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Did you ever find yourself on vacation stuck in the middle of a random street festival or spontaneous fireworks display and wonder what the hell was going on? Did you ever stroll down a quiet lane only to be overtaken by drunken revelery in the form of manic flag wavers on ferocious benders? Perhaps you found yourself in a foreign city, aimlessly lost and hungry, with every shop, convenience store and museum in view shut down for the day, with absolutely no idea why.

If any of this conjures unpleasant flashbacks or sounds at all familiar, you somehow, by complete fluke, found yourself amid a national celebration and holiday of some sort. A more thorough inspection of your guidebook would probably have done the trick to enlighten you on your destination, perhaps from the comfort of your window seat on the airplane.

Maybe prior investigation is not your bag. You welcome the element of surprise and prefer to wallow in blissful ignorance. Fine. For those of you not too proud to receive some information about national (and regional for that matter) holidays, please check out these awesome celebrations with bonus advice on where to secure the best vantage point. No more looks of confusion as you get swept up in another foreign parade or street conga line again!

Continue reading Best National Celebrations I »

Always a source of controversy, hunting is nonetheless one of the most popular recreational pursuits in the world. Why anyone would want to strap on a rifle and blow a wild animal into oblivion when supermarkets and convenience stores exist on every street corner is beyond some people. For others however, hunting is a way of life or a pastime that harkens back to man’s primodial need to acquire sustenance.

A healthy niche in the tourism industry, hunting safaris and excurions run by reputable operators can provide safer alternatives to animal preservation than uncontrolled poaching. While the latter decimates entire species populations in a matter of decades and still runs rampant in many areas in the world with bigger fish to fry, controlled hunting is a brand of tourism that has proven lucrative to many governments and indigeneous populations. It takes big bucks to kill big bucks however, but for many, the opportunity to see a rustic, off-the-beaten-path part of the world and experience the wild romance of the hunt is well worth the high price of admission.

Continue reading The Best Hunting Spots for Tourists »

The brawny and active tourist of today is not content with public transportation and car rentals to flit about between one city and another. Rather, this brand of hearty tourist views a vacation as a chance to get outdoors, blow off some steam and experience a new town by way of pedal power.

As the mainstream throngs get hip to the allure of tourism on bicycle, the demand for compatible urban areas has seen a sharp rise. A form of travel that affords a more leisurely, if not healthy pace from which to observe sights and scenery, bicycle trails that meander through tourism-worthy parts of the world are all the rage. In our hectic world, where the move to go green is more than a trend but pure necessity, it just makes sense to live and travel this way. Urban plans to accommodate bicycles has become more and more of a standard and tour operators who deal solely with avid participants and cater to their travel needs, have proven a sustainable niche in the industry.

So whether you fly to your destination with your precious gear and bike in tow or rent when you touch ground, here are some of the best and most agreeable towns in the world for bicyclists.

Continue reading Top 12 Bicycle Friendly Towns »

Our look at the best river cruises in the world rolls along with more from Europe and two which require no introduction or hyperbole. All in all, these destinations offer the best in river tours, both in terms of adjacent sights and towns, as well as unspoiled natural beauty.

We begin the second part of our countdown in familiar territory - Europe, or to be more specific, Germany.

Rhine River, Europe

One of the most popular river cruise destinations in the world, the Rhine evokes much emotion and passion from natives along her shores and tourists alike. Many momentous events in Europe’s history have gone down here, as the Rhine represents one of the most geographic features on the continent. For Germans, the river is the symbol of the country and the historic heart of commerce, industry and trade.

Continue reading 10 Best River Cruises in the World Part II »

The concept of “a cruise” vacation elicits passionate debate and a wide range of opinions. People either love or hate the cruise. Detractors compare them to amusement parks; mere fabrications of a vacation and far from authentic. Others swear by the cruise, appreciate the all-inclusive nature of the experience and ability to kick back and do virtually zilch for the duration of the trip.

A good compromise between a traditional Caribbean-type cruise on a massive ocean liner with every possible amenity and way, way too much food and a country expedition that requires another vacation once you return home, is a river excursion. River cruises offer a level of intimacy, not to mention scenery, simply unavailable at sea or on the ocean. They provide a quasi-eco-tourism angle to a trip, albeit from a comfortable, watery distance and the ports of call are far more diverse and rich in terms of culture and history. Continue reading 10 Best River Cruises in the World Part I »

Examine for a moment the purpose of vacation travel. Why do we flee the nest? To decompress, to discover new cultures, to experience natural beauty and to break from the rigors of routine? Yes. All good reasons to be sure. But what happens when we travel with a more noble purpose in mind? What happens when we embark on a spiritual journey?

The major religions of the world revere certain landmarks more than others. These shrines, temples, monuments and destination points galvanize and rally followers and serve as symbolic apotheoses. With priceless historical import and cultural merit, the pilgrimage sites that follow are valuable not only for adherents of their respective faiths but anyone who wishes to engage in a genuine holy journey. Here then are The Most Spiritual Places in the World.

Vatican City

The heart of the Catholic Church, the home of the Pope and the Holy See, the Vatican is a sovereign city-state with a population of 800 inside the city of Rome, Italy. Within the Vatican one can find the most important symbols of the Catholic faith.

Continue reading The Most Spiritual Places in the World Part I »

Holy, religious, spiritual sites that serve as pilgrimage destinations to millions of followers embody a unique offshoot of the tourism industry. People who travel out of devotion are not the average breed of tourist after all. While many visit pilgrimage sites to satisfy cultural, historical and sociological interests, the vast majority do so to fulfill a higher obligation.

As a result, the regions, monuments and towns that transcend mere travel curiosity and encompass a type of spiritual magnetism, occupy a special brand of travel appellation. With that in mind, we move on with our investigation of some of the most holy places on the planet.

Bangkok, Thailand Continue reading The Most Spiritual Places in the World Part II »

It’s difficult to plan weekend getaways, especially if you’re an avid advocate of outdoor fun and amusement. For those located in major cities or their surrounding suburbs, the idea of finding a park or large body of water seems out of reach for a weekend, let alone a long weekend. Fortunately, outdoor activities are not out of reach for anyone who wishes to find one. Check out some of our favorites.

Paddling with Pods

Continue reading Weekend Adventures - Timid Tourists Need Not Apply »

Our countdown of the most sacrosanct golf pilgrimmages tees off with more mythical courses familiar by name to competitive and neophyte duffers. These golf courses are more than just fairways, bunkers and greens. They represent history.

Perhaps no other sport reveres and respects the past as golf. Consider that in no other sport can virtual novices walk the ground and participate in the game where the very best have made their mark. The second half of our list is all about being able to capture that experience in the most significant Cathedrals in golf.

Continue reading Top 10 Golf Course Pilgrimages in the World Part II »

Golf vacations are a massive industry unto themsleves, with countless operators around the world who specify in the most lucrative recreational form of travel tourism. Fanatics of golf and indeed, those who plan entire vacations around the sport, often fall into one of two subdivisions. Those who seek out courses in exquisite parts of the world or resorts that make up the new breed of ultra-luxurious destinations. Courses in Cabo San Lucas, parts of the Caribbean, Dubai and China fall into this category.

Then you have the connoisseurs. Those with intimate knowledge of golf lore who want to walk in the footsteps of history. There is no more powerful a statement than, “I was there”. These Holy sites of Golf attest to that.

Continue reading Top 10 Golf Course Pilgrimages in the World Part I »