Taking off Travel blog

10 Places American Tourists Should Visit in 2012

by Anna Dewinter

Travelers might think of visiting Great Britain for the Olympic Games 2012, or to experience the sights and sounds of London – one of America’s favorite destinations. However, there are other destinations that are sometimes overlooked and that definitely deserve a visit in 2012.

Whilst there, consider using hire cars to drive south to the second city and explore Cork – enjoy shopping in the English Market and ringing the Bells of Shandon. Throw in a short trip to nearby Blarney Castle where the famous Blarney Stone awaits.

From Cork, fly to the third destination: Hamburg. Packed with popular things to do and see, including the Miniature Wonderland with model railways and tiny countries, there are also fantastic parks and gardens, examples of superb architecture and wonderful museums.

A high-speed train runs between Hamburg and Amsterdam in The Netherlands, which has a laid-back ambiance and offers the wonderful Van Gogh Museum and the Royal Palace. For a countryside trip, seek out the tulip fields and windmills.

For these four European destinations tourists should always carry ID: a valid passport is needed but a visa is not required for stays of less than three months.

Two Complementary Destinations in China

Hong Kong displays a fusion of east and west influences with major Chinese temples and palaces, accessible via the iconic tram system, plus skyscrapers and Hong Kong Disneyland!

A three-hour flight from Hong Kong to Beijing takes visitors to a different, exquisite historical era; explore the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Ming Tombs and the Temple of Heaven.

Singular India

Delhi in India is a city in two parts: Old Delhi features historic mosques, forts and shrines, whilst New Delhi is contemporary, bustling and cosmopolitan. Be sure to view the stunning Taj Mahal in nearby Agra, the world’s finest monument to Mughal architecture and one of the seven top tourist attractions globally.

For both China and India a visa is required and a passport must have at least six months’ validity.

Three Different Choices – Abu Dhabi, St Vincent and Wellington

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates might be relatively unknown but it offers a relaxed break and a glimpse of the rich cultural heritage of the city. Explore dramatic sand dunes and mountains, and cruise along the Gulf Coast. A valid passport is sufficient if staying for up to 30 days; visas are free of charge at the port of entry.

Caribbean island destination St Vincent and the Grenadines is a great alternative to Barbados or Martinique. An English-speaking location, there are lots of tourist facilities among the tropical eco-rainforests. Snorkeling, yachting and scuba diving are on offer.

The city of Wellington provides easy access to the lovely North and South Islands of New Zealand. Besides the outstanding natural habitat, Wellington offers fabulous views from its cable cars and the Mount Victoria Lookout, and great shopping in the bohemian quarter of town. Pack a passport – visa requirements are waived for US citizens.

Whether preferred vacation choices are educational, unusual or exotic, there is a place to visit in 2012 that suits perfectly.

Image: slleong

Traveling on business to Tokyo? Read guest poster Andrew Black’s tips on unmissable Tokyo experiences.

Tokyo is an amazing destination. A fusion of the old and the new, this high-tech city with its incredible history has something to offer to everyone. Whether it’s the incredible Japanese cuisine or the breathtaking sights, Tokyo is the ultimate Asian experience. A brief list of some of the attractions of Tokyo is listed below.

Tsukiji Fish Market

A trip to Tokyo is incomplete without a visit to the world’s largest fish market. Get ready for some live action at Tsukiji market with auctions of some of the most exotic seafood in the world. There are many stalls selling an incredible variety of delicacies here. If you are in the mood for sushi for breakfast, Tsukiji market is just the place for you.

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden Read more »

Each year, Canada’s third most populous city Vancouver – an urban hub surrounded by the natural beauty of the coast and ice-capped mountains– welcomes almost nine million tourists thanks to its many ski resorts, beaches and seaside promenades, pleasant (but rarely overwhelmingly hot) weather, cultural diversity and endless shops, restaurants and nightlife options.

Vancouver – no doubt one of the most scenic cities in North America – is also home to many different festivals throughout each year. Each of these festivals is a reason in itself to visit the city so why not book your Canada Holidays in 2012 to coincide with one of the following events? You’ll be glad you did!

Celebration of Light

When? End of July – early August.

Why should firework displays be reserved for November’s Guy Fawkes Night alone? Once known as Benson and Hedge’s Symphony of Fire, Vancouver’s Celebration of Light is An international fireworks competition and one of the city’s best known festivals with an annual attendance of around 1.4 million people (both tourists and locals) each year. The event is laid out across three nights where attendees will witness some of the very best fireworks displays in the world explode over the skyline of English Bay.

2011’s festival saw China, Spain and Canada go head to head to be announced as the world’s leading country in the art of fireworks (China won). The festival is free of charge unless you wish to reserve bleachers seating located close to the English Bay – getting to the location early to ensure a good viewing spot is recommended but not always possible!

MusicFest Vancouver

When? Early August.

Music Fest Vancouver is a ten day annual celebration of classical, jazz and world music. The festival was born out of the desires of world-renowned ophthalmologist and music-lover Dr Stephen Drance who approached the city’s various musical ensembles to gauge the interest in holding a classical music festival in Vancouver. That was back in the year 2000 and the event – which was positively received – has been held annually ever since.

Over the event’s duration many of the cities venues play host to more than forty different concerts and events (2011 included brass band, accordion, jazz keyboard, classical piano and violin acts). The focus of the event is on the high calibre of the performers as opposed to the party vibe that is often inextricably linked to other music festivals. As such, MusicFest Vancouver is perfect for anyone looking to absorb rich, dignified aural culture.

PuSh Festival

When? January 17 – February 4 (2012 dates)

Launched in 2003, Vancouver’s PuSh Festival is a three week event that is held each January to showcase the very best work in the industry of the performing arts. The event once provided a platform for modest theatre productions alone but has since grown and diversified to include those by established performance groups from around the world and several dance acts, as well as providing exposure for indie bands.

Just some of the acts which can be found on this year’s bill include the ‘Craigslist Cantata’ (a series of online personal ads set to music), ‘The Pixelated Revolution’ (a lecture-meets-performance about how mobile phone were used during the Syrian Revolution), ‘Dances for a Small Stage 25’ (a series of dances performed on a stage with dimensions of only 10 by 13 foot) and ‘After Trio A + Beginning’ (a homage to postmodern dance and the choreographer Yvonne Rainer). With performances this varied you are sure to find more than a couple of acts of interest during the PuSh Festival!

Vancouver International Writers Festival

When? 16 – 21 October (2012 dates)

Founded back in 1988, the Vancouver International Writers Festival is a premier, week-long literary event which attracts both keen established and wannabe wordsmiths of all ages from across the globe. Intimate and interactive poetry jams, panel sessions, readings and one-to-one interviews with significant names from the world of literacy sees more than 14,000 people attend the event each year.  One of the festival’s objectives is to inspire a love of reading in young children and as such its organisers work with schools (via the Spreading the Word program) during the event and provide young scholars with subsidised tickets.

Just some of the authors who have presented at the festival in the past include J K Rowling (Harry Potter book series), John Irving (The Cider House Rules and The 158-Pound Marriage) and Martin Amis (Money and Yellow Dog). This is definitely an event worth checking out if you like to curl up with a good book!

Vancouver International Film Festival

When? End of September – early October

The 2010 edition of the Vancouver International Film Festival welcomed more than 148,000 people and presented a total of 373 films from 80 different countries – this should give you some indication to the scale of this exciting yearly event! The festival not only attracts fans of the film medium but also filmmakers themselves who are looking to present their work and/or find inspiration for their future productions.

This culturally diverse film celebration screens the largest selection of films from East Asia outside of that region and also showcases a healthy selection of non-fiction films too (a genre often ignored at film festivals). If you enjoy films that are a little different to the Hollywood blockbusters which usually litter western cinemas then VIFF is definitely a festival you should check out. The majority of film screenings are followed by Q and A sessions with directors and/or cast members.

The author of this guest post – Miley Hutson – is a veteran of Vancouver holidays and would recommend the destination to anyone.

This year, why not try something different for the Christmas season? Whether you have kids or you’re just a big kid yourself a visit to Disney World can add something special to the holiday season. It’s no secret that I’m a big Disney fan – not so much the company itself but the vacation experience they provide ‑ so for me it wouldn’t be a hard sell to spend part of the holidays there.

Okay, so it won’t be warm but on the other hand it may be far less crowded. Although you can’t completely count on that now that many people have woken up to the magic of the Magic Kingdom at Christmas you can still experience much of the joy by going just before or just after the peak Christmas Eve the New Year’s Eve period when you will still get to experience much the festivities. There’s definitely something special about Disney at this time of year.

An extra ticket will get you entrance to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party with the Once Upon a Christmastime Parade where Santa himself appears.  Everywhere you look there are fabulous Christmas decorations. Being Disney, this is done on a large scale. There are thousands of lights on the huge Christmas tree on Main Street and  Cinderella’s Castle has 200,000 white lights. The Small World ride has special decorations for Christmas as well as a seasonal version of the well-known song. There’s also a Haunted Mansion with seasonal replacements for the usual attractions. The parade which takes place several times daily is transformed into a Christmas Fantasy Parade and there’s a huge firework show just for this holiday season.

Check out this Christmas lights at Disney World video to see what it’s like.

With snow, hot chocolate cookies as well as the standard Disney magic there’s no better place to be for the holiday season.

Christmas comes but once a year, so deciding where to spend it is important. Europe’s cities are some of the most culturally significant in the world and with their snowy climates, traditional markets and lit-up architecture, they can be the perfect spot for a Christmas getaway. Follow our guide for the top European cities to consider for your Christmas break; they’re all available as last-minute hotel and flight packages, allowing you to enjoy a festive weekend away without stress.

Our first choice is an obvious one:  Paris. With its elegant Christmas lights and decorations, the already beautiful city of Paris is a real sight to behold during the festive season. Alongside the city’s already world-famous boutiques, their Christmas markets hark back to a tradition from the Northern Alsace region, where they create an outdoor village of wooden booths, offering gourmet treats, decorations, crafts and other beautiful samples of French culture. In Europe’s premier city of love, you can also view the city’s lights from the Eiffel Tower or ice-skate under the stars in one of the several free-entry, open-air ice-skating rinks that are set up around the town.

Amsterdam holds its Winterparade in the last week of December each year:  perfect timing for those looking for a last-minute weekend package. With a mix of theatre, music, film, dance and comedy, the Winterparade provides a modern, imaginative way to spend a festive day. If you want a more traditional cultural treat, Amsterdam’s museums and theatres are full of Christmas themed exhibitions, while taking a canal boat trip is the perfect way to sight-see a city renowned for its beautiful architecture.

Speaking of canals, Venice is the perfect Christmas spot for romantics both young and old. The prime location of a loved-up weekend trip, happy couples can travel by gondola on the city’s expansive and extensive system of canals. As with any European city worth it’s salt, Venice is home to a beautiful Christmas market; the Campiello dei Golosi (or Gourmands Square) offers a platform for Italy’s best fresh produce farmers to sell their wares, while streets leading off the square house stalls selling traditional wooden toys, cards, scarves, lace and soaps.

A popular destination of late, the city of Prague is a fast favourite among those looking for a weekend city break. With festive lights, fresh white snow and beautiful window displays, the people of Prague really take Christmas to heart. Wander through the tree-lined streets or drink in the beautiful architecture as you make your way through the meandering roads of the central city area. The main square houses the city’s grand Christmas tree, while the animal stable at the Old Town Square is decorated nativity-style with a petting zoo and figures of Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and the Three Wise Kings.

The home of the original Christmas market, the German city of Cologne offers visitors an impressive backdrop to festive activities. Beneath the city’s Cathedral lie well over 160 wooden pavilions, stocked with everything from traditional toys to foods and wines. Watch the city’s artisans at work as they make traditional mulled wine, or head to the Alter Markt for nostalgic roundabouts, puppet theatres and a Santa’s Grotto.

Rachel is a freelance blogger currently on the lookout for hotels for sale.

(Images: dhaun, paulafunnell)