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The radical sense of the tropics that some tourists look for, and hope for, can certainly be found on Sentosa Island. This island getaway is not only a major attraction for travelers from all over the world, it’s also a favorite spot for people who live in Singapore. It offers a wonderful break from the fast pace that the urban life there offers, and there are plenty of excellent attractions to choose from. If theme park with rides of every imaginable kind become too much, there’s always the beaches, and they are spectacular. They might inspire one to start building sandcastles, and that can make for some lovely afternoons.

The dream of building the largest sandcastle in the world doesn’t have to end with childhood either. And truthfully, the parents usually get into it more than the kids do, anyway, especially when it becomes clear that the good ones take time and patience, and perhaps even the eyes and hands of an artist. Most people who come to stay at the Sentosa Island hotels don’t have designs on making a living at it, but there are people all over the world that do. One of them is a native of Singapore, JOOheng Ten .

He got his big break in 1999, after doing it as a hobby for a few years. He’s been at the sand sculpture event of the year, Sandsation , a number of times, and his Shifting Sand exhibition moved here in March of 2010. He now has his own organization, Sandworkz , and a number of rather stunning achievements for an artist of 40 years of age. The work is complex, and enormously bold, and plays on the transitory nature of sand. It works as a metaphor in many of his works, but it always works as a lovely medium. The large and small sculptures are like mirrors of this world, evoking a sense of elsewhereness that is delightfully fragile and present all at once.

While the island of Corsica in the Mediterranean Sea is well known for being the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, it is also the birthplace notable individuals. French singer Alizee Jacotey is a contemporary singer and performer who also hails from this beautiful island. She was born in 1984 and was discovered early in her life after having preformed at a talent show. This occurred in 1999 and the following year Alizee made her official entry into the music business and has become one of the leading performers in France and beyond. People who visit the island would be looking to find one of her performances and the hotels in Corsica will have information on if and when she and other major performers will be on the island.

Since she launched her career, while still in her mid teens, Alizee has completed three studio albums and shows no signs of slowing down. Her early training and talent exposure occurred while studied at one of the island’s most prominent dance schools, Ecole du Spectacle de Monique Mufraggi . She remained at the renown school until she was 15 and at that point she had already begun to receive strong recognition and support for her talent. Interestingly, in 1999 she had originally intended to enter the talent competition Graines de Star as a dancer, but found out they only had group categories. So, she switched to vocal performance and was discovered by Mylene Farmer.

The island of Corsica is extremely supportive of the arts and creative expression forms. It is known for the tremendous beauty of its beaches and regional geography and this inspires a sense of creativity in many of residents. This also happens with tourists who stay on the island and more than one guest has been inclined to write a poem or song while staying there. It is also a popular retreat for creative individuals such as writers and painters, all of whom find great inspiration in the landscape and views of the Mediterranean Sea, while enjoying a sense of peace and harmony in the paradise setting of the island.

Most visitors to New York tend to visit the better known art museums like the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Musuem of Art, or the Museum of Natural History, but there’s one museum that shouldn’t be missed, The Jewish Museum, which is one of the world’s most important institutions, located at 1109 Fifth Avenue and 92nd Street. The museum was originally the residence of Frieda Schiff Warburg. A sculpture court was installed alongside the Mansion and the Albert A. List Building was added in 1963 providing additional exhibitions and programs. In 1989, another expansion took place which doubled the Museum’s gallery space. This location, which is along New York’s Museum Mile is convenient to many hotels located on the same street along side elegant residential homes.

The Jewish Museum besides the continual presentsof large temporary exhibitions with an interdisciplinary nature like employing a mixture of art and artifacts interpreting through a looking glass of social history that allows one to explore the important ideas and topics, has a distinguished collection and has developed the concept to preserve, study and interpret Jewish cultural history with the use of authentic art and artifacts. The permanent collection, which has continually grown, includes sculptures, paintings, photographs, works on paper, archaeological artifacts, ethnographic material, ceremonial objects, numismatics and broadcast media materials; this collection of well over 26,000 objects is considered the largest and most important of its kind in the entire world.

Ever since it’s inception in 1904, The Jewish Museum has illuminated the Jewish experience, demonstrating both religious and secular strength of the Jewish community and their culture. It’s truly an unmatched collection with unique exhibitions that offers a wide range of opportunities to explore multiple aspects of the past to the present day. Not only is it a great educational venue for today and future generations, it’s also an inspirational testament to the people of any culture and beliefs.

If you’ve arrived in the Land of Oz by way of Kansas, you might be asked to follow the yellow-brick road; however, if you find yourself touching down in Boston, chances are good you’ll want to walk along a red-brick road instead.

The red-brick path is a walking trail known as the Freedom Trail, a place to learn about the American Revolution in a way you’ll find in no other city. The Freedom Trail leads visitors along 2.5 miles of red brick to sixteen historic sites, which were preserved by Boston’s citizens 52 years ago in 1958. The trail consists of churches and museums, cemeteries and meeting houses, parks, historic markers, and even a ship, all revealing what happened during the American Revolution in the 1700s.

Once you’ve checked into one of the great rooms available in Boston , you can take a stroll on the Freedom Trail and see the places where history shaped and formed the United States. Begin with The Boston Common, which is the oldest park in America, and originated in 1634, only four years after the city itself was established.

Move on to the State House, one of the oldest buildings on Beacon Hill. Then go by the Park Street Church, one of the spots where slavery was first protested, and the Granary Burying Ground, a cemetery that contains the remains both of John Hancock and Paul Revere, among many other notable people of the Revolution.

As you continue along the path, you’ll find the King’s Chapel and the King’s Chapel Burying Ground, a statue of Benjamin Franklin and the Boston Latin School, the Old Corner Book Store, the Old South Meeting House, and the Site of the Boston Massacre. You’ll find Faneuil Hall, where Americans first protested the Sugar Act and the Stamp Act, the first place where the idea of no taxation without representation arose. You’ll also find on this trail Paul Revere’s House, the Old North Church, Copp’s Hill Burying Ground and the Bunker Hill Monument. Finally, you’ll discover the USS Constitution, which is the oldest warship (that was commissioned) that’s still floating in the world.

While there are only 2.5 miles of the Freedom trail, it’s a path that may take you a few days to properly explore as you investigate America in the 18th Century.

If you don’t know how to surf or sail boat or even water ski or scuba dive when you arrive in Miami, Florida, that doesn’t mean you can’t do all of those things and in fact be pretty good at them by the time you live. It is frequently a nice surprise and sometimes even a relief when the guests in some of Miami’s finest hotels find out the number of excellent water sports and marine recreational training programs and educational facilities exist in the city. Of course there are also those who go specifically to Miami to learn one or more of the above-mentioned sports because the city is known for its great training programs.

There are plenty of great surfing schools and pro gear shops in Miami and SOBE Surf is one of them. They provide quality training and practice opportunities for children and adults and have classes and instruction for all skill levels. Whether you’re comfortable with the paddle surf or want stand up on the board, there is a class for you and a patient and supportive instructor to help you get where you want to be. The company reports to having the most qualified teachers and this makes all the difference in trying to learn to surf as well as some of the other water sports.

Miami Scuba Ventures is the leading South Florida provider of private and semi-private instruction for scuba certification. One people learn to scuba dive an entirely new world is opened up to them and this frequently changes their outlook on many aspects of life and their world. There is an amazing amount of beauty and life found under the water and exploring it becomes an obsession for many people. This is one of the reasons why quality training and certification is so important because it is essential to know what your doing under there and be able to deal with various situations as they rise. Solid skills also contribute to sense of confidence, which enhances a diver’s underwater experience.

It may seem like nothing existed in the Las Vegas Valley before Las Vegas became the Entertainment Capital of the World and one of the most popular destinations for adults, but the valley has been inhabited for hundreds of years, with the Paiute Native American population, then with Spanish explorers, who utilized the area’s water as they headed from Texas to the West Coast along the Old Spanish Trail.

In May of 1855, Bringham Young asked William Bringhurst and thirty missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to head into the area in order to convert the native population. While the Mormons left Las Vegas in 1857, they left behind an adobe fort known as the Old Fort, which may be seen today in the Old Las Vegas Mormon State Historic Park .

Often people find their way to any number of hotel suites. Las Vegas , though, offers more in its historic landmarks, such as this interesting park. The Old Fort was built along the Las Vegas Creek in 1855, and the Mormons settled and farmed the land using water from the creek. Remnants of the fort still remain and now acts as a Visitor Center with various displays regarding the site’s history, including various artifacts from that time period. In fact, there is now a full-sized replica of the original fort (including the last standing wall from the original fort), as well as a Pioneer Garden. The entire aim of the park is to investigate the history of the area. Visitors will find the park open from Monday to Saturday, from eight in the morning to four thirty in the afternoon.

If you like the idea of coming to Las Vegas and exploring a little bit of its history and natural world, in addition to the Vegas Strip and casinos, then you might also be interested in taking a look at Mt. Charleston, which offers miles of trails for biking and hiking, located just thirty miles outside of town. Pine forests here provide excellent spots for picnicking, and you can ski in the winter and ride on horseback in the summer months.

When spending time in the city of Miami Florida it is all about the water. There is something special about walking along a sandy boardwalk in some cool shorts or a bikini watching all the people enjoying themselves in the sun. It is such a freeing feeling to leave the suit and tie on the hotel floor and let the sun and wind breeze over ones skin. It makes most people want to toss the crazy stressful job and move onto the beach and rent wind surf boards. Ok, so that may take it a bit far but I am sure many have dreamed about it. Just getting to vacation in such a fun environment may have to be enough. So make it great.  

How about renting something. How about renting a boat and taking the family out for some waterskiing. Or maybe a Hobie Cat would be the rental for a day of sailing. Rent a wave runner and take on your buddy in a water race. There is also the option of chartering an adventure. This is fun because you get the local guide to share the history of the area and show you the hot spots for seeing things like dolphin swimming. They can take visitors out for some deep sea fishing or into the near by Biscayne Bay and Florida Key for some fly fishing.  

Getting into the water is also fun with some snorkeling right off the beach. A more intense version of this is scuba diving. There are some great dives with 10 man made reefs near the city beaches. Check out South Beach Divers as a possible scuba connection. One can also check with their miami hotel suites concierge for more information on were to go for the water sport fun. There are plenty more ways to enjoy the beach and the ocean so have a great trip.

Being in the city is as exciting as being part of a song, and there’s so much to Atlantic City that is worthy of music. It’s a spectacular place, where there are splendid attractions and adventures waiting for you at every turn, and there’s always a sense that more is on the way. There’s always excellent hotels to make the stay perfectly stylish, and have you humming along to your own heartbeat, which is faster here.

It’s an exciting place, and it has an exciting present that is matched by its history. There are plenty of ways to explore, but taking a historical tour is probably one of the more interesting, as far as history lovers might be concerned.

Most of the visitors here are from all ages, meaning that there are lots of diverse tastes and opinions, and all of them have something to offer here. There are probably a large number, however, out of the young as well as the old, who have been aware of its history as a place where people come to have adventures.

It’s also been a place of adventure for a long time, where the first official resident here, Jeremiah Leeds , has family in the U.S. since 1696, but the Native peoples had been here for a couple hundred generations prior to that.

It’s possible to learn more about the history of Leeds in the Galloway Township close by, where he and many members of his family are buried. These are interesting treasures that fill in some of the gaps between now and then, and there are plenty of others to be filled. You’ll find your own rhythm here, and discover ways to make your own history as you did into the present in Atlantic City.

One of the biggest mistakes a prospective visitor to Missouri can make is to believe, site unseen, that Branson (in the southwestern part of the state) appeals to a limited segment of the population. The Branson area , 175 miles south of the Missouri state capital in Jefferson City, has something for virtually everyone! What’s your pleasure –live entertainment, fine dining, shopping, or great options in rooms ? Or, would you prefer the outdoorsy stuff like camping, hiking, horseback riding, biking, boating and water sports? Golf anyone? It’s here. For those with a penchant for history, you may choose a visit to Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield , a major Civil War site that is virtually unchanged since the terrible conflict in August 1861.

The area is replete with national forest units, wilderness areas, state parks, and miles of placid lakes and waterways, large and small. There are endless vistas and tranquil places that offer either interactive fun with family and friends or moments of solitude to recharge your appreciation of nature. But, for activity in the world of performance entertainment, there is nothing like the variety of venues in Branson. Take your choice of stage shows that are land-based or partake in a dinner cruise. And, if you like a little “processed grape” with your meal, or want to see it from vine to wine, you can tour the local vineyards.

The stage shows are perhaps the best-known feature of Branson. With around 50 theatres and more than 100 shows, this is a mecca for those who want an alternative to a trip to New York, Vegas or LA and still keep options open to enjoy fresh air in the great outdoors. From country to rock ‘n roll, the music just keeps on coming. Great names from stage and screen, recording, television, grace these stages year round. There is so much to see and do that you need not only to plan ahead, but also plan to stay awhile!

Visiting Singapore is always an adventure in embracing an idea of the world that is so much larger than previously imagined.  It even seems that, with subsequent visits, there must be one time in the near future when it will be possible to determine what the next trends might be, or what the next development in the art scene will look like.  But the truth about the future, when human beings, especially artists, are concerned, is about as predictable as love or money.  Every good fortune teller knows that they have to talk about these things, but they also know that they are more elusive than the phantasmal forms that sometimes help us to find them.

It has happened, and it keeps happening, being one of the premiers places for new and experimental art in the region.  These were very difficult shoes to fill, because being the artistic director means to be able to hold up in reputation to its founder, but also to be daring and innovative enough to take the reigns and move it in a way that the art community could admire.  It’s a tough task.  It certainly is a relief, then, to see Noor Effendy Ibrahim taking up the post.  This new director, a performance and visual artist of Indian background, seems to have not only the chops, but the drive, and certainly a sense of humor, and that might be the most important thing of all.