Category Archives: USA

Three Best Places to Enjoy St Patrick’s Day Celebrations in the US

St Patrick’s Day is one of the most important times of the year in the US, when both the Irish and the non-Irish, celebrate culture and Irish heritage. Largely, the youth celebrate the occasion wearing shamrock coloured clothes, while sipping green beer. If you want to enjoy the festival, have a look at the three best US cities to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago is one of the best cities in the US to celebrate St Patrick’s Day. The “Second City” has been attracting about 350,000 people from all across the globe to participate in the grand-scale celebration.

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If you want to celebrate with them, all you need to do is book tickets well in advance to save yourself from last-minute hassles. The people of Chicago have a unique way of celebrating the festival; they follow a ritual of dyeing the Chicago River, green. This tradition started in the 1960s. People largely gather around Division Street where most of the events take place. We also recommend that you stop at Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Pub in the North Centre neighbourhood.

Boston, Massachusetts

Boston is not very far behind when it comes to celebrating St Patrick’s Day. Celebrated for their long Irish ancestry, the Bostonians start their parties about 7 days before St. Patrick’s Day.

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Around 850,000 revellers gather to witness the events and other festivities like the parade, a variety of Irish band concerts, and the Gaelic Gourmet Gala to name a few.

New York City, New York

The New York City is one of the places where the parade and the celebrations date back to 1762. St. Patrick’s Day is one of the most cherished times.

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The city shows gratitude and honours the Irish culture and heritage with a stately parade by marching bands and traditional musicians. The celebrations commence on the 17th of March and revellers celebrate in bars, pubs, and even on the roads.

Flavor! Napa Valley – Taste the Flavours of this Famed Wine Growing Region in USA

Napa-ValleyNapa Valley is perhaps the most popular wine region in the USA. Visit this part of California not only to sample wines but to experience its fine-dining scene as well. If you are planning a holiday here in March 2016, you will also get an opportunity to participate in popular the annual festival Flavor! Napa Valley. This legendary festival is scheduled from 16th to 20th March.During these five days, the festival hosts 40 events including winemaker workshops, wine tasting sessions, celebrity chef demonstrations, and exclusive dining experiences. Let’s check out the top picks of Flavor! Napa Valley.

First Taste Napa – The Downtown strEAT Market

Flavor! Napa Valley kicks off with this colourful event on 16th March at 6pm. Visit the new CIA Downtown Campus at Copia to enjoy creative demonstrations of street foods by numerous chefs. Several restaurants are participating in this event and you can join various tasting sessions as well. Awe-inspiring street performances are sure to add more to this event.

A Celebration of the Judgment of Paris Dinner

Visit Silverado Resort and Spa on 17th March to experience the celebrations of the 40th anniversary of Judgement of Paris, a legendary wine competition which took place in 1976. This 4-hour long event will start at 6pm and you can enjoy wines from notable wineries including Stags Leap Wine Cellars, Chateau Montelena and Spring Mountain Vineyard. Besides, an exquisite five-course meal also entices epicureans to this event.

Wine Classes

The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone is going to host an array of wine classes on 18th and 19th March. At these classes, you can learn about several local as well as international wines. Upcoming winemakers will showcase their talent at a wine class named Forward Thinking, The Young Stars of Napa Valley. High Elevation Wines, and Aromatic White Wines for Spring are other popular wine classes you can attend.

Legendary Napa Valley, The Grand Tasting

This is probably the key draw of Flavor! Napa Valley.  On 19th March, you can sample vintage wines and delectable dishes served by some of the most celebrated chefs and vintners from Napa Valley. Tickets are available online for this grand event, scheduled to be held from 6:00pm to 9:30pm at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone.

Tips to Enjoy Valentine’s Day in New York

If you are planning to take your partner on a romantic holiday this Valentine’s Day, do consider the Big Apple. There are many places in New York City, where you can spend some quality time with your partner, thus making the day much more special.

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Here are some ideas to make your Valentine’s Day much more memorable. These ideas are not too expensive, boring, or over the top; in short, they’re just about perfect. Have a look at our top 5 picks.

Romance under the Stars

Instead of going to a regular candle-lit dinner, how about a unique star-studded experience? All you need to do is to book some tickets for this plush and romantic experience at the Rose Center for Earth and Space in the American Museum of Natural History. The night would commence among the asteroids with champagne and cocktails from their open bar along with hors d’oeuvres and delicious chocolate, while a brilliant jazz quartet plays romantic notes. After an hour of quality time with your partner, settle down at the Hayden Planetarium, where an astronomer will narrate some romantic stories based on the various mythologies of the constellations and the universe.

Dinners in the Dark

If you and your partner share a common love for blind-taste test and food in general, ‘Dinners in the Dark’ is just the thing for you. For this unique and innovative experience, the guests are blindfolded for the duration of their four-course dinner, at the renowned chef Abigail Hitchcock’s Camaje. The whole step-by-step planned experience will be occasionally punctuated with entertaining performances by your servers. The whole experience will be presented as a way to test and also to awaken your senses.

Love in Times Square

There is no better place than Times Square in New York to celebrate any festival, whether it is the New Year’s Eve, Solstice or the Valentine’s Day.  Watch people get married, pop the question, or retake their vows in Times Square itself.  On this day, people of all ages, backgrounds, races, genders and political beliefs come together to celebrate the day of love.

Mardi Gras 2016 New Orleans, USA

If you are thinking of Mardi Gras, New Orleans is the place to be. The extended weekend (From the 5th to the 9th) prior to the Mardi Gras is the perfect time to visit the city.

New-Orleans

With popular events and parades such as Rex, Zulu, Bacchus and Endymion, you can get ready to have a memorable holiday.

About Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday, is the concluding day of the season of Carnival and falls a day before Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of Lent. Family Gras will continue from Friday, 29th January through Sunday, 31st January. If you are planning a long holiday, you can book your flights for the 29th to join the festivities in the suburb of Metairie. There will be various outdoor concerts by both local and national artists.

Performances

The Family Gras Celebration will take place in the neutral grounds across the Lakeside Shopping Center in the Veterans Memorial Boulevard in Metairie. Since it is a free celebration, you don’t have to buy any tickets to attend. In the past, various famous musicians and performers have performed at the event, including the Four Seasons, Frankie Valli, The Drifters, Jessy McCartney, Montgomery Gentry, Wilson Phillips, Blood Sweat & Tears, Cowboy Mouth, Amanda Shaw and the members of the Electric Light Orchestra. So, rest assured that it is going to be a fun-filled musical celebration this year too. There are various regional and local artists, who set up their stalls in the art market from where you can buy brilliant works throughout the period of the festival.

Food

How can we forget food in a celebration? Of course we haven’t, as various vendors at the Flambeau Food Court would be preparing excellent specialties of Louisiana, such as gator-on-a-stick, pizza, muffulettas, crawfish pasta, jambalaya and much more! You can also buy delicious desserts such as the king cake and bread pudding. If you are a food-fanatic and would like to spend a great time tasting various local delicacies, you can buy the Royal Pass for $99. The Royal Pass would give you the privilege to access the VIP food and beverage tent, comfort station, and also access to the premium stage viewing among other things.

Fun and Frolic at Coconut Grove Festival, Miami

Coconut Grove Arts festival was started by the tightly knit, warm Bohemian community of Coconut Grove in the 1960s. Moving forward; presently, the 52nd Annual Coconut Grove Arts Festival has become one of the most anticipated art events of South Florida.

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The main reason behind its popularity is the brilliant art and music performances, the delicious food and a weekend full of fun activities and events. As the festival is held on the same weekend of the month every year; it makes the planning easier for attendees. If you are planning to visit Miami between the 13th and 15th of February, 2016 and are in love with music, art and food, make sure to book tickets for this grand affair.

Art

This year, the festival will host more than 300 artists from across the globe, who are going to perform in relaxed outdoor settings. You will see various artists, woodworkers and sculptors work their magic. The best part is that you can buy these brilliant artworks. Some of the painters focus on the surroundings and the scenery of Miami for inspiration, while others use their own flavour and blend to create a wonderful collage of various art forms.

Food

In the last few years, the food in the festival has evolved from the carnival like stalls and stands selling fast food to gourmet food for a delightful culinary experience. The festival promises something for everyone, including families, friends and kids.  Many local chefs come together to entertain and astonish the attendees with their brilliant food and artistic culinary genius. Coconut Grove has been home to some of the best chefs in Miami and a hub for the culinary arts.

Music and Performing Arts

If you are a music lover you should head to the Peacock Park, which becomes the waterfront stage of Coconut Grove during the festival. Throughout the duration of the festival, you will find a large number of local and international musicians entertaining the crowd. The schedule is full of various Latin groups, jazz performers, Caribbean-influenced music groups and various bands performing a mix of rap/funk/Latin music. Apart from the main stage, you will find a number of small-scale music, dance and theatre performances being conducted at other venues.

Three Popular and Spectacular Attractions in the California Desert

The California desert stretches from the eastern side of the northern Californian region to the southern part of the state border.

california

You will find some of the most amazing landscapes, parks and lakes along the rugged and enormous terrain. Have a look at three of the most popular and spectacular places in California desert.

The Valley of Fire

The Valley of Fire, located about an hour’s drive from Las Vegas, is the oldest state park of Nevada. Covering about 42,000 acres of sandstone formations of solidified sand dunes, the place dates back to the age of dinosaurs. The rough landscape is perfect for wildlife viewing and hiking, especially during winters.  Although the park remains open year-round, it is not advisable to visit the place during summers, when the temperatures soar up to around 48 degree Celsius.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, situated about 135 kilometres from San Diego, is the largest State Park in California. The park covers around 600,000 acres of desert landscape. You will find various species of cacti here. Before exploring the State park, we recommend you to check out the Visitor’s Centre where you can get maps and other important information about the park. You can also get information about the latest hiking trails and roads.

Salton Sea Recreation Area

Salton Sea is actually an ancient lake that once used to be a dried up salt-bed but came back to life in 1905 due to the Colorado River flood. The irrigation canal in Imperial Valley gave way to the swelling river waters, which flooded over to the old bed and filled it up to 82 feet. The lake, known as Salton Sea at present, kept getting flooded by the river till 1907. The inland lake is below sea level, and has no natural outlets. The State recreation area has been set up near the northern banks of the Salton Sea and is a popular picnic area and campsite. It is also used as a fishing spot by fishermen and a recreational area for water sports enthusiasts. The various species of birds found here make it a birdwatcher’s haven.

First Night First Day Boston 2016

If you are planning to book tickets to an overseas destination for celebrating the New Year in a somewhat different manner, consider visiting Boston, Massachusetts in the US. In Boston, First Night/First Day Festival hosts a huge celebration on the commencement of the New Year. The festivities herald the New Year on a joyous note. About one million foreign and local revellers turn out to join the popular New Year event.

boston-newyear

About the First Night Tradition

First Night Boston, the largest celebration of New Year’s Eve in North America is organised by First Night, Inc., a non-profit and independent organisation. The organisation manages the Neighbourhood Network of First Night in the greater Boston area, which is a community-based outreach program. The First Night New Year’s celebrations were first started in 1975 and have initiated many other First Night events in various cities across the US.  The main purpose of the celebration was to get performers and artists on a platform to showcase their talent and also to remove the emphasis on alcohol for the celebrations.

Event Highlights

Carrying the tradition forward, mayor of Boston, Martin Walsh will participate in the commencement of the festival and promoting the First Night concept of an alcohol-free New Year’s celebration for everyone. In the past, one was required to buy tickets in order to attend specific events but this year’s events are free and open to everyone making it a family-friendly affair. Most of the specialty attractions and entertaining events will be hosted at the Boston Common and Copley Square.

First Night

This year’s events will include the traditions from the First Night’s past such as light displays and ice sculptures. In addition, there will be various music and arts performances, a spectacular fireworks show over Boston Harbour at midnight, and the Grand Procession down Boylston Street.  MBTA will provide an extended commuter rail and subway schedule till 2 AM for First Night. The T-train (subway) will be free of charge from 8 PM and 2 AM.

First Day

Start your New Year with a First Day Fun Run/Walk on Boston Common. You will also find various discounts for attractions like museums and art performances around the whole of Boston. You can also attend the First Day brunches across the various restaurants in the city.

Top 3 Winter Activities in Alaska, USA

Many people who have visited Alaska during winters will vouch that it is the best time to go to the destination. Whatever you’re looking for, be it a fun and adventure filled holiday or a leisure trip amidst pristine white snow; Alaska will surpass your expectations.

alaska

You will be delighted to know that it is neither as cold nor as dark as you might have heard before. In fact, Alaska offers some of the most unforgettable winter activities that create an everlasting impression in one’s mind. Have a look at three such activities.

View the Northern Lights

Perhaps the biggest advantage of visiting Alaska during winters is that you can see the Aurora Borealis, also known as Northern Lights. These lights are visible between the months of September and April. One of the most magical natural phenomena on earth, the best time to witness the amazing spectacle is during the cold and clear nights in winter. Brave the cold and go out to experience the surreal Northern Lights, Alaska is famous for. Remember to wear proper winter clothes and carry light snacks for the night expedition.

Check out Dog Mushing

Dog mushing, the official state sport of Alaska has for long been an integral part of life. Dog sleds were used as common vehicles for travelling great distances to visit various rural communities much before Alaska became a state and even before the Europeans arrived here. Teams of dogs are used to pull carts to travel and for hunting purposes by rural people. If you want to experience Dog mushing, head to one of the many dog races that are held throughout the state, during winters. For a more hands-on experience, you can also join sled tours.

Iditarod National Historic Trail

The Iditarod National Historic Trail comprises of an array of different trails across Seward, near Anchorage and Nome, on the Bering Strait. These trails add up to about 3700 kilometres. The trail is said to have been used by prehistoric hunters and later by gold prospectors. Presently the trail is used for the dog race known as Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Predominantly famous as a winter trail, it is also used in part for hiking during summers.

Top January 2016 Events in Portland, Oregon USA

If you are catching a Portland-borne flight this January and want to experience something new and refreshing, have a look at the three fascinating events that might keep you entertained.

Portland

With a number of various different activities and events scheduled to be held in and around Portland, your visit is sure to be worthwhile.

ZooLights

Holidays are incomplete in Portland without visiting ZooLights, the annual winter festival of Oregon Zoo. The festival features more than a million lights displayed in dazzling patterns illuminating the whole zoo. Zoolights will be held from the 27th of November 2015 till 2nd January, 2016. If you are in Portland, you can visit the zoo early and see how the ambiance transforms. One needs to buy tickets to enter the zoo. It’s a good place to head to with kids as there are lots of exciting treats to look forward to such as hot cocoa, elephant ears, gourmet sandwiches and the special “light-up” cotton candy.

ChocolateFest

Whether it is the Valentine’s Day, Halloween or Christmas; chocolates are an inseparable part of festivities. The people of Portland love chocolates so much that they celebrate it with an annual festival called ChocolateFest. The Oregon Convention Center is the venue. Chocolate tastings, fun activities and overall fun and frolic continue for three days. More than 60 vendors bring unique and delicious concoctions. ChocolateFest is organized by the World Forestry Center as a fundraiser and includes adult-only premiere parties and presentations. If you’re a hardcore chocolate lover, make sure you visit the Oregon Convention Center from 22nd January, 2015 to 24th January, 2016.

Curious Gallery 2016

Before the public museums came into fashion, private collectors from Europe and other places came together to showcase their collections to inspire and educate people. Similarly Lupa, an avid collector as well as renowned author and artist also wanted to enlighten people about the functions of wunderkammern or wonder cabinets, also known as the cabinets of curiosity. Well, this finally became the Curious Gallery. It features exhibits, presentations, and special workshops for people who like taxidermy and have an overall love for art and nature. If you are an art enthusiast, head over to the Crown plaza on the 9th and the 10th of January.

Three Must-Visit World Heritage Sites in USA

UNESCO, which stands for United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, has a list of natural and cultural sites which mark a special place in the geography and history of a specific region. Out of this list, 22 such beautiful sites are located in the US. If you are planning to visit the US, do not miss these three major UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon National Park is one of the most-visited places in the US, and has often been referred to in Hollywood flicks.

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With a depth of 1,500 metres, the Grand Canyon is one of the most astounding gorges across the globe. It has been in existence for over 2 billion years, which is nearly half the age of our planet. There are more than 1,000 species of flora in the park and more than 100 species of animals and over 300 avian species. All this makes it an adventurous venue for nature and wildlife enthusiasts. But that’s not all; there are over 2,600 identified prehistoric ruins here that make it an exciting place for history buffs.

Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty in the New York City Harbour has been a symbol of democracy and freedom. Also called Liberty Enlightening the World, it was gifted to the city by the French in the year 1876.

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The statue, designed by Gustav Eiffel and Frédéric Bartholdi stands on the Liberty Island as a sign of welcome to the immigrants who have been coming here to start a new life. In 1984, it was added to the list of World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO due to its symbolic and cultural significance, and the enormous size of the monument. Visitors are allowed to explore the statue. If you want to visit the pedestal or the crown, we recommend you to reserve tickets in advance.

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is one of the most popular attractions in America. The majority of the globe’s natural geysers are situated in the park, including the famous Old Faithful.

Yellowstone-National-Park

While the park is mainly located in Wyoming, small parts also come under Montana and Idaho. In 1978, the park had been given the status of a World Heritage Site. It stretches across more than two million acres of pristine landscape spanning forests, geysers, alpine lakes and magnificent peaks. The park is home to a number of wild animals including wolves, grizzly bears, elks and bisons to name a few. If you are an adventure buff, you can indulge in various sporting activities such as boating, biking, skiing, fishing and much more here.