Magic Destination
Top travel destinations and vacation ideas

Archive for the ‘Top Cities’ Category

12
Jan

Aspen

Posted in Top Cities  by admin on January 12th, 2010
Aspen
click image to enlarge

Aspen is a city that is located in Pitkin County, Colorado. It covers an area of three and a half square miles and has a population of almost six thousand residents. The history of the city can be traced to 1879, when it was founded as Ute City. The following year it was renamed Aspen and was the most productive silver mine in the United States. With the passage of the 1890 Sherman Silver Purchase Act, silver production of the area nearly doubled. Within three years, the city had a hospital, banks, theaters and an opera house. The Panic of 1893 caused a repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act and several of the city’s mines were shut down. This put thousands of silver miners out of work and caused the city to experience an economic downturn.

Aspen
click image to enlarge

Aspen silver production eventually picked back up, but went the city went through a second economic downturn by 1930. With a population of only seven hundred residents and with many businesses shut down, the city began to re-imagine itself as a ski resort. In 1946, the Aspen Skiing Corporation was started and the town began its journey as a ski resort. Today, increasing property values has shut many low and middle income workers out of the city and transformed the downtown area into an upscale shopping district. High end stores and boutiques in downtown Aspen include Christian Dior, Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Burberry, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Ermenegildo Zegna, Brioni, Bvlgari and Theory. Average property values in the city exceed two million dollars.

Aspen
click image to enlarge

A popular attraction in Aspen, is not located in the city but about ten miles away. Its the Ashcroft Ghost Town. This ghost town was known as Chloride in the 1880s and is located south of Aspen. It was founded by prospectors looking to make their fortune in silver. These prospectors built a courthouse and built the streets in just under two weeks. The town was eventually named Ashcroft after a big ore strike was made, and the city added a banquet hall and ballroom. The population of the town soon exceeded two thousand residents and it was home to twenty saloons, two newspapers, a school and several sawmills. By 1885, the population exceeded thirty-five hundred people and it added six hotels to its list of businesses. The prosperity of the town was short lived however, and the city would experience an economic downturn.

Aspen
click image to enlarge

This was caused by the discovery of silver in Aspen, which lured investors and businessmen away from Ashcroft. In 1939, the last official resident of Ashcroft dies and it became a ghost town. Ashcroft Ghost town is listed on the National Registry of Historic Sites, and is maintained as an educational resource by the Historic Society of Aspen. It is considered to be the most easily accessible and well maintained ghost towns in the United States.

Another popular attraction in Aspen is Independence Pass. This is a mountain pass that is at the summit of the Sawatch Range and is between Aspen and Leadville. The pass connects the Roaring Fork River Valley with the headwaters of the Arkansas River. The pass is covered by State Highway 82 and is the second highest paved road in the state.

Aspen
click image to enlarge

The pass is closed in the winter, from the first heavy snow fall in autumn, often opening only in late spring or early summer.

Other popular attractions in Aspen include Buttermilk Mountain, Crater Lake Trail, Aspen Mountain, Silver Queen Gondola, John Denver Sanctuary, Wheeler Opera House, Maroon Lake Scenic Trail, Caribou Club, Aspen Art Museum, Aspen Highlands, West Maroon Trail, Mill Street Fountain, Grizzly Lake Trail, Galerie Zuger, Ute Cemetery, Conundrum Creek Trail, Aspen Center for Environmental Studies, Aspen Golf and Tennis Club, Independence Ghost Town, Crystal Palace Dinner Theatre, Snowmass Golf Course, Wheeler-Stallard Museum, Mid-Way Creek Trail, Smuggler Mountain, Pam Driscoll Gallery, Huntsman Gallery, Aspen Fine Art Gallery, Aspen Club & Spa, Cathedral Lake Trail, Silver Circle Ice Rink, Difficult Creek Trail and Hotel Aspen.

10
Jan

New Orleans

Posted in Top Cities  by admin on January 10th, 2010
New Orleans
click image to enlarge

New Orleans is situated in southeastern Louisiana and is the biggest city in the state. This city lies on the Mississippi River and is a major port of the United States. It covers an area of three hundred and fifty square miles and has a population of over three hundred and eleven thousand residents. This city can trace its roots back to May of 1718 when it was founded by the French Mississippi Company, under the scrutiny of Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville. In 1763, according to the terms of the Treaty of Paris, this colony was ceded to the Spanish Empire. It would remain under the control of Spain until 1801, when it would once again become a French colony. In 1803, Napoleon sold the territory to the U.S. in the Louisiana Purchase. After that, New Orleans received an influx of Americans, French, Germans and Africans. During the War of 1812, the British dispatched their forces to conquer the city. This invasion was thwarted by Andrew Jackson who assembled a force that contained Kentucky Riflemen, local militia and pirates, African Americans and U.S. regulars at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815. During the American Civil War, New Orleans was captured by the Union.

New Orleans
click image to enlarge

Today, New Orleans is a city that has increasingly dependent on tourism for its survival. Luckily, the city has a large amount of attractions and attractions millions of tourists each and every year. New Orleans is in the list of the ten most visited cities in the United States of America. Each year over ten million tourist flock to the city every year. Before Hurricane Katrina devastated the city, there were over two hundred ad sixty-five hotels with over thirty-eight thousand rooms in the city. After the hurricane, there were one hundred and forty hotels with around thirty thousand rooms available to guests. The most popular attraction in the city is the French Quarter. The city when it was founded, was originally centered on the French Quarter. Today, the entire district is a National Historic Landmark and contains many buildings of historic significance. The district is known for its combination of guest houses, bars, hotels, residences, tourist oriented properties and its historical attractions.

One of the main attractions in the French Quarter is Jackson Square. Jackson Square is a park that was declared a historic landmark in 1960. Opposite the square are three eighteenth century buildings.

New Orleans
click image to enlarge

These are St. Louis Cathedral, the Presbytere and the Cabildo. St. Louis Cathedral is the oldest operating cathedral in the United States. The church was erected in 1789, and in 1793 achieved the status of cathedral. St. Louis Cathedral is the most recognizable landmark of New Orleans. The Presbytere derives its name from the fact that it was built on the residence of the Capuchin Monks, though it never served as a residence of clergy. The Cabildo was built as the residence of the Spanish city government of New Orleans in 1799. It was also used as the site of the Louisiana Purchase transfer in 1803 and was used as city council until the 1850′s. In 1911, it became the Louisiana State Museum. Now the Cabildo has exhibits that cover the history of Louisiana from its settlement, through the Civil War and reconstruction all the way to present day. Running the length of the French Quarter is Bourbon Street. This street is known for its large number of bars and pubs. Some of the bars on this street include the Old Absinthe House, Pat O’Brien’s Bar, Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, Napoleon House Bar & Restaurant, Johnny White’s Bar, The Bourbon Pub and Molly’s at the Market.

New Orleans
click image to enlarge

The National World War II Museum is another prominent attraction in New Orleans. The museum was opened in the summer of 2000, on the fifty-sixth anniversary of D-Day. The lobby of the museum is very large and contains aircraft that are suspended from the ceiling. The top floors of the museum deals with the social, economic and political conditions that led up to World War II. The museum also contains a gift shop, electronic maps of the Pacific, models of the beaches and amphibious vehicles of the D-Day and two auditoriums where educational videos are available for patrons to view. Another attraction to visit while in the city is the Audubon Zoo. The Audubon Zoo covers an area of fifty-eight acres and contains over two thousand animals. Animals housed here include gorillas, white tigers, orangutans, white alligators, a Komodo Dragon, gila monsters, anacondas, vipers, rattlesnakes, reticulated pythons and beaded lizards.

Aquarium of the Americas is another prominent attraction in New Orleans. The aquarium opened in 1990 and features over ten thousand animals taken from over five hundred and thirty species of aquatic life from North and South America.

New Orleans
click image to enlarge

One of the primary exhibits is the Caribbean reef Exhibit which features a thirty foot tunnel that is surrounded by over one hundred and thirty thousand gallons of water. There is also an Amazon exhibit which is basically a greenhouse that contains stingrays, Macaws, Piranhas and snakes. Another exhibit is the Mississippi River Gallery which contains catfish, owls and alligators. The Gulf of Mexico exhibit has a seventeen foot tank that is filled with over four hundred thousand gallons of water and contains seat turtles, fish, sharks and stingrays. Also located on the premises of the Aquarium of the Americas are exhibits for penguins, sea otters, as well as an IMAX Theater.

Other prominent attractions in the city of New Orleans include Preservation Hall, the Garden District, Audubon Insectarium, Ogden Museum of Southern Art, Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World, Longue Vue House and Gardens, Old Opera House, Audubon Park, Confederate Memorial Hall, the New Orleans Mint, the New Orleans Museum of Art and the New Orleans Botanical Garden. The city is also home to numerous hotels, many of which have historical value. Hotels in the city include the Royal Sonesta Hotel, Omni Royal Orleans Hotel, Bourbon Orleans Hotel, Windsor Court Hotel and the W Hotel.

8
Jan

Miami

Posted in Top Cities  by admin on January 8th, 2010
Miami
click image to enlarge

Miami is located in Miami Dade County in the southeastern portion of Florida in the United States. This city has a population of over five million people contained within the greater metropolitan area. It is a coastal city and is considered a major international hub for movie and television entertainment, fashion, music and the performing arts. This city is also a financial hub of North America with the greatest number of international banks of any city in the United States. Miami also has an impressive skyline that ranks in third place behind New York and Chicago and consist of over fifty high rise skyscrapers.

While the metropolitan area of Miami has a large population, the population within the city limits consists of only about two hundred thousand residents. This is due to the small land area of the city. The city of Miami sits on only thirty five square miles of land, the smallest land area of any major metropolitan area in the United States. The city is home to less than seven percent of the residents in South Florida. Miami also has the distinction of being the only major city in the U.S. that has two national parks on its borders. These are the Everglades National Park and the Biscayne National Park.

Originally, the area that Miami is now located was home to the Tequestas for over eleven hundred years.

Miami
click image to enlarge

But, it wasn’t until 1566, when the area was claimed in the name of Spain by Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, that the city began to become a metropolitan area. The first major structure to be placed upon the site is a Spanish Mission in the year 1567. Later, in 1836, Fort Dallas was erected and the area became the theater for major hostilities during the Second Seminole War. Years after the war, Julia Tuttle, a wealthy citrus grower, convince the railroads to expand their lines into the region. This hastened the areas growth and in 1896 Miami was founded as a city. Its population at that time was a mere three hundred residents.

Miami is a city that can be divided geographically into several different sections; the North, South, West and Eastern portions. The eastern portion consist of Miami’s downtown area. This is Miami’s central financial district and is home to the many banks, hotels, and high rise residential buildings. The western portion is a diverse mix of the many immigrant neighborhoods that call Miami home. These include the Little Havana, West Flagler and Flagami neighborhoods. The south side of this city consist of many historic neighborhoods that were built during the roaring twenties. Some of these include the Coral Way, The Roads and Coconut Grove neighborhoods. The northern side of the city is a mix between diverse ethnic neighborhoods and historic neighborhoods. Neighborhoods here include Little Haiti and Overtown.

Miami
click image to enlarge

This part of the city is usually referred to as Midtown.

One of Miami’s major hot spots is South Beach. This area is known for its crystal clear blue water, immaculate beaches and art deco architecture. This area is also known for its many boutiques, mega shopping malls, street vendors, and resort hotels. There are also many restaurants in this area that offer a combination of cuisines which include Italian, Haitian and Cuban delicacies.

Another popular attraction in the city is the Miami Metro Zoo. This three hundred acre zoo contains over twelve hundred animals located in large open exhibits. Some of its main features include the twenty seven acre Amazon & Beyond Exhibit, Wings of Asia Aviary, Humpy’s Camel Ride and Samburu Giraffe Feeding Station. Visitors here can rent a safari bicycle, take the tram or ride on the monorail to see all this parks attractions. After your visit here you can also take a trip to Miami Seaquarium. This park sits on thirty-eight acres where guest can get a close up look at killer whales, dolphins and sea lions.

A great time for families with children can be had at the Miami Children’s Museum. This museum was founded in 1983 and features hands on interactive exhibits that include a television studio, a fire station and a police station. There is also an ocean exhibit and a teddy bear display for the younger children.

Miami
click image to enlarge

Other museums that can be checked out in the city of Miami include the Black Heritage Museum, the Frost Art Museum, Gold Coast Railroad Museum, the Cuban Museum of Arts and Culture, the Historical Museum of Southern Florida and the Miami Art Museum. Another great museum to visit in the city is the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. This thirty-four room mansion was built in 1916 by the industrialist James Deering. Its filled with fifteenth and sixteenth century European furniture and paintings. After exploring this historic house, visitors can check out the twenty eight acre grounds that are filled with many Italian and French style fountains, as well as pools and sculptures.

The city of Miami is also home to a number of beautiful historic buildings. One of them is the Miami Herald Museum. The Freedom Tower is another historic building that visitors should check out. It was built in 1925 and is done in a tradition art deco style. It is one of the oldest skyscrapers in the country and was home to the Miami Daily News.

One stop every visitor should make to this city is a trip to Bayside Marketplace. This is a large mall that is home to over one hundred and fifty shops, stores, restaurants and cafes. It is also the location where several tour boats depart from, offering tourist scenic views of Biscayne Bay. And if that’s not enough to peak your interest, there are also water taxi’s that can shuttle tourist from this area to Miami Beach and the many hotels that are situated there.

2
Jan

Manchester

Posted in Top Cities  by admin on January 2nd, 2010

Manchester is the metropolitan borough of the county of Greater Manchester in England. It has an area of forty-five square miles and a population of four hundred and fifty-eight thousand people. This city began in 79 AD when the Romans constructed the fort Mamucium. This location was then abandoned by the Romans in the third century. During the industrial revolution, Manchester became known for its textile manufacturing. Its textiles were sold around the world and the city began a period of rapid growth. Today, the cities major economic activities are service based industries and tourism.

Educational needs of Manchester is serviced by a variety of primary, secondary and special schools. Primary schools include Abbott Community Primary School, All Saints’ C.E. Primary School, Alma Park Primary School, Bishop Bilsborrow Memorial R.C. Primary School, Cheetham C.E. Community School, Christ the King R.C. Primary School and Crosslee Community Primary School. Secondary schools in the city include Burnage High School for Boys, North Manchester High School for Boys, North Manchester High School for Girls, Wright Robinson College, Parklands High School and Plant Hill Arts College. Special schools in the district include The Birches School, Southern Cross School, Meade Hill School, Piper Hill High School and Camberwell Park School.

Manchester is served by Manchester Airport. This airport is the busiest airport of any UK airport outside of the city of London. It serves over twenty one million passangers a year. It offers service to destinations in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America. The city is also service by a train system. The city has two mainline stations and operates an extensive railway network. Manchester was also one of the first cities in the United Kingdom to get a light rail tram system. It was the Manchester Metrolink which opened in 1992. It includes a twenty three mile network with thirty seven stations. The city is currently in the process of expanding its network. Another transportation node in the city is Manchester’s bus network. This network operates with over fifty bus companies.

Tourist from all over the world come to Manchester to see its beautiful architecture. This city has a wondefully diverse architectural style that ranges from the Victorian to the Modern. A popular attraction in the city is Bridgewater Hall. Bridgewater Hall was built in 1996 and is home to the Manchester Boys Choir. It is also used for graduation ceremonies of the Manchester Metropolitan University. Its main feature is a pipe organ that contains over fifty-five hundred pipes. This hall also has a twenty-three hundred seat auditorium.

Manchester Victoria Station is another popular attraction in the city. This is the second mainline railway station in the city. Also located in it is a Metrolink station. This station is located on Hunts Bank by Manchester Cathedral. This building was erected in 1844 to replace the Manchester Oldham Road railway station.

Manchester is a city that has quite a few museums. One of the more prominent ones is Manchester Museum. This museum, owned by the University of Manchester, was built in 1888. It houses an extensive collection of works which include armor, archer items, beetle specimens, pottery, plants, art, birds and fossils. Another important museum is the Museum of Science and Industry. This museum has a wide array of exhibits which include a Supermarine Spitfire, replica of the Manchester Small-Scale Experimental Machine and a South African GL class Beyer-Garratt. Other museums in the city include the People’s History Museum, the Manchester Jewish Museum, the Manchester Costume Gallery at Platt Fields, the Urbis centre, the Cornerhouse, Whitworth Manchester galleries, the Lowry art centre and the Manchester United Museum. Manchester also has a bustling opera and theater scene. These include the Manchester Opera House, the Palace Theatre, the Royal Exchange Theatre, the Library Theatre, the Contact Theatre and Studio Salford.

Manchester Cathedral is a medieval church that was built over the course of six hundred years. Thomas de la Warre founded and constructed a collegiate church for the parish in 1421 which would later be referred to as Manchester Cathedral. Its official name is quite long and not used that often, The Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Mary, St Denys and St George in Manchester. Construction continued on this building in the beginning of the sixteenth century. Over the course of its long history, this cathedral has been continually added to and renovated. It also had its treasures looted by various noblemen. The cathedral has ten church bells and sixteen misericords.

The original fort that the city was founded from is called Mamucium and is located in the Castlefield district of the city. The fort measured one hundred and seventy-five yards by one hundred and forty yards and was surrounded by a rampart and a ditch. In the second century, the wood ramparts were replaced with stone ones which measure around nine feet thick. The fort covered about four acres.

Visitors in Manchester should also check out the bustling nightlife in the city. This city is serviced by more than five hundred restaurants, bars, pubs and public houses. This gives Manchester the capacity to service over two hundred and fifty thousand patrons a night. Popular nightclubs in the city include Club Clique, the Paradise Factory, Sankeys Soap, Funkademia and the The Warehouse Project. Other attractions in the city include Manchester Apollo, MEN Arena, Night and Day Café and Bridgewater Hall.

27
Dec

Melbourne

Posted in Top Cities  by admin on December 27th, 2009
Melbourne
click image to enlarge

Melbourne is a city in Australia that is located on the bay of Port Phillip. Its the capital city of the State of Victoria and is the most heavily populated of all Australian cities. Melbourne covers an area of thirty-four hundred square miles and has a population of over four million people. The area of Melbourne has been occupied for over thirty thousand years by the indigenous tribes of the area, the Boonwurrung, Wathaurong and the Wurundjeri. These tribes thrived in the area by hunting and gathering from the land. The first European settlement wouldn’t arrive to the area until 1803, at Sullivan Bay. This initial colony faced hard times, however, due to the perception that the area had little resources to sustain it and it was eventually abandoned.

Then in 1835, John Batman came to the area and negotiated for a parcel of land that measured over six hundred thousand acres from the Wurundjeri elders. Mr. Batman then traveled back to his residence in Tasmania. He dispatched a settlement party to set up a village in the area, but a seperate group led by John Pascoe Fawkner had already set up a colony there. These groups would eventually strike a deal and agree to share the area.

Melbourne
click image to enlarge

Eventually the treaty between John Batman and the aboriginees would be voided by the Governor of New South Wales, Richard Bourke and the village would become property of the crown. The name of the village was then changed to Melbourne and Queen Victoria would incorporate it into a city in 1847.

Melbourne would then experience a period of rapid growth due to the Victoria Gold Rush of 1851. The entire state of Victoria were filled with miners and prosepectors who needed supplies for their mining operations. Melbourne was more than happy to oblige and as a result manufacturing in the city increased dramatically. With the influx of gold into the city Melbourne was able to work on massive civic building projects which produced landmarks such as the Parliament House, Melbourne Town Hall and St. Patrick’s cathedrals. This level of prosperity continued into the 1880s and the city became the second largest city in the British Empire. It would all come to an end in 1891, however, when a depression hit the city. In 1901, the city would become a part of the Commonwealth of Australia when Victoria joined the Federation of Australia.

Melbourne is a popular tourist destination with over six million domestic visitors and one and a half million foreign visitors each year.

Melbourne
click image to enlarge

This city has a wide range of attractions to interest tourist. One of the more popular attractions in the city is Federation Square. This cultural district has a large number of historical buildings, museums, art galleries, restaurants and bars. Located in this district is the Australian Centre for the Moving Image. The Australian Centre for the Moving Image (or ACMI) is a museum dedicated to moving images. This large facility has two cinemas which can play movies in every imaginable format and with the latest THX sound. Also located in the district is the Ian Potter Centre, BMW Edge Amphitheatre, National Design Centre and the The Melbourne Tourist Information Centre.

Another popular attraction in Melbourne is the Eureka Tower. This nine hundred and eighty-four foot skyscraper was constructed in 2006 in the Southbank precinct. Its the highest residential skyscraper in the world and its main feature is its observation platform Eureka Skydeck 88. The Melbourne Museum is a favorite among internation tourist to the city. It was built in 1854 and features seven main galleries. This museum has many exhibits which cover the human body, dinosaurs, the Aborigines of Victoria and insects. There is also a childrens museum located inside.

Melbourne
click image to enlarge

The Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex is another popular venue in the city. The Crown Casino was established in 1994 and is visited by over sixteen million people each year. This casino has a license to operate twenty five hundred slot machines and over three hundred table games. Games located in this casino include Blackjack, Caribbean Stud Poker, Poker, Roulette, Baccarat and Pai Gow. Also located in this complex are both fine dining and fast food restaurants, shops, arcade games, laser tag and a bowling alley. There is a hotel complex located here and a ballroom as well.

Art lovers visiting Melbourne should check out the National Gallery of Victoria. This art museum was founded in 1861 and is the largest and oldest art gallery in Australia. This museum contains Australian Aboriginal art, modern art and impressionist art. Located here are works by artist such as Marco Palmezzano, Rembrandt, Peter Paul Rubens, Paolo Uccello, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo and Tintoretto. The Melbourne Aquarium is another prime attraction in the city. It was built in 1999 and contains a two million litre aquarium.

Luna Park is the premier amusement park in Melbourne. It is one of two amusement parks in Australia, the other one being located in Sydney.

Melbourne
click image to enlarge

It was built in 1912 and is situated on Port Phillip Bay in St Kilda. The park consist of several features which include “Mr Moon” gateway, carousel, Big Top, Coney Island and Dodgem’s Building. Luna Park host a wide range of different rides which include roller coasters, ferris wheels and various themed rides.

Another popular attraction is the Royal Exhibition Building. This is a World Heritage Site that was built in 1880. It was built to host the Melbourne International Exhibition. Today, the building is used for various events such as the
Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. Its also used as an exam hall for various educational institutions such as Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne High School.

Other prominent attractions in Melbourne include the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Park, Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre, State Library of Victoria on Swanston Street, Victorian Arts Centre, Shrine of Remembrance, Docklands and Glow Golf at Dockland. The city also has a large variety of restaurants, bars, nightclubs and cafes. The most famous cafe strips include Fitzroy’s Brunswick Street, Collingwood’s Smith Street, Richmond’s Bridge Road and St Kilda’s Fitzroy Street.

23
Dec

Tarragona

Posted in Top Cities  by admin on December 23rd, 2009
Tarragona
click image to enlarge

Tarragona is situated by the Mediterranean Sea in the southern portion of Catalonia. It is the capital of the Tarragona Province and covers an area of seventy square miles. Over one hundred and fifty thousand people are contained within its city limits, and over six hundred and seventy-five thousand people are contained within the urban area around the city. This city can trace its history back to the Roman Empire, when it was the capital of the Hispania Tarraconensis Province and went by the name Tarraco. It is believed to have been originally founded by the Phoenicians and it was seated on a rock that had an elevation of over eight hundred feet above sea level. After it fell to the Romans, and became a colony, it became the capital of the province it was located within.

Today, the city contains a large port and most of its economic activity is derived from a number of chemical industries located within the city and the surrounding suburbs. But, the major economic activity of the city comes from its thriving tourist trade. This is due to a number of critical factors. The first factor that gives the city a good tourist trade is the large number of beaches it contains.

Tarragona
click image to enlarge

These beaches are recognizable by their golden sands and deep blue waters. Many of these beaches have been awarded the Blue Flag designation for their cleanliness and amenities afforded to visitors. The coastline of Tarragona stretches for almost five miles and is known as the Costa Daurada. There are five main beaches, which are occasionally dotted by smaller beaches. Arabassada Beach is the most popular of the beaches, but during the summer months can become quite congested with young men and women. The Playa Miragla is another popular beach. Its popularity arises from the fact that its close to the city center, however and not because it contains any better amenities than the other beaches. Another attraction that draws people to the city is the ancient ruins of Tarraco. These ruins are surrounded by a wall, and visitors can pass through one of the two gates into the old city, Portal de Sant Antoni and Portal del Roser. These ruins have been named a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

A prominent feature of the ancient ruins of Tarraco is the Aqueducte de les Ferreres.

Tarragona
click image to enlarge

The Aqüeducte de les Ferreres was built by the Roman Empire as a means to transport potable drinking water into the city. In its original design, the aqueduct transported water from the Francoli River, which is only about ten miles away from Tarragona. It is believed to have been built during the rule of Augustus and has a length of one thousand feet. It contains thirty-seven arches and rises to a height of eighty-one feet. Also contained in the ancient ruins of Tarraco is the Tarragona Amphitheatre (Amfiteatre Rom). But, the city of Tarragona is also known for its cultural places of interest. One of the most popular is the Tarragona National Archaeological Museum. This museum is the oldest of its kind in Catalonia and it contains many archaeological pieces of the ancient city. Exhibits in the museum include objects used in everyday Roman life, as well as a number of mosaics. The most noteworthy of the mosaics is the Medusa mosaic that was created during the time of Augustus.

Another prominent attraction in Tarragona is Miravet Castle. Miravet Castle is situated at the top of a three hundred foot hill and is considered a fine example of military architecture.

Tarragona
click image to enlarge

The castle’s courtyard is divided into two distinct sections, the Jussa (which was built between the ninth and eleventh centuries) and the Exhibition Sovereign (which was built in the twelfth century. The Exhibition Sovereign is over seventy-five hundred square feet and has a polygonal structure with five towers. One of the towers is named The Tower of Blood. Its name reflects a supposed incident that occurred at the tower when six Knights of the Templar were executed for refusing to pay a fine. Important parts to see include the stables, the cellar, the chapter house, the tank, the silos and the Romanesque temple. Over the years, the castle has undergone a number of additions and restorations, but its original charm was not lost because of them. The Aqualeon is an attraction that is part open air safari park and part water park. It features over six hundred animals and has shows that contain marine animals, birds of prey and reptiles. The water park section has water slides, flumes, river rapids, wave pools and even a children’s wading pool. Also located at the Aqualeon is a zoo, volleyball courts, cafes, restaurants, a nature observatory and many souvenir shops.

The Catedral of Tarragona is another popular attraction in the city.

Tarragona
click image to enlarge

It is believed to have been begun by St. Olegarius in the fourteenth century, and is a rich combination of Arabic, Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles. It consist of three sections and has three naves. In the right nave is St. Tecla chapel which was begun in the eighteenth century by Don Jose Prats. Other religious structures in the city include the church of San Pablo, convent of the Poor Clares, church of the Capuchins, convent of San Francisco, convent of the Dominicans, convent of the Carmelites, convent of the Mercederians and the monastery of Poblet. Other attractions in the city of Tarragona include El Serallo, Cyclopean Walls, Balcon de Mediterraneo, Passeig Arqueologic and Museu Necropolis.

Tarragona is also home to a number of shops, cafes, bars, restaurants and hotels. Popular restaurants and bars in the city include Restaurant Barquet, Rover Run, Restaurant passadis sociedad limitada, Camping Torre de la Mora and l’Anap Restaurant. Popular hotels in the city include the Hotel SB Express, Hotel Nuria, Hotel AC Tarragona, Hotel Husa Imperial Tarraco, Hotel Placa La Font, Hotel Lauria and the Hotel Urbis Centre. There are also a number of hostels and inns that visitors to the city can stay.

18
Dec

Luxembourg City

Posted in Top Cities  by admin on December 18th, 2009
Luxembourg City
click image to enlarge

Luxembourg City is the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and is actually a commune with city status. It covers an area of almost twenty square miles and has a population of ninety thousand people. It is situated at the epicenter of the Petrusse and Alzette rivers in the souther portion of Luxembourg. The city of Luxembourg is roughly one hundred miles from Brussels, a hundred and twenty miles from Cologne and almost two hundred miles from Paris. This city is considered to be on of the wealthiest ones in the world and has a highly developed banking industry. The city is also home to several institutions which include the European Court of Justice and the European Investment Bank.

Luxembourg is a city that developed around a Roman road. In the tenth century, a marketplace developed on this thriving trade route. The city would then develop from these humble beginnings. Its ideal positioning and the topography of the area around the city made Luxembourg a very strategic position to be used by the military. Fortifications began to appear around the area as early as the eleventh century.

Luxembourg City
click image to enlarge

The city grew at an exponential rate and expanded westward around Notre Dame, a church that was known back then as St. Nicholas Church. During the fifteenth century, the Bugundians conquered the city. The city became a part of their empire and would later become part of both the Austrian and Spanish Empires. Each time the city exchanged hands new fortifications were developed. This continued until the city became one of the strongest strongholds in all of Europe by the sixteenth century. During the French Revolution, Luxembourg was occupied by France. It took France over seven months to conquer the city. When the city finally succumbed to the siege it was annexed into the French Republic. Under the Treaty of Paris of 1815, the city was placed under the Prussians. In 1867, the Luxembourg Crisis spawned the Treaty of London and as a result the city had to dismantle its fortifications. During World War II Germany occupied the city. It would be liberated in 1944.

The most popular attraction in Luxembourg City is Notre-Dame Cathedral. Notre-Dame Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church that was founded in 1613. It originally began its life as a Jesuit church and is a beautiful example of Gothic architecture.

Luxembourg City
click image to enlarge

But, it also contains many design elements and adornments that are reminiscent of the Renaissance style. Around 1850 it was consecrated as Church of Our Lady and twenty years later it would achieve the status of cathedral under order of Pope Pius IX. During the late thirties this cathedral was expanded and enlarged. Located in the cathedral’s cemetery is the National Monument to the Resistance. At the center of this monument is the sculpture “The Political Prisoner” that was sculpted by Lucien Wercollier. Another popular attraction located in this city is the Gelle Fra, otherwise known as the Monument of Remembrance. This sixty-three foot granite obelisk was erected in dedication to all those Luxembourgers who served during World War I. At the top of this obelisk is a gilded statue of a woman holding out a wreath made of laurel. At the bottom of the monument are two bronze soldiers. One represents those who served the country and the other one represents those who have died during military service.

A famous museum in the city is the National Museum of Natural History. This museum consist of eight sections which include botany, ecology, mineralogy, geology, geophysics, astrophysics, invertebrate zoology, vertebrate zoology and paleontology.

Luxembourg City
click image to enlarge

It was founded in the mid nineteenth century under the general principle of promoting natural history and sciences. In 1854 it opened its doors to the public and originally displayed a number of fossil specimens. During 1922, the museum was moved to the Old Gendarmerie. When the Nazi’s occupied the city during World War II, the museum was moved again. Since then, the museum has been moved several more times, until it reached its current position in 1996.

The Philharmonie Luxembourg, otherwise known as the Grande-Duchesse Joséphine-Charlotte Concert Hall , is situated in the Kirchberg quarter of Luxembourg. This concert hall is home to the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra. This concert hall was built by the city’s government in the mid 1990s. Construction proceeded on it over a ten year period of time and it was finally completed in 2005. The theater was created by Christian de Portzamparc. This concert hall is oval shaped and is three hundred and eighty four feet long, one hundred and nine feet wide and can seat over fifteen hundred people. The theater also has two other halls which can seat three hundred and one hundred people respectively.

Luxembourg City
click image to enlarge

The main feature of this theater is a pipe organ that has over six thousand pipes, eighty registers and two octave pedal boards.

An important attraction in Luxembourg City is the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial. This cemetery is located just south of Findel Airport and covers an area of fifty acres. This cemetery contains the remains of over five thousand American soldiers who died in battle during World War II. Most of the service men contained in this cemetery were killed during the Battle of the Bulge which was fought not too far from this location in 1944. This cemetery is also the final resting place of General Patton. This cemetery contains rows of over five thousand white cross headstones and nine plots of grass. Located about a mile away is the Sandweiler German War Cemetery which houses the German dead from the same battle.

Other popular attractions in the city that visitors should check out include the Grand Ducal Palace, Gelle Fra war memorial, the Neumunster Abbey, Adolphe Bridge, the Place d’Armes, the casemates, Am Tunnel, d’Coque, Monument of the Millennium, Mudam, National Museum of History and Art and Villa Louvigny. The city of Luxembourg also has a surprisingly large collection of cafes, hotels, shops and restaurants for a city its size.

13
Dec

Reno

Posted in Top Cities  by admin on December 13th, 2009

Reno is a city that is located in Washoe County, Nevada. The city covers an area of sixty-nine square miles and has a population of over two hundred thousand citizens. Reno has historically been the gambling capital of the United States, but has seen a decline in business over the last few years. This is due to Las Vegas’ rise in popularity and stiff competition from Californian Indian casinos. Some of Reno’s historical casinos have closed their doors, including the Horseshoe Club, Fitzgerald’s Nevada Club, Palace Club and the Mapes Hotel. In the past, Reno, due to its geographical location, has gathered tourists from Sacremento and San Francisco, while Las Vegas has usually attracted tourists from San Diego and Los Angeles. In an effort to boost the number of visitors to the city, Reno has begun holding special events and festivals throughout the year. These include Hot August Nights, Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-Off, Great Reno Balloon Race, Street Vibrations and Cinco de Mayo Festival.

Reno can trace its history to the mid-nineteenth century, when the area was inhabitated by settlers farming the fertile Truckee River Valley. In 1850, gold was discovered in Virginia City and a mining community grew up around it. Nine years later, the Comstock Lode of silver was discovered and prospectors flooded the area around it. Charles W. Fuller wanted to build a community to link Virginia City and the California Trail. So, he built a toll bridge across the Truckee River in 1859. Two years later, he sold the bridge to Myron Lake, who went on to develop the community that had sprouted around the bridge. He added to the community a mill, kiln, hotel and liver stable and renamed the community Lake’s Crossing. Six years later, Washoe County was consolidated with Roop County and Lake’s Crossing went on to become the biggest town in the county. When the Central Pacific Railroad established a rail depot at Lake’s Crossing, the population of the town began to rise rapidly. In May of 1868, Lake’s Crossing became Reno. In 1931, casino gambling was legalized in the state and this provided another economic boom for the city. The city realized during the 1950s that it was going to have to diversify its economic base, so Reno made tax breaks available to companies who relocated to the city.

The educational needs of Reno is serviced by four colleges, ten high schools, thirteen middle schools and sixty four elementary schools. Prominent colleges in the city include The University of Nevada, Truckee Meadows Community College, Nevada School of Law at Old College and Career College of Northern Nevada. High Schools in the city include Hug, McQueen, North Valleys, Washoe, Damonte Ranch, Galena and Truckee Meadows Community College High School. Middle schools in the city include Dilworth, Mendive, O’Brien, Pine, Shaw, Billinghurst, Clayton, Sparks, Trainer and Cold Springs. Elementary schools in the city of Reno include Picollo Special Education School, Sepulveda, Pleasant Valley, Risley,Booth, Maxwell, Melton, Westergard, Whitehead, Hunsberger, Hidden Valley, Allen, Mitchell, Moss, Duncan, Dunn, Elmcrest, Gomes, Jessie Hall, Spanish Springs, Donner Springs, Beasley, Jesse Beck, Bennett, Huffaker, Veterans Memorial, Warner, Sarah Winnemucca, Caughlin Ranch, Sepulveda, Sierra Vista, Corbett, Desert Heights, Diedrichsen, Double Diamond, Roy Gomm, Silver Lake, Alice Smith, Kate Smith, Mount Rose, Smithridge, Stead, Drake, Sun Valley, Lincoln Park, Taylor, Towles, Natchez, Palmer, Dodson, Peavine, Brown, Verdi, Cannan, Van Gorder, Mathews, Hunter Lake, Elizabeth Lenz, Lemmon Valley, Johnson, Juniper, Grace Warner, Echo Loder and Roy Gomm.

Reno has many year round and season activities for those looking for a little recreation. During the summer, many residents of the city haunt the three major bodies of water near the city. These are Truckee River, Pyramid Lake and of course, Lake Tahoe. At Lake Tahoe, there is fishing, water skiing, parasailing, swimming and jet-skiing. During the winter, many people come to the city for skiing and snowboarding. Within a ninety mile radius of Reno, are eight ski resorts. These include Northstar, Alpine Meadows, Sierra-at-Tahoe, Sugar Bowl, Diamond Peak, Heavenly, Mount Rose and Squaw Valley Ski Resort.

A popular attraction in Reno is the National Bowling Stadium. This is a ten pin bowling stadium that cover three hundred and sixty-three thousand square feet. It has an eighty foot geodesic aluminum dome that is built to look like a bowling ball. This stadium was opened in 1995 and is known as the Taj Mahal of the Tenpins. Its construction cost over forty-seven million dollars and it took over three years to construct. When it was built it was supposed to have eighty-one lanes, but a construction error made it necessary to convert it to seventy-eight lanes. Another important attraction in the city of Reno is the Silver Legacy Resort Casino. This casino is built on a nineteenth century Victorian theme and is situated on two city blocks. Its hotel has the largest composite dome in the world and has a replica of a silver mining rig. The resort has a health spa, pool, a variety of restaurants, retail vendors and a skywalks that links it to the Eldorado Hotel Casino and the Circus Circus. The hotel has forty-two floors and stands at over four hundred feet.

Other popular attractions in the city of Reno include the National Automobile Museum, Animal Ark, Greg London’s ICONS, Nevada Museum of Art, Lake Ridge Golf Course, Bartley Ranch Regional Park, Mt. Rose Ski Resort, Wolf Run Golf Club, Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center, Casino at Sienna Hotel Spa, Sierra Safari Zoo, Spa Toscana at Peppermill, Club Cal-Neva Virginian Casino, Casino at Silver Legacy Resort, Rum Bullions Island Bar, McKinley Arts And Culture Center, Chapel of the Bells, Wingfield Park Amphitheater, Harrah’s Reno Casino, Rosewood Lakes Golf Course, Baldini’s Sports Casino, Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, Great Basin Adventure, Celebration Wedding Chapel, Virginia Lake Park, The Sands Casino, Ramada Inn Speakeasy Casino, Bonanza Casino, Reno Riverwalk Wine Walk, Nevada Museum of Art and Atlantis Casino.

7
Dec

Tucson

Posted in Top Cities  by admin on December 7th, 2009

Tucson is the county seat of Pima County, Arizona and is situated one hundred and eighteen miles south of Phoenix. It covers an area of one hundred and ninety-five square miles and has a population of over five hundred and forty thousand residents. A lot of the city’s economic development can be attributed to the development of the University of Arizona. The University of Arizona is at the moment, the largest employer in Tucson. Another major employer in the city is Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. The existence of the Air Force base, as well as the United States Army Intelligence Center as created a large number of high tech industries in the city. High tech companies that are located in the city include Texas Instruments, Ventana Medical Systems, Universal Avionics, Sanofi-Aventis, Raytheon Missile Systems, IBM, Bombardier Aerospace and Sunquest Information.

Tourism is also another key component of Tucson’s economy. Tourism brings in over three and a half million visitors to the city and adds over two billion dollars to the local economy. Another factor that drives the local economy is the hordes of Sonorans, who travel the sixty miles from Mexico to the city to purchase good that can’t be found in their country. Tucson is a city that attracts visitors due to the large number of festivals that are held throughout the year. A prominent festival in the city is the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. This annual festival is held for two weeks in February. It is one of the biggest gem shows in the world and features a large selection of mineral specimens. It is estimated that the show attracts over fifty thousand people from over twenty-five countries. Another prominent festival in the city is the Tucson Folk Festival. This festival is held the first weekend of May and is set up at El Presidio Park. The event is known for its national headline acts and over one hundred regional musicians who perform on five stages. The festival also has craft booths, food vendors, micro-breweries and children’s events. The Fourth Avenue Street Fairs is another event that takes place in Tucson during the months of March and December. This event is held between Ninth Street and University Boulevard and has craft booths, street performers and food vendors. The last event in the city is the Tucson Rodeo (also known as the Fiesta de los Vaqueros). This is the annual rodeo week, which occurs during the month of February.

A popular tourist attraction in the city of Tucson is Fort Lowell. Fort Lowell was originally an American Army post that was active from 1873 to 1891 and is situated on the outer fringes of the city. The fort provided protection to the city during the Apache campaigns. It also provided rations and personnel for outlying military installations. During its tour of duty, the fort had over two hundred and thirty-nine enlisted soldiers and one hundred and thirty officers. Prominent army units that were stationed here include the first, second, fourth, fifth, sixth, eight and twelfth Infantry Regiments. The fort featured a large parade ground, enlisted quarters, NCO quarters, storehouses and officers quarters. Today, Fort Lowell has been converted into park and contains tennis courts, baseball fields and a public swimming pool. The former officer quarters have been converted into a branch museum of the Arizona Historical Society.

Another prominent attraction in the city is the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. This museum was founded in 1952 and has a zoo, museum and a botanical garden. This is one of the most visited attractions in the city and receives over half a million people every year. Its located on one hundred acres of Sonoran Desert and contains a collection of mostly living exhibits. The zoo contains over one hundred mammals, two hundred and forty-one birds, three hundred and sixty-one reptiles, one hundred and twenty-two amphibians, ten thousand fish, and over eight hundred and forty arthropods. Their botanical gardens has over forty thousand plants and their museum has over six thousand books, eighty-three periodicals and fourteen thousand specimens.

The Pima Air & Space Museum is another prominent attraction in Tucson. This museum is the world’s largest aerospace museum that’s not affiliated or funded by a government agency. It was founded in 1976 and originally had seventy-five aircraft. Today, it contains over two hundred and fifty aircraft situated on eighty acres. The entire property of the museum covers an area of one hundred and fifty acres. Aircraft that are located here include a B-36J Peacemaker, B-29 Superfortress, A-10A Thunderbolt II, Avro Shackleton, A-26 Invader, 377-SG Super Guppy, VC-118A Liftmaster, NB-52A Stratofortress, B-58 Hustler, B-23 Dragon and a P-47 Thunderbolt.

An attraction that everyone should see while in the city of Tucson is the Titan Missile Museum. This museum was originally a Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Site that is located fifteen miles south of the city. It contains the original launch facilities and a dummy Titan II missile in the silo. The underground silo features eight foot thick concrete walls and three ton blast doors. The eight level contains propellant pumps, the seventh level provides access to the lower launch duct, and the third level contains a diesal generator. The Titan II missile was the largest nuclear missile to be used by the United States and had a blast force of over nine megatons. Tours are available at this silo and feature a six story view of the silo and a one hour tour of the control rooms. This silo also contains a gift shop where visitors can purchase souvenirs.

Other attractions in the city of Tucson include Sabino Canyon, De Grazia Gallery in the Sun, Kitt Peak National Optical Astronomy Observatory, Tucson Botanical Gardens, Catalina State Park, Black Diamond Hummer Tours, Mission San Xavier del Bac, Tucson Mountain Park, International Wildlife Museum, Tucson Museum of Art, Picture Rocks Miniature Horse Ranch, The Mini-Time Machine Museum of Miniatures, University of Arizona Museum of Art, Omni Tucson National Resort Golf Course, Old Pueblo Trolley, Reid Park Zoo, Casino of the Sun, Dorado Golf Course, Tucson Electric Park, Doubletree Hotel Tucson at Reid Park, The Golf Club at Vistoso, Arizona Trail and El Conquistador Country Club Sunrise Golf Course.
—-

5
Dec

Salvador

Posted in Top Cities  by admin on December 5th, 2009

Salvador de Bahia is the capital of the Brazilian state of Bahia and is located on Brazil’s northeast coast. This city covers an area of two hundred and seventy-two miles and has a population of almost three million people. This makes it the third most populated city in Brazil, and the ninth most populated in all of Latin America. Salvador de Bahia, whose name means “Holy Savior of all Saints Bay”, is known collequially as the capital of happiness in Brazil. This is due in part to the cities laid back attitude and the many parties and street carnivals. Salvador de Bahia is one of the oldest cities in the country and was the first colonial capital of Brazil.

The first visitors to the area of Salvador de Bahia was the Portugeuse in 1502 led by Pedro Álvares Cabral. In 1503, Gaspar de Lemos would arrive in the area and do a detailed survey of the coast of the bay. A few years later the city was established. Salvador de Bahia would then become the seat of the first Catholic bishop of Brazil around the year 1552. By the late sixteenth century there were around seventeen hundred people living in the city and it quickly expanded to become one of the biggest cities in the New World, even outpacing the growth of the colonial cities of the Americas during the American Revolution. It would continue this unprecedented expansion until 1624 when it was seized by the Dutch. The Dutch would hold it for a period of time, until its liberation by the Spanish-Portugese fleet.

Salvador de Bahia would continue as Brazil’s capital until Rio de Janeiro was named capital in 1763. Salvador de Bahia, however, would go on to become the center of Brazil’s independance movement against the Portuguese. The major turning point in the movement was when the Portuguese captured the city in 1812, and the city was subsequently liberated in 1823. Over the next century and a half, the city would slip into a slow decline. It remained, however an important cultural center and a hub for tourism. In the 1990s the city embarked on a major city wide restoration to preserve its many historical landmarks.

Salvador de Bahia has a system of primary, High School and secondary education facilites available to residents. High Schools include Pan American School of Bahia, Colegio Militar de Salvador, Colegio Sartre and the Colegio Gregor Mendel and Thales de Azevedo State High School. Prominent universities in the city include Universidade do Estado da Bahia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Faculdade Jorge Amado and Centro Federal de Educacao Tecnologica da Bahia. In the city are also a number of language schools where foreigners can learn Portuguese. These include Escola de Portugues, Sonia Portuguese and Fala-Brasil.

Salvador de Bahia has a long coastline that contains over thirty-one miles of beaches. Dotting the Atlantic sea front of the city is a large collection of major hotels. The smaller hotels are located around Avenida Sete and Pelourinho, and are much less expensive than the larger ones. Both areas, however, contain many bed and breakfast inns, and guest houses. There are also a few hostels for visitors to reside. Visitors to these beaches will find many smaller inlets that are perfect for swimming, fishing and snorkeling. But, there are also open sea inlets where the water is a bit more challenging. These are ideal for surfers looking for those big waves. There are also reef enclosed beaches with shallow water that are perfect for the kids.

One of the most prominent beaches in the city is the Porto da Barra Beach. This beach is situated at the mouth of the Bahia de Todos and contains an old church at one end, and at the other a colonial fort. The water in this are is mild with little or no waves. Another location to visit by beach lovers is Itaparica Island. This island is just five miles from the city and can easily be reached by ferry. Not only does this island have beautiful beaches but it also host the Sul America Open tennis competition.

After visiting the cities beaches, a little shopping may be in order. Salvador de Bahia has a large collection of malls located all over the city. Some of these include the Shopping Piedade, Brotas Center, Baixo Dos Sapateiros, Caboata Shopping, Out Let Center, Orixás Center, Sumare, Salvador Shopping Center, Casa Shopping Cidade, Aeroclube Plaza Show, Lapa Shopping Center, Imbuí Plaza, the Itaigara, Do Pelo and Boulevard 161.

Salvador de Bahia also has a number of parks. One of the most popular of these parks is the Jardim dos Namorados. This park occupies an area of fifteen hectares and has a five hundred seat amphitheater, tennis courts and playgrounds. Adjacent to Jardim dos Namorados is Costa Azul Park. This park covers an area of one hundred and fifty thousand feet and has biking trails, football courts, restaurants and playgrounds. Park of the City is another popular park and covers an area of over two thousand square feet. A prominent attraction in the park is the Praca das Flores, a garden planted with over five thousand flowers. The final park in the city is the Pituacu Park. This park covers an area of four hundred and fifty feet. Here there are ponds, food parlors, playgrounds and even an outside museum called the Espaco Cravo.

Espaco Cravo contains over eight hundred pieces of art by Mario Cravo. Here visitors will find three dimensional works of art, totems and even paintings all organized in an outdoor setting. Other museums in the city include Museu de Arte da Bahia, Museu Nautico and the Museu da Cidade. Other prominent attractions in Salvador de Bahia include Cathedral of Salvador, Convent and Church of Sao Francisco, Church of Nosso Senhor do Bonfim, Mercado Modelo and the Elevador Lacerda.