Oceanfront Hotels In Virginia | "Small Town – Big Taste"

Source    :  http://www.usatoday.com
Category  :  Oceanfront Hotels In Virginia
By        : Virginia Beach Ocean Front Hotels
Posted By : Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard


My destination was Mount Pleasant, Michigan.
The purpose of my trip was to speak to a class of journalism students about blogging as an alternative way of making a living from writing.

Oceanfront Hotels In Virginia

The highlight (other than the kids of course) was a cooking class on root vegetables.
Our instructor was Emma Currie, chef at The Brass in Mount Pleasant.
Being Vegetarian, this class was for me.
I love vegetables.
Last year when I went to India a strange thing happened – I became a vegetarian.
It wasn’t for health reasons. It wasn’t a principled stand. It was just something that happened as a result of living with a Sikh family for five days and then staying at an Ashram for another week. After eating vegetarian for almost two weeks, I couldn’t imagine eating meat again.
I didn’t pressure myself into this. Eating veg in India was easy. When I went home I decided to just see how it went. If I wanted meat I would eat it. But it’s now been a year and while I force myself to eat fish a couple of times a month, I have no desire for it or any other form of meat.
But, as our entertaining chef often said, I  digress….

Of course, we started with the basic roasted root vegetables with fresh herbs.
Cooking classes are great for solo travelers.
At first my trip was simply about speaking to the students. But when Micki, a regular reader of Solo Traveler and the professor who invited me (she also has a blog called Culinary Woman) realized that the cooking class at The Market on Main was on the night before I would speak, she asked me to join her at the class. I was very lucky to get in as these classes sell out – so much so that they allow people to sign up for only two in a series so that everyone gets a chance.

Now this is how you peel garlic.
An education in food…
This was not a hands-on cooking class but a demonstration. I’ve done both and my preference is the demonstration while Micki prefers to roll up her sleeves and cook. Over the course of the evening every vegetable was introduced, chopping and other preparation tricks of a chef’s trade were shared and recipes were cooked and tasted.

Oceanfront Hotels In Virginia | "Tokyo, From the Top"

Source     :  http://travel.nytimes.com
Category  :  Oceanfront Hotels In Virginia
By            : Virginia Beach Ocean Front Hotels
Posted By  : Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard


Blanketed by haze and poised at the juncture of restless tectonic plates, Tokyo is unlikely territory for sky-high observation decks and city-viewing towers. But defiant Tokyoites insist on building them, and then, once they are in place, eagerly get in line to ride up and have a look.

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The latest addition to the city’s soaring buildings, dizzying Ferris wheels and skyscraper-top restaurants is Tokyo Skytree, which at 2,080 feet, holds the title as the world’s tallest free-standing tower. The Skytree, which opened last May, became an instant hot ticket.

Its top viewing level, at 1,480 feet, is only the fourth-highest in the world, behind a couple of Chinese skyscrapers and the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. That is tall enough, though, for a head-clearing perspective on sprawling Tokyo, whose multiple city centers, odd block-based address system and reliance on underground transit foster confusion at ground level. One surprise in the Skytree vantage point is a sudden realization of how far the distorted subway maps depart from geographic reality.

On a weekday morning last fall, an animated crowd waited 40 minutes to buy tickets, gasped at a rapidly ascending view through windows in the elevator shaft, and once on the observation deck, pointed out landmarks keyed on satellite maps and took turns on a patch of glass floor. Mount Fuji, the holy grail of Tokyo gazing, was out there somewhere, hidden by clouds and smog. (Chances of seeing it are best in winter, when winds blow the haze away.) When a window washer glided into view outside, everyone’s cellphone came out to snap a picture. Nobody seemed at all concerned about the shaky ground below — even though some of the people had probably watched Tokyo’s skyscrapers swaying like trees in the wind a couple of years ago, when the same earthquake that brought a devastating tsunami farther north hit Tokyo with a reduced but still impressive jolt.

For 50 years before the Skytree reared its upstart mast, the iconic queen of the skyline was the Tokyo Tower, an Eiffel Tower knockoff and a frequent target of Godzilla and his monstrous ilk. Only about half the Skytree’s height, marred at its base by tacky souvenir shops, the Tokyo Tower feels cramped and a little pathetic by comparison, although it’s worth remembering that it still bests the Eiffel Tower by 28 feet. It is also cheaper to visit than the Skytree, less crowded, and the place to go for a certain perspective that is especially good at night.

That is when the tower feels just right — above the city but still within it. Traffic streams by on nearby expressways in a blur of red and white light, the Ferris wheel at the Odaiba waterfront entertainment complex whirls with its own bright display, and Tokyo Bay glimmers beneath the illuminated Rainbow Bridge. The ambience seems to appeal to young lovers. Couples who appeared to be out on a date dominated the thin crowd on one warm autumn evening.

Clusters of lighted skyscrapers mark the cities within the city: Shinjuku, Shibuya, Shinagawa, the old city center near the Imperial Palace. On clear nights, the view extends to Yokohama, identifiable by a glimpse of the Landmark Tower, Japan’s tallest building (the much taller Skytree can’t hold that title, since much of its height is a structure without floors to walk on) and the location of yet another observation deck.

The Tokyo Tower was a symbol of the city’s determination to remake itself after World War II on the model of Western capitals. The Skytree announces the intention to remain competitive as other Asian cities reach for dominance. All of Tokyo’s places to look down at itself take seismic chances that those other cities’ towers do not. But they also reflect something familiar: a great city’s desire not to let a few quirks of nature hold it back.

Oceanfront Hotels In Virginia | "Samsung unveils Galaxy S4 smartphone with bizarre Broadway show"

Source     : http://www.business-standard.com
Category  :  Oceanfront Hotels In Virginia
By            : Hotel In Virginia
Posted By  : Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard


Samsung unveiled its Galaxy S4 smartphone Thursday. It has eye-tracking capabilities, gesture control, a 5-inch full HD screen and a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera.

That's not all there was to see.

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In one of the most head-scratching, bizarre tech product launches ever, Samsung staged an elaborate Broadway-esque show at Radio City Music Hall, where the S4 event was held, to debut the smartphone.

There was a tap-dancing kid. A ballerina. A bored housewife. A hot gardener.

PHOTOS: Tech we want to see in 2013

The spectacle was so over the top that it seemed to eclipse news of the device itself on Twitter and other social media.

"What in the name of jebus are my eyes seeing at this car crash of an event. #samsung #s4" tweeted @julescoleman.

"Oh thank god it's over. I'm going to go bash my head into something hard over and over until I can feel feelings again," tweeted @SteveStreza.

And our very own Chris O'Brien tweeted: "Right now, if you are in Radio City Music Hall, there is no escape. None."

Samsung kicked off the 45-minute event with a rundown of the new phone's specs.

The phone, which comes in black and in white, is 0.31-inch thick and weighs 4.6 ounces. Wireless carriers AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon will offer it; a total of 327 mobile operators in 155 countries will carry the phone, which becomes available starting in late April.

"We have taken technology and innovation further to help us get closer to what matters in life," Samsung executive JK Shin said on stage. "We will imagine the possibilities, explore new directions and listen to you to understand what a smartphone should provide to us in our lives."

Then things got weird. To demonstrate the phone's new features, Samsung brought out a slew of performers.

One of them, named DeeDee, represented an older, bored housewife who was watching a video on her Galaxy S4 while sipping a glass of wine. Then a sexy gardener strolls onto the stage. DeeDee stops watching to gawk at the gardener. As she lifts her eyes away from the screen, the video pauses. When she finally turns her attention back to the screen, the video automatically restarts where it left off.

The S4 also has some nifty photo-editing capabilities that enable users to record audio that's synced to an image. Users can also delete unwanted details from a picture (sorry, photo bombers). At this point in the presentation, an actor joked that he could remove his mother-in-law from a photo but not from his life. Ha. Ha.

The phone also comes with hand-waving technology, so users who want to unlock their screens can simply hover a finger over it.

Samsung live-streamed the event on YouTube, and we've included a replay below (skip to the 40-minute, 30-second mark, when the show starts). More than 423,000 viewers were tuned in when the phone was unveiled.

Oceanfront Hotels In Virginia | "How Technology Has Changed the Way We Travel"

Source     : http://www.wildjunket.com
Category   : Affordable Hotels In Virginia Beach
By            : Hotel In Virginia
Posted By  : Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard


For someone who loves traveling, I’m not entirely good at it. I have no sense of direction, speak only two languages, and have a tendency to forget essential items (like passports and underwear) when packing my bags. Luckily for me, I have an internet connection at home, and even when I travel, my smartphone is usually close at hand, complete with handy apps and pop-up reminders to pack my toothbrush.

Oceanfront Hotels In Virginia

I know I’m not alone in this technology era. Millions of travelers around the world are now making full use of the conveniences that technology has brought us, whether it’s planning a trip or connecting with friends and family while on the road.

Just landed at a new destination with no where to stay? A hotel room is just a click away. Hungry for some local chow but don’t know where’s the best place for it? Search for reviews on your smartphone. Can’t communicate with the locals? Google translator comes to the rescue. We’ve long ditched the thousand-page paperback guidebook for our lightweight smartphones that are loaded with everything from ebooks to GPS.

Ease of booking flights/hotels
Long gone are those days of booking trips through a local tour agency. With thousands of online search engines in the market, finding good deals has become increasingly easy and convenient (and comes at no cost). There are many airfare comparison websites out there that will let you punch in your destination details and then fetch the lowest possible prices from different airlines for you. Our favorite site is Skyscanner, which compares airfares from every airline in the world (including budget airlines), as well as other flight search engines. For hotel deals, we find Trivago very reliable for hunting the cheapest hotel prices (it compares 148 websites).

Planning trips through recommendations

Travel planning no longer just involves taking out a map and vaguely drawing up an itinerary. Smart travelers these days go online and suss out hotels and museum recommendations, reading reviews from travelers and finding out what others enjoyed – and did not enjoy – about a place. There are many websites and forums dedicated to such discussions. Our favorite forum site is Lonely Planet Thorn Tree, be sure to also check out Wanderfly and TripAdvisor for recommendations.

Connecting with locals
If you’re traveling solo and don’t speak the language, don’t fret. Many people are happy to meet with travelers and show them around, chat, or even provide them with a couch to crash on. My brother and his roommates have hosted many travelers at their house in the past couple of months, and have made friends from around the world thanks to Couchsurfing.

If sleeping on someone else’s couch isn’t quite up your alley, you can still use sites such as Meetup to meet new people, make friends, and join gatherings with like-minded people (they organize meet-ups based on interest as well). Make sure to take a look at Mingle Trips, mmMule, and Eat With a Local.

Using technology while on the go
Once you are actually traveling, it’s easy to keep a smartphone in your back pocket for a quick snapshot, translating a sign you don’t understand, or looking up directions. However, consider using technology as a last resort on a few of your travels after you’ve done your planning – it can open an entire new range of experiences.

A Canadian friend of ours visited us in the Dominican Republic once and when we ran out of eggs for an omelette, she ventured out on her own to buy more. When she was unable to find any at the local store and couldn’t recall their Spanish translation, she theatrically mimed the action of a chicken laying an egg (complete with wing-flapping and squawking) to the storekeeper – and came home with a roll of toilet paper thanks to the error in translation. Despite her other adventures in the country during the visit, this story has endured the test of time.

Using technology is a personal choice while traveling, and different people will be comfortable with using varying amounts of it. Personally, on my next few trips, I’m planning on doing research before takeoff, then using technology only in moderation while traveling (my camera being the exception!). I want to plug into the possibility of unexpected adventures. Because after all, isn’t that what traveling is about?

Oceanfront Hotels In Virginia | "The Most Beautiful Beaches In South America"

Source       : http://www.huffingtonpost.com
Category   : Oceanfront Hotels In Virginia
By             : Hotel In Virginia
Posted By  : Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard


Everyone dreams of a sunny holiday on the beach in the Caribbean or in Brazil. But where are the absolute Highlights of South America beach? Where you can experience a true dream vacation?

Oceanfront Hotels In Virginia

Playa Blanca

In Cartagena, Colombia, a real dream beach is like a picture book: white sand, turquoise sea and shells everywhere. And as if that is not enough to make paradise even a beautiful boat trip on the sea.

Conclusion: A beautiful beach for the whole family, but in the long run only for nature lovers who do not want to drive 21 km to get to the beach you have a tent set up at the campsite, which is named after the beach: Playa Blanca!

Natal

Many miles away, at the Northeast of Brazil Natal is located, is another beautiful beach. The sensation of the beach: a 100-meter high dune, the beach perfect for skiing is! Also, dune bashing with VW buggies are possible, at least if you are a driver takes.

Conclusion: A family vacation for perfectionists: Also, there is no shortage of hotels in the vicinity is teeming with them, because Natal is near Rio Grande do Norte, the capital of northeastern Brazil. Shopping Funny daughters and mothers can also let off steam so here.

Playa El Agua Beach

In Venezuela is this beautiful beach: the turquoise waves are often very high, and a special attraction, there is also no shortage here! Just behind the beach are thousands of hotels, restaurants and shops, no one could come back here without shopping bags from vacation!

Conclusion: A pearl in Venezuela, some for social people and buyers.


Praia do Rosa Beach

A magical Brazilian beach with pink sand and perfect waves for surfers. Want to learn even the people who surf, can benefit here. With light winds and thus light waves can also swim families. Even party people get their costs, many night clubs and discos are gathered here.

Conclusion: A pink highlight in Brazil should not be underestimated nightlife.

Oceanfront Hotels In Virginia | "50 Things To Do In Virginia Beach Nightlife"

Source       : http://www.vbbound.com
Category   : Oceanfront Hotels In Virginia
By              : Virginia Beach Nightlife
Posted By  : Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard


Whether you're planning a weekend getaway or a family-fun vacation, here is our Top 50 list of fun things to do in Virginia Beach this summer.

NIghtLife

1. Captain Jacks Pirate Ship Adventures
2. King Neptune Statue on the Boardwalk
3. Virginia Beach Boardwalk Food Tour
4. Air America Parasail
5. Rudee Rocket
6. Great White Water Sports
7. Atlantic Fun Park
8. Busch Gardens Williamsburg
9. Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
10. Ocean Breeze Waterpark
11. Virginia Beach Fishing Pier
12. Water Country USA
13. IMAX Theater - Virginia Marine Science Center
14. Dairy Queen on the Boardwalk
15. Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel
16. Virginia Beach Boardwalk
17. Virginia's Jewel Sightseeing Cruises
18. Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum
19. Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge
20. Build a Sand Castle
21. Candy Kitchen Virginia Beach
22. Cape Henry Lighthouse
23. Captain George's Seafood Buffet
24. Captain Jack's Club 21 Cruise
25. Capture your Summer Vacation Memories
26. Cruise the Boardwalk
27. Evening Boardwalk Entertainment
28. First Landing State Park
29. Flashback Old Time Photos
30. Haygood Roller Skating Center
31. JT Walk & Beach Party
32. JTs Grommet Island Beach Park and Playground
33. Lynnhaven Mall
34. McDonalds Holiday Lights at the Beach
35. Motor World
36. Mount Trashmore Park
37. Mystery Dinner Playhouse
38. Norfolk Tides Minor League Baseball
39. Old Coast Guard Station
40. Painted Temporary Tattoos
41. Plunge Virginia - Polar Plunge Winter Festival
42. Putt and Mini Golf
43. Spirit of Norfolk Cruises
44. Telescope Pictures
45. The Jewish Mother
46. The Virginia Zoo
47. Virginia Beach Neptune Festival
48. Virginia Beach Sandcastle Competition
49. Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art
50. Watch the Sunrise