A Top Destination For Travel Reviewed From Island Trader Vacations

Grand Central Terminal Always a popular destination for visitors each year, this year has already been a fun one as Grand Central Terminal turns 100. Shows, celebrations and gallery exhibits honor this one of a kind destination for travelers in 2013.  

March 6th – July 7th

On Time/Grand Central at 100 

Considered important not only as a transportation hub in one of the largest cities in the world but also a nationally recognized architectural treasure, MTA Arts for Transit and Urban Design are offering an exhibition to honor this amazing destination. Featuring art from more than a dozen contemporary artists, the exhibit is meant to capture the moments of the past and meld them with the present.
The exhibit is still ongoing at the New York Transit Museum Gallery Annex.

The History Of Transport 

In New York Almost 200 years ago, the first rail line into New York City was laid and since then, the rail has played an important role in the transportation of people throughout this massive city. Throughout the years, the rail continued to grow and connect destination after destination together, making the world a smaller place and making travel more convenient. By the latter part of the 1800's, New York was on a roll and destinations still considered magnificent today were created including Snooks Depot, and Madison Square Garden. In 1913, Grand Central Terminal officially opened and New York City was changed forever. Today, more than 700,000 people pass through this magnificent destination each and every day. An important part of the transportation of NYC, it is also a top destination for visitors as well. To learn more about this amazing site, visit their website GrandCentralTerminal.com and start planning your trip to this one of a kind destination.  

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Glacier National Park, Montana

The United States is home to almost 400 national parks and over 84 million acres of land protected by the National Park Foundation. First established as a service in 1916 the first national park, Yellowstone, was established in 1872 by Ulysses S grant. Today, the almost 400 parks represent and protect diverse habitats, cultures, animals plants and peoples throughout all 50 states and even American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands as well.

Glacier National Park

Nicknamed the Crown of the Continent, Glacier National Park is located in the state of Montana and includes over 700 miles of trails, pristine forests and alpine meadows, massive mountains, crystal clear lakes and numerous historic sites, amazing drives and a view like none other. Home to over 70 species of mammals, over 260 species of birds and some of the most diverse habitats in the state, this park as named the 10^th national park in the system in 1910. Part of the larger Waterton Glacier International Peace Park established in 1932, it was also designated as a Biosphere reserved and a World Heritage Site in 1995 as well.

What To Do

While perhaps the most well know destination in the park today is the Going to the Sun road, there are many other things to see and do in Glacier National Park including

• North Fork – One of the least crowded parts of the park today, it is a chance to see forest succession at its best including ample plants and animals as well.
  
• Goat Haunt – Remote and tranquil, this part of the park is most easily accessed by boat from Waterton Lakes National Park.
  
• Lake McDonald Valley – A popular area of the park, this valley is filled with trails for hiking and amazing views.
  
• Many Glacier – Considered by many to be the heart of the park, this area is glacially active today making it something you must see. Convenient and easy to get to, it also offers visitors great glacier viewing and wildlife viewing as well.
  
• Two Medicine - Once quite busy before the Going to the Sun Road was completed, this now quieter area of the park is filled with amazing views and even guided tours.
  
• Logan Pass – Filled with flowers in spring, this is a great place to see wildlife including bear, deer, sheep and goats.
  
• St. Mary Valley – Diverse and remote, this area is home to two campgrounds and ranger led activities. Home to St Mary Lake, this is a great place to spend some time.
  
• In addition to enjoying the visitor centers, guided tours and picnic areas as well.
  

Island Trader Vacations encourages you to get out and explore our state and national parks. Take advantage all this world has to offer you when you travel and learn more about these and other amazing destinations for travel with us.

San Gimignano

An Amazing Area For Travel In Italy Reviewed With Island Trader Vacations

A quaint town in the province of Siena in Tuscany, San Gimignano is a walled medieval hill town otherwise known as the Town of Fine Towers. Famous for its architecture, San Gimignano is a UNESCO World Heritage listed site with 13.surviving tower houses used by patrician families in the 12^th and 13^th centuries. A representation of their wealth, at one point, over 70 of these homes existed. Despite the small number remaining, it is still one of the best examples of this type of architecture today. These houses in addition to several masterpieces of Italian Art dating back to the 14^th and 15^th centuries make it one of the must see destinations in Italy today.

Located just south of Florence, the city served as an important relay point for pilgrims traveling to or from Rome long ago. Today, the area sees thousands of visitors from around the world to see and experience the history of the area through art and architecture.

Popular sites

The Town Hall – Standing in the central Piazza del Duomo, this popular museum is known for its most famous Sala di Dante, a room decorated with frescoes which date back to the 13^th and 17^th centuries. In addition, this site also affords you access to the towns highest tower, Torre Grossa, for a peak at the city and beyond to some of the most stunning areas imaginable.

Museum of Sacred Art – Created in 1915, this museum displays paintings, sculptures and other forms of art including monuments, reliefs and even textiles from the are. Most famous are the sculptures from the beginning of the 14^th century.

Museum Center Santa Chiara and the Ornithological Museum in San Gimignano also present hours of things to see and explore.

The town is also known for its historic churches as well with 9 churches dating back as far back as the earliest settlers and travelers known to inhabit the area almost 1000 years ago.

A popular tourist location, fine accommodations, amenities and services are easy to find here Whether exploring inside the town or in the surrounding areas and top destinations such as Castelvecchio or the Via Francigena, this area offers many opportunities to explore the history and culture of this beautiful region of Tuscany. Less crowded than the larger cities, it offers visitors a much more natural look of Italy.

Island Trader Vacations invites you to review this and other amazing areas in the U.S. and around the world. Learn and explore travel with us and begin your journey.

California Dreams

Highway 1 – A Review From Island Trader Vacations

The US is famous for its open roads, the ability to get anywhere in the nation on our massive highway system but so much more. Also famous for its beauty and history, the American Roadtrip was taken to another level when the Scenic and Historic Byways were created and no where is the most obvious than in Coastal California.

State Route 1, Pacific Coast Highway or Big Sur Coast, the Pacific Coast Highway, this road hugs the California coastline and offers visitors access to some of the most stunning views in the nation today. From the rugged canyons and towering redwoods to the stunning Pacific Ocean views, the California Coast is known for its beauty by people from around the world.

First constructed in the 1930's, this All American Road is also known as a major thoroughfare in the greater LA area and San Francisco area and affords access to some of the states most popular sites and attractions today. Stretching a total of 655 miles, its most famous length is the Big Sur area.

Divided into four major regions however, the length of Highway 1 today includes the following:

Cabrillo Highway – Santa Barbara – Running from 101 near Las Cruces to Lompoc, it is a total of 19 miles and takes around 22 minutes minus stops.

Big Sur Coast – 78 miles in length it runs from San Luis Obispo County to State Route 68, is a total of 78 miles and takes roughly 100 minutes minus stops.

North Coast – This scenic byway runs from San Luis Obispo to Monterey County a total of 57 miles. This section takes about 70 minutes minus stops.

Cabrillo Highway – San Mateo – This section is 26 miles, from Santa Cruz to Half Moon Bay and takes roughly 30 minutes minus stops.

Ranked one of the best drives in the world, the Pacific Coast Highway offers some of the finest views, most popular attractions and best of all, the open road. Beautiful year round, be cautious during the winter as mud slides may occur. Be aware of weather and conditions before you go.

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Amazing Italy With Island Trader

Italy is known for its history but most of all, its romance. Dating back thousands of years in time, the city of Venice evokes images of two people in love, reclined comfortably in the back of a riverboat as the guide pushes them along the mighty river, singing a song.

Whether you are there for the romance or the history, there is rarely a visitor who can make it only once. Filled with hundreds of places to see and things to do, this “City of Canals” is one of the top destinations for travel in the world today.

City of Bridges

Nicknamed the City of Bridges, millions of visitor enjoy seeing Italy's most popular and historic attractions, many of which are bridges. Home to over 400 bridges, many date back to the beginning of the city, thousands of years ago and tell a story all by themselves.

Of the many bridges, there are some which are simply the best of the best for visitors, one of which is known as the Bridge of Sighs. An enclosed bridge, the Bridge of Sighs is made up of white limestone and dates back to 1602. Designed by Antoni Contino, nephew of the designer of the Rialto Bridge, the Bridge of Sighs is the most famous of all bridges in Italy today. Spanning the Rio di Palazzo or the Palace River, the bridge was built to connect the interrogation rooms of the Doge's Palace to the New Prison on the other side of the river.

Though no concrete evidence exists as to how the bridge got its name, the theories range from the prisoners on their way to the executioner to a lovers kiss. For most, the latter is by far the most popular as many today believe that if a couple kisses under the bridge at sunset even today, they will enjoy eternal love. Stretching 36 feet across the canal, the bridge is decorated with sculptures is one of the most popular sites in all of Venice today.

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Beautiful Verona

Verona is located in northern Italy. It is the second largest city of the region, and the third largest in northern Italy. It sits on the Adige River and is a popular tourist destination and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized so because of its urban structure and its architecture.The city can be a popular destination for travel no matter the time of year. The summers here are hot with a humid subtropical climate and the winters are cool and also humid. During the winter months the humidity is still high in the results in a dense fog from dusk until the late morning. The fog is unique to see as it rolls through this beautiful interesting city.

The city’s golden age was during the 13th and 14th centuries, and much of the architecture is from that time period. Verona is of course is associated with three of Shakespeare’s plays, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Taming of the Shrew, and Romeo and Juliet. The play of Romeo and Juliet was based off the family feuds that took place under the rule of the della Scalla during the golden age of the city. One of the most popular destinations to visit in the city is Juliet’s House. It is located along the Via Mazzani and the Via Cappello. The main entrance to the house is covered with the graffiti of lovers that have visited the site over the years.

The city of Verona was once Roman and still bears some of the architecture. Just down the street from Juliet’s House is one of the original gates to Roman Verona, Porta Leoni. The other Roman city gate also still stands north of the Roman arena. To experience the culture of the city visit the city center. The Piazza delle Erbe is a lively square with beautiful pink marble palaces and is filled with market stalls to peruse for keepsakes of your trip here.

Visit The Great Ocean Road

Along the Great Ocean Road in Australia lies an area known as Port Campbell. A coastal town, Port Campbell is known for having some of the Great Ocean Roads most well known and popular destinations including the infamous 12 Apostles. Home to just around 600 people, this small town has a history that dates back to the 1870s. Today, Port Campbell is a popular destination for those visiting the 12 Apostles and other world famous attractions including Port Campbell National Park.

12 Apostles – Just one of the many sites near Port Campbell, this famous site is actually a collection of limestone stacks off shore of Port Campbell. Formed by erosion and harsh weather, the stacks were carved from the cliffs over time. Known as the Sow and Piglets until 1922, it was renamed the Apostles to help promote tourism. Once 9 formations, in 2002, one of the stacks collapsed leaving 8 still remaining.

Shipwrecks and Lighthouses in the area offer a number of other popular places to explore. The Shipwreck Discovery Trail allows visitors to dive and see many shipwrecks on the trail including the wreck of the SS Casino. Lighthouse along the road also offer an enjoyable way to learn the history of the area including a number of historic lighthouses from Lady Bay Rarnambool and Split Point Lighthouse and many more.

Coastal attractions nearby the Apostles include:

Gibson Steps

The Grotto

The Arch

London Bridge

Loch and Gorge

Bay of Martyrs

Bay of Islands

Port Campbell National Park – World famous for the 12 Apostles, other features including those natural features listed above also are a focus for millions of visitors annually. Visitors enjoy birdwatching, canoeing and kayaking, fishing, swimming, tours and hiking.

Known for its stunning natural beauty, this coastal seaside area ranks as one of the top destinations in Australia and the Great Ocean Road as well.

Whether visiting historic sites, natural areas or just enjoying shopping, dining or the culture of the area, make the most of your time and money by researching your destination before you go.

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