American Holiday

Seattle is a hub for tourism, business and industry. Many visitors each year make the trek by car, plane, boat, and bus to come visit the America’s most northwestern city and partake in its amazing culture, music, food, sites, and sounds. Because of this, many wonderful accommodations have risen up to meet the expectations of visitors looking for fun and relaxing places to hang their hats at night. Some of the most popular and well-known accommodations are as follows: Salish Lodge & Spa, Woodmark Hotel, Sorrento Hotel, Hotel Vintage Park, W Seattle, Inn at Harbor Steps, Hill House Bed & Breakfast, Hampton Inn Seattle/ Southcenter, Travelodge Seattle by the Space Needle, and Clarion Hotel Seattle Airport.

Salish Lodge & Spa is a quintessential experience for people looking to take in the northwest ambience of the amazing city of Seattle. Each of the guest rooms feature amazing wood-burning stone fireplaces, elaborate rustic furnishings, and stylish black-and-white photos of the near by Snoqualmie Falls. Guests rave about the overwhelmingly relaxing and luxurious environment of the hotel. In addition to all of the posh surroundings, the rooms also include two-person whirlpool tubs, plush linens, and an actual menu for pillows. On site there are three restaurants that are ideal for any taste attack, a full service spa for melting away stress, outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, mountain biking, and kayaking and many other small inclusions that guests will enjoy.

Woodmark Hotel is a distinguished lakefront hotel that offers spectacular views of Lake Washington while simultaneously pampering guests with some of the best comforts available in hotel lodging. Rooms feature TVs, desk space, minibars, hair dryers, and many other conveniences. There are also many amazing amenities available on site such as a restaurant, bar, gym, gift shop, concierge, business services, and room service. The hotel itself is near many entertaining spots like more restaurants, plenty of chic shops, and of course the amazing water front.

Located near the Seattle business district is the magnificent Sorrento Hotel. Having opened first opened way back in 1909, the Sorrento continues to provide fantastic accommodations for all of those elite business and leisure travelers looking to experience the best that Seattle has to offer. The service is like no other, and rooms include many personal touches like hot-water bottles on those chilly northwestern evenings, and private aircraft chartering. The Fireside Room and The Hunt Club are on-site restaurants that offer some of the finest dining in the city, and the atmosphere exudes a club-like feel. All of the rooms in the Sorrento Hotel are amazing and decorated with uniquely lush surroundings; the rooms include bathrobes, private fax, voicemail, and dataport.
Back in the early 1900’s the Hill House Bed & Breakfast used to be two simple homes. Having been renovated in 1991, these homes are now furnished with a mix of antiques and contemporary pieces that include works by many prominent Northwest artists. There are seven guest rooms, but each of them features its own style, and most of them have a private bath. Each morning guests can partake of the full breakfast, which includes fresh fruit and a hot entrée such a smoked salmon omelet or frittata with marinara and feta cheese. Hill House is always a great place to stay for guests looking to get the most out of Seattle’s altruistic ambience.

Out of all of the big cities in the great American state of Texas, Dallas is perhaps the most representory of its state. Even though it is a Mecca for international business and technology, it still holds on with a vice grip to that Lone Star State pride that Houston and Austin seem to be so removed from. This makes Dallas’s residents an interesting and eclectic bunch, from all walks of life, they’re ready to welcome visitors with open arms, an “I love Texas” sticker and march them straight to one of the city’s attractions. Some of the most popular and well known attractions are as follows: Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, Pioneer Plaza, the Sixth Floor Museum at Deaky Plaza, Southfork Ranch, State Fair of Texas, White Rock Lake Park, Dallas Zoo, Mesquite Championship Rodeo and Fair Park.

The Dallas Museum of Art plays host to an enormous collection of art that includes everything from European paintings to Pacific Island sculptures. There are more than 23,000 items represented that cover a time span ranging from ancient times to the contemporary. Some of the more famous pieces housed in the Dallas Museum of Art are works like “The Icebergs” by Frederic Church and classic Impressionist works by masters of the medium like Edouard Manet and Paul Gauguin. Spiraling out from the central area are Limestone galleries that make for easy navigation and unparalleled viewing.

The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is located on the eastern shores of the famed White Rock Lake. Spanning 66 acres and filled with blooming flowerbeds, perfectly manicured lawns and lush trees, this amazing place must be experienced first-hand. The gardens include over 2400 types of azaleas, including the only publicly accessible Huang collection specimens found outside of China! Besides the wonderful plant life, families will enjoy the Greek like statuary art sprinkled throughout as well as the DeGolyer Mansion which is an authentic Spanish-styled hacienda commissioned in 1940 by the famed Texas oil baron Everett DeGolyer. There are many events and festivals that occur year round at the Arboretum and Botanical Garden as well.

When guests are walking up to the Dallas Zoo, the first thing they will most likely see is the 67 1/2 foot bronze giraffe standing to greet visitors at the entrance. The facility houses approximately 8,000 animals from 380 different species. Families will be engaged in one of the many fun and educating exhibits like “Primate Place” and “Snout Route,” which displays animals that have strange and distinct noses such as tapirs and anteaters. Also, the “Wilds of Africa” exhibit has over 80 species of African animals.

The 227-acre Fair Park is a National Historic Landmark, and if there is any kind of exciting cultural exhibits and events going on, visitors will most likely find themselves attending it at Fair Park. On the site are cultural exhibits such as the Smirnoff Music Centre, Dallas Aquarium, Texas Discovery Garden, eight museums, a planetarium, a music hall, and the Cotton Bowl. Also on site are wonderfully landscaped walking paths as well as the largest collection of Art Deco architecture in the US (beating out Miami, Florida). The annual Texas State Fair is also hosted by Fair Park and has been in operation since 1886.

The home of South Florida’s exclusive retail shops such as Armani, Exchange, Mayors Jewelers and American Eagle Outfitters is none other than Sunset Place on Sunset Drive and America’s leading designers tend to flock to Opalocka/Hialeah Flea Market for one-of-a-kind finds for the latest decorating material. This is one of the largest flea markets in South Florida, it posses 1,200 vendors selling their wares on a daily basis. There is everything from painted bottles to antiques in this popular bustling marketplace.

The Falls is another shopping center, but this one is located in a scenic outdoor mall that has more than 100 very upscale stores like Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Laura Ashley and Williams-Sonoma. If someone is looking for a more haute type of style then the Queen Mary II at the Bal Harbour Shops on Collins Avenue is for them. This shop includes fine jewelry from Christofle as well as the latest fashions at the world renowned Armani.

CocoWalk is known for its Mediterranean-style shopping village. This location is chalked full of fancy boutiques, chain stores, colorful shops and outdoor cafes. All-in-all, there are 38 shops including popular locations such as Banana Republic, Beyond Innovations, Coco Kids and Elegant Accents.

Dolphin Mall is a popular shopping spot for people with all sorts of incomes. With a mix of affordable retailers like Old Navy and Payless ShoeSource as well as bargain basement clearance centers like Off 5th from Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus Last Call Clearance it’s no wonder that shoppers are always present. The mall is divided into three sections, The Playa District for South Beach-inspired clothes shoppers, Housewares and Moda for the trendy fashion person. There is also Ramblas for eating.

No matter when or where a person visits in Miami, they can never be farther than 15 minutes away from a major shopping area. There are always beachy souvenir shops with towels and T-shirts available or Latino grocers and Cuban styled clothing stores offering 100 percent cotton Cuban guayaberas shirts. Yet, at the same time, there is the Tony Bal Harbour and always a traditional shopping mall filled with department stores, specialty shops and retail chains.

The best way to shop like a local in Miami is to walk on down to the Farmers Market on Lincoln Road on a nice Sunday morning. This destination is absolutely perfect for pedestrians and South Beach wonderers. Some of the things available are homemade bread, flowers, fresh produce and orchids, all locally grown. If people happen to stop by from May to October they’ll find the seasonal Antiques and Collectibles Market with everything from swanky antiques to groovy vintage ‘60s clothing.

Some other popular locations to shop include Coco Walk, Aventura Mall, Miracle Mile, Dadeland Mall and the Sawgrass Mills. Although visitors will not find many famous designer’s shops in Miami over above normal national chain retail stores, and will probably see a myriad of souvenir t-shirts, hats, sunglasses and license plates, the joy that comes with shopping in Miami is simply the environments in which major shopping areas are placed. So, even if a visitor isn’t buying anything at all, they’ll still have fun shopping in Miami.

Miami is classified as a true tropical climate that boasts warm, humid summers and warm, dry winters. Miami really is the epitome of the Sunshine State! Although cold fronts can move in from November through March, the average monthly temperature has never been recorded under 65 degrees F, in fact, in January when most of the rest of the country is shivering under layers of clothing, Miami will probably be almost 70 degrees F.

Miami is almost the same as a Caribbean tropic climate due to its extreme warmth all throughout the year and it sees most of its rain in the summer months (most people refer to it as the Wet Season). During the Wet Season the weather will be hot and very humid, this usually lasts from mid-May through late October, and seeing as how Miami is one of the top rated cities in America for rainfall abundance, most of the year’s 58.6 inches (1,488 MM) of rain occur during this time. During the wet season a typical day will consists of temperatures in the high 80’s to low 90’s degrees F (30-35 C) followed by high humidity that pushes the heat index above 100 degrees F (43 C). This uncomfortable heat is usually relieved by the afternoon by thunderstorms or sea breezes that develop off of the Atlantic Ocean, which lowers temperatures but not the overall mugginess of the humidity.

The Dry Season features mild temperatures with occasional invasions of colder air. During this time humidity is significantly lower, which allows for cooler weather to develop. Averages temperatures even out to about 59 degrees F (15 C) and rarely, if ever, dips below 40 degrees F (4 C). The most common temperatures throughout this time, however, are between 65 degrees F and 75 degrees F (18-24 C), which prompt many would-be visitors to Miami to come during this time to avoid the summer mugginess and enjoy the perfect not too hot and not too cold weather.

Due to its sea level elevation and coastal location, Miami has many reasons for remaining so warm throughout the year. It is just above the Tropic of Cancer and is in a direct path with the Gulf Stream that helps moderate a fairly consistent climate year round.

The city of Miami is, statistically, the most likely city in the world to be hit by a hurricane during the hurricane season that lasts from June 1st through November 30th. This is due to its location between two major borders of water known for tropical activity. Even though the statistical likeliness of Miami being struck dead on by a hurricane is incredibly high, the city has not had a direct hit since 1964. This has allowed the city to stay intact, but other hurricanes have come dangerously close and have caused incredibly damage.

Miami has been an international playground for celebrities, business men, the rich and famous as well as vacationers. Even people that live in other great American cities like New York City and L.A. come to Miami to soak up the sun and experience the Caribbean culture. This trend will probably always be associated with Miami, as the city itself continues to be the neon lit, open shirt, no shoes and sunny “magic city” that the entire world has come to associate with it. Due to this, Miami features many fabulous luxury resorts and five star hotels.

Downtown Miami is one of the hottest spots for the type of hotels mentioned above. Places like the Mandarin Oriental Hotel that is known for its friendly and knowledgeable Asian service and unparallel décor as well as its incredibly views of the beautiful blue Atlantic ocean. The Hyatt Regency is another 5 star resort that shares a space with the Miami Convention Center and is perfect for business travelers who usually have to attend meetings and events next door. This place features a spectacular outdoor pool, a healthy club an all-in-one business center.

For the visitors who would like to be as close to the shores of Miami Beach as possible, the Alexander All Suite Luxury Resort is able to provide. This resort features pampering mini-apartments as well as two beautiful lagoons, a swimming pool and an all but natural ocean fed waterfall for the ultimate Miami experience. The Fontainebleau Hotel is another monolithic Miami landmark that prides itself on being a celebrity hang out spot and film location for movies like James Bond’s Goldfinger. If that isn’t enough, another well-known landmark hotel is the Roney Palace Hotel. Roney Palace is a quintessential Miami Art Deco masterpiece that used to be the second home of celebrities like Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth.

South Beach is the hottest location in Miami. The oceanfront Casa Grande Suite Hotel, which has rooms decorated in incredible mahogany antiques is an astounding feature of this Miami hot spot. The Astor is another place; this small three-story hotel is loaded with more art-deco styles that include small, but jazzy rooms with plush architectural details. South Beach’s gem is the Ritz Carlton. The Ritz on South Beach houses a 13,000 foot day spa, outdoor heated pool, business center and water-rental service for outdoor fun in the sun.

There are many people that may not be able to afford 5 star resorts, and there are many chain hotels standing by to accommodate visitors. If visitors of these chain hotels can rent a car, bring their own, or pay for a taxi service to the local hot spots, then there isn’t much to be missed. Yet, if visitors want a spot directly near the festivities or on the water, then 5 star resorts are the only option. A few more include the Sheraton Biscayne Bay Hotel, The Grand bay Hotel Coconut Grove, the Days Inn Civic Center, the Doral Golf Resort and Spa, the Bentley Luxury Suites Hotel, the Golden Tulip Hotel and the Marlin Hotel.

The Hilton Miami Airport & Towers and the Airport Regency Hotel are also some other fantastic choices for visitors who want to stay near a traveling center, yet revel in luxurious surroundings.

Miami is an attraction within itself. People come from all over for the climate, bars, restaurants, dancing and events. As far as structural attractions are concerned, Miami is somewhat lacking. Yet, for those interested in history and natural attractions, Miami has plenty. There are the Everglades, the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, the Miami Metrozoo, Miccosukee Indian Village, the Bayside Marketplace, Coral Castle, Historical Museum of Southern Florida, Wolfsonian and South Point Park.

One of the places that capture Miami’s easy going and lush environment is the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. Built in 1916 as a winter retreat, the gardens are a tribute to the Italian Renaissance. The museum contains a lot of the original furnishings and artwork from the period and is surrounded by calming formal gardens. The building itself is situated directly on the waterfront and has 34 decorated rooms with 15th through 19th century antique furnishings and art. The gardens retain elements of Renaissance Italian and French designs. There are fountains, a central pool surrounding an elevated island, the elevated Mound with a small house, statuary and several themed gardens.

The Miami Metrozoo hosts a plethora of endangered, rare and threatened animals including exotic tigers, crocodiles and the world renowned Komodo Dragon. There are special educational programs made for children of all ages, as well. The zoo is nothing short of amazing with 81 exhibits, 740 acres total with 300 of the acres developed, 1,306 total specimens on site, 428 fishes and between 10,000 and 15,000 Italian honey bees at any given time. This is truly an enrapturing site to behold in the famous sunny city of Miami.

If a person would like to go back to the roots of what makes Miami tick, then the Miccosukee Indian Village is for them. This surviving village of the Miccosukee Native American Tribe is located only 27 miles west of Miami on the Tamiami Trail. Here, people can experience how this native tribe existed, and continues to exist, in the heart of the Everglades. Visitors can follow guides through tours of the past, present and future of the tribe’s history, culture and lifestyle. There are also demonstrations and exhibits on woodcarving, patchwork, beadwork, basket weaving, and doll making. There is also an outstanding gift shop for souvenirs.

Coral Castle is a must-see spot in Miami. A man named Ed Leedskalnin, a Latvian immigrant who migrated to Miami for his health, constructed this world-renowned mystery structure. A very private man, Ed built the famed Coral Castle on his own, using only primitive tools. The mystery is that no one ever saw Ed making the structure, and if people tried to come and sneak a peak, he would stop building until they left. This amazing structure, made out of pure coral from the ground, is a feat of engineering that baffles architects and scientist still today, especially since Ed only weight 100 pounds and stood only slightly taller than 5 feet. Just the walls of the Coral Castle itself weigh more than 58 tons at 8 feet tall, 4 feet wide and 3 feet thick! Whenever people asked Ed how he created the castle, he would simply say that he possessed the secret of the pyramids, this comment alone causes many people to consider Ed an otherworldly creature. During his lifetime he charged a few cents for admission into his Coral Castle, and today, people can still come and tour the amazing structure and make their own assumptions as to how it was built by such a strange and seemingly weak man.