Sure Horizon

Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category

It began in July of 2010; every New York City restaurant is now required to post a letter grade that corresponds to its health-inspection score. Los Angeles has been using this letter-coding system for years and it has become very successful for the city as well as the patrons.

Based on the new health-inspection letter system, a restaurant, even the ones located inside the New York City hotels , are awarded a ‘A’ for scores between 1-13; a ‘B’ for scores between 14 – 27; and a ‘C’ for 28 and higher. Each health-code violation earns a certain number of points, so lower scores equal fewer violations. Though all signs must be posted in a conspicuous place that’s visable to people walking by, restaurant patrons can also go to the Department of Health website and allows anyone to look up a restaurant by name at instantly get their score.

Many New Yorkers have taken advantage of this website and have reported that when they saw the history of violations such as ‘evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and in non-food areas’, they couldn’t believe their eyes. Surprisingly, some of the affordable restaurants fared better than the finer dining establishments. Many of the restaurants ‘Letter’ grade have not been posted yet, due to the implementation of the new health-system coding was only completed in May of this year.

Most restaurant patrons prefer not to know the dirty little details of how well the restaurant is within the health-codes, but evidentially, that letter posted in either the door of the restaurant or easily visible with just a glance will work on their subconscious mind and one day, if the grading at their favorite eatery keeps reading a ‘C’, may begin to shed light that this establishment really does have poor health practices and will end up eating at an ‘A’ graded restaurant instead.

A state that’s known for its great ski resorts, fantastic culture, and its splendid sense of the outdoors will naturally have plenty of things to draw in people from all over the world. Guests staying in five star Colorado hotels will have the chance to know the local hospitality up close and personal, and there’s more to see around every turn. The cities are a lot like the roads. More is revealed, and there’s always more to see.

It’s a very popular thing to visit when there’s snow on the ground, and there’s good reasons for that, but it’s a lovely state all throughout the year. And for coffee drinkers, there’s no season for a great cup of joe. Every day is a perfect day.

Fortunately, there are plenty of cafes in the big cities, and lots of intimate places in the small towns as well. Denver’s Curious Coffee has perhaps the most intriguing name of all of them, and it’s also won plenty of awards for popularity. Denver is the center for coffee culture, in terms of cups of espresso per capita, but even Colorado Springs has its share of excellent places. Agia Sophia is a coffee shop and a bookstore, and the emphasis is on old world style. Whatever the preference, there’s something to enjoy in the coffee here.

Lisbon is an amazingly beautiful city with an incredible skyline and architectural landscape. It is the capital of Portugal and is also an extremely popular tourist attraction. On any day of the year a Lisbon hotel could be full of guests from anywhere in the world, and they could be visiting the city for an equally diverse number of reasons. It is considered to be one of the world’s alpha cities, and part of the meaning behind this is the cultural center that it proves to be for the country and beyond.

Lisbon has an incredible tradition of support for the arts and the performance genres of the city demonstrate some of the traditional forms as well as extremely cutting edge and contemporaneously significant works. They also constitute some of the main entertainment options preferred by some of the city’s visitors. The city’s opera house is highly acclaimed and presents a comprehensive schedule every year. In addition, the numerous theatres present an extremely diverse collection of productions.

The architecture of the city is another dynamic feature and includes buildings from various time periods and styles. Modern and Post modern buildings can be found throughout the city as well as can amazing examples of Gothic, Romanesque and Baroque buildings . This is a great place for art history or architecture students to visit and examples of some of the prominent styles are well represented. But of course many of the students who visit and stay in one of the city’s hostels are extremely attracted to the vibrant club scene and night life of the city.

Albany, New York has stood for almost 4 centuries and is better known for its architectural arts such as the Million Dollar Staircase. This attraction is located in the New York State Capitol building and has recently been renovated. The Empire State Plaza’s ‘Egg’, is also quite an endeavor of architectural whimsy and inventiveness.

Albany host a great deal of cultural events and festivals during Spring through the Fall such as the Albany State Fair, and the international Tulip Festival; five star Albany hotels are booked full during both events.

Across Albany’s busy business district is the Shaker Meeting House , which is a great example of the remarkable heritage that Albany has preserved of an era depicting the lifestyle of Albany’s Dutch settlers.

Visitors won’t feel a lack of a great nightlife in Albany. The clubs and bars are fun, exciting and surprisingly posh, like the Envy Lounge or the Fuze Box, where the dress-code, club clothes, is strictly enforced. As for dining, check out Jack’s Oyster House. This restaurant is packed at lunchtime as well as for dinner; locals, Politian’s and tourist a like all come here for the best food in town. If Jack’s too crowded, then head over to Yono’s; Chef Yono has been a featured guest chef at the James Beard House 6 times!

There’s no lack of things to do in Albany and it’s only 2 ½ hour’s drive from New York City.

While most people think of the great beaches, fabulous dining options and great shopping opportunities associated with Palm Beach Florida, there are others that actually want to tour some of the more haunted places. Visiting haunted destinations is becoming a frequent vacation orientation and it is catching on during all seasons and with people from all different backgrounds.

It seems our fascination with the unknown continues to grow despite the amount of scientific, technological and intellectual progress we continue to make. And fortunately for those guests in one of the Palm beach five star hotels who are interested in exploring some haunted destinations, there are plenty of them in the city.
The Henry Flagler Museum and mansion are reported to be one of the most haunted places in the city. Various shapes and ghostly figures are frequently reported to be seen throughout the extensive complex. Another popular haunted location is the Palm Beach Island, which is frequently referred to as witches row due to the amount of unexpected and odd electrical issues that occur randomly with cars as they pass through. People are interested in the unexplained for various reasons. Some want a solid thrill while others are investigating the reality and philosophical potential behind the hauntings . And it’s likely more than a few of them will also explore some of the great beaches while they’re in town.

Anyone who’s visited Dallas in the past few years has probably noticed some interesting changes. There was a very lively cultural scene here in the 90s, where some of the local neighborhoods started to shed the Deep Elem Blues and become something that wasn’t exactly like Paris in the 1890s, but it was pretty cool. Although it hasn’t returned to that former glory, there are enough threads to suggest that something’s happening in town again lately. It makes good sense, because Dallas has never gone into any kind of hiding.

There’s always been a strong cultural scene here, as evidenced by the popularity of the five star hotels Dallas offers. People come not just for the local charm, and the splendid offerings a capital city can offer. There is a draw for the local theatre, sports, music, and visual art. It’s a very lively place, and it has a pretty lively history.

The 90s were a particular time, and it probably won’t happen again, at least not in the same order. True, there are plenty of local celebrities, and Eliott Smith formed his own particular world view here, and his influence is deeply felt. Even though he made the impact from another star, one called Portland, there’s something in the local scene that seems to be mustering up another wave of something extraordinary.

The three largest states in the United States are Alaska, Texas, and California, but only Texas has North America’s largest Ferris wheel. The Texas Star Ferris Wheel was originally constructed in Italy, making its debut in Dallas, Texas, at the 277-acre complex known as Fair Park in 1985. It requires over 15 employees to run the Texas Star, and the mammoth wheel lifts riders approximately 20 stories high. It’s possible for riders at the top of the wheel to see over forty miles on a clear day, all the way to the downtown Fort Worth skyline.

Fair Park originated as part of the Dallas State Fair over 120 years ago, in 1886. It became a part of the Texas Centennial Exposition in 1936, and a six month redesign effort turned it into a prime example of Art Deco architecture. The exposition drew in approximately six million visitors. The park’s exposition buildings, some which were intended to be temporary, are restored today and the entire park became a National Historic Landmark in 1986.

If you’ve chosen to stay overnight in a hotel, Dallas offers many fine attractions, many of which may be found at Fair Park. In addition to the Texas Star, travelers and tourists will find nine museums here, six performance venues, and a lagoon. Concentrated in one space, you’ll find such museums as the Museum of the American Railroad, The Women’s Museum: An Institute for the Future, the African American Museum, the Museum of Nature and Science, as well as Fair Park Band Shell, Texas Discovery Gardens , the Dallas Aquarium, and the Cotton Bowl.

There are many upper crust institutions in the Twin Cities that can give out of town guests a high time on the town. It’s one of the most exciting places in the country, with a high quality of life that makes for some wonderfully entertaining places to enjoy the fruits of one’s labor. Whatever ‘Midwestern tastes’ might happen to mean anywhere else, here it means an excellent sense of style and culture. There are plenty of excellent restaurants and pubs near the five star hotels Minneapolis has to offer, making it possible to have a truly spectacular evening.

For local flavor, however, it might take a little more exploring, although it never takes long before something enchanting comes along. To get deep into the local culture, however, it usually takes a friend or two to recommend the cool spots in town. For a night at a working class pub where there’s karaoke and darts, it’s hard to beat the Poodle Club. It’s on Minneapolis’ historic Lake Street , in the strip just before the road turns into the bridge crossing the Mississippi River connecting the Twin Cities.

This is a great place to spend an evening with close friends. It’s big enough to get a booth, and small enough to cozy up on the cold evenings, and there are plenty of those here. It’s also got the most ironic generation of karaoke singers in the country perhaps, on either side of the Mississippi.

Find a little peace and tranquility floating while exploring the Boston Harbor area. There is nothing like getting on a boat and seeing the big city from a fresh and calm point of view. There are many islands around the harbor that are open to the public for some adventure. Even the Boston boutique hotels can point you in the right direction.

There are plenty of tours to catch as well as a self guided tour on the Boston Harbor Islands Ferry One can purchase the tickets on line or at the ticket booth. For on line tickets make sure you specify the Harbor Islands Express Tickets.

The ferry will take you to Georges Island and Spectacle Island. If you want to switch routes you can visit Bumpkin Islands, Grape Island, Peddocks Island and Lovells.

Georges Island has the historic Fort Warren which is a Civil War time fort filled with lots of ghost stories. There is a restaurant and other facilities on the island so you can stay and enjoy for a while.

Spectacle Island is a great place to catch some beach time in the summer sun. This is the place to go for a little swim and or a nice hike.

n Maui, on its western shore and a couple of miles north of the old whaling town of Lahaina, is the beach resort of Kaanapali; a golfers paradise. The Royal Kaanapali Course opened its lush fairways in 1962 and is one of only two courses in all of Hawaii designed by the architect Robert Trent Jones, Sr., who took advantage of the rolling landscape and created gently sloping fairways and big contoured greens that ensure a challenging approach to every hole. The course in 6,700 yards and is a par 71; a course that will task your selection of clubs and putting skills.

The Royal Kaanapali Course starts at sea level, giving golfers a breathtaking vista of the ocean and surrounding islands; the first tee in a par 5 and extends 550 yards. Then golfers will then hug the shoreline before the course winds its way to the West Mountain foothills . At one time, Arnold Palmer called the 18th hole, which is a par 4, one of the most challenging and best finishing holes he had ever had the privilege of playing. The 18th hole plays longer than it looks, because how it hugs the brackish water canal the entire length of the fairway and the green, which makes this final hole one of the most memorable.

You’ll want to book one of the hotels Kaanapali offers instead of ones on other parts of the Maui island, because The Royal Kaanapali Course was awarded 4.5 stars out of 5 by Golf Digest, making this course distinctive and exceptional. You’ll experience outstanding playing conditions and first-class customer service you won’t soon forget. Plus, the resort underwent a $13 million renovation in 2006 to get ready to host the Wendy’s Champions Tour SKINS Game in February 2008, which featured Nicklaus, Palmer, Tom Watson, Fuzzy Zoeller, Loren Roberts, Jay Haas and drew more than 8,000 spectators. Now, youtoo can experience playing on one of the best golf courses in the world.