Walking in Memphis

One of the places I have to visit here in the United States is Tennessee. My mom has often asked "Where should we go for vacation this year?" and many times I have responded "Tennessee". But of course I  get a look, like "why?" I will tell you why right now. I met a girl last summer from Tennessee and she confirmed everything I'd already heard about this state, she said even the biggest country music stars just walk around like everyday people. From the food, to the music and the friendly faces, this a place I want to vist very soon.

I am a huge country music fan so of course we would have to start in the capital of Nashville, home of the Grand Ole Opry. This is where the biggest of all the country stars perform on a nightly basis. And before I leave Nashville, I would have to take a tour at the Country Music Hall of Fame.
I can't wait to be able to sink my teeth into some down-home Tennessee cooking. Fresh food off the farms, and meat cooked like you've never tasted. All the food festivals and homestyle restaurants are definitely on my list.

And of course, a huge draw is the history and culture down south. It's something we don't see at all up north and would be a nice change to experience. I feel like I would be very happy living in Tennessee one day, but I think I'll have to start with a visit or two first!

Her Name Is Rio

It’s the ‘city that never sleeps’ of the southern hemisphere: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  It’s an iconic city known for its famous beaches, and perhaps even more famous entertainment and nightlife.  Rio is considered the Carnival Capital of the World, as it is home to the biggest and most well-known carnival celebration in the world.  Held every February, Carnival consists of parades, samba music and dancing, and street parties with performers and visitors alike dressed in elaborate costumes.  It looks crazy (in a good way), but it gets rather crowded since Carnival is held during their high season. 

Rio is also home to two of the world’s most famous beaches, Ipanema and Copacabana.  As a lover of pretty much any and all beaches, I would have to check them out.  Located fairly close to each other, both beaches are in the richer neighborhoods of Rio and are full of bars, restaurants, and beautiful hotels. 

When one pictures Rio, they probably think of the giant statue of Christ with arms wide open looking out over the city (like the picture at the top of this post).  This is the Christ the Redeemer statue, and it is located on top of Corcovado Mountain.  The statue is one of the seven wonders of the world and is easily accessible by cog train, which takes you through Tijuca Forest National Park.  Another popular mountain to visit is called Sugar Loaf.  I think it would be cool to take a cable car up to the mountain, but for the fit and daring you can also climb it.  The view looks incredible from the top either way!

For more info, check out Rio’s website.  It has anything and everything from shopping to samba shows.

Bermuda, Bahama Come on Pretty Mama

      At the end of May my family and I will be setting sail on a weeklong cruise in Bermuda! We will leave from New York and sail for two days down to the beautiful island that awaits. Bermuda is a United Kingdom territory and is home to one of the largest off-shore financing industries in the world. Interestingly enough, Bermuda is about 700 Km closer to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina than it is to Miami, Florida. It is even 400 Km closer to Canada than it is to Florida!

      The island is right at the tip of the famous Bermuda Triangle, a section of water famous for many naval and aircraft disappearances over the years. This may be real or may just be superstition fueled by the extreme weather that leads to widespread blackouts and damage on land. Hopefully while we are there the weather is as nice and tropical as it usually is!

      A famous site to see here is the Bermuda Fortress on Ireland Island. It is an old revolutionary war fort that was rebuilt during the war of 1812 to protect the Atlantic shipping trade routes.

      Bermuda is home to some of the most famous golf courses in the world that are surrounded by the beautiful scenery and wonderful weather to accompany it. Another famous sport that is getting popular with the years is the nations cricket team, which participated in the Cricket World Cup in 2007.

      I cannot wait for my trip there and after this research I will know exactly what I will want to do there. It is a beautiful island and has a very rich culture for only being about 20 square miles. This is definitely a place you should visit and is a great stop for a sailing trip throughout the Atlantic!

Awesome Austria

A friend of mine recently got to visit Austria, and I am so insanely jealous!  Of all the places I want to travel to someday, Austria is definitely within my top 5.  The cities of Vienna and Salzburg look so beautiful and are full of things to do and places to see.  If I had won that lottery, I would be on a plane heading there now.

Schonbrunn Palace

Vienna

Vienna is the capital and largest city in Austria.  One spot that stood out to me after looking at pictures of the city was Schonbrunn Palace.  This palace belonged to the Habsburgs, the dynasty who ruled the Austrian empire for six centuries up until 1918.  Today, it is a cultural treasure with exquisite decor and gardens.  I would ideally like to visit Vienna in the winter, when Christmas markets pop up around the city.  One of the most well-known markets is held in the town square in front of city hall (Rathausplatz).  You can buy gifts such as handmade chocolate and various crafts amidst an amazing display of Christmas lights.  

Christmas Market

The winter is also "ball season" in Vienna, with the traditional dances held at some of the palaces.  If you're feeling fancy, you can brush up on your Viennese Waltz and check out the celebration.

If there is nothing else I see in Vienna, I need to visit the Spanish Riding School.  I've already mentioned that I love horses and horseback riding, so without question I need to check out some of the most highly trained horses and riders in the world.  They have been practicing High School of Classical Horsemanship here for about 440 years.  The iconic white Lipizzaner stallions are known for the amazing leaps and perfect dressage routines they perform.  My horse has a white coat too, so I just want to know how on Earth they get them so clean!

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Salzburg

The hills are alive! I'm hoping that you all know I'm referring to "The Sound of Music."  This classic movie was filmed in Salzburg, Austria, and if I could pick one city to travel to right this second, Salzburg would probably be it.  Surrounded by the Alps, the historic center of the city is listed on UNESCO's World Heritage list.  The city boasts numerous streets and squares for shopping, over 20 museums, and seven remarkable fortresses and palaces.  Hellbrunn Palace, for example, is considered one of the most magnificent Renaissance buildings north of the Alps.  One cool feature of the palace is the 'trick' fountains that visitors can run through, which have been a main attraction there for over 400 years.  

Trick Fountains

Salzburg is also renowned for music, which remains a big part of its' culture.  If you are a fan of classical music, I really don't think there is a better place to visit.  'Some guy' named Mozart was born and raised here.  You can check out his birthplace and residence, and I'm sure find a million souvenirs.  His geburtshaus (or 'birth house') is located in the Getreidegasse, which is Salzburg's most famous shopping lane.  The house was turned into a museum, which holds many of Mozart's instruments.  I realize this might not be everyone's cup of tea, but as someone who has been learning about and playing music for most of her life, this is kind of a big deal.   

Since I briefly mentioned the movie, one thing I also want to do is go on a tour of the filming locations for  "The Sound of Music."  The tour takes you into the hills for a breathtaking view, as well as to many architectural landmarks shown in the movie.  You can feel like a Von Trapp in no time.  

Salzburg has some neat festivals that take place in the summer months, and since I also want to see the Christmas markets and holiday celebrations in Vienna, I guess I'll just have to travel here twice.  What a shame... 

Calm Down

I woke up this morning and realized that my college classes will end forever exactly four weeks from today.  This means graduation is also right around the corner, which is just fantastic since I still don’t have anything figured out.  Cue quarter-life crisis!  In response to my (and probably everyone else’s) freaking out, I thought it might be good to share some of the top spa destinations right in New York City.  It’s a short trip for me and probably a lot of people who read this, which is wonderful because I’m going to need all the relaxation I can get a.s.a.p.  Here are the 6 best spas in NYC according to CBS NY.  Each one is a little urban oasis that lets visitors block out the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple, and of life.  Conducting the research for this must have been so grueling…

Jeunesse Spa

131 W. 22^nd St.

jeunessespa.com

Ohm Spa

260 Fifth Ave.

ohmspa.com 

Greenhouse Holistic

88 Roebling & North 7^th

Brooklyn

greenhouseholistic.com

Kiehl’s

841 Lexington Ave.

kiehls.com

Great Jones Spa

29 Great Jones St.

greatjonesspa.com

Mezzanine Medical Day Spa

62 Crosby Street

mezzaninespa.com

Everyone stresses out; it's a part of life.  Problem is, it can be a factor in illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, and hypertension.  I say that if indulging in a spa treatment every now and again is going to help me chill out and lead an overall healthier lifestyle, than it's just a sacrifice I'm going to have to make! 

Walk Like an Egyptian

The Great Pyramid and the Sphinx.

A camel ride through the desert.

I recently did a project on the fashions of ancient Egyptians and it has inspired me to want to take a trip there! Who wouldn't want to see one of the coolest of the seven wonders of the ancient world: the pyramids! First I would travel to Cairo, the capital of Egypt. There I would see the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. These icons of Egypt were built over 2,000 years ago and are still standing today. Ranging from 200-450 feet tall, these pyramids really do make you wonder how the ancient Egyptians were able to build them without the technology we have today.And of course, while you are in Egypt you have to take a camel ride through the desert! How cool would that be! Then in modern Cairo, you can visit the museums and have a nice dinner in the Cairo tower were you can see the whole city from the sky. It would also be fun to take a boat ride down the Nile and see all the surrounding scenery.
However, if you do decide to take a trip here, beware, the hygiene is not of the highest standards and many tourists often suffer from a parasite or bacterial infection!

Worth A Thousand (Norwegian) Words

Have you ever felt moved by a photograph?  Have you ever looked at a picture and immediately thought ‘wow, if only I could see that in person?’  Well, I have, and this is that picture:

This is Western Norway, famous for the fjords shown above.  Norway has never been on my radar of places to travel to, but now I can’t imagine not going.  Shows what a photo can do to a person.  I’m continually awestruck while writing this blog that places this beautiful actually exist in the world.  So anyway, what exactly is a fjord?  A fjord is basically a steep-sided inlet formed when glaciers retreat, causing the sea to flood the newly formed U-shaped valley.  These fjords can be very deep, as in ‘over 4,000 ft. below sea level’ deep.  Western Norway has the highest concentration of fjords in the world, therefore the region is often referred to as Fjord Norway.  Norway’s longest fjord, the Sognefjord, is centrally located in the region and is home to two national parks.  One of its’ branches, the Nærøyfjord (don’t ask me how to pronounce that, I’ve got no clue), is listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.  The Sognefjord area has a lot to see and do, so this is where I plan to go.

Being outdoors is the name of the game here.  You can hike a mountain or hike a glacier.  You can explore waterfalls, go for a bike ride, or get cultured by visiting heritage sites throughout the region.  In the winter, you can do everything from skiing to ice climbing.  And for the truly daring among us, you can even go body rafting.  They put you in a wetsuit and life jacket, slap on a helmet, and send you down the river.  Think I’m joking?  Check out the picture below.

All of this is great, but what I really want to do is take a cruise through the fjords.  There are a bunch of different cruises to choose from, and you could even charter a boat if you wanted.  I think it’s the perfect way to see this landscape up close and personal, and it seems to be a popular item on people’s travel bucket lists.  Seriously, is this even real? Amazing.

For more information about the fjords, including places to stay and things to do, check out these sites! 

http://www.visitnorway.com/en/Where-to-go/Fjord-Norway/

http://www.sognefjord.no/en/ 

Bali or Bust

I stumbled across the island of Bali not too long ago while watching a show on TV, and now I'm a little obsessed with this Indonesian paradise.  I don't think I expected Indonesia to be quite so beautiful, but it really is.  Bali has been ranked by Travel & Leisure as the No. 1 island in Asia every year since 1998!  To top it off, it was recently ranked as the 2nd best island in the world.  To put that in perspective, Indonesia alone is made up of 17,500 islands, so to be ranked that high is amazing.  My personal dream is to stay in one of the many luxury villas and spas the island has to offer.  They look so beautiful and relaxing that I don't think I would ever want to leave.  I love their simple style and the way the outside and inside become one.

 

You get the best of both worlds on Bali:  One minute you can be on a white sand beach, the next exploring jungles filled with hidden temples.  Bali's many beaches are great for swimming, surfing, or exploring below the surface.  Want something a little out of the ordinary?  Check out the Elephant Safari Park!  Opened in 2000, visitors can get up close and personal with some of the largest mammals on Earth.  Hand feed them, pet them, or even go for a ride around the park.  There are certain times during the day where  you can see them paint or play games.  Whatever you choose to do in Bali, you're bound to have an amazing experience.  It's an island rich in culture and tradition, renowned for art, music and dance.  Honestly, how can you not love a place that looks like this?   

Just a note:  Check travel warnings before visiting here.  It's a beautiful place, but recently there have been threats against it.  As with anywhere, but especially this part of the world, it's smart to know what's going on before heading out.   

The City of Stars

....and by stars, I mean movie stars, also know as the City of Angels: Los Angeles County. I have always been an east coast girl, (and I'm almost positive that I always will be) but perhaps a visit to the west coast could one day change my mind.
Los Angeles has always been a place that fascinates me. In my mind, it is like New York but warmer and sunnier with palm trees and movie stars. There are so many places in LA that you have to see. Who would wouldn't want to see the movie sets in Hollywood one day and be shopping on Melrose Ave the next. Imagine seeing all those multi-million dollar homes in Orange County. I think I might have a hard time leaving. I hear the traffic is atrocious, but it can't be too much worse then driving through NYC. Here are some sites I definitely want to visit, you might too!

The first thing I would want to do would be to take a helicopter ride over the city. A helicopter ride in general just sounds fun, but to see the 400 miles of LA from the sky would be pretty cool. You could get an up close view of the Hollywood sign and see the mansions hidden in the Hollywood hills. You could fly over Downtown skyline and over to the Santa Monica Mountains, following the sandy beach coast.


Next it would be cool to go on a studio tour of a live set. But I'm not so sure how easy that is for an ordinary person to do. So if I can't see any real movie stars, I'll take the next best thing: the 3.5 mile Hollywood Walk of Fame. The history behind all the stars who have been given a star along this sidewalk is amazing. It would be so fun to see all the names! You could even hit up a local TV show taping (for free usually) if you can't see your big movie stars.

And of course the beaches. Venice Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Santa Monica Sate Beach. A day at the beach any where is a treat, but these beaches you hear about all the time in the movies. All about the boho Venice Beach area, the hipster Hermosa and classic Santa Monica. I'm sure you'll want to spend a day at each!

There are so many places and things to do in LA, this doesn't even begin to describe them. The shopping there has to be glamorous, and the nightlife just the same. I think LA is a place you definitely have to experience at some point.

Definitely Dubai

      Dubai is one of the biggest up and coming cities in the world. Never would I have ever imagined wanting to travel to the middle east until I came across Dubai a few years ago. This city has gone from being a humble fishing village to a modern, upscale metropolis in just 30 years. Dubai is a city full of the latest and greatest technology, innovations and events. The WikiTravel site says it best: "It is a city of superlatives: for the fastest, biggest, tallest, largest and highest, Dubai is the destination."

     Being located on the coast of the United Arab Emirates, Dubai experiences desert temperatures with coastal humidity. In the summers the air is dry and can reach up to 129 degrees fahrenheit and the humid winters drop to around 50-60 degrees.

Dubai Must Sees:

The Burj Khalifa. Currenty the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa stands at 2,716.5 feet, more then 160 stories.This giangantic building houses nine hotels, a mall, over 900 residences, 144 private residences, a 4-story gym, restaurants, a park and much more. 

The Dubai Fountain. Check out this video of the Dubai Fountain. With jets that shoot water up to 500 feet, this dancing fountain has to be a sight to see. 

Burj al-Arab hotel. This hotel is the definition of luxury and really gives a glimpse of "how the other half lives". It is the self-proclaimed only 7 star hotel in the world. You need a reservation just to get through the entry gate. Tours run only when the hotel isn't full. A reservation of a few days ahead is required for meals at the hotel, while months in advanced are suggested for a room. They like to keep their luxury appearance with a "very smart casual" dress code. 

Besides checking out these sights there are so many other activitles a tourist can try: visit the beaches, ski (yes as in snow), go on a safari, drive through the sand dunes, hot air balloon, shop in an authentic souk market, and virtually anything else you can think of. 

London Calling

From Big Ben to Buckingham Palace, there are so many places I want to see in London, England.  I know many people who have gotten to travel there, and whether it was for business or pleasure, they loved it.  London is definitely on many peoples' radar lately because of the upcoming Summer Olympics.  Now, it’s a dream of mine to go.  So, what should you do when visiting this city?  Well, if you feel like going for a ride, take a spin in the London Eye, one of the largest observation wheels in the world.  It takes about half an hour to go all the way around, but that gives you all the more time to enjoy the scenery.  It’s a ‘view fit  for a queen:’ on a clear day, you can see all the way to Windsor Castle (about 25 miles away)!   

Speaking of the Queen, if you feel like reliving the royal wedding, be sure to check out Westminster Abbey.  The Abbey looks beautiful and it’s full of history.  It was founded in 960 and has been the coronation church for kings and queens since 1066.  Over one million people visit the Abbey every year, showing that you don’t have to be Kate to walk down its’ aisle.

Located on the north bank of the River Thames lies the Tower of London, a historic fortress, palace, and prison all in one.  See the Crown Jewels, armor worn by knights, and the Tower Green (which now serves as a memorial to those like Anne Boleyn who were beheaded there).  Once you’ve had your fill, mosey on over to the Tower Bridge, another London icon.

I could probably spend days in London checking out all the historic places and neighborhoods.  I want to shop at Harrods, catch a show on the West End, and visit King’s Cross Station (yes, I want to see platform 9 ¾ ).  So much to see and do, so little time.  Have any of you been to London, or want to visit any other sites there? 

Up Next....Greece!

In case you couldn't tell so far, I would love, love to travel all of Europe. Another must see for me is Greece. It's one of those places that you see in movies often and it is the most beautiful place you've ever seen. It is not only the birthplace of the world famous Olympic games, but also of some of the most famous pieces of literature. When I think of Greece I picture bright blue water and the old homes built up the side of the land, over looking the Aegean Sea. And then there's Athens, to see all of the famous Greek history that lies there, the Temple of Zeus, the Parthenon, the Acropolis of Athens. 

The Parthenon on the Acropolis of Athens is a symbol of classical Greece. 

The Acropolis, not only will you get to have a close up look at all these
ancient buildings and ruins, but you’ll also get a great view of the
 city of Athens from here as well.

The village of Oios (Oia) on the island of Santorini, Greece.

Panoramic view of Santorini, a major tourist attraction.

Hermoupolis, on the island of Syros, is the capital of
the Cyclades and was the capital of Greece before Athens.