Archive for November, 2008

About Dallas

Saturday, November 15th, 2008

The founder of Dallas, John Neely Bryan, had no idea the little trading fort he founded would become that Dallas is today. The year was 1839. He found a location where the Trinity was easiest to cross and that would be of use to the approaching Preston Trail. This Trail would become the route linking North Texas to South Texas.

He had to return home after surveying for the fort. Bryan had anticipated on providing supplies and goods to both settlers and Native Americans. While he was away making arrangements to permanently move to his selected area, a Treaty was signed. This removed all Native Americans from the region. Bryan returned and, to his dismay, found the majority of his potential customers were gone.

He decided that he should do something else. He began planning a town. He invited residents of other isolated communities to settle in his area. With the ideal location, residents began coming from all directions. Those who moved were eager to share the news of the settlement. Soon, Dallas was born, and became a thriving town.

Bryan was able to serve a number of positions in the beginning. He was a postmaster, store owner, and his home became the courthouse. The Gold Rush brought many to California and most of those passed through Dallas on their way. Even Bryan attempted his hand at mining, but returned to Texas unsuccessful.

Today, Dallas is a cornucopia of cultures and activities. From live entertainment and performances to painting, photography, and sculpture, you are sure to find a fascinating itinerary. Visitors can enjoy fantastic cuisine on the Restaurant Row. You can enjoy a family day at the Dallas Zoo. You can take a step back in time at the Dallas Heritage Village at Old City Park.

Dallas will provide you with an exceptional city full of history, culture, and attention to the finer things. Grab your tickets for a quirky theater show. You can enjoy shopping for all budgets at the Dallas Galleria. You can also enjoy any of the day trips many take from the city through the countryside.

Travel tips include making your reservations as far ahead as possible to ensure your trip is precisely what you want. Look around to see if you can find better deals on travel and lodging. Also, try to visit the information center for maps and guides when you arrive.

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About Houston

Sunday, November 9th, 2008

Houston is an ideal city for any tourist. This fourth largest city in the United States has an exciting and colorful history as well as contemporary gems to entertain and educate. Houston was started around 1836 by the Allan brothers. The family purchased 6,000 acres to start a new city.

Travelers are often surprised to see that the city offers over 11,000 restaurants and eateries. The theatre district of the Houston is so large in size it’s second only to that of New York City. The city offers over 500 performing, visual, and cultural arts organizations with 90 catering to the needs of multicultural arts and minority arts. The city features the renown Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion.

An astounding total of around 90 languages are spoken throughout the city. Too add to the benefits the city features the second lowest cost of living in major U.S. cities. It has been called the “energy capital” of the world.

The primary theme parks available in Houston are the Space Center and Moody Gardens. Visitors will also enjoy the Galveston Island State Park and the Houston Zoo will delight kids of all ages. The Bobbindoctrin is a unique puppet theatre for adults. This is a tool of the community where local playwrights, performers, and related artists have a platform for showing their work.

The 1940 Air Terminal Museum is a unique attraction that highlights the city’s extensive aviation history. The Terminal Museum features unique historic architecture that is rare today. This features a number of activities. The Aviation Heritage Gallery features artwork and paintings that celebrate aviation’s history. The Children’s Dream of Flight Gallery features historic toys, collectibles, and other rare items celebrating flight.

The Battleship Texas is a unique attraction and is one of the final battleships to participate in both World Wars. It became America’s first battleship museum in 1948. This unusual location is one of only a few worldwide to hold both a National Historic Landmark title as well as a National Mechanical Engineering Landmark title.

The Grand 1894 Opera House is one of the first commercial buildings to undergo a major restoration. The House is currently restored to its original glory. It withstood hurricanes and neglect since it’s opening and remains a steadfast attraction. Live entertainment is featured throughout the year. The Grand has since became the holder of the title, “The Official Opera House of Texas.”

These are just a few of the attractions and activities available for visitors in this widely varied city. The diverse offerings will provide unique and comfortable accommodations to guests from around the world.

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London Attractions

Wednesday, November 5th, 2008

There is a wealth of attractions and activities to do during your stay in London. One of the most popular destinations is the Madame Tussauds Museum. Tussauds is known for over 400 life-sized models. Visitors can look at amazing replicas of their favorite celebrities, political figures, and even notorious criminals.

The Houses of Parliament are known more for their history than for “attraction” qualities. This amazing structure was built a millennia ago and remains in use today. The structure was built by Edward the Confessor and was used as the primary resident for the monarchy for four centuries thereafter.

The Tower of London has been in existence since the 11th Century. Today it is most known for the legendary “Beefeaters” and its colorful history. The tower is also home to a number of ravens and it has been stated if the ravens left the tower, the nation of England will fall.

Shakespeare’s Globe is a modern theater with a unique construction. This is a replica of Shakespeare’s Globe theatre and was built just around 650 feet from the site of his original theatre. Any visitor can easily imagine how it must’ve been to watch Romeo and Juliet or Macbeth dramatized for the first time.

Harrods is a lavish and opulent shopping center rising seven stories up. This building is known as the shopping destination of Britain’s elite. The complex features 22 restaurants, designer shops, and premium services for shoppers.

The London Dungeon is one of the most notorious attractions in the city. This part-museum and part-haunted house destination is not for the faint-of-heart in any way. This living museum recreates some of history’s worst moments. From Jack-the-Ripper to the Great London Fire, spectators will be shocked and amazed at the realistic recreations.

St. Paul’s Cathedral is a landmark that dates back to the 17th Century. Sir Christopher Wren constructed the cathedral over the old facility which burned to the ground during the Great London Fire. It is the current structure occupying the same plot of land where cathedrals dedicated to St. Paul have stood for over 1,400 years. When one is destroyed, another has been constructed in its place. St. Paul’s currently has over 200 tombs and has the largest crypt in Europe.

The Tate Modern is a one-of-a-kind museum for contemporary art. The facility is inside the old Bankside Power Station. The Tate Modern is Britain’s National Museum of Modern Art. The facility proudly displays works of the most renown painters from Picasso to Dali and Warhol.

There are many attractions to accommodate a variety of interests in London.

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Famous London Hotels

Sunday, November 2nd, 2008

Despite London’s long and colorful history, hotels are a relatively new industry. Aside from boarding houses and rental homes, London did not have formal “hotels” until the 19th Century. Before this period hotels were not needed. Those wealthy enough to travel and stay abroad rented houses or stayed with acquaintances.

The number of business travelers at the time were few and most simply stayed at lodging houses or stagecoach inns. Lodging houses were most often private homes turned into guest lodgings to accommodate visitors. These were usually ran by widows or widowers who once had large families. Stagecoach inns were equally small and were only designed to house visitors staying a night between coaches.

The Langham Hotel was built during the 1860s and was London’s first magnificent hotel. When it opened it contained an unheard-of 100 water closets. It also held 36 bathrooms and featured the first hydraulic elevators, or “lifts” in the city. The Langham was host to many famous guests including Oscar Wilde and Arthur Conan Doyle. The hotel was such a success that electric lighting was installed in 1879, incredibly early for its time.

Success did not continue. The Langham was nearly bankrupt by the time of the Great Depression. The owners attempted to sell their building to the BBC, but the company constructed on the opposing roadside. During World War II the structure was used by the army. It was heavily damaged by bombing. It wasn’t until 1962 that the BBC finally purchased the building.

The Langham was restored to its former glory during the 1980s. The well-known Hilton chain purchased the building which became the Langham Hilton. A staggering $100 million dollars went into the refurbishing of the building. The hotel today is still welcoming guests. It has a five-star rating and is now a part of the Langham Hotels International group.

The Savoy Hotel remains in a class of its own. Like the Langham, the Savoy opened in the 19th Century. Today it is a five-star facility that is known for luxury facilities and opulence. The hotel closed in 2007 for a major renovation and will reopen in 2009.

Other equally marvelous hotels operating in London include: Hilton London Paddington, Great Eastern Hotel, Charing Cross Hotel and the Grosvenor Hotel.

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