Archive for the ‘ USA ’ Category

For some counties you may need a visa to enter in USA. So today I will show you the best tips for getting you US tourist visa.

Visa Waiver Program

Foreign travelers who are citizens from certain eligible countries, may not need Visitor/Business visa to visit the USA.  They can enter USA without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program.

Some countries have an agreement with the United States and participate in the Visa Waiver Program, where citizens of the participating countries do not require a visa for stays less than 90 days.

Visa For USA

There are two types of USA Visas, immigrant and non-immigrant.  In an immigrant visa, the applicant is applying for permanent residence in the United States.  With a nonimmigrant visa, the applicant is visiting the United States for a temporary period of time for tourism, medical treatments, business, temporary study or temporary work.

A visitor visa is a non-immigrant visa.

Visitor visa

The "visitor" visa is a nonimmigrant visa for persons desiring to enter the United States temporarily for business (B-1), for pleasure or medical treatment (B-2), or combination of both (B-1/B-2) purposes.

Pleasure, Tourism, Medical Treatment – Visitor Visas – As examples, if the purpose of your planned travel is recreational in nature, including tourism, amusement, visits with friends or relatives, rest, medical treatment, activities of a fraternal, social, or service nature, and participation by amateurs, who will receive no remuneration, in musical, sports and similar events or contests, then a visitor visa (B-2) would be the appropriate type of visa for your travel.

Leave your Comment

New York City is a favorite for travelers from the United States and for visitors from around the world.  It’s one of those must see cities right up there with London, Paris and Rome. 

So where do you start with a city that offers so much?  Well, any self-respecting tourist has to hit the tourist highlights, so unless you have a particular agenda, you’ll probably want to visit this short list.

New York

You can certainly see New York City on your own, but if your time is short or you’d like a quick overview, you might want to consider a city tour.   Another option is to check into one of the sightseeing city passes that are available; they can save you time and money. 

To start with you’ll probably want to visit the Statue of Liberty.  There is no admission fee for the island that she stands on, but you must buy a ferry ticket to get there for about $12 for adults.  If you want to go into the Statue of Liberty, you must reserve a free "Monument Pass".  These passes are time specific, meaning you have to go in at the time you have reserved. 

Security onto Liberty Island is as serious as it is for getting onto an airliner these days.  You will have to clear a security screening before boarding the ferry.  There will be a second security screening if you have a Monument Pass for entering the Statue of Liberty.  Allow plenty of time… probably 2-3 hours.

You can also visit Ellis Island.  Again there is no admission fee, but you must pay for the ferry.  Both of these attractions are only a short ferry ride from Battery Park.  The ferry circles from the Statue of Liberty to Ellis Island and back to the city.  Check the ferry schedule for details. 

If you just want to see the Statue of Liberty from the harbor, you could take the free Staten Island Ferry from Lower Manhattan over and back for great photo opportunities. 

See the Empire State Building.  Take the elevator to the observation platform for a great view of the city.  There is an admission fee, and often a long line. 

Take a walk in Central Park.  There are lakes and open spaces right there in the middle of the city.  It’s a great place to get away from the hubbub of the city and maybe have a picnic.

Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art with it’s extensive collections of painting and ancient art.  It is located on the east side of Central Park at Fifth Avenue and 82nd Street.  The American Museum of Natural History is on the other side of the Park at Central Park West at 79th Street.

See the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim Museum.  Or try the Frick Collection to see stunning art and get a peek at what a New York mansion from the early 1900s looked like. 

And if you’re ready to get back outside, how about a little shopping or at least window shopping?  Take a stroll down Fifth Avenue.  Or see Times Square where New Yorkers and visitors celebrate New Year’s Eve, and where you can find out more about Broadway plays.

And all this is just for starters, so bring good walking shoes and enjoy New York City.

Leave your Comment

San Antonio Texas

San Antonio may not have the big tourist ring of New York City or San Francisco, but it’s a great little city to come face to face with some history.  It’s one of America’s oldest cities. 

It was colonized by Spain in the early 1700’s and since then Native Americans, Old Mexico and the deep South have mixed and blended to make for an interesting city.

Start your visit to San Antonio with a little history…. the Alamo.  It’s undoubtedly the number one tourist attraction in all the state of Texas.  It was  built in the 18th century as one of San Antonio’s five Spanish colonial missions.  Later it gained fame as the site of an epic 1836 battle during the Texas Revolution. 

Alamo  

That’s when Davey Crockett and Jim Bowie fought and died in the Alamo.  When you first see it, you’ll think it’s smaller than you expected…. and it is!  That’s because it was built as a mission and not as a fort.  Admission is free, though you will have to pay for parking at a downtown lot.  It’s right in the heart of town, near the River Walk.

If you want to see more of the five missions beyond the Alamo, see San Antonio Missions National Historic Park.  It will take you to the other four missions.  You can travel from mission to mission on the eight mile Missions Bike and Hike Trail.

There is a map of downtown San Antonio posted every few blocks on the sidewalks making it easy to explore the Alamo and the River Walk.

The River Walk or Paseo del Rio is also downtown.  Twenty feet below the hustle and bustle of downtown streets, the River Walk follows the San Antonio River’s gentle bends.  Along it you will find restaurants, hotels, museums and historic sites.  You can walk along the banks, or you can take a cruise on the river which goes on for a couple of miles while a tour guide gives you fun filled facts.

One place you’ll find along the banks of the river is the historic district of La Villita.  It was originally established by Spanish soldiers stationed at the Alamo.  In 1835 the Mexican Army surrendered and gave Texas its independence at La Villita.  The next year was when the Battle of the Alamo was fought to try and win Texas back.  More recently the historic buildings have have been turned into restaurants and also galleries and shops for arts and crafts.

Historic Market Square is near downtown.  Also known as the Mexican Market or El Mercado, it’s the largest Mexican market in the state.  It pulsates with friendly people and bold colors.  Stroll beneath the "papel picado" (Mexican tissue paper streamers).  Buy beautiful silver and turquoise jewelry…. handmade necklaces and earrings, belts and buckles from Mexico are here.  Find Mexican candies and even buy a pinata to put them in.  If you just want to soak it in, relax by the fountain and enjoy the sounds of mariachis.

With deep Latino roots, you will get some great Tex-Mex food here.  You’ll also find some great San Antonio Texas barbecue, but their culinary repertoire is large and diverse, so don’t worry about going hungry.  Just bring good walking shoes and an appetite for history and fun.

Leave your Comment

A Disney World vacation is a magical adventure, and twenty years from now your snapshots will be priceless.  Disney World vacation is a dream vacation for many Americans, and even for visitors from around the world.

Disney World Vacation

Disney World vacation planning

The first step to an enjoyable Walt Disney World vacation is to know which attractions and activities best suit your kid’s ages and development stages, then take in just enough to leave your family enchanted and not on the verge of collapse.

The next step in planning your Walt Disney World vacation is figuring out which Walt Disney World Hotels to stay at.  Another major attraction of a Walt Disney World Vacation is a trip to the two Disney water parks.  A Disney World vacation is filled with exciting theme parks, rides, adventures, live performances and more.

Disney Parks and Attractions

Disney World is a major part of American culture, and a visit to the parks represents an opportunity of a life time for children and adults alike.

In addition to the parks, there are over 20 Disney hotels as well as lots of shopping, dining and other attractions for the entire family.

  • Magic Kingdom Park
    Enchanting entertainment, classic attractions, beloved Disney Characters and spectacular parades and fireworks in a place where fairytale dreams can come true.
  • Epcot
    Attractions and entertainment dedicated to technological innovation and the culture and cuisine of 11 nations.
  • Disney’s Blizzard Beach
    Featuring one of the world’s tallest and fastest waterslides, as well as slides and rides for the whole family.
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park
    The world’s largest animal-themed park full of attractions, adventure and fantastic animals.
  • Disney’s Hollywood Studios
    Shows, attractions and tours offering behind-the-scenes glimpses of Hollywood-style action.
  • Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon
    Attractions for the whole family—from fast waterslides to a children’s area with pint-sized raft rides. Catch 6-foot waves in the Surf Pool and snorkel Shark Reef—with real sharks!

Obviously, no Disney World vacation is complete without a visit with Mickey.


Disney-World-Savings-Guide

Also you can check the Ultimate Disney World Savings Guide 2009 and save money with your Disney World Vacation.

See How Easily You Can Have A Disney World Vacation For A Fraction Of What Others Pay.

Comments (1)

Where to stay

The hotel manhattan beach is the recommend place to stay because it is an oasis for the enlightened traveler.

Northern California attractions

325px-Tunnel_view_Yosemite

  • The dessert

The Northern California desert is famous for the outdoor adventures, the art galleries in Palm Desert, hot air ballooning over Joshua Tree, or the hundreds of birds at the Salton Sea.

  • North coast

Discover nature preserves, forests and rugged trails of California’s North Coast, and you’ll also discover artist enclaves, fine dining and music festivals.

The giant tree your can drive through near Redwoods State Park is one of the area’s most famous landmarks, as are the wineries of Sonoma county.

  • Silicon Valley

Silicon Valley is one of the best places on earth to start a company. Entrepreneurs from the USA and all over the world come here to turn their dreams into reality.

Silicon Valley’s long list of innovations is a byproduct of our greatest assets—the bright people and the smart ideas that call the Valley home. Our region boasts a remarkable concentration of entrepreneurial savvy, innovative thinking, free-wheeling technical creativity, cultural diversity, and intellectual energy, all of which make it the right place for visionary people and forward-looking companies to locate. Silicon Valley’s main benefit is perhaps going to be cleaning out the dead-wood (competing social networking sites makes it harder to social network). Most growth sectors of the economy need a periodic cold-bath to control their excesses.

Manhattan beach vacations

This surfers paradise has year round sunshine. Manhattan Beach has surfing and beach volleyball along with a variety of sports activities in its seven parks.

You can spent you vacation near the beach in a Large Victorian home with fireplace decorated in true Victorian style and very comfortable. Or you can choose for manhattan beach vacations to stay at a luxury hotel.

You can locate manhattan beach accommodation easy and cheap using the Internet.

Leave your Comment

New York Shopping

New York is one of the most attractive shopping destination. You can choose between Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Tiffany or  other famous shops. If you have kids  they will love the collection of toys at FAO Schwartz or Toys R Us.

Macy’s

image thumb1 New York Shopping

Macy’s is the world’s largest store. It covers 2.1 million square feet of space.

It is located 151 West 34th Street, New York, NY 10001.

Bloomingdale’s

image thumb2 New York Shopping

1000 3rd Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Location: 3rd Ave. & 59th St.

Bloomingdale’s offers a wide selection of women’s clothing, including fashionable denim and dresses, designer shoes and handbags, bridal collections and swimsuits. Also you can find a men’s department with all types of suits, from the trendy to conservative, as well as designer brands.

Tiffany

749 5th Ave
New York, NY 10022
Location: 5th Ave. & 57th St.

Tiffany offer a large variety of fine jewelry, timepieces, sterling silverware, china, crystal, stationery, fragrances and accessories.It was founded in 1837 when Charles Lewis Tiffany opened a store in downtown Manhattan.

Saks 5th Avenue

image thumb3 New York Shopping

611 5th Ave
New York, NY 10022
Location: 5th Ave. & 49th St.

Here you’ll find famous designer brands like Chanel, Escada and Louis Vuitton.

FAO Schwartz

image thumb4 New York Shopping

767 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Location: 5th Ave. & E. 58th St.

The most famous name in toys and collectibles, FAO Schwarz is the ultimate toy store for toy lovers from all over the world.

Other Shopping Places

There’s a lot of other famous shopping places  in New York. Here is a list to choose from.
Read the rest of this entry

Leave your Comment

New York

New York City, hailed as the city that never sleeps, fondly known as the Big Apple, is home to approximately eight million people and with the population still expected to rise in the years to come. New York City is touted as the center of the world maybe because each part of the globe has left an indelible mark in this place. From food to works of art to culture exhibits to tourist spots, whatever it is you want your senses to take pleasure in, New York City most probably has it.

image thumb New York

Popular New York City Tourist Spots:

Sights

  • Times Square
  • Statue of Liberty Tour
  • Central Park
  • Rockefeller Center
  • Empire State Building
  • Grand Central Station
  • Wall Street
  • Chrysler Building

Arts, Museums & Science

  • Metropolitan Museum of Art
  • Museum of Natural History
  • Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum
  • Museum of Modern Art
  • Guggenheim
  • Frick Collection

Theaters

  • Metropolitan Opera House
  • Avery Fisher Hall
  • Radio City Music Hall
  • Carnegie Hall

Shopping

  • Saks 5th Avenue
  • Macy’s New York, Inc.
  • FAO Schwartz
  • Bloomingdale’s
  • Tiffany & Co.

Leave your Comment

image thumb2 Seaport Village San Diego

The Seaport Village of San Diego combines the best of waterfront shopping, dining, and overall family entertainment.  While the Marina Park is here as well, nearby is the small but popular San Diego public park.

In Seaport Village you’ll find 14 acres of pleasure with more than 75 shops and galleries, restaurants, and eateries on the sidewalk.  Even though the area is primarily targeted towards visitors, locals get the best of the best with the restaurants and their out of town company.

The San Diego Pier Cafe is also here, which is one of the best known restaurants in the area.  Located on the bay, the cafe provides seafood with breathtaking views.

The Seaport village provides a great place to view Coronado and the Coronado Bridge, as it overlooks the harbor.  Just a short stroll from the village, you have the San Diego Convention Center, Petco Park, and the Gaslamp Quarter.

Providing plenty to do and plenty of things to see nearby, Seaport Village has it all going on.  A visit here is unlike any other, as the city of San Diego will always have something unique to offer you and your entire family.

Leave your Comment

image thumb1 San Diego La Jolla Caves

Along with the beaches La Jolla gives the San Diego area, it also has some very nice caves.  The caves of La Jolla are great for tours, exploring, or anyone wanting to see the best of La Jolla.

Carved into the sandstone cliffs of La Jolla, there are seven caves.  Most of the time, you can visit any seven of these caves by sea kayak.  Although all but one are accessible by foot, you should be very carefully when minus tides sweep the area.

The Sunny Jim Cave is one of the most popular and well known caves of La Jolla.  You can enter through the Cave Store by paying a small fee.  There are 145 steep steps to get through the cave, which is great for exploring and seeing the area.

The cave store can tell you many things about the caves, including tours.  If you plan to visit the La Jolla area of San Diego, the caves can be a great place to explore.  Those of you who have kids coming along for the trip, should remember to be very careful – as the caves provide a lot of beauty – they can also provide a lot of danger as well.

Leave your Comment

Referred to as many as being the only area in the United States with perfect weather, San Diego remains the oldest port on the West Coast.  Complete with a well known Naval Base and a high level of tourism, this breathtaking city continues to dominate the economy.

Aside from offering high mountains, deserts, and over 70 miles of the world’s most renowned beaches, San Diego also offers other great attractions such as Sea World, the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park.

For art lovers, there are many different museums and even the Shakespearean play at the Old Globe Theater. Throw in the fact that San Diego has more championship golf courses than any other area in the world, and you have a city ready for anyone’s imagination.

As a tourist city or a place to call home, San Diego is one place you should at least visit.  The night life here rivals that of Las Vegas, giving you something for everyone in the family.  Young or old – San Diego is the one city that you’ll never find boring.

Leave your Comment