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Posts Tagged ‘North America’

September, 1814 – Fort Erie, Niagara Region – Canada – The battle rages on. British troops maintain their hold on the Northeast corner of the fort and continue to fire cannonballs into the American defenders. The rest of the fort belongs to those flying the Stars and Stripes, but the redcoats continue to fight as the death toll nears 2000 men. Seemingly oblivious to the chaos around him, one young soldier calmly shaves another, chatting merrily about prospects when the war is over. The streaking cannonball takes them both out, decapitating the soldier being shaved and blowing off the hands of the shaver before crushing his chest. Then the powder magazine explodes and the scene gets eerily quiet as he loses consciousness.

Fast forward to today. Fort Erie has been rebuilt and is now a major tourist attraction for those on Niagara Falls tours and visiting other sites around Ontario. But It’s not just the historical significance of the fort that draws people in. Visitors report strange apparitions of American and British soldiers seemingly stuck in time where they once stood, fought and died. One of the most common sights is of a headless man and another with no hands wandering the grounds together.

When you book a Niagara Falls tour you expect to see the majestic wall of water the region is known for, visit some shops for a souvenir or two, and maybe hit one of the many local nightclubs if you’re staying a while. Have you ever thought of checking out some of the haunted happenings in the region? There are a number of them, some sites of the bloody battles of 1814 and others inexplicable and immersed in local legend and folklore. Folks have claimed battle visions at Chippewa Battlefield and Lake George, and others have visited ancient houses and inns that produce moans and creaks seemingly of otherworldly origin. Read the rest of this entry »

Whenever I think of a trip to New York City whether for a vacation or just a short one or two-day visit I can’t help but think of Broadwayand the delightful shows that await in these hallowed halls of entertainment delight. Broadway is the essence of New York. It can in turns be bawdy, brawling, loud, rowdy, soft, romantic, comedic, and rip-roaringly hilarious. Broadway has it all for those who are willing to look for their perfect fit.

The problem with Broadway is that there are so many wonderful shows to see and such limited time (for most of us) in which to see them. I don’t even believe those who live in New York City have enough time in which to appreciate the artistic treasure trove that is represented within this wonderful city that never sleeps. The truth of the matter is that in order to properly enjoy all the theatrical offerings available to you, you’d almost have to never sleep yourself.

Musicals

It is important to remember that all shows are not available at all times. Check to see if the show you wish to see will be playing during your visit before getting your hopes up. On to the musicals, which are, by the way, my favorite types of Broadway entertainment. Chicago the Musical, Forbidden Broadway (this one offers an hilarious ’spoof’ of Broadway), Jersey Boys, Naked Boys Singing (yes, they are!), Phantom of the Opera, Rent, Wicked, and Mama Mia!

Comedies

Broadway is well known for thumbing its nose at convention as well as for letting it’s hair down and having a good ole time. The same holds true for the Broadway theatre of today. Comedies and musicals on Broadway are not mutually exclusive so some of the hilarity mentioned below will have some degree of song and dance (well most likely quite a bit of both but you will definitely laugh). Let the comedies begin! I Love You, Your Perfect, Now Change (seriously, that’s the name we’re already off to a great start on the road to laughter). Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead (I think someone’s been peeking in my kids windows at night-this one is actually off Broadway but I thought it bore mentioning with such a catchy title and all). Spamalot. This one is rising star with rave reviews by critics and a fairly good attendance rate so buy your tickets early! The Producers, which was recently made as a motion picture and The Little Dog Laughed round up my list of comedies. I hope you’ve seen something here that looks like a good laugh; I know I’ve seen a few! Read the rest of this entry »

When you are used to living and hiking in a humid climate, you may never truly realize how important water can be. You feel yourself sweating and you know at all times just how much water you need to take in, because you can feel it coming out. Then you move to the desert, and boy is that a change of pace. Recently having moved to Nevada, you must learned first hand how important water can be, and how sometimes you just don’t realize how much of it you need until it’s too late.

The problem is that in a desert climate, your sweat is being absorbed off of your body before you even realize that you are sweating. While this does keep you more comfy and less sticky, it can also throw a real wrench into your outdoor plans. There are several ways to handle this problem: time your hikes, carry plenty of water to drink, and wear as much water as possible. Read the rest of this entry »

The Olympic Coast of Washington is the most primitive natural coastline in the 48 contiguous United States. Part of an ecosystem stretching from Oregon to Alaska, with a rainforest that seldom sees temperatures below freezing in the winter or exceeding 80 degrees in the summer.
(By Gregory Rouse)
This trip, being surrounded by a temperate rain forest with the opportunity for views of wildlife, plants/trees, island sea stacks, and the ocean with it’s changing tide pools, provides a unique experience rarely found elsewhere.

Travel is mostly along beaches and rocky shores, except for a few headland trails. The terrain includes sections of sand, cobbles, rocks, logs and forest trails. Navigation is simple, but rising water from the tide can cut you off. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s more than just the weather that’s hot in the Big Apple in August. From free film screenings to colourful street parades, the city’s culture comes to life during the beautiful summer season. In addition to the summer-long schedule of free concerts and productions such as Central Park’s Summerstage and Shakespeare in the Park, here are some other activities to consider checking out during an August trip to New York City.

New York International Fringe Festival
Prepare to be amazed by the energy and excitement surrounding the creative and innovative productions at the New York International Fringe Festival (FringeNYC.) Every summer, North America’s largest multi-arts festival hosts over 200 performance companies from around the globe. The festival runs for 16 days in August and showcases over a thousand performances in several venues. For a list of all shows, a guide to the various venues and information on how to buy tickets online, visit the FringeNYC official website. Read the rest of this entry »

Ketchikan is a city in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska, United States, and the southeasternmost sizable city in that state. With an estimated population of 7,368 in 2007, it is the fifth most populous city in the state.
Ketchikan is located on Revillagigedo Island, 90 miles (145 km) north of Prince Rupert, British Columbia and 235 miles (378 km) south of Juneau, Alaska.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.1 sq mi (10.7 km²). 3.4 sq mi (8.7 km²) of it is land and 0.8 sq mi (2.0 km²) of it (18.60%) is water.
* Average annual rainfall is 152 inches (3,900 mm); annual average snowfall is 37 inches (94 cm).
* The average high temperature in July is 65 °F (18 °C), and the average high temperature in January is 39 °F (4 °C). Read the rest of this entry »

Alaska is the largest state of the United States of America by area; it is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait. Approximately half of Alaska’s 683,478 residents reside within the Anchorage metropolitan area. As of 2007, Alaska remains the least densely populated state. Read the rest of this entry »

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C., the capital district, lie between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. The state of Alaska is in the northwest of the continent, with Canada to its east and Russia to the west across the Bering Strait. The state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific. The country also possesses several territories, or insular areas, in the Caribbean and Pacific.
At 3.79 million square miles (9.83 million km2) and with about 306 million people, the United States is the third or fourth largest country by total area, and third largest by land area and by population. The United States is one of the world’s most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, the product of large-scale immigration from many countries. The U.S. economy is the largest national economy in the world, with an estimated 2008 gross domestic product (GDP) of US $14.3 trillion (23% of the world total based on nominal GDP and almost 21% at purchasing power parity). Read the rest of this entry »