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New Year Celebrations Around the World

December 29, 2012 By Jillian

Not every New Year celebration is created equally. Some locales know how to throw an unforgettable New Year bash that attracts people from all over the world. Thinking of doing this year with lots of fireworks, maybe a beach and some costumes? Read on intrepid traveler…

Orlando

Florida in general is a top New Year’s Eve destination. Just the other day I saw a list that 8 of the top 15 destinations in the U.S. for New Year’s Eve are in Florida. It must have something to do with our beaches and perhaps our warm temperatures. Anyway, if you are a kid at heart, Orlando offers the perfect low key and family friendly New Year party option. Disney’s Magic Kingdom puts on a New Year’s Eve party that even 30 somethings can enjoy. From performances by Disney characters, and the general magic of Disney to the midnight fireworks, it’s a fun (although expensive!) place to ring in the New Year.

He’s 30 and it’s still his happiest place on earth.

Paris

Ahh, Paris. Je t’aime. The City of Light is never brighter than on New Year’s Eve. The whole town is the perfect romantic getaway to welcome January in style. Much of Paris celebrates the New Year for an entire month. From January to February, Paris is engaged in an ongoing celebration. There is plenty of food and champagne to keep off the chill, and fireworks are nearly ubiquitous.

Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro has become one of the most popular places to spend New Year’s Eve and it’s not hard to see why. We fell in love with Rio after only a few days, and I would love to go back to ring in the New Year. The spectacular fireworks that line the coast leave people breathless with the beauty. The New Year is a time of new beginnings. The people of Rio de Janeiro celebrate this by wearing pure white clothes and casting a flower into the ocean at midnight while making a wish for the coming year.

IMGP2721 — Looking for the girl from Ipanema?

Goa

Goa may be known year round as an amazing party destination, but this Indian province hosts some of the best New Year celebrations in the world. The entire region is festooned with brightly colored decorations. Strings of shining lights are hung from every tree branch and frond, and partygoers flock to the beaches to party. Dancing, live music and amazing food are abundant all along the coast of Goa. New Year’s Eve is the busiest time of year for Goa as international travelers take advantage of the moonlit beach parties. If the raucous beach parties aren’t your thing (they’re not mine either!) there are plenty of fun, low key things do to in the area for New Year’s Eve!

FTV Party New Years Eve-06 — Goa. New Year’s Eve. What more do we need to say.

Berlin

Remember when we fell in love with Berlin? We may have been taken over by the museums and the nightlife, but the entire city of Berlin in Germany turns out in the streets to celebrate the coming of the New Year. The joy of the occasion is celebrated with dancing and drinking in the streets. The numerous costume parties mean that the sidewalks are filled with elaborately dressed revellers. The fireworks in Berlin are second to none, and many travelers come just to see the night skies lit with the fantastic array of lasers and sparkling lights.

IMGP5078 — Now you know why we love Berlin. Bikes and Beer!

Best Cities Across the World to Celebrate Christmas

December 7, 2012 By Jillian

Christmas is one of the most amazing times of the year, if only for how kind, joyful and friendly people get. People are cheerful, songs are being sung and you can see dazzling lights. The holiday is celebrated throughout the world with laughter and joy, even by those who don’t celebrate it. Even if you don’t celebrate the holiday, it’s worthwhile to check out Christmas celebrations around the world. Where is your favorite place to experience the season?

New York, New York: New York City is one of the most thrilling places to spend the season. This time of year, the Big Apple may be dusted with snow, and the Christmas lights and displays on the streets and in the shop windows are spectacular. Ice skaters will soar across the Rockefeller Center Skating Rink, and the huge Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center is stunning. Santa will also be nearby, so you must see the jolly man in the red suit. In addition, while in New York, you will want to see a performance of The Nutcracker.

Santa Claus Village, Finland: The Arctic Circle in Finland is home an exciting amusement park in Lapland, Finland. The park contains cafes, shops, the Santa Claus post office and of course the office of Santa himself. Each Christmas season, more than 400,000 tourists visit the village.

Bethlehem: What better place to celebrate Christmas than the place where Jesus is believed to have been born. The streets are lined with sparkling lights, children perform Christmas pageants and you can even find a Christmas market. Christmas serviced are held for numerous faiths, including Catholic, Protestant and Greek Orthodox. Located outside the square is the Basilica of the Nativity, the site where Jesus was born. You can view Christmas processions that go through Manger Square. At times there are even pilgrimage processions which start in Jerusalem and wind their way to Bethlehem.

Special thanks to karendotcom127 for today’s photo via a creative commons license.

Go Your Own Way In The UK

September 10, 2012 By Lauren

Public transport is a wonderful thing. Underground networks make big cities accessible, while buses and trains can be a relaxing way to get around.

But there’s something you sacrifice when you take public transport, and that’s independence. Nothing beats a good road trip, where you can stop whenever something strikes your fancy.

Like gooseberries, for example.

British gooseberries — I used to think ‘gooseberry’ was a made-up word intended for insulting people.

My fiancé and I toured the UK and Ireland by camper van a few years back, and somewhere in the British countryside, I saw a hand-drawn sign that read, “Gooseberries.”

“Stop the car!” I cried.

I learned two things that day: one, that gooseberries aren’t very good, and two, nothing tastes as sweet as freedom. I loved being on our own schedule, and that it was so easy. Car hire UK isn’t complicated, nor did it require an international driver’s license (check before you go, as laws may change).

We visited places just because we could, even though people warned us that there was nothing to see:

Sherwood Forest — They were right. There was nothing to see.

And visited places because we happened to be in the right place at the right time, like Kells Priory in Ireland. While in Kilkenny, we ducked into a tourist information shop to avoid the rain, and I saw a leaflet about the Priory. It was 15km outside of town, and the woman told us we could only get there if we had our own car.

So we went.

Kells Priory, Ireland — I’d say it is no longer operational.

Even though I’d lived in the UK and Ireland for over two years, I experienced it in a whole new way. I’ll always be a big fan of public transport, but if somebody says road trip – count me in.

Why We Said “Yes” to An Overnight Adventure Race

August 27, 2012 By Jillian

Every since we started adventure racing in Florida we’ve had two complaints: 1. the topography is flat (hello beaches) so the orienteering isn’t exactly the most challenging and 2. 6-8 hours of race running, biking and paddling in the sun are not the most enjoyable ways to spend a weekend. Needless to say when we heard about an overnight adventure race in a bioluminescent bay – meaning running, biking, and paddling around in the middle of the night on a giant scavenger hunt- we said what any adventurous soul would say- “Yes”.

Fast forward to 10:30 p.m. the night of the race. A half hour into the race and we were paddling along the small islands that line Florida’s Intracoastal Waterway in an area known as Mosquito Lagoon. Scouring the map with our red light, we tried to count inlets to determine where to make the correct turn instead of heading out to sea. Shrimp literally jumped into our boat as we paddled along the shoreline. By the time all was said and done we had inadvertently caught four shrimp and one fish, paddled next to a dolphin and succeeded in finding our way back to shore. It felt like a herculean achievement, even if we didn’t seen any luminescence.

Navigating at night is no small challenge, but we made it through the entire race without being too terribly lost and only meeting a few unmarked swamps. By 6 a.m., just as the sky was starting to brighten with the morning sun, we pulled into the finish line punch cards in hand. It was a night adventure we may never forget and may never choose to redo…..

IF YOU GO: The Florida Coastline is gorgeous. Besides the sandy beaches, just inland along the intracoastal there are wilderness areas filled with mangrove trees, dolphins and manatees. If you you are staying in Ocean Florida Villas you’ll have access to the water at night. Be prepared with good navigation skills, a good map and appropriate emergency gear (more than just a cell phone!).

Diving in Turks and Caicos

August 22, 2012 By Jillian

The islands that make up Turks and Caicos are surrounded by one of the most diverse and longest coral reefs in the world. Couple that with uninhabited islands and crystal clear water and you’ve got a snorkeling or diving paradise. The islands are a hotspot for biodiversity, both on land and in the sea. From colorful fish, sharks, turtles and stingrays to colonies of breeding seabirds, the islands are home to many species, some of which are endemic only to Turks and Caicos. The coral reefs around the island are worth a dive, but be mindful of your impact and pay heed to the warning of your dive team and avoid touching the coral or snagging your equipment on the delicate formations.

If You Go: All-inclusive and luxury resorts like Club Med, offer snorkeling and diving in house along with lots of other water sports. It is worthwhile to try to get out to one of the uninhabited islands on a boat trip or a kayak adventure to experience true relaxation. Like other dive destinations, be mindful of your environmental impact- wear sunscreen that won’t damage the reefs or coral and ask your dive shop about their conservation and environmental protection efforts.

New Year Celebrations Around the World

Best Cities Across the World to Celebrate Christmas

Go Your Own Way In The UK

Why We Said “Yes” to An Overnight Adventure Race

Diving in Turks and Caicos

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