room for a vacation this month, try Google maps.

For more travel writing from RTM, visit our Humorous Road Trip page.

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Why Visit Europe this Winter? Here's 9 Reasons

It’s no secret that winter in Europe is stunning, and the key to ensuring the most memorable experience is to let the best people plan your trip. Here are several reasons why you should jump out of  hibernation and head to Europe on a Contiki tour this winter, along with a few tour suggestions:

1. Crowds - The summer crowds are gone.  Fewer tourists mean you will get to experience cities as the locals do.  No standing in long lines to see the Mona Lisa at the Louvre in Paris, or the Roman Forum and Colosseum in Rome.
2. Authentic Experiences - You can’t get more authentic than the Christmas markets, festivals and carnivals that take place all around Denmark, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Austria.
3. Entertainment - Opera, theater, and symphony seasons are in full effect.
4. Adventure - For winter sports enthusiasts, it is prime snow season! Contiki offers seven and 14 day vacation packages to Hopfgarten, Austria where you can ski, snowboard, ice skate or take a sleigh ride through the beautiful countryside. 
5. Hofbräuhaus - So, you couldn’t make it to Oktoberfest, but you can still enjoy the beer, the food and the Bavarian oompah band.  Munich is one of the many exciting stops on Contiki’s European Inspiration tour.
6. Spanish Beauty - Spain comes alive in September.  From Barcelona, to Madrid, to Seville, winter is the best time for shopping and exploring.  If you’re looking to get a little spicy this winter, check out Contiki’s Spanish Spree tour.
7. Time to Break Tradition - Dick Clark will be around for a few more years, so why not party it up with the locals in Dam Square in Amsterdam for New Year’s Eve!?  It is as big a celebration as Times Square in New York with the addition of fireworks.
8. A Little Romance - Paris on Valentine’s Day- how much more romantic can you get!?
9. The Shopping - Italy is always top of mind when it comes to shopping.  Milan is world renowned for design and fashion, and the entire area surrounding the famous Spanish Steps in Rome is a shopper’s dream come true.
10. Packages - deals are a steal during this season.

Source: Contiki Vacations, the worldwide leader in unique travel packages for 18 to 35-year-olds. View Contiki’s Europe Winter 2009-2010 brochure here.

 

For more travel ideas from RTM, visit our Travel Channel.

 

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