Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Kenya

1) Nairobi National Park 

Nairobi National Park


Nairobi National Park is just a 10 minutes drive from the center of Nairobi with only a fence separating the park’s wildlife from the metropolis. Nairobi’s skyscrapers can be seen from the park. Despite its proximity to the city and the relative small size of the park, Nairobi National Park boasts a large and varied wildlife population. Migrating wildebeest and zebra gather in the park during the dry season, and it is one of Kenya’s most successful rhinoceros sanctuaries.

2) Malindi
Malindi


Malindi provides a very nice introduction to the coastal tourist attractions in Kenya with its extensive coral reefs and beautiful beaches. There are surfing, snorkeling, deep-sea fishing and other water sports. The Malindi Marine National Park is protected and has fine beaches clear water and very colorful fish. Malindi is served with a domestic airport and a highway between Mombasa and Lamu.

3) Mount Kenya

Mount Kenya



Mount Kenya is the highest mountain in Kenya and the second-highest in Africa, after Kilimanjaro. The mountain offers a beautiful sight. Its series of peaks are crowned with snow, and its slopes are covered with forest. The 5199 meter (17,057 ft) high summit is a difficult technical climb, several lowers peaks however are an easy destination for any fit trekker.

4) Samburu National Reserve

Samburu National Reserve


Samburu National Reserve is a very peaceful national park in Northern Kenya. It attracts wildlife because of the Uaso Nyiro River that runs through it and the mixture of forest and grassland vegetation. All three big cats, lion, cheetah and leopard, can be found here, as well as elephants, buffalo and hippos. The Uaso Nyiro River contains large numbers of Nile crocodile.

5) Hell's Gate National Park

Hell's Gate National Park


Hell’s Gate National Park is a tiny park named after a narrow break in the cliffs, once a tributary of a prehistoric lake that fed early humans in the Rift Valley. It is unique among Kenya’s wildlife parks, as you are allowed to walk or cycle without a guide. There’s dramatic scenery, with steep cliffs, gorges and basalt columns. The national park is home to a wide variety of wildlife, though many are few in number. Examples of little seen wildlife include lions, leopards, and cheetahs.

6) Lamu Island
Lamu Island


Lamu Island is a part of Kenya’s Lamu Archipelago, and has managed to stay unspoiled and untouched by the mass tourism that has hit much of Kenya’s coastline. As the oldest living town in Kenya, Lamu Town has retained all the charm and character built up over centuries. There are no roads on Lamu Island, just alleyways and footpaths, and therefore, there are few motorized vehicles on the island. Residents move about on foot or by boat, and donkeys are used to transport goods and materials.

7) Tsavo National Park

Tsavo National Park

Tsavo is the largest national park in Kenya and one of the largest in the world. Due to its size the park was divided into Tsavo West and Tsavo East. The Tsavo West has spectacular scenery with a rolling volcanic landscape while Tsavo East has more open savannah than its western sibling. Tsavo National Park is the ideal destination in Kenya for people who seek solitude and privacy as well as the chance to explore the wilderness.

8) Lake Nakuru
Lake Nakuru


Lake Nakuru is a very shallow lake in central Kenya. The lake’s abundance of algae attracts vast quantities of lesser flamingos, sometimes more than one million at once. Often called the greatest bird spectacle on earth, the flamingos are one of Kenya’s top attractions. Sadly, in recent years the number of flamingos at Lake Nakuru has been decreasing, due to environmental degradation and pollution.

9) Amboseli National Park 

Amboseli National Park


Amboseli National Park is a relatively small park located close to the Tanzania border at the foot of Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro. The park is famous for being the best place in Africa to get close to free-ranging elephants. Other attractions of the Amboseli National Park include opportunities to meet the Maasai people and spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro.

10) Masai Mara National Reserve

#1 of Tourist Attractions In Kenya

The Masai Mara National Reserve is one of the top tourist attractions in Kenya and the country’s most popular game park. Each year the Masai Mara National Reserve is visited by thousands of tourists who come here to watch the exceptional population of game and the annual migration of zebra and wildebeest. The “Great Migration” takes place every year from July to October when millions of wildebeest and zebra migrate from the Serengeti in Tanzania.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

5 Top Tourist Attractions In Spain

1. Real Palacio



  Real Palacio (Royal Palace) of Madrid is the official residence of the king of Spain, although it is only used for state ceremonies. The Royal Palace was built between 1738-1755 and King Carlos III stay in the palace on 1764. Madrid's Royal Palace of is considered to be one of the finest palaces in Europe. It is not the official residence of the King of Spain, that is the Zarzuela Palace outside Madrid, though official banquets and other important state events do take place here.
 
Real Palacio is the largest palace in Europe by floor area. The palace has 135,000 square metres (1,450,000 sq ft) of floorspace and contains 3418 rooms. The interior of the palace is notable for its wealth of art, in regards to the use of all kinds of fine materials in its construction and the decoration of its rooms with artwork of all kinds, such as paintings by artists such as Caravaggio, Velázquez and Francisco de Goya and frescoes by Corrado Giaquinto, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo and Anton Raphael Mengs. Other collections that are preserved in the building are the Royal Armoury, Porcelain, Watches, Furniture and Silverware.

2. La Concha

 


  La Concha in San Sebastian is one of the best beaches in Europe, especially Spain. Here you can go surfing, walking along the promenade to find a good restaurant and enjoy the beautiful scenery. La Concha is surrounded by steep cliffs and islands around it. Here visitors can play surf, stroll the beach and enjoy the atmosphere of a typical forage Spain. La Concha is one of the sights in the country of Spain. If you had the opportunity to travel to Spain is not complete if you do not stop at the La Concha.

Here you’re treated to some amazing views across the bay towards the little tree-topped island of Santa Clara. With soft sand, spectacular views and clean, clear Atlantic waters. But La Concha is long enough and wide enough for you to find a peaceful spot, even in peak season. As you’d expect from a city beach, the facilities are excellent, with plenty of changing rooms and sunbeds. With such a fine combination of culture and natural beauty. La Concha is one of the nicest beaches you'll ever get in a city.

3. Aqueduct Of Segovia

 Ancient aqueducts carries water 16 km (10 miles) from the Frio River to Segovia and constructed of some 24 000 large granite blocks without using mortar. It was built around 50 AD still provide water to the city in the 20th century. Aqueduct Of Segovia become one of famous tourist attractions in Spain.

The aqueducts are located on the Iberian Peninsula and is a part of UNESCO World Heritage Site. The aqueducts are a major architectural landmark in the city. It continues to function to the present day, in good condition and well preserved.

4. Sagrada Familia




  Sagrada Familia is a large Roman Catholic church in Barcelona, and one of the most visited tourist attractions in Spain. It was designed by Antoni Gaudí, a Catalan architect who worked on this project for nearly 40 years until his death in 1926. The remarkable church is well worth a visit. You can visit the crypt were Gaudí is buried as well as the transept and central nave with its giant, tree-like pillars and spectacular vaulting. A museum narrates the history of the church and tells the story of its great architect. You can also visit the towers. An elevator and a long walk will lead you to the top of a tower from where you have a magnificent view over Barcelona.

5. Alhambra Palace

 



The palace was built in the 14th century by the Nasrid sultans. Alhambra is a palace complex, the royal relics of the golden age of Andalusia located on a hill at the edge of Granada city province of Andalusia region of southern Spain. Alhambra is also one of the top cultural highlights ever achieved by a European. Complex that was about 1300 years, ever became a settlement for forty thousand people, complete with housing, schools and gardens and their gardens. Alhambra palace is now one of the major Spain's tourist attractions and many visitors come to Granada just to see the Alhambra

Monday, January 28, 2013

10 Top Tourist Attractions in the USA

1) White House
White House

The White House in Washington DC is the official residence and office of the President of the United States. It was built between 1792 and 1800 and first used by President John Adams. After the 9/11 attacks it has become more difficult to visit the White House and today tours are available only for groups of 10 or more and must be requested up to six months in advance through your member of Congress or your country’s US Ambassador.

2) Denali National Park

Denali National Park


The Denali National Park and Preserve is located in Interior Alaska and contains Mount McKinley, the highest mountain in North America. The word “Denali” means “the high one” in the native Athabaskan language and refers to Mount McKinley. In addition, the park protects an incredible wilderness area that contains grizzly bears, caribou, moose, wolves, and numerous other creatures.

3) Las Vegas Strip

Las Vegas Strip

The gambling mecca of the world, Las Vegas is situated in the midst of the southern Nevada desert landscape. Casinos can be found throughout Las Vegas, but the strip, a stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard South, contains the most of them. It features giant mega-casino hotels, decorated with lavish care and attention to detail to create a fantasy-like atmosphere. The casinos often have names and themes that evoke romance, mystery, and far-away destination.

4) Florida Keys

Florida Keys

The Florida Keys are a 120 mile long chain of tropical islands curving around the base of the Florida peninsula, connected to the mainland by a series of bridges. The most spectacular bridge, the Seven Mile Bridge in the Lower Keys, has been frequently used as a location for films including True Lies and Fast 2 Furious. US Highway 1, the “Overseas Highway” runs from Key Largo, Islamadora, Marathon, Lower Keys and finally to Key West, the most distant and most famous island.

5) Kilauea
Kilauea

Kilauea is the most recent of a series of volcanoes that have created the Hawaiian Archipelago. It is a very low, flat shield volcano, vastly different in profile from the high, sharply sloping peaks of stratovolcanoes. Kilauea is one of the most active volcano on the Earth, an invaluable resource for volcanologists. Thirty-three eruptions have taken place since 1952, not including the current eruption which started on January 3, 1983 and is still ongoing.

6) Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls

Situated between the state of New York and the province of Ontario, Niagara Falls is one of the most spectacular natural wonders on the North American continent. Niagara Falls is actually three different falls, the American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and Horseshoe Falls. Horseshoe Falls is located on the Canadian side while the other are located in New York. With more than 14 million visitors each year it is one of the most visited tourist attraction in the world.

7) Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the strait between San Francisco and Marin County to the north. The Golden Gate Bridge was the longest suspension bridge span in the world when it was completed in 1937, and has become an internationally recognized symbol of San Francisco and California. The famous red-orange color of the bridge was specifically chosen to make the bridge more easily visible through the thick fog that frequently shrouds the bridge.

8) Yellowstone

Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park was the world’s first national park, set aside in 1872 to preserve the vast number of geysers, hot springs, and other thermal areas, as well as to protect the incredible wildlife and rugged beauty of the area.Yellowstone lies on top of a gigantic hotspot where light, hot, molten mantle rock rises towards the surface. Subsequently, the park contains half of all the world’s known geothermal features, with more than 10,000 examples of geysers and hot springs. In addition, black bears, grizzly bears, deer, elk, bison and wolves can all be found within the park borders.

9) Manhattan

Manhattan

Manhattan is one of New York’s five boroughs and is what people most often think of when they picture New York. It’s familiar skyline and sights have been featured a thousand times on screen. Walk in the shadow of the skyscrapers, picture the Statue of Liberty, see a Broadway show , climb the Empire State building, stroll Central Park, window shop on 5th Avenue or stagger around a museum.

10) Grand Canyon

#1 of Tourist Attractions In The Usa


The Grand Canyon is located in northern Arizona and is one of the great tourist attractions in the United States. Carved over several million years by the Colorado River, the canyon attains a depth of over 1.6 km (1 mile) and 446 km (277 miles) long. The Grand Canyon is not the deepest or the longest canyon in the world but the overwhelming size and its intricate and colorful landscape offers visitor spectacular vistas that are unmatched throughout the world.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

10 Top Tourist Attractions in Italy

Canals of Venice


Referred to as “The City of Water”, Venice is the crown jewel of water cities. Romantic gondolas, and Italian architecture along the Grand Canal helped earn this status. Stitched together with over 150 canals that have become central to its character, Venice has decayed since its heyday and has more tourists than residents, but with its romantic charm it remains one of the top tourist attractions in Italy.

Colosseum


The Colosseum in Rome is the largest and most famous amphitheater in the Roman world. Its construction was started by emperor Vespasian of the Flavian dynasty in 72 AD and was finished by his son Titus in 80 AD. The Colosseum was capable of holding some 50,000 spectators who could enter the building through no less than 80 entrances. Spectators were protected from the rain and heat of the sun by sails called the “velarium”, that was attached around the top of the attic.

Santa Maria del Fiore


Begun in 1296 in the Gothic style and completed in 1436, The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore is Florence’s beautiful cathedral and symbol of the city. The exterior of the basilica is faced with polychrome marble panels in various shades of green and pink bordered by white. The basilica is one of Italy’s largest churches, and until the modern era, the dome was the largest in the world. It remains the largest brick dome ever constructed.

Piazza del Campo


One of Europe’s greatest medieval squares, the Piazza del Campo is the principal public space of the historic center of Siena, Tuscany. It is renowned worldwide for its beauty and architectural integrity. The Palazzo Pubblico and its famous tower, as well as various palazzi signorili belonging to the wealthiest of Siena families surround the shell-shaped piazza. The twice-per-year horse-race, Palio di Siena, involves circling the Piazza del Campo, on which a thick layer of dirt has been laid, three times and usually lasts no more than 90 seconds.

Pompeii


On August 24, 79 AD, the volcano Vesuvius erupted, covering the nearby town Pompeii with ash and soil, and subsequently preserving the city in its state from that fateful day. Everything from jars and tables to paintings and people were frozen in time. Its excavation has provided an extraordinarily detailed insight into the life of people living two thousand years ago. Today Pompeii is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Italy, with approximately 2,500,000 visitors every year.

Positano (Amalfi Coast)


Positano is a small town located on the Amalfi Coast, a stretch of coastline renowned for its rugged terrain, scenic beauty, picturesque towns and diversity. The city seems to be scattered from top to bottom down a hillside leading to the coast. Though Positano grew and prospered in medieval times, by the mid 19th more than half of the population was gone. In the 20th century it went from being a poor fishing village to a very popular tourist attraction with the help of author John Steinbeck who wrote about its beauty.

Lake Como (Italian Lake District)


Lake Como is part of the Italian Lake District an area popular with visitors for well over 100 years for its combination of fresh air, water, mountains and good weather. The lake is shaped much like an inverted ‘Y’, with two branches starting at Como in the south-west and Lecco in the south-east, which join together half way up and the lake continues up to Colico in the north. The lake is famous for the attractive villas which have been built here since Roman times. Many have admirable gardens which benefit from the mild climate and are able to include tropical as well as temperate plants.

Leaning Tower of Pisa


The world famous Pisa Tower was built over a period of about 177 years. Soon after the construction started in 1173 the tower began to sink due to a poorly laid foundation and was left alone for almost a century. When the construction resumed the engineers built higher floors with one side taller than the other to compensate for the tilt and the tower was finally finished in the 2nd half of the 14th century. Since 2001, the famous tower in Pisa is again open to those wishing to climb it’s 296 steps.

Manarola (Cinque Terre)


Mestled in the Italian Riviera, Manarola is one of the oldest towns in Cinque Terre. The “Five Lands” comprises of five villages noted for their beauty. Part of Cinque Terre charm is the lack of visible modern development. Paths, trains and boats connect the villages, and cars cannot reach it from the outside. The towns sprout out of the mountainside to provide a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean sea.

Towers of San Gimignano


Nicknamed the medieval Manhatten, San Gimignano is a village in Tuscany famous for its 14 stone towers. At the height of San Gimignano’s wealth and power, more than 70 towers were built to defend the town against enemy attacks. After the plague devastated the city in 1348, San Gimignano’s power faded, which kept enemies away and preserved many of the city’s medieval towers.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Top Tourist Attractions in China

Great Wall of China


The Great Wall of China built, rebuilt, and maintained between the 5th century BC and the 16th century to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire from the attacks of nomadic tribes from the north. The majority of the existing wall were built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD). The condition of the Great Wall of China ranges from excellent to ruined.

Potala Palace


Situated 130 meters above the Lhasa valley, the Potala Palace rises a further 170 meters and is the greatest monumental structure in all of Tibet. The construction of the present palace began in 1645 during the reign of the 5th Dalai Lama and by 1648 the Potrang Karpo, or White Palace, was completed. The Potrang Marpo, or Red Palace, was added between 1690 and 1694. The Potala Palace remained the residence of the Dalai Lama until the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India, after the Chinese invasion in 1959.

Forbidden City

Located in the center of Beijing, the Forbidden City is the world’s largest palace covering 72 hectares. Built from 1406 to 1420, the palace complex consists of 980 surviving buildings with 8,707 rooms surrounded by a six meter (20 ft) deep moat and a ten meter (33 ft) high wall. Twenty-four emperors reigned over the country for almost 5 centuries from the Forbidden City until the abdication of Puyi, the last Emperor of China. Today the Forbidden City is a museum and one of the most popular tourist attractions in China.

Victoria Harbour


Victoria Harbour is a major tourist attraction in Hong Kong and one of the deepest container ports in the world. The bay offers stunning views of the skyscrapers of Hong Kong island on one side, and the Tsim Sha Tsui shoreline on the other. Victoria Harbour is also one of the busiest harbors in the world with hundreds of ferries, junks and speed boats darting up and down the shore. One of the best ways to see the harbor is a trip on the Star Ferry.

Terracotta Army


The Terracotta Army is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang (221 BC-206 BC), the first Emperor of China. It is the most popular tourist attraction in Xián and one of the most popular in all of China. It is estimated that in the three pits containing the Terracotta Army there were over 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses, the majority of which are still buried in the pits.

Li River Cruise


A Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo is the highlight of any trip to northeastern Guangxi Province. The landscape is decorated with amazing hills, steep cliffs, incredible caves and farming villages, and is lined with bamboo groves. With its breathtaking scenery and taste of a life far removed from the concrete metropolis, the scenery along the Li River is one of the top tourist attractions in China.

Mount Huang


One of China’s major tourist destinations, Mount Huang is a mountain range in eastern China also known as Huangshan (“Yellow Mountain”). The area is well known for its scenery, pine trees, peculiarly-shaped granite peaks and views of the clouds from above. In ancient times almost 60,000 stone steps were carved into the side of the mountain range. Today there are also cable cars that tourists can use to ride directly from the base to one of the summits.

Leshan Giant Buddha


The Giant Buddha of Leshan is a gigantic Buddha statue carved out of a cliff face in Sichuan, western China. Begun in the year 713 during the Tang Dynasty, the statue was not completed until the year 803, and was the effort of thousands of sculptors and workers. The Leshan Giant Buddha stands about 71 meters (233 feet) high and has three meter (11 feet) long fingers on each of its enormous resting hands.

Mogao Caves


The Mogao Caves form a system of 492 temples 25 km (15.5 miles) southeast of the center of Dunhuang, an oasis strategically located at a crossroads on the Silk Road. The caves contain some of the finest examples of Buddhist art spanning a period of about a 1,000 years. Construction of the Buddhist cave shrines began in 366 AD as places to store scriptures and art. Along with the Longmen Grottoes and Yungang Grottoes, the Mogao Caves are one of the three most famous ancient rock-cut temples in China.

Pudong Skyline


Pudong is a district in Shanghai on the eastern side of the Huangpu River that has emerged as China’s financial and commercial hub. A skyline of gleaming skyscrapers rises out of what was mere farmland only 20 years ago. Skyscrapers includes the symbolic Oriental Pearl Tower, the Shanghai World Financial Center, the Jin Mao Building and the Shanghai Tower that should be finished in 2014

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Top Tourist Attractions In Hawaii

Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve


After years of restoration efforts, Hanauma Bay has been a spectacular natural resources in Hawaii. Here you can Leveraging opportunities for snorkeling and swimming in this paradise. By visiting Hanauma Bay nature reserve you will get an education and learn about conservation programs and other activities you can do in the area. You can talk to volunteers at the beach kiosk to learn more. Enjoy the natural beauty of Hanauma Bay Nature Reserve.

Diamond Head State Monument


Diamond Head State Monument is very popular tourist attractions in southeast of Hawaii. There you can find a diamond in the slopes of the crater in the 1700s, but before you start digging, you should know that the diamond is called calcite crystals that are only valuable to the mine. There you can also go hiking through the old military bunkers and you can also go on a hike to the summit, about 1.4 miles. Up there will get a view of Honolulu area and do not forget to bring a flashlight as a pathway through the long, dark tunnel.

Waimea Arboretum and Botanical Gardens


In this tourist attractions area you can swim in crystal clear pool at Waihi as he lit the blazing sun. But not only that you can do several things such as get acquainted with 36 main botanical collection. By visiting the Waimea Valley Audubon Center located in beautiful Waimea Valley along with family and friends will surely have a great experience.

Panaewa Rainforest Zoo


There will get a chance to find a variety of rainforest animals and endangered species - spider monkeys, lemurs, Nene geese, just to name a few. Go visit the zoo and gift shop for one-of-a-kind souvenir. Panaewa Rainforest Zoo is also considered a botanical garden. It is open daily and free admision.

USS Arizona Memorial, Oahu




Visiting the Remains of the USS Arizona Will Encourage you to contemplate the sense of sacrifice our military personnel endured attack.The During the Pearl Harbor USS Arizona Memorial is the mid-section of the sunken Battleship and offers visitors the opportunity to learn more about that Fateful day. The guided tour of the USS Arizona Memorial includes a 23-minute documentary film, a short boat trip and a self-guided exploration of the Memorial.

Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, Big Island



Located on the Big Island, the Pu `uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park is a 182-acre park full of Archeological sites and reconstructions of an ancient Hawaiian" Place of Refuge ". This sacred site was once home to Hawaiian royalty and a place of refuge for Those WHO broke a kapu (ancient Hawaiian law) or Defeated military. You can do at there: the self-guided tour, photographing the many green sea turtles Sunbathing on the beach, and playing a game of kônane. Must-do is this: self tour, photographing many green sea turtles bask on the beach, and playing games kônane.

Waimea Canyon, Kauai - "Grand Canyon of the Pacific"



Waimea Canyon is amazing, "Grand Canyon of the Pacific" The canyon is one mile wide, 10 miles long, and over 3.600 feet in depth.The deep canyon gashes in the landscape look like the Claw marks of some Immense Prehistoric creature. The play of light and shadow throughout the day on the colorful striated layers of rock is extraordinary. A fun pastime is to stand at one of the Waimea Canyon overlooks and watch the reaction of the visitor after visitor, as Their jaws drop, and They Become first speechless and then Breathless as They witness this spectacle of nature for the first time, Realizing That words fail Them and that there must be a God.