The Hollywood Sign

The Hollywood Sign

Perched high atop Mount Lee, the tallest peak in Los Angeles, lies the very famous Hollywood Sign. It is an attraction that literally shouts to the world the word “Hollywood.”

The sign is said to measure 450 feet long, its mammoth letters are 45 feet high, and it's visible from all parts of Hollywood. It was erected on 1923 as an ad sign for real estate development in Beachwood Canyon, the Sign originally read "Hollywoodland." The last four letters were removed in 1945, after Hollywood had become the world's movie capital. The Sign had already become a well-known landmark. To note one event on 1932, during the Great Depression, one despondent young actress, Peg Entwistle, even jumped to her death from the Sign's giant letter "H."

The original sign contained thousands of light bulbs, which were changed daily by a caretaker who lived in a small house behind one of the Sign's giant "L's."And in the 1998 Disney remake of "Mighty Joe Young," the over sized ape climbs the Hollywood Sign and perches in one of its giant letter "O."

There is no easy way to reach the Sign itself, which is located atop an undeveloped hillside, far from roads. And if you did manage to reach the area, you would discover that the Sign has been fenced in to keep out the curious, and that a new high-tech alarm system has recently been installed. So all you have to do is to look at it.

The best way to see the Hollywood Sign is to drive up Beachwood Drive (north of Hollywood Boulevard). The Sign is clearly visible most the way up Beachwood, although the hills begin to obscure the view of the Sign near the top of the drive.

Here's a tip for you to follow to get more close and a good view of the Hollywood Sign:

The Hollywood Sign is located atop Mount Lee, in the Hollywood Hills, northeast of downtown Hollywood. For the best view, take Beachwood Drive north up into the hills. To reach Beachwood Drive from Hollywood & Vine, take Hollywood Boulevard east (a quarter mile), to Gower Street. Turn left (north) up Gower (three blocks, under the freeway) to Franklin Avenue. Turn right (east) on Franklin, then immediately turn left (north) up Beachwood Drive, into the hills. It's a long, twisting drive. To reach Beachwood Drive from the Hollywood (101) Freeway, take the Gower Street exit, then turn right (north) up Beachwood Drive.
The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon, with its mile-high, multicolored rock walls, craggy cliffs, and sandy slopes, is the embodiment of nature's awesome power and surpassing beauty. The Grand Canyon , carved by the Colorado River in the United States, one of the world's premier natural attractions is a great place to take pictures.

For many, the breathtaking expansive views, colorful buttes, and hidden depths of the Grand Canyon stand as an icon of the American West and the national park system. Be sure to take the time to watch the play of light and shadows across this amazing wonder. Wander along a trail and feel the sunshine and breeze on your face. Why not attend a park ranger program?

Follow the amusing antics of the ravens and condors soaring high above the rim. Savor a beautiful sunrise or tranquil sunset. This fall the park looks forward to the completion of the Hermit Road reconstruction project. Since last spring the contractor has been repaving the roadway, improving the pullouts and shuttle bus stops, and developing a new segment of the hiking and bicycling Greenway Trail. Simultaneously, the National Park Service crews have been working on the Rim Trail. They anticipate reopening the Hermit Road to all traffic sometime in November. Check with the Visitor Center or with a park ranger for the date.

President Theodore Roosevelt stood on the Grand Canyon South Rim more than 100 years ago and implored the assembled crowd to “Keep this great wonder of nature as it now is . . . Keep it for your children and your children’s children and for all who come after you, as one of the great sights which every American, if he can travel at all, should see.”

Today the Grand Canyon South Rim National Park welcomes travelers from all over the world to this great wonder. As one of the great tourist spots in the world, The Grand Canyon have prevailed it's greatness and sense of being a tourist haven.

The Grand Canyon is one of the greatest places that is considered to be a MUST-SEE!
The Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty

It stands on a small island in the middle of the New York City harbor and was designed by Sculptor Frederick Auguste Bertholdi. The Statue of Liberty is said to be a gift of international friendship from the people of France in commemoration of the USA centennial anniversary in 1876.

The 151-feet (46-meters) tall monument stands atop a granite pedestal above the walls of a star shaped abutment. It was not completed and dedicated until October 28 1886. It was designated a National Monument on October 15, 1924. The Statue of Liberty has become one of the most universal symbols of Freedom and Democracy.

The statue is much more impressive when you are standing at its feet looking up. It is worth taking the ferry to Liberty Island just for this view. You cannot enter the statue itself, but you can tour the promenade at the base of the statue and you can enter the observatory inside the base and look up into the inner structure of the statue. To get to the Statue of Liberty, which resides on Liberty Island, you must take a ferry either from Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey or Battery Park in New York City. If you plan on visiting Liberty Island, you should be aware that a visit on average is about three hours, if you take a tour.

Probably the most popular icon of New York City is the Statue Of Liberty. This may be because; it represents what this country is all about, freedom. Following the Empire State Building most tourists visit Statue Of Liberty.

The Island provides plenty of area for picnics and small family gatherings and even a Junior Ranger program available for children. The observatory all the way on top of the Statue is closed to the public, due to security reasons. Admission to Liberty Island and all it has to offer is quite inexpensive. Adults pay $11.50, Senior Citizens $9.50, Children $4.50 and Children under 3 years of age gain free admission. Liberty Island opens at 8:30 am and the last ferry leaves its dock at 6:30 pm.

Truly, the Statue of Liberty have not only became a universal symbol of freedom and democracy, it has as well built to attract tourists!
Mount Rushmore: A Sculpture Embodying The First 150 Years Of The United State's History

Mount Rushmore: A Sculpture Embodying The First 150 Years Of The United State's History

Mount Rushmore (also known as the Mount Rushmore National Memorial) is a grand sculpture located in the United States Presidential Memorial. It was established on March 3, 1925. Made by the famous American artist and sculptor Gutzon de la Mothe Borglum along with 400 other workers between October 4, 1927 and October 31, 1941, this granite sculpture symbolizes the first 150 years of the United States of America's history. This great historical landmark is located in Pennington County near Keystone, South Dakota, and it encompasses 1,278.45 acres and is measured at 5,725 feet above sea level.

The idea of this monument was conceived by South Dakota's state historian Jonah LeRoy “Doane” Robinson in 1923, and was the one who convinced

Borglum to accomplish it. Being an enormous 60-foot sculpture, Mount Rushmore shows the carvings of the heads of four former presidents of the United States, namely George Washington (1732 to 1799), Thomas Jefferson (1743 to 1826), Theodore Roosevelt (1858 to 1919) and Abraham Lincoln (1809 to 1965). These presidents were chosen by the sculptor due to their great role in upholding the Republic, as well as for the expansion of its domains.

The Mount Rushmore National Memorial is currently managed by the National Park Service (or NPS), a United States federal agency. Inside the memorial is the Lincoln Borglum Museum, which has two theaters showing a 13-minute movie regarding the monument. With tourism being the second largest industry of South Dakota, the landmark serves as the state's primary tourist attraction. It also serves as the home for the Rushmore Music Camp's last concerts, as well as attracting a great number of spectators of the annual American motorcycle rally known as the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally held every August. This great memorial is visited by millions of people every year.
Gateway Arch in St. Louis Missouri

Gateway Arch in St. Louis Missouri

If you are looking for a peaceful, modest city combined with historic charm and elegance, the best place to visit is St. Louis, Missouri. In this place, the Gateway Arch was built as a tribute to the city's history as the “gateway to the West”. It was Ero Saarimen, who designed this world's tallest national monument measuring up to 630 feet high and 630 feet wide at its base.

Visitors can locate the Gateway Arch standing on the bank of Mississippi. It comes with stainless steel that reflects the colors and light of the city skyline and the river. It takes almost 40 plus powerful floodlights wonderfully light up this famous landmark. Thus, it is the best idea to explore this landmark during at night.

This Gateway Arch was finished after two years of construction to honor President Thomas Jefferson for his westward expansion and his vision of a continental United States. It is one of a number of sites that is located on the grounds of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. It is a 91 acre park that also includes the Old Courthouse, which decided the Dred Scot case in 1857 as well as the Museum of Westward Expansion. The park's location is near the starting point of the Lewis and Clark Expedition which led to the nickname “Gateway to the West”.

Try to imagine you are up in the arch to look for different views, maybe it's totally scary for those who have fear of heights and have been claustrophobic. Don't worry! It has a foundation anchored 60 feet underground, so it is safe to ride to a unique transport system leading to an observation deck at the top at the same time it also contains two emergency stairwells just like a ferris wheel. And this could be a challenge for all even to those who have fear with heights.

If you have tried riding on a ferris wheel? It feels like riding on it while wind blows on you. But of course, once you get there and witness the breathtaking view of St. Louis and the Mississippi River, you will forget your fears and want to stay longer. Though it is quite strange ride, but many people agreed that it is a worthy ride.

Moreover, this Arch is near of the grounds of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. Visitors can enjoy both the north and south queue. In the north queue guests can enjoy the different display that interprets design and construction of the Gateway Arch while on the south queue area includes displays about St. Louis riverfront during the mid -19th century.
Eight Best-not-Forgotten Tourist Attractions in United States of America

Eight Best-not-Forgotten Tourist Attractions in United States of America

USA, this is the land of the free and the home of the brave. This is also the home of the most powerful icons both in the entertainment and sports industry such as Bill Gates, Oprah, Michael Jordan, Pete Sampras and Serena Williams. But there’s more to that, the USA is also the homeland of great tourist attractions in the world.

For the record, USA covers a vast land area of 9.6 million square meters and this only means, numerous attractions are spread everywhere. Let’s start with…

The Empire State Building

Who doesn’t want to be at the top of this second tallest skycraper in the country? This empire has eighty-six floors all in all and once you’re on top, you can immediately feel the breathtaking look-over scene of the NYC. There’s no need for you doubt, NYC has became one of the popular cities in the world because of the empire state. This empire is a must-see and being here is surely a grand experience you can never forget.

The Grand Canyon

This majestic valley that stands nearly over seven thousand feet and whatever season it may be, winter, spring summer or fall, the Grand Canyon is the place for mouth-watering adventures. Here, you can hike, raft, bike, fly-tour, star-gaze, sky-dive, and more. In fact, there are two ways to approach the longest canyon in Arizona. You can take the remote areas of the North Rim (Average Elevation is 8000 feet) or be with the crowd on the South Rim (Average Elevation is 7000 feet). Temperature here changes all the time and it might be a good idea if you consider visiting the canyon at its best climate hours. For tourist stops and reservation, you can contact a number of companies near the Grand Canyon such as the Grand Canyon Tours or Discovery Treks.

Walt Disney World

Apart from its awesome beach resorts, Florida is also known as the home of the Walt Disney World. Visiting Disney World is like having the fantasy island you always dreamed of. Fun, entertainment, thrill, excitement, these are all here. The Magic Kingdom is the one to explore as this is the core landmarks of Cinderella’s Castle. Are you for technological innovation? Go to Epcot. The Epcot is the educational park of the Disney Empire where numerous cultural seeds are realized. There’s also the Disney’s Hollywood Studios where you see the attractive themes in television and movies and the Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Two waterparks are also around the corner: Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach.

Traveling to Disney World does not require too much planning. You can get there by foot, by bus, by monorail, by boat and by car. In fact, all transits are wheelchair-accessible and absolutely free of charge.

Niagra Falls

The Niagra Falls is a huge waterfall found within the borders of Canada and New York. It’s reported that Niagra Falls is divided into three sections: the Canadian, the American and the Horseshoe Falls. Whichever view you are in, it might still be the best to see all three sections to experience the breathtaking scene. Traveling here is easy. You may want to take charter flights from the Niagra Falls International Airport.

Yellowstone National Park

This is one of the oldest national parks in the world which is situated in northwest Wyoming and extends in Idaho and Montana. Various geothermal features such as hot springs, glaciers and mud spots are found here and the largest will be the grand geyser, which emit boiling water 150 feet in the air. Yelowstone is also the home of the temperate zones in the ecosystems. Within its borders, you will see several wild animals such as grizzly bears, elks, deers and etc

Apart from the never-ending adventure you can have inside this 8,987 km² historical park, temperature drops to freezing cold most of the time and it is advisable to wear warm clothings even during the summer. Transportation may go rowdy sometimes and you might need to book a private vehicle to get inside the park peacefully.

Golden Gate Park

San Francisco is known for its diversified cultures. Lots of memorable museums and mountain ranges are here and it’s not enough to explore just one place. But the one you don’t want to miss out while in San Francisco is the Golden Gate Recreation Park. This hub is referred to as the largest urban park in the world and the home of the most awesome attractions you can’t deny want to see. These include flower museum, classic-art museum, Japanese tea garden, polo field and more fine dining restaurants.

Mesa Verde Nation Park

Amazing parks are all over the country that’s why; most of them made it on my best eight list and of course, the Mesa Verde National Park at Colorado is not forgotten. With its well-reserved cliffs dwellings and desert landscapes, this is synonymous to temple of a four-season park. Some services are only available during April till October while the places like Chapin Mesa, Spruce Tree Terrace and Spruce Tree House are opened all-year round.

The Arthur Ashe Stadium

Are you a tennis enthusiast? Even if you’re not, going around the city of New York without dropping by at Flushing Meadows – Corona Park seems useless. Named after the African-American tennis player, the Arthur Ashe Stadium is the largest outdoor tennis venue in the world, which covers 24,000-seats and has a deco-turf concrete surface. Including its brother stadiums and other sidecourts, the whole stadium can accommodate more twenty thousand people and other special features such as ninety luxury suites, five restaurants and lounges for professional tennis players. Watching tennis matches here every August can really be a rewarding experience, especially if you see your bets are winning.