Driving Tours of Chicago

Posted on September 24, 2011 by admin

Chicago is the nation’s third largest city and the principal city in Illinois. If you are in Chicago on vacation, or you’re there on business with some time to spare, a good way of seeing the city is to drive around it. There are many amazing things to see in the Windy City. And of course as well as the city there is the lake views of the city skyline featuring the tallest building in the US – the Willis Tower (formally the Sears Tower).

Chicago is a popular place for tourists. Included in the attractions are the Buckingham Fountain, Hancock Observatory, Lincoln Park Zoo, Shedd Aquarium and the Magnificent Mile which is part of Michigan Avenue with an array of classy shops, restaurants and hotels. Other popular attractions include the Chicago Cultural Center, Preston Bradley Hall, Millennium Park and the Art Institute of Chicago. Navy Pier is a popular area including the famous Ferris Wheel which is 150 feet tall as well as many shops, museum and restaurants. There are many wonderful parks in the city including Grant Park, Lincoln Park (including the famous conservatory) and Washington Park

The Adler Planetarium is a popular destination and includes the Astronomy Museum. It was actually the first planetarium in the US and was founded in 1930. There are two pull sized planetarium and the museum includes many exhibits.

If you are driving to the city you will find that most of the interstate highways converge in downtown Chicago. The city is basically a travel hub for road, and rail. No matter what direction you are coming from all roads eventually lead to downtown. There are many options for sightseeing in the city including public transport and tour busses. However, Chicago has got so many interesting things to see and visit that are away from downtown and so having a vehicle will greatly enhance your visit to the city. Of course plan your drives carefully in advance with a map, and its always helpful to use on of the radio stations with up to the minute information on the state of the roads and highways.

Information provided by Chicago DUI Attorney helping drivers in the city in need of legal help.

Benefits of Customized Travel Insurance

Posted on May 15, 2011 by admin

You may wonder why there are so many visitor insurance policies available, like the policies offered by TATA AIG travel insurance . If you are looking for a generic one size fits all travel policy then you’re going to be looking for a long time. The best policies are tailored to fit the needs of the insured party, which means there isn’t a general purpose option.

This is to your benefit. If you are traveling for a work project and planning to spend every waking moment in an office, you are not going to be exposed to the same level of risk as someone doing a tour of all the extreme sports locations in the same country. You want to know that you are covered in case you get sick or injured, but since your risk factors are low, you don’t want to have to pay as much as those on riskier trips.

Your age will also play a factor in your insurance. Younger people tend to be healthier and need less coverage, so student polices may be less expensive. However, if you’re studying abroad for a year or longer, you want to make sure your policy includes preventative check ups. Senior citizens will want to have policies that cover their preexisting conditions and make it easy for them to get prescriptions replaced.

There are actually many different ways that travel insurance can be customized. You need to visit a good insurance site or talk directly with an agent who specializes in international travel insurance in order to make sure you are getting the plan that best suits your specific needs.

Passing Through New York

Posted on February 21, 2011 by admin

If you are heading to New York for business or other matters, you may not think that you have time to spend seeing the sights of the city. Many people would agree that if you’re not on vacation, you don’t get to go off exploring. You focus on the work or family matters that brought you to the city. If you truly believe that to be true, then you’re missing out on a wonderful experience.

Even if you’re just passing through the Big Apple , you can probably squeeze in the time to see at least once attraction. The city is so full of incredible sights that it is virtually impossible to go somewhere without passing at least one. Taking an hour or two to see something new is not going to interfere with your schedule.

In fact, if you’re going to be in the city for several days or a week, there’s no reason not to invest in a New York Pass . That way you can stop in at several different attractions, spread throughout your business. Because these package cards include admission to dozens of museums, zoos, exhibitions, and other sights, you are saved the time standing in line to get in and can squeeze in a few more minutes enjoyment.

Since there is no way you could see everything there is to see in New York even if you took a devoted vacation in the city, there’s no reason you can’t try to see at least a little bit of something every time you pass through the city.

A Romantic Weekend Getaway

Posted on December 18, 2010 by admin

Christmas is almost here which means it’s time to start thinking about Valentine’s Day . After an entire season focused on children and families, couples get the chance to focus on their relationship. Many do this by planning a romantic weekend getaway sometime around February 14th. Since that is less than two month away and airfares can rise dramatically as dates approach, it’s best to take some time out in the middle of hectic Christmas preparations to plan for that Valentine vacation.

Right now there are great airline and Hotel Deals available for those willing to spend some time hunting online. Once a couple decides on a destination they should look for plane tickets first, as those prices are most likely to increase over time. Then find the perfect romantic hotel. The charming, luxurious, and romantic ones tend to get booked up around Valentine’s Day, so make reservations early.

January is the perfect time to plan for activities and meals to enjoy during the getaway. Couples have more time available once New Year’s is past and kids are back in school. They can spend hours browsing attractions and restaurants near their hotel so plan the perfect weekend of sightseeing, spa treatments, and candlelit dinners. Just don’t forget to arrange for a babysitter too!

Lots of Travelers Forget to Plan for the Bad Things That Can Happen

Posted on October 19, 2010 by admin

Planning a trip overseas can be exciting experience. The anticipation of exploring a new culture and visiting exotic locations can be irresistible. So strong is the mystique of overseas travel that many people forget to think about what might go wrong while they are in a foreign country — and thinking about what might go wrong is the first step in preparing for those possibilities. A few people may remember to add airline insurance to their flights. While that protects them in the air, and possibly their luggage in flight, it doesn’t do a thing to cover them once they land. And it’s land that can be a bit more risky.

Health issues, injuries, and trip delays are just a few of the problems that can be encountered while visiting a foreign country. The longer someone stays overseas, such as students spending a semester abroad, the greater the risk. Likewise people who are traveling to many different countries will be exposed to both more transportation and different environments, so their risks increase as well. This is why business travelers, students, and even frequent leisure travelers should purchase some form of visitors insurance .

A good visitors policy is going to be based in medical insurance. It will cover the policyholder in any country and have provisions for both treatment and evacuation. The policy should also cover trip-related risks such as lost baggage, trip delays, and even cover individuals in the case of hijacking. Loss of passport and other documents as well as emergency cash advance are other features of a comprehensive travel insurance plan.

While it may put a damper on the excitement of the planning stage, obtaining adequate insurance will make sure that travelers can relax once they arrive overseas, knowing that they have all the possibilities covered.

Gamers Gather in D.C.

Posted on October 3, 2010 by admin

More than 3000 game competitors and spectators will gather in Washington D.C. on October 15-17, 2010. The reason? the DC MLG (Major League Gaming) Doritos Combine Circuit amateur competition . It’s the final chance for professional gamers to rank for the upcoming Pro Circuit Championships and the final opportunity for amateurs who are hoping to earn a spot to compete alongside the pros.

The event will be held at one of the top luxury hotels in Washington , D.C. Spectators will be able to watch world class gamers compete up close. They’ll also have the chance to participate in Play-a-Pro matches or compete against other amateurs in exhibition matches. There will be merchandise giveaways and daily stage broadcasts by MLGPro.com.

This will be the first MLG competitive event that features Halo Reach on the Xbox 360. The Pro Circuit is keeping Halo 3 on for the remainder of the 2010 season, so this will be the first chance gamers, pro and amateur alike, get to test their Halo Reach skills in competition. Other games featured in Pro Circuit competition include Tekken 6, World of Warcraft, Starcraft 2: Wings of Liberty and Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

The national Pro Circuit Championships will be held on November 5-7 in Dallas, TX.

The World’s Top Event City is Sydney, Australia

Posted on September 26, 2010 by admin

The International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA) held their first ever awards in St. Louis, USA in September. Winning the global award for cities over 1 million in population was Sydney. The city was recognized for its success in hosting major events such as New Year’s Eve, the Olympics and Vivid Sydney. Festival organizers, government officials, and the Sydney hotel industry all play a part in the city’s rising reputation as a go-to destination for world travel. IFEA has worked for fifty years to provide support, information, and networks for those who organize, produce, and support quality celebrations for the benefit of their respective communities. In Sydney this ranges from sports, music, arts, and opera festivals to food festivals, comedy events, as well as educational, scientific, and family-themed celebrations.

The awards recognize the best in community leadership and event and festival partnerships. Other global award winners include Taupo, New Zealand in the under 100,000 population category, Edinburg, Scotland for the 100,000 – 500,000, and Rotterdam, the Netherlands for 500,000 – 1,000,000. The IFEA also offers regional awards for North America, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.

A sampling of the events offered in Sydney can be found here .

London Time is Pub Time

Posted on August 26, 2010 by admin

If you’ve in London on a business trip and there’s a late afternoon meeting scheduled on a Friday, text your apologies, see if the meeting can be rescheduled for another time and conveniently slip away to a pub instead. Don’t worry about the others at the meeting, because most of them will have made their excuses as well. It’s London after all and a Friday to boot!

Hopefully, you’re staying at a London hotel in the financial district known as the City. There are countless pubs and bars, from the old haunts of Charles Dickens to the smart bars for the lawyers, bankers and other City professionals in need of a little afternoon refreshment as well.

On Fleet Street, the former home of the British press and was once known for centuries as the ‘street of adventure’ for all the foreign correspondents, but now it’s known as the ‘Street of Shame’ for the tabloid press reporters. It is here where you’ll find the Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese pub, which was rebuilt after the 1666 Great Fire of London . This wood-paneled, sawdust-strewn pub was where Charles Dickens and other illustrious former regulars such as literary giants Alfred Tennyson, Oliver Goldsmith, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Samuel Johnson all went when they too did not want to attend a late afternoon business meeting.

If the Cheese is crowded, you might try the Lamb Tavern, located at the heart of the covered Leadenhall Market, which was first built in 1309 and also rebuilt after the Great Fire. If however, you prefer a more modern vibe, not too far away is the sleek, slick ‘Revolution in the City’ bar, which is situated across from the famous Lloyds of London and the Gherkin building. On the same side of the street is the Abacus bar.

London pubs in the late afternoon are a place not to be missed, but if you feel you can’t cancel that meeting, at least see if it can be moved to… let’s say a pub?

Shopping in Boston

Posted on July 23, 2010 by admin

There are all sorts of shopping experiences in Boston. They have a wonderful summer time street market called SoWa Open Market. From May through October visitors will find all kinds of wonderful things from jewelry to furniture as well as lots of fresh produce and flowers. It is a great place to walk and browse in the open fresh air.

For some sophisticated shopping catch cab from one of the boston boutique hotels you have picked and head over to Newbury Street . Not only does this are have many great places to shop it is also a very historical part of the city. It was built up to be apart of the Boston Harbor from the near by hills. This land fill was completed in 1882 along with the historical buildings that are still there today.

Downtown Crossing is were you will want to roam if you are in the financial district of Boston. While the hubby is having meetings all day you get the chance to find some nice treasures in shopping areas from large department stores to small boutiques and push carts.

Faneuil Hall Market is a great spot for lots of shopping as well as many great places to eat. This is a great place to tap into some wifi, do a little work and watch the people walking by.

Boston: MBTA Art

Posted on July 3, 2010 by admin

There’s always lots of great art to see in Boston. It’s a city that’s been occasionally very good to the artists who live there, which is to say, better than most places. The very cultured population does take pride in its joy and appreciation for the finer things in life, and art is something that makes the daily grind bearable, and the bigger questions in life more beautiful. A visitor to a Boston hotel can have reasonably high expectations if galleries and museums are on the itinerary. Its art scene is very much a living thing, and artists from all over the world continue to come to the city, looking for ways of expression their visions.

Boston’s support for visual art is demonstrated by its palpable presence in the city. It’s not just visible above ground, or enshrined inside the white walls of the gallery, either. In 1979, when the Red Line was extended, the Cambridge Arts Council started working with the MTBA toward getting public art installed in each of the nine stations. These efforts are still visible today, although some of the work has suffered the wear one might expect in a high-frequency area with a lot of steel and exhaust.

It’s still a magnificent effort, and there is a new program in place where benefactors of all walks of life can opt to renovate the work of their choice, called “Adopt the Arts.” The original idea, however, is still a remarkable one, and points to a certain historical breakthrough in public art projects . The idea was to bring art to people’s lives every day, to really hit them where they live. Putting works by great local and international artists is just one way of making the population aware that they are in the midst of a flurry of human creativity, and the city of Boston is the canvas.

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