Sunday, September 13, 2009

Tourist attractions in Brussels Belgium

Brussels, the capital of Belgium, is one of the most international cities in Europe. With a bilingual heritage, mixed between French and Flemish, the city attracts visitors from a huge variety of countries and cultures. With so many things to experience and explore, this is a great destination for a few days, and with such a central location, Brussels can be the perfect place to launch any number of further trips throughout Europe. So check these sites out the next time you head to Brussels!

Town Square Located right in the historic center of Brussels, the Town Square is a beautiful collection of houses as well as the Gothic Town Hall, one of the most beautiful and ornate buildings in the city. Take some time looking at the many spires and carvings on the face of the building, while enjoying the sight of the many visitors and shops. The Town Square is filled with cafes and restaurants, perfect for enjoying a cup of coffee or a traditional Belgian pastry. There are also a range of museums and tourist attractions nearby, as well as stores full of postcards and t-shirts for additional souvenirs. Every two years, the Town Square hosts the flower festival, where residents carpet the surface of the square with thousands of flower petals and buds.

Royal Park This gigantic park is located where the ancient Brabant Castle used to stand, before it was burnt down in 1731. Now restored as a beautiful city park, it is the perfect location for a stroll through the tree-lined avenues and many fountains. The park features many classical statues throughout the grounds, as well as the famous Waux-Hall, the restaurant and cafe which has hosted royalty and heads of state from around the world.


Atomium
One of the most instantly recognizable structures in the city, the Atomium is shaped like a huge iron crystal, with nine atoms. The structure stands over 100 meters high and was built in the aftermath of WWII, for the first world's exhibition held after the war. The building houses various exhibitions as well as an observation deck and restaurant on the upper sphere. Next to the Atomium is the Exhibition Park, which is still the location of many trade shows and activity fairs.

Mannekin Pis The famous peeing statue of Brussels has long been a tourist attraction and symbol of the city. Featured on numerous postcards, t-shirts, and other souvenirs, the statue is much smaller in real life than people would expect, standing only a foot tall. The statue is often dressed for special occasions and holidays, and currently has a wardrobe of some 600 costumes. During one annual holiday, the statue actually pees beer instead of water! Near the fountain are a number of shops and stores, selling souvenirs as well as traditional Belgian waffles, piled high with your choice of chocolate, bananas, or whipped cream.



Comic Strip
Museum Belgium has long had a history of comic books and comic strips, including the incredibly popular TinTin series. The museum is opened year-round and features exhibitions of comics throughout history and the world. This is the perfect place for anyone who loves or used to love reading comics.

Delirium Cafe A city known for its beer, Delirium Cafe has one of the widest beer selections in the world. With a range of 12 beers on tap and over 2000 beers available from their collection, the cafe is a Mecca for beer-lovers everywhere. The cafe is decorated with the small pink elephant motif of Delirium Tremens, the local beer. Tremens was voted Best Beer in the World, and can be tasted here, or ask the bartender for his recommendation.
Source:http://www.in2town.co.uk/Latest-Travel

The Strasburg Rail Road is one of Lancaster’s most popular tourist attractions

Hop aboard the Strasburg Rail Road in Lancaster County, PA and experience for yourself one of the area’s most popular tourist attractions. With a wide range of options to choose from, you and your family are sure to find an appealing day trip among the many train schedules awaiting your scenic ride through the rolling, rural hills of Dutch Country.

The Strasburg Rail Road was founded in 1832 and is the nation’s oldest short line railroad. At first, the rail was used primarily as a passenger carrier and freight train and served many prominent purposes. By the 1950s, however, the train was used less and less after other transportation and road developments came into use, and then a series of violent storms brought damage to the Strasburg Rail Road. But thanks to rail fans/enthusiasts, Donald E. L. Hallock and Henry K. Long, a group was formed with an objective to preserve the Strasburg Rail Road. The group obviously was successful, and so was born one of Lancaster’s most entertaining attractions.

The railroad holds several special event schedules and outings for children and adults alike. Popular enjoyments include: A Day Out With Thomas, Santa’s Paradise Express and Trains and Troops—a popular Veterans Day train event. Combo Passes are also available and allow families to select the option of a train ride along with a visit to another area attraction including Dutch Wonderland, Cherry Crest Adventure Farm or the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania which is located at the East Strasburg Station and features over 100 locomotives and rail cars.

Other nearby attractions await your visitation at and around the East Strasburg Station. Children may especially enjoy the Cagney Steam Train which is a miniature version of the railroad. Established around 1915, children will love trying their hand at powering the small cranky car. Families will learn plenty of interesting facts about the area’s heritage, Amish culture and railroad agriculture. If you get hungry the Trackside CafĂ© serves up plenty of options.
Source:http://www.examiner.com/x-3819-Baltimore-Day-Trips-Examiner~y2009m9d9

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Best Holiday Destinations for Familes and Kids

Choosing the perfect holiday destination can be hard when you've got kids. Especially when everyone wants different things from your holiday. Dad wants some exciting watersports, mum wants somewhere with relaxing walks through the woods or along the sea, and the kids want somewhere with activities like football and swimming, as well as somewhere they can build sand castles of course.
So what are the best holiday destinations for families? Well, it depends of course on what you are after but here are a few suggestions that offer.
First, holiday camps based in England can be great if you want to stay in the UK and save abit of money, as they can be great fun. Companies like Butlins, Pontins and Center Parks offer pretty good deals and often they can be within a couple of hours drive. Being here in the UK though you can't guarantee the weather will be nice, but with a vast range of activities such as mountain biking, swimming, fotball etc, as well as night time shows, you will have plenty to do even if it isn't as exotic as going abroad.
Spain is a classic holiday destination for families. One of the premier package holiday destinations, Spain offers many great deals for familes and many resorts have great facilities for every taste. The Costa Del Sol and the Costa Blanca are two well established strips of coastline that should be looked into further if a holiday in Spain sounds appealing - many holiday makers just keep on going back.
America is always a safe bet when it comes to taking the family away. Florida springs to mind as somewhere the kids just love - Disney World and the countless other amusement parks are what kids dreams are made of - and they are great for all ages. If they are abit older you can wander off and relax in the gardens and zoos that many of these parks have if the thought of loop the loops and corkscrews on the rides fill you with fear. This sort of holiday comes at a price though, flights are expensive and you will need plenty of spending money once you get there too