Having submerged his creations beneath the waters of another Caribbean locale—namely Grenada—underwater
sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor has trained his artistic sights on the
waters off Cancun. Part of an effort to create an artificial reef to draw throngs of tourists away from the region’s other
more fragile reefs, Cancun’s new Underwater Museum and Marine National
Park will eventually house over 400 sculptures scattered over the ocean
floor in the waters facing Cancun and Isla Mujeres. Currently in its
second phase of installation, Jaime Gonzalez, the national park’s
director, estimates that there will be nearly 250 sculptures on display
by April 2010.
Photo credit: Sculpture in Cancun Underwater Museum (Jason de Caires Taylor)
The ever-expanding Raleigh-Durham area is fortunate to be blessed with a number of excellent outdoor venues on its doorstep, including William B. Umstead State Park and Jordan Lake State Recreation Area. Water is the key ingredient in each, offering access to some of the region’s best fishing, canoeing, and lake lounging! The 5,579 eminently-accessible acres of William B. Umstead State Park are a mere 15 miles northwest of downtown Raleigh and include campgrounds and over 30 miles of hiking and bridle trails along with the acres of aquatic action.
Photo credit: William B. Umstead State Park in raleigh, North Carolina (North Carolina Tourism)
In England for spring break? Then don’t miss a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle as the entire length of 84-mile Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail is illuminated with 500 individual points of light on Saturday, March 13. The event at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Roman fortification is part of a nationwide roster of events for British Tourism Week 2010. The first point of light will be illuminated at Wallsend on the northeast coast of England, with the line of light then making its way along Hadrian’s Wall to Bowness-on-Solway in Cumbria over the following hour. Hadrian’s Wall was built in AD122 by the Roman army on the orders of the Emperor Hadrian, and formed the Roman frontier across the north of England for almost 300 years. In 1987 it was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and in 2005 became part of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage Site.
Photo credit: Housesteads Crags section of Hadrian's Wall in the north of England (Roger Clegg)
As the importance of sustainable tourism continues to grow, environmentally sensitive travelers should be aware of the difference between authentically green resorts and "greenwashed" resorts and hotels that position themselves as environmentally friendly, but only have minimal green practices in place. Ewald Biemans, owner of Bucuti Beach Resort in Aruba, has been an environmental advocate for more than 30 years and has lead Bucuti to become a model resort in sustainable tourism throughout the Caribbean and the world. Here are ten green tips from Biemans to help savvy travelers identify the greenest resorts:
California’s American River is one of the state’s most popular stretches of whitewater, with over 100,000 river rats floating the South Fork of the river each year. It also happens to be one of the best rivers for an early-season float, with the melting winter snowpack off the Sierra Nevadas helping to feed an April-June season down the Class II-III South Fork. More experienced paddlers will want to tackle a riotous 9.5-mile stretch of the North Fork, with some burly Class IV+ rapids. The gateway to the American River is the state capital, Sacramento, which lies about two hours’ drive from the most popular river put-ins.
Photo credit: American River whitewater rafting, California (O.A.R.S.)
Dallas’ east end Deep Ellum district is the place to go for live music, plus a good selection of hip clubs, bars, and restaurants. Formerly the city’s warehouse district, Deep Ellum has been a hotbed of blues and Afro-American jazz since the early 1900s. Today the mix also includes rock, Latin, and alternative beats. Dining options range from Tex-Mex and American fare to pizza, sushi, and independent coffeehouses.
The Newark Museum is New Jersey’s largest museum, featuring 80 galleries with collections of African, Asian, Latin, and American art. The facility underwent a $520 million renovation and expansion in 1989 that included the addition of 66 galleries designed by architect Michael Graves. Traveling exhibitions showcase the arts and natural sciences, while young museum-goers will enjoy the 100 live animals at the Mini Zoo (including marmosets, boa constrictors, dwarf mongooses, red bellied piranha, and an emperor scorpion). There’s also the Victorian Ballantine House, a sculpture garden, planetarium, and an 18th-century schoolhouse.
Photo credit: "Blackout: A Centennial Commission by Paul Henry Ramirez" at the Newark Museum, New Jersey (Newark Museum)
Celebrate summer in Detroit with a stroll along the revitalized Detroit International Riverfront. Marking the first official day of summer, June 21, the fourth annual Detroit River Days Festival is scheduled this year for June 18-21. Enjoy an eclectic mix of land- and water-based events that include dog acrobatics, a tugboat parade, coastguard search-and-rescue demonstrations, live music, and a big fireworks display over the Detroit River. The family-oriented festival is organized to showcase the city’s newly renovated RiverWalk as well as celebrate the close ties between communities in Detroit and Windsor across the border in Ontario, Canada.
Name of activity: Redwood National Park visit Location: Orick, California Price: Free Description: Unlike other premier national parks, which can cost $50 a carload, there is no admission fee for Redwood National Park. The park is home to the world's tallest trees, 50 miles of some of the most pristine coastline in the park system, and impressive herds of the largest American elk species, the Roosevelt elk. The park's coastal Orick gateway is approximately 300 miles north of San Francisco.
Dates open/available: Year-round Website:www.nps.gov/redw
Name of activity: Bay Area Discovery Museum
Location: Sausalito, California
Price: $10 adults, $8 children (1-17), infants free Description: The Bay Area Discovery Museum is a one-of-a-kind indoor and outdoor children's museum at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge. With an emphasis on creativity through play, the museum encourages children ages six months to eight years to develop into curious lifelong learners and explorers. The museum's unique programs feature hands-on art, science and environmental exhibitions, performances, special events, and cultural festivals. Dates open/available: Tuesdays - Fridays, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Closed most Mondays and holidays.
Website:www.BayKidsMuseum.org
Planning a last-minute Colorado ski trip (and you should, because this winter’s been good for the Rocky Mountain State)? Check out the “Everyone's a Kid” deal at Winter Park, the closest resort to Denver(two hours) and a top-rated family-friendly ski locale. Book three nights at resort lodging including Fraser Crossing, Founders Pointe, the Vintage Hotel, Winter Park Mountain Lodge, or Zephyr Mountain Lodge, and adults ski for kids' rates ($49 per day). Rates start from $118 for studio/one-bedroom lodging; offers applies for trips through end of March.
To compare rates on the best airfare deals to Denver, visit Trip.com's Denver Trip Guide.
Photo credit: Snowboarder at Winter Park, Colorado (courtesy, Winter Park Resort)
