Tuesday, Apr 15th, 2008

Festivals and Holidays

Archived Posts from this Category

by: Libby Hart

One of the best times to go to Seattle is midsummer in July. The northwestern city, known for its rain, experiences only an inch of rain in July with highs in the seventies. The weather is great, so umbrellas are not necessary to explore this Emerald City in western Washington.

Standard tourist locations in Seattle are always open. However, watching the flying fish in Pike Place Market is considerably more enjoyable when it is not raining. Stroll down the street of the market to the first ever Starbucks or simply meander through the stalls of flowers, vendors of all sorts of things and take in views of the Puget Sound. Fresh seafood is abundant, and for those who enjoy fresh salmon, the Chinook and Sockeye salmon make their runs in late spring and early summer, so salmon is sure to be fresh this time of year.

July is a month filled with festivals and other attractions for Seattle. From July 5th to August 3rd is Seafair Seattle—the largest festival in the Northwest featuring the blue angels, hydroplane racing, a torchlight parade with balloons reminiscent of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, arts and crafts, food and tons of live music to enjoy. Another big event in July is the Bite of Seattle that runs from July 18-20. This event is all about the great food that Seattle has to offer. With more than fifty of Seattle’s finest restaurants featured, thirty food product companies, entertainment, and five beer gardens, this festival at the Seattle Center in the heart of downtown Seattle is fun for locals and tourists alike.

If the warm weather and festivities aren’t enough to draw your attention, Seattle’s other attractions are always in season. Seattle is the birthplace of many music legends. From Jimi Hendrix to Kurt Cobain, Seattle’s music history is celebrated in the Experience Music Project as a part of the Seattle Science Center. While at this interactive museum you can record live music, learn to play guitar, and even form your own band. Just a short walk away is the ever-popular Space Needle, where birds-eye views of the city are spectacular. Eat at the rotating restaurant, or just stand on the viewing platform and wait to go 360 degrees around to where you started.

Take advantage of the weather and get outside the city to hike, bike, sail, boat and swim in the nearby lakes or mountains. This Northwest city is great in the Summer: not too cold; not too hot. This summer is the perfect to time to escape to, explore, and enjoy all the Emerald City has to offer.

Seattle Hotels
Seattle Restaurants

Posted in Music, Food & Wine, Festivals and Holidays, United States
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by: Justin Allen

If you are struggling through the doldrums of winter, cheer yourself up by planning spring break, or a spring vacation! This week RealTravel editors will be giving you tips on hot destinations - as well as low-key locales - to target for your Spring Break getaway.

The diversity of destinations travelers go on for Spring Break has been increasing over the years. While the sun-and-surf hotspots remain popular, some are choosing to opt out of the party-hard tradition for a chance at volunteer travel or getting off the beaten path of well-known student hangouts. This week we’ll clue you in on spring vacations to Las Vegas, Mexico, Bali, Thailand, and more.

Cosmopolitan Amsterdam, with its canals and picturesque architecture, is one of the top destinations for student travelers on Spring Break. Famous for its relaxed attitude towards social norms, Amsterdam has much to offer to travelers looking for nightlife with its legendary cafés and bars. In addition, Amsterdam is a beautiful historic European capital with many cultural activities available such as the Van Gogh Museum. One of the most bike-friendly cities in the world, cyclists will feel right at home pedaling through the flat streets in Amsterdam – bike lanes even have their own traffic lights.

If going to the Netherlands just isn’t your idea of Spring Break, the classic beach-Babylon vacation location of Miami Beach should fit the bill. One of America’s best-known beach resorts for decades, Miami Beach is a magnet to student vacationers, boasting a vibrant club scene, fashionable Art Deco District, and of course, white sand beaches with topaz waters. Miami Beach goes into overdrive for Spring Break, when hundreds of students descend on the city. During the day, volleyball, swimming, and sunbathing can be found on the beach, while every night, Miami Beach nightclubs host events. The festivities reach their climax with the Ultra Music Festival on Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th. Billing itself as “the world’s premiere electronic-dance music festival,” the Ultra Music Festival boasts a slate of the world’s top dance music DJs.

With prices on flights higher than last year’s, it’s important to get a ticket soon if you’re planning on heading somewhere for Spring Break. The dates between March 8th and 22nd are a mini-peak season for travel, so you can save by planning ahead and booking flights and hotels in advance.

To plan your Spring Break trip, visit:
Amsterdam Hotels
Miami Beach Hotels

Posted in Festivals and Holidays, Destinations
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