Destinations
Alaska
Once upon a time, some 5,000 to 40,000 years ago, a strip of land connected the American land masses to Asia.
Known as
the Bering Land Bridge, it guided animals and people into a new life as settlements sprang up around what we know today as
Alaska. That bridge is long gone, but during winter, when the Bering Strait freezes over, it is still possible to walk across
the Strait -- from Little Diomede Island in the US to Big Diomede Island in Russia.
Russia governed Alaska as a colony for nearly as long as the US has
governed as a territory and state. This early Russian
heritage is very much alive today, through quaint villages and historic architecture. Russian names dot the geographical
landscape. But long before Russians arrived, Tlingit, Haida, and Tshimshian Indians thrived in southeast Alaska, a region
of lush forests and a mild climate, with an abundance of fish, game, and edible plants. Inland tribes, such as the
Athabascans, faced a harsher reality, with severe weather and famine more common occurrences.
Caribbean
Some call the Caribbean Sea and its hundreds of islands paradise. As with any heaven-on-earth, there is much to enjoy, see and do. The most important things that the Caribbean is known for are its beaches, boats, banks and bikinis. But the number one playground for the Americas is also exquisite beauty, palm tree covered mountains, lush green valleys of sugar cane and bananas, and seashore in abundance.
The Caribbean includes all of the islands in the Caribbean Sea from the Bahamas, past Cuba and all the way down to South America. They are influenced by many different cultures such as British, Dutch, Spanish, American, French, Danish and there is even a Swedish town named Gustavia.
Caribbean cities were established long before the car and their
communities' magnificent architecture reflects it. Capitals such as
Havana and Santo Domingo are perfect for walking tours. In these
islands you can enjoy every imaginable land and water sport, with
some of the best snorkeling and diving anywhere in the world; not to
mention exotic fine dining, electrifying nightlife and glorious
historical sites. For an unforgettable vacation, the islands of the
Caribbean will never disappoint you! The Caribbean Sea gets its name from the original inhabitants of the Caribbean - the Carib people. These indigenous Indians inhabited the region at the time of arrival of the first Spanish explorers. The Caribbean Sea is one of the world's most colorful and marine-rich bodies of water.
Europe
Europe is the second smallest continent and even though it is
usually considered a continent, it is actually 1/5 of the continent
of Eurasia.
There are about 33 countries in Europe. The most
northern part of the European mainland is Norway; the southernmost
is Spain. From west to east the mainland ranges from Portugal, to
Russia.
Europe has a long tradition of distinction in literature, painting,
sculpture, architecture, music, and dance. In the late 20th century
Paris, Rome, London, Madrid, and Moscow were predominantly famous as
cultural centers.
Europe is physically distinct for its jagged coastlines, peninsulas,
islands, mountains and rivers so they take advantage of natural
waterways and highways.
The present road network has been developed
through the
centuries, with rail systems expanding quickly in the
19th century and air travel in the 20th. Over the past 30 years,
Europe built most of its present modern airports, a remarkable web
of modern highways and a new high-speed rail system. So, with travel
easily accessible, you can explore all of their wonderfully diverse
attractions from the incredibly magnificent Alps, to the London
Bridge, to the Eiffel Tower, to the gondolas of Venice and the
columns of Rome and much, much more. The possibilities are
unlimited.
Hawaii
Hawaii (state) is the
only island state and the southernmost
state in the United States. Hawaii consists of the Hawaiian
Islands located near the center of the northern Pacific Ocean.
The state is composed of eight main islands [which are from east
to west Hawaii, Maui, Kahoolawe, Lanai, Molokai, Oahu, Kauai,
and Niihau] and 124 islets, reefs, and shoals. Honolulu is the
capital and largest city of Hawaii.Hawaii was officially nicknamed the Aloha State after becoming the 50th state of the United States and is a land area almost wholly of volcanic origin. However, some small areas above sea level consist of limestone derived from ancient coral reefs.
These reefs were formed when the sea level was higher than it is
now. The varied scenery in Hawaii also includes mountains rising
to more than 13,000 feet above sea level; vast stretches of
desolate lava beds; white sand beaches edged with palm trees;
towering cliffs and brilliantly colored canyons; thick rain
forests and arid thorny scrublands; and a dappled patchwork of
field and forest.In addition to
the still active volcanoes of Hawaii [including
one on the island of Maui, three on the island of Hawaii, and a
recently discovered submarine volcano, Loihi, about 35 km (about
20 mi) southeast of the island of Hawaii], there are cascading
rainbows of waterfalls and the most amazing beaches in the world
for any water sport that you could imagine.The accommodations range from simple to lavish and the beauty of Hawaii is beyond compare.
Mexico
Mexico City, the capital, is a vast metropolitan area that is the central hub of the country’s transportation and dominates the rest of the country’s culture, economy, and politics. Nearly one-fifth of the nation’s population resides in the immediate vicinity of the capital.
In the early 1500s, many advanced Native American civilizations existed in Mexico. Among the most important were the Maya, who resided in the southern and southeastern part of what is now Mexico and central Mexico was controlled by the Aztecs, who had developed a widespread capital beside a lake at Tenochtitlan, Mexico City’s present site. Therefore, one of the main attractions of Mexico is to explore the many ancient ruins that are left there. Of course the spectacular beaches under the hot Mexican sun are an immense attraction also.
The shoppers revel in the hand made wares of copper, silver, turquoise, and even pottery, blankets, ponchos or straw hats and baskets. The food of Mexico is quite distinctive with maize [corn], chili and beans being the staples of the Mexican diet. The music and dancing are fiery and colorful anytime but especially at their many festivals. Mexicans enjoy many of the leisure activities found in the United States, including television, movies, rock concerts, and sports. Soccer is the most popular national sport, and many Mexicans attend traditional bullfights.
Whether your passion is throwing back margaritas, listening to howler monkeys, surfing the Mexican Pipeline, scrambling over Mayan ruins or expanding your Day of the Dead collection of posable skeletons, Mexico is the place to visit.
Panama Canal
From the Panama Canal's opening day to present, nearly a million s
hips have passed through the mighty locks. Encompassing tragedy and
triumph, Spanish kings, conquistadors and five different American
presidents, the building of this massive project spanned 400 years.
And today, nearly 100 years after its completion, the Panama Canal
remains one of the most vital trade routes in the world.
