Neon Vancouver explores the city's signage of the past

A new exhibit at the Museum of Vancouver explores one of the British Columbian city's more controversial history topics. Vancouver, which was known as the "neon capital of Canada" in the '50s, once had over 19,000 neon signs, some of which are still visible to tourists on North American vacations today.

However, a push from environmentalists in the '60s and '70s prompted the removal of many signs, with less than 50 historic neon signs remaining around the city today, according to Openfile.ca.

Neon Vancouver/Ugly Vancouver will run through August 2012, and consists of many of the signs from around the city, as well as an exploration of the "love/hate relationship" the city had with them. Exhibit curator Joan Seidl says that the citizens of Vancouver pushed to have the city be a "green, natural space" during those decades.

The exhibit, which is a wallet-friendly $12 admission fee for visitors on North American vacations, also contains photographs by Walter Griba that feature the neon past of Vancouver and have never been shown in public before.

Join in on the fun at Munich, Germany's New Year's Eve festival

If travelers are thinking about their New Year's Eve plans abroad, they may wish to consider a trip to Munich, Germany. The Tollwood Winter Festival occurs throughout December and ends on New Year's Eve, offering some amazing attractions and sights to see for a thrilling European vacation experience.

The event's website reports that this spectacle encompasses themes of cultural celebration and fun ways to learn about science. Most of the activities are free and are held within massive tents lit with colorful light displays. Leading up to midnight New Year's Eve, guests are encouraged to dance the night away with music coming from four separate festival regions, all of which is concluded with a traditional and awe-inspiring waltz to ring in the new year.

Munich is a beautiful city to visit at any time of year, boasting wonderful attractions and historical landmarks. According to World Travel Guide, the City Museum is a great place to start, as it displays wonderful artifacts from the area's past, including musical instruments, photography, weaponry and even puppets.

See a spectacular music festival near Runaway Bay, Jamaica

Attending a reggae festival in sunny Jamaica may be the perfect way to take a break from the dreary winter weather. Travelers planning a Caribbean vacation may wish to check out the Rebel Salute Music Festival in Mandeville, located a short drive south of Runaway Bay.

This unique concert focuses on the soul and culture of Jamaica and encourages a pure atmosphere devoid of any foreign substances, says the event's website. Many artists will take to the stage to showcase some of the amazing and modern skills on the Jamaican music scene, including acts such as Beres Hammond and Aaron Silk. Officials say that this festival brings participants from all corners of the island, as well as travelers who wish to experience a true Jamaican musical spectacle.

After experiencing the reggae event in Mandeville, travelers can head to Runaway and hit the beach, as this region boasts some beautiful shores to explore, reports Lonely Planet. One of the prettiest areas is the Cardiff Hall Public Beach, which is ideal for a swim in the crystal clear water or for strolling along the sandy white coastline.

See the snowshoe race in Venice, Italy, this winter

Strapping on snowshoes is a less popular winter activity then skiing or skating, but people in Venice, Italy, have taken the sport to whole new level by hosting a massive competition on the funny looking footwear. Travelers considering their next European vacation may want to attend La Ciapolada this January for a thrilling way to experience this snowy part of Italy.

More than 20 different countries are represented in the race, and more than 700 people competed for first place last year alone, reports the event's website. Guests are encouraged to participate or simply watch the events unfold from the sidelines. Not only does the race provide an exciting exhibition for spectators to enjoy, but those who are in the area may also take a horse-drawn carriage ride or listen to a local choir sing Italian Christmas carols.

While in Venice for the thrilling snowshoe race, travelers should not miss the other incredible attractions and entertainment options within city limits. According to Fodor's, visiting the Rialto Bridge is worth a look, as it is a magnificent example of Venetian design and impressive stonework that was created more than 500 years ago.

Enjoy some fresh French cuisine at a festival near Paris this winter

If travellers don't get enough turkey during their Thanksgiving festivities, they will have another chance at a feast while visiting Licques, a small town in the north of France, this December. Every year, the region celebrates the festivities with a fun and traditional event called the Turkey Festival. This could be a unique way for travelers to immerse themselves into the French culture and countryside on an unforgettable European vacation.

The event is hosted by the Licques turkey farm, which has been throwing this exciting feast for more than two decades, according to the company’s website. For the past ten years, the festival has taken place over the course of three days, featuring dinners, traditional dances and an informal parade of turkeys that is corralled down the town streets.

After filling up on tasty turkey, travelers can journey to Paris to get a feel for France's urban life. According to Fodor’s, travelers can continue the theme of French cuisine by having an elegant meal at Beniot, which has been a city staple for generations. Classic dishes on the menu include delicious frogs’ legs in a mushroom cream sauce.

Enjoy Miami’s wonderful parade this winter

This December, travelers who love to immerse themselves in local cultures and traditions should make plans for a trip to Miami, Florida, on their next North American vacation. At the end of the month, the annual King Mango Strut Parade will take place on the streets of Coconut Grove, a lively district located in the city of Miami.

For almost three decades, colorful locals in the area have been organizing a truly peculiar parade featuring talented performers and participants dressed in vibrant costumes, reports the event’s website. The promenade was developed in response to the King Orange parade that no longer takes place in town, as some revelers felt left out because their strange skills were not appreciated.

Now, spectators and participants of all ages can do what they please and gather together in celebration of the kooky and quirky. Travelers may see performers on stilts, people dressed in tie-dye outfits or others impersonating Elvis and Marilyn Monroe.

While in Miami, travelers may also wish to visit the scenic Fairchild Botanical Garden for a look into the natural beauty of the region, reports World Travel Guide. This park boasts nearly a dozen lakes and ponds, some of which have stunning waterfalls and lilies

Experience a peculiar event in Cordoba, Spain

Not all festivals claim to have deep spirituality or a rich traditional history - some are simply just for fun. Travelers who are planning their next European vacation may wish to consider taking a trip to Cordoba, Spain, to participate in its annual Dance of the Mad Ones and the Bear festival.

Every year at December’s end, people gather together and act out a performance that mimics various events in history, such as the reign of King Herod and the arrival of foreign settlers more than three centuries ago. Guests are encouraged to watch and learn about the region’s unique background and culture.

The city of Cordoba itself has so much to see and do that travelers will definitely want to explore after the event takes place. According to Lonely Planet, visitors should not miss the Mezquita, a Muslim mosque that was later converted into a Catholic church, which gives the place of worship an interesting design and look, as much of the architecture and artwork presents a blending of the two cultures.

Visitors should not overlook beautiful river views from Rome's Isola Tiberina

Between visits to it renowned historical sites, art museums and shopping venues, travelers on a European vacation should not overlook forays into Rome's picturesque neighborhoods.

One such destination is Rome's Isola Tiberina (Tiber Island), which is one of the two islands located in the Tiber River and has been connected to the city by two bridges - Ponte Cestio and Ponte Fabricio - since ancient times. The Ponte Fabricio is the oldest bridge crossing the Tiber that is still in use.

St. Bartolomeo Square, where a 10th century church contains Rome's oldest working bell and beautiful artwork, is the heart of Isola Tiberina, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Entry to the island is free and open daily to visitors. The summertime Isola del Cinema film festival takes place on the island, which has often been used as a scenic backdrop in Italian films.

According to VirtualTourist.com, Isola Tiberina has a unique history related to medicine and healing. It once housed the ancient Temple of Aesculapius named for the Greek god of medicine. In Roman times, people with illnesses of the body and spirit went there because they believed the island had powers of healing. Today, one of Rome's best hospitals, Ospedale Fatebenefratelli, is located on the site.

Check out Key West’s pirate spectacle on vacation this fall

The lore and legend of pirates has delighted travelers young and old for generations. Those who would enjoy a hearty pirate event may wish to consider journeying to the Florida Keys on their next North American vacation this fall.

In Key West, buccaneer enthusiasts will gather at the end of November for the annual Pirates in Paradise festival. For a week’s worth of activities, this region of Florida will come alive with some of the best swash buckling and exciting events around. Guests can enjoy a wealth of fun and family friendly occurrences, including musical performances, sailing excursions upon pirate-worthy ships, and an arts and craft bazaar with many local items like costumes, play swords and more.

Travelers who venture to Key West for this wonderful and unique event have many other attraction and entertainment options to enjoy while on a sunny getaway. According to World Travel Guide, the beaches in this region are unforgettable, especially Smathers Beach, which is perfect for family fun, and Higgs Beach, ideal for sunbathing and taking a dip in the beautiful blue Gulf of Mexico.

Park City, Utah's pioneer life on display at town history museum

 

Before it was a ski resort or the location of a world-famous film festival, Park City, Utah, was a community of true western pioneers.

Its colorful history, including mining days and the Great Fire of 1898, comes to life at the Park City Museum, located in the heart of the town's Main Street. For a brief respite on a ski trip during a North American vacation, the museum provides an entertaining look at how millionaires and "muckers" (miners) made their way during Park City's early history.

According to Frommer's, one of the must-see sites at the museum is its facsimile of the original territorial jail where tiny cells were considered state of the art in the 1880s.

Also on display is a stagecoach similar to those that brought people and the mail to Park City. Visitors can be seated in a recreated railway car while they view a short film about frontier days.

Other features include an historic saloon, a two-story replica of a Mega Mine complete with a mill, Cornish pump, an aerial tramway and a "rock face" where visitors can try their hand at drilling for ore. In the skier subway theater, a presentation explains how Park City became the ski resort it is today.

Dine at outstanding restaurants in Florence

One of the most exciting things to do on any European vacation is to try new and delicious cuisine. Travelers who are planning a trip to Florence, Italy, this summer will have the opportunity to dine at exquisite restaurants, as the country is one of the food capitals of the world.

For sublime and classic Italian food, tourists may want to visit Taverna del Bronzino. The classy establishment is located in a facility that once belonged to Santi di Tito, who was a student of the painter Bronzino. Guests will enjoy the simple decor as well as the fantastic food, such as the fresh antipasti or the ravioli alla Senese, a pasta stuffed with ricotta and spinach and covered with creamy tomato sauce.

Another fabulous restaurant in Florence is La Giostra, which can be found in the Santa Croce neighborhood. The hip property has an amazing staff and even better food. Customers may want to order the taglierini con tartufo bianco - perfectly cooked pasta with white truffles. Guests who have a sweet tooth will enjoy the divine tiramisu or the Sacher torte as well.

In addition, the eatery often switches up its menu, allowing visitors to try something new each time they come

St. Kitts vacation can lead to world-class golf outing

While most golfers try to spend their rounds on the course out of the sand, any fan of the beach and hitting the links should consider playing a round in St. Kitts.

People often head on a Caribbean vacation to experience the clear water and powdery beaches that surround the islands. Playing 18 holes at the Royal St. Kitts Golf Course allows visitors to do just that.

The plush green grass of the course is tucked along a coast in Frigate Bay, creating scenic visages of palm trees, ocean water and clear skies throughout the day of golf.

Unlike traditional golf courses, water hazards at Royal St. Kitts are not man-made ponds or lakes left behind by glaciers. Sand traps have not been shipped in and perfectly manicured to fit the course. Instead slicing the ball too far right on the par three hole six will lead to using your sand-wedge on a real Frigate Bay beach, while driving a ball too far on the par four eighth hole will send your ball sinking to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.

Plenty of restaurants are near the course that can accommodate whatever a visitor is hungry for, from steak houses to traditional Caribbean cuisine.

Barbados fish fry offers true island dining experience

Any fish lover planning a Caribbean vacation need look no further than Barbados. The fishing town of Oistins opens up the Barbadian world of fresh-caught ocean fish every Friday night.

The Oistins Fish Fry offers tourists and locals a variety of food, highlighted by freshly caught tuna, marlin, swordfish, mahi-mahi and other fish native to the waters surrounding Barbados. Also available are lobster, chicken and island produce. The fish is all cooked to order on site as patrons stand just a few feet away, and can be either grilled or fried.

The wallet-friendly dining experience is merely a fraction of an Oistins Friday evening. Before food begins being served and patrons make their way to the plentiful seating at 7 p.m., people are encouraged to wander along the pier, taking in the sunset and tossing fish scraps to turtles swimming below.

Once the smell of food begins to waft through the air, so too does the sound of Caribbean music. The laid-back festival atmosphere encourages people to sing and dance through the night.

What you need to know about Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port

Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port

On the Beach in Ft. Lauderdale   Fort Lauderdale The "middle city" of Florida's Gold Coast, Fort Lauderdale sits between Miami to the south and Palm Beach to the north. The city blends in nicely with its metropolitan neighbors, and elements of Miami's chic vibe and the affluent nature of Palm Beach are recognizable here. But Fort Lauderdale is a destination in and of itself. Operating one of the busiest cruise ports in North America -- more than three million people pass through each year -- has helped to define Fort Lauderdale as a robust tourism spot in the United States. Fort Lauderdale started out as a swampy outpost with a fort, built to protect against the Seminole Indians. The swamps were transformed in the late 1800's into a series of canals by scooping them out parallel to each other and creating long peninsulas in between them. This undertaking resulted in the city's more than 300 miles of navigable waterways (twice that of Venice) -- hence the nickname "Venice of America." The abundance of waterways that wind up and down the coast have made Fort Lauderdale a boating hot spot, with 42,000 registered yachts holding forth. The community gained fame and some measure of disrepute when it was featured in the 1960's movie "Where the Boys Are," causing legions of college-aged boys (and, not coincidentally, girls) to descend for raucous spring break holidays. For decades, Fort Lauderdale was synonymous with spring break -- and the giddy wildness that accompanies this rite of passage -- until an effort by city leaders in the 1980's went into effect, in earnest, to tone it all down. Indeed, these days the fastest-growing market for Fort Lauderdale is actually the trendy high spenders that may once have gone south -- or north. Among new area hotels are the Ritz-Carlton, the Trump International Hotel and Tower, and the W Fort Lauderdale. Since shedding its "rowdy, college spring break" reputation, the city has grown into a more genteel community that's family- and boater-oriented. Beyond the canals, and the Intracoastal Waterway that runs through the city, a major development has been the redefining of Fort Lauderdale itself. Downtown -- especially around the hub of Las Olas Boulevard, with its cafes, galleries and boutiques -- feels almost as Miami Beach as, well, Miami Beach. Greater Fort Lauderdale's 23-mile beachfront has also received a major overhaul, with lush landscaping and vivacious lighting complementing the expansive stretches of sand. In fact, since 1999, the beaches of greater Fort Lauderdale have earned "Blue Wave Beach" certification from the Clean Beaches Council, a designation awarded to the nation's cleanest and safest beaches. Beyond surf, sand and Fort Lauderdale's role as cruise embarkation central, there are enough activities to entice travelers to spend a few days there before or after a voyage.

Sunset Resort in Jamaica - check it out

MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA (October 2011) – Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort Spa & Conference Center in Ocho Rios, a legendary Jamaica property, and the full-of-fun Sunset Beach Resort Spa & Waterpark in Montego Bay are ushering in the 2011/2012 Winter Season with extensive room enhancements. Additionally, the romantic Sunset at the Palms Resort in Negril will increase their room inventory this winter. 

 With renovations valued at $3 million, the resorts look and feel “refreshed.” At the 730-room Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort Spa & Conference Center in Ocho Rios, upgrades employ a playful Caribbean color palette and include freshly carpeted hallways, new furniture and 42’’ flat screen televisions.  

The newly renovated guest rooms at the 430-room Sunset Beach Resort Spa & Waterpark in Montego Bay are located in the Sunrise and Sunset Tower, offering lovely views of the Montego Bay’s harbor, the mountains and Caribbean Sea, as well as in the family-friendly Waterpark rooms adjacent to the Waterpark attraction. Updated rooms will boast modern furnishings, warm colors reflecting the Caribbean Sea, rich mahogany stained furniture and 42” LCD flat screen televisions. The Waterpark rooms have been outfitted with kid-approved bunk beds.

 Additionally, Sunset Beach Resort Spa & Waterpark introduces a new beachfront room category – the Cabana rooms are ideally located so that guests on the lower level can walk directly out of their rooms to the sparkling blue water.

Sunset at the Palms Resort in Negril will increase their room inventory to 85 treetop deluxe rooms, including three treetop one-bedroom suites, this winter. This chic hideaway is the ideal spot for romantics for a weekend getaway or a destination wedding. Exotic “tree house-style” guestrooms sit on stilts scattered throughout the ten-acre tropical garden, bordering the Negril Royal Palm Preserve.