Glaze Forward

There are a lot of great cultural attraction that are enticing to the numerous people who visit Austin every year. In addition to some of the obvious landmarks and traditional heritage aspects, such as the Ziker Rose Gardens or one of the famous film festivals there are some interesting and atypical options as well. One of the lesser-known, though seasonally highlighted, tour options is to explore the various cemeteries in and around the city, which frequently feature some of Texas’ greatest historical legends. It may not be the most common question at the hotels in Austin , though the friendly staff will be able to help with information on cemetery locations and possibly famous landmarks and graves.

Some people reserve cemetery visitations for funerals and subsequent honoring of loved ones, while others tend to associate cemeteries with some of the sensational aspects of Halloween and its hauntings. However, there are also individuals who gain a sense of peace and life appreciation while visiting cemeteries in different cities, or that of their own. And when visiting a cemetery in a different city, you can gain a sense of its history and something of an atmospheric orientation.

The Oakwood Cemetery dates back to 1839 and was originally called the City Cemetery. Among some of its famous personalities who were buried there is Susanna Dickinson, who was the only adult survivor of the Alamo, who was from Texas. The cemetery also reflects the history of social attitudes and customs and the development of the plot structures demonstrates the segregation period. The various plots were divided by populations and social hierarchy status. The Texas State Cemetery is another great place to visit for its historical relevance. This mid 1800 cemetery contains among its famous names Stephen F. Austin, also known as the father of the city. There are many graves belonging to soldiers who fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War .

Perhaps the most macabre entertainment to be found in the capitol of Great Britain is the London Dungeon . Over on Tooley Street, next to the London Bridge rail station, you’ll find this unusual museum that’s been operating since 1976. It began as a kind of grotesque Madame Tussuad’s Wax Museum, a museum of the horrible parts of history, recreating gory past events with a sort of grim humor. Today, it functions as a kind of year-long haunted house, where actors lead you through interactive experiences and rides.

Twenty years ago, the attraction consisted of rows of dark cells, where wax figures endured the horrific tortures of the past. Today, it’s more of an adventure where a live actor, taking the part of a groundskeeper leads people through a mirror maze known as the Labyrinth of the Lost, whose theme is the crypt of All Hallows Church. As patrons wander in the maze, actors in period costumes leap out at them.

A show set around the Great Plague is next on the list, where you’re taken to a secret treatment room and told about the ways people attempted to cure the plague, including a doctor who attempts to operate (in comic fashion) on a dead body. The attraction also includes a look at surgery during the time of the 18th Century, where an actor portraying a surgeon “operates” on a chosen audience member.

There are even rides now, such as “Traitor: Boat Ride to Hell,” where a judge sentences visitors to death and then they’re taken to an execution dock, where the audience rides on a boat in almost total darkness through a replica of the Traitor’s Gate in the Tower of London. There’s an exhibit about Sweeney Todd, too, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, who supposedly slit the throats of his customers whose bodies were then baked into pies. While it’s not likely that the barber existed, it’s an interesting example of local legend.

A few years ago “Extremis: Drop Ride to Doom” was added to the exhibit, simulating a hanging execution, and most recently, “Bloody Mary: Killer Queen” was put on display. This feature introduces patrons to the story of Mary Tudor, complete with special effects as she orders heretics to be burned.

After spending a day in the dungeon, you might be ready for some other sights, also owned by Merlin Entertainment, such as Madame Tussuad’s, the London Eye, and Warwick Castle . After all that, you’ll want to get back to the hotel. London sight-seeing can be exhausting, and there’s nothing better than to drop into a nice bed as opposed to a drop ride to doom.

Welcome to Orlando, a gorgeous city with an interesting history. What is now known as one of the biggest tourist destinations in the southeastern United States was once the center of a major citrus-growing region and was built on swampland. In 1885 Orlando, Florida became a city and has been steadily growing since.

The most pivotal event for Orlando’s economy occurred in 1965 when Walt Disney announced his plan to build Walt Disney World in Orlando. Where it would be protected from hurricanes that buffet the coasts of Florida. As a result, tourism became the centerpiece of the area’s economy. Since the economic boom it’s opening triggered Orlando has been consistently ranked as one of the top vacation destinations in the world, and now boasts more theme parks and entertainment attractions than anywhere else.

In response to the booming tourism industry the Orlando hotel industry also experienced a boom. Orlando, Florida is second only to Las Vegas, Nevada for largest number of hotel rooms in the country which comes in handy since the hotels not only house the year round flow of tourists but also play host to many conventions throughout the year. these conventions range from your standard workshops to yoga conventions and beauty pageants .

With all these people flowing in and out of the city a variety of attractions have to be available for when they venture outside the parks. If you aren’t interested in the family fun of the parks there are an abundance of clubs and night spots to sample from laid back pubs to dance clubs where the energy will move you with themes ranging from trendy to silly bordering absurd. There are breweries, bars, clubs and restaurants scattered throughout Downtown Orlando . Church street in the downtown area has over 70 bars and clubs to select from whether your taste is for alternative-rock or you don’t care about the music and just want to go see and be seen at a night club.

Travelers will always tell you that visiting large cities all over the world can be a rather expensive endeavor. Manhattan may not be as expensive to American tourists as London but it can still take a large bit out of the pocket book. There must be a way to have a great time and see some of the amazing culture with out spending all of the college fund. When visiting Manhattan in the summer time one is in luck. Just spending a day in Central Park can save some valuable cash. There are always free summer concerts going on day and night. Just taking a walk through the many different areas can keep one occupied for hours. There are plenty of hot dog vendors along the way to catch a cheap lunch on the go.  

For a Friday or Saturday night experience check out the Brooklyn Academy of Music because they have free music going on and its great. With talent like this there is no need to hide away in the amazing hotel no matter how great room service is, your in Manhattan and you have to keep moving. Also on Friday nights at the American Folk Art Museum, there is free admission between 5:30 and 7:30. This museum highlights art from contemporary artists from all over America. Then there is the always free Socrates Sculpture Park its a little further up in Queens but it is filled with lots of great sculptures and people having a nice time.  

Taking tours of amazing churches can also be a free and interesting experience with buildings like the St. Patrick’s Cathedral across from Rockefeller center, or the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine has a wonderful garden and the Riverside Church as Flemish windows with its 16th century design.  

If there is a tech minded person along on the trip, check out the Sony Wonder Technology Lab . This is a sure fire way of keeping the kids occupied for a while. Even adults will have a great time talking to robots and playing playstation games. Careful of adult pride, the kids will more than likely take the adults out.