I’m doing a report on Washington state and kinda need to now what it’s most popular destination is.
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Posts Tagged ‘Destination’
Washington State ?s Olympic National Park – a Great Vacation and Travel Destination
Although referred to as three parks in one sometimes the Olympic National Park is really just one park that encompasses several ecosystems. The three ecosystems that divide the park are the rainforest, Olympic mountains, and the Pacific coastline. Olympic National Park is located in the upper northwestern corner of the state in an area known as the Olympic Peninsula.
The park is very interesting to visit because of its location and its three different ecosystems, but also because there are species there that are not anywhere else on earth. The reason why is the mountain range closes the peninsula off from the rest of the land and certain species evolved here that did not elsewhere. The park is a biological reserve and it is studied on a regular basis to better understand what makes the park so special and how animals evolved here.
Tourists love the Olympic National Park because of the beauty, nature, and outdoor sports like hiking and backpacking. It is especially cool to backpack along the beach for several days. This is no problem because the coastline is very long and provides the perfect place for backpackers to trek through the natural beauty. Hurricane Ridge is a great place within the park to visit during the winter months for the Nordic and alpine skiing.
There are several roads on the peninsula, but none of them make it into the depths of the peninsula rendering much of it wilderness that may only be explored on foot. Because of this visiting the park for a brief time will not do it justice. So, plan a couple days or at the very least one full day to dedicate to exploring the beauty of Olympic National Park.
Some of the best things to do in the park, for those who don’t know, include the following. Doing these activities will ensure you get the best of the park. You should definitely climb all 7,965 feet of Mt. Olympus. Also, backpack the 57 miles of coast and raft the rivers. Hike the Grand Ridge Trail that is above the tree line and provides unbelievable views from a very precarious trail. Sea kayak the coast of the park, soak in the hot springs, and watch the salmon migrate. If you can fit all of these activities into your vacation to the park then you will certainly get the best experience possible.
There is a website that has great information on USA Vacations and Unique Travel Spots Listed State By State and Season, the website is called: Seasonal Vacation Spots, and can be found at this url:
http://www.seasonalvacationspots.com
By Robert W. Benjamin
Copyright © 2007
You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter, or on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.
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THE WATERFRONT CITY OF KIRKLAND BECOMES POPULAR WASHINGTON LOCATION FOR AFFORDABLE AND UNIQUE DESTINATION WEDDINGS
Formerly for celebrities and those with big budgets, Destination Weddings have become more accessible and more popular for engaged couples looking to add a unique twist to their wedding plans. With its fantastic views of the Seattle skyline, the Olympic Mountains and numerous waterfront parks steps away from Lake Washington, Kirkland is quickly growing in popularity as the perfect Washington Destination Wedding location.
For those who have grown up in Washington State or attended one of its many colleges including the nearby University of Washington, Kirkland’s own Northwest University, or Lake Washington Technical College, Kirkland has been a place where memories are made. For those who have worked either in Kirkland, Seattle or around the Eastside, Kirkland has been the perfect location for a business meeting, day in the sun or an evening of good food and entertainment. Because of this, it is not surprising that many of these same people choose Kirkland for their wedding celebration with family and friends.
With its convenient location, only ten miles east of Seattle, twenty-two miles north of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and less than ten miles from Woodinville’s wine country, Kirkland is convenient and accessible for both in state and out of town guests. Combined with the waterfront city’s outstanding accommodations, venues, wedding planners, caterers, florists, photographers and more, it has everything a bride and groom could need to turn their special event into a once-in-a-lifetime experience for themselves and family and friends.
When it comes to accommodations for the wedding couple, their family, friends and guests, Kirkland offers many choices. For those wanting to experience two of the top destination hotels, The Heathman Hotel in downtown Kirkland is centrally located to all that the city has to offer including waterfront parks and an eclectic selection of restaurants, shops and entertainment venues. The Woodmark Hotel and Yacht Club is located directly on Lake Washington at Carillon Point. Much like a small resort, the property features outstanding accommodations, dining, a spa, several boutique-style shops and amazing view of Seattle from across the lake. For those looking for a hotel brand that is well respected across the world, the Marriott offers their Courtyard location at Totem Lake, and for those interested in good accommodations at reasonable prices, the Baymont Inn, Carlton Inn, Comfort Inn and La Quinta Inn and Suites are all excellent choices. There is also a Motel 6 and a few bed and breakfasts. Information on all can be found on explorekirkland.com.
For the day before or after the ceremony, activities and itineraries for the couple and their guests abound both on the water and on land. For those who want to explore the beauty of Lake Washington, East Puget Sound, Seattle and the Olympic Mountains, tours on the Argosy Cruise Ships or Waterways yachts are a definite must. For others who would enjoy the lake in a more private or personalized manner, boats and kayaks are available for rent by the hour, the day or even the entire weekend. Parasailing in the warmer months is also a popular and exciting way to take in the sights of the lake, the city and beyond.
For those couples or guests who enjoy an “active” itinerary, the city offers many opportunities for walking, hiking, cycling, bird watching, playing golf, tennis or beach volleyball and more. Wine lovers can tour nearby Woodinville’s wineries, local tasting rooms like Northwest Cellars or Kirkland’s own wine specialty stores, like The Grape Choice at Kirkland Marina Park. Martini lovers can wander a few doors down to VoVina for a variety of libations with unique flavors and names. But for those who would rather just enjoy the slow pace of a gentle stroll around the quaint city with its unique shops and art galleries, or a picnic and sunbathing at one of its many waterfront parks, Kirkland is a city that believes in taking life at your own pace.
When it comes to the rehearsal dinner, or the post-wedding brunch, the venues range from elegant sophistication, like that found at the Trellis Restaurant at The Heathman Hotel with unique plates created by Executive Chef Brian Scheehser, to family friendly, like the Crab Cracker, to casual fun like an old-fashioned crab boil by Lake Street Catering at the Marina Park Pavilion. If seafood and a view is your desire, the incredibly popular Anthony’s Homeport Restaurant and bin on the lake are both guaranteed to please. And if you are looking for a little entertainment during, or after, dinner or brunch, the Kirkland Performance Center and Laughs Comedy Club are two of several great choices for a venue that can be fun, a little bit different and flexible to your entertainment and catering needs.
For the big day of your wedding ceremony and reception, again the options are numerous. The Woodmark Hotel, located directly on Lake Washington, is one of Kirkland’s most popular choices for the all-inclusive wedding day. With panoramic views of the lake, Seattle and the Olympic Mountains, the waterside resort affords couples the opportunity to say “I do” any day of the week, either on the lawn under a tent or inside from one of The Woodmark Hotel’s rooms looking out on Lake Washington. It also offers them one of the most beautiful backgrounds for their wedding and day of photos.
Kirkland is also the home of a variety of churches, historic buildings, landmarks and outdoor parks and venues that are available for any type of wedding from elegant to casual, big to small. If you can dream it, Kirkland has the perfect location for your perfect wedding day.
Perhaps what truly makes Kirkland desired for Destination Weddings, besides the awe-inspiring scenery and the convenient location with easy access to Seattle, wine country, the San Juan Islands and more, is that Kirkland is the home of some of the most in-demand wedding planners, photographers, florists, caterers, bridal and tuxedo shops, officiants and more tapped into for weddings across the state. Why? Because like those couples who choose Kirkland for their Destination Wedding, Kirkland’s wedding professionals know firsthand the beauty of living and working in this unique waterfront city. And because of Kirkland’s Destination Wedding resources, engaging the city’s professionals is more affordable and cost effective than choosing to plan a wedding further away. Many of the city’s local wedding resources can be found on www.KirklandWeddings.com or www.KirklandFirst.org.
KirklandWeddings.com also holds an annual event on February 14th called “Tie the Knot.” Now in its fifth year, the event gives twenty-four couples in twenty-four hours the opportunity to experience a “no fuss” easy-to-plan wedding for the special low price of $350. The special Valentine’s promotion includes a ceremony, with thirty of your closest friends, at Kirkland’s historic Heritage Hall, preset floral arrangements, decorations, recorded “wedding” music, and a retired District Judge as officiant. Also included are the services of a professional photographer, with one 5×7 print and a keepsake bouquet and boutonniere. On site a professional wedding coordinator is on hand to ensure that your experience is a memorable one. It is Kirkland’s version of the Quickie Wedding commonly found in Nevada, but with a beautiful lake as the backdrop versus a strip of traffic-congested concrete and the noisy casinos found in Las Vegas.
So, whether you are eloping, planning a small destination wedding or producing a lavish, but affordable, mini vacation/wedding for your family, friends and guests, Kirkland, has everything you need to make those special moments of celebrating one of the most important events of your life truly unforgettable. Visit www.explorekirkland.com to learn more about the City of Kirkland, WA.
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Destination Review: Washington Dc
Now that the Election is over, all eyes are on Barack Obama as he prepares to move into one of the most famous homes in the world. But what else has Washington got to offer apart from the White House?
I visited Washington a few years ago when I was in the US with my partner. We rented a car and drove down from New York. My first thought when I arrived in Washington was that it almost looked fake – it was extremely clean and tidy compared to the other places we had visited, almost like someone had done a spring clean just before we arrived, like they were trying to make a good impression.
And that they did. I was pleasantly surprised by Washington – we hadn’t planned to visit the USA capital but had heard good reports from other travellers we had met and decided to stop off for photo ops if nothing else.
There are lots of things to see and do in Washington. The National Mall is 3km stretch of land home to some of the most recognisable landmarks in the world, from The Capitol Building which serves as the seat of government for the US Congress, to the Washington Monument (a Presidential Memorial to the 1st US president George Washington) and the Lincoln Memorial statue.
In between, there are numerous museums to visit including the National Museum of American History, National Air and Space Museum and the National Museum of Natural History. You could spend a number of days along the Mall, there are so many attractions here.
Don’t miss the Lincoln Memorial – a 20ft sculpture of the assassinated president Abraham Lincoln. It was on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial that Martin Luther King gave his famous ‘I Have A Dream’ speech in 1963 – very symbolic after the election of the country’s first black president.
Close by, there are various war memorials including the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial and the National World War II Memorial. You will notice a sombre mood when you visit these sites, which is not at all surprising.
Of course, you couldn’t possibly visit Washington and not see the White House. There were lots of people standing around the parameter, using their zoom functions to get a good shot. I imagine it will be even busier from 21 January when Obama moves in!
We also visited Arlington Cemetery which is a short drive from the centre of Washington and a military cemetery. Another sombre trip, we saw the grave of JFK which is marked with an eternal flame and the Tomb of the Unknowns, which houses the bodies of soldiers who were never identified.
One of the most intriguing things I’ve ever seen is the guard in front of the Tomb of the Unknowns. The Tomb has been guarded continuously – 24 hours per day, 7 days per week – since 1937. It is considered one of the highest honours for a guard and involves a meticulous ritual of taking 21 steps in front of the Tomb, facing the Tomb for 21 seconds, waiting for 21 seconds and repeating the process until the end of the shift. The Changing of the Guard happens every 30 minutes in summer and is also fascinating to watch.
Overall, I really enjoyed my visit to Washington. I love when a destination surprises you and is better than what you expected. Obama will certainly not be bored in his new city if he ever has a day off! You could easily spend a few days in Washington and having a rental car gives you a chance to get outside the city.
Just make sure you bring your camera and fully charged batteries – there are more photo opportunities than you could shake a stick at!
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Talk Radio Station – the Latest Destination to Advertise Your Business!
Guess the hottest spot on the Internet to advertise your business? No, it’s not on a blog, forum or a website. It’s on an Internet talk radio station. Quite simply, an Internet talk radio station is the latest hotspot on the Internet, the place where all the action is. If you are not already taking advantage of it, you’re missing out on something! Let me explain.
Most of us love and enjoy listening to the good old radio. The times have changed and so have the ways we entertain ourselves. This is the age of the Internet and online entertainment. Our habit of listening to the radio has found a new platform – the Internet. That’s right, presenting the Internet radio or e-radio, the latest avatar of the radio in this cyber era.
All one needs is an Internet connectivity to experience the phenomenon called the Internet Radio. Get access to hundreds of stations at the simple click of your mouse. Everyday, more and more people are tuning in to their favorite online radio stations and enjoying the music they love to hear around the clock. But this is only half of what Internet radio has in store for you.
If you are looking for something more out of your Internet radio, tune in to an Internet talk radio station. Internet talk radio? That’s right, you read it right (no typos here)! It’s the latest thing sweeping the Internet radio community. Do you want a break from the music and the incessant Top-10 and Top-20 hits? If you are looking for some stimulating conversation and discussion, just tune in to an Internet Talk radio station and get the gold pass to a whole new world of alternative entertainment.
The whole Internet talk radio scene is bustling with activity. There is no dearth of stations and all it takes is just a little bit of searching around to find and tune in to an Internet talk radio station discussing your favorite topic or hosting a talk show on your area of interest. From politics to religion, health to women’s issues, sports and entertainment to literature and special interests – you will always find a talk radio station on your favorite topic.
Apart from the obvious entertainment possibilities of Internet radio, there are also excellent commercial prospects in the notion. In other words, Internet radio is a great new place to advertise your business. Internet Radio advertising is just like conventional radio advertising – but more powerful. This is because it gives you more precise targeting opportunities, lets you combine audio ads with synchronized banners and buttons to maximize visibility and retain attention, lets your listeners take an immediate action (after all, they are only a click away from your site) and puts you in control of your advertising campaign (you can pay the service provider on the basis of the actual number of impressions).
Internet Radio is growing rapidly, and is already a significant part of many companies’ marketing campaigns. A recent report revealed some exciting facts, such as, over 50% of Internet users consume streaming media; the number of Americans who listen to radio stations online has nearly quadrupled in three years; streaming media attracts a highly compelling advertising target; Americans are spending less time in front of the TV or reading printed media, and devoting more time to the Internet.
It’s easy to see why an Internet talk radio station is such a hot destination to advertise your business. Discover the power of Internet radio. Steal an edge over your competition.
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