Monthly Archives: December 2013

Looking Back at Travel in 2013

Although my blog is maybe eight months old, 2013 has been a good year for me with travel. I got around quite a bit. From local jaunts to overseas destinations, I learned a lot, tried new foods, made new friends, and got better at branching out of my comfort zone.

Here’s a quick recap:

Festivals

The New York Travel Festival will return to National Bohemian Hall this April.

I try to get to the annual New York Times Travel Show, held about mid to late February at the Jacob K. Javits Center. It’s a good consumer show for those who to get more information about different places. Sectioned off by continent and country, tourism boards, tour companies, hotels and major attractions man booths to talk about why you should visit them and offer pamphlets and tchotchkes. There are giveaways as well as performances, lectures and fun demonstrations.

In April, I helped out with promoting the New York Travel Festival, a new event for urbanites already seeing the world. It will be back again April 26 and 27 at Bohemian National Hall, on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The festival features a who’s who of travel experts that present solid advice on various travel pursuits and interests.

Another new festival coming up this March is the Women’s Travel Fest. Organized by Go! Girl Guides, this one-day event is for the ladies that will help those who are hesitant to travel (even solo) with sessions on concerns female travelers often have.

Meetups

Head upstairs and hang out in T4X's lounge section.

Delta celebrated the opening of its new T4 Terminal with a Popup shop in SoHo.

Through Meetup and other invites, I’ve gotten to meet a lot of awesome travel bloggers, vloggers and experts through Travel Massive and Young Travel Professionals (YTP). These professional/social groups hold monthly meet ups in their locations (I belong to the New York City branches). They are nice nights out.

Some of the events I’ve gone to this year include a pop-up place for Delta’s new T4 Terminal at JFK; a dinner held by Tourism Toronto; a visit to The Explorers Club; and receptions with tourism boards for Germany and the Czech Republic.

On a beach at an island resort in Fiji’s Beqa Lagoon

Trips

In July, I went on my first press trip. Just for the heck of it, I had put in my name in for a trip to Fiji, organized by Tourism Fiji and Fiji Airways. And got in. For about four days, I traveled around Viti Levu, Fiji’s largest island, exploring the town of Nadi and the capital city, Suva; took a cooking lesson; stayed at an island resort; and visited a cultural center.

Just two weeks later, I went from warm temperatures to cooler ones. I always wanted to go to Iceland, so I booked a spot on a nine-day tour with Gate1Travel. Our route started in Reykjavík, Iceland’s capital, and went along the south coast and back up north.

I want to thank every person or outlet that gave me the opportunity to go places this year. With 2014, my planned destinations include Spain and Canada, and there are potential ones coming up in the fall. Happy New Year and jaunt somewhere too!

Getting a ‘Peek’ at New Mobile Travel App

Germany Tourism Celebrates UNESCO World Heritage Sites

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Do you know what a UNESCO World Heritage site is? Germany Tourism wants to make sure you do. Last week, the tourism board hosted a tweet-up at Reichenbach Hall in New York City to celebrate the focus of its 2014 marketing campaign: 38 sites that have been given this special title.

Collegiate Church, Castle and Old Town of Quedlinburg

For those new to this term, UNESCO stands for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Yep, it’s a big deal. This organization encourages government officials from around the world to identify, protect and preserve sites that symbolize their country’s cultural and natural heritage. The sites are added to the UNESCO World Heritage List annually, and officials in their respective countries are advised on how to maintain them.

Wartburg Castle

Aachen Cathedral

These UNESCO sites serve as key reminders of their past or natural/manmade wonders that would be significantly impacted by any physical damage.

To further enhance your knowledge about UNESCO, here’s an extra tidbit. Of the 981 UNESCO World Heritage sites listed around the globe, just under half of them are in Europe. Germany’s 38 sites are a collection of historical locations and natural wonders found throughout different cities and country settings.

Palaces and Parks of_Potsdam_und_Berlin_Color

Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin

Town Hall and Roland Statue in Bremen

Visiting these places is like time traveling, with sites dating as far back as the days of the Roman Empire. And one that is even much farther.

BG_Wuerzburg_Residenz_und_Hofgarten_Color

Würzburg Residenz Palace and Gardens

With locations ranging from Berlin to Würzburg, these UNESCO World Heritage sites include architectural marvels such as palaces, churches, monasteries, and castles. Nature sites encompass a coastal line, forests, and a fossil site, and man-made landscapes such as gardens and parks, and even an island! Historical town centers have made this list as well and industrial locations that symbolize German’s economical and cultural growth.

Here is a rundown of some of Germany’s unique places that have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage list overtime:

Messel Pit Fossil Site

This former volcanic crater lake was formed around 47 million years ago and holds deposits of well-preserved mammal fossils that are ancestors of today’s common creatures.

Upper Middle Rhine Valley

This picturesque valley is graced with castles and palaces along with vineyards that produce well-known Rhine wines. Its ties to the Rhine extend to being a channel for carrying goods from different countries and a source for multiple cultural influences.

Völklingen Ironworks

The first industrial monument inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage List, Völklingen Ironworks is a former pig iron production facility that nowadays is open for public tours.

To learn more about Germany’s UNESCO World Heritage sites, and plan your visit, visit this link. You can find maps, images and other sources there.

All photos courtesy of Germany Tourism

Holiday Window Displays in New York City: Where to Stop By

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It’s fun to do some window shopping at high-end New York City department stores. During the holiday season, it’s cool to see how creative store personnel can get with their takes on celebrating all things festive.

As the crowds start to come more to the Big Apple, try to get an early jump on getting a viewing. From traditional to whimsical, here is a selection of window displays worth making a trek to. All of them are based in Midtown, with each having a reasonable walking or bus/subway distance.

Macy’sIn Herald Square on 34th Street, Macy’s windows follow a young boy whose dream takes him on a journey along a winter landscape. The boy goes through an enchanted forest and encounters elaborate creatures, with his adventure ending back in his room.

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Lord & Taylor

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In going back to a more traditional period, Lord & Taylor sets the scene for a formal holiday gathering in years past. Guests are dressed in their finest for tea and an evening meal.

Look closely in the lower right corner of one window to find a rotating silent film set in New York City from a bygone era. Get to Lord & Taylor by walking west along Fifth Avenue. The store is at 39th Street.

Saxs Fifth Avenue

As one of the season’s most visually appealing windows, the display at Saxs Fifth Avenue is based on a tale called Yeti Story. A young and under-appreciated Yeti leaves his family and his “job” in Siberia to see the world.

Like, um, other newcomers, he eventually makes his way to New York City – even exploring the subway – and develops a career in innovating the science of snowflake making.

Saxs Fifth Avenue is easy to find. It’s on Fifth Avenue across from Rockefeller Center.

Henri Bendel

Even if the name of Al Hirschfeld might not sound familiar at first, there’s a good chance you’ve seen his black and white caricatures of celebrities and Broadway stars.

Also on Fifth Avenue, Henri Bendel pays tribute to the late artist’s work with a display of well-known New Yorkers seated at a dining table. Guests include Sarah Jessica Parker, her hubby Matthew Broderick, Woody Allen, Liza Minelli and Joan Rivers. There’s also a portrait of Hirschfeld.

Another Fifth Avenue find, Henri Bendel is near West 56th Street.

Bergdorf Goodman

Just up the street from Henri Bendel, Bergdorf Goodman has a “Holiday on Ice” theme this year. Icicles are the main attraction, providing extra glimmer to period set windows.

Barneys NY

Heading over to Madison Avenue, at East 61st Street, Barneys NY has been getting much hype with its holiday collaboration with rap mogul Jay Z. This holiday season, the store has gone high tech with interactive windows sporting light shows. One entrance has visitors going into a darkened space where a display of a brief, 3D demonstration adds different colors to Manhattan’s sky line.

The key component of Barneys display is a friendlier feature. “Experience the BNYNYC sleigh ride” lets visitors meet his Santa and his wife and go on a virtual ride above the city streets. Performers from the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater portray Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, with a modern day look, and lets visitors pose for a photo. A web link to your pictures can be emailed to you or pick up a hard copy inside the store. Plus, it’s free!

Bloomingdale’s

On 3rd Avenue and East 59th Street, Bloomingdale’s takes viewers on a round the world trip with holiday greetings from France, Italy, Great Britain, and, of course, New York City.

Happy browsing!