Amusement Parks

 

Life is like a carnival ride. You can play it safe and ride the merry-go-round, it's predictable. But, myself personally, I will ride the rollercoaster, for all it's glory and thrills, It's ups and downs, twists and turns, and rushes.   - Lynette Mack

Lets Do Something!

 The weather is getting nice and I'd like to do something.  Can't afford a trip, say to a tropical island, maybe to the beach , although everyone goes there, and the movies are a night time thing so that only leaves amusement parks... but there are so many different kind.  I'll try to tell you the difference.

 

Carnivals

 Originally, carnivals were a religious event, a festive season which occurred immediately before Lent  In the days before Lent, all rich food and drink had to be disposed of. The consumption of this, in a giant party that involved the whole community, is thought to be the origin of Carnival.

Carnivals are like circuses, they travel a lot.  In fact the one distinction between a carnival and other amusement parks was its temporariness, it wouldn't stay in one place for very long.  But unlike a circus,  usually held inside a large circular tent or ring set up outdoors, a carnival may cover a large space outdoors, in which the crowd can walk along to choose their desired form of entertainment.

 

EDC Trailer

Billed as North America's largest electronic music and arts festival, the Electric Daisy Carnival is growing and growing.  You can see more by clicking on the image caption.

 

 

 

Amusement Parks

Ride a Ferris Wheel

An amusement park is a group of entertainment attractions, rides, and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people.  Amusement parks evolved from European fairs and pleasure gardens, which were created for people's recreation and should not be confused with Theme Parks, regarded as a distinct style of amusement park. A theme park has landscaping, buildings, and attractions that are based on one or more specific themes or stories.

Carousel Horse Race

Apparently, several centuries ago amusement parks evolved into places of entertainment for the masses, where the public could view freak shows, acrobatics, conjuring and juggling, take part in competitions and walk through menageries.

  Of course I can't forget Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York, on the Atlantic Ocean.  It was first visited by pleasure seekers who would ride a horse-drawn streetcar line to the beach beginning in 1829.  Today it houses multiple (theme) parks and can host as many as a million people in a day.

Coney Island in 1940

Theme Parks

In common language, the terms theme park and amusement park are often synonymous. Theme parks are a specific type of amusement park, usually much more intricately themed to a certain subject or group of subjects than normal amusement parks. Disneyland, for example, located in Anaheim, California, was built around the concept of encapsulating multiple theme parks into a single amusement park. The opening of Disneyland, in 1955, completely changed the landscape of the amusement park industry.

 

Theme Parks can be further broken-down into three categories; Educational, Family-owned, and Regional.

Educational Theme Parks

Sea World's "One Ocean" Shamu Show

 Some parks use rides and attractions for educational purposes. Disney was the first to successfully open a large-scale theme park built around education, named Epcot.  Holy Land, USA, in Waterbury, Connecticut, was built to inspire Christian piety. While the three Dinosaur World parks (Florida, Texas, and Kentucky) entertain and educate families with dinosaurs, the SeaWorld chain of parks houses several thousand animals, fish and other sea life in dozens of attractions and exhibits focusing on animal education.

 

Family-owned theme parks

Knott's 300 Foot Tower Swing Ride

In the 1920s, Walter Knott and his family sold berries from a roadside stand and today we have Knott's Berry Farm. A Ghost Town was added but it wasn't until 1968 that it officially became an amusement park. 

 

The Herschends family have several theme parks including Dollywood; located in the Knoxville-Smoky Mountains metroplex in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee; Celebration City; in Branson, Missouri; and Wild Adventures; located 5 miles from Valdosta, Georgia.

 

Regional parks

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

The first regional theme park, Six Flags, was Six Flags over Texas and helped create the modern, competitive theme park industry.  In a few years was the opening of the Walt Disney World resort complex in Florida.

 

 

 

 

 

*****

 

 Without leaving your home you can experience some of the attractions here.  Click on any selection, such as;

Peter Pan's Flight at Walt Disney World ,
Space Mountain at the Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World ,
Tower of Terror at Disney's Hollywood Studios at the Walt Disney World resort ,
The Madagascar attraction at Universal Studios Singapore,
E.T Adventure ride at Universal Studios Florida ,
Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem at Universal Orlando ,
Indiana Jones Adventure (Chamber of Earthly Riches) Disneyland

If roller coasters are more suited for you try;

El Toro at Six Flags Great Adventure ,
SeaWorld's new Manta roller coaster,
Kingda Ka (World's Biggest Roller Coaster) at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey,
Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain ,

I'd continue but my stomach refuses.
Enjoy!

Tropical Isle

Tropical Island

The island is ours. Here, in some way, we are young forever.― E. Lockhart

 

Now that the sun has set and I've checked out the  things to do at night, even sampled the nightlife and visited the beach, it would be nice to go to some tropical island and lay on the sand. No half-clad natives, no kids, just me and thee laying on the sand!  Interesting, islanders wish they were in a city and city folk wish they were on an island.  No one seems content.
 

I can see it now. The sun has just come up on our Hawaiian retreat on Kaua'i and we set sail for our southern location, another island deep in the Pacific.  An island just for us.  A place we can truely call our own.

Kaua'i was nice but it had people, its' one real drawback. Being the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago and according to a 2010 census the population of Kauaʻi was almost 68,000 people, with the largest town being Kauaʻi.

 

 

 

It is a great day for sailing.  Just enough wind to laboriously get us to where we want to go without a lot of tacking and altering course.  After a few days of sailing we reach our island retreat but the sun is about to set so we wait... tomorrow we would lay on the beach and work on our tan.

No footprints!  No volleyball net! Not one sign of human habitation.  Just the sun, the sand, and ....  A chance to satisfy those classic desert-isle fantasies while relaxing in my hammock.

Back to reality! I'm anchored a few yards off shore so when I need water or food it is only a swim away, or 5 minute row.  I remember a story about a Frenchman... (true story!) anyway, this Frenchman went mad after two years of solitude on Mauritius. He tore his clothing to pieces in a fit of madness brought on by a diet of nothing but raw turtles. Sure glad I have those sandwiches.  And what clothes?

 

Watch out for those Volcanic islands - makes for darkened sand - sometimes they are sinking.  Maybe even growing.  I recall reading about Japan's Niijima island, a volcano which broke through the ocean's surface last November.  It has now merged with a nearby island.  

 

Forget golden sands and swaying palms - the reality of solitude is different.  Remember, solitude was a priority with you so no package tours for independent travelers, no hotels, no airport, no holiday reps, no night clubs, no restaurants, no jet skis nor safe sea swimming areas.  Just you and, and you.

 

Do you know how hard it is to find a really uninhabited island?  Especially in the Southern seas.  When you can they are either Nature Reserves, lots of bird ca-ca and dense foliage, require permission or privately owned.

 

Best to just forget the whole idea of escaping to an uninhabited tropical island.  Better to look at what is out there!

 

Fiji

Fiji offers so many different options to choose from. Whether you’re interested in secluded private island resorts, upmarket boutique properties, budget accommodations or large sprawling beach resorts, Fiji has something for everyone and almost any budget.

 

Seclusion!  If you want something a bit more secluded then think of a Fiji resort in the Yasawa Islands. There you find an exclusive retreat on one of the most remote and unspoiled islands of Fiji. Just 18 luxury bungalows are hidden among the palms, each just a few steps from a pristine white beach.

 

Tahiti

Ah, the French Polynesia, the land of dreams. 

If you want to relax and romance in one of the most beautiful spots in the world then a Tahiti holiday is ideal – and a bed in an overwater bungalow is a must!

 

If these two are just to commercialized for you perhaps an escape to some of the lesser islands would be best.

The Cook Islands

In a place that is a little less populated than the more popular spots in Fiji and Tahiti, the Cook Islands are a great option. 

 

 Rarotonga offers fun and the sun while Aitutaki is ideal if you want more privacy on an idyllic lagoon surrounded by uninhabited islands.

 

Hoping for a very French Polynesian overwater bungalow experience in the Cook Islands then the Aitutaki Lagoon Resort (left) is the spot for you.

 

Tonga

The “king of the uninhabited islands” is also an off the beaten track destination, meaning you’ll not only have beauty but privacy. Tonga is less about glamour and more about authenticity, and the lack of tourists in comparison to hot spots like Fiji and Tahiti mean you’ll feel like you have discovered a whole new world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s hard to put your finger on it, but a tropical island resort has something very special about it. Sure, you're away from that hustle-and-bustle of city life but I think it is the beauty of island living combined with the convenience of being in the modern age. 

 

The beach is definitely tropical looking with towering palm trees backed, on many islands, by steep forested hills. Patios often face a beautiful bay and maybe a solitary small island.   Don't forget that endless horizon of clear calm sea. Everything moves at a much slower pace than back home and nothing beyond the ocean view seems to be that important any more.
 

 

Vacation is over... oh well, back to civilization.  Darn!





A word of caution. It was the sign that caught my eye.  It read "WANTED: Island Caretaker" and when I inquired within I was shone a picture (right) taken at low tide.  I would have to bring my own umbrella during monsoon season.  They provided the desk, the surfboard and the plane. Not for me... at least, not this one.

*****

 

TripAdvisor   Search:
Get the latest deals, reviews & articles. Tailored for the destinations you choose.

Beach

Let's Go To The Beach

The weather is nice and among our first thoughts are getting a tan and going to the beach.  But not everyone wants to work on their tan.  To some it is 'time to hit the surf!'  Others grab their volleyball and spare net for some sandy fun.   Many guys are wanting to see the girls and the a lot of the girls are wanting to see guys. And the kids!  Hey, let's not forget the kids!  They want to wade in the water and grab their buckets to play in the sand.

Opps! Wrong beach!!

 

  Most of us have built a sandcastle before, but the following sand sculptors take this childhood pastime to a whole new level. Maybe you will  be inspired to create one of your own next time you go to the beach.  Just have an imagination then add a little water to simple plain sand and create some really amazing and impressive sand sculptures.  Oh yes, and talent, too!

 

Here is what others have done:

 The Flintstones

 

 Mt. Rushmore

 

 Wizard of Oz

 

 Sleeping Mermaid

 

Star Wars

 

Relaxing Elephant

 

This is the kind of beach life I had in mind.  Oh, well!

Since my imagination is not very good and neither is my sand sculpturing I think I'll stay home and watch television.  That is, unless I have to mow the lawn!

 

Life At Night

Life at Night

  There are a lot of things to do at night besides clubbing. Many of us work during the day and must confine our activity to the later hours.  Here are some choices:

Mayfair and Bond Street, London

Mayfair is an area of central London while Bond Street is a major shopping street in London's West End. Both have major shopping areas, like Burlington Arcade in the east of Mayfair and the The Royal Arcade on Old Bond Street.

 

Paris

Shoppers during the night out in Paris.  Some frequent Passage du Havre, an old shopping arcade in the center of Paris.

 

Shibuya Station, Japan

Shibuya station is currently undergoing major renovations as a part of a long-term site redevelopment plan. So you may want top think elsewhere for good shopping.  Although the Tokyu department store has been closed and is set for demolition, the west building of the Tokyu department store continues to operate as before.

 

Khao San Road, Bangkok

Khao San Road shops sell handcrafts, paintings, clothes, local fruits, pirated CDs, DVDs and second-hand books, plus many useful backpacker items. During the late evening, the streets turns into bars and music is played. Khao San has been shortened to Khaosan, which translates as "milled rice", a reminder that in former times the street was a major Bangkok rice market.

Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Causeway Bay is a heavily built-up area of Hong Kong, located on Hong Kong Island, and covering parts of Wan Chai and Eastern district.

 

Malmesbury Market Cross

Malmesbury is a market town and civil parish in the southern Cotswolds in the county of Wiltshire, England.  In the centre of Malmesbury, Wiltshire, stands the market cross, built c.1490,^[1] possibly using limestone salvaged from the recently ruined part of Malmesbury Abbey, which then began just across the market square from the cross.

 

HOME

 

On second thought, let's just stay home... maybe go out some other night.  Watch a little TV or maybe rent a movie. Let others fight the crowd.  We can just relax, sip a little wine, enjoy the fireplace, put on some music, maybe even see some of the stars.

 

 

 

 

Nightlife

    It Is Party Time!

The sun has set it is time for some nightlife.  Take your pick!
 

Big Apple, New York City

"The Big Apple", a nickname for New York City, was first popularized in the 1920s by John J. Fitz Gerald, a sports writer for the New York Morning Telegraph.  Maybe Punk Rock is more your taste. The origins of New York's punk rock scene can be traced back to such sources as late 1960s trash culture and an early 1970s underground rock movement centered on the Mercer Arts Center in Greenwich Village, where the New York Dolls performed.

 

Mansion, Miami

Mansion, in Miamai, is one of the country's hottest nightclubs by People Magazine.  If you’ve visit Miami to party, you’ve come to the right place. World renowned for opulent, high-energy nightclubs, there’s also a thriving local bar and lounge scene. Miami comes to life when the sun goes down. Explore popular nightlife areas, hit live music spots or dance until dawn.  Don't know where to ho?  Try here.

 

boliches, Buenos Aires

Enter boliches, the Buenos Aires nightclubs that rule the small hours of the day.  While other cities sleep, darkness makes Buenos Aires come alive. From Avenida Corrientes theaters to tango salons to big techno clubs, Buenos Aires offers an exceptional night out.  Join the thousands that have already rocked Buenos Aires.

 

Club Silencio in Paris

Club Silencio, David Lynch’s first ever joint, named after the cult venue in his 2001 movie Mulholland Drive, is the hangout for Paris’s music savvy nightowls.  There are concerts by up-and-coming bands, film premières, eclectic club nights and a stream of prestigious guests.  For non-members access is after midnight; but you’ll have to look right to get in.  Not your thing?  Paris clubbing may be right for you but you have to make a choice.

 

Studio 80, Amsterdam

This is a breeding ground for upcoming electro talent, and the main hangout of bespectacled hipsters, arty types and gay fashionistas in Amsterdam.

 

Room26, Rome

Room26 has been around for several years and at first glance you might feel that you are entering a museum. Once inside you realize the real treasure about this place – the sound system, designed by Steve Dash. This place is loud.



Tel-Aviv

Tel Aviv is known worldwide for its hip nightlife scenes, which attracts tourists from around the world.

 

Bangkok

Bangkok's nightlife has a reputation for being wild and rowdy with area as famous as Patpong, Nana or Soi Cowboy. But at the same time it's relaxed, safe, enjoyable and great fun!

 

Shinjuku District, Tokyo

The Shinjuku district is a blaze of color even in this neon-loving Japanese city. A night at an izakaya (a pub that serves food, with a selection of sake on offer) is a quintessential Tokyo experience.

 

Montreal

Canada's second largest city, Montreal is known for its effervescent nightlife making it a common destination for tourists and locals looking to have a good time at the best bars and clubs.

 

Evil One, Chicago

This spot may have changed names more than any other venue in the 'hood, but it’s become an unlikely young hipster hangout. It's making serious inroads on our weekdays as well thanks to the over-the-top exploits of Monday throwdown Porn and Chicken and Thursday's Let's Get Weird.

 

Las Vegas

When you experience the hottest Las Vegas clubs they can range from chic to relaxing. Whether it is dancing, enjoying the music, a night owl, party animal or lover of the good life.  The Las Vegas nightlife truly is unrivaled. 

 

Noting to please you?  Okay, how about something with a Disco beat ? If still nothing, suggest a club in the comments.