Behind the Image: Machu Picchu
An untraditional view of the famous ruins of Machu Picchu (Nathan Borchelt)
Machu Picchu is one of the rare places in the world where all expectations are exceeded. Whether you hike the Inca Trail to the ancient city, hop the train from Cusco via Aguas Calientes, or trek for three days in the adjacent Camino Salcantay valley with Mountain Lodges of Peru (one of the newest—and best—Peruvian tour operators), you already likely know what to expect: the stone ruins of a vast, sprawling pre-Columbian Incan city 8,000 feet above sea level, with dense cumulus clouds blanketing the peaks of this mysterious UNESCO World Heritage-listed spot.
Despite its many unanswered questions, one thing is almost universally known: what it looks like, thanks to that singular, ubiquitous image of Machu Picchu. Looking down from the upper reaches of the ruins with the neighboring peak of Huayna Picchu jutting upwards, the ruins sprawl across the peak, almost like a half-constructed, stone Lego city built across terraces carpeted with verdant green foliage.
And when you follow the path up to that vantage point, the view does indeed hit every travel cliche: It steals your breath, quiets you, humbles you, makes you feel alive and aware and bigger than life, and yet small and insignificant. And you also realize that the photo you're obligated to take is...well, just like every other one you've seen.
So, when you find yourself in a place such as Machu Picchu, take on the challenge of finding something different.
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July 01, 2009
Drinking Laws Loosen in Utah
Park City's main street (Latham Jenkins/courtesy, Park City CVB)
As anyone who’s been to Utah (or rather, a bar or restaurant in Utah) knows, the state has got some of the most peculiar and strict drinking laws in the country. But that's all about to change. Starting today, July 1, 2009, the Utah Legislature will no longer require clubs and bars to charge their customers a "membership" fee for entry. This fee was effectively a cover charge that lasted for only three weeks if you were not already a member or couldn't get a member to “sponsor” you. Consider this a huge feat, especially if you're like me and hate paying for anything other than your drinks.
This decision follows last year's adjustment when single shots increased from 1 to 1.5 ounces, the accepted amount for a shot.
Bill Malone, CEO and President of the Park City Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau, believes that with all these new changes, "guests will no longer be able to use antiquated alcohol rules as a reason to shy away from a Park City vacation, meeting or convention."
Wondering where the best spots are to get a drink, now that it's so much easier to stroll into a bar in Utah? We've found the best places to quench your thirst in the state's various ski resort towns, in and around Salt Lake City and Park City.
BONUS: Click after the jump for a recipe for a great drink for summer, concocted by a local Park City bartender.
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June 30, 2009
Beach Bytes: Beach Tips--Be a Good Guest
When visiting a beach, please let's all remember to treat the beach with the utmost respect. Whether it’s a public beach or a privately owned resort property, different beaches may have different rules and restrictions. But a few tips should be remembered as common courtesies:
Dunes: Nature’s plan for protecting the shore is washing sand up to create dunes. Whether or not signs are posted as reminders, dunes are easily damaged by walkers, sunbathers, or pets. In many locations, law prohibits walking on the dunes.
Sea oats: Sometimes planted or growing naturally, the lovely swaying grass holds the sand in place along the dunes, and it should not be disturbed.
Space: An American custom, more so than in many other countries, is to allow personal space. Park your chair, umbrella, kids, or general spread of stuff at a reasonable distance away from others. It’s good manners to allow privacy for conversation and to keep your own music or phone calls to yourself.
Dogs: Allowed on some beaches, and often with leashes required, dogs sometimes annoy non-owners, and pet waste should be collected and disposed properly. Otherwise, it’s a serious health hazard.
Holes: Digging in the beach sand seems to be a natural pastime for kids and dogs, but holes should be filled when they have served their entertainment purpose. Otherwise, a runner or other beachgoer could miss seeing a deep hole and be hurt by a fall.
Trash: Leave the beach cleaner than you find it, and dispose of trash properly.
Private property: Straying onto, or purposely trying to enter, the posted property of a neighboring resort or private owner may be illegal as well as bad etiquette.
Let's enjoy our beautiful beaches and be sure we can continue to enjoy them for many years to come!
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June 29, 2009
More Than Just a Package Trip: Fairmont Hotels Teams Up with National Geographic Society
African savanna (courtesy, Fairmont Mara Safari Club)
Fairmont Hotels and Resorts—one of the biggest players in properties that qualify as destinations in their own right—have teamed up with the National Geographic Society to present the Global Explorer Series, offering guests the opportunity to engage with Nat Geo experts in a range of activities. Three 2009 programs remain:
- Attend a gala event in Monte Carlo, including a private excursion with a marine ecologist on Prince Albert’s Tuiga, one of the world’s most beautiful historic yachts (July 19-19; $1,125).
- Join a Nat Geo wildlife photographer in Kenya for a multi-day luxury safari with tour operator Micato, which includes a hot-air balloon ride, a visit to a Masai village, luxe accommodations in Samburu National Reserve and Fairmont’s three East African properties, and a day-long photo safari drive (September 1-10; $7,690).
- Explore the pyramids of Egypt with the country’s head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (November 27-30; $960).
Our pick? The priciest of the bunch—but all would make for memories that would last a lifetime.
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June 27, 2009
Top Ten 4th of July Celebrations
Fireworks, barbeques, parades, and live
music—no other holiday spells summer fun quite like the 4th of July. Since the 4th falls on a Saturday this year, most people get Friday, July 3rd off from work, giving you a long weekend to celebrate America's birthday—and that means the perfect opportunity to take a road trip. Although you could just as easily watch the festivities on TV or set out some lawn chairs and a
grill in your backyard, some Independence Day celebrations are worth
the trip, especially if they're right up the road from you. Here are
our picks for the country's top ten places to ring in the 4th. Make sure to tell us if we've missed any of your favorite local July 4th celebrations in the comments section—we're always up for a new party suggestion!
Top Ten 4th of July Celebrations
10. Mount Rushmore, South Dakota
9. Greater Williamsburg, Virginia
8. Miami, Florida
7. San Diego, California
6. New Orleans, Louisiana
5. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
4. New York City, New York
3. Chicago, Illinois
2. Washington, D.C.
1. Boston, Massachusetts
Bonus: U.S. Virgin Islands
If you want to spend your July 4th weekend in one of America's smaller coastal towns, check out the Best Beaches for a July 4th Celebration. Or if you want more Top Ten travel ideas, get some inspiration here.
PHOTO: The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular over Boston Harbor (Jay Connor/courtesy, B4 Productions)
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June 26, 2009
New Habitat Opens at the International Crane Foundation, Wisconsin
HOME ON THE RANGE: Grey-crowned crane (Mike Endres/Wanderlust Photos)
This past Saturday, the International Crane Foundation (ICF) unveiled a new 15-acre Spirit of Africa habitat at its headquarters in Baraboo, Wisconsin. I happened to be up in the area for a visit to nearby Wisconsin Dells with my family, so we dropped by the woodlands facility for a closer look at these majestic birds on the opening day of the new exhibit. The ICF is the only place in the world where you can see all 15 species of cranes, including the endangered whooping crane and red-crowned crane.
Unlike a zoo, where you can sometimes feel quite distant from the animals, the ICF's holding pens and open habitats allow you to get fairly close to these statuesque birds, which have become potent symbols for conservation because of threats to their survival that include habitat loss, predation, and pollution. Being there with small kids was a stark reminder that some of the species we were viewing might not even be around by the time my kids become adults. The ICF is dedicated to worldwide efforts to conserve the species as well as the grasslands and wetlands on which they depend for survival.
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June 25, 2009
New Airline Targeted Towards Pets!
Pet Airways Turboprop (courtesy, Pet Airways)
Pet fanatics rejoice! Your pet can now enjoy the luxury of traveling in the main cabin rather than in cargo on Pet Airways, the first airline to dedicate itself to pet-friendly travel. I'm not a pet owner, or even a fanatic, but I do believe that animals should enjoy a safe and comfortable ride, just like us humans. So it's about time something like this arrived, although today's current economic climate makes it an interesting time to launch such a venture.
So here’s how it works. First, buy your ticket on the Pet Airways website, where you also specify the animal’s height and weight. Sample round-trip fares for small- to medium-sized dogs traveling between New York City and L.A. in September cost $698 round-trip (a lot of dough to throw down for your pet!). That would also include a no-fee overnight stopover for your pet in Chicago. Shorter flights are direct and cost upwards of $300 round-trip, depending on your pet’s height and weight. For extra comfort, you can upgrade your pet’s carrier for an additional $50.
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June 24, 2009
Beach Bytes: Best Beaches for a July 4th Celebration
HAPPY FOURTH!: Holiday decorations at a coastal celebration (Liz Mitchell)
It’s not too late to plan a beach trip for the July 4th weekend, when Independence Day is celebrated in thousands of coastal towns throughout the United States. You’ll find the biggest festivals and warmest welcomes—sometimes hot—during this prime summer holiday when Americans celebrate the birth of their country (or at the very least, celebrate a day off from work!). A few suggestions for events follow, and I would be excited to join any of them for fireworks and festivities.
- Visit the coast of New Hampshire for a unique, historical day of festivities. An American Celebration at Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth is a fabulous old-fashioned way to celebrate July 4th, offering an opportunity to experience four centuries of New England life. One of the highlights of a New Hampshire summer, this event includes a children’s bike and wagon parade, games and crafts, historic garden tours, live music, living history, hands-on activities, and lots of food.
- Off the coast of Massachusetts, Nantucket's July 4th Celebration includes face painting, watermelon and pie-eating contests, a dunk tank, children's parades, three-legged races, tug-o-war, music, and a huge water fight. Fireworks set off from Jetties Beach, a family-friendly spot on the North Shore.
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Give Us Your Packing Tips and Enter to Win a TimBuk2 Travel Bag!
From all those times you've packed and stuffed and restuffed, and then packed for the return trip home, you've probably picked up a few tricks and pointers for how to make the most of your luggage space (especially now that airlines have slapped all these fees on travelers who—god forbid—like to bring ample clothes and toiletries when they travel). So here at Away.com we want to hear about your best packing and travel tips! You might just win a TimBuk2 travel bag, which you can use to put your creative packing skills to the test the next time you travel.
To enter our bag giveaway, become a fan of Away.com on Facebook, and then post your favorite packing tip (or general travel tip, if you just can't think of one for packing), in 60 words or less, to our Facebook Wall (and not as a comment on this blog). We'll select the best two entries to win a chic and trendy TimBuk2 travel bag. But we're sure we'll receive a bunch of valuable travel tips, so we'll share them with you all right here on the blog.
Entries must be posted to Away.com's Facebook Fan Page no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on July 8, 2009, to be eligible. Click here to download the Official Contest Rules.
See the TimBuk2 bags (that you could win!) after the jump.
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June 22, 2009
Miami's Art Scene
LARGER THAN LIFE: An artist in front of his painting at the ArtCenter/South Florida (Karen Chen)
No one really goes to Miami for the art, do they? It's the beaches, the bars, the booze, and the... bikini-ed babes... that draw hordes to South Beach's golden shores. But as I'm always on the lookout for great places to satisfy my culture craving—even when my main objective is to get a tan—I'm happy to report that Miami's actually got an art scene that is alive and flourishing.
One of the coolest places in South Beach—and one of the coolest places I've stumbled upon in a long time—was the ArtCenter/South Florida on the popular Lincoln Road pedestrian mall. We happened upon the unassuming art depot while strolling along the road looking for a place to eat. If you manage to get away from all the hawkers vying for your business at the restaurants, stop in at these collective artists' studios for a break from the crowds.
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