Archive for September, 2010

• Olympic Park in Montreal

  Wednesday, September 29th, 2010

  Montreal continues to rank as one of the world’s most beautiful and livable cities. And while these are some pretty impressive statistics, it is fun to investigate how they are determined. And when it comes to Montreal, the answers might seem obvious. From the incredibly beautiful architectural elements and cultural landmarks to the gorgeous geography and amazing entertainment and artistic genres that exist throughout the city, Montreal not only provides an amazingly beautiful environment but fills it with great cultural attractions. Some of the of the top destinations for many of the tourists in one of the Montreal hotels also happen to be some of the city’s historic buildings.

  One of the great cultural landmarks of the city is also one of the more recently constructed. Olympic Park was built in the early 1970s as part of Olympic Village. The stadium was built to host some of the 1976 Olympic games and this incredible complex continues to serve a diverse variety of purposes. The stadium itself seats over 80,000 people and there are other features of this complex that intrigue and attract people on a daily basis. It is the home of the city’s Botanical Gardens , which is popular not only with residents but also the numerous tourists who visit Montreal every year, and it is also the location of the amazing Biodome and Insectarium.

• Fort Lauderdale Hosts World’s Largest Boat Show

  Saturday, September 25th, 2010

  The 51st Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is coming soon. Billed as the largest boat show in the world, the event will feature over 3 billion dollars worth of yachts, super yachts and all manner of boats as well as the accessories, electronics, and engines that go with them. Every major boat builder and marine manufacturer in the world is expected to fill over 3 million square feet of space, both in the water and on the ground.

  Expect sailors from all over the world to fill the best hotels Ft Lauderdale has to offer to see the most luxurious superyachts and cutting edge boating accessories. In addition to the boats themselves, the Show will include a variety of diving and fishing seminars along with safety and product demos. Hook the Future will be sponsoring the 13h Annual Kids’ Fishing Clinics for ages 5-16. The Blue Wild Dive and Travel Show will include videography and marine art in addition to answering questions about everything from freediving to underwater photograph.

  This year’s show will run from October 28 until November 1 at the Broward County Convention Center and the Bahia Mar/Hall of Fame/Las Olas Marina. The show offers a unique Transportation network of riverboats, bus shuttles, and water taxis to ferry visitors from exhibit to exhibit. Tickets are on sale now on the web.

• Towering Above Sydney

  Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010

  Every city has its highest building, whether that’s a quaint city hall in a small mountain community or the world’s tallest structure, Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. For residents of Sydney, their local point of pride is Centrepoint, also known as Sydney Tower . Rising 1001 feet, the tower is the tallest free-standing structure in the city and the second tallest in Australia. It has the second tallest observation tower in the Southern Hemisphere.

  Sydney Tower sits on Centrepoint, a shopping and office center. Three main sections of the tower are open to the public, making it one of the main tourist attractions for those staying in a hotel in Sydney . The observation deck offers stunning views of the city, Harbour and surrounding areas. The Sydney Tower Skywalk offers an open-air viewing platform, but is only accessible with pre-booked and scheduled tours. The Tower also houses two revolving restaurants and a gift shop. Each year it is the site of the Sydney Tower Run-Up in which participants ascend 1504 stairs to the Observation Deck from the Pitt St Mall below. The event is a benefit for the Cancer Council and the two winners can qualify to compete in New York’s Empire State Run-Up.

  Other names for the tower, located at 100 Market Street, include AMP Tower, Centrepoint Tower and AMP Centrepoint Tower. The name Sydney Tower was officially adopted in 2001 when ownership of the property was assumed by the Westfield Group.

• Miniatures in Singapore

  Sunday, September 19th, 2010

  The history of the miniature in art practice is a rather long and fascinating one. The idea of taking a beloved object, such as a house, or even a person, and make them into a miniature version speaks to a childhood impulse for mimicry, and it also speaks of a certain quaint attempt to control what is precious. To see something in miniature means that one can understand it as a whole, to contemplate all of its parts from different angles, and discover new things.

  The miniature has reached a new status in recent art practices, as the rise of the installation has given birth to new innovations by some of the world’s most accomplished artists. It makes perfect sense, then, that this would eventually come to Singapore, where the artists already seem to be a step ahead of everyone else. It has an art scene that attracts visitors to Singapore Hotels from all over the world.

  For now, the best example of the miniature comes from the 1800s . It’s a scene that’s held in the Fuk Tak Chi Musem , a well-established cultural institution in the city. Here one can see a street scene from long ago, and the uncanny effect of seeing a smaller version of something that once was is enough to make any art lover heady with memory and nostalgia.

• Boston in Full Autumn Colors

  Wednesday, September 15th, 2010

  As the mercury begins to move down and autumn is just around the corner, then it’s time to explore a region that offers vibrant foliage at its finest: Boston. Autumn leaves cover the East Coast landscape with colorful splashes of gold, red and green. Boston is the best place to begin a New England drive holiday. Some hotels Boston offer autumn foliage visitors great discounts and some even offer their own autumn foliage tours.

  While Boston is best known for its academic achievements, being home to Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, both by-the-way offer free tours, the city is also known as a hub of culture and historical sites. However, the turning of the foliage is the star attraction in the fall.

  Before driving out of Boston to see even more spectacular autumn foliage or participate in a guided tour, drop by the Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall to sample some of the delicious East Coast seafood offered in the city. Then take as much time as you like and drive through some of the most amazing sea of colors as turning of the leaves begin.

  If you’re traveling with young children, you should stop off at a real-life pumpkin patch. The whole family will have fun choosing a pumpkin, plus the pumpkin patch might just be offering the freshest pumpkin pie to sample, and to buy.

• Old Town Scottsdale

  Sunday, September 5th, 2010

  Scottsdale, Arizona is one of the major cities that is part of the greater Phoenix metropolitan region. It is actually located just northeast of the city of Phoenix and is directly north of Tempe, which is the home of Arizona State University. And while the city of Scottsdale is surrounded by some great cultural centers and significant regional attractions, it also has some major landmarks, entertainment options and cultural establishments. And it is frequently recognized as one of the preferred residential locations in the Valley of the Sun .

  One of the most popular areas of Scottsdale is the Old Town section, which is located pretty much in the center of the city. This part of town is very close to the Scottsdale Center for the Arts and is just south of some of the prime shopping areas. Old Town also has great shopping options and has some of the city’s most popular and prestigious galleries. Southwestern art and jewelry stores are also common as are an assortment of great restaurants and clothing stores. Some of the city’s most popular night clubs are located in and around Old Town area and this is a common point of interest for most of the guests in one of the five star hotels Scottsdale .

• Art and Theatre in Paris

  Friday, September 3rd, 2010

  Paris is full of incredible art museums, galleries, theatres and concert and performance venues. And people come from all over the world to visit places like the Louvre are attend a performance of the Paris Opera. In addition, the residents have always demonstrated a strong support of the theatre and establishments like the Comedie Francaise hold international significance.

  The Louvre is one of the most highly respected and popularly known museums in the world. It also holds among its collection some of the worlds most famous and acclaimed masterpieces. Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is one display there and is one of the most famous paintings in the world. The painting’s subject continues to intrigue viewers with her iconic and mysterious smile. Other popular items at the museum include the ancient sculpture of Aphrodite , known as the Venus de Milo and Michelangelo’s famous sculpture titled Slave.

  The Comedie Francaise is one of the historic theatres of Paris and is also one of its few state theatres. It is the only one to have its own trip and the theatre dates back to the late 17th century. It is believed to have been established in 1680 and presents some of the greatest works from the classical canon as well as contemporary favorites. This is one of the most popular entertainment options for many of the guests at a Paris hotel .