Unconventional Bridges Around the World

Aiola Island Bridge, Austria: We've usually thought of bridges to just be a connecting channel over water between places, but a New York Artist, Vito Acconci took the Aiola bridge to a different level. He carved out an island that has a sunbathing area, a trendy bar, a coffee house, and a pathway to crossing the Mur river in Graz, Austria. An ingenious invention that earns it a spot on the world's unconventional bridges.

Magdeburg Water Bridge, Germany: This bridge is almost an oxymoron. Bridges are usually created for cars and train, but this bridge is a water bridge and the largest water bridge in Europe. It was created for river barges to navigate the Elbe river without the unpredictable delays that sometimes occur on this river. It took over a century to complete this bridge and it now serves as a connector between two very important shipping canals; the Elbe Haven Canal and the Midland Canal.

Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, Virginia USA: The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel is one of the eight bridge tunnel systems in the world. It is about 23miles long and combines both a bridge and a tunnel for passing through the Chesapeake Bay to connect with the metropolitan Hampton Roads, Virginia and other parts of the Northeast. More importantly, this tunnel was created to protect the U.S. Naval base in Norfolk during wartime. If the bridge was to be destroyed, it would not hamper the movement of the Navy and they would still get to where they need to be without the bridge.

London Bridge, Lake Havasu Arizona: This bridge poked my interest because of the rigor of building it. This is the bridge that made the song "London bridge is falling down" common. It was originally erected in London over the Thames River, but it became too small to accommodate all the demands put on it. The Bridge was eventually put up for auction and bought by Rober McCulloch, the founder of Lake Havasus City. Each brick was numbered one by one and it took 3 years to move the bridge piece by piece from London to Lake Havasus Arizona where the London Bridge now sits. If you never got a chance to see the London Bridge in London, you can now see it in Arizona.

Ponte Vecchio, Florence Italy: This Bridge is the oldest and most famous wholly stone built, closed, and segmental arch bridge in Europe. This bridge was home to a lot of medieval merchants and butchers, but now is occupied mostly by hawkers, souvenir shops and art shops.

The above are definitely not all the unconventional bridges in the world, they are representative of some of a whole and speak volume of what the minds of people can conceive and create. Now it's your turn to vote for the best bridge of the five in your comments.

Vacation Without Breaking the Bank

Seoul  Airport

I wrote in one of my previous posts on why people do not travel and one of the reasons i talked about was costs. I have decided to expatiate on how to have a fabulous vacation on a budget. A vacation does not have to be luxurious for it to be fun. A vacation is supposed to be a time of relaxing and exploring of new things and the world around you. Meeting people, experiencing new things and culture, and learning is the whole goal of travelling and so all of these can be achieved without burning a hole in your pocket. Let's take a look at some of the ways to curtail cost and better maximize your money.

Travel during off season: This is a no brainer, we know that there are high and low seasons for any destination we wish to visit. To get the best value for your money sometimes mean going to a destination of your choice in their low season. Accommodation, flight, and activities will usually be cheaper in the low season than high season. Clue #1 every destination's summer season will always be the high season, so keep that in mind. Some destinations have their winter season as high season too if they are known for skiing and other snow events.

Travel in groups: Traveling in groups can significantly reduce your cost. You will be able to get group rates for tickets and some activities. Accommodation can become considerably cheaper because you are able to rent a Villa rather than individual rooms at a hotel. Having accommodation with a kitchen can mean saving some money on part of your meal. One big mistake you don't want to make when traveling in a group is to pick people that are not on the same page with you when it comes to activities. If you like adventure, do not travel with people that just want to sleep and shop all day everyday. Pick your group right.

Hosteling: Lodging in hostels is another excellent and cheaper choice for solo travelers and small group travelers. Research the country you are visiting for hostel availabilities. Some of these hostels have private rooms for people that do not want to share rooms. This is also a great opportunity of meeting new people that you can end up traveling with if you are a Solo traveler. Hostelling International is a good place to start your journey.

Local Host: Another great way to save money is to stay with the locals. Some locals like hosting travelers for a small amount of money and sometimes you can even help with some chores for a free stay. Staying with a local can also mean opportunity to truly experience the culture of the people and an avenue to see the hidden gems of that town. However, be very careful with this choice as we know the world is not as innocent as it used to be. Proceed with caution on this choice.

Mileage and Point usage: If you travel, you need to enroll in mileage programs with the airlines you use the most and accrue mileage on your travels and if you stay in hotels, you need to accrue points as well. Eventually these points come in handy when you want to save money on your travel. You can travel with your mileage and use your hotel points to get some free days of stay. It is not all the time that you will be financially buoyant, but using all the tools that are available to you can still help you achieve your goal.

Let me know what your thoughts are about the points mentioned. I want to know if you agree or disagree with any and if you have other suggestions, so kindly speak out by clicking comment to leave your thought.

Dinosaurs In Houston: Your last Call

I know back to school is all that is on the minds of parents these days and it should be. However, in the midst of all the preparations to get the kids equipped for a great accademic success this school session, pause if you may and stimulate their thinking and imagination while getting exposure at the Houston Zoo with Dinosaurs!

Between now and September 6, 2010, journey back in time to the days when giant, fearsome dinosaurs ruled the earth and mighty T Rex was king of the land. The Zoo’s animatronic Land of Dinosaurs will feature 10 primeval lost creatures including the fish-eating Baryonyx, the fast-moving Dilophosaurus, and the swamp lizard Dimetrodon. Also appearing daily will be the well-armored Euoplocephalus, the crested Parasaurolophus, the spiked Stegosaurus and even a nest full of baby dinos.

Venue:  Houston Zoo in Herman Park
Date:    Now till September 6, 2010
Time:    9am - 6:30pm daily
Price:   $2pp with regular Zoo admission
Phone: 713-533-6500
 
Don't miss the land of dinosaurs that move, roar, snarl, and even spit water before they go extinct again and leave the Zoo in September. Check the Houston Zoo for more information.

U.S National Parks -Free entrance days!

Bryce National Park

It does not get any better than this! The National Parks are offering free entrance days at over 100 National parks across the country on the following days:

August 14-15, 2010
September 25, 2010
November 11, 2010 (Veterans Day)

Click link for additional Special Offers

I have included the parks that are participating in this great offer by states for your convenience. So Pack your bags, get set and go... No more excuses

Arizona


Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

Chiricahua National Monument

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

Grand Canyon National Park

Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Montezuma Castle National Monument

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Petrified Forest National Park

Pipe Spring National Monument

Saguaro National Park

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

Tonto National Monument

Tumacacori National Historical Park

Tuzigoot National Monument

Walnut Canyon National Monument

Wupatki National Monument

Arkansas

Fort Smith National Historic Site

Pea Ridge National Military Park

California

Cabrillo National Monument

Death Valley National Park

John Muir National Historic Site

Joshua Tree National Park

Lassen Volcanic National Park

Lava Beds National Monument

Muir Woods National Monument

Pinnacles National Monument

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

Sequoia National Park

Whiskeytown Unit National Recreation Area

Yosemite National Park

Colorado

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Colorado National Monument

Dinosaur National Monument

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

Great Sand Dunes NP & Preserve National Park

Hovenweep National Monument

Mesa Verde National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park

Florida

Canaveral National Seashore

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

Dry Tortugas National Park

Everglades National Park

Gulf Islands National Seashore



Georgia

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Cumberland Island National Seashore

Fort Frederica National Monument

Fort Pulaski National Monument

Hawaii

Haleakalā National Park

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park

Pu'uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park

Idaho

Craters of the Moon National Monument

Yellowstone National Park

Illinois

Jefferson National Expansion Memorial National Memorial

Indiana

George Rogers Clark National Historical Park

Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

Iowa

Effigy Mounds National Monument


Kansas

Fort Scott National Historic Site

Maine

Acadia National Park

Maryland

Antietam National Battlefield

Assateague Island National Seashore

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Fort McHenry NM and Historic Shrine National Monument

Fort Washington Park

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

Mississippi

Gulf Islands National Seashore

Massachusetts

Adams National Historical Park

Cape Cod National Seashore

John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site

Longfellow National Historic Site

Michigan

Isle Royale National Park

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Minnesota

Grand Portage National Monument

Pipestone National Monument

Mississippi

Vicksburg National Military Park

Missouri

Harry S Truman National Historic Site

Jefferson National Expansion Memorial National Memorial

Wilson's Creek National Battlefield

Montana

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

Glacier National Park

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument

Yellowstone National Park

Nebraska

Agate Fossil Beds National Monument

Scotts Bluff National Monument


Nevada

Death Valley National Park

Lake Mead National Recreation Area

New Hampshire

Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site

New Jersey

Edison National Historic Site

Morristown National Historical Park

New Mexico

Aztec Ruins National Monument

Bandelier National Monument

Capulin Volcano National Monument

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Chaco Culture National Historical Park

El Morro National Monument

Fort Union National Monument

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

Pecos National Historical Park

White Sands National Monument

New York

Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site

Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site

Martin Van Buren National Historic Site

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site

Saratoga National Historical Park

Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site

Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site

North Carolina

Wright Brothers National Memorial

North Dakota

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Ohio

James A. Garfield National Historic Site

Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial National Memorial

Oklahoma

Fort Smith National Historic Site

Oregon

Crater Lake National Park

Lewis & Clark National Historical Park

Pennsylvania

Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site

Fort Necessity National Battlefield

Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site

Johnstown Flood National Memorial

Steamtown National Historic Site

Valley Forge National Historical Park

Puerto Rico

San Juan National Historic Site

South Carolina

Fort Sumter National Monument

South Dakota

Badlands National Park

Jewel Cave National Monument

Tennessee

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Shiloh National Military Park

Texas

Big Bend National Park

Fort Davis National Historic Site

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Padre Island National Seashore

Utah

Arches National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park

Canyonlands National Park

Capitol Reef National Park

Cedar Breaks National Monument

Dinosaur National Monument

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

Golden Spike National Historic Site

Hovenweep National Monument

Natural Bridges National Monument

Zion National Park

Virgin Islands

Christiansted National Historic Site

Virginia

Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

National Memorial

Assateague Island National Seashore

Colonial National Historical Park

George Washington Birthplace National Monument

George Washington Memorial Parkway's Great Falls Park

Manassas National Battlefield Park

Petersburg National Battlefield

Prince William Forest Park

Shenandoah National Park

Washington

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site

Lewis & Clark National Historical Park

Mount Rainier National Park

Olympic National Park

Whitman Mission National Historic Site

West Virginia

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

Wyoming

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

Devils Tower National Monument

Fort Laramie National Historic Site

Grand Teton National Park

Yellowstone National Park


 Bon voyage people!

America's Largest Waterpark Resort

Are you still thinking of where to take your kids before school starts or even already thinking long term for the winter vacation loaded with summer vibes? The Wilderness Water Park resort in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin is the perfect getaway trip that is sure to razzle dazzle you and your family. It is also America's largest Waterpark Resort.

This beautiful resort was built in 1995 as a hotel and Golf resort with both outdoor and indoor waterparks later added. These additions in my opinion make this resort very attractive to families and suitable for both summer holidays and winter holidays as well. There are lots of activities designed for children as well as adults. In addition to the indoor and outdoor waterparks, this resort has a play park, indoor and outdoor Golf courses, Go-karts, bumper boats, laser tags, old time photo studio, Zip line adventures etc.

When it comes to lodging you have plenty of options to choose from in this Resort. They have hotels, Villas, Condos, and cabins and you are sure to find one that works for your lifestyle and budget.

Now that you have the perfect place to go, pack up and go have some thrilling fun at this spectacular well thought out waterpark Resort. Let us hear your experience from your trip by simply leaving a comment below.

To learn more about this famous Waterpark Download Brochure