From OffToEurope.com:

Many people think the best way to see the great cities of Europe is through their museums, their fairytale castles, and their historical monuments. Personally though, I think a lot can be understood about a cities character by seeking out their public parks. I think you can tell a lot about a culture from how they spend their leisure time.

After a day of battling the urban jungle, it is refreshing to visit the parks. Europeans love their green space. In addition to being free, these public spaces offer an insight into the tastes, styles and history of a community.

Here are ten great public parks worth seeking out.

Parque de Retiro – Madrid, Spain

The Palacio de Cristal (Crystal Palace) in Madrid’s beautiful Parque del Retiro

Located in the heart of downtown Madrid, Retiro is a beautifully landscaped recreation spot for the city’s workers. Scattered through the greenery are gems like the elegant rose garden, the fragile Palacio de Cristal and the only known statue of Satan in Europe. The centerpiece is the imperial Monument to Alfonso XII, which overlooks a lake of rented paddleboats.

Photo: Danny VB

Hampstead Heath – London, UK

A Viaduct pond in Hampstead Heath

The Heath, as the locals call it, is more than just a park; it’s a piece of wilderness just outside of central London. Unlike the rich manicured parks downtown, Hampstead Heath is a sprawling, ramshackle spread of field and forests. Locals come here to let their dogs run free, take in the fresh air and enjoy spectacular views of downtown from Parliament Hill.

Photo: CAWG

Villa Borghese – Rome, Italy

The Temple of Aesculapius in Rome’s Villa Borghese gardens

Originally the well manicured English gardens of a palace of the same name; the Villa Borghese is now a pretty public park (the palace is now an art gallery). Strolling the gardens is like walking through an 18th century landscape painting, with ponds, fountains and neoclassical temples.

Photo: rickymor

StadtPark – Vienna, Austria

A peaceful day at Stadtpark, Vienna

StadtPark is home to the most photographed monument in Vienna, the golden Johann Strauss Monument. Parts of the park are thick with vegetation while other spots are carefully landscaped with nods to the art-nouveau style. Other attractions are the Renaissance style Kursalon building and the Mierei milk-drinking hall.

Photo: jmenard48

City Park – Budapest, Hungary

Winter in Budapest’s stunning City Park

In addition to having the first metro system in continental Europe, Budapest has the distinction of creating the first public park in the world. Long a center of recreation for the city, the park is full of interesting sites including Heroes Square (a UNESCO World Heritage site), the stunning art nouveau zoo, and the Széchenyi thermal bathhouse.

Photo: sweetal

Kalemegdan – Belgrade, Serbia

Kalemegdan Park, Serbia

City Park may be the oldest public park, but Kalemegdan has what must be one of the oldest attractions. The park surrounds Kalemegdan fortress, which has existed in one incarnation or another for over 1000 years. The castle, which was captured a staggering 45 times, is now over run with locals who make out in the grass, play chess in the shade or jog through the old ruins.

Photo: donlandes

Jardin du Luxembourg – Paris, France

Jardin du Luxembourg is a great park to visit in the Springtime

The carefully planned Jardin de Luxembourg features wide gravel paths and well-manicured expanses of grass, dotted with over a hundred statues, monuments and fountains. Most beautiful is the baroque Medici Fountain, designed in 1630. There is a playground for children, as well as frequent puppet shows and a lake where they can rent toy boats.

Photo: zorroz

Hyde Park – London, England

A view of Serpentine Lake in London’s Hyde Park

London is home to many beautiful green spaces but Hyde Park is a favorite. The man-made Serpentine Lake, which winds its way through the park, is home to an abundance of swan and other birds. Hyde Park is a popular spot for protestors (particularly at Speaker’s Corner) and open-air rock concerts.

Photo: joebelle

Vondelpark – Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Lovers embrace in Amsterdam’s popular Vondelpark

Amsterdam actually has 30 parks, but Vondelpark is the largest and most popular. It is a sprawling green space full of dog walkers, joggers and sunbathers. Recently Vondelpark made headlines when the government considered de-criminalizing public sex within its boundaries, making it a sanctuary for nature and people lovers alike!

Photo: siebe

Englischer Garten – Munich, Germany

Locals and tourists enjoy Munich’s Englischer Garten

At 3.6 square KM, Englischer Garten is one of the largest public parks in the world. Not unexpectedly, the huge park contains a large variety of attractions. There is a Japanese teahouse, a Greek temple and an enormous Chinese pagoda. There is an open-air theater, a flock of sheep and a manmade lake. The Schönfeldwiese meadow is a popular spot for nude sunbathers.

Photo: Harald HAEUSLER

While similar in intent, all of these parks have a different character and design that reflects the personality of their city. So next time you are in a new place be sure to check out it’s park, you may see a side of the city you never knew was there!

This guest post was written by Stephanie Yoder.  Stephanie runs Twenty-Something Travel, a travel blog dedicated to assisting new or young travelers with the skills, resources and opportunities available to them for travel abroad. When not traveling the world she lives in Washington DC.

From NationalGeographic.comThis year, Saturday, February 14th, isn’t only Valentine’s Day but also the start of the Year of the Tiger, year 4708 of the Chinese lunar calendar. Chinese New Year is celebrated around the world in unique and varied ways, wherever a significant Chinese population has taken root. North America is no different; in fact, in the U.S. alone, people of Chinese extraction constitute the third largest immigrant group and the largest Asian ethnicity, numbering about 2.7 million according to the 2000 Census.

New Year’s traditions in China include scouring the house to sweep away ill fortune and make way for good luck. It’s a time to reconcile, be on one’s best behavior, and spend time with family, enjoying feasts of pig, duck, chicken, and sweets. Many overseas Chinese return home this time of year to enjoy the 15-day period of family togetherness. Children are often given "good luck money" in small red envelopes called lai-see and fireworks are ignited to scare off evil spirits.

Chinese New Year in North America is not a direct transplant of Chinese traditions; most celebrations are shortened and simplified in the New World. Parades have come to epitomize Chinese New Year in the New World–a blending of the symbols, colors, and spirit of Chinese lantern festivals with the very American ritual, the parade.

For a peek at five of North America’s exciting Chinese New Year celebrations, click through to the jump.

From itravelnet.com:

Fiona Hilliard usually writes about Alicante car hire for ArgusCarHire.com. On a recent trip to the popular Spanish city, she decided to see what the surrounding Costa Blanca had to offer. Here she shares her favourite day-trip drives with us.

Alicante Day Trips

Cynical holidaymakers will forever typecast Alicante as a "stuffed donkey in a sombrero" destination, but those savvy enough to rent a car and embrace their spirit of adventure will be richly rewarded.

Alicante is the gateway to the Costa Blanca, a 200km stretch of coastline that winds its way from Denia in the north to San Pedro del Pinatar in the south. Scenic drives abound in this area.

Benidorm

A pleasant 45km drive north of Alicante will take you to Benidorm City. Benidorm first exploded onto the holiday scene in the 1960s when mass tourism and package deals were in their infancy.

By the 1990s however it had lost its gloss and began to fall out of favour with discerning holidaymakers who longed for more sophisticated, unusual destinations.

Recent regeneration projects have seen Benidorm scrub up nicely. These days it is well worth a drive, if only to take a gander at the Old Port and two sweeping beaches.

While you’re in the neighbourhood, be sure to check out Terra Mitica – a major theme park located around 40 minutes from Benidorm. With enough attractions to rival Disney Land, Terra Mitica provides a fun family day-out alternative to buckets and spades.

Guadalest

Following on along the same route as Terra Mitica, make a pit stop at Guadalest. In recent years, it has earned something of a reputation for being Spain’s most visited "traditional" village.

With a stunning location 600m above sea level, it’s easy to see why this charming medieval village attracts such large numbers of visitors. If you’re planning a trip, try to set off as early as possible, as Guadalest fills up quickly in the afternoon, making parking spaces seem as scarce as hen’s teeth.

Be sure to bring a camera with you so you can make all your Facebook friends envious of the spectacular backdrop in your profile picture.

Jijona

Allergic to huge crowds of tourists? Then Jijona (or Xixona in Valenciano) is the town for you! Located 25km north of Alicante, in the foothills of the mountains, Jijona is a sleepy little town that is far too busy concentrating on churning out delicious ice-cream to worry about how to reel in coach loads of tourists.

Well, that’s in the summer anyway. If you visit in the winter months, you’ll find locals up to their eyes in sugary Túrron, the chewy Christmas treat made from honey, sugar, egg white and toasted almonds.

Cartagena

Cartagena is situated 123km to the south of Alicante and is home to sun-drenched beaches, shady palm trees, ancient archaeological sites and above all, jaw-droppingly beautiful scenery.

North Africa is situated just 120 miles across the Mediterranean. To give you some idea of its close proximity, basically if you were to travel due south, you’d hit Oran in Algeria dead on.

If you want to get the most out of your day-trip to Cartagena, make sure you include a walk to La Concepció Castle. Begin at Calle Gisbert next to the 18th century Autopsy Pavillion, before you ask, yep, it does what it says on the tin (it was built outside of the hospital to avoid upsetting sensitive patients).

From here you’ll have to endure a bit of a steep climb, but sights such as the Roman gladiatorial arena and the old cathedral will help buoy you along. When you reach the summit, you’ll find a clever little visitor centre, where you can learn all about the local history.

Don’t miss the view from the castle’s mirador. On a clear day, the harbour is especially breath taking.

Valencia

For a longer day-trip, it’s difficult to find a destination that matches the charms of Valencia. A 177 km (110 mile drive) from Alicante will take you to the bustling university city that is currently being touted as the new Barcelona.

Photo: envision

Valencia deserves the hype too. Everyday, hundreds of day-trippers make the pilgrimage from Alicante, relishing the chance to reap the benefits of a big city.

You’ll understand once you get there, as world-class shopping, museums, galleries, shops and bars all vie for your attention.

If you’re planning a spot of sightseeing, it’s best to start at the old quarter. Here you’ll stumble across the impressive remains of the old Torres de Serranos and Torres de Quart.

More ancient footprints can be seen in the Seu and Xerea districts, where Roman and Arab remains lie hidden beneath modern churches and palaces. Of course, nobody should consider leaving Valencia without tasting the city’s signature dish, paella.

Location: Schaffhausen – Switzerland
Photo: Platz

Statue at Platz, the main square in Schaffhausen, Switzerland.

Travel Photo Gallery: Schaffhausen Photo Gallery

From OffToEurope.com:

Brussels is the capital of Belgium, home to the European Union, a bustling cosmopolitan that excellently fuses the old and the new through its astounding architectural mix of Gothic and Art Nouveau, its vibrant street life and its many tempting beer and chocolate shops dotting the landscape. The city may be tiny in size, but it definitely is big in its cultural offerings.

The best place to start getting a feel of Brussels is the Grand Place (Grote Markt), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Considered the “spiritual heart” of Brussels, this ornate medieval square is where many historic landmarks dating as far back as the 17th century are located – archaic guildhalls, the City Museum, the Hotel de Ville and several shops.

Brussels also boasts of its many cultural museums – the Musee Horta, home of Victor Horta who was one of the founders of Art Nouveau; Musee des Instruments des Musique, which houses more than 1500 musical instruments from around the world including an entire 17th century orchestra and a variety of instruments created by Adolphe Sax, the famous Belgian musician and inventor of the saxophone; the Musees Royaux des Beaux-Arts des Belgique, which are basically four historic museums featuring 15th to 18th century art, as well as collections from modern artists. More historic Brussels landmarks include the Atomium, a giant silver atom built for the 1958 World Fair with a viewing gallery at the top pod; the Mannekin Pis, the world famous 15th century statue of a peeing boy; and the Mini Europe which has the major monuments of the member states of the European Union.

While basking in the sights and sounds, one should also take advantage of Brussels’ gastronomic offerings – fine Belgian chocolates in Neuhaus and L’Art du Chocolat; over 2000 kinds of beer in Delirium and an artisanal brewery in Cantillon.

Photo: Pablo Vieira

Jet-setters from both North American neighbors are still enamored with the big hitters of Europe and the US, with London, New York City, Paris and Dublin all falling in the top seven spots for each, and London unanimously at number one.

Travel search site Skyscanner (http://www.Skyscanner.com) reveals the Top 50 most searched for destinations from Canadian and the US airports.

Jet-setters from both North American neighbors are still enamored with the big hitters of Europe and the US, with London, New York City, Paris and Dublin all falling in the top seven spots for each, and London unanimously at number one.

With two monumental world events in the same year – the 2010 Winter Olympics in February and the World Cup in June – Vancouver and Johannesburg (South Africa) have turned up on both lists, with Canada’s also including Cape Town.

Travelers from both countries are also interested in Poland, though Canadians prefer the current capital, Warsaw, while Americans want to see the former capital, Krakow.

Canadians seem to be especially keen on checking out the Far East this year, with numerous destinations in that region of the world sprinkling their results. Manila, Ho Chi Minh City, Seoul, Bangkok and Tokyo, as well as several Australian locations, were popular.

Americans continue to be intent on getting some Caribbean sun, with even Havana sneaking into the 49th place on the US chart. It seems that American tourists are eagerly waiting for the border to open up again, and the sooner the better, especially with many growing tired of the extreme winter temps by now. Canadians are clearly enjoying the island already, with the Cuban cultural center showing up in the 27th position for them.

Top 10 Most Searched for destinations for 2010, from US airports

1. London, UK
2. New York City
3. Las Vegas, NV
4. Paris, France
5. Dublin, Ireland
6. Los Angeles, CA
7. Orlando, FL
8. Rome, Italy
9. Madrid, Spain
10. Miami, FL

Top 10 Most Searched for destinations for 2010, from Canadian airports

1. London, UK
2. Paris
3. New York City
4. Bangkok, Thailand
5. Vancouver, BC
6. Sydney, Australia
7. Dublin, Ireland
8. Manchester, UK
9. Frankfurt, Germany
10. Amsterdam, Netherlands

For full top 50 report see: http://tinyurl.com/ya9r8×3

It’s a quarter to five in the morning, and I have a plane to catch in two hours. But why rush out the door if my flight is already delayed?

To check its status, I turn to my iPhone, tap on an application called FlightTrack and pull up my flight. It’s on time. Better get out of bed. At the airport, I check for Wi-Fi and update all my newspaper apps (NYTimes, WSJ, USA Today and so on) so I have something to read onboard. And when I arrive at my destination, I use the iPhone to pull up the Yelp app, and its built-in mapping feature, to find the most highly user-rated bars and restaurants.

Sure, I could have easily stumbled across that pizza place on my own and gotten by without the Cantonese catchphrases I downloaded in an app-buying frenzy. But as Apple’s iTunes Store has continued to grow with thousands of apps, I’ve come regularly to rely on the gadget as an integral part of my travel routine. (In fact, apps were part of a recent discussion about travel gadgets I had with the New York Times technology columnist David Pogue, which can be viewed on The Times’s Web site at video.nytimes.com.)

Yes, the iPhone has its glitches, which have all been called out in various tech reviews. And some of those can be particularly frustrating for on-the-go travelers, as when you want to tell your spouse that the plane is delayed another two hours and you can’t get service, or when your favorite app directs you to a restaurant that no longer exists.

With those caveats in mind, here is a list of apps that could come in handy on your next trip.

External Source – For the complete article click here

Source – New York Times

One of the main purposes of travel is to gain experiences that allow us to grow and develop as individuals and it is important that people travel the way that bests suits them at a particular time. For example, I like to go on adventure holidays and this invariably includes a small group and expert guide, and I frequently participate in writing retreats around the world with like-minded people. However for me, the real joy of travelling has always been to take off on my own and just ’see’ what comes along the way. Of course this can sometimes be fraught with frustrations, difficulties and even dangers.

Freedom Most people who travel alone generally cite freedom as the great motivating factor: freedom to please themselves, go where and when they want, change their plans on a whim when they hear about something that is a ‘must’ to see, and to accept spontaneous invitations by locals.

No compromises This is associated with the previous point. Even if traveling with one other person, be it friend, colleague, lover or spouse, there will always be some compromises required. Not everyone has the same interests or the same energy levels, some people need to be emotionally supported all the time, others are apathetic, some have different attitudes to time. With solo travel, there is no peer pressure over finances, the unspoken need to divide up restaurant bills equally, or guilt trips when you want to go off on your own for a while.

Meeting people Travelling solo does not mean that you will always be alone. In fact, it allows you to meet more people because other tourists and locals find an individual traveller more approachable than those in a tightly-knit group. Also, people in groups have very little need to reach out to others for communication. I have met more people, had more interesting conversations and invitations and made more long-term friends while eating alone in foreign restaurants or sitting alone at bars. But then I am gregarious. Travelling alone allows you to choose the people you wish to spend time with rather than having to face the day-after-day annoyances of the inevitable clowns and whingers found in any large group.

Discoveries There is a real sense of discovery involved in travelling on your own, and that includes self-discovery. You don’t have to rely on an often ill-informed guide to lead you around on a leash, and there’s the surprise and thrill when you find something you weren’t expecting, like the time I became lost and ended up in a small Bavarian village with a monastery that contained a library with tens of thousands of Medieval manuscripts. Travelling alone allows you to discover more about yourself as you overcome simple challenges such as missing a bus or boat and realizing there is no other for a day or a week. Then there is the sense of achievement when solving much more challenging problems like finding yourself lost in a strange town at midnight or running out of money on a holiday weekend with no ATM in sight and the banks closed.

10 Tips for Women Traveling Alone

Tips for women travelers for a carefree overseas travel experience

By taking some basic security precautions both prior to departure and while away, women travelers can greatly reduce the travel risks they might otherwise face. Travel Messenger™ service developed by Melbourne based Loop9 scans 24/7 a wide range of global network security risk centers to bring in up-to-the-minute travel warnings for the country you are in directly to your mobile phone by SMS.

“It is important to plan you trip ahead of time in order to make it safer and more enjoyable” says Mark McCormack, Managing Director of Melbourne based Loop9. He recommends the following helpful tips for women travellers should they encounter a situation in an area of political instability or civil unrest as well as on how to stay safe at major events.

Pre trip:

1. Take photo copies of all your travel documents, keep them separate from the originals and e-mail all your details such as passport numbers, your itinerary etc to your own email address in case your lose anything.

2. Pack as light as possible and always pack your own bags and do not offer to carry any parcels whose contents you may be unsure of. The penalties for possession of or trafficking in drugs in some countries can include long prison sentences or even death.

3. Before traveling, find out the general dress code for the country. Once you arrive, take note of what local women wear to get an idea of appropriate attire.

4. Use a handbag with an inner zippered pocket and a strong strap. Preferably, wear the strap across the body, to make it more difficult for thieves to steal. Consider wearing a money belt under your clothes.

On board:

5. Do not announce your final destination or length of stay to fellow passengers, as the information may be overheard.

On arrival:

6. Where possible arrange to be met at the airport by someone you know. If you are being collected by a driver always establish their identity by asking their name, inquire who they are waiting for and where they intend taking you.

7. Stay in a hotel or guesthouse on a residential street that has a number of restaurants and late-night stores located on it. This is far safer than staying in a corporate area that will be quiet at night and so less secure.?

8. Never let on that you are traveling alone; inform inquisitive strangers that you are expecting your friend or meeting your partner.

9. Avoid wearing provocative, figure-hugging clothing. Unwanted attention can be also avoided by wearing a wedding ring and avoiding eye contact

10. Act confidently. Know where you are going and what you are doing, and walk with assurance. Confidence can be a major deterrent of criminal activities, such as petty theft and harassment.

For more information and to book Travel Messenger™ service for your next trip please contact your local travel agent.

I know there will be times in the future when I will travel as part of a group out of choice because I want to visit areas where it is just not possible or sensible for a woman alone, or because I wish to be with family or like-minded people. However, due to my particular personality traits, my preference is to travel alone. I guess it really doesn’t matter how people travel, but that they travel.

Pamela Bradley, also known as Zelda, is a noted author of nine books on ancient cultures and mysteries, historian, public speaker and passionate traveler. Follow her travels on http://www.zeldastravels.com and check out her profile, books, recent memoir, Nefertiti Street, as well as her observations on writing and women on http://www.pamelabradley.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pamela_Bradley

In 2010 we are looking forward to providing you with more great travel tips and travel discounts from the best that the web has to offer. You can look forward to more articles and videos for a lifetime of worldwide travel.

Aboriginal rock at, Kakadu NP, Australia

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