Alexandria, Virginia is an absolute must see for anyone who enjoys and appreciates U.S. History. There are few places that can rival Alexandria for importance in the colonial and Revolutionary War era. In addition, Alexandria played a prominent role in the Civil War. Alexandria was founded in 1749 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Alexandria has much to offer visitors, with its abundance of outstanding examples of colonial architecture, and numerous U.S. National Historic landmarks. One of the notable landmarks is Woodlawn, which has been termed “America’s First Family Home” as it was a gift from George Washington to his nephew. It is the first property of the National Trust. Christ Church is also a U.S. Historic Landmark, and is one of the oldest Episcopal churches in the United States where George Washington and numerous other presidents have worshipped. Gadsby’s Tavern is another landmark that was the site of many political meetings during the Revolutionary and Early American years, and hosted many famous travelers, such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.
In addition to the National Landmarks, Alexandria also offers visitors the opportunity to see the boyhood home of Robert E. Lee, and the George Washington Masonic Memorial. Other sites of interest include the Alexandria National Cemetery, which contains the graves of 3,500 Civil War soldiers; the Carlyle House, a fully restored 18th century Georgian mansion that was home to one of Alexandria’s founding citizens, John Carlyle; Fort Ward, which is a well preserved Civil War site with daily reenactments; and the Frank Lloyd Wright Pope-Leighey House that is one of the finest examples of the architect’s innovative methods. Ghost tours have also become a popular attraction in Alexandria. Notable stops on these tours include the Ramsey House, which is now the Alexandria’s visitor’s center, and is said to haunted by its original owner, and the Old Town Theatre.
Alexandria is also adjacent to Washington, D.C., which makes it an ideal location from which to explore the nation’s capitol. While it is easy to travel by the Capital Beltway, those who are not used to driving in D.C. may feel uncomfortable with this idea. However, another convenient way to travel between the two cities is by boat. A water taxi service can take visitors across the Potomac River in about 20 minutes. In addition, the Virginia Railway Express and Amtrak both offer very fast train service between Alexandria and Washington D.C.
Any visitor to Alexandria will have a large array of lodging choices. Numerous national chains have properties at a wide range of prices. However, there are a number of charming bed and breakfasts which give a traveler the feeling of being in a truly historical place and they range in price from moderate to expensive. Dining choices also offer a wide range of choices. There are several colonial style restaurants, some with staff in full costume, as well as Southern barbeque, seafood, charming cafes, and various chain restaurants.
In summary, any traveler who loves history will find many great places to explore and appreciate in Alexandria.
Germany has long been a mover and shaker of European history, creating waves in time for the rest of the continent to ride out. From Charlemagne and Otto von Bismarck to Nazism and the Cold War, Germany has become the epicenter of cutting-edge culture and music, and centuries of tradition and fine arts. The juxtaposition of medieval towns against ultra-modern industrialism is a fascinating reality to experience.
Thriving Urban Centers of Germany
The capital city of Berlin is by far the most dynamic and diverse metropolis for the German traveler. Despite reunification projects since the Wall came down in 1989, the city is still very much divided between the cosmopolitan chic of the West and the tattered Communist remains of the East. The Stasi Museum, located in East Berlin, is home to the former State Security Service. The intelligence body spied on and badgered citizens throughout the Communist era from this building. The Brandenburger Tor is a monumental building built in 1792 as one of the city’s 14 gates. The history of this landmark is tied directly with the enclosing of West Germany from the East as it was essentially barricaded in by the Berlin Wall.
In addition to the other popular urban destinations of Munich and Frankfurt, Aachen (also known as Aix-la-Chapelle) should not be missed on a German visit. It is considered the most international of cities in Germany, situated close to the Belgian and Netherlands borders. Many citizens and travelers enjoy regular access to both border nations. The main draw is the Aachen Dom (Aachen Cathedral), which is the oldest landmark in Germany. Emperor Charlemagne had the chapel constructed over 1200 years ago and Holy Roman Emperors were coroneted here for nearly 600 years. The cathedral is also alleged to possess Christ’s loincloth as part of its collection.
Fables and Fairytales
The German landscape is still comparable to your favorite fairytale or Robin Hood adventure. Castles in the sky preside over the rich green forests where Hansel and Gretel ventured to meet their witch. The Black Forest (Schwarzwald) is famous for its intense evergreen canopy, vast outdoor activities and secluded get-a-ways. It also happens to be where Nobel Prize winner Hermann Hesse spent much of his life living and writing. The Maulbronn monastery, situated in the forest’s north end, is a UNESCO World Heritage sight that has been carefully preserved. The entire wooded expanse is dotted with medieval and farm towns and is fairly easy to navigate by train.
The notorious 19th century Bavarian king, Ludwig II (Ludwig Friedrich Wilhelm), left his personal legend all over the German countryside in the form of extravagantly ornate castles. Schloss Neuschwanstein is Ludwig’s (and Germany’s) most famous construction, particularly because he contracted a stage designer rather than an architect to do the job. Although the monstrosity was never actually finished, visitors may enjoy concerts in the castle’s centerpiece, Minstrel’s Hall, every September.
Along Germany’s southwest border, The Rhine Valley stretches as a monument to the country’s timeless culture and love affair with art, wine, food and beer. The Middle Rhine Valley (also a World Heritage sight) is the most popular segment, studded with medieval and gothic towns and wineries that hold their own festivals annually. Additionally, WWII has left its distinct mark throughout the region despite the incredible restoration efforts undertaken over the years.
Social revolutions, wars and a fair share of domestic turmoil combined with the legacy of the Holy Roman Empire and the split of the Protestant Church all make Germany unmistakably unique and internationally modern. Travel Germany and discover that it’s not all about the Beer Gardens!
Fitness travel is an emerging new trend in weight loss and traveling. Its increasing popularity can be due to the piling up items in our daily to-do lists, and the shortening length of time we have to accomplish them. It is safe to say that these are among the things that make our day-to-day lives incredibly exhausting. There are just so many things to do in so little time. The way we hurry our meals, skip exercises and shorten our hours of sleep in order to accomplish the tasks given to us just weakens both our bodies and minds.
The words “fitness” and “travel” put together might seem odd to a lot of people. Traveling has always been associated to gaining weight. That is primarily because when we travel, there are two things we are usually so eager to do – laze around and eat like there is no tomorrow. Fitness travel alters that common notion by the unique itineraries it offers without compromising the fun travel experience that you wish to have.
Fitness travel gives you the chance to experience the most beautiful places that the world has to offer and, at the same time, the chance to finally engage yourself in a physical activity and training that would allow you to take care of yourself physically and mentally. It is like hitting two birds with one stone. You get to do the two things that the busy and fast-paced lifestyle you have does not give you the luxury of time for. A variety of programs are offered by fitness travel that consist of physical activities while you enjoy an exciting and adventurous trip.
The programs that fitness travel has are very strategic. Unlike the usual vacation packages and tours that you can join, fitness travel programs begin one month prior to your trip. On that one month, you are going to be assessed by health coaches to determine the type of physical activities your body is fit to endure. At the same time, exercise instructions and meal suggestions are given to you. This is to get you physically and mentally ready to do the activities and challenges that they are going to prepare for your trip. There are going to be other participants on the trip, but you can be sure that the programs and exercises are tailored for your strength and capabilities. Plus, it is a guarantee that no physical challenge will be forced on any participant.
The fitness travel program progresses all throughout your trip with the activities that are facilitated by amiable and trained professionals. Fitness travel offers a varying physical activities. They also come in different levels of difficulty. Some of the activities are going on a hike with experienced tour guides, yoga, pilates, resistance and functional training and other core training exercises. These activities not only give benefits to your body, but also to your mind. Yoga, for instance, is a very powerful tool to ease your mind, giving you better attitude and perspective. Serenity and tranquility, the two things we rarely have in our everyday lives, can be achieved through practicing yoga. In addition to these activities, there are seminars and other educational talks that you can join or listen to in order for you to acquire more information on how to beef yourself up physically and mentally. There are aimed to help you cope with all the worries and stress you have to deal with everyday.
Fitness travel understands that a vacation cannot be completed without spoiling yourself a little with food. In fact, travelers even say that to fully experience a new place, you must have a taste of the local cuisine. That is why it is no surprised that nutritionists and dietitians complete the team of health coaches, personal trainers and professional guides. These doctors prepare menus with all the sumptuous and mouthwatering local dishes in appropriate proportions. You can rest assured that the meals served give you the recommended daily nutritional intake to keep you strong and healthy.
The fitness travel programs do not end as soon as your trip ends. It is continued until one month after your trip by having the health coaches do some post-tour monitoring on you. You are given a month-long nutritional and exercise analyses to keep you focused.
Traveling has never been this beautiful and fulfilling. There are indeed so many ways to wander around the world, and fitness travel allows you to explore and enjoy it with a healthy and strong mind and body.
If you are planning to come to the city of Delhi in India during 2010 Delhi commonwealth games, then it is important to know the facilities of the local transportation available in Delhi. Majority of the people in Delhi use local transport facilities to commute from one place to another. The availability of different modes and means of transportation system has added to their convenience of traveling. Some of the common modes of transport which are mostly used in the city range from taxis and buses to the trains.1. Transport in DelhiTaxisFor the visitors to the Delhi commonwealth games, taxis would serve as a convenient transport. Most of the taxis in Delhi are run by the tourism ministry of India. There are private operators too. You can avail taxis for traveling to the local sites as well as for long distances. To hire a taxi, you need to access the taxi stand or seek the help of the taxi service provider by telephone. Just remember that taxi journey proves little expensive.BusesBus services can be availed at cheap rates. Boasting one of the biggest bus networking systems in India, Delhi provides you an access to more than 2000 public buses. Some of the buses are run by private operators and some of them are operated by Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC). The city has also introduced CNG buses. These are environmental friendly. RTVs or Rural Transport VehiclesYou can also avail the services of the rural transport vehicles. But these ply on fewer routes only.Auto RickshawsCostly than buses and cheaper to taxis, the auto rickshaw services are easily available. However, you need to be little careful while going for this service. Many auto drivers do not agree to follow meters. If this happens, you are recommended to bargain a little for fare in advance. Metro TrainThis is a newly developed transport mode of the city. Started out in 2002, the metro train service has already become popular with the locals and has been acclaimed as one of the topnotch rapid transit systems in Asia. The traveling fares are moderate. This service enables you to travel across about 59 stations of the city.For your convenience, route maps and rate charts have been made available at the Metro Stations.Local TrainsKnown to be the cheapest transport mode in Delhi, the local trains are best to avail to save travel time. Some of the major railway stations in Delhi are Old Delhi, New Delhi, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Shahdara, Shakur Basti, Okhla, Pragati Maidan and Tilak Bridge. Apart from transport, the other travel tips for visitors traveling to Delhi for Commonwealth games comprise money exchange facility and sightseeing spots that are worth visiting.2. Money Exchange facility in DelhiNumerous money exchange kiosks are found in Delhi. However, it is always better to avail services of the kiosks which are run by government. The exchange rates would differ from one kiosk to another. So do opt for bargaining. You will find these kiosks near railway stations and airports. Besides, several hotels of different categories also provide in-house money exchange facilities. 3. Tourist Attractions in DelhiAn experience of traveling during Delhi commonwealth will become exciting and memorable, if you can take some time out to explore the popular sightseeing spots of the city. Some of the noted hot spots in Delhi are the India Gate, the Qutab Minar, the Red Fort, the Raj Ghat and the Lotus Temple or the Baha’i Temple.
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