The Avalon at Hollywood in the United States is an amazing place to be in.

The Avalon Hollywood is owned by John Lyons and is nestled in the 1,100 person mega club on the second floor and is a home to the “Xclusive Bardot Lounge”. This place is located across the street from the Los Angeles landmark of Capitol Records Building. This place is famous for owning the “night, the players and bountiful, music loving beauties”.

What does the club consist of

The club has “opera box seating, three bars and a smoker-friendly patio”. This place is known in Hollywood as an “ideal destination for live concerts, electronic dance music, award shows, private events, bold filmmakers, visionary fashion vignettes and intimate screenings”.

Bardot

The Bardot is the place to be in. The Bardot is a warm and cosy place where you can sip your drink and enjoy the loud music. The old “Venetian setting” adds glamour and and an elegant look to the place.

Honey

Honey is the late night bistro at the Avalon. “The dark wood, large leather booths and the regal design add ambience to this intimate space”. This place is simply exotic and very romantic with the cosy booths, an upscale bar area, romantic lighting and with its own DJ set-up sound system. This place is considered to be ideal for private dinners and parties.

There are private parties and dinners held in the Avalon. The most amazing fact about this place is that obtaining tickets and passes are not difficult at all. The club is equipped with bouncers, good DJ, live music and dancing, food, drinks and a great sound system.

There are couple of events which are held on every Friday and Saturday.

Ruby Falls in Tennessee is one of the “wonders of the United States”. This isn’t a sinkhole, a depression, a man made phenomenon. This is simply the deepest and the highest underground waterfall.

This waterfall is 145 foot underground and located within the Lookout Mountain. This place is near the Rock City and the Chattanooga in Tennessee.

About the Fall

The waterfall was formed with the formation of the mountain. This was believed to have taken its shape some 200 to 240 million years ago, possibly during the Paleozoic era. The eastern part of Tennessee was covered with shallow sea and the sediments of this formed the limestone rock. It is believed that “around 200 years ago this area was uplifted and subsequent erosion created the current topography. The limestone in which the cave is formed is still relatively horizontal, just as it was deposited when it was below sea level”.

This mountain which includes the falls is a limestone cave. It is believed that these caves are bound to occur when “slightly acidic groundwater enters the subterranean streams and eats away at the relatively soluble limestone causing narrow cracks to widen into passages and caves in a process called chemical weathering”. The stream which made the fall is said to have entered the cave sometime after it was formed.

Features of the Cave

The Ruby Falls cave is believed to have several formations which include stalactites, stalagmites, columns, drapery and flowstone. The falls is situated at the end of the main passage of the cave in a large vertical shaft. The stream is 1120 feet underground and is fed both by rainwater and natural springs.

Tourism

Ruby Falls is believed to attract tourists from all over the world. The annual visitation records show that almost 400,000 tourists have visited the place. This place is also registered among the National Register for Historic Places and is ranked as the 80 year old natural attraction.

Activities in the place

You can go in for a guided tour and know more about the place. Also, this place has a beautiful scenic environment.

Accommodation

If you are planning on staying here for a few days and visit the falls and the mountain, it is recommended that you can put up in the resorts sorrounding the mountain. Also, if you want there are some great camping sites available in the area.

Ruby Falls is an amazing tourist destination and one of the major places which attracts tourists from all around the world.

Simply a great place to be in.

Ciudad del Carmen is a city to the southwest of the Mexican state of Campeche. This place is beautiful and is a renowned place, since it has some best beaches. The city is famously known as the “Pearl of the Gulf”. This place was formerly known for fishing, until it started developing due to the amount of tourists visiting the place.

Places to visit

Manglares Laguna de Terminos is a place which is known for its famous lagoons.

Tortugueros Beach in Campeche is an important tourist destination. This beach is a must visit, since you can find five to seven different species of turtles. Among all the species, the leatherback turtles are the most famous ones. It is also one of the finest beaches in Campeche and visitors come from far and wide to visit the place.

The Norte Beach in Campeche is truly an ideal place to be in. It is an extremely beautiful beach and is known for its exquisite beauty. This is one of the places that is surely a not to miss.

Accommodation

There are a number of hotels and resorts in the area. Also, the best way to reside there is by camping. There are camping sites available in the area and it is truly amazing to camp near the seashore.

Dining

You can find some of the best seafood in the area. Mexican seafood is quite renowned in the world. Apart from dining in big places, you can also try your hands on the sumptous pork and beef that is made in the nearby stalls on the beach.

Activities to do

There are many places where you can go in for some water activities. Waterscooters, banana boat rides, and surfing are some of the popular activities that you can try. Other than that there are some small markets where you can get some local handcrafted items.

Drinks

There are amazing places where you can relax and have a drink. A number of cocktails and hard drinks are available in the hotels nearby. Also, along the beach, you can find some small restaurants which offer beer and chilling cocktails.

Nightlife

Since, the place is small, there are not too many places where you can witness great nightlife. But considering the fact that many tourists visit the place and that there are many sorrounding beaches, the small restaurants in the vicinity of the beach, have some great live music and dancing to entertain you.

This is simply an amazing place to be in and have fun. You can have a great time with your family and friends.

According to a survey, it has been found that more than 80% of the lighthouses in the US are found to be haunted. These are not goosebump tales but actualities. After researching, I have found that some of these places are really dangerous. The lighthouses can be haunted due to the tragedies at ship, a horrible pirate attack, or some mishap on the sea.

There are some lighthouses in the US that have been ranked by the tourism industry there, to be the top ten haunted lighthouses in the US.

The Point Lookout Lighthouse is often called as America’s most haunted lighthouse. This lighthouse has documented many paranormal activities, since the 1860’s. It is said that the spirit of the first keeper of this lighthouse, Ann Davis, has been seen standing at the stairway and disembodied and noises has been heard and recorded on an audiotape. It is also believed that figures lost during the Civil War keep wandering the basements searching for graves dug a century ago.

It is believed that when the Coast Guards took over the Saginaw River Lighthouse, strange noises began to be heard and weird events started to be reported there. Namely it was the heavy sound of boots on the iron staircase that would be heard, but nobody could be found there.

The Presque Isle Light near Alpena, Michigan is also one of the scariest lighthouses in the area. It is said that the keeper of the lighthouse imprisoned his woman there as she had gone insane, and during her last days she would scream and go wild. Those screams are still audible in the lighthouse there.

Heceta Head Lighthouse is said to be haunted by the mother of an unknown baby, whose grave had been found on the ground where the lighthouse stands. It is believed that she moves around the lighthouse in search of her baby and keeps moving objects there.

Old Port Boca Grande Lighthouse is among those, which is rated as the most dangerous sites in the US. It is believed that two spirits haunt the lighthouse. One is the dead daughter of the keeper of the lighthouse, who suffered from whooping cough and malaria and after her untimely death was buried in the lighthouse and the other is the Spanish Princess Josefa. Her head was chopped off by a pirate, after she refused to marry him. She roams the beach in search of her head.

The Plymouth Lighthouse has an interesting story. The keepers of this lighthouse in 1769 were John and Hannah Thomas. John was killed during the revolutionary war and Hannah is believed to have been the first woman lighthouse keeper in the States. Hannah roams around the lighthouse in search of her husband and has often posed as a trouble for those who’ve been to the lighthouse.

The St. Augustine’s Lighthouse, has a weird story. Nobody till date has been able to find out, who haunts the lighthouse. Voices of a child, groans of a male and heavy footstep can be heard. Researchers have tried going into the lighthouse and finding out, but nothing has come up till date.

The New London Ledge Lighthouse is believed to be haunted by the spirit of Ernie, a broken hearted lighthouse keeper, who had jumped from the catwalk of the lighthouse, after he found out that his wife had run away with a local ferry captain. He searches for his wife on the ships and the trawlers on the deck.

These are not tales that you can read out to your kids, if they aren’t going to sleep, but real places haunted and are a monument, which has been preserved. There are tours that take you around these lighthouses and you can witness the history behind them, by visiting these places.

I’m leaving today

I want to be a part of it

New York, New York…”

The first few lyrics of this song by Frank Sinatra is a booster for people who are on their way to the famous city of New York. Who has not heard about this world capital? But for newbie’s who come to this metropolitan need to know a few things one ought to do when they come. So let’s start the ball rolling.

Restaurants:

For a foodie, New York is not less than ‘heaven’. Boasting of more than 20,000 eating joints there is nothing that you will not find. From junk to exclusive cuisines, they have it all. And if you want to go in for an inexpensive treat, the street vendors are no less in their mouth watering eats.

Night-outs:

Can this city ever sleep? This is a question a person coming to this city asks and what he gets for an answer is obviously, a big NO! The night-life timing, here are not the quintessential nine to two. You say you want to dance and let yourself loose at three in the afternoon, so be it. Its party time 24×7, all through the year.

Statue of Liberty:

The Statue of Liberty, a symbol of freedom and liberty for not only the people of U.S but also the world, is one of the key attractions of the city. One just cannot go back without seeing this beauty. The Statue with a flame of torch has been for years the face of the United States of America.

Musical events:

There is not a single day that you will not find a band playing at some part of the city. Not to mention, they play exceptionally well and draw people in great numbers. Music is something that always has been a factor for bonding of people. Music goes beyond all geographical borders and beyond creed. One does not need to understand the language in what’s being sung or played. You will find music of every genre being played there.

Baseball matches:

If someone who has never seen a baseball match, New York is the place to go and enjoy the game. The famous New York Yankees and the New York Mets, have ruled the roost for a long time now. Once in the stadium, you can actually see the whole city in there. It is generally jam-packed and like in our country cricket is a religion, the game of baseball is no less.

New York is one place that still holds its charm. A place one definitely needs to visit to see everything and anything one could imagine a place could hold.

Grand Canyon National Park

The Grand Canyon is located in Arizona and is easily acknowledged in various photographs and film footage even by the young children. The deep valleys, the red clay cliffs, and the eye-catching beauty of the landscape of Grand Canyon National Park every year attracts million of tourists.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is located in Tennessee. This park is visited many times for its phenomenal panorama, multiplicity of plant and flora and fauna as well as variety of activities, which are enjoy here, ranging from hiking to camping, and driving.

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is located in California and every year witness more than 3 million tourists, who come here for enjoying views of the ancient Sequoias, outstanding waterfalls, as well as the olden times of Native American citizens who inhabited this area around eight thousand years in the past.

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park straddles Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming, in addition it is an abode few of the most adored natural features in the country, which includes “Old Faithful” along with numerous endangered wild animals.

Olympic National Park

Olympic national park in Washington may not be as familiar to travelers as the other national parks, but this area is home to some of the most diverse terrain and environments in the country. Beaches and rain forests, mountains and glaciers make this one of the most amazing parks to visit.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park is located in Colorado and is divided by the “Continental Divide” creating two different environments on each of its side. Tourists can explore the areas of arid glacial and also travel around the flourishing western region of this park.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Cuyahoga Valley is located in Ohio and runs in between the two major urban areas of Akron and Cleveland, playing host to around three thousand kinds of wildlife and plants.

Zion National Park

Zion National Park is located in Utah and is an abode to canyons as well as is the juncture, where the Colorado Plateau meets up with the Mojave Desert, making it one of the few most diverse parks across the whole system.

Grand Teton National Park

The Grand Tetons National Park is located in Wyoming. This park every year witnesses numerous tourists visiting this park. The craggy mountains of the Teton Range as well as the extraordinary glacial lakes within the valleys are positioned far-off below and are major tourist attractions.

Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park is located in Maine and contains numerous adventurous activities, scenery, and a little for all and sundry. Visitors can enjoy piping hot tea along with popovers, also the Balsam forests as well as whale watching within this pleasant region.

Amongst the most renowned as well as eccentric destinations in United States are as follows:

The Hair Museum:

The numerous visitors to Missouri and this museum will be capable of experiencing the numerous ways wherein hair was and is been utilized for creating art.

International UFO Museum and Research Center:

International UFO Museum and Research Center is positioned in Roswell, New Mexico and is recognized as the focal point of the UFO culture in the country. The complete township is jam-packed with varied UFO information; on the other hand this museum is simply the starting point, from where the visitors start exploring this area.

Hormel SPAM Museum:

Austin in Minnesota is known to be the birthplace as well as abode of SPAM; moreover the museum is devoted to the canned meat.

Idaho Potato Museum:

It does not get extra eccentric than the largest potato chip in the world! Tourists to Blackfoot in Idaho Potato Museum will be capable of seeing the leading Styrofoam potato across the world, complete with butter and sour cream, in addition, this museum will provide you taster of few delicious cuisines that are potato based!

Red Light Museum:

Red Light Museum is located in the Virginia City, Nevada. Here the tourists can learn a lot about the legal profession of this city, which is also known as its “oldest profession”.

Museum of Bad Art:

Located in Dedham, Massachusetts, this museum, which started its life simply like a silly joke, on the other hand is so bad these days that it is in fact good to see!

Clark’s Trading Post:

This is most renowned roadside attraction in the entire region of New England. Here you can make out the two-headed calf, also gaze at the bear show, as well as meet up the family, who has managed this facility for almost nine generations!

Historic Auto Attractions:

Tourists to Roscoe, Illinois should take a trip to this museum with the aim of enjoying the amazing selection of vehicles it contains, which includes Hitler’s staff car as well as the “Family Truckster”.

Museum of Salt and Pepper Shakers:

This name of the museum says it all… The museum of salt and pepper shakers is the only pepper shakes museum across the world and is located within Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Jackalope Territory:

Jackalope Territory, which is part of Douglas in Wyoming, provides you with the opportunity of meeting the mythological creature identified as the Jackalope.

Monhegan Island Light

Off the shoreline of Maine is the location of Monhegan Island, an abode to the renowned Wyeth family of the artists as well as the Monhegan Island Light. Constructed in the year 1824, the 47 ft high tower is even today in operation, moreover the house of the keeper is kept open for public visits.

Grand Haven Pier Lights

Within Grand Haven, Michigan is an only one of its kind set of lights, the outer and inner structures is believed to be constructed any time between 1839 and 1905, as well as connected by means of an extensive pier perfect designed for a laid-back stroll.

Marshall Point Light

One more Maine lighthouse, the renowned Marshall Point Light is located in Port Clyde. The house of the keeper is been maintained as a museum through the St. George Historical Society.

Ocracoke Island Lighthouse

Off the coastline of North Carolina, within the well-known Outer Banks, Ocracoke Island is been located as well as its lighthouse was been constructed in the year 1823. This village itself is positioned on the National Register of Historic Places as well as the Visitor Center proffers all-inclusive information regarding this region.

Boston Light

The metropolis of Boston, Massachusetts is packed out with the history, as well as the lighthouse is been located on Little Brewster Island, moreover was been constructed in the year 1716. This light house has endured the Revolutionary War, moreover was been electrified in the year 1956 as well as is even today operational.

Point Reyes Light

By the side of the California coastline, in close proximity to Inverness, is the location of the lighthouse that was constructed around 1870s. In the present day this light house is not in working condition, moreover is been operated as a museum and display by the National Park Service.

St. Simons Light

The coastline St. Simons Island is located by the side of the Georgia; moreover it is an abode to the huge one hundred and four foot light house, which is presently maintained as a museum.

Point Arena Light

Profound traffic of shipping forced the building of this light house took place in the year 1870. This light house was been destroyed because of the famous earthquake that took place in the year 1906, as well as 115 ft tower that is been present today is the rebuilt tower, which is been kept open for the public to visit.

Heceta Head Light

The northernmost coastline of Oregon of Pacific Ocean is an abode to this repeatedly photographed marvel. This light house was been built in the year 1894 as well as is standing at a height of two hundred feet on top of the sea level.

Cape Hatteras Light

Possibly the most photographed lighthouse all across the world, this one 193 ft tall structure is been refurbished as well as is been kept open for the general public to visit.

Bicycling magazine in 2004 put Boston on list of America’s worst cities die bicycling, well they must have forgotten that Boston’s confounding roads are not easy to travel by car, its beyond imagination for obstacles faced by bicyclists. And that was for third time in a row.

Enters in the story Mayor Thomas Menino. Understanding the benefits of bike-friendly culture—for city’s environment, and for easing traffic congestion, as well as for health of public, mayor with former Olympic cyclist, launched annual cycling event, and himself also became biker. Thereafter city installed 15 miles of the bike lanes and mayor started to distribute 40,000 of cycling maps. While Boston still has long way, but there after Bicycling magazine named it as “future best city” in 2008. Bravo!

Cities like Louisville and Los Angeles are ramping their bike’s accessibility, and visitors are big part of this game plan. Aim is to boost car-free tourism across North America, somewhat like that is existing in European cities like Copenhagen and Amsterdam for years. Listing below Bicycle friendly cities of North America where cycling will add much fun to your tour.

Portland

• Andy Clarke who is the president of “League of American Bicyclists” said “arguably the best big city in America for cycling”. Portland situated at confluence of the Willamette and the Columbia Rivers. Portland boasts of nation’s highest percent of bicycle-commuters that is nearly eleven times that of national average.
• Visiting cyclists

Easy find of bicycles with dozens of rental shops

Cycling culture with 75 miles of off-street pathways

Local accommodations also supply bikes, bike maps

Hotel Monaco:
a car-less package featuring light-rail and airport transfer and guided bike-tour.

Scenic Rides:

Waterfront Loop: route along the both sides of Willamette, crossing over 12 bridges.

In west downtown, get miles of paths in the Forest Park with dramatic views of glacier-carved The Columbia River Gorge and on clear day nearby volcanoes of the Mount Hood and Mount St. Helens.

New York

• New York has doubled 400 miles of bike lanes in five boroughs
• Department of Transportation has plans to add another 50 miles annually.
• The NYC Greenway circles: Covers most of Manhattan along with its water views and many of city’s top sights, alongside the Hudson River. Do stop at new created pocket parks near The Ground Zero.
• Rental Company: Bike and Roll has some six rental stations, from Battery Park to Riverside Park.
• city’s iconic rides: crossing the Brooklyn Bridge with dedicated bike lane, for best views of city, start from Brooklyn side.
• Put bike on ferry in the Lower Manhattan and then cycle car-free to Governors Island, that is five-mile loop.

Chicago

• Cycling Mayor Richard M. Daley lead charge here
• The city has

12,000 public bike racks,

141 miles marked for on-street bike lanes

35 miles of shared-use trails

• The McDonald’s Cycle Center which is in Grant Park and Bobby’s Bike Hike: offers rentals and tours
• The cycling season: Bike the Drive

From Sunday of the Memorial Day with event of fund-raiser

Eight-lane, 15-mile stretch of Lake Shore Trail which is from Grant Park to the Bryn Mawr

Participants: 18,000 cyclists of all the ages and of abilities.

• Scenic drive: 18-mile Lakefront Trail
• Visitors can take bicycle and board Chicago’s Metra trains, taking suburban stations such as Aurora and get cycling to Fox River Trail to about 20 miles to Elgin and return to city via Metra line.

San Diego:

• Has favorable climate that encourages the cycling year-round.
• Popular rides

26-mile loop around the San Diego Bay, relatively its flat terrain, use ferry to get access to Coronado Island and even the Silver Strand.

Easy beach rides in San Diego County are retreat for the advanced riders.

Cycle to backcountry

Cycle up coast along the Old Highway 101 enjoying great ocean views

Other friendly cities are

• San Francisco:  for picturesque route bike trail to Bay Trail
• Montreal: Quebec’s largest city becoming first in the North America to launch a full-blown in bike-share system.
• Washington DC: Go cycling on Mount Vernon trail and even all over city
• Tucson: Miles of bike lanes crisscrossing the old Spanish pueblo. Popular routes are following Rillito River.

Go cycling. It will be more fun then getting in traffic and in those buses. Rather enjoy scenic views when ever you want, with obvious advantages of getting exercise also done along with keeping your environment more pollution free.

Playa del Carmen is a striking Caribbean coastal strip that has busiest pedestrian main road. We enjoyed a lot at the beach called Fifth Avenue. When we walked ahead, saw many hotels, and ferry berth to Cozumel. Also the stretch of white sand with splendid turquoise water has fascinated us a lot, especially because there were not much of the crowds to disturb us. This was the spot where we spent our three days entirely. We went there during winter season but still the water there was so warm. But it doesn’t affected our days. We spent hour’s non-stop there by playing and swimming in the water.

This little beach was located next to the very exclusive looking Fisherman’s Beach Club. Here you can see guests lounged on lounge chairs, having meals, and enjoying some activities. We took a snorkeling trip out of Cozumel Island after having our breakfast, which is a piece of banana and ran harder to reach the pier. But unfortunately, our snorkeling trip was cancelled due to heavy winds and the seas were too choppy. No problem, we didn’t let the boring time enter into this fantastic moments. Even after missing that activity, we had a great time at the beach.

Three days was great, but let me tell you that eating at this town is very pricey. So instead of wasting so much of money in food we ordered some good and delicious food from nearby Mega and Wal-Mart and satisfied our stomachs into the room. It was an irony for us as this Coastal area along with Cancun is also a paradise for shopping. People throng here to enjoy this shopping destination with tax-free shopping. What we experienced worst here was that despite of tax free shopping the charges was 2 to 3 times more that the Mexican handicrafts or others.

There are some stunning boutiques and shops situated at the site, where I purchased some good materials for my family and of course, for me as well. Though the price was high, I managed to spend some to make the memories alive. The price was so high that for a 5 litre bottle of water we paid double charges. So make sure to loosen your pockets when you come here. However, most of the visitors to Cancun and Playa del Carmen do not reach beyond the beach strip, it is advisable to the visitors to go and pick up some cool Mexican souvenirs.

The best way to enjoy these beaches is – find a nice and small motel in the town, and use that saved money in diving, trekking, and other activities. You will also get souvenirs on the main street at Quinta Avenida, but instead of purchasing from there, you can have the same stuff in half price from the side streets. Here you will get many attractions close to Playa del Carmen and out of that, I really liked the Maya ruins of Tulum and Coba, which offers white sand beaches, snorkeling on Cozumal Island, which I have already mentioned, and various other Cenotes. Well, we enjoyed a lot and are very much excited to go there again, just to spend one more perfect holiday. And for that we will rent a beachside casa and will also hire some bikes to ride around. Remember, do not spent money by dining at the expensive restaurants. Make out some good alternatives.