Mission College Boulevard, Santa Clara California is home to the Intel Visitors Center. The home of computer processors. This interesting centre traces the power of computer chips showing their evolution and development over the years. As you would expect there are plenty of computer based interactive gadgets to play with and there’s a great gift shop where you can pick up some real geeky gadgets and clothing. Intel was founded in 1968 and today is the world’s largest computer chip manufacturer, just about every PC has an Intel inside. The self paced tour takes a bout an hour and the best thing is its free. Intel has quiet a few other visitor center’s around the world including China, Israel, Ireland, Penang, Valencia in Spain and a few others in the USA.
A small town located on the Ohio River in Massac County, Illinois with about 6500 residents is the home town of Superman. Some may say its Smalltown but in January 1972 DC Comics declared Metropolis the “hometown of Superman”. The town is now home to a Superman Museum, a Superman Festival which is held every June and the Metropolis Daily Planet Newspaper but the best thing about this town is the cool superman statue outside the courthouse, in his blue tights and red Speedos and cape. As well as the 15ft high Superman the town also has a beautiful Superman mural which shows some great scenes from 1930’s circa DC Comics, there’s a 2.5 million dollar Superman Museum but the man of steel better keep away from the corner of Third and Ferry Street as there is a huge kryptonite meteorite dangerously waiting to bring the super hero to his knees.
The Vancouver Aquarium in Canada has had a You Tube hit on its hands with 2 of their furry little otters. The video has been You Tube’s biggest animal video for a few weeks now and over 1.5 million people have viewed it each week. It shows a video which was actually taken about five years ago of two otters holding hands and looking very cute. The aquarium is hoping for bumper traffic for people rushing to see this little critters live and hopes that the touching story about Nyac the female, who survived the horrific Exxon Valdez Oil spill will help educate people about the importance of the coastal environment. Read the rest of this entry »
We have done a lot of great amusement park stories like Disney, Seaworld and zoos and stuff so we thought it was about time we told you about a really crap one. This one’s called South of the Border and its on US interstate 95 in South Carolina. It’s called South of the Border not because its Mexican like Pedro it’s poncho and sombrero wearing mascot it’s because its just over the border from North Carolina. The attraction if we should call it that features a gas station and road house restaurant, a motel and a small amusement park and some shopping but we will come to that a bit later.
The whole complex is a bit kitsch and tongue in cheek, the owners really must know its bad, and having a bit of fun, everyone does, but they do a pretty good job promoting it for what it is- crap. It is well worth a look if traveling down Interstate 95, but don’t spend the day getting there, there are so many other things to do. And as for the shopping there, well they sell fireworks and adult items- as you would expect- not sure if you could buy guns and liquor there but I’d expect so. For the newly weds they have some lovely hotel rooms too, $99 gets you married, a night in an “heir-conditioned” honeymoon suite champagne and even breaky the next morning for both of you if you are still together, probably good if your trailer park isn’t romantic enough for the big night.
The Piranha is notorious for being a vicious blood thirsty pack hunting fish, and legend tells how they can rip the flesh of man or beast within a few minutes, well in South America the table has turned and now they are becoming hunted by fishermen for their tasty meat. There are now quiet a few tour operators operating out of Manaus in Northern Brazil which have trips to fish for piranha on the mighty Amazon. One popular family run agency we found has a four day hunting expedition deep into the Amazon to catch fish, simply with a bamboo stick with a piece of meat at the end with a hook. Other than fishing there is an amazing experience to be had on the Amazon, with wildlife and plant life like you have never seen. Expect to see monkeys, jaguars, tapirs, reptiles and beautiful birdlife- and lucky travelers sometimes see pink dolphins and even sloths on their journey.
The beautiful Chrysler Building on the corner of 42nd Street and Lexington Avenue in Manhattan New York is one of the finest examples of art deco architecture. Designed by William Van Alen and built in 1930 the building was the tallest building in New York until the Empire State Building stole its crown a year later. The building’s beautiful metal upper cap were designed inspired by the Chrysler vehicle of the day, while hood emblems and radiator cap designs inspired gargoyles and other designs on the structure. Today the Chrysler building still holds the crown for the worlds tallest masonry building, and should probably also hold if for the most beautiful skyscraper, shining gracefully into the New York Skyline.
Right in the centre of Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida there are snow capped peaks (well plastic snow) and an adventure water park like no other. Blizzard Beach is one of Disney’s water parks and it is a great place to get away from the big theme parks for a day and enjoy some sun, surf and snow. The park is set up like a ski resort complete with huge ski-jump which is actually a breathtaking waterslide and there are chair lifts, toboggan rides and the 90 ft Mount Gushmore slope. There’s a surf beach and even some freezing ice caves to explore on the Cross Country Creek which circles the park. There’s plenty of places for food and of course those Disney souvenirs and even a Polar Pub for the grown ups to enjoy a few quiet beers while the kids are playing. When planning your Disney adventure to Orlando factor in an extra day to enjoy Blizzard Beach.
There plenty of tacky kitsch things to do in Hollywood and one of the most popular and free is stroll down Hollywood Blvd and check out the Walk of Fame, you will never know who’s name you will come across. The walk dates back to 1960 and is home to the who’s who of the entertainment industry. There’s over 2000 names on the stars many famous ones and quiet a few well not quiet as famous as they would like. The personality actually pays $15,000+ to have their name immortalized on the pavement but not just anyone can put their name on a star, there is a nomination and selection process plus a heap of other conditions. The Walk was originally thought up by an artist Oliver Weismuller who was hired by the City to help give the sleazy and run down Hollywood a bit of a facelift.
The Green Monster was the name given to the elevated central artery freeway that snaked its way through central Boston dividing the CBD from its waterfront, not only was it ugly it also had terrible congestion, but now all that has changed as Boston’s Big Dig project was officially finished late last month. The Big Dig took 10 years to complete and put the ugly freeway underground replacing much of it above ground with tree lined avenues and parks. In all over 300 acres of landscaped and restored open space was reclaimed with over 45 parks and major public plazas being developed. Even all the dirt that was removed was put to good use and was used to cap a former garbage dump known as Spectacle Island. The Big Dig was the largest road engineering project in US history and has turned Boston’s Green Monster into a greener city.
San Diego is known for its amazing Zoo and Sea World but an attraction just as popular is Lego Land California. This 128 acre park targets children from 2 to 12 and its a fantastic hands on day out where they can have great fun and be creative with the world’s most popular toy- Lego. The park has 8 theme lands and more than 40 interactive attractions and all the park looks as if it has been made out of Lego. DinoLand is one of the most popular of the lands with kids just loving the Costersaurus roller coaster and animated Lego dinosaurs. Other lands include the Pirate Shores, Castle Hill and Miniature Land which features a miniature USA with incredible 1:20 scale reproductions of cities and famous landmarks in the country. The park has plenty of fun rides including boat rides, mini fire truck rides and some fun rollercoasters and robotic rides and some fun shows, and then there’s the gift shop- guess what they sell?
