United States — Travelogue

Top 4 Reasons To Visit New York’s Central Park

January 2, 2012 By phagemann Leave a Comment

Traveling to New York City, many first time visitors are overwhelmed by the magnitude of the city. Skyscrapers reaching heights almost unimaginable, the traffic, the endless noise, just the sheer amount of people can put a strain on even the most seasoned traveler. One of the nice things about staying in the city, whether in one of the many fine hotels or apartments in New York, there is always a great escape to be found in the middle of al the hustle and bustle of the city.

Central Park is 843 acres of trees, lakes, walking trails and attractions located in in the middle of New York City. It has been featured in 140 movies and draws locals and tourists daily. Central Park comprises seven bodies of water, 36 bridges, 21 playgrounds and 26,000 trees. It is also home to a well-known castle, zoo, boathouse and gardens.

1. The Central Park Zoo The Central Park Zoo is a family-friendly location and historic landmark. The zoo has many popular exhibits, including the snow leopard, penguin and sea lion areas. Visitors can see baby animals at the nursery. For groups or first-time visitors the zoo offers tours with trained guides for adults, families, school groups and summer campers. Kids, teens and adults can also enjoy seasonal workshops, including photography, storytelling and crafts.
2. Belvedere Castle Belvedere Castle is a stone building complete with a central tower and parapets located on a 55-acre area of Central Park. The structure was designed in the late 1800s, mixing Gothic and Romanesque architectural styles. Belvedere Castle is a popular spot for birdwatchers; there is a free bird and naturalist exhibit covering two floors and periodic birding programs. Visitors under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.
3. Conservatory Garden The Conservatory Garden is a collection of three unique gardens on a six-acre plot. The Conservatory Garden includes the North, or French, Garden; the Central, or Italian Garden; and the South, or English Garden. Each features a different style and array of plants. The gardens host weddings and walking trails. Runners and bicyclists are not allowed in the Conservatory Garden. The entrance is marked by the well-known wrought iron Vanderbilt Gate that was once the entrance to the Vanderbilt mansion. The Conservatory Garden is open daily; tours are available on Saturdays.
4. Boathouse Restaurant The Boathouse Restaurant is a famous Central Park icon. After a day in Central Park, visitors can have a meal at the Boathouse Restaurant as they enjoy the sights of Lake George, including swans, ducks and rowboats. The Boathouse Restaurant is also a romantic and popular setting for receptions and weddings. The Boathouse was once owned by "New York Times" publisher, Adolph Ochs. Today, it hosts many special occasions and business functions.

So no matter where you are staying if you need to make a quick escape of the city without leaving the city, you will find Central Park is conveniently accessible from any New York apartments or hotels.

Filed Under: Central Park, Featured, New York, North America, United States

The Whaley House, San Diego’s Most Haunted.

October 12, 2011 By Guest Post Leave a Comment

Guest Post by: Bridget Staroscik O’Reilly

I’m not afraid of ghosts. Of course I wouldn’t want to tell them that. There is something intriguing about the idea of a haunted house, especially if you don’t live there. That’s why when I heard about the Whaley House in San Diego I had to go visit it.

According to some legends, the Whaley House was haunted right after it was built. The land that Thomas Whaley chose to build his house on just happened to be the same land where Yankee Jim was hung for a crime he claimed he had not committed in 1852. The fact that his ghost is said to haunt the area still I would assume that he was telling the truth about his innocence. After all if he was guilty I don’t see hanging around haunting the place for hundreds of years just to prove a point.

Whaley House Old Town San Diego California

You would think since he himself had witnessed the execution of Yankee Jim, Thomas Whaley might have chosen another piece of land, but maybe he was just hardened by the dangerous times. Whether it was the land on which they chose to build their home or just the fickleness of fate, but the Whaley family had their share of tragedies. They lost a child, Thomas Jr. and the family suffered some business losses due to arson related fires. Before they ever lived in the Old Town house, the family relocated to San Francisco for a short time perhaps to try to outrun fate. After the major earthquake in May of 1868, known to many in San Francisco as the big one until it was later eclipsed in history by the real Big One in 1906.

Once back in San Diego the family had more bad luck. One of the daughters, Violet, made a bad marriage to George T. Bertolacci. The marriage, for reasons not noted was said to be “unbearable” and Violet divorced him and took back her maiden name. She also came back to live in the family home again, and it was there she died tragically. Overcome by the humiliation she faced for being a divorced woman in those times she took her own life.

Perhaps it is all of this tragedy or maybe simply the strong personalities of the players that has given the Whaley House its haunted reputation. It could just be that the family loved the house so much that they didn’t want to leave.

The house took on another life as the county courthouse for a time and the courtroom is still there to be seen when you tour the house. There was also some drama surrounding that, and you can hear the whole story when you visit the Whaley House in Old Town San Diego. You can also see their large collection of ‘ghost photos’. These are pictures that were taken by visitors in the house.

One of the most famous visitors, Regis Philbin claims he saw a white mist form but when he got excited and switched on his flashlight, the mist disappeared. The Most Haunted, TV show countdown listed the Whaley House as the number one haunted place in the United States. Maybe you don’t believe in that stuff. Who knows, you may be right. Still you might not want to mention that to any members of the Whaley family that happen to pop in during your visit.

Guest Post by: Bridget Staroscik O’Reilly

Filed Under: Bridget Staroscik O'Reilly, Featured, Guest Post, North America, San Diego, United States

Monorail, Trams and the Deuce Bus – Getting around the Las Vegas Strip

May 31, 2011 By Guest Post Leave a Comment

Guest Post by: HNLhulagirl

“The Strip” is a collection of hotels that range from the fabulous to the funky all positioned shoulder to shoulder for four and a half miles along the Las Vegas Boulevard.

Taxicabs are always available at the larger hotels to whisk away the high heeled and elegant to trendy clubs, shows and parties. For others, walking is a great way to soak in the ambiance of Sin City and enjoy the various attractions such as the Mirage Volcano and the Bellagio fountains. However, for those who would rather ride than walk, there are a few additional ways to get around the strip for little or nothing.

After months and months of trenching and building, the Las Vegas Monorail opened to the public in 2004. The modern system is cool and comfortable and provides riders with an elevated view of the east side of the strip. The route spans a distance from the MGM Resort and Casino to the south to the now closed Sahara Hotel to the north. The system is safe, reliable and easy to use. The narration is upbeat with celebrity voices. It consists of just one line that makes stops at resorts including Bally’s, Paris, Flamingo, the Las Vegas Hilton and the Convention Center. Tickets can be purchased via kiosks at the entrance or online. Single ride, all day and multi-day passes are available. Since the train is located in the rear of the resorts, access to the entrance always requires walking long distances thought casinos and resorts to access the stations. Not the best for those who are looking to minimize walking. The monorail operates Monday thru Thursday between 7 a.m. and 3 a.m. Monorail tickets also include connecting shuttle bus service to and from the Rio Hotel and Sam’s Town.

Another option for those who want to explore the strip is the Deuce Bus. This double deck bus operates up and down the strip along Las Vegas Boulevard. Part of the Clark County public transportation system, this is by far the easiest and fun to use. The shiny and clean buses operate every 10-15 minutes up and own the strip. The Deuce Bus operated 24 hours a day with many stops along the strip. For those seeking to see the row of kitschy Wedding Chapels and the Fremont Street Experience in Downtown Las Vegas, no additional fare is required. Speaking of fares, one can buy a 24 hour pass for $7, certainly one of best deals on the strip. The best seats are on the upper deck in the very first row. There the unobstructed views will wow and amaze. The bus is very popular so it is often quite crowded. So a squeeze into a stopped bus or passing up one may be necessary especially in the evenings when people are on the move to restaurants, show and clubs.

There are a handful of lesser known transportation options along the strip. Resort trams offer yet another option from getting between hotels along the strip. Operated by the hotels, they offer comfort and convenience. All are free and easy to use.

The Mandalay – Excalibur Tram is one of the most visible on the strip. The single line train shuttles between the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino to the Excalibur Resort and Casino and includes a stop at the Luxor Resort and Casino. Access is in the rear of the Mandalay. Luxor and Excalibur access is along Las Vegas Boulevard. This tram operates daily from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., and trains leave every 3-7 minutes.

Another widely unknown tram is the tram the operated between the Mirage and Treasure Island. Access to this tram is easiest from the Mirage where the boarding area is adjacent to the main entrance. On the Treasure Island side, the tram arrives and departs from the rear of the resort. This rams operated everyday of the year between the hours of 7 a.m. and 2 a.m.

The newest tram system on the strip is actually an extension of an old one. Many remember the system that connected the Monte Carlo and Bellagio resort several years ago. It was shut down during construction on the new Bellagio Tower. It has re-opened to connect not only the new Bellagio tower, but to include the new glistening City Center complex. The tram still operates from the rear of the Monte Carlo Resort from the rear of the Bellagio, but stops now include the glittery new Crystals Shopping Complex, The gorgeous Aria Resort and Casino and the fabulous Vdara Hotel. The stations are ultra-modern and sleek offering views of the City Center complex that are particularly stunning at night. The tram operates every 7 minutes between 8 a.m. and 4 a.m. daily.

There are many transportation options available along the strip for Las Vegas visitors to enjoy. Use one or combine several to get the most out of a Las Vegas visit.

Other Articles by Guest Post by: HNLhulagirl

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Winter Waves at Waimea

Discovering Hawaii’s North Kohala

Filed Under: Featured, Guest Post, HNLhulagirl, Las Vegas, North America, United States

3 Lesser Known Fabulous Beaches Across America

May 13, 2011 By Guest Post Leave a Comment

Guest Post by: James Helliwell

The United States is one of the most geographically diverse countries in the world. Majestic mountains, vast arid deserts, dense forest lands and of course amazing and beautiful beaches.

Most people automatically think of Hawaii or San Diego or Miami when thinking of U.S. beaches, but with three out of 4 national borders being primarily beach front property, there are thousands of lovely beaches to choose from. As with the rest of the country, the coastlines are also quite diverse.

Some of the less known beach communities are absolutely lovely and do not have the huge crowds that are found in the more commercialized areas. One of those lovely communities is Port Aransas, Texas. Located on Mustang Island in the Gulf of Mexico around 25 miles from Corpus Christi, Port Aransas is accessible by ferry or if you are coming from the South, via the John F. Kennedy Causeway. Blessed with an ideal climate to enjoy the sandy beaches and warm Gulf waters, Port Aransas is also known for its excellent fishing and abundant recreational pursuits.

The island has a colourful history, having once been the retreat of the infamous pirate Jean La Fitte. It is said that he buried a treasure chest there filled with jewels and gold, marking the spot with a Spanish Dagger held in place by a silver spike but the treasure has never been found.

Another glorious coastal retreat is Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Myrtle Beach is a first class resort town with 60 miles of beautiful white sand beaches. There is a fantastic assortment of family venues that include water and amusement parks, live entertainment, vibrant night life and a host of gastronomical delights that range from casual to fine dining.

Golf enthusiasts will be rewarded with the best golfing the South has to offer on the nearly 100 courses in the area. Myrtle Beach has something for everyone!

Panama City Beach is one of the finest beaches found in Florida. White sand beaches and a relaxing atmosphere are complimented by legendary Southern hospitality. This beautiful city is located in the Northwest part of the state and is bordered by the warm turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico. With 320 days a year of sunshine and average daily temperatures of 74 degrees, any time is the right time for a beach holiday in Florida so if you want the above, and who wouldn’t, make your way down to Southern USA. Sport fishing is legendary here and scuba diving and snorkeling are favorite pastimes as well. Hiking, water sports, camping and much more await you at Panama City Beach.

Filed Under: Beaches, Featured, Guest Post, North America, United States

Las Vegas – City Center, Making the Impossible Possible

April 20, 2011 By Guest Post Leave a Comment

Guest Post by: HNLhulagirl

In typical Las Vegas fashion, the new City Center complex is a dazzling and stunning new addition to the fabulous Las Vegas strip. Over five years in the making, the latest phase was completed with the grand opening of the Cosmopolitan in mid-January 2011. The complex is by far the largest in Vegas to date and the developers gloat over the fact that it is the largest privately funded construction project in United States history. The project is a partnership of MGM Mirage and Dubai World.

But all has not been glorious. A failing economy, litigation, unsafe working conditions, union walk-outs and project downsizing and delays has made City Center more than just a handful of headaches.

The project hit the drawing boards in early 2000 when the US economy was stable and Vegas was riding a wave of success driven by the discretionary spending of many Americans and international visitors. Nipping at the heels of the massive projects slated for the northern end of the strip, City Center was slated to be the new heartbeat of Las Vegas.

The project broke ground in 2006 and was off to a great start. Then, in the wake of several construction related deaths, unions initiated a work stoppage that drew the attention of many in Washington DC to address the safety concerns of the workers. Federal fines flew, but the work continued.

Then the economy began to shudder to a halt. Funding for the project was in question and the all were very concerned that the project would go the way of the Elchelon and the St Regis project at the Palazzo, both of which have been stalled indefinitely due to economic reasons.

However, revisions were made and the project was scaled back which eliminated the completion of the Harmon Hotel. The Harmon’s exterior is completed, but the interior has been abandoned. The hotel is draped in a banner hailing the new Cirque du Soleil Elis show at the Aria Resort and Casino and will serve as a largest billboard on the strip until the economic conditions improve.

Aside from all the difficulties, the complex is a major success. Today the complex includes the Aria Resort and Casino, the Cosmopolitan, the Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas, Veer Towers, Vdara Hotel and Spa and Crystals, the retail and entertainment center. All are accessible by foot from the strip or via a complimentary tram system that runs from the rear of the Bellagio, makes stops at the Vdara, Aria, and Crystals before ending at the Monte Carlo Casino and Resort.

The buildings in City Center all have a stark modern appearance with glass and metal facades. Leaning columns and curving trusses at Crystals and the leaning Veer Towers all seem to defy logic.

For more Information on Las Vegas or surrounding areas in Nevada check out Beachcomber Pete Travel Adventure Guides

Other Articles by Guest Post by: HNLhulagirl

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Discovering Hawaii’s North Kohala

Filed Under: Featured, Guest Post, HNLhulagirl, Las Vegas, United States

Tallahassee Bound

July 11, 2010 By phagemann Leave a Comment

Flying all night form Sao Paulo and arriving early into New York I was able to catch a 7:30 flight out of Kennedy to Orlando. Arriving in Orlando shortly after 10am it was a quick drive home, say hello to my golden retriever, change of cloths, quick look at e-mails grab some lunch and within 2 hours of being in Orlando we were headed north in the car to Tallahassee.

You remember my story on Jet Lag? Well here we go again, being up all night from flying here I was driving to Tallahassee like a zombie, lucky for me, or the other drivers on the road, I would not be driving, I was a passenger.

In between dozing of for 15 to 30 minutes at a time it was a pretty enjoyable ride north. One of the thing I was thinking about was the first time I visited Florida some 35 years ago when I was a kid, was how green everything was. Heading north through the hills of Ocala and the city of Gainesville the scenery was definitely green, with all the rain Florida was getting this year I do not think the landscape could have been any greener.

Florida State University Tallahassee Florida

Arriving in Tallahassee around 4:30 we went and checked out my daughters new apartment while she is going to school at Florida State University. Boy the school has changed a lot since the last time I was here 25 years ago. I did not attend FSU, since I graduated from the University of Central Florida in Orlando, but I lived here in Tallahassee when I started my flying career and I was flying for Providence Boston Airlines (PBA).

Friday was a early getup, even though I had managed to get about 9 hours of sleep, thus recouping some of my lost sleep from the night before.

Today was orientation for new fall students and parents starting at Florida State for the first time. Starting at 8:am some 400 students and parents registered then saw a film on the history of FSU, then of course were talked through our first lesson of the school fight song.

By 11am we were headed out the door for our walking tour of the campus, I was pretty impressed with the layout and size of the campus, even though I got my University degree almost 30 years ago I was excited. I don’t know, it feels like when you walk through these places of higher education and think about the learning going on that I feel like I want to do it all over again.

Landis Green and Landis Hall Florida State University, Tallahassee Florida

I think my daughter was both nervous and excited for moving out of the house for the first time and coming to this great university to learn. Me, I think I was excited for her but also jealous, I was ready to do it all again.

After a day at Florida State with my daughter having her schedule for the fall semester, we left Tallahassee for the 5 hour drive back to Orlando. The next month will find her gathering and figuring what she wants for her new apartment as she will move in and start classes at Florida State during the last weeks of August.

Filed Under: Featured, North America, Travel Adventures, United States

Choosing a Discount Cruise

June 22, 2010 By phagemann 2 Comments

As I sit here on the computer with Jimmy Buffet playing in the background, it seems I finally have some time to get caught up on the Beachcomber Pete Travel website and answer e-mails from readers.

One of the e-mails I received was directed towards my recent post, “Is a Cruise Vacation in your Future?” The question asked was one that I also am asked often, where is your favorite vacation spot? In this case, the question asked was how I decide from the many discount cruises out there. And where should we go? If you are looking for a way to save money, you may want to try a cruise travel agency such as discountcruises.com. If they don’t have a cruise package that interests you, you could consider other travel agencies.

Well usually, my first response is how much time do you have? No sense talking about somewhere half way around the world when you only have 4 days to travel. Time is usually the limiting factor on traveling; a lot of people think it is money. I find that time is usually my restraint, money can be worked out. I mean, I know of many places that you could stay in Costa Rica for 5 dollars a night and others that will cost you 200 to 300 dollars a night. It’s really comes down to your comfort level.

Ok, so after asking the time frame question, I will often ask, are we talking in country? Out of the country? Some place exotic? Or someplace fun?

In regards to this e-mail I had received the writer said they had 5 days maybe and they lived here in Florida, Pete what would you do? We were thinking about a cruise, but we are not sure where to go. To me this is an open book with many opportunities available. It also asks more questions, Are you single? Will kids be going? Is this a romantic getaway?

When you come down to it I really think that if you have only a few days to travel, in this case the writer said 5 days, I think you are going to get the biggest bang for your time and money with a cruise.

If you are living in the United States and are talking about taking one of many cruises available out of Florida or maybe even New Orleans and are limited to 5 to 7 days, your cruise is going to be traveling through the Caribbean. Once again you have many choices.

If you have kids, one of the Disney or Carnival Cruises will provide a lot of entertainment for the whole family; they offer 3, 4, 5 and 7 day family oriented trips mainly throughout the Bahamas and eastern Caribbean. Sun, great water activities and stops at their own private islands, this is a great way to spend time with the family and see the Bahamas.

Heading out of Miami, Tampa or New Orleans, with again 3, 4, 5, 7 days available, take one of the many western Caribbean cruises leaving these ports and you could find yourself in fun filled places like Key West, Cozumel, Rotan, Grand Cayman, and Costa Maya. With bigger ports such as Miami, Tampa and New Orleans you have several more choices of cruise lines. Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Norwegian are just a few that come to mind that offer great deals and fantastic destinations.

Looking for a more romantic cruise? Think about one of the eastern Caribbean cruises with stops in the Virgin Islands, Ocho Rios in Jamaica and Grand Turks. Both an eastern and western Caribbean cruise will usually let you experience a couple different countries in a matter of days.

Back to the original question, “Where would you go Pete?” I have my favorite spots, and I know I would have a good time where ever I choose. The real question is where would you choose for your cruise? For those who need a little help there are several good internet based cruise sites that offer great deals on all the different cruises out there, one that comes to mind is Discountcruises.com, like most sites on the internet they have specialist that can help with those question we talked about, fun, sun, romantic or exotic cruises.

Enjoy your cruise, take in some sun, enjoy the ship, see some exciting ports of call, and have a margarita for me while you relax.

Filed Under: Caribbean, Cruise Adventures, Featured, United States

No Flying today

February 26, 2010 By phagemann Leave a Comment

Just got finished getting ready for my trip this morning to London from New York, yeah I could hear the wind blowing all night and yes I could see the beach all covered in snow, but I checked the computer and still showed my flight was going this morning.

Computer showed my plane was coming from Buenos Aires Argentina scheduled to land here in New York JFK at 6:10 this morning, so since computer still showed we were leaving on time I went ahead and got ready. All ready to go, now to see about a ride to the airport.

First cab company, no drivers, noway anyone going to the airport from here(Long Beach). Second cab company says to call back in 15 mins , he might have someone. Third cab company says they just were not driving.

Ok, now what, pulled up the Long Island Railrod website, trains are running on schedule, ok that’s a good sign, maybe I’ll just wake up one of the other pilots here in the crash pad and have them drive me to the train station, it’s only a 5 minute drive.

Checked again to see if the flight got in from Argentina, my plane, yep made it in at 6:18 ok another good sign, at least they are flying to Kennedy. Checked my flight to London and now it shows canceled. I made a call to crew schedule, yep trip is canceled, they are dropping like domino’s, that’s good I told him, nobody wants to drive me to the airport as I told him while he sits in Dallas.

So I will just stay here in my crashpad watching the snow blow by at 40 to 50 miles an hour as the snow covers the beach. It is pretty cool seeing the beach all covered in a white blanket.

Filed Under: Travel Adventures, United States

Wrong Airplane, Wrong Airport

February 16, 2010 By phagemann Leave a Comment

After getting a call that I was bottom man, and only one available for a 5am standby tomorrow morning. I checked the weather for New York, snow for next couple of days, I figured I better get up to New York. Checked the flights from Orlando to JFK, and decided on the 6:20 on Jet Blue.

Well arriving at Orlando International Airport I became aware very fast that I forgot this was a holiday weekend, Presidents day and that the races at Daytona Beach had just finished the night before.
I guess what I am getting around to saying is the airport was packed. I mean the lines at security were long, the lines at the restaurants were long, the whole terminal was packed.

Arriving at the Jet Blue gate and checking in for the jumpseat, I soon learned that there was 4 other pilots looking for a ride up to New York’s JFK and quite a few standbys also waiting for a full flight.
After checking in and getting CASS approved, CASS approved is what pilots from other airlines need to do to be able to jumpseat on a airline other than their own. Homeland Security requires this to verify who we are and that we are pilots like we say. Well after getting checked out, I pulled out my mini computer since I had a feeling I was not going to make this flight, saw that Delta Airlines had a flight also to JFK at 6:20, same terminal, other end, so it was a run over to the Delta gate to see if it was possible for a jumpseat.
Upon arriving at the Delta gates a saw a flight to New York leaving at 6pm and that it was closed yet people still on the jetbridge. Back of my mind I wondered why was this leaving 20 min early? I asked the agent if there was a chance to get the jumpseat on this flight to New York, was told yes, we need to hurry since flight was closing up and ready for departure. I went through the CASS procedure again and headed down to meet the Captain. I was welcomed aboard and told that I could take a seat in first class.

Whew, I made it, headed to JFK, wrong, during pushpack the flight attendants welcomed everybody aboard Delta Airlines flight to New York’s Laguardia Airport, uggh, wrong airplane, wrong airport. Oh well not much I could do now, at least I was headed to the right city, right direction.

Great flight, treated nice, landed in Laguardia to snow on the ground and snow flurries in the air. Now try to find the cheapest way to Long Beach and my crash pad, last bus to Kennedy had left at 8pm, it was now 9 pm. I figured a cab to Jamaica train station then Long Island Railway to Long Beach would end up running about 2 hour time with connections. So I decided it would be a cab tonight all the way to Long Beach.

Snow in New York, the line for taxis was at least 100 deep, got in the cab and told the driver I wanted to go to Long Beach, driver pulled over to the side of the road to figure out where I was going, I pulled out my trusty IPHONE, pulled up my Google map and showed him. Driver checked his book said it was off the chart for destinations from Laguardia, we agreed on a fix price and off we went.

Passed JFK airport on the way to Long Beach, had a good conversation with the driver, was told that he was from Guayaquil Ecuador, told him that I have flown there many times but that I preferred Quito Ecuador to Guayaquil, he agreed.

Wrong airplane, wrong airport, cost me 75 dollars in taxi fare, nice conversation and made it to the crash pad safe.

Filed Under: Travel Adventures, United States