In this video you can enjoy the sights of the Las Vegas Strip at Night. It is an amazing sight to see and one you should actually see in person.

Enjoy the views of the Las Vegas Strip heading south on the Deuce. Las Vegas nowadays is of course a lot more than just bright lights and casinos, it is one of the premier family destinations and has something for almost everybody.

Yosemite National Park is located in the State of California in the USA. It is located 313 miles north of Los Angeles and 195 miles from the San Francisco area.

I have been lucky enough to visit Yosemite twice in my life. It is a truely spectacular place and if you are a nature lover it is a must see destination. I still remember the first time we drove into the Park and got the first view of the spectacular mountains and valleys.

95% of Yosemite is designated as wilderness area. This means you can get away from civilization if you go into the back country. If you are not so adventurous there is still plenty of amazing scenerary to been seen down in the Yosemite Valley.

Yosemite is best known for its waterfalls, but you will also find deep valleys, grand meadows and of course ancient giant sequoias trees.

If you want to witness the waterfalls at there peak flows the best time to visit is usually in late May. Usually by August Yosemite Falls is often dry. I have seen Yosemite both in winter and summer and either time of year it is still fantastic.

You need to keep in mind that this is a wilderness area so caution needs to be taken in winter and you need to be well prepared.

You can stay within the park itself and you have lodging options that range from simple tent cabins to deluxe rooms at The Ahwahnee. A full list of options with pricing can be found at Yosemitepark.com. You can also find camping information at that site.

You may be wondering what there is to do at Yosemite. Well how about hiking, horseback riding, rock climbing, water sports, biking, birdwatching and fishing to name a few. My favourite activity is riding around the park. There are over 12 miles of paved bike paths in Yosemite Valley. Also if you are willing to risk it you can ride on the regular roads.

Cycling in the valley is a great way to experience Yosemite Valley. Bikes are available for rent from various outlets in the Valley. Rental rates start at $9.50 per hour or $25.50 for a day. You can also take young kids with you in a trailer attached to a bike.

If you enjoy a game of golf you can even play a round on the Wawona Golf Course located in Yosemite. This course opened in 1918 and is nine-hole, par-35. The course measures 3 050 yards and is open daily Spring to Fall, conditions permitting.

If you are the less adventurous type or just want to learn from experts you can go on a guided tour. Your Yosemite experience will be enhanced by a deeper knowledge and understanding of this wonderful destination.

If you do decide to visit Yosemite, and I really suggest you do, don’t go without a camera as there are so many spectacular views to capture.

You can learn more by visiting the Yosemite Park website.

I was just reading a good article about A visit to the Eiffel Tower at the Retronine travel website. I have to say it brought back memories.

I was fortunate enough to visit Paris and the Eiffel Tower back in March of 1998. I remember catching a glimpse of the tower as I walked from the Gard du Nord train station to my hotel. It was an exciting moment. As I was buggered from all the traveling that day, having just flown in from Beijing, I crashed in my hotel room around 7pm, but not before sampling McDonalds French style.

Due to the time difference between Paris and Beijing I was wide awake at 4.00am the next day. As my time in Paris was limited to two nights I decided that I would have a shower and then hit the streets of Paris. At 5.30am I found myself strolling past Notre Dame and then along the River Seine. Having grown up in Australia’s capital city, Canberra, it was a whole new world for me.

After a bit more walking I decided it would be great if I could watch the sunrise at the Eiffel Tower. As I did not know how long it would take to walk from near Notre Dame to the tower I decided I would test the Paris Metro. I easily found my way to the nearest station which was St Michel-Notre Dame. I remember using a ticket vending machine to purchase my ticket. A short time later I was on my way.

The metro at this time of the morning was quite empty. Before I knew it I was exiting the station at Champ de Mars. It was an amazing sight when the Eiffel Tower came into full view. I walked down to the tower and found that there was a few hours to a wait until the doors opened for visitors. Around 7.30 the sun was starting to hit the tower making for some interesting photos. After looking at the Eiffel Tower from all angles I decided to do a bit more sightseeing around Paris.

After studying the Paris map I decided to walk over to the Champs Elysées with the Arc de Triomphe the next prized tourist destination. After a fairly easy walk there I was walking along the famed Champs Elysées with the Arc de Triomphe straight ahead. After seeing this so many times on television and in many movies it was like a dream to see this world famous landmark.

I was now feeling hungry as I had not eaten all morning. Not far from the Arc de Triomphe I saw another famous landmark. This time it was the golden arches or McDonald’s. I headed there for a quick bite to eat. Having studied French at school I should have braved an attempt to order food in a more traditional setting, but you can’t beat convenience.

After a few more photos I headed back over to the Eiffel Tower. It was getting closer to opening time so I queued up to purchase my ticket. The gates were open and I was on my way. Being the fitness fanatic I was back then I decided to take the challenge of a stair climb. The air was quite fresh as I made my way up this world famous landmark.

When I finally reached the viewing platform I was rewarded with a fantastic view of Paris. The skies were clear and I could see for miles. I once again clicked away with my camera and enjoyed the magnificent Paris scenery.

After several hours at the tower I made my way down and headed back to the subway. I was now on my way to the Palace of Versailles . More on that another day.

The only regret I had following my visit to the Eiffel Tower was that I was there all alone. I will one day have to return to Paris with my wife to enjoy one of the most romantic cities in the world.

Recently announced budget cuts for the National Capital Authority in Australia has put in doubt some of the events managed by that organisation. The main one on the chopping block is the Australia Day concert held on the lawns of Parliament House.

It has been a popular event over recent years with crowds of around 30 000. It was also broadcast live around Australia and provided good exposure for the nations capital of Canberra.

A tourist attraction in Canberra that also is likely to be hit by the budget cuts is Blundell’s Cottage. This is a historic homestead that is popular amongst locals and tourists. I remember first going there on a school excursion. I even had wedding photos around the farmhouse.

With the expected cuts to funding it is likely the farmhouse will only be open to the public one day a week. This will be a shame as it is a worthwhile tourist stop when visiting Canberra.

This post follows on from my previous post about a weekend getaway in Sydney.

On day two my wife wanted to go shopping while my daughter wanted a trip on a the harbour. After checking out of our hotel we split up

My wife first went to Paddy’s Market at the end of Chinatown. Here there is a huge market with a wide variety of products including toys, shoes, clothes, make-up and jewellery. Also in the same building there is a fruit and vegetable market and fish market. Above the markets there are several levels of traditional retail outlets including a food court when you start feeling hungry.

Meanwhile my daughter and I headed towards the nearest monorail station. I bought an all day pass for $9. My daughter got on for free as she is under 6. The monorail trains come about every 3-5 minutes so we did not wait long. We now jumped on and did a complete circuit of the track to have a look around. After that we got off at the Haymarket stop and walked to 10 minutes over to Central train station with the aim of getting to Circular Quay as quickly as possible.

From Central we took a train to Wynyard Station. At this station we changed trains and took another one to Circular Quay. Now that we were at the right place to catch a ferry on the harbour I just had to decide which one. As we had an hour to spare I decided to go to Darling Harbour. After a 25 minute wait (the ferry was 15 minutes behind schedule) we boarded the ferry. As it was a nice day in Sydney we sat at the back of the ferry on the outside deck. The ferry pulled out of Circular Quay and headed north and went under the harbour bridge. The views were awesome. The ferry actually docked at Milsons Point for a few minutes. This was right next to Luna Park. It then went back across the harbour to Darling Harbour.

My wife was now heading up George Street where there are shops everywhere. She was having a great time spending money as she went along. Finally she ended up at Myer, one of her favourite Sydney shopping locations. On the way back from Myer she went underground. There are several underground shopping area’s in the city. One starts below Myer and winds its way back to Town Hall.

After getting off the ferry at Darling Harbour my daughter and I walked past the Sydney Aquarium and headed over to the main shopping area. We will visit the aquarium on our next Sydney visit. In the Darling Harbour area there are heaps of shops and food outlets along with restaurants. All of this comes with great views of the Sydney skyline. In the Darling Harbour area you will also find the Chinese garden, Power House museum, Imax theatre and the Sydney Convention Centre.

There is so much to do and see in Sydney. When are you visiting?

My family and I have just returned from a weekend in Sydney, Australia. This is one city that I always miss after ending a visit. The main reason I love Sydney is the harbour. It is one of the most beautiful sights in the world. I also love the beaches. Bondi and Manly are world class.

On the weekend we spent two nights in Sydney staying at the Capital Square Hotel located next door to the Capital Theatre. Unlike our last visit which was the worst ever stay in a hotel, we enjoyed our stay. The price was $107 per night which I found through a search on the hotels combined website. This price was a lot lower than other Sydney hotels I have stayed at in the past which were around the same price range previously. The hotel room was well maintained and comfortable. It was also roomy.

As we were located close to Chinatown we used that as our base to venture out for our night time meals. One night we tried an authentic Chinese Xinjiang restaurant, on Saturday a Korean BBQ restaurant located at 35-37 Goulburn St. Sydney. Both meals were very enjoyable. When returning to the hotel we passed a very popular Japanese restaurant on the corner of Pitt and Campbell Streets. We have been there in the past and enjoyed the food. This time around there was a huge crowd just waiting to get in.

On Saturday we decided to have a family outing at Luna Park. This entertainment park has been a Sydney landmark for over 70 years. Just the view makes it a worthwhile visit as it is located on the north side of the harbour adjacent to the Harbour Bridge. Admission to the park is free however you need to pay for the rides. We purchased the day pass which was $42 for adults and $32 for our child. There is a good variety of rides and most of them were suitable for our 5 year old. She could not go on one ride because of a height restriction, while another one she decided as too scary. I really enjoyed going around on the Ferris Wheel while enjoying the million dollar harbour views.

Getting to Luna Park was easy. We caught a train from Central Station over to Milson’s Point station. After getting off the train we headed down the hill and into Luna Park. It was a five to ten minute walk from the station. The cost for return tickets for 2 adults and one child was approx $9. In the park there were plenty of choices for satisfying our hunger.

Getting back to my worst ever hotel stay, it was last November staying at the Pensione Hotel on George Street, Sydney. The hotel itself was quite nice. It was a trendy boutique hotel that was nicely decorated. The problem was that they gave us a room on the second floor which looked out at George Street. In case you don’t know this street gets extremely busy at night time. The noise of cars, people and sirens made it near impossible to sleep. Some thick glass windows would be a welcome improvement.

For day 2 of our Sydney weekend getaway check back here in a few days.

My wife loves shopping and she loves nothing better than finding a cheap flight to Sydney for a weekend of shopping. And the food is pretty good there too. For me I prefer the sight seeing. I just love walking around the harbour foreshores and taking in the views.

My wife is not so interested in the tourist attractions Sydney has to offer, for her it is all about the shopping. Like all great cities, Sydney has something for all tastes and budgets. You can find all the big international luxury brands or you can uncover some hot new designs from a local fashion designer. You may also discover beautiful artworks from a whole swag of artists. There is also fantastic jewellery choices and so many shoes you need to a truck to take them home. You may want to go for the budget buys you can find in a local market or the more upscale version at Paddy’s. And don’t forget there are many souvenirs you can take back home that have that true Aussie flavour. Whatever you fancy you can find it while on vacation in Sydney.

If you are vacation in Sydney and have been out to the attractions you probably are not wanting to be heading all over Sydney for your shopping experience. Lucky for you Sydney offers many options all within a compact area in the heart of the city. When we fly into Sydney we go from the airport and check-in to the hotel. After a short break it is off to Market City in Haymarket. Here you will find many fashion shops. At the bottom of the building is the very popular Paddy’s Market. In the market you will find a wide variety of goods. There is also a fresh food market. The market is open 9am to 5pm Thursday-Sunday and all public holidays. If the shopping makes you hungry you can head upstairs to the to of Market City to the food court.

After some time in Market City it is usually time to head north up either George Street or Pitt Street. There are so many shops along the streets. If you go up George Street you will end up at the historic Queen Victoria Building. I love going there just to see the old world architecture. My wife loves it for the shops. Little did we know that there is an underground city of shops that you can enter from the old building. Once you head underground you can walk your way towards the Pitt Street Mall. You will come across many different fashion lines including well known brands as well as small lable shops. Eventually you will come to a food court which is situated below the Myer city store.

If you go up you will discover a huge Myer shop with many floors of retail therapy. The lower level has cosmetics from all the big names, moving up you will come across the shoe section. They have everything from the low end of the spectrum up to the high end of town. I saw shoes that were selling for close to one thousand a pair. Keep going up for the girls and women’s fashion areas and then finally something for the male shopper. Electronic gadgets, that’s my kind of shopping. Myer has a huge range of the latest in electrical and entertainment. There is also a huge kids toy area. Something for everyone.

Once you have had enough of Myer you can head out of there and cruise through Pitt Street Mall. If you like fresh air you can follow the outdoor mall or you may choose to head back underground in one of the many malls. Just near the Myer exit that goes out to Pitt Street you will find the entrance to Sydney Tower. Now might be a good time to take a break from the shopping and head up the tower if you have not already done so on your Sydney vacation.

Normally by now I have had enough shopping and seeing Pitt Street runs down to Circular Quay I tell my wife it is time to have a break from shopping and head down to the harbour. It is not far to the spectacular Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. I suggest a lazy walk around the quay to take in the scenery.

After you sightseeing you can either catch a bus, take the train or walk south back towards the main shopping district in the heart of Sydney. If you still have time you could walk along Pitt Street until you come across a Monorail station. You can then jump on the Monorail and then head on over to Darling Harbour. Here you will find a great variety of shops combined with dining choices for all tastes. You can also just stroll around and admire the great views looking across the water over to the Sydney skyline.

The shopping can be pretty fantastic. Just keep in mind if you are flying out of Sydney don’t go too crazy as you will not want to have to pay excess baggage to the airlines. It can be pretty pricey. I have seen people at airports going through there luggage just to find things they can toss into the garbage in order to avoid the sky high excess baggage charges.

If you have any favourite shopping spots in downtown Sydney why not share them by adding a comment at the bottom of the page.

If you ever make it down under and find yourself in Sydney here are some attractions you might want to check out.

Sydney Tower – what a way to start your Sydney vacation. The tower offers the best views of Sydney. When you go up the tower you will find yourself at the highest point above Sydney and will surely enjoy the breathtaking views of the city. It is a great way to get a feel for where other attractions are located and the harbour views are sensational. You will find Sydney Tower at 100 Market Street. It is open daily from 9 am to 10.30 pm. Saturday has a later closing time which is at 11.30 pm. Admission prices are $24 for an adult, $14 for children 4-15. Family tickets are also available. You can get a 10 per cent discount if you book online at http://www.sydneyaquarium.com.au/stotickets.asp

If you are looking for that extra special spot to take a photo of Sydney I recommend going to Lady Macquaries Chair. This historically famous chair was fashioned out of the rock face to allow Governor Macquarie’s wife to checkout the panoramic views of the beautiful Sydney Harbour. In modern day Sydney you will get one of the best views of Sydney and you can take a photo with the classic Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge backdrop. You will find the chair in the Domain at the northern tip of the Domain Parklands.

Chinatown – my wife is Chinese, so every time we go to Sydney this is a must visit destination. I also recommend it for the normal tourist. There is a great selection of not only Chinese food but Asian food and also the shopping is fantastic, just ask my wife. There is Paddy’s Market located in the lower section of the Market City shopping centre. Upstairs in Market City there are also many exciting shops. Chinatown is located on Dixon Street in Haymarket. Also from here it is a short walk over to Darling Harbour.

Sydney Aquarium – the aquarium’s website says it is a must see location when visiting Sydney. I would not quite go that far but having been there several times I would put it up there towards the top of the list. If you have kids I would say this is more for you. The aquarium boasts over 11 000 animals and hosts the largest Great Barrier Reef display in the world. When you go in the under water section you will see huge sharks and rays as well as a stunning variety of fish. I remember it was like stepping into a whole new world when I visited the aquarium. Allow close to two hours to look around. The aquarium is located on Aquarium Pier, Darling Harbour. It is open 9 am to 10 pm daily except for Christmas Day and New Years Eve where it closes at 6 pm. Tickets are $27.50 for adults and for children aged 3 to 15 it is $14. The aquarium also offers a 10 per cent discount for tickets purchased online. Visit http://www.sydneyaquarium.com.au/VisitorInfo/VIS060.asp to purchase.

Manly Beach – having been a professional beach volleyball player I have seen plenty of beaches. My all time favourite is Manly Beach. As a tourist I would get over there on the ferry from Circular Quay. It is 7 nautical miles from the city and the ferry takes about 30 minutes. If you are in a hurry your can take the Jetcat which takes only 15 minutes. I cannot think of a more spectacular scenic ferry ride that I have been on anywhere in the world. Once you arrive at Manly Wharf it is a short walk to the Corso. Here you will find shops, food outlets and pubs. If you keep walking east along the Corso you will eventually come to the Manly Beach. The beach has a path that runs the length of the beach and is a great place to walk or jog as there is plenty of shade under the magnificent Norfolk Pines. After spending a day at the beach you can make your way back over to Manly wharf and dine at one of the restaurants.

Opera House and Harbour Bridge – I have saved the best to last. When you mention Sydney these two attractions would have to be up there as the must see attractions. I was listening to the radio the other day and they were talking to Bill Bryson a popular author and in that discussion they mentioned that there are residents of Sydney that have not even seen the Opera House. Don’t be like them. Make sure you get down to the harbour and check out this modern day architectural marvel. You can walk around the harbour foreshores near circular quay and get some great harbour views as you approach the Opera House. From there you also get a fantastic view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The Harbour Bridge is this year celebrating 75 years since it was opened. If you can make it to Sydney on March 18 you can join in with the bridge celebrations. The bridge will be closed to traffic from 4.30 am to 11pm. The public is invited to take a stroll across the bridge between 10am and 7.30 pm. If you are interested in taking part in this unique event you will have to register at www.ourbridge.com.au. If you cannot make it on that day you can undertake an even more spectacular bridge walk by going on a bridge climb. For more details visit the website at www.bridgeclimb.com.au.

These are my favourite Sydney attractions. There are plenty more such as Darling Harbour, Toronga Zoo and Bondi beach. No matter what you do Sydney is a great city to visit.

What is your favourite Sydney attraction?