Category Archives: USA

Uncork the Foodie in You at Vegas Uncork’d 2015!!

Las Vegas is billed as one of the most dynamic culinary destinations in the world. Vegas Uncork’d is the Sin City’s way of celebrating the best of food and wine. Celebrity chefs, world class hotels, scrumptious dishes and irresistible wines – you are sure to catch all of it and more.

Las-VegasVegas Uncork’d will mark its 9th year as the best foodie event in Las Vegas and this time it is going to be larger than ever with one-of-a-kind events that truly define the characteristics of the city. If your palate is yearning for some delectable flavours, head to Vegas and have an unforgettable treat here. The shows of the event will be hosted across four hotels, namely Aria, Bellagio, Caesars Palace and MGM Grand. Though all the shows are amazing, there are some that stand apart. Here, take a look at them.

When

23rd to 26th April 2015

Aria

23rd April, Thursday:

CHEFS’ COUNTER: ALL-STAR FEAST. Aria invites you to experience true Vegas-style dining. Expect an impressive line-up of A-list celebrities such as Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Masa Takayama.

25th April, Saturday: MIX MASTER: POUR LIKE A PRO. Watching mixology experts and professional bartenders concocting Aria’s signature drinks will overwhelm you with a powerful desire to try your hand at shaking up the cocktails. Well, if you are good at this, there is a competition you can participate in.

Bellagio

23rd April, Thursday: PRIME TIME WITH JEAN-GEORGES VONGERICHTEN. Bellagio Kicks off the event with fine steakhouse dining, premier wine pairings and much more. Do join the special 4-course dinner served by the celebrity Chef Jean-Georges himself.
25th April, Saturday: AN ITALIAN BRUNCH AT LAGO. Love Italian? You can be one of the first to explore the brand new restaurant ‘Lago’ from award-winning Chef Julian Serrano. The restaurant will open in the Spring of 2015 and offer a fresh take on social dining.

Caesars Palace

24th April, Friday: THE GRAND TASTING. 75 award winning chefs, a staggering variety of signature dishes, and unlimited premier wines and spirits – need we say more?
25th April, Saturday: IN HELL’S KITCHEN DINNER WITH GORDON RAMSAY. If you have watched Hell’s Kitchen or any of the Ramsay’s shows on TV, you will know the reputation of his culinary skills. This high-energy event is a rare opportunity to appear in your favourite TV show. Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant is the winner of 15 Michelin stars.

MGM Grand

25th April, Saturday: EMERIL’S NEW ORLEANS SEAFOOD EXTRAVAGANZA. Exclusively for seafood aficionados, the show offers a poolside party where you can enjoy freshly shucked raw & grilled oysters, New Orleans style boiled seafood and more with a wide range of craft beers.

Some Weird but Bewitching Museums from around the World

Some-Weird-MuseumsA collection of art, historical objects or well-preserved literature is what comes to mind when we talk about museums. How about museums dedicated to death, the occult and parasites? Sounds bizarre? Yes, there are some museums around the world that exhibit such eccentricities and even draw huge crowds. Check out this list of some of the weirdest museums in the world.

Museum of Witchcraft, Cornwall

Dedicated to the occult, this museum gets its fair share of visitors in Cornwall. It has the world’s largest collection of witchcraft-related artefacts, many of which were once owned by proclaimed or self-proclaimed witches and wizards. There is a warning on the museum’s portal, which reads ‘People with children of a sensitive disposition are warned that some of the exhibits are controversial.’ Do we need to say more?

Museum of Bad Art, Boston

Pay a visit to MOBA, as the museum is popularly called, and feel proud of your artistic ability! Aimed at collecting, preserving and exhibiting the ‘art too bad to be ignored’, the museum’s ever-changing exhibits feature some of the world’s most ‘wrongly-gone’ artworks across an array of themes such as Poor Traits, Unlikely Landscapes and Out of Proportion Figures to name a few.

Siriraj Medical Museum, Bangkok

Not the most obvious crowd puller in Bangkok, Siriraj Medical Museum has a unique display of human body parts, skulls, dead bodies and much more related to physiology. Dubbed as ‘Museum of Death’, it is not for the faint hearted, as many of its displays are disturbing. However, if you like quirky things, the collection is definitely worth exploring.

Parasite Museum, Tokyo

This museum is dedicated to parasites. The repository consists of about 300 species of parasites including tapeworms, head lice and many others. The highlight of the collection is a 30-foot tapeworm pulled out of a woman’s stomach. There is a detailed display of the creatures, complete with a research facility.

Peep into Washington DC’s Cultural Richness with its Annual Celebrations

Washington-DCWashington DC hosts an interesting set of cultural fests. There is hardly any month of the year that’s devoid of a mega cultural celebration in the capital of the USA. These celebrations also include different annual festivities, offering a sneak peek into the diversified character of a city that’s home to people of many ethnicities.

Cinco de Mayo

This grand event is a Latino celebration, featuring entertainment and engagement for one and all. The festival originated in Mexico but in Washington DC, it has become a Latin American Family Reunion! This, free and open to all event, is scheduled to take place at the National Mall on 03rd May, 2015. Traditional music and dance, local food, games for kids and a variety of workshops depict an impressive blend of the cultures of the USA and Latin America.

Smithsonian Folklife Festival

Centre for Folklife and Cultural Heritage hosts Smithsonian Folklife Festival, an exclusive annual event that celebrates different cultural traditions. In 2015, it is scheduled from 24th – 28th June and 01st – 05th July. This edition of the festival will focus on Peru and the various aspects related to the country. No entry tickets are required to enjoy the musical shows, dance performances and cooking demonstrations that are scheduled to take place. Like Cinco de Mayo, the venue for this fiesta is the National Mall.

KORUS Festival

Be a part of the KORUS Festival to appreciate the remarkable fusion of Korean culture and American lifestyle. On 19th and 20th September, 2015, this festival will take place at The Plaza, Tysons Corner Center. Lively music and energetic dance performances will demonstrate the cultural richness of Korea. Also, don’t forget to satiate your taste buds with authentic Korean dishes.

Daytona Bike Week – Watch Out for the Best Biking Event in the USA!

Bikers have a special reason to smile when spring comes knocking on the doors of Florida. Their wait for the Daytona Bike Week comes to an end! This is an event where you can take a closer look at stupendous superbikes and daredevils performing jaw-dropping stunts on these mean machines.

Sumptuous shopping options, exciting contests and rock shows add a lot more to the heart-pounding entertainment and fun. All in all, this 10-day event is one of the most spectacular highlights of motorsports culture of the USA. Now, a few details on this swashbuckling Bike Week!

Daytona Bike Week by Don Richards/ CC BY

Daytona Bike Week by Don Richards/ CC BY

Schedule

Many avid bikers are all set to storm Florida to be a part of this biking extravaganza, which is scheduled from 06th to 15th March, 2015. During these 10 days, you get an opportunity to spend a memorable time amidst dream bikes and feel the effervescence of this annual fiesta.

GEICO AMA EnduroCross Championship

This is the highlight, which will mark the commencement of the Daytona Bike Week. Ocean Centre is the venue for this action-packed display and it would be the first time in the history of this event that EnduroCross will be part of the show. On the evening of 06th March, the show will start with unbelievable stunt drills. You can show off your biking skills by signing up for sessions like Open Amateur, TrialsCross, Vet 35+ and Women. Tickets are up for sale at EnduroCross’ official portal.

Supercross

This is the next spotlight of Daytona Bike Week, which is known to lure hordes of tourists and locals alike. At Daytona International Speedway, contestants are going to perform stunts that are definitely not meant for the faint-hearted. Several fans are waiting with bated breath to get a glimpse of past winners of Supercross such as Justin Barcia, James Stewart and Chad Reed. Grab tickets for this longest running Supercross event in the USA before they are gone!

Dining and Accommodation

Daytona Bike Week is flocked by bikers from all walks of life and to cater to every taste and budget, the area features an incredible range of accommodation and dining options. Besides hotels, you can also choose to stay at a camp. As far as dining goes, you are sure to get baffled by a huge range of extensive restaurants and eateries. Take your pick from amongst resto-bars and sports bars to snazzy restaurants and cosy lounges.

National Cherry Blossom Festival – Heralding Spring the Washington DC Way

Spring is over a month away but National Cherry Blossom Festival has started creating a buzz in Washington DC, the capital of the USA. The festival celebrates the historical chapter where the Mayor of Tokyo gifted 3000 Japanese cherry trees to the city in 1912. Today, the fiesta has become one of the most impressive annual festivities in Washington DC and marks the commencement of the spring season. In 2015, the festival is scheduled to be held from 20th March to 12th April. Let’s check out a few highlights of National Cherry Blossom Festival.

Opening Ceremony

National Cherry Blossom Festival is a free event. However, to watch the action-packed opening ceremony, you would need to buy tickets. Entry tickets for this important event are available online. The ceremony will take place at The Warner Theatre and it will feature an array of traditional as well as contemporary performances.

ArtJamz

Art lovers boarding flights to be in Washington DC during March-April would love be part of this event. This 15-day event allows you to flaunt your creativity from 26th March to 09th April. Unlike many other painting competitions, this event is open for anyone who is 21 or above. This event is hosted by ArtJamz and before creating your masterpiece, you would be taken on a tour of the Freer Gallery.

Blossom Kite Festival

Be a part of this fun-filled kite festival to experience the authentic spring flavour of National Cherry Blossom Festival. Reach Washington Monument Grounds on 28th March to the infectious enthusiasm of the participants whose kites would soar high in the skies. The venue is divided into five areas namely Public Field, Activity Tents, Kite Club Display Area, Family Field and Competition & Demonstration Field. No tickets are required to admire Hot Tricks Showdown and competition called Rokkaku Battle.

Chinese New Year – an Integral Part of San Francisco’s Cultural Calendar

If you ever wished to explore the Chinese-influenced culture of the USA, start your excursion from the Californian city, San Francisco! And February is perhaps the best time to immerse into the Chinese splendour in the USA. This is the month when China celebrates its New Year and San Francisco’s Chinese society does the same with great gusto. This is the largest Chinese New Year celebrations outside China. Hence, locals as well as tourists also get an opportunity to explore the magnificence of the Bay City clad in colourful Chinese spirit at Chinatown. In 2015, the 19th February will mark the commencement of Chinese New Year. Read on to know about the major highlights of this spectacular annual festivity.

Chinese New Year Parade

Arguably, this is the most prominent highlight of this gala event. Scores of holidaymakers have already booked flights to San Francisco to catch the action of this parade, one of the very few night-time, illuminated parades in the USA. The parade boasts numerous floats, traditional bands, school marching bands and lion dancers. All these performances are highlighted by colourful show of firecrackers. To get the best view of the parade, buy tickets for grandstand seating.

Flower Fair

The New Year celebrations in Chinatown are complemented by numerous fairs and events. One such example is Flower Fair which is held a weekend before the first day of the year as per the Chinese calendar. The fair is peppered with stalls and shops dealing in flowers, traditional plants, fruits and candies. Chinese people flock here in large numbers to buy necessary items for traditional celebrations. Culture vultures boarding flights to visit San Francisco in February must visit this Flower Fair to experience a captivating oriental feel of the USA.

Community Street Fair

This street fair takes place on the weekend that falls just after the Chinese New Parade. Main highlight of the fair is cultural arts of China such as folk dances, puppet shows, fine arts demonstrations and kite and lantern making. Numerous travellers enjoy the extended version of Chinese New Year celebrations during this street fair.

Taste the Best of Latin Culture with spectacular Calle Ocho Carnival in Miami!

Culture and merrymaking go hand in hand in Miami, and the myriads of carnivals that the ‘Magic City’ celebrates all year-round indicate it. If you, too, are keen to witness one of the biggest cultural fairs in Miami, book flights to the city and be here in March to be a part of the spectacular Calle Ocho Carnival! The week-long event transforms the city into a vibrant party hub, with tons of spectators assembling to celebrate the colourful Latin culture on the streets of Little Havana. In 2015, this huge gala will kick off from March 15 and is expected to enthral one and all with loads of fun, food, music, culture and more.

Here’s what all one can look forward to after netting air tickets on flights to enjoy this Miami carnival!

Carnival-in-MiamiCultural Merrymaking: Calle Ocho is both a cultural fest and a boisterous street celebration. Held along the SW 8th Street, the carnival sees Miami’s Latin community coming out loud and proud to pay homage to their cultural heritage. Talented artists from all parts of the USA gather here to perform on various styles of Latin music, from hip hop to meringue and jazz to rap. Enthralling sounds of the Hispanic and Caribbean nations fill the air with intense patriotism! Various cultural events, magic shows and interesting competitions just add to this enigmatic aura, promising the visitors whale of a time and maximum bang for their monies spent on travel tickets and holiday deals.

Delicious Latin Delicacies: If you’re a food-lover, Calle Ocho Carnival is your opportunity to savour some of the most incredible Latin flavours. You will see innumerable stalls and shops serving foods from different countries like Colombia, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The local cuisines of Florida and the rest of the USA are also offered to delight epicureans who attend the event after disembarking their Miami flights.

Sit Back and Relax: When in Miami, it’s almost irresistible not to indulge in the soul-soothing serenity and solace which the city’s magnificent coast has to offer! Be it the vibrant Crandon Park Beach, beautiful Matheson Hammock Park Beach or secluded Virginia Key, top beaches in Miami are truly a delight to be at.

Two Coolest San Francisco Neighbourhoods that Promise a Fun Filled Holiday!!

San Francisco is a perfect holiday destination, owing to its modern culture, different ethnicities and lifestyle which goes hand in hand with the artistic aura, sparkling out of magnificent wonders that glow amid its scenic landscape! However, it’s the amazing string of gorgeous neighbourhoods, surrounding this city, that steal most of the time of travellers grabbing flights tickets to the USA. As diverse as they are enthralling, all these regions outline the most notable hotspots which are highly unique from each other. Below is a quick rundown of the two most colourful neighbourhoods of San Francisco that impress visitors.

Cole Valley

Cole-Valley

Cole Valley by Paul Churcher/ CC BY

Cole Valley is one of the hottest neighbourhoods of San Francisco and it has attained a prominent position in travel itineraries of global travellers. This colourful and charming neighbourhood promises a distinct community feel. Unlike other neighbourhoods in the region, businesses and shopping make up the most interesting opportunities here. Spectacular city views are special perks of wandering around in Cole Valley as the nearby Tank Hill allows the visitors to enjoy one-of-its-kind panoramic vistas, hard to find anywhere else. Moreover, there are dozens of high-end cafes and restaurants which give the epicureans another reason to relish their visit to Cole Valley.

Pacific Heights

Pacific-Heights

Pacific Heights by Angelo DeSantis/ CC BY

One of San Francisco’s premier neighbourhoods, Pacific Heights is indeed one of the best places that rewards you the most for monies spent for tickets to San Francisco. The region is crammed full of lavish mansions and gorgeous parks that offer spellbinding views of Marina and Bay. Vacationers may find some popular upmarket shops and boutiques including Betsey Johnson, Rachel Ashwell’s Shabby Chic and Kiehl’s on the much celebrated Fillmore Street. To treat the taste buds with delicious meals or snacks, travellers have choices like Jackson Fillmore, Vivandi Porta Via and Elite Café, all serving both local and international cuisine. Fishbowl and Godzilla Sushi are two other hotspots of the region which are equally famous amongst holidaymakers disembarking flights in San Francisco.

Most Exquisite National Parks in the World That Offer Breathtaking Experiences

There are a number of national parks in the world that offer an amazing set of varied experiences. But among them, there are few that simply make the journey one of a kind. Those of you who are wondering about the best national parks in the world, here is a quick peek into just four of them to get you started.

Grand Canyon National Park

Grand-Canyon-National-ParkConsidered to be one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon spellbinds its visitors with its breathtaking views of multiple colours, amazing depth and unique rock formations. As the name itself suggests, the highlight of the park is the ‘Grand Canyon’. This gorge of the Colorado River is a must visit for all! Do try the South Kaibab Trail if you are a hiking lover.

Where: Arizona, USA

Machu Picchu National Park

Dramatic landscapes, complex of palaces and plazas, and brimming with mystery – these are just few of the reasons why you should book flights and visit this incredible place. The ancient city of Machu Picchu is hailed as one of the best known archaeological sites in the world. The views, no matter from where you stand in the park, are jaw dropping. Machu Picchu is a must visit for every curious mind or simply anyone who appreciates the breathtaking charm of nature and is willing to invest on air tickets.

Where: Aguas Calientes, Peru

Fiordland National Park

Fiordland-National-ParkThe views of the park are so surreal that it takes your own eyes to believe that a place like this can even exist in the real world. And if you are a fan of the ‘Lord of the Rings’ movies, a visit to this park is like a dream, err…..movie location come true. Gorgeous waterfalls, picturesque fiords (deep inlet of the sea between high cliffs) and mountains capped with snow – there is nothing in the park that cannot be defined as beautiful.
Where: New Zealand

Kruger National Park

Kruger-National-ParkA large number of holidaymakers who book tickets on flights to South Africa choose Kruger National Park as their one-stop destination. Why? The kind of safari and the game viewing it offers, it is nowhere else to seen in the world. Stretched across millions of acres, the park boasts an incredible range of African animal species. Every corner of the park is brimming with amazing flora and fauna. And did we mention the Big Five?

Where: South Africa

A Brief Guide to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, USA

International-Airport-USAChicago’s O’Hare International Airport is a major aviation hub and is considered one of the world’s busiest airports. Almost every prominent airline has flights to Chicago, allowing easy connectivity to several millions of passengers booking air tickets to and from the city, every year.  On its part, the O’Hare International Airport is well maintained, offering a wide array of services and facilities for travellers who make use of it. Get a fleeting overview of the kind of amenities available for fliers, who arrive at or depart from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.

Shopping: The airport has an incredibly large number of shops and stores for people who wish to make a purchase. It is not just the usual bookstores and newsstands the airport’s terminal boasts of! Almost everything is on offer at shops at the airport. Swatch, the Field Museum Store, Emporio Armani, Harley-Davidson, Salvatore Ferragamo and Oakley are some of the well-known brand stores that maintain presence at the Chicago airport. And if you feel lucky, you can even try out the Illinois lottery!

Food & Beverages: There is a general opinion that food served in flights is not really something you would like to call “delicious”. However, when you get to Chicago airport, this opinion is usually turned on its head! Indeed, this American airport has a large number of options for foodies who wish to taste something delectable. While household names like Dunkin’ Donuts, McDonald’s, Johnny Rockets, Starbucks Coffee and Subway can easily be found at the airport, even at more locations than one, there are several other independent eateries that are remarkably good.  Several bars can also be located at the terminals.

Lounges: O’Hare International Airport is a massive property with multiple terminals. A number of airlines here offer lounges for travellers who are booking tickets on flights operated by them.

USA airlines like Delta, American Airlines and United Airlines all maintain their lounges at the Chicano airport. Also, international carriers like Air France, British Airways and Korean Air have their lounges at Terminal 5 of the airport. Of course, different airlines have different criteria for allowing accessibility to these lounges.