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Posts Tagged ‘Sightseeing’
The New York skyline is undoubtedly an impressive one, with towering skyscrapers and fascinating structures stretching as far as the eye can see. By 2008, the city was home to 191 buildings standing at over 500 feet – more than any other city in America – with plenty more under construction since then. When it comes to sightseeing, New York at ground level tells only a half a story. For the other half, you should head to the high points of New York.
The Empire State Building
The tallest building in New York City, the 102 floors of the Empire State Building stand at an awe-inspiring 1,250 feet from floor to roof, with an additional 204 feet added by the building’s spire. The 360 degree perspective offered from the observatory decks of this building is unparalleled by any other building in America, with a view on a clear day of up to 80 miles. From the art-deco design of the building to its breathtaking height, there is plenty to enjoy, including enclosed areas with binoculars supplied, and outdoor walkways which are certainly exciting on windy days. However, the spire also serves as a beacon for New York, keeping the people informed of events. The lights on the spire will change colour in order to make people aware of a particular event; for example, during Earth Hour there will be no lights, on President’s Day the lights will show red/white/blue, on Valentine’s day red/pink/white, and on the day of a Super Bowl, they will correspond with the colours of the teams playing. When it comes to sightseeing, New York’s tallest building is by far the best view of the city.
The Chrysler Building
Another skyscraper that is well worth a look when you’re sightseeing, New York’s Chrysler Building held the title of being America’s tallest building for a year, before it was taken by the Empire State Building. However it remains the second tallest building in the country and by far one of the most impressive. Architect William Van Alen constructed the 125 foot spire inside the building in secret, hoisting it to the top only on the point of the building’s completion. Alen has combined art deco designs with prominent features, yet he has cleverly avoided any impression of gaudiness, resulting in a building that intrigues visitors and draws the camera towards it from any angle. The impressive lobby with its fascinating ceiling mural, and the immense elevators are well worth a visit, though unfortunately the observation deck is no longer open to visitors.
The Statue of Liberty
Standing tall on Liberty Island since 1886, the Statue of Liberty welcomes visitors and those returning to their home soil. Standing at 151 feet, or 305 feet including the pedestal and base, she is a truly impressive site. A gift from France to commemorate 100 years of independence, this statue is one of the most symbolic high points of America, and must be included when planning your sightseeing. New York is neighboured by both Ellis and Staten Island, and should you take the ferry to either of these islands you will pass very close to Miss Liberty. However, if you have a chance to go to Liberty Island itself, you will get the opportunity to enter the statue to take a look at the museum, and climb to the top of the statue’s base and gaze up through the glass ceiling. Though closed for security reasons for several years, visitors are now once again given the opportunity to go into the crown of the statue, though with no elevators this is no trip for the faint-hearted.
When it comes to sightseeing, New York contains some of the world’s tallest and most impressive buildings. Head to the top of one of these magnificent structures to see the high points of New York and we can guarantee you’ll leave on a high.
About The Author:
Marta Sanders-Cooper is the New York Destination Expert for Shorex, specialising in unique and unmissable, expert-led tours & excursions in major cities around the world, for the best in city sightseeing. New York tours are custom made and constructed from an extensive menu of activities, attractions and excursions, many of which are unique to Shorex.com.
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Spain walks make for spectacular sightseeing opportunities, where you can experience the country’s beauty at your own pace. Here are some interesting and beautiful places to visit when on a Spanish walking holiday.
The Tomb of Santa Teresa
The town of Avila is an ideal place to wander when on a Spanish walking holiday. Steeped in a long and colourful history, the town makes for an interesting afternoon walk. Spain is a country of strong religious beliefs, and Avila is home to the revered tomb of Santa Teresa of Avila, a mystical saint conjuring many memories in the minds of the town locals.
The tomb is located in the church of the Carmelite Convent of the Anunciaciόn, a historical convent founded in 1570. A beautiful renaissance doorway marks the entrance, and the saint’s remains are preserved in a reliquary above the altar. This was a gift from Infanta Isabel Clara Eugenia, daughter of Phillip II of Spain. Walks in this area will undoubtedly inspire a sense of spirituality and history, as the area marks the place where many spiritual leaders have lived.
An Eastern Tip
The most easterly point in the Cordillera Betica is a prime location to visit on a hiking holiday in Spain. Cabo de la Nao is an area notable for its picturesque beauty and charm. With beautiful beaches around the cape, and views that will take your breath away, this is an area not to miss on your hiking holiday. Spain is a country with areas of dramatic coastline, and a view from the tip of Cabo de la Nao’s promontory will see the south of the rocky mass making up Penon de Ifach. This view is sure to evoke a feeling of awe, as you gaze out at the mass of rocks that rear out of the sea off the Punto de Ifach.
Walk in the Valley of Great Kings
Located in the south west of the Spanish, Canary island, La Gomera, the Valley Gran Rey is one of Spain’s best kept secrets. A Spanish walking holiday in this region would be nothing short of magnificent, with this exotic valley providing a unique walking experience. The valley is lined by towering palm trees and large banana plantations are scattered around. Quaint houses are dotted about, where you will often find interesting and alternative members of society have come to live.
One of the main features making this area one of the best Spanish walking holiday destinations is the unique landscape that has been created. Parts of the hillside have been turned into terraces for growing crops and tropical fruit. You could take a stroll from the orchards down to the coast, where dramatic rock formations and cliffs are waiting to be explored.
Navarra Castle of the Kings
Navarra is situated in northern Spain, a beautiful area great for walking. It is likely this beauty that led Charles III of Navarra to commission a team of brilliant French architects to alter and enlarge the area’s existing castle in 1406. With their grand designs, the castle was turned into a combination of a fortress and a palace. 15 slender towers stand tall against the sky, safe under the protection of the battlement walls. Inside the castle the design is no less grand, and magnificent décor makes it palatial.
Although parts of the castle were destroyed in the 19th century, it is still an impressive sight to behold. And it makes an already beautiful area absolutely perfect for a Spain walk.
Tony Maniscalco is the Sales and Marketing for Ramblers Countrywide Holidays. Ramblers Worldwide have been operating since 1946 and now offer over 250 holidays in more than 70 different countries. They are dedicated to providing the very finest Spanish Walking Holidays at the best value prices.
If you want to take a city break in Spain, look beyond the obvious choices of Madrid and Barcelona and consider Valencia. The city offers ancient and contemporary wonders to the relatively few visitors who go there, and here are some of the real highlights of Valencia.
Perhaps as a Valencia shuttle driver I may be biased, but I think the city is a real gem that is too often overlooked in favour of the other major cities in Spain. Madrid may be the Spanish capital and Barcelona popular for its arts scene and vibrant atmosphere, but for culture and architectural splendour, Valencia is the place to be. Whenever I drive someone from Valencia airport to a city hotel, and always enjoy telling them what a treat they’ve let themselves in for.
There’s plenty to experience on a holiday to Valencia, but there are few highlights that are simply unmissable – here are some of my personal recommendations…
Stroll Through the Old Town
The architectural mix in the Old Town is quite astonishing, ranging from Baroque cathedrals to the Gothic grandeur of the Silk Exchange, the breathtaking building where the silk merchants of old used to ply their trade. The Old Town reflects the many cultural influences that have made Valencia what it is today – Roman, Muslim and Chrisitans have all ruled the city at one time or another.
I always say to my Valencia shuttle passengers, you can spend days wandering through the streets of the Old Town and still not see everything, but don’t miss out on the Santa Catalina Bell Tower, the Basílica de la Virgen de los Desamparados, and the Plaza de Reina. The Plaza is also the best place to pick up a horse drawn carriage to take you around the Old Town, which is certainly an experience you wouldn’t want to miss.
Marvel at the City of Arts and Sciences
When they drained the Turia river after a severe flood, they had two choices; turn it into a park or a highway. The highway would have made driving from Valencia airport to the city easier for me, but I can’t fault their choice, especially since the recent addition of The City of Arts and Sciences. This jaw dropping modern science park truly has something for everyone – an outstanding science museum, IMAX cinema, aquarium, dolphinarium, and underwater restaurant are amongst the many facilities on offer.
Shop at the Central Market
With over a thousand bustling food stalls to explore, the Central Market is the best place to sample local delicacies. Housed in a handsome modern building and decorated with colourful ceramic tiles, the stalls have plenty to offer to foodies on a holiday in Valencia, including fresh fruit, regional cheeses and wines, and the local speciality – paella.
See the Holy Grail at Valencia Cathedral
OK, no one can say for sure whether Valencia’s claim to be the resting place of the mythical Holy Grail is based on sound historical research, optimistic wishing, or a canny marketing play by the city’s tourist board. But in any case, the Valencia Cathedral is an unmissable highlight of the city. The mix of Roman, Gothic and Baroque architecture is fascinating, and (however authentic it may be) the golden chalice that hangs above the altar certainly looks the part – my Valencia shuttle passengers invariably rave about how exciting it was to see!
Carolina Pujol is a shuttle driver, driving from Valencia airport to city destinations and other routes for Shuttle Direct. They provide pre-booked shuttles to major destinations all over Europe. Wherever you travel, Shuttle Direct can make sure that you don’t miss your car on your holiday abroad.
Learn more about some of the highlights of Almeria, one of the most exciting and fascinating cities on the Andalucian coast.
If you want to enjoy a mixture of city and beach, there are few better choices than Almeria. Located in the heart of Andalucía on the coast, it boasts the hottest and driest climate in Spain, and from the cultural highlights of the city to the long stretch of beach located nearby, it has plenty to offer its visitors. I’ve shuttled plenty of people from the airport to Almeria and back again, and I’ve rarely heard a bad word said against the city! I’ve also been told about and explored myself some of the highlights of the city – here are a few that you shouldn’t miss out on next time you are in Almeria.
The Sights of the City and Surrounding Areas
The most striking highlight of Almeria is the Alcazaba, a spectacular clifftop Moorish fortress that overlooks the city, and is the second largest. The fortress is a relic of Almeria’s Moorish heritage, as is the name of the city; in Arabic, it means “Mirror”, as in “Mirror of the Sea.”
But Almeria is no one hit wonder. The towering Catholic Cathedral, dating from the 16th century, is an unmissable highlight. The old town, with its traditional market and winding streets is always a big hit with visitors, and its version of La Rambla may not be as grand or as famous as Barcelona, but it is a great place to stroll along and while away a sunny afternoon.
I’d also recommend paying a visit to the gypsy quarter, its unique cave dwellings are really a strange sight to behold, and you can get further information on the mixed history of Almeria at the archaeological museum. The city has quite a story to tell – it was established as a Moorish fortress city, and in its time has been conquered by the Christians, raided by Berber pirates, and shelled by the Germans in the Spanish Civil War!
The scenic town of Mojacar, situated near Almeria, is definitely worth a visit. Mojacar has a long history stretching over 4000 years and has been populated by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Greeks and Moors. It was under Moor rule that it really began to flourish, an imposing castle was built and the town walls were expanded and fortified. However, a Muslim town in the midst of a Christian country is suffered many brutal incursions and I’m always keen to regale my tourists with stories of these during the journey from airport to Almeria.
Mojacar is now home to more than 17km of sandy beaches and notable sights include La Iglesia de Santa Maria, a 14th Century fortress and The Old Customs House where visitors were taxed during the 18th Century for the pleasure of visiting the town. I’d make a tidy profit during my Almeria airport transfers if this procedure were still enforced today.
Beautiful Cuisine
I am often asked to drive to the scenic town of Roquetas when conducting my Almeria airport transfers and it’s so hard not to stop the car and run into one of the town’s delicious seafood restaurants. Visitors often ask to me to recommend them a local dish, and without fail, I always suggest the regions speciality of lobster and rice. The town is known for both its gastronomy and antiquated fishing traditions so it seems particularly fitting to recommend a seafood dish.
Soak Up the Sun
Whenever I drive people from the airport to Almeria city, I’m always sure to mention that the main beach in the city is almost entirely nudist. For some people this will be an added attraction for Almeria – for others, it’ll be an embarrassing place they’d rather avoid! It’s a gorgeous beach (with plenty of gorgeous people on it!) but if you’d prefer to sunbathe in more conservative fashion, a visit to one of the nearby resorts (see nearby attractions) will be ideal.
However, if you don’t mind the idea of baring all then the resort of Vera Playa will definitely appeal to you. Vera Playa is known as the world’s best naturist resort and it houses over 2,000 naturist apartments and even a four-star naturist hotel. Even the streets of Vera Playa are no-clothes zones, which can take some getting used too!
Nearby Attractions
There’s plenty to keep you occupied in Almeria itself, but there’s plenty in the local area if you’d like to explore further afield. The Andalucían coastline is teeming with outstanding resorts, with Aguadulce, Almerimar to the west and Mojacar to the east. All of them are excellent options if you’d like to visit a traditional beach resort town; many of my Almeria airport transfer passengers choose to combine a few days in the city itself with a break on one of the coastal resorts. And if cities are more your thing, vibrant and diverse Granada is just a few hours away – ask me nicely, and I might just give you a discount when I drive you there!
Carolina Pujol is a shuttle driver, driving from Almeria airport to Almeria city and other routes for Shuttle Direct. They provide pre-booked shuttles to major destinations all over Europe. Wherever you travel, Shuttle Direct can make sure that you don’t miss your car on your holiday abroad.