Fun for Kids and Some Tips for the Road

How to keep your kids engaged on a road trip? One of the best ways, as I learnt from one of my school-days friends is to let the little ones chronicle the journey from their point of view. For instance, we can have them take pictures of all the stops along the way. While the pictures make great souvenirs, this can also keep them busy later in form of a scrapbook.

It's quite easy to leave our worries behind while on vacation. But not beofre you teach the kids some "How To" stuff.

So, at first, we want to teach them
**how to dial “911”
**how to use a cell phone, in case of emergency.

Also, isn't it a great idea to take a few moments after settling into a hotel room to show them how to operate the hotel phone. Also, your tots should know how to contact the front desk, how to get an outside line, and how to call for an ambulance.

Vegas Strip to be a Passe, But not Before 10 Years

You heard it right. The Las Veas Strip is soon going to loose its charm, if Steve Wynn goes ahead with his intention of building a gigantic hotel casino complex just a few miles northwest of the famous Strip.

Casting shadows on everything around, the Wynn's envisioned casino complex will cover nearly 823,000 acres and accommodate...hold your breathe...over 6 million guests!!!!

Tentatively named "The World - Las Vegas," construction is expected to start this fall and the first of 16 phases is scheduled to be completed by January 2015.

The World- Phase I Highlights

Total A/C space: 1.4 trillion square feet
Guest rooms and suites: 1,969,744
Casinos: 612
Golf Courses: 153
Swimming Pools: 258
Restaurants: 2171
Special features and activities: 400 foot waterfall, 87 acre water skiing lake, Olympic scale luge track, enclosed Formula One race track and an indoor skydiving platform.

Six Unavoidable Items to Pack While We Go, Do You Dare?

Whenever I'm going on a vacation, I never dare to go without packing some items in my baggage. So what are these articles, which I'm so finicky about?

1. Flashlight
This is to illuminate dark places where shady elements could be lurking. I can run it down the window of a parked vehicle and see what lies within. Besides, it could be used to identify others around and help get to safety during a blackout, which is a common phenomenon in most of the developing countries.

2. Portable Smoke detector
For added security in the hotel room.

3. Smoke hood
Although I've never used it, I keep a smoke hood, so that on event of a fire, I can use it. It allows a limited supply of breathable air and keep smoke from burning one's eyes so that we can see better while escaping from a fire.

4. Duct tape
One of the main advantages of a duct tape is that I can use it to seal my hotel room against the intrusion of smoke, the real killer in building fires.

5. Door lock
I always use a portable door lock as an added security device for my hotel room. A cheap rubber doorstop is a also a great substitute for a portable door lock. It's more handy and easier to deploy, too.

6. Cellular telephone
You will agree that a cell phone provides instant access to someone who can send aid.

Sands for the Entire Family - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Although I don't have tons of things to say about Hilton Island, I must say that this is one of the best family friendly beaches I can ever dream of! It's not just me, but for all those people who make it to it every year. A resort town with an active lifestyle, and full of friendly people, Hilton Head is a place where it's possible to raise a family and lead a blissful life.

Recently, it's been named one of 10 best family beaches in the US. Every moment here would weave memories that last for a lifetime. There are buildings set back from the main roads and the vistas are blessed with the breathtaking sights of native pines and oaks. No flashy hues or over-the-top designs. It's a wonderful blend of trhe natural environment everywhere. Hilton Head is an idyllic paradise set amidst the turquoise oceans.

America's Safest Small Towns: Newton, Massachusetts

Where is Newton?
Adjacent to Boston, Massachusetts

What to do?
The Jackson Homestead, of course!

The last time when I visited Boston, one of my friends recommended this place. Newton. I thought, "what the heck of a thing is that?" No doubt, there were shades of curiosity, but I was no too excited. Nevertheless, I decided to give it a go.

You won't believe what happened there. I was totally bowled over by Newton's sheer beauty and the activities there. I couldn't help an extended vacation! Interestingly, you won't find Newton town center even if you keep searching for the whole life! Yes. There is no single town center in Newton. Instead, what they have is 13 villages woven together and most of them bragging their own "downtown"!

If you ever visit Newton, don't miss the The Jackson Homestead. Presently, the Newton History Museum, the Jackson Homestead is perhaps best known for its history as a stop on the Underground Railroad. Built in 1809 as a farmhouse designed in the Federal style, today, it displays paintings, costumes, photographs, manuscripts, maps and historical artifacts.

If you love golf, just go to the Woodland Country Club, Charles River Country Club, and Brae Burn Country Club, which was the venue for US Open, 1919.

Forget about its history. At present, the Norumbega Park is just right for the child of nature. A popular dog-walking site, it invites you with breathtaking hills, meadows, woods, and access to the river.

The weekends ware exciting at the Mall at Chestnut Hill. It's a shop-and-watch-jazz kind of a theme and I was totally in love with it! Foodies will love to dine out. Everyone there recommends the Capital Grille Steakhouse or Appetito, featuring Tuscan-accented Italian cuisine.

I stayed at the Marriott. You can pick the Sheraton, too. If you want a more homely feel, you can't miss the smaller inns and bed and breakfasts there. Everything is good. Did I tell you that I was glued to Newton for 4 days!! I wanted more!

Book Flights to Boston here.

Responsible Tourism, Tourism for Tomorrow, Save the Planet

This morning I was reading a write-up on Responsible Tourism. I'd have surely missed it but for the word "responsible". I know that travelers are getting somewhat irresponsible in their conduct. Very few tourists care about the eco-system and eco-tourism. So much so that our highest mountains have been transformed into veritable garbage, with very few working on restoring the natural balance.

The phenomenon has assumed global proportions. But it's all in our hands. That's why Responsible Tourism was the highlight of this year's Global Travel and Tourism Summit, held recently in Lisbon, Portugal.

It was way back in 1989, when the Federation of Tour Operators established the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards in an effort to encourage the industry to protect the environment, recognize leading companies for their leadership in developing responsible tourism worldwide.

Indeed, this has been met with considerable success. Today, we have numerous ecolodges and tour operators doing sustainable tourism and following the best practice models.

For the year 2007, the awards go to:

Great Barrier Reef, Australia- Destination Award
Aspen Skiing Company, USA- Conservation Award
Nihiwatu Resorts, Indonesia- Investor in People Award
Lindblad Expeditions, USA & Global- Global Tourism Business Aware

The New Seven Wonders

"Our Heritage is our Future"- after months of speculations and conjectures, the final 7 have been declared. With the ultimate verdict coming from the world community, the coveted new seven wonders are listed, followed by the their significances.

1. Chichen Itza, Mexico- Served as the political and economic hub of the Mayan civilization.

2. Christ Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil- A 38 meter tall statue of Christ, perched atop the Corcovado mountain overlooking the city of Rio de Janeiro. Designed by Brazilian Heitor da Silva Costa and created by French sculptor Paul Landowski, it took 5 years to construct the statue, and was inaugurated on October 12, 1931.

3. The Great Wall of China, China- Dating from 220 BC, this is the largest man-made monument ever to have been constructed and "is the only monument visible from space".

4. Machu Picchu, Peru- Built in the 15th century by the Incan Emperor Pachacútec, this is an extraordinary settlement lying halfway up the Andes Plateau, deep in the Amazon jungle and above the Urubamba River. A wonder in itself, going by its location in the clouds!

5. Petra, Jordan- Situated on the edge of the great Arabian Desert, Petra was the sparkling capital of the Nabataean empire of King Aretas IV (9 B.C. to 40 A.D.). The tunnel constructions and water chambers, a 4000 capacity Graeco-Roma-styled theater, the Palace Tombs of Petra, with the 42-meter-high Hellenistic temple facade on the El-Deir Monastery, exemplifies the high culture of the Middle East.

6. The Roman Colloseum, Italy- Dating from over 2000 years, this amazing amphitheater in the centre of Rome was built to give favors to successful legionnaires and to celebrate the glory of the Roman Empire.

7. The Taj Mahal, India- Completed in 1658, this majestic mausoleum was built by Shah Jahan, the fifth Muslim Mogul emperor, in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaj Mahal. It's an epic of love created in white marble.

But my own judgement is somewhat different-

Instead of the Roman Colloseum, I vote for the Acropolis, Greece. The symbol of the Greek Civilization, the Acropolis was believed to radiate power and protection for its citizens.

I think, Kremlin/St. Basil, Russia, deserves to be in place of the Christ Redeemer!


The finalists-

The Acropolis, Greece
Alhambra, Spain
Angkor, Cambodia
Statues of Easter Island, Chile
Eiffel Tower, France
Hagia Sophia, Turkey
Kiyomizu Temple, Japan
Kremlin/St. Basil, Russia
Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
Statue of Liberty, USA
Stonehenge, United Kingdom
Sydney Opera House, Australia
Timbuktu, Mali

Whatever our individual judgments be, let's work for the restoration and preservation of these monuments that symbolize the human race itself.