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Donna Dailey's BlogPosted by Donna Dailey With the Democratic National Convention just three weeks away, Denver is gearing up for the biggest event the city has ever seen. Some 50,000 visitors will be arriving in the city for the convention, held August 25-28, including delegates, media, campaign workers and anyone else eager to be here for what will likely turn out to be a milestone in political history. This isn't the first time the Democrats have held their National Convention in Denver. They met here 100 years ago, in July of 1908, when they chose William Jennings Bryan as their presidential candidate. It was the famous orator's third bid for the presidency, which he lost to William Taft. A century on, the Mile High City is ready to roll out the red, white and blue carpet once again. By the time the delegates arrive, the Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau will have trained upwards of 3,500 people in its "Go the EXTRA Mile" hospitality program. These include taxi drivers, rental car staff, hotel and restaurant workers, and airport employees. The aim is to improve customer service and help visitors make the most of their stay in Denver, a goal which will have long-term benefits to Denver as a travel destination. Some of Denver's top hotels are also getting into the spirit. The Brown Palace has re-reinstalled a historic 16-by-30-foot flag in the center of its atrium lobby. The flag hung there from the 1940s until 1996, and will remain until the end of the convention. They have also temporarily renamed the Eisenhower Presidential Suite as the Barack Obama Suite. At the Hotel Monaco, guests will be greeted by Hercules, the hotel's four-legged Director of Pet Relations, decked out in his Super Delegate red, white and blue tuxedo and top hat. * Posted by Donna Dailey Returning from a trip this week, I switched on the BBC to catch up on the news. Filling my television screen was some fantastic footage of Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano in full flow. Kilauea is the world's most active volcano. It is situated on the eastern side of the Big Island of Hawaii, in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Mauna Loa, the park's other active volcano, is the most massive mountain on earth. Together they have created an eerie landscape of deep craters, crusty cinder cones, steaming vents, pumice heaps and blackened lava fields up to 3 miles wide Kilauea has been erupting continually since 1983. But it has been more ferocious than usual since its latest eruption which began last Sunday. Enormous lava "waves" nearly 40 feet high have been recorded. The flow of lava down the mountainside is so large and deep that satellites in space have registered the heat image. In the build-up to the eruption, there were small explosions which shot out rock ash and flashing red flame at the Halemaumau fuming vent, one of the volcanic features around the crater. Another, Puu Oo, was emitting 4,800 tons of sulfur dioxide a day, far above normal. So far, the toxic gases have not endangered nearby villages. Several earthquakes were recorded in the area on July 7. Could this have triggered the eruption? Or is Kilauea simply celebrating its 25th birthday with its own spectacular brand of fireworks. The BBC has some fantastic aerial footage of Kilauea's eruption on its website. Fast-flowing rivers of molten rock stream down the mountainside, swallowing everything in their path. Best of all are the huge fiery fountains of lava bubbling out of the fissures like cauldrons from hell. As you watch this amazing display, be sure to wish Kilauea a Happy Birthday! * Posted by Donna Dailey TripAdvisor has recommended a list of top ten free US attractions as a way of helping budget travelers find more ways to stretch their vacation dollar. The list was chosen by TripAdvisor editors, apparently according to the destinations' popularity with visitors. I am happy to report that six of the ten attractions are in the Southwest states or Hawaii. Here they are, in no particular order:
I would certainly agree with the first two destinations. The Pacific Coast Highway is one of the most beautiful drives in the country, if not the world. So is Waimea Canyon, on the island of Kauai. The next two, however, are a bit dubious. The hiking trail to Angel's Landing is in Zion National Park, and like all national parks, it has an entrance fee. The Golden Gate Bridge is only free if you drive across it northbound. Southbound vehicles coming into the city must pay a toll. Of course, there is no charge to simply admire it from afar. But who's quibbling? The list obviously reflects the site's users personal favorites, and opinion is always going to differ. Which ones would you choose? If you have some favorite attractions in the Southwest and Hawaii, and they're FREE, let me know. For those who are curious, here are TripAdvisor's remaining top ten free US attractions:
* Posted by Donna Dailey Whatever your political views, the Democrats got one thing absolutely right when they chose Denver as the host city for the 2008 Democratic National Convention. It takes place August 25-28, and the city has long been gearing up for what may turn out to be a momentous event in American history. Politics is tough business, and whether you need a place to drown your sorrows, celebrate your victories or simply recharge your batteries, you'll find it in the Mile High City. For a Delegate's Guide to Denver, check out these stories on our Colorado Travel pages. For liquid refreshment visit some of Denver's Best Brewpubs and Bars. They've been given in-depth personal research by yours truly. Be sure to try the local cuisine. There's none more traditional than at Denver's Buckhorn Exchange. Rocky Mountain Oysters anyone? After chowing down on a buffalo steak, you might like to pay homage to the man who made buffalo bagging a legend. When you need a breath of fresh air, head for the foothills a short drive outside town and visit the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave. Barack Obama's bid for the top spot has focused attention on the African-American experience. The Black American West Museum presents a fascinating look at the black cowboys who helped tame the Wild West. Of course, you'll want to dress the part with a shirt from the famous Rockmount Store. On the other hand, you may prefer to chill out in one of Denver's top spas. For more ideas, check out Denver's top ten attractions. And for all those delegates staying at Hotel Teatro or the Brown Palace – two of my favorite hotels – I only have one word: Enjoy! * Posted by Donna Dailey As a travel writer, researching and writing travel guides is a large part of my work. I've written or co-written around 30 guidebooks, including several to places in the Southwest USA. This year I've been particularly busy writing two brand new titles. Exactly this time last year I was traveling around the French Riviera researching CityPack Nice, published by the AA, which comes out in July. I've just finished Step by Step Orlando, which is published by Insight Guides (APA) this autumn. People seldom believe me when I tell them how much work it is to produce a good guidebook. It sounds too much like fun. But it doesn't end with the final keystroke. You have to keep it up to date. I'm about to update three of my long-running titles: Berlitz Los Angeles, Drive Around Ireland and Drive Around Scotland (the last two published by Thomas Cook). And I've recently written new text for my chapters in Eyewitness Southwest USA and Las Vegas (Dorling Kindersley). Since I know what goes into creating a good travel guide, I'm happy to recommend the following guidebooks which I've reviewed in recent months for Suite 101. You can read more about them on these pages. REGIONAL AND COUNTRY GUIDES Good Beer Guide to West Coast USA Lonely Planet Guide to Coastal California Lonely Planet Hawaii Travel Guide Lonely Planet Guide to the USA * CITY GUIDES Lonely Planet Encounter Los Angeles Guide Zagat Guide to San Diego Restaurants * NATIONAL PARK GUIDES Grand Canyon National Park Guide Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Guide Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks Guide Rough Guide to Yosemite National Park * Posted by Donna Dailey I'm always on the lookout for cheap flights. And these days, with fuel surcharges ever on the rise, snagging budget air fares is even more important. Finding cheap transatlantic flights is increasingly difficult, so I was overjoyed to learn that low-cost carrier Zoom Airlines is launching a new service next month with budget flights from London to San Diego. The new London-San Diego route begins on June 20. There are two flights a week, on Mondays and Fridays, to and from London Gatwick. When I checked the website, the lowest economy fares started at £299 return from London, and $660 roundtrip from San Diego, including taxes, fees and fuel surcharge. San Diego may seem an unusual cheap flight destination. But I was more surprised to find that even though it is California's second-largest city, there is no other direct, non-stop flight between San Diego and Europe. Around 80,000 passengers fly to London from here each year, but currently they have to change planes at other US airport hubs. I flew Zoom from London to New York last December and was highly impressed with their service. No need to worry about cramped conditions on this budget airline. I had as much – if not more – leg room and personal space than on many larger international airlines. For more information, see my article on Zoom's cheap flights to San Diego. Meanwhile, Southwest Airlines has been doing some California dreamin' of its own. It is offering cheap fares on non-stop flights from Denver to several west coast cities for $69 or $79 one way. California cities for these budget flights include San Diego, Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento and San Jose. Tickets for these cheap flights are on sale through June 4, for travel through October 30, 2008. So go get some California sunshine. * Posted by Donna Dailey When is the best time to visit Arizona? Thousands of snowbirds flock here every winter, but they head back north in March, just when things start getting really good. Those who stick around know that springtime is the best time in southern Arizona. In late March/early April, buds start appearing on the ocotillo and palo verde trees along the arroyo. House finches, cactus wrens and mourning doves disappear under our rafters with twigs in their beaks. Now it's all come to lovely fruition. It's amazing to see the desert, so dry and brown for much of the year, bursting forth with color. Plants which are formidably untouchable due to their sharp spines suddenly bloom with bright, delicate flowers. My favorite are the Santa Rita prickly pear cactuses. Their large pads turn deep purple in winter, a lovely background for their bright yellow spring flowers. Our barrel cactus is topped with a concentric ring of yellow buds and our teddy bear chollas have pink and yellow blossoms at the ends of their spindly arms. The aloe vera plants are losing their pinkish winter coat as tall stems with pale orange flowers sprout from their center. The bright yellow leaves of the palo verde trees are stunning against the deep blue sky. Birds cling to the deep orange blossoms at the ends of the ocotillo. This week we even saw flowers on the massive arms of the saguaros. Gambols quail are digging up our garden, looking for nesting sites. House finches serenade us with the sweetest songs, or scold us if we walk too near their nests. We spend hours in hidden wonder watching baby cactus wrens and mourning doves learning to fly. Wildflowers are blooming all over the desert and mountains. Springtime is the best time to visit Arizona. * Posted by Donna Dailey For the last month I've been asked the same question over and over again. What time is it in Arizona? It's the same every year. Because we don't "spring forward" like the rest of the US and the UK, nobody can remember when to phone me. And I confess I have trouble keeping track of the changes myself, especially now that the US has extended the start and end of its Daylight Saving Time. So for several weeks of the year, we're out of sync with the rest of the world. With the exception of the Navajo Nation, which lies in the northeast part of the state and extends into New Mexico and Utah, Arizona does not observe Daylight Saving Time. Neither does Hawaii. Why not? I wondered. Who wouldn't want an extra hour of daylight? It seemed a good idea to Benjamin Franklin, who first proposed the idea back in 1784 on the grounds that it would save on candles. It's even more environmentally sound today, when using less electricity and saving oil is even more paramount. Arizona did, in fact, observe Daylight Saving Time during World War I and World War II, when conserving energy for the war effort was a national mandate. But when the current federal law implementing it was passed in 1973, Arizona citizens lobbied for an exemption. The reason was simple. Summertime in Arizona is just too hot, and people wait till after dark to enjoy any evening activities. On the worst days temperatures can still read over 100 degrees well after the sun goes down. Anyone who works outdoors - farmers, for example - knows that the coolest temperatures are in the early morning, so that's when extra daylight is most welcome. And that's why Arizona doesn't have Daylight Saving Time. Posted by Donna Dailey It hardly seems a year has passed since the Grand Canyon Skywalk opened to the public. On March 28, 2007, visitors took their first steps onto the great glass bridge that extends out over the cliff edge, 4000 feet above the Grand Canyon floor. A lucky couple from Baltimore, Maryland were the first members of the public to walk on the Skywalk. They had been in Las Vegas on a business trip and couldn't pass up the opportunity to visit Grand Canyon West for the opening day. After his walk Benson Rice told reporters, "It was definitely worth the trip." The number of Skywalk visitors has grown steadily since opening day. Rising from around 500 per day to more than 2000 daily visitors, numbers have quadrupled in only a year's time. The Skywalk at Grand Canyon West is located on land belonging to the Hualapai Nation. Life is rugged in this beautiful but remote corner of northwest Arizona, and the success of the Skywalk has brought job opportunities and hope for a better future for members of the tribe. "The Hualapai Nation has been plagued by poverty and unemployment for decades," said Wilfred Whatoname, a tribe member who handles Guest Relations at Grand Canyon West. When I interviewed him recently at World Travel Market, he cited several benefits the Skywalk is bringing to the tribe, including jobs and a new program at the University of Hospitality in Las Vegas which will be based around Grand Canyon West. Read my interview with Wilfred Whatoname. Read more about the Grand Canyon Skywalk and how to visit. To read my review of Lonely Planet's new guidebook to the Grand Canyon National Park, click here. Posted by Donna Dailey I've spent the past month in central Florida researching a new Insight Guide, Step By Step Orlando. With so many fantastic theme parks in Orlando, it's hard to choose a favorite, but for my money Epcot's Soarin' is Walt Disney World's best ride. Soarin' has long been a popular attraction at Disney's California Adventure park, and now it's a big hit at Epcot, too. It simulates a hang-glider ride over California, and the experience is amazingly real. No special effects are necessary for this ride. All that's needed is a giant domed IMAX screen and the awesome beauty of California's landscape. As the ride begins, the seats rise 45 feet into the air. With my feet dangling and a cool breeze blowing in my face, I had the terrifying sensation of being miles above ground with only a seatbelt holding me in. That moment of vertigo soon turned to thrills as we began soarin' - up the Yosemite Valley above a river and over the top of Upper Yosemite Falls, across the tips of giant redwoods and above lush Napa Valley vineyards. Whenever it seemed we would crash into a mountain, we'd clear the peak and I'd find myself above the desert dunes of Death Valley, or gliding amidst a sky full of hot air balloons. The sensation of flight was so realistic that I actually lifted my feet as we swooped low over the ocean. For the grand finale, we soared into the bursting fireworks display over the Magic Kingdom. If you want to go Soarin', head straight for the ride when the park opens and get a Fastpass to avoid a long wait in line. The Fastpass slots are often gone by midday, but even if you have to queue, this is one ride worth waiting for. * See my husband's Top Orlando Attractions. * Posted by Donna Dailey How did we ever book our vacations or find travel information without using the internet? We just arrived from England to our home in Arizona, where we're not yet online. In a few days we're traveling again, on a research trip for a guidebook to Orlando and Central Florida. The final details aren't quite in place, and we're starting to wonder how on earth we ever made any travel arrangements when we only had the telephone. We booked the cheap flight from Tucson to Orlando from England with Southwest Airlines – through their website, of course. But what time's check-in? What's the baggage allowance? It's those bits of essential travel information you realise you don't have at your fingertips, and which you could look up in a few seconds online... if only you were online. How do people with no PC at home ever get anywhere? We didn't have our accommodation confirmed for the first few days, so needed to have a back-up ready. Sure, we've got the AAA Florida TourBook listing hundreds of hotels and motels near Orlando International Airport, but how do you find the best deal without going online and checking with Expedia or the Days Inn or Ramada websites? What do you do – ring a dozen hotels, get put on hold, make notes of every conversation, then ring back your first choice only to find there's no room at the Days Inn? Luckily we got our car rental organised but it's the same thing. Is there a better way of comparing deals and then booking the best one instantly than on the internet? We've been spending a lot of time going back and forward to the library, or using our neighbor's wireless signal when we can pick it up. With his permission, of course! Posted by Donna Dailey I'm back from Madeira, the Portuguese island in the Atlantic Ocean. I was enjoying the first Madeira Walking Festival, wondering why one of the best destinations for walking holidays in the world hasn't had a Walking Festival before. The answer is simple – no-one thought of it. I had no idea what to expect myself, never having been to Madeira or to a Walking Festival. This one takes place over five days in January, and visitors have a choice of four walks each day, ranging from a few kilometres to about 14 kilometres. You can choose your walk according to your interests or your walking ability, and booking through the Festival is cheaper than organising them for yourself. You're also guaranteed a professional guide, to tell you about the history and the flora and fauna. What I hadn't expected to be included in the price was a Welcome Reception and a Farewell Dinner. We were whisked from the airport straight to the reception, and got to meet some of our fellow walkers and also enjoy some really tasty nibbles. The Farewell Dinner was held in the São Tiago Fort in the Old Town of Funchal, and I was amazed by the quality of the food and the folk dancing and music that was also provided. What a bonus! As for the walks, they were superb. There were mountain walks, coastal walks, and the unique Madeira levadas. These water channels run through the mountains, with narrow paths alongside for the workers to maintain them. I was both exhilarated and scared at times, but it's an experience I'll never forget. The 2009 Madeira Walking Festival is being held from January 13-17. For further details when they are known, and to book, visit the Madeira Walking Festival website. * Posted by Donna Dailey The work of internationally renowned sculptor Andy Goldsworthy is on display at the Resnick Gallery, part of the Aspen Institute's Doerr Hosier Center, through March 28, 2008. Goldsworthy's serpentine artwork Stone River winds out from the Doerr Hosier Center, which opened on the Aspen Meadows Resort campus last June. Made of carefully cut blocks of red sandstone from various countries, the sinuous sculpture connects the building with its natural surroundings and symbolically flows out to the world beyond. The exhibition, entitled Two Creeks: Andy Goldsworthy – Ephemeral Works in the Roaring Fork Valley, displays some of the more fleeting artworks Goldsworthy made while constructing Stone River. They were created with natural materials (leaves, stones, twigs, etc) found on site and in Hunter and Woody creeks nearby. I'm a big fan of Goldsworthy's work, which is inspired by natural forms and materials. But it took me awhile to warm up (literally!) to his artistic vision. My husband introduced me to Goldsworthy's art in the early days of our courtship by dragging me across the muddy fields of Cumbria in search of his Sheepfolds. Even the local farmers weren't sure where they were. Soaked by freezing rain and faces stinging from a sudden freak hailstorm, we finally found them. "We came up here for this?" I sputtered. "It's just a rock in a field!" Actually, the rock was an ancient drove stone and Goldsworthy's reconstruction of the dry-stone walls preserved a disappearing part of Britain's heritage. Since then I've come to admire Goldsworthy's works of art in nature. I pass his sandstone egg cairn at Penpont village every year when I visit friends in Scotland. And he has created striking environmental backdrops for artifacts in the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. Don't miss the chance to see this remarkable artist in Aspen. * |
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