Strawberries anyone?

STRAWBERRY production is flourishing in Chiba Prefecture,Japan home to more than 100 strawberry farms where visitors can enjoy "strawberry picking," which is quite popular with tourists.

Varieties of strawberry species are grown on many of the strawberry-picking farms, and visitors can enjoy eating the berries to compare their tastes. Notably, "CHI-BA+BERRY," a new strawberry variety that hit the stores in January 2017, is available only in Chiba Prefecture.

Chiba Prefecture sits about 40 kilometres southeast of the center of Tokyo on Tokyo Bay. There are many attractions making ii an interesting region to visit. The Chiba Urban Monorail, the longest suspended monorail in the world, Kasori Shell Midden, the largest shellmound in the world, Inage Beach, the first artificial beach in the nation and the Chiba City Zoological Park.

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For the Culture Vulture

CULTURE Attractions of Australia will provide a single point of contact for travellers, trade partners and media to access premium, behind-the-scenes cultural experiences in iconic locations. 

As a collective, its strength lies in the diversity and iconic nature of the sites and collections represented, as well as the direct connection they hold with the people and cultures of #Australia. 

The founding members of Cultural Attractions of Australia are Adelaide Oval, Arts Centre Melbourne, Australian War Memorial, WA Maritime Museum, Fremantle Prison, Melbourne Cricket Ground, MONA, National Gallery of Australia, National Gallery of Victoria, Opera Australia, Parliament House, Port Arthur Historic Site, Qantas Founders Museum Longreach, Sovereign Hill and Sydney Opera House. 

Each of these institutions has developed one or more rare, premium experiences, ensuring unrivalled access and attention for their guests who can expect the unexpected.  

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Chinese New Year to boost UK visitor figures

FORWARD flight booking data showed that bookings from China to the UK were up 24% from Wednesday 30 January to Tuesday 12 February, compared to the period when Chinese New Year fell last year. Longer term forward booking data shows that bookings from China to the UK were up 31% from January to June this year compared to the same period in 2018.

Chinese New Year is a prime time to travel for the Chinese and the UK is gearing up to host some of the largest celebrations outside of Asia. Events include three days of celebrations in Liverpool, parades in Manchester, festivals and performances in Birmingham and Leeds to a street parade from Charing Cross to Chinatown in London and the first ever Chinese New Year festival in Edinburgh.

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Americans seek unique and novel experiences

EXPEDIA.COM analyzed thousands of data points this year to identify the top trends in travel for 2018, and the results show that American travelers are increasingly interested in unique and novel experiences.

Activities and experiences are increasingly popular as travelers look to personalize and customize their vacations. These are the fastest-growing activity categories in 2018 for the U.S.:

Fastest-growing category: Attractions. Observation decks and architectural landmarks are leading the pack, with the Eiffel Tower, Rome's Colosseum, the 360 Chicago Observation Deck and the High Roller Observation Wheel in Las Vegas among the top trending attractions.

Runner-up: Tours & Sightseeing. Walking and hop-on-hop-off bus tours remain popular among travelers visiting big cities.

Third place: Shopping & Culinary Experiences round out the top categories, as travelers look to get the most out of their destinations and sample local flavors.


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Alexander Hamilton and the American Revolution

HAMILTON: The Exhibition will premiere in #Chicago on April 6, 2019. Created by Hamilton musical creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and producer Jeffrey Seller, this 360-degree, immersive exhibit is designed to take visitors deeper into the life and times of Alexander Hamilton, while at the same time chronicling the American Revolution and the creation of the United States of America. 

The exhibit will feature an audio tour narrated by Miranda. With a dynamic, interactive mix of in-depth scenography, lighting, sound, multimedia and music, Hamilton: The Exhibition will give visitors an experiential journey from Hamilton’s childhood in St. Croix to his untimely death in Weehawken, New Jersey. 

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High above the Las Vegas Strip

ON the first day of 2019, superheroes went sky-high to become the first to fly into 2019, high above The LINQ Promenade on the brand-new FLY LINQ, the first and only zipline on the Las Vegas Strip.

FLY LINQ Fast Facts:

• The $20 million FLY LINQ is the first and only zipline on the Las Vegas Strip.
• Developed by the team behind High Roller, the world's tallest observation wheel.
• 10 side-by-side ziplines, capable of simultaneously launching all riders. 
• Height of launch tower: 114 feet or 14 stories.
• Height of landing tower: 54 feet or more than five stories.
• Positions to fly: seated or superhero (prone).
• Length of each zipline: 1,121 feet.
• Length of time: the ride takes approximately 35 to 45 seconds.
• Average speed: 35 MPH.

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Australia's Gold Revolution

SOVREIGN Hill has announced that its new multi-sensory sound and light show Aura will officially open on February 8th, 2019. The new show, featuring state-of-the-art projections and detailed historical sets, will place the visitor right in the centre of the action, as stars explode in front of eyes, land is transformed by the gold rush, and the Eureka Rebellion comes to life as never before.

Designed by Accolade, the brains behind White Night and the Olympic Games opening and closing ceremonies, together with Sovereign Hill’s own historical experts, Aura is the story of how gold revolutionised Australia, and will take guests of all ages on an adventure as they witness the creation and discovery of the world’s most precious metal. Be one of the first to experience how gold changes everything.

aurasovereignhill.com.au

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Engaging in rural tourism

CHINA has been encouraging poor villages to develop tourism by providing them with subsidies. In 2007, the number of tourist visits to rural areas exceeded 2.5 billion, benefiting 9 million rural households. 17.5 percent of the people who have risen above the poverty line have done so through engaging in rural tourism.

51 year old Chang Ying is a resident of a remote desert village in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. He has three daughters, and had almost no source of income. Opportunities came in the summer of 2014 when a tourism company came to invest and turned the desert land into a scenic spot where villagers like Chang can make money by offering tourists horse or camel rides.

It turned out that the revenue from one horse could reach 700 to 800 yuan a day. Apart from that incentive, each poor household is eligible for a subsidized loan of up to 50,000 yuan with which they joined the operation of the scenic spot and get a yearly dividend of 5000 yuan. This policy has helped to greatly improve the life of poor households.


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Fun in the Mud

BALI Zoo does it again with another first in elephant experiences. The new Elephant Mud Fun half-day package allows you to get down and dirty with their friendly Sumatran elephants while also discovering all about their behavior and lifestyle from experienced mahout handlers. 

You’ll learn interesting facts such as, it is very common to find elephants basking in mud during the summer months because their high body temperature generates a great deal of metabolic heat, and with no sweat glands to relieve their internal thermometers they rely on mud to stay cool and protect themselves from the heat of the sun because even though their hide looks tough, elephants can actually get sunburned.

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Discover Art in Public Places

MIAMI Beach holds a reputation for being a world class art destination. 

In 2019, travelers will come across new art installations as they explore Miami Beach by renowned artists such as, Ellen Harvey, Joseph Kosuth, and Sarah Morris. 

Scattered throughout the city, visitors can embark on an artistic scavenger hunt, all situated around #Miami Beach's 7 miles of pristine beaches.

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Forces of mass construction

VOLCANOES 3D: THE FIRES OF CREATION, blasts into the California Science Center IMAX theater on January 21, 2019. Join intrepid explorer Carsten Peter as he dodges boulders at the edge of an active volcano in Indonesia, descends to a boiling lava lake in Vanuatu, and visits incredible acid ponds, geysers and mineral deposit fields in Ethiopia.

Peter also explored the archeological ghost town of Pompeii, hydrothermal vents at the bottom of the ocean and witnessed the devastating effects of the 2018 Kilauea eruption in Hawaii. With over 500 active volcanoes, Earth is bursting at the seams with these forces of mass construction. The story of volcanoes is the story of the planet's creation, and the story of us.

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Visit the Alps, Down Under

VISITORS to the Alpine National Park can now experience the Bogong High Plains like never before thanks to Parks Victoria’s new Alps Discovery Days at Wallace’s Hut Heritage Trail. The Alps Discovery Days experience will immerse visitors in the cultural heritage of the Bogong High Plains, while showcasing the unique flora and fauna of the Alpine National Park. 

The Volunteer Park Guides will lead both guided tours and more informal chats of Wallace’s hut and the surrounding wetlands between 10am to 2pm during the summer school holidays and on the Easter long weekend in April 2019.

The Alps Discovery Days tours will be available on Thursdays, Saturday and Sunday. They are free, fun and educational for all. To book a place on a Volunteer Park Guide tour, visit www.parkstay.vic.gov.au/alpine-discovery-days or simply arrive at Wallace’s Hut within the designated time.


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Picture Credit: By Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia - Wallace's Hut, Bogong High Plains, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29767279

Illuminating The Palm Beaches

THE Palm Beaches is a collection of 39 cities and towns stretching from Boca Raton to Jupiter and Tequesta, with 47 miles of pristine Atlantic Ocean beaches and sophisticated art and culture. The destination has more than 200 cultural organizations that produce 42,000 events, exhibitions and performances annually.

This holiday season, travelers looking to ditch the cold for a sunny, culture-filled getaway are headed to Florida's Cultural Capital to experience an incredible selection of cultural programming for all ages and interests. A sampling of holiday happenings in the Palm Beaches includes:

Handel's Messiah – The Benjamin School (Palm Beach Gardens)
On Friday, December 14, celebrate the holidays with Masterworks Chorus of The Palm Beaches' presentation of G.F. Handel's Messiah. Tickets are $25/person; $10/students.

Garden of Lights – Mounts Botanical Garden (West Palm Beach)
Through Sunday, December 30, visitors of Mounts Botanical Garden can gaze in awe as thousands of lights illuminate garden areas, with live dance performances and musical presentations will be held on select nights. The garden is open daily from 5:30-8:30 p.m. and tickets are available online or at the gate.

Photos with Santa – Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society (West Palm Beach)
Jolly old Saint Nick takes time out of his busy schedule to spend quality time with visitors at the zoo through Saturday, December 22.

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical – Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (West Palm Beach)  The 'Most Famous Reindeer of All' comes to life on Sunday, December 23 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. Families can enjoy all of their favorite characters as the beloved classic soars onto the stage for two performances on Sunday. Tickets start at $20 and are available for purchase online and at the venue.

A Very Jewish Concert on Christmas Day – Adolph and Rose Levis Jewish Community Center (Boca Raton) Led by Aaron Kula and featuring the sounds of Klezmer, Yiddish, Israeli and Chassidic music from Second Avenue and beyond, the renowned Klezmer Company Orchestra will perform on Tuesday, December 25 at 3 p.m.


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Anniversary of the D-Day Landings

FRANCE is always an exciting destination and June 5 and 6, 2019 will mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day Landings and the launch of the crucial Battle of Normandy, which paved the way for Europe's liberation and the end of WWII. 

The anniversary will also include military parades, fireworks, giant picnics, concerts, airdrops, and of course, a great international ceremony attended by the Allied heads of state on June 6.

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Australia's Top 10 Wine Tours

AUSTRALIA'S Top 10 wine tours, based on booking data from the past four seasons has been unveiled by TripAdvisor. The data, which dates back to 2015, has underlined some key trends in Australia’s contemporary wine-scene, including: Victoria is the country’s most popular state for a wine tour, with three entries in the Top 10.

But South Australia is home to Australia’s #1 most booked wine tour overall Queensland has emerged onto the wine-tour map for the first time, with the Mount Tamborine Wine and Winery Tour now amongst the top 10 booked tours in the country New South Wales.  Western Australia and Tasmania are also represented With over 140,000 bookable tours and activities around the world on TripAdvisor Experiences, it’s a one-stop destination for planning all of your travel activities. From traditional sightseeing to food and wine tours, day trips, and local experiences, travellers can find it all on TripAdvisor Experiences. 

Top 10 Australian bookable winery tours for 2018: 

1.   Small-Group Barossa Valley Food and Wine Tour, South Australia 

2.   Mount Tamborine Wine and Winery Tour from Brisbane or the Gold Coast,          Queensland

3.   Swan Valley River Cruise and Wine Tasting Day Trip from Perth, Western 

      Australia 

4.   Moorilla Estate Winery Tour Including Wine Tasting, Lunch and Mona 

      Admission, Tasmania 

5.   Gourmet Vineyard Lunch and Yarra Valley Winery Tour from Melbourne, 

      Victoria 

6.   Small-Group Hunter Valley Wine and Cheese Tasting Tour from Sydney, 

      New South Wales 

7.   Barossa Valley Wineries Tour with Tastings from Adelaide, South Australia 

8.   Yarra Valley Wineries and Puffing Billy Steam Train Tour from Melbourne, 

      Victoria 

9.   Hunter Valley Gatherer’s Full-Day Food and Wine Tour, New South Wales 

10. Experience Yarra Valley: Beer, Cider, Wine and Food from Melbourne, 

      Victoria 

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Get steamed up in Queensland

THE future is looking bright for one of Queensland’s most -loved tourism attractions, with the steam and diesel engines of the Mary Valley Rattler again chugging their way through some of the Sunshine Coast hinterland’s most picturesque countryside. 

After many years of extensive upgrades to existing track work and improvements to its fleet of historic steam and diesel locomotives and carriages – each with their own unique story – the heritage railway experience has been relaunched after an almost seven-year hiatus. 

At its peak, the Valley Rattler, as it was then known, played host to upwards of 30,000 passengers annually. Morning and afternoon services on the Mary Valley Rattler will now run three days per week on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays for a return journey from the historic Gympie or Amamoor stations via Dagun. 

Reputed to be the largest timber railway building owned by Queensland Rail during the 20th century, the historic Gympie station is the headquarters of the Mary Valley Rattler and arguably one of the most stylish and elaborate in the context of timber railway architecture.   


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Picture Credit: By Sue Allen, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org 51488514

A holiday tradition not to be missed

HAILED as a “venerable holiday tradition” performed with “an exultant spirit that came from the heart” by The Chicago Tribune, The Apollo Chorus' rendition of Händel’s Messiah has been performed every December since 1879—a track record unmatched by other choral organizations.

One of the most renowned musical organizations in the nation, The Apollo Chorus of Chicago, celebrates the 139th anniversary of its annual presentation of Händel’s Messiah with two performances on Saturday, December 15 at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, December 16 at 2:00 p.m. at the Harris Theater for Music & Dance, 205 E. Randolph Dr., #Chicago.



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The NightGarden

THE first ever NightGarden makes its debut this holiday season to transform Miami's Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden into an illuminated wonderland at night. Locals, visitors and guests of all ages can journey through spectacular lighting displays, awe-inspiring special effects, motion-sensing technology, illuminated mazes, state-of-the-art outdoor holograms, sculptures and more unbelievable surprises around every corner. The experience opens to the public on Nov. 23 and runs through Jan. 6, 2019.

The captivating experience will span 23 acres at Fairchild, featuring a collection of highly-interactive landscapes augmented by spectacular 360-degree lighting, illusions and special effects. Highlights of The NightGarden include talking trees, illuminated mazes, engaging scavenger hunts, a whimsical fairyland and growing dandelion field, among other supernatural surprises.



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The Bear Grylls Adventure

THE wait is over for budding adventurers who want to tick a whole host of experiences off their bucket list including diving, Europe’s tallest high ropes course, indoor sky diving, rock climbing and base camp – which will equip you for the skill to tackle any adventure. All this under the expert guidance of trained experts on site.

Birmingham International will start to see thrill-seekers flooding in over the coming months as fans will travel nationwide to be challenged and rewarded by Bear Grylls Adventure. Groups of 3 and up will also be able to save an additional 20% off advance Virgin Trains services.

www.beargryllsadventure.com

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Roaring to life in the Blue Mountains

SCENIC World Blue Mountains is a private, family owned tourist attraction located in Katoomba in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia, about 100 kilometres west of Sydney. 

Their new attraction, Dinosaur Valley has opened, bringing the ancient rainforest to life with prehistoric dinosaurs, daily events and family fun from November 1 – January 28.

Marking the first event of its kind in the Blue Mountains, Dinosaur Valley will take visitors on a journey through time to explore the fascinating world of dinosaurs among towering Jurassic rainforest.

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