Bents Old Fort is a reconstruction of a 1840s trading post.   Now under the watchful eye of the National Parks Service, the original adobe fort was one of the few white settlements on the Sante Fe trail west of Missouri. 

Although the Fort may not be worth a detour to many people, if you are in the area, and have any interest in 19^th century US frontier history, Bents Old Fort not only shows the physical layout of how such an establishment was run, but also gives a good indication of the kind of natural elements the people who managed and traded at the fort lived with.  With summer temperatures that can go above 100 F, and winter ones that can drop to 0 F during the day, the very brief quarter of a mile walk down the path from the arrivals area, to the fort gates, is a good indicator of how tough people had to be to cope with weather extremes.  Read more »

When you first arrive in this city, you could be forgiven for not realizing that this is actually the state capital of Illinois – it lacks the hustle and bustle usually associated with most state capitals, and certainly lacks the energy of Illinois’s most famous city, Chicago.  However, the gentle sereneness of Springfield are in keeping with its history, for this is Lincoln’s town.  He was part of the group of people responsible for making Springfield the state capital, and this is his final resting place.

Apart from the limestone built capitol building from where Abraham Lincoln gave his “House Divided” speech, there’s also a Lincoln Home Visitors Center which shows a short movie on the Springfield that Lincoln loved, and where you can obtain free tickets to take a walk around the restored Lincoln home on 8^th and Jackson Street.  As a visual lesson in how people lived “back then” the home is an interesting place to visit. 

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Zion National Park in Utah, is a naturalist’s dream.  Containing some 290 or so species of distinct animals it is an amazing place of sandstone red and deer tan contrasts sharply against the coniferous trees, cottonwood, Cacti, and willow.  Its a diverse, and unique area of the world with an abundance of plant and animal diversity.

The plant and animal life in the park is partially due to the diverse merging distinctly different areas – the Great Basin, the Mojave desert, and the Colorado Plateau, its filled with close to 300 bird species, 20 types of bat, more than 30 reptiles and seventy five different mammals, including the Mountain Lion, The Golden Eagle and the recently reintroduced California Condors.

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Yosemite National Park is one of the most beautiful natural parks in the United States.  With its abundance of diverse sights, from the impressive granite cliffs, to the spectacular waterfalls, there’s nature at her best everywhere you look. 

One of the best known must see features of Yosemite National Park is Glacier Point.  This isn’t open year round, but usually between June and November you can guarantee access up to enjoy the magnificent views from the top.  There are many waterfalls in the park, with Yosemite Falls being the highest at just under 2,500 feet.  The best time to see the waterfalls is early summer.  Whilst some of the falls are easily accessible; others take more time and effort in order to be able to appreciate their beauty. 

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If you are heading out of the cold and down towards the warmth of Florida over the holiday season, you may well need to hire a car to get around this magnificent state. 

Discount Florida car Rentals is a site that provides exactly what it says it does.. great car rental in Florida at a discount price.  You canhire a car for as low as $32 a day! (Or only $141 for the week.. a great bargain!)  Of course the site offers the luxury end of the car rental market as well.. with the Chrysler 300 for only $48 a day.  At these prices you can get a much nicer car than the one your drive at home… 

For the gadget freaks, or the simply navigationally challenged of us out there like me, you can hire a top of the line Garmin Streetpilot GPs for only $11.99 a day.. what more could you want from car rental in Florida?

So get-away in style, on a budget, with Discount Florida Car Rentals!

For anyone who is enthusiastic or curious about space travel, past and present, a trip to the Kennedy Space Center a little west of Orlando will be a day out not to be forgotten.  This isn’t going to be a cheap day out, so make sure you check out in advance the current entrance fees plus any additional budget requirements for additional rides, etc just before you make your trip.  Another thing to check in advance is the space shuttle launching schedule – what greater day could there be to go the space center then on a day you will see a shuttle actually take off?  Of course, all shuttle schedules are subject to change so even if you arrange your trip to coincide with a scheduled take-off, it’s not necessarily going to happen.

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Going on a vacation is something all of us should look forward to.  Sometimes we tend to forget that it is not easy to plan for a vacation.  When you are looking to have an enjoyable time in places like South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and other must visit places in the United States the best thing to do so spare some time to prepare for the upcoming vacation. 

The first thing to worry when you are on a vacation is the place to stay.  You do not need to get a first class accommodation because you are spending most of your time touring around the place.  Lodging in South Carolina as well as other locations should be the best option to take.  Lodging is a lot cheaper than getting first class hotels and you can still get excellent accommodation.  Finding affordable lodging on the internet is easy you can try lodginghunt.com. 

Lodginghunt.com is a simple and useful lodging directory website that will put you accommodation worries aside.  You can find North Carolina Lodging, Georgia Lodging and just about any vacation spot in the US.  Just do a quick search then all you have to do is choose an accommodation and you’re off to an unforgettable vacation experience. 

Anyone familiar with the American Civil War will be aware of the part that Gettysburg played, and the amount of lives that were lost during the historic 3 day battle that took place there in July 1863.  The area was the later that year to be the scene of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.   Although the final outcome of the battle at Gettysburg was a Union victory, the amount of fallen soldiers who lie in the Union burial site at Gettysburg National Cemetary (actually located on Cemetery Hill) is evidence that victory came at a high human cost to both sides.  

Today the Gettysburg National Military Park is a silent witness to the military strategies, human heroism, and the loss of life sustained during its history.  You should start your visit with a walk around the visitors center, even if you are familiar with the events of the battle, as it will help you to orientate yourself “on the ground”.  You can take advantage of joining a guided tour around the park, or pick up a map for a self-guided auto tour.  A film in the Cycloarma Center will also help with your orientation to the area before you set off exploring.  The Cyclorarma Center also shows other educational films as well as displaying civil war exhibits so you may like to spend time back here once you’ve taken your drive around the park, if not before. 

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In a city where there’s so much to see, you need to plan your visit carefully to make the most of the time you have available.  If you have any interest in flight and/or space travel, then one of the must do items on your Washington DC itinerary is a visit to the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.  Even those with little more than a passing interest will find themselves caught up in the magic of space travel when they come face to face with aircraft that have actually been into space or are able to touch a rock that once belonged on the moon. 

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Divided between two states, with Colorado having the majority holding, Dinosaur National Monument is a “must see” park for anyone interested in Dinosaurs, and especially any family with a budding paleontologist in their midst. 

Before entering Dinosaur National Monument, remember that you are in a desert area and stock up accordingly!  Although you may be able to purchase refreshments within the park, this isn’t a theme park and so there may be quite a drive between the visitor centers.  Also ensure that everyone in your party has a hat and that you leave an itinerary of where you intend to be exploring in the park with someone who will raise an alert if you don’t return by nightfall.  Also observe all safety recommendations that are posted by the park personnel.   This is especially important if you intend to be hiking in the park.

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