Taking off Travel blog

To round out my review of Florida attractions (see parts 1 and 2), there are just a couple more to mention. On Tuesday, we returned to Boomers to try out a couple of things we’d missed the previous week. The first of these was the wooden roller coaster, the largest of its kind in Florida. As we approached, I could see the weathered planks of wood and it looked like it had been there for centuries. However, it turned out that the Dania Beach Hurricane was opened in 2000, so it’s much newer than it looks.

Riding the Dania Beach Hurricane

There were only three of us on that first roller coaster ride, so I sat at the front with my daughter as it rolled slowly out of the station. Our excitement soon turned to terror as the coaster inched up an incline then shot down the other side.  It just didn’t feel that safe. Yes, we were locked in the usual manner, but everything rattled, and there was far too much room to bounce about in our seats. In fact, it felt like we could go flying into the air at any second. There were a couple more of those twists and turns before we returned to the station. Unfortunately, the guy in charge had offered us back to back rides (because we’d had to wait a bit), so off we went again. At this point, my hubby and daughter left the coaster, and I took the third ride alone (I didn’t want to throw the offer back in his face). As I tottered out, I decided I’d had enough of roller coasters to last me quite a while, something with which we all agreed. Read more »

This is part 2 of my Florida vacation roundup. You can find Part 1 here.

On the Friday, we took a one hour boat trip along the Florida waterways near Las Olas. Part of the enjoyment for some participants was the opportunity to gaze at the multimillion dollar homes and boats of stars and celebrities. There were so many of those that in some ways the tour was like an episode of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, complete with the captain as omniscient narrator.

Las Olas Waterways

I’m less interested in celebs, but I still had a great time looking at the majestic waterways, spotting the water taxis and generally enjoying being out in the open. However, our next boat trip was to prove far more exciting. Read more »

Busy may not be the first word that comes to mind when you think of Alaska, but it’s the right one to describe the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Built in 1951, the Anchorage International Airport was renamed in 2000 to honor Senator Ted Stevens. It’s one of only four US airports named after a living person. The airport handles around five million passengers a year, and is also one of the world’s busiest cargo hubs. Unsurprisingly, it’s a major hub for Alaska Airlines.

There are two terminals in operation, with shuttles between them running every 15 minutes all day. Airport facilities include a bureau de change, ATMS, a post office, restaurants, bars, duty free shopping, barber shop and a massage and rest center. However, there are no business or conference facilities at the airport. For those, you will have to visit one of the hotels located less than two miles from ANC. There are short term parking lots as well as offsite Anchorage airport parking.

Anchorage is Alaska’s largest city, and it’s home to 40 per cent of the state’s population. There’s lots to see and do - here are a few suggestions. Read more »

Wherever you happen to be celebrating them, carnivals are a time to let your inhibitions go and enjoy the music, dancing, costumes, parades and festive atmosphere. In many countries, carnivals take place just before a period of privation, such as Lent (derived from the Latin words carne vale - goodbye to meat). They give people to chance to feast before a time of austerity. In others, it’s about celebrating the advent of good weather in the spring. Here are some of the famous carnivals around the world, plus one you might be less familiar with.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Held for four days before Ash Wednesday, this is the most famous carnival in the world. Revelers say goodbye to the pleasures of the flesh in an orgy of music and dancing. If you get the chance to visit, don’t miss the Samba Parade.

Carnival in Rio de Janeiro

Trinidad and Tobago

This is the best carnival in the Caribbean. The build up to it starts just after Christmas (and sometimes before), with celebrations reaching a head on the Monday (J’ouvert ) and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Calypso music and the steel drums invented in that country are everywhere, and it’s a great place for a celebration.

Trinidad and Tobago Carnival

Read more »

Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama in terms of population. The county seat of Jefferson County, the city has a population approaching 1.2m (according to 2007 estimates). The major airport is Birmingham-Shuttleworth International Airport (BHM). This link tells you more than you may want to know about its runways, but I’m going to focus on some of its other amenities.

The airport is located 4.5 miles east of downtown Birmingham, making it a breeze to get to, as well as putting the city within easy reach of travelers on a layover. It’s well served for parking, including our Birmingham airport parking lot and a cell phone lot. If you’re not driving yourself, then the major car hire companies are all easy to get to from the main terminal. The airport is fully accessible for disabled travelers too. Last year, BHM carried more than three million passengers.

Other facilities in the airport include:

• a food court
• two ATMs between concourses B and C on the upper level
• free WiFi
• shops
• a business centre
• international medical assistance

Venturing out of the airport, there’s lots to see in and around Birmingham itself.

Birmingham, Alabama Attractions

See lions, gorillas, rhinos, geckos and more at the Birmingham Zoo. You can tour the zoo on the Zoo Express train and enjoy a range of educational activities. There’s even overnight camping if you choose to pass up a stay in a hotel.

It stays warm in Birmingham, which means that plants really thrive at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Check out the tropical plants in the huge glass greenhouse and visit themed gardens to enjoy the sight and aroma of thousands of plant species. There are more than 10,000 to view on this 67.5 acre site.

Get a taste of Birmingham’s industrial history by visiting the Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark. The furnaces date back to the 1880s when they were a major part of the city’s steel industry. There’s a park and sculpture garden to see as well and, unless there’s an event on, admission is free.

The McWane Science Center is an interactive science museum, where visitors can experiment with the laws of physics, explore space, construct machinery and more. Whether you’re interested in coral, dinosaurs or robots, you will find something of interest here.

Combine shopping with sightseeing by visiting the Riverchase Galleria, which boasts the western hemisphere’s largest skylight. The huge glass atrium adds to the appeal. You can shop, eat and enjoy indoor fountains and gardens.

Finally, find out about Alabama’s contributions to jazz history at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. It’s amazing how many jazz greats got their start here.