Blooming Marvellous

THE Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, named by Architectural Digest as one of the "15 Breathtaking Botanical Gardens to Visit This Season," presents Dallas Blooms, the largest annual floral festival in the Southwest, from February 23 to 

April 7. 

Themed "Life's A Picnic," the spring festival showcases an explosion of color from more than 500,000 spring-blooming blossoms, thousands of azaleas and hundreds of Japanese cherry trees. Presented by IBERIABANK, Dallas Blooms features an extraordinary, larger-than-life, picnic scene topiary comprised of a stunning 40'x40' picnic blanket, a vase of flowers, a picnic basket with pie and a giant picnic ant—perfect for photo opportunities.

The nationally acclaimed eight-acre Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden features 17 indoor/outdoor galleries, 150 interactive science games and an abundance of themed adventures throughout the Dallas Blooms festival.

www.dallasarboretum.org/blooms

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The World's largest observation wheel

SINCE Ain Dubai, the world’s largest observation wheel, first made its appearance off the coast of #Dubai Marina, it has captured the imagination of the city. Making its presence felt, this new landmark-in-the-making has drawn attention to Bluewaters, the island #destination by Meraas that has opened its doors to visitors.

For visitors keen to get up-close to Ain Dubai and marvel at the spectacular engineering feat that forms the destination’s centrepiece, Bluewaters will provide access to awe-inspiring sights at its base. 

At 250 metres, it is taller than the 167-metre High Roller in Las Vegas and the 190-metre New York Wheel planned for Staten Island. Ain Dubai will carry up to 1,400 passengers at a time in its 48 double-glazed capsules, offering unforgettable 360-degree views of Dubai. Each leg of the observation wheel stands at a height of 126 metres and is long enough to fit 15 London buses.

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To Mars and back

SINCE 1958, the Museum of Science's Charles Hayden Planetarium has dazzled and immersed visitors in the wonders of the night sky and the universe. The Planetarium has utilized three projectors since its opening. The current projector, the Zeiss Starmaster, projects over 9,000 stars as naturally as they appear to twinkle in the cosmos. The projector, coupled with the Planetarium's state-of-the-art digital system, which can access the latest astronomical databases from researchers around the world, make the Planetarium the most technologically advanced digital dome in New England.

Premiering on October 20th and created in-house by the award-winning Planetarium staff of producers and artists, the newest Planetarium show, Destination Mars: The New Frontier celebrates the persistent curiosity that drives us to explore the future of human spaceflight to Mars. The Planetarium, which has impressed visitors since its installation, has welcomed more than 13 million visitors to more than 400 original show titles over its sixty-year history.

Destination Mars: The New Frontier will examine the human desire to travel to Mars and give audiences an up-close look at this epic endeavor.



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Barcelona opens its doors

BARCELONA invites you to visit all of its architectural to observe, understand and question the value architecture and its relation to Catalan society and culture with 48 H Open House Barcelona. The festival opens in the first week of October. This event is free for all and will include guided tours, information guides for visitors to explain each of the houses they’re visiting.

Some of the houses include famous landmarks like Casa Vicens, el Mercat de Sant Antoni, while there are also some lesser known sites in the ten other neighborhoods of #Barcelona. Mark your calendars for 27 & 28 October 2018. The event promises visitors an appreciation of the value of good architecture and urbanism, opening over 200 great buildings of different styles, forms, and sizes to the public.

The program is built around the broad network of buildings that will open their doors to the public and it is set within the six Barcelona boroughs (Barcelona, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Vilassar de Dalt, Sant Joan Despí, Badalona and L’Hospitalet de Llobregat). 

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Get captivated by the magic

THE magnetic fields of sun twist and turn when it rotates on its axis and when these fields become intertwined they burst and generate sunspots that occur in pairs. When the temperature on the surface of sun fluctuates the sun starts boiling and generates bubbles. The particles escaping from the sunspot regions when clash with the plasma called solar wind, it takes around 40 hours to reach Earth and when it occurs that causes the fascinating displays called the aurora borealis.

Wild About Lapland, offer tailor made Aurora Borealis #Lapland tours depending upon the abilities of their clients, weather conditions and the Northern Light forecasts. Their expert guides teach their clients about #AuroraBorealis and also show how the natives make a fire and cook over it. To make the experience of watching the mesmerizing lights they drive away from the city to find the perfect spot that provides the highest chances of seeing the lights on the destined night.

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Morro Bay's Secret Season

RECENTLY named one of the Best Small Towns in CA by Country Living Magazine, Morro Bay is an Instagramers dream, especially in October and November, aka Morro Bay's Secret Season. 

With miles of beaches and an unavoidably beautiful 576-foot tall volcanic rock sitting at the front of a bustling harbor of sailboats, kayakers, otters, pelicans and sea lions, Morro Bay is the place to stay this time of year. Morro Bay's Secret Season also coincides with Central Coast wine harvest found in nearby award-winning wine country.

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Sao Paulo Art Biennial: A reason to explore

THE 33rd Sao Paulo’s Art Biennial opened its doors to the public on September 7 and will remain open until December 9th, 2018. It’s the second largest biennial in the world, just behind the inspirational Venetian Biennial, bringing over 500 thousand viewers per edition.

The Biennial alone would be enough reason to jump on a plane, but for art lovers, the country is an adventure to be explored. Curated by Gabriel Perez-Barreiro, Spanish director, chief-curator and Art History Master, the 33th Biennial was built on the idea of privileging the individual experience of the spectator on the appreciation of art, where the artist is not only exhibiting its work but also curating it, hoping to bring a bigger and better communication between viewer and artist.

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A truly unique experience

THE Masaya Volcano National Park in Nicaragua offers visitors the rare and unique opportunity to see an active volcano up close. It’s the only volcano in the western hemisphere where you are able to drive right up to the edge and one of only 11 volcanoes in the world with an active lava lake.

The volcano has erupted several times in history, feared by both the indigenous people and Spanish conquerors. The Spanish baptized the volcano “La Boca del Infierno” or “The mouth of hell”. 

ORO Travel offer the rare opportunity to experience the volcano at night an amazing photo opportunity.

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Unique trail for whale watching in Scotland

SCOTLAND'S west coast offers excellent opportunities for accessible, land-based whale watching, with a remarkable range of species to be spotted. The region’s seas are home to around a quarter of the world’s whale and dolphin species – including bottlenose, Risso’s and common dolphins, harbour porpoises, minke whales and Orca.

People are being asked to contribute ideas for top sites for spotting whales, dolphins and porpoises from land on Scotland’s west coast, to help create a Hebridean Whale Trail that will be the first of its kind in the UK. The high-profile trail will be a network of around 25 world-class whale-watching and whale heritage sites. Its development is being led by charity Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust.

The project will promote #Scotland as one of Europe’s best destinations for spotting whales, dolphins and porpoises – collectively known as #cetaceans – and champion conservation of the Hebrides’ unique, globally important marine wildlife and environment.

Due for a summer 2019 launch, the ambitious initiative will connect and support existing wildlife tourism businesses and heritage sites of national cultural significance that showcase the history of people’s relationships with whales in the Hebrides. Many of these will be small, community-run visitor centres at spectacular sites.

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Take flight

IF Monarch butterflies were an airline, they would have one of the best on-time performance records. Every year in early October, thousands of these delicate, jewel-like, orange and black creatures land on several coastal areas in central and southern #California to overwinter through February. One of the most notable places to view this dazzling sight is at the Monarch Grove Sanctuary on Monterey Bay.

The #butterflies cluster on Monterey Pine, Monterey Cypress and Eucalyptus trees for a much-deserved rest. For travelers who come to view this awe-inspiring sight, The Inns of Monterey offer a variety of accommodations, all of which are within close proximity to the Monarch Grove Sanctuary. These include Spindrift Inn, Monterey Bay Inn, Wave Street Inn, Victorian Inn and Casa Munras Garden Hotel & Spa.

For more information about the Monarch Migration, contact the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History at http://www.pgmuseum.org/monarch-viewing/


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The World's Largest Viking Ship announces U.S. East Coast tour

IN 2016, the #Draken successfully crossed the North Atlantic Ocean, recreating one of the most epic, mythical explorations of all time in the wake of the Viking Explorer, Leif Ericsson. Visiting numerous ports and encountering thousands of people along her Trans-Atlantic journey, the Draken Harald Hårfagre emerged as a pillar of culture, education, and enrichment, bringing the illustrious Viking age of exploration to life in today's modern age.

Following the overwhelming response and great show of interest and support from the public, the next leg of the Draken Harald Hårfagre North American tour will consist of 16 stopovers across the U.S. East Coast states of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington D.C., and Virginia. The final tour schedule and all stopover ports are yet to be announced and will be made public in late-spring 2018.

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A new beginning for an iconic show under the Big Top in 2019

CIRQUE du Soleil has announced that #Alegría, one of its most iconic shows, will return to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Staying true to the essence of the original creation, Alegría will retain its unique spirit of joy and optimism for which it was renowned around the globe.  

Cirque du Soleil first presented Alegría in April 1994, a production destined to change the history of the company, an emblematic show that was to win over more than 14 million spectators. Under the traditional Big Top and in its arena version, Alegría visited 255 cities around the world in its 19 years of touring before finally bidding audiences farewell on December 29, 2013 in Antwerp, Belgium. 

The classic power struggle of old meets new is reinterpreted for today’s cultural pulse. Alegría translates from Spanish to ‘happiness and joy’. High energy acrobatics and progressive visions of youth collide with traditional aristocratic perspectives to slay old notions, rise with wisdom, and propel forward with no holding back.

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A major new exhibition: Titanic Stories

NEW at the National Maritime Museum, Cornwall is an exhibition, Titanic Stories, which will examine the stories of the Titanic’s momentous sinking on 15 April 1912, re-appraising many of the myths, controversies and assumptions that still linger around one of the most well-known historic events of the 20th century.

Working in collaboration with private collectors from overseas and national museums in the UK, ‘Titanic Stories’ presents rare and never-seen-before objects and items, as well as retelling the personal stories of many of the survivors, victims and descendants of the #Titanic disaster, including those from #Cornwall. The exhibition will offer new contextual information around the iconic sinking and what happened next.

Alongside documentary and personal photographs, letters, newspaper cuttings, compelling items such as a handkerchief waved from a lifeboat and a First-Class passenger list found in the pocket of a victim, will intimately bring this historic voyage back to life.

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The Royal Wedding: Inspiring Americans to visit Great Britain

BIG BEN, the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, the River Thames have all lured Americans to Great Britain through the years, but now there's a renewed interest as England's Prince Harry is set to wed American actress Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018. According to a quick poll of travel agents in Travel Leaders Network – one of America's largest retail travel agency organizations – some are seeing an increase in clients wanting to travel to Great Britain as a result of the Royal wedding.

The #royalwedding is expected to be one of the largest events for #Windsor Castle and thousands are planning to flock to the area hoping to get a glimpse of the lovebirds as they travel in procession after their wedding ceremony. Whether you're traveling to #GreatBritain this spring or later in the year, here are some things to see and do while you're there.

Ride in Royal Footsteps - Horse-drawn tours are available to the public from Windsor Castle, with private guided tours on the Long Walk.

Art and Architecture in Windsor - Windsor Castle, about 45 minutes from London by train, has been home to 39 monarchs.

Buckingham Palace - The queen's official London residence, is open for tours from July 21 to Sept. 30. 

Diana's Fashion Sense - The memory of Prince Harry's mother, Princess Diana, lives on around Kensington Palace, home to many of today's British royals. On display here is "Diana: Her Fashion Story," featuring outfits worn by the late Princess of Wales. 

Warwick Castle - A medieval fortress built in 1068 and located on the River Avon, is about 90 minutes from London by train. Take an intriguing tour of the medieval vaults and climb to the top of the castle's towers and ramparts.

Southwest England - A visit to Southwest England is gorgeous, even from a train window, but it is not complete without a stop at Tintagel Castle's legendary ruins.

Trooping the Colour - The annual parade, which for nearly 300 years has marked the official birthday of the British sovereign, will be June 9th this year.

Feast Like a King -  A train ride would allow one to stop for mouth-watering experiences in many different cities, from avant-garde haute cuisine to renowned ethnic and regional dishes.

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Experience the Buddhist Festival of Light

VESAK is the main Buddhist religious festival in #SriLanka. During this time, people celebrate the triple anniversary of Lord Buddha - his birth, his attaining of Enlightenment and his passing away into Nirvana falls this year on May 29.

Also known as the Buddhist Festival of Light, colorful bamboo framed lanterns adorn the interior of every home and incredible luminous displays decorate the streets of most towns. Visit Bhauddoloka Mawatha, the main street in Colombo, to catch this glowing spectacle in full glory.

Stalls on the roadside distribute free refreshments to passers-by and there are some fantastic mime and street theatre performances, staged on tall platforms near temples in cities and towns throughout the country.


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Get down with Dippy in Dorset

HAVE you ever spotted a dinosaur in a cathedral, a parliament building or a community centre? Dippy on Tour is kicking off its journey on the Jurassic Coast with a visit to #Dorset County Museum.

Never before on public display outside of London’s Natural History Museum, Dippy is travelling the length and breadth of the country from 10 February 2018 to late 2020. The British icon is on a mission to inspire five million people to experience nature, encouraging families and schools to explore nature on their doorstep.

#Dippy has delighted visitors since he arrived in London in 1905. In partnership with the Garfield Weston Foundation, it is hoped the tour will spark the imagination of the next generation of scientists and connect the nation with nature.


Dippy is at the Dorset County Museum until May 7, entry to see Dippy is free but be sure to book your space on the Musuems website.


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A waterfall, a rain tree, a cave and a floating nun

THE history of Kanchanaburi is very much about the impact from the World War II era, there is a lot more to see and do in this picturesque province than just revisit war history. Explore and find Thailand’s most impressive waterfalls, one seriously enormous tree, and a whole host of temples including one featuring a floating nun. All this and more makes it a perfect backdrop for one of the country’s best event destinations that features a bit of everything from the surreal to the sublime.

One of the most beautiful natural attractions in Kanchanaburi is the Erawan Waterfall that attracts thousands of Thai and foreign tourists. Its ease of access is a big plus given its location in the Erawan National Park, Si Sawat district and covers a total area of about 600 square kilometres off Highway 3199, which is the same route as the Srinakarin Dam.

Tham Kra Sae is the famous and dangerous point in Kanchanaburi located in Saiyok district. This small cave is tucked into towering cliffs near the site of a former prisoner of war camp along the infamous Thai-Burma Death Railway. Visitors arriving by car can walk along the sleeper track and visit the Buddha statue enshrined in Kra Sae Cave. There is a restaurant and souvenir shop catering to tourists in the area of the train station.

An enormous rain tree, which is part of the Fabaceae family native to Latin America, is situated on one rai of land in Ko Samrong, Mueang district. It is an awe-inspiring sight with a trunk measuring 7.83 metres in diameter and is said to be over 100 years old. This giant tree should be part of any pilgrimage to Kanchanaburi. There is no entrance fee and the site is open daily from 06.00 – 18.00 Hrs.

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All lit up . . .

WITH less than ten weeks until Queenstown’s award-winning light festival illuminates the night sky, the countdown is officially on. The LUMA Southern Light Project returns to Queenstown, #NewZealand on the Queen’s Birthday Weekend (June 1 – 4) featuring a world light festival ‘first’ with four evenings of illuminated art, light sculptures and entertainment. 

The free public event focuses on the transformation of space, public interaction, art, culture and education, made possible by curated collections of stunning light sculptures and thought-provoking installations. Visitors can expect to be dazzled by an array of interactive and unique light displays, each one designed to encourage them to engage with the art and the surrounding Queenstown landscape. 

Set within the picturesque Queenstown Gardens and waterfront, visitors can explore the illuminated winter wonderland with hot food in hand warming their fingers, as the art captivates their minds. The ‘world festival first’ will see local and international artists collaborating on an instillation using over 90,000 individual light sources to turn trees in the Queenstown Gardens into an enchanted forest.

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An arresting museum to visit

WE live in a society where there is a strong fascination of crime, this is apparent by its prevalence in pop-culture. The subject of crime and serial killers is often the topic of books, TV shows and movies. Those who want to learn more about some of the most infamous killers in America should plan a visit to Alcatraz East Crime Museum. 

Visitors of Alcatraz East Crime Museum can expect to see many crime-related artifacts on display, and learn about ways to help prevent crime. Here are 5 infamous killers’ artifacts that are on display at the museum: 

1. Charles Manson Guitar & Beach Boys single “Never Learn Not to Love” – This guitar was recently added to the museum’s collect. It was taken into custody in Inyo County California, during a raid on the Barker Ranch when Charles Manson was also arrested. 

2. Ted Bundy’s 1968 Volkswagen Beetle – The Beetle that was integral in both of his murders and conviction, containing important DNA evidence, is on display for visitors to view. 

3. John Wayne Gacy’s clown suits- “Pogo” and “Patches” – The serial killer was arrested in 1978. He had confessed to killing 30 people. Despite him being a serial killer, he would dress up in clown suits to entertain children. 

4. Judy Buenoano’s last photograph and prison blanket – Convicted of murdering her husband and son, she was also suspected in several other deaths. 

5. Jeffrey Dahmer handcuffs– An American serial killer, he was convicted of the murder of 17 males, which included rape, dismemberment, and cannibalism. His handcuffs are on display at the museum for visitors to view.

  
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Through the eyes of a lens

THE Landscape Architecture of Lawrence Halprin, a traveling photographic exhibition about the life and work of landscape architect Lawrence Halprin (1916-2009), will open February 28th 2018, in #Dallas at the NorthPark Center and will remain on view through April 30th 2018.

Created in 2016 during the centennial anniversary of Halprin’s birth, the exhibition features 56 newly commissioned photographs by leading landscape photographers of dozens of Halprin’s major works. 

Ranging from recently rediscovered residential projects created early in his career in the 1950s to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, D.C. capstone projects such as the Yosemite Falls approach and Stern Grove in San Francisco, and significant postmodernist projects including the Los Angeles Open Space Network.

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