In downtown Juneau, tourists can see a wall sculpture of Chief Kowee, head of the Auk Tlingits tribe. In the 1800s, he guided prospectors Joe Juneau and Rihard Harris to a reservoir of gold along Alaska’s southeast Gastineau Channel. Asking only for Hudson Bay blankets and small compensation, Chief Kowee was a great ally to the Europeans and later served in the Alaskan native police force.

Over the coming years, the town of Juneau sprung up and thousands of gold prospectors flooded the Yukon to find their fortune. If you go on an Alaskan vacation and take a White Pass train ride, then you can still see the remnants of historic mines and evidence of optimism and the quest for the American dream.

A good starting point to learn more about Alaska’s indigenous people is to visit The Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage Alaska. This world renowned cultural center and museum contains information, educational materials, video presentations, artwork and displays documenting the following Alaskan native peoples: the Athabascan, the Aleut & Alutiiq, the Yup’ik & Cup’ik, the Inupiaq & St. Lawrence Island Yupik, the Eyak, the Tlingit, the Haida and the Tsimshian.

Here you can view beaded artwork from the Athabascan people, learn about the spirituality of the Yup’ik and Cup’ik, who believed in good shamans for healing and bad shamans who placed curses on people, or gaze upon the festive Chilkat & raven’s tail robe regalia worn at the Eyak potlach festivals.

Fairbanks Alaska is a good launching place for learning more about the Alaskan native peoples. The annual Native Arts Festival in February brings together artwork, crafts, dance and folklore. In Nome, 54% of the population is comprised of native Eskimos and the main industries are mining and tourism. Y

ou can take a polar bear swim, watch a dog sled race, watch crab fishermen at work, pan for gold or buy native Alaskan art. Barrow boasts the world’s largest Inupiat Eskimo settlement, where you’ll see how fishing and hunting are still a way of life, but have been combined with modern conveniences, like snowmobiles and tools. The Heritage Center has been called “a must-see for every visitor.”

If you visit Barrow in the late winter, then be sure to look for the awe-inspiring Northern Lights! These are just a few of the native villages, of course. If you are taking an Alaskan cruise or planning a bundled trip, then your travel agent should be able to point you in the right direction.

When visiting Alaska, there are many ways to experience the Alaskan native culture. You can embark upon a seven-night, all-inclusive Holland Cruise, which includes native tour guides, narration and presentations about Inuit life, as well as port stops in native villages.

Or you can choose a day trip to a place like the Saxman native village, the Fairbanks Native Arts Festival or stop at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. Native artwork makes a great memento of your once-in-a-lifetime experience in America’s 49th state.

Learn more about the alaskan native at Mike Selvon portal. While you are there leave is a comment at our alaska travel blog, and receive your FREE gift.

In the region around the Barbados, two specific style holiday are available, both as expensive. Stay on the west side of the island and pay handsomely for your spoiled or thrown by plane to neighboring Grenadines, to pay a fortune to feel simple, natural, ecological and low …

When I visited Barbados for the first time, fifteen years ago or so, expect to see land next to zacharofyteies polo and people to drink tea, knowing that the island had command over English 341 years (it won independence in 1966). The true picture, however, was more grounded: On beaches, selling souvenirs and Itinerant involved kotsidakia hair, tourists on a catamaran drink rum and went tonnes calypso, the local Harpoons flirt blonde tourists. Those in the south, in St Laurence Gap or simply the Gap, the hip spot on the island that everyone should visit at least once in their lives. The nearby hotels are the appropriate basis for those who prefer to be near the nightlife.

The Casuarina, the Allamanda, the Bougainvilla and Accra Beach, other than amazing beaches and have a distinctive local color, which is not the opulence and expensive on the west coast. In the main strip of Gap, reggae music sounds almost every door and a crowd of young drink «daisies» happy hour in the Cafe Sol, while others leave the bars dressed in shorts and T-shirts, drinking Mount Gay rum from the bottle. Every Thursday we all gathered at the Ship Inn, why playing live is known reggae band For the People, while on Fridays the place is the Boatyard, a colorful bar in Bridgetown, the capital.

Where to stay: What if you do not have a holiday in the Caribbean? No problem. House hotel in a very graphic Tamarind Cove lets you you are the owner of the house - without the housing! The boutique hotel ntizainato and raises the bar on services offered by assigning to each visitor a «ambassador», to satisfy all his whims. For dinner, the hotel has the honor of belonging to the famous Daphne’s (yes, the famous London), the most distinctive and sexy restaurant on the island, with low lights, tick Indonesian furniture and curtains to metaxotes anemizoun

For more information on caribbean holidays and family caribbean holidays.

Dracula, smugglers, golden beaches and kippers: where else but Whitby? Much more than just a quintessentially-English fishing port, Whitby’s remote location on the far side of the North Yorkshire Moors has enabled it to preserve much of its unique identity and heritage into the 21st century.

While tourism may long since have replaced the sea as the town’s main source of income, Whitby’s inhabitants have lost none of the independence and pride that are central to their character and to Whitby’s enduring appeal.

Situated on a geological fault, where the River Esk bisects the otherwise uninterrupted cliffs of the North Yorkshire coastline, Whitby’s origins can be traced back at least 1350 years to the founding of Saint Hilda’s Abbey in 657AD. The abbey was setup by Hilda at the behest of King Oswy of Northumbria, who upon winning the Battle of Winwaed had vowed that he would found a number of monasteries throughout his kingdom. As part of this vow, he gave his daughter, Aelfleda, to the monastic life.

The success of the original abbey was to be short-lived, as in 867 the abbey was sacked by the Danes, who were taking control of large parts of the region. Whitby survived this disruption, however, and in 1078 the abbey was rebuilt by the Normans to survive until 1539, when Henry VIII’s policies forced St Hilda’s Abbey to close for the final time.

In the centuries since its religious importance declined, Whitby has progressed from a small fishing port to a trading port of some regional importance, and finally to a major UK tourist destination.

Today, much of 18th and 19th century Whitby has been preserved and restored, and the town has a plethora of old and new attractions which draw visitors back, year after year.

Some of England’s finest sandy beaches vie with Victorian gothic buildings, the legend of Count Dracula, major traditional music festivals, the religious heritage of the abbey and the spectacular beauty of the Yorkshire Moors to define Whitby’s appeal. In truth, the town that was once Captain Cook’s home has many assets, and it is the combination of these that give Whitby its unique and intriguing character.

Alan Moore invites you to join his free email newsletter The Whitby Bite:
http://www.dracula-in-whitby.com/whitby-bite.html where you can learn more about the real Dracula and his connection to Whitby, Yorkshire’s unique vampire town.

The rolling green hills and valleys of the Central Highlands form the backdrop for the thriving inland city of Ballarat in Victoria. The unique architecture hints at the established culture of creativity and arts in Ballarat, and further exploration of the city’s galleries and exhibition centres will reveal the true depth of this culture. Combined with the distinct four seasons of the local climate this gives Ballarat a very European feel that visitors find unique to Australia and thus very refreshing. Add to this all the attractions of the Victorian Goldfields, which are just a stones throw away, and you have a rewarding and diverse holiday destination from which tourists never leave disappointed!

The centrepiece of the cultural side of the city is the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, which at over 120 years old is the oldest and largest regional gallery in the country. It has an immense collection of works dating from early colonial times right up to the present day. Perhaps the standout piece is the Eureka Flag, which has been housed here since 1895 and holds a special place in the history of the region. It was the battle flag used in the only Australian armed uprising, which took place in Ballarat in 1854, and it stands next to a number of related works. Travelling exhibitions often find their way to the gallery, which offers free guided tours and has a cafe on site. To experience local Aboriginal arts and crafts you must visit the Kirrit Barreet Aboriginal Art and Craft Centre. Established to preserve the cultural identity of the local tribes, this educational facility not only has first class indigenous art works on display, it also provides the opportunity to learn how to play the didgeridoo and throw a boomerang. Its open seven days a week and entry is free, so there are no excuses not to bring the kids down here for an educational and fun outing!

The city itself has enough beauty and character to match that inside the galleries, making a stroll through the leafy streets an intriguing experience. The Botanical Gardens have a remarkable collection of mature trees set amongst the wide grassy spaces. Be sure to give the Prisoner of War Memorial and the Prime Ministers Walk a look if you are over there. Sturt Street is the main thoroughfare through the city, and is famous for its monuments, statues and fountains. The oldest statue was built in 1893 and is of Peter Lalor, who was influential in the armed uprising of 1854. The most recent is a granite war memorial built in 2000.When you have finished browsing amongst the statues then head into the boutique and designer shops that border the tree lined boulevard, or enjoy a meal in one of the al fresco restaurants or cafes. Ballarat has a reputation as a stronghold of fine dining, and you can make the most of this at any point of the day or night. The bars and restaurants come alive in the evenings with a vibrant atmosphere that is the perfect way to end a day of sight seeing.

For a comfortable place to stay that is central to Ballarat and offers a wide range of accommodation options you cannot go past the Bell Tower Inn. Its four star facilities are spread over eight hectares of prime land, and its framed by the beautiful Avenue of Honour. The friendly and helpful staff add to the appeal of this special lodge, so why don’t you check it out at www.belltower.com.au and fit it into your travel plans. Its the perfect place to explore Ballarat and its surroundings from. Another accommodation option is the Comfort Inn Main Lead, a quality boutique style, 3 and a half star hotel that has luxurious suites. Located just 500 metres from Sovereign Hill, and a short walk from central Ballarat, its ease of accessibility is complemented by its amazing facilities that include a spa, a swimming pool, a conference room and a restaurant.

The Goldfields are easily accessible from here, and their wealth of attractions make for interesting and intriguing tours in your hire car. The legacy of the gold rush of over 150 years ago is clearly present throughout the region, and there are a number of places you can visit to immerse yourself in this history. The Gum San Museum in Ararat pays tribute to the Chinese miners who came across from China and were so influential in the discovery and mining of gold. The Central Deborah Gold Mine in Bendigo offers a unique opportunity of exploring a real gold mine on one of the underground tours. The greatest tribute to the goldrush lies in Ballarat itself in the form of the living museum known as Sovereign Hill. The main feature here is a faithfully reconstructed street depictive of a similar street in the goldrush era. Costumed volunteers wander amongst the old style buildings, and there is even real gold in the creek that runs through the museum. A daytrip here is a unique learning experience that provides powerful insights into the history of the region.

Ballarat really does have everything to make your holiday complete, catering to all age groups and all interests. If you can’t fill your vacation within the city confines, then the diverse surroundings are there for your exploration. With The Bell Tower Inn or the Comfort Inn Main Lead as your comfortable and luxurious base, your time here is bound to be an exciting, relaxing and fun experience.

Gavin Wyatt is a journalist with a passion for travel. originally from Zambia he has traveled around the world to end up on the sunny shores of Australia. For more of his articles visit Car Hire Victoria

The weather changes; that’s a given, but your body needs time to adjust. I’ve spent most of my life in Los Angeles, but when I moved to Bangkok, where I currently live, it took a couple of years to adjust to the heat.

Southern California is warm, but in Thailand, there are just three seasons; Hot, Hotter, and Damn, it’s HOT!

Understand that I just didn’t up and move on a whim. After twenty-three trips to the Land of Smiles, I decided to make Bangkok, Thailand my home. The weather is great, once you get use to it and I like the beat of the city and the nightlife. Despite what the media reports, it’s a great city with over one hundred Starbucks, more than four thousand 7-11s, and dozens of McDonald’s to make you feel like you’re in a familiar setting.

Here are just seven travel tips that can make the difference between a good trip and a wonderful journey into a new land.

1. For at least the first night or two, have a reservation at a hotel so that you have a destination, an address for the immigration documentation that they will hand you on the plane to fill out, and peace of mind of knowing you’ll have a frame of reference. Once you’re settled in, get going on finding a more reasonably priced, better located, and “cooler” place to stay.

2. Always carry a few business cards from the hotel that you are staying. This will make it easy to get back to the hotel, once you get lost a few times, and if you purchase items in some of the shops, you can give them a business card with the hotel name and number, along with your name to have the item(s) delivered.

3. Travel light, especially in the clothing department. One of the coolest parts of traveling is hanging in a coffee shop and looking at how the locals dress. This is also a great way to strike up conversations with people; by asking them where the best places to shop are located and where the deals are. In most of my early trips to Thailand, I wore jeans and a shirt, with a suit for business in tow and purchased locally made cargo pants and shirts for my evenings and exploring time. At the end of the trip, I just left the clothes on the bed for the maid to find a home for.

4. Locate a pharmacy as soon as you have a moment to spare, because eating some unwashed fruit or some tainted street food can be a cause for alarm. Knowing where to get medication (upset stomach etc.) for relief makes a trip a lot more enjoyable and will encourage you to try new dishes. Be careful what you attempt to bring into a foreign country, Japan for example, is very strict. Ice can be a problem, so chilled might be a better choice.

5. Scrimp at home, not while on vacation. Save up some of that junk food money to enjoy some great meals while enhancing your cultural experiences. It’s hard to enjoy a cheap vacation. You don’t have to be fast-and-loose with your wallet, but there seems to be something that you just have to have to remember the trip. Sometimes common items at home are priced much higher in other countries because of tariffs, which are placed on items to encourage domestically made items.

6. Dark alleys are dark for a reason. They are not designed for active use. Traveling alone is a bit riskier, but I prefer it because it doesn’t tie me to anyone else’s agenda and gives me complete control over my time, spending, and eating urges. It is especially helpful if you keep a running journal of your days and nights so that you can go back to the great places on another trip and collect as many business cards as you can; it’s helpful if you lose something and are attempting to track it down (like a camera, scarf, umbrella, wallet, or “hot” phone number).

7. Before you land, keep yourself hydrated by drinking lots of water and shy away from alcohol on the flight. Have copies of your prescriptions with you, pack sunscreen, lip balm, and any other sundries that you use daily (smaller portions), and carry more than one credit card. There’s nothing more embarrassing (from experience) than to offer your credit card and have it rejected because the bank (which you called ahead of time) failed to see the note on your account that you were traveling to “dump-truck, nowhere” and in their vigilance to prevent identity theft, leaves you stranded.

Travel as much as you can, as soon as you can. Your bones and muscles don’t have the same energy in their 70s as they do in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s.

Your travel experiences will be things to share for many years and your creativity, thinking, and appreciation of life will hit new heights.

Your really should travel now, not when you retire. Make travel part of your life, not something to be put off until the time… when you have the time.

Lazz Laszlo is a former Investment Executive and Radio & Television Financial Reporter with many entrepreneurial endeavors to his credit. He invests his time, energy, and money in businesses of various types. He’s written eBooks about Creative Thinking, Trends, and Travel. Please visit Lazz’s website; http://www.eBizEinstein.com and if you are serious about better health, check out; http://www.fitnessgladiator.com

Looking for a fun spring getaway? Chicago should be on the top of your list. Located on Lake Michigan, downtown Chicago offers hip urban activities and plenty of fun destinations. Whether this is your first trip to Chicago or you’re a regular visitor to the Windy City, make sure these destinations are on your itinerary:

1. The Magnificent Mile

You’ve probably seen Michigan Avenue, also known as The Magnificent Mile (or “Mag Mile) in every movie ever filmed in Chicago, so don’t miss your chance to stroll its wide sidewalks and enjoy all of the world-class shopping and eateries along the way. If you find yourself visiting Chicago on a sunny day, head north along Michigan Avenue and turn onto Lake Shore Drive, a walking and biking path that runs along the lake.

2. Navy Pier

A fifty-acre park complex on a boardwalk extending into Lake Michigan, Navy Pier offers a wide variety of entertainment and dining options, including boat cruises fireworks every Wednesday night from Memorial Day through Labor Day. If you have the time, be sure ride the 150-foot tall Ferris Wheel and enjoy breathtaking views of the lake and city skyline-the seven-minute ride is sure to be unforgettable.

3. Millennium Park

In the winter, people in Chicago flock to Millennium Park for its famous open-air ice skating rink. Come spring, the ice is gone and everyone lounges under the Pritzker Pavilion. Located just south of the Chicago River, this park features one of Chicago’s most notable attractions, Cloud Gate-a large, reflective sculpture that is also known as “The Bean”. If you haven’t seen it, you’ll be in awe!

4. Sears Tower:

The view of Chicago’s relatively flat landscape is dramatic when seen from atop the Sears Tower. Sitting above the 100th floor, tourists can go to an observation deck and enjoy magnificent views of the city and Lake Michigan. Be prepared for a fast elevator ride-it only takes one minute to get all the way to the top.

5. Double Decker Bus Tour:

Have a little extra time on your hands? A double decker tour is a great way to spend an afternoon. Tours depart from the Michigan Avenue area and include a narrated ride throughout downtown. The double decker bus tour is a great way to learn more about the city and its history. If you are staying downtown, you’ll find yourself reciting statistics from the tour in your head as you walk around the local streets.

6. Museums

If the weather is not is working with you in Chicago, you may find salvation in visiting one of the city’s many museums. Many of Chicago’s museums are located next to each other, many are in walking distance. Chicago offers an art museum (The Art Institute of Chicago), a science museum (The Museum of Science and Industry, The Field Museum), and a children’s museum among many others.

Downtown Hotels

Chicago has several national hotels and boutique hotels in the downtown area. There are a wide variety of Michigan Avenue hotel options that cater to the shopping district of Michigan Avenue and business conference events at nearby McCormick Place. Those traveling for business or pleasure will find a variety of downtown Chicago luxury hotel settings. If you’re looking for something a little less traditional you may want to look to a boutique hotel in downtown Chicago. Finally, while staying in downtown Chicago, check out the social scene along North State Street and Rush Street-a hotbed of nightclubs, bars and trendy restaurants!

Norma Berry is professional with an interest in the downtown Chicago hotel industry, luxury downtown Chicago hotel and Magnificent Mile hotel industry.

Greece, which is also known as the Hellenic Republic, is located in southeast Europe. The country has a mixed heritage from the empires of the ancient Greeks, Romans, Ottomans, and Byzantines. Greece is famous for its role in introducing to the world the concept of democracy, philosophy, the Olympic Games, and drama.

Be sure to try the local Mediterranean cuisine including the internationally famous Greek salad, moussaka, stifado, Greek Salad, spanakopita, Souvlaki, and mezze (a small meal) that comes with assorted accompaniments like tzatziki, grilled octopus and small fish, feta cheese, dolmades, pulses, olives, and cheese. The local brew of ouzo, metaxa, and the retsina wine are favorites among the Greeks.

History lovers will want to spend some time walking through Athens for a glimpse of the Parthenon. The acropolis is one of the most recognizable icons of Greece and is a good representation of Classical Greek culture. Other Athenian attractions include the Agora, National Archaeological Museum, Syntagma Square, the Plaka, Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon, Athens Olympic Stadium, Lycabettus Hill, the Byzantine Museum, the National Garden, and the Triumphal Arch of Galerius at Thessaloniki, Vergina.

Phaistos and Knossos are two of the best places to visit on the island of Crete. Noted as one of the largest islands in the Mediterranean sea, it has only recently been reunited with Greece in the last century after years of Ottoman rule. Crete has much to offer by virtue of its beautiful beaches, delicious food, and warm locals.

Greece is home to many castles, but the one in Rhodes is definitely not to be missed. Registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the old town is said to be the oldest medieval town in Europe, which has been continuously inhabited. The surroundings are a mixture of ruins from ancient Greek, Byzantine monuments, medieval architecture, and Ottoman bazaars. The modern city surrounding the old city walls is contained by a long, wide beach.

The Meteora is another must-see for all visitors to Greece. It is a complex of six monasteries built atop natural sandstone rock pillars: Great Meteoron (or Transfiguration), Varlaam, St. Stephen, Holy Trinity, St. Nicholas Anapausas and Rousanou. These six remain from the original twenty that once stood on these pillars. It is extremely difficult to access these monasteries, requiring long ladders to be lashed together or large nets that can be used to haul goods and people.

Naxos Island in the Cyclades is also worth a visit for a glimpse of one of Europe’s oldest churches. The Panagia Drossiani is currently still in use and has frescos dating back to the 6th century.

Orson Johnson writes for Holiday Velvet, a website providing Greece holiday rentals and Vacation apartments worldwide.