Tag: tourism

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Experience Magical Niagara Falls

Some things can’t be fully appreciated without a personal visit. Niagara Falls is definitely in that category. There are millions of photos taken of this natural wonder but none will ever capture the majesty of this impressive sight. You need to stand alongside the brink and watch as water thunders over the edge and then crashes below. Feel the mist on your skin. It’s a multi-sensory experience where words can’t fully capture the essence.

One of the great things about Niagara Falls is that it’s situated between the United States and Canada. You can fly into one of three international airports which are located in Buffalo, Toronto and Hamilton. There are transportation choices from any of these locations. You can arrange for a hotel stay on either the American or the Canadian side which are connected by several bridges. The Rainbow bridge has a pedestrian walkway so you can easily go from country to to country via foot or bike.

Plan to spend a few days because there’s so much to do. On the American side you’ll find a lovely park with paved pathways that take you alongside the river and over bridges. Bring a picnic lunch or purchase food from one of the many restaurant offerings. Whether you are looking for quick fast food, ethnic varieties or something more upscale, you’ll be able to find it. There are many other fun attractions in the area as well.

The Canadian side offers the beautiful Queen Victoria Park and Oakes Gardens. Walk along the gorge and then tour the picturesque gardens. The Butterfly Observatory offers a peaceful place to view some of the most delicate and colorful butterfly you’ll ever see. After you’ve had your fill of nature you can head back into the city area for a high-energy good time. Lundy lane is full of tourist attractions and you can easily spend hours visiting the museums, exhibits and indulging the many choices for food. Enjoy the amusement park rides or visit the water park. There’s fun for the whole family.
While new attractions come along every year or so, there’s some that have been there for decades. Here’s some of the most visited sights:

The Cave of the Winds is a series of wooden walkways that bring you right up close to the falls. You’ll be loaned a raincoat and you’ll definitely need it.

Cave of the Winds www.niagarafallsstatepark.com
Cave of the Winds
www.niagarafallsstatepark.com

The Maid of the Mist is a boat ride that brings you directly to the base of the falls. You don’t want to miss this one! You can board from either the American or Canadian side of the falls.

Maid of the Mist www.cliftonhill.com
Maid of the Mist
www.cliftonhill.com

The Journey Behind the Falls takes you down through a tunnel and you’ll emerge behind the falls. Marilyn Monroe was filmed in this attraction for the movie Niagara.

journey-behind-thefalls.283x283
Journey Behind the Falls www.niagarafallstourism.com

The Whirlpool Aero Car is a suspended cable car crosses the gorge directly over the giant whirlpool on the Niagara River. Access is only from Canada.

Whirlpool Aero Car tripadvisor.com
Whirlpool Aero Car
tripadvisor.com

That’s simply the beginning of the many ways to enjoy Niagara Falls. One popular way to see a lot of the sights is to purchase the Discovery Pass. Pay one price and you and you can visit all these attractions:

  • Niagara Adventure Theater
  • Aquarium of Niagara
  • Cave of the Winds Trip
  • Niagara Gorge Discovery Center
  • Maid of the Mist ®

Window Price: Adults-ages 13+ $63.25 – Children 6-12 $43.25

Online price: Adults ages 13+ $45.00-Children 6-12 $34.00

Admission is free for children five & under at all attractions in Niagara Falls State Park.

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Visit Brazil, the Land of Diversity

Centrally situated in South America, Brazil is the largest country on the continent. It consists of similar geography and topography across the country, and it has a very diverse population. Brazil is no stranger to tourism as people from across the globe come to visit year round. Its history, culture, and tourist attractions are just a few things that draw people to Brazil.

The people of Brazil have an intriguing cultural background. While visiting, you are guaranteed to meet people from various ethnicities, including Native American, African American, European or Asian descent, and a combination of these. Brazilians are friendly, honest people who enjoy companionship. They are known to invite people to have lunch or dinner with them at their houses. One of the most significant events that happens in Brazil every year is Carnival. Carnival is a week long celebration that occurs after Lent, and consists of dancing, fascinating costumes, floats, and all out celebration. If you like partying, definitely visit Brazil around the time of Carnival.

Tourism is a big industry in Brazil, especially in the southeastern region of the country. One of the most popular tourism destinations is the city of Rio de Janeiro. People flock to this city to visit its beautiful beaches, one of the most well-known being Copacabana. Brazilians love soccer, so it should come as no surprise that Rio has the largest soccer stadium, the Maracana Stadium. Downtown Rio has plenty of sites to see, including many churches, cathedrals and historic sites. The concrete Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro, the Municipal Theater, and the National Library are some great places to go see. South of downtown is where Copacabana and a few of the beaches are located, as well as the famous Sugarloaf Mountain. You have to take two cable cars up to the top, and the view is breath taking, as can be seen in this photo.

304764-sugarloaf-mountain

If you aren’t too familiar with Rio, don’t go to the favelas north of the city. This is a poorer part of town where a lot of crime happens. This is only one city in Brazil. Brasilia are two other cities one can visit while in the country.

Brasilia is especially interesting to those who are interested in architecture, as many of the buildings downtown are designed to match each other with the same style. The city is built along the shore of Lake Paranoa.

Lago-Paranoa

This is especially appealing to those who enjoy such activities as fishing, kayaking, and boating, as well as wind surfing and diving. If you prefer to stick to downtown settings, there is a lot to see in downtown Brasilia. The architect Oscar Niemeyer designed the majority of the buildings found here. The Congressional Palace is an impressive structure; it is composed of two towers connected by a concrete dome and a concrete bowl called the Chamber of Deputies. Perhaps more impressive is the city’s cathedral. The National Theater and Itamaraty Palace are a couple other destinations that must be seen. Brasilia has fairly good transportation. The airport is about seven miles (11.27 Km) from the center of the city, and taxi and bus services are always waiting for arriving passengers. Rio has two airports that serve commercial flights too and from the city, and buses are the main form of transportation in the city. Brazil has a very accessible layout within its cities for the most part.

Brazil is a splendid place to visit, whether you want to see modern skyscrapers, or the plant and animal life in the Amazon River Basin. Its history and culture are as interesting as ever. Brazilian tradition is very welcoming and comforting to those who are not from the area. If you visit Brazil, you won’t be disappointed.

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Cairo, a Treasure-trove of Historical Heritages

The Greater Cairo region is at the heart of Egypt and features countless ancient landmarks and thrilling sights to see. The center of the region is the vast city of Cairo, situated on the East side of the Nile. The city of Cairo has a population of over 16 million, making it the largest city in the whole Arab world and Middle East. On the other side of the Nile is Giza, where an hour away from central Cairo the famous Pyramids and Sphinx are located. There are other cities and districts in Greater Cairo, but Cairo and Giza are the main attractions.

Transportation and Accommodation

The best way to get around Cairo is by metro, because the traffic is very congested. The metro is cheap and fast, and it features both air-conditioned and unconditioned trains. However, in some cases it is necessary to take a bus or taxi to get to places the metro doesn’t reach.

In terms of accommodation, there are many options with prices ranging from $100 a month to $1000 a day. If you’re planning on staying for months, you can rent a lower quality flat outside the city center for a very low price, or you can find nicer places in the city center that cost from hundreds to thousands of dollars a month. Hostel rooms, even in the center of Cairo, can easily be found for as little as $8 a day, while comfortable and spacious hotel rooms can be found for prices as low as $30.

Things to Do and Sights to See

Once your accommodation is settled, there are a great variety of things to do and sights to see. The most obvious places to go are the museums and monuments. The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, featuring mummies and countless other artifacts, is enough to keep one busy for days. The Pyramids, the Sphinx, and other ancient sites in Giza are an obvious must-see, and you can intersperse your visits to them with some fun camel and horse riding in the open desert of Giza.

image of sphinx and pyramid
image of sphinx and pyramid

Back in Cairo proper, there is the Citadel of Cairo, a medieval citadel dating from the time of the crusades, where you can visit some famous mosques and the National Military Museum. To the Northeast of central Cairo is the second oldest Islamic university in the world, al-Azhar University. There is also the famous Khan el-Khalili bazaar, a bustling marketplace located in a medieval mausoleum. Adjacent to the bazaar is a very significant Muslim religious site, the Al-Hussein mosque, where the head of Muhammad’s grandson Husayn is said to be buried.

Besides the many Islamic sites, Cairo also has an extensive Coptic Christian heritage. Within the Coptic Cairo area is the Babylon Fortress, an ancient Roman fortress that now has several Coptic churches within in its grounds. It also contains the Coptic Museum, which features a vast array of artifacts and art. Also in Coptic Cairo is the Ben Ezra Synagogue, where baby Moses is said to have been found by the Pharaoh’s daughter.

For a break from sightseeing, there are a variety of cultural activities such as concerts, operas and clubs. Cairo is very active at night and there is no shortage of activities at any hour, although it is safer not to stay out too late.

Food and Tips
For food, there are many restaurants, markets and vendors all around the city. In the wealthier areas such as central Cairo there are a variety of restaurants, ranging from luxurious traditional Egyptian restaurants to juice bars and all sorts of international cuisine. There is food to be found everywhere, so if your tastes are not picky there will usually be something to eat within a block or two. Fruit, vegetable and bread vendors are located all over, and their prices are much lower than one finds in Western countries. Many vendors have price signs for their produce, so as long as you can read Arabic numbers you should be safe from being charged more than locals.

image of vendor with fruits
image of vendor with fruits

Although Cairo’s people are generally kind and friendly, there are also cheats, pickpockets and thieves in the city. You should always leave your valuables in a safe place and carry as little as possible in your pockets. People in Cairo do not usually carry wallets with them, and you should not either if you can help it. It is safer to only carry as much money as you need for a particular outing, and to stay away from the poorer parts of Cairo.