Browsing Month October, 2009

From : Laetitia Lair

Annecy, famous for its stunning lake set on a mountain background and charming village, has somehow managed to get the best out of its Geneva heritage and French location. Located only 35 km south of Geneva, it is the perfect week end destination for nature & sport lover!

Annecy is as well a little Venice with water canals spread all around the old town. Flowers and trees are everywhere turning the blue water from the lake to an emerald green color and making it all the more charming. Tiny embarkations are parked here and there, one step only from the lake and water is never too far when walking around the town…

The old town reflects the complex heritage of this city that once was the capital of the county of Geneva before being conquered by France during the French Revolution. It was then returned to the kingdom of Sardinia and finally sold to France (as part of Savoy) at the end of the 19th century.
The town is made of plenty of tiny alleys; houses are colorful with distinctive wooden crossbeam

and begonia flowers hanging from the balconies.
Its castle date from time of the count of Geneva (12th century) while the cathedral offers a more baroque feel (16th century) and the Palais de l’Isles (old prison), one of the most photographed monument in France, a 19th century touch.

Read the rest here http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/blog-437159.html

Travelwebdir.com

Being a major hub of finance, transportation and culture, San Francisco is another densely populated city in the United States. In terms of population, San Francisco stands fourth among the other cities of California. It came into prominence after World War II when the city radically allowed gay sexual expression. Today, it has come a long way in being established as a major tourist destination in the U.S. This chiefly owes to some landmark architectures like the Golden Gate Bridge, the Chinatown and its cable cars. The unpredictable climate further adds to the charm and appeal of the place.

Other chief attractions that are a must watch here are the Aquarium of the Bay, a unique way of watching marine species through underwater tunnels. The most romantic getaway in San Francisco can be the Hornblower Cruises and Events, which is a complete package of tours, wining and dining. The Fishermen’s Wharf around the bay area is a major marketplace that bustles with festive activity year round. In the end, the Presidio of San Francisco is sure to quench all thirst related to architecture, history, culture and will enthrall all with its picturesque locales.

 Apart from the tourist attractions, there are many other festivals and events that one can watch in San Francisco and some noteworthy of these include watching native American films at the American Indian Film Institute or listening to live music at Another Planet Entertainment. Being a major metropolitan city, San Francisco has the best boutique and star-rated hotels but since the place abounds in visitors of all kinds, there are also numerous cheaper options like bed and breakfast inns. However, San Francisco has gained in the tourism sector largely owing to Gay Travel and the numerous gay destinations within the city of which The Castro is the most noticeable. Thus, visiting San Francisco can be a most thrilling, wonderful and a whole new experience.

Over the years, San Diego has gained in reputation as a major tourist destination owing to its breathtaking scenery, awesome attractions and miles of pristine white sand and surf. The attraction becomes even more terrific with the congruence of wonderful weather that makes it suitable for visits throughout the year. In fact, visitors here will never run out of options to explore and there is very little chance of getting bored.

 

Located along the west coast of the U.S. along the Pacific Ocean, San Diego is the second largest among the cities within the state of California. Today the city has evolved into a hotbed for many flourishing industries that range from biomedicine, agriculture, computer sciences, electronics manufacturing, telecommunications, shipbuilding, military and tourism. Its location on canyons has lent it a widely hilly terrain and in the process benefiting visitors and citizens by creating natural parks. The Balboa Park is the most well known of these naturally created parks. Some oft-visited beaches include Ocean Beach, Mission Beach and Pacific Beach. Another lesser-known fact about San Diego is that it is home to the best cultural heritages in the U.S. and has a host of wonderful galleries and museums. Some such attractions include The San Diego Natural History Museum, the San Diego Museum of Art and the Museum of Photographic Arts. The Old Globe Theater and the La Jolla Playhouse are some of its classic attractions.

The San Diego Historical Society serves both as a pleasurable family outing as well as an unique educational experience wherein history once again comes back to life. The best place for entertainment here is the Gaslamp Quarter. Children will definitely love the wonderful pandas at the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Sports Arena will never disappoint any visitor with its variety.

As such to explore such beautiful locales and wonderful attractions all those who love to travel should visit the city. The experience is sure to delight everyone because wining, dining here is very affordable, and the friendly charm is sure to touch everyone’s hearts.

Besides being the capital of the state of New York, Albany is also a noted city within the state because of its historical treasures. There is no dearth of architectural masterpieces, grandiloquent theatres, museums and art galleries in the place, which are sure to enthrall the visitors. In fact, this is one city, which is noted chiefly for its culture and heritage. Albany, located to the south of New York City is the county seat of Albany County. In recent days, it has grown as a major port city due to its location at the mouth of the Hudson River.

Although, it was the Dutch who first settled in the region, Albany got its present name and the full status of a city under the British who acquired it from the Dutch in 1664. The city is a treasure trove of history for over three centuries. The most noteworthy of historical symbols is the New York State Capitol that encircles the seven hills surrounding the city and lends it an aura of its own. The design of this building, the breathtaking build of the staircase and its unique exteriors has transformed it into a must watch site in the United States. Albany’s location at the mouth of the Hudson River had transformed it into an important industrial city from its very inception. The best place to learn about Albany’s rich culture and heritage is the Quackenbush Square from where all visitors should begin their journey.

After the Quackenbush Square, the next stop for all visitors should be the picturesque Capital Hills Golf Course, which invites both visitors and citizens alike. Meeting requirements from all kinds of visitors, Albany has a host of public libraries, which further strengthens its cultural image. There is again a whole range of activities, which are to ensure that no visitor finds the city dull and these activities include a visit to the Bleecker Stadium or to the Boxing Program. There are well-equipped Community Centers and the city also hosts the Powerlifting Championship and the Nike Youth Flag Football League. One can also pay visits to the Seasonal Pools or the Swinburne Skating Rink.

Traveling around the city is extremely easy as the city has a good connectivity of transport. Interconnectivity of highways also ensures that traveling outside the city is also easy. At last, it should also be mentioned that accommodation is never a problem in Albany as the city is very visitor-friendly and so has a wide range of hotels in varying price ranges. An additional attraction here for food-lovers can be the never-ending array of gourmet restaurants in the city.

The first thing that the name Los Angeles suggests is limitless entertainment. In fact, there can be no second opinion on the statement that Los Angeles is the entertainment capital of the world. Los Angeles is the largest city within the state of California and one of the most densely populated in the United States. Originally inhabited by the Spanish and owned by the Mexicans, Los Angeles became a part of the U.S. after the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Today, the name Los Angeles is synonymous with the name Hollywood, the birthplace of the motion picture.

There is no such field wherein Los Angeles has not been able to create an impression of its own, be it culture, entertainment, business, science and technology, music or fashion, the city has topped in several charts. Being the highest seat of entertainment, Los Angeles enjoys the rare luxury of becoming home to the most famous and richest of the world. The hilly terrains of Los Angeles have lent it a unique appeal. The most picturesque of these mountains is the Sister Elsie Peak, the highest in the city. The other noteworthy hills here are the Santa Monica Hills, which is again quite rocky in texture. The only river to flow through the city is the Los Angeles River. A largely Mediterranean climate ensures that tourists can enjoy the city at all times of the year.

One of the major attractions of Los Angeles is its vast natural treasure of flora, fauna and wetlands along with immense sand and surf. Besides exploring its picturesque locales on foot one can also enjoy wholesome family tours to the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the ever-enticing Hollywood Sign, technology lovers can explore the Griffith Observatory and besides these, there are the innumerable entertainment options like Kodak Theater, Hollywood Bowl and the Capitol Records Building. Besides these recreational options, one should surely indulge in the vibrant shopping of the place. There is nothing on the planet that cannot be found in Los Angeles and therefore it is sure to entice everyone. Visitors will find no dearth of hotels in this beautiful and friendly place that can provide accommodations to all, whereas multiple cuisines is a specialty of most restaurants in the city. Therefore, Los Angeles is a must visit for all.

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