Posts Tagged ‘State’

State Plans to Close Fort Ontario Historic Site

State Plans to Close Fort Ontario Historic Site
BREAKING: New York State would close Fort Ontario and 54 other state parks and historic sites to save money, under a plan released today. The first Fort Ontario was built in Oswego in 1755.

Read more on Oswego County Today

NY Lists State Parks, Historic Sites Set To Close

NY Lists State Parks, Historic Sites Set To Close
More than a third of state parks and nearly a half of historic sites would be closed or have reduced services in the next fiscal year under a recommendation from parks officials to help combat New York’s $8.2 billion budget deficit. The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation said Friday it’s also proposing $4 million in fee increases. It didn’t specify which areas would be …

Read more on WCBS-TV New York

Travel California: Certainly the Golden State

California is a giant-sized wonderland of preserved wilderness, world-class cities, famous beaches, tantalizing cuisine and unparalleled wines. Be close to the action from any destination in California, whether it is Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego or Bakersfield! Travel within California is fantastically scenic and simple; with the largest network of state highways that bring all of the Golden Stateâ??s wonders to your car door, you can surf, ski and enjoy fine dining all in one dayâ?¦ but you might want to make it two or ten!

A California for Every Kind

California is the third largest state in the United States, as well as the most populous state in the country. Consequently, California attracts visitors for all kinds of reasons. National Parks such as Joshua Tree in the expansive Mojave Desert, Pinnacles National Monument in the Central Coast, and Ansel Adamâ??s famously photographed Yosemite are rocky havens for rock climbers and hikers alike. The Sierra Nevada mountain range to the east boasts Californiaâ??s premier ski resorts, including Mammoth Mountain and Lake Tahoe.

North of the easy-going Sacramento capital lies Californiaâ??s world-class wine region. Enjoy a trip through Napa Valley for some of the most exquisite restaurants and wine tastings the country has to offer. Lose yourself in quaint luxury at a Bed & Breakfast along the Carmel coast after spending a day at the Hearst Castle. Get star struck during a visit to Hollywood or wonder-struck at Southern Californiaâ??s Disneyland Resort and California Adventure theme parks, across the street from each other. Donâ??t forget to explore Californiaâ??s coastline with a trip to the historic Channel Islands or a whale watching expedition off of San Franciscoâ??s Pacific shores.

The Platinum State

When you book your airfare to California, you will soon discover why this massive and diverse region along the Pacific Ocean is more precious than gold. The 48 stateâ??s tallest peak resides in the Sierra Nevada region of California. Mt. Whitney welcomes thousands of climbers and hikers each year to its 14,505 feet of serene wilderness. Giant Sequoias, the largest living organism in the world, reside in Sequoia National Park and the tallest organisms on Earth, the California Redwood trees, grace the shores of Californiaâ??s rugged northern coastline. Californiaâ??s Death Valley is the largest National Park in the country as well as the hottest place on earth (in the summer) and the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere. Treat yourself to Death Valleyâ??s spectacular wildflower bloom in March and April.

California also offers one of the most superb collections of luxury resorts, celebrity chefs and nightlife. It is not surprising, considering the state is home to Americaâ??s entertainment, music and tech industries as well as one of the largest economies and ports in the world. Donâ??t wait another minute to book your airfare to California; you could be tanning on the beach or summiting a mountain tomorrow!

Wonderful Queensland – The Sunshine State

When a state is blessed with a warm, sunny climate, an abundance of beautiful scenery, and a coastline that is the envy of the world, it is hardly surprising that thousands come each year to visit. Indeed, many locals will tell you that Queensland, with its relaxed lifestyle and friendly atmosphere, is the best place in which to live, work, and retire.

This is a State full of extremes. In the far west the Simpson Desert, with its dunes and inhospitable gibber plains gives way to the Channel Country, an area laced with an intricate web of often dry streams that after heavy rain may spill to cover the land like a vast brown sea.

Eastern Queensland’s spine is the Great Dividing Range, a mighty barrier that separates the fertile coastal plain from the vast outback tracts extending to the State’s western border. Stretching from Cape York to the southern border and beyond, the Great Divide comprises a series of high mountains, tablelands, and low rolling hills. Here, rainforest gives way to eucalypt woodland, waterfalls fed by tropical rains tumble over rock faces and escarpments, and boulder-studded streams flow through deep gorges.

The coastline is another world. Washed by the brilliant blue waters of the Coral Sea, long sandy beaches fringed with tropical vegetation edge the shores, broken only by rocky headlands and mangrove forests. Lying off-shore is a multitude of islands and one of the world’s great natural wonders: the Great Barrier Reef.

The second largest State in Australia, Queensland covers an area of more than 1.7 million square kilometres in the north-east corner of the continent. The northern marine boundary, passing within a few kilometres of Papua New Guinea’s coastline, includes the 200-odd islands lying off Cape York Peninsula in the Torres Strait; to the east, it includes all the islands within the Great Barrier Reef.

Until 1859, Queensland was part of New South Wales. The first European settlement, a penal colony, was established at Moreton Bay in 1824 and soon afterwards was moved to the present site of Brisbane – the State’s capital city. By 1839 nearly all the convicts had been returned to Sydney and the district was opened to free settlers.

The Brisbane settlement grew slowly at first; when the area was proclaimed the Colony of Queensland in 1859 the population was 23,520. Today, the State has a population exceeding 4 million – of which nearly half live in the Brisbane-Ipswich urban area.

For the Aborigines – the original inhabitants of the land – many parts of Queensland are ritual grounds of sacred Dreamtime legends, and there are important traditional rock-art sites, particularly on Cape York Peninsula in the north. It was in this area that a race of hunters and gatherers came to the Australian continent some 40,000 years ago, coming in across the Torres Strait when it was dry land during the last ice age.

Just over half of the State lies between the Tropic of Capricorn and 10 degrees south of the Equator. Inland, the summers are hot, but on the coastal plain the temperatures are milder – with far higher humidity. Winters are much drier and delightfully warm, though in the far south, nights can be quite cold with frost appearing on higher ground. Snow falls occasionally in the highlands near the border around Stanthorpe and Wallangarra.

The rainy season falls between December and March-April, and it is during this time that the coast may be lashed by tropical cyclones. Rainfall varies enormously throughout the State, with the heaviest falls on the north-eastern slopes and coast-lands – Tully averages 4550 mm annually and has the reputation of being the wettest town in Australia. Whereas Birdsville in the far west only averages an annual 150 mm – and in drought it might not rain for years.

Agriculture is a major industry. Cattle and sheep graze on the grassy western plains, their drinking water supplied by a myriad bores that tap the vast store of underground water in the Great Artesian Basin. On the fertile tablelands of the Great Divide and the lush coastal plains farms grow a wide variety of produce from cotton to sugar cane, to peanuts, pineapples and a host of other tropical fruit and vegetables. The State is also rich in mineral deposits including bauxite, coal, oil, copper, silver, and gold. Indeed, the discovery of gold in the last century and the subsequent mining in the 1870s-80s did much to establish many of the coastal and inland centres throughout Queensland.

One of Queensland’s most important growth industries is tourism. Not only have overseas visitors discovered this favourable holiday destination, but Australians from other States now come in huge numbers. In winter, thousands flock to coastal caravan parks and holiday flats to exchange chilly southern days for delectably warm, sunny weather.

Apart from the lure of a warm climate, people return many times over to Queensland because there is just so much to do and see. Self-drive holidays are probably the most popular, but for those who do not wish to drive, there is a vast number of conducted tours to choose from. Accommodation ranges from remote bush camps to five-star luxury hotels with every type imaginable in between.

Wa State Campgrounds – Campers’ Paradise

The western coast of America is an enthralling and mysterious part of America which has both foreign and
domestic travelers wanting to spend time camping in the out doors. This is not surprising as the outdoors and
camping grounds in WA State are a great place to spend ones vacations in the summer. The landscapes in the
camping areas in WA State are of different types, you could choose to spend your time either in the forests, or deserts or on the beach. There are 120 parks in this state where campers could participate in many different
kinds of activities like rock climbing, windsurfing, boating, biking, hiking, during the summer, and
snowshoeing, snowmobiling and cross country skiing in the inter season.

How to go about selecting a camping spot
Before you decide on where to go for your camping trip you would have to do a bit of research and see which
would be a most suitable place for you to go camping. One way of doing this is to do some research on the
internet and see the various options you have to camp in Washington State. Another way is to talk to friends
who have already done a bit of camping and can give you good advice on this and could refer you to some great
outdoor camping spots.

Some attractive camping areas in WA State
Alta Lake State Park in WA State is one of the most interesting camping grounds. The 181 acre camping area has
the pine forest mountains touching the desert areas. Also during the summer fishing enthusiasts can go trout
fishing in the Lake. Apart from Lake Alta there is Lake Chelan which is just about 30 minutes away, so you have the option of enjoying activities related to the water in more than one place. However, open fires are not
permitted in this area because of the risk of fires in the forest area, but the campers could use gas stoves
for camping or barbecues on gas burners for making their meal while camping.

While camping at Alta Lake State Park, you could also enjoy a 2 mile walk on the hiking trails. Apart from this there are a lot of water sports and activities which you could participate in like water skiing, swimming,
fishing, boating, bird watching, sail boarding and also have a round of golf. You could also enjoy a family
picnic here because there are shelters where you could do your cooking and tables to sit around.

Camano Island State Park in WA State is one more interesting camping ground. The natural features here are the
beach and a six thousand foot rocky shoreline which this 134 acre camping area covers. The scenic beauty is
also breath taking and the view of the mountains nearby is quite enthralling. You can also if you want harvest
a lot of shell fish here. Here again you can indulge in many activities like crabbing, clamming, sail boarding,fishing, diving, boating, and also biking, or hiking around the camp area. This is a camp ground where you can stay on for weeks and not get bored because there is so much to do.

Attractions Of The State Of New York

The state of New York is home to many unique attractions. It is full of small towns, farmland and beautiful scenery scattered over 11 different regions.

The Central-Leatherstocking region of New York is rich in history and beautiful landscapes. Both the Farmers’ Museum in Cooperstown and the Baseball Hall of Fame are located there. You can learn the art and history of beer making on a tour of Saranac Brewery in Utica. For something completely different, you can visit Howe Caverns or Secret Caverns and see incredible underground stone formations. The world’s smallest church is in Oneida. Don’t miss the Cherry Valley Museum with its selection of 17th and 18th Century clothing.

The Adirondack region contains thousands of lakes, ponds, and hiking trails. You can hike along the Ausable Chasm or go fishing in the Ausable River. You can explore a remote wilderness area with a guide. You can also visit the Black River for rafting and Lake Champlain for swimming. Lake George features water sports, as well as the 36 foot tall statue of Uncle Sam.

The Chautauqua-Allegheny region has many well-preserved Victorian homes. You’ll also find in this area the Panama Rocks and the 1891 Fredonia Opera House. Jamestown is Lucille Ball’s hometown. It has a museum full of memories from her and Desi Arnaz’s life together.

The Capital-Saratoga region is noted for the historic Capitol in Albany, as well as covered bridges, woodlands, farms, or church steeples against a bright blue sky. In Albany you can see Nipper, the giant dog sculpture that is the trademark for RCA. You can visit Schenectady’s Stockade, a Dutch Village settled some 300 years ago.

Waterfalls, mountains, forests, and streams are all part of the Catskills region. Bethel, home of the 1969 Woodstock Music and Arts Festival, now host a variety of musical events each summer. There is also the world’s largest kaleidoscope, Catskill Game Farm, Zoom Flume Water Park and a number of European-style wineries.

The Finger Lakes offers the great outdoors, wonderful heritage tours, and unlimited opportunities to feed the mind, body and spirit. The George Eastman house and the Sciencenter are just two of the region’s attractions.

Everyone, especially honeymooners, has heard about Niagara Falls. Other attractions in the Greater Niagara region include Six Flags Darien Lake Theme Park, Letchworth State Park, and the Metrorail system in downtown Buffalo. You can also visit the Jell-O museum in LeRoy.

The Hudson River region features President Franklin Roosevelt’s estate in Hyde Park. Newburgh is the site of General George Washington’s headquarters. The restaurants in the area are legendary, as is Hudson Valley wine. The beauty of the region has inspired artists for hundreds of years, as well as such writers as Thomas Jefferson.

The Long Island region has 118 mile of beaches. At its eastern tip is the historic Montauk Lighthouse, commissioned by George Washington. You can camp nearby on the beach at Hither Hills State Park and get up early to watch the beautiful sunrise. The island is steeped maritime heritage and features national laboratory science museum and others, zoos, and working farms.

The Thousand Islands region features nearly 2,000 islands. There you can enjoy power boating, sailing, whitewater rafting, fishing, golfing, tennis and hiking. Boldt Castle is set on an island fashioned into the shape of a heart and is a monument to a real-life love story.

Knowing, Exploring… Indonesia, The World’s Largest Archipelago State

Unity in Diversity, the national motto of Indonesia, is a term that strikes deep into the heart of this dynamic and attractive Southeast Asian nation. Few places offer such cultural variety and geographical complexity as Indonesia, and no two journeys here are ever alike. 

Indonesia is composed of seventeen thousand islands that stretch over five thousand miles along the equator. The Malay Peninsula and Indochina are situated to the north-west, and the continent of Australia lies due south. Northward lies the Philippines and Micronesia.

The most populous of the Indonesian islands by far is Java, home to the sprawling capital city of Jakarta. Other notable islands include the exotic, popular resort island of Bali, Lombok, Bintan, Catholic Flores, Sumatra and Komodo, home of dragons.

Bali, the Heavenâ?¦

Bali is an island where art and religion mingle in the daily lives of people in a way unlike anywhere else on earth. Its culture overflows from its temples and into the streets, where artisans of every kind continue traditional methods of handicraft that have been passed down for generations.

The most famous of the many Balinese cultural traditions are its poetic and ornate dances, which employ a graceful and highly-sophisticated gestural language to narrate traditional stories and legends.

Bali’s natural beauty is as startling as its cultural riches. The beaches of Bali are world famous. Many are ideal for surfing, and plenty of offshore reefs create good scuba diving environments. The famous one are: Kuta Beach, Legian Beach, and Seminyak Beach. 

Sumatra, the Naturalâ?¦

Indonesia’s largest and least developed province, Sumatra rests along the equator, heavily forested and rich in rare wildlife. The island’s slow development has made it ideal for eco-tourism, and numerous large reserves and preservation areas have been set aside. Its most famous park, Mount Leuser National Park, is one of the last refuges of the Sumatra Orang-Utan.

Another distinguished park is the Berbak Wildlife Reserve, which has one of Indonesia’s largest tiger populations. In the far north of the island is Lake Toba, an enormous and extraordinarily beautiful crater lake.

A particularly enthralling adventure experience in Sumatra takes place on the Alas River, which winds itself across North Sumatra through jungle, limestone gorges, and native villages. The voyage begins in the Karo Highlands and culminates with the Indian Ocean: a descent ten times that of the Grand Canyon’s Colorado River.

Lombok, the Adventure Paradiseâ?¦

Lombok is the most popular destination in Nusa Tenaggara â?? a province in South Central Indonesia.  Visitors head here for both underwater and on-land exploration.

Situated east of Bali, it can be accessed by plane or boat. The island consists of virginal sandy beaches and a hilly terrain, fringed by mesmerizing azure shores, making it a favorite destination for trekking, surfing and beach lounging.

Lombok is paradise mixed with a dash of adventure and a hint of exoticism, blessed with majestic waterfalls and a volcano â?? Mount Rijani. â??Unspoiled Baliâ??, would be an apt description. 

Ultimately, Lombok is a place to chill. Popular with honeymooners, it offers a subdued alternative to the more mainstream Bali, while not compromising on beauty or comfort, just cost â?? itâ??s decidedly cheaper. Complete with quiet bays, white and grey sand beaches, a tranquil village style and half a dozen small islands, it retains an undiscovered tropical charm. 

Bintan, the Dream� 

Bintan Island is like a dream. With its pristine beaches and unspoiled natural beauty, it has everything you could ever wish for in a picture-perfect tropical holiday destination â?? and more. Virtually undiscovered until just a few years ago, this idyllic retreat has enjoyed a surge in popularity in recent years, particularly amongst Singaporeans who, due to the islandâ??s close proximity, have made it their preferred spur-of-the-moment getaway.

With a population of less than quarter of a million, the island has an interesting, eclectic mix of different cultures and ethnicities, including Malay, Bugis, Chinese and a unique tribe called the Orang Laut (sea nomads).

A trip to Bintanâ??s two main towns, Tanjung Pinang and Tanjung Uban, is a great way to learn more about the islandâ??s people and local culture. The islandâ??s highest mountain, Bintan Besar, almost 400m in height, is also the highest peak in the archipelago. 

Java/Jakarta, the Capital city

Java is often referred to as the heart of Indonesia. It is the historical center of Buddhist and Hindu culture and home to the nation’s sprawling capital city, Jakarta.

Java’s three main regions are simply East, Central, and West Java, and the island’s many roads and public transports make it easy to navigate.

Though Jakarta is the most visited destination in the west, it is best described as a mixture of Bangkok and New Delhi. There are also major natural attractions, such as Mount Gede-Pangrango National Park. In Central Java, the seat of major dynasties throughout Indonesian history, are the cultural wonders of the Prambanan temple complex and the magnificent Borobudur Temple. Central Java is also the home of Indonesia’s famous shadow puppet dances, or Wayans Kulit, and the craftwork center of Yogyakarta.

Finally, there is East Java, where travelers encounter some of the Indonesia’s most extraordinary national parks, including the wildly spectacular Bromo-Tengger.

 Feel like been there?!!!