Gadling http://www.gadling.com Gadling http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Gadling http://www.gadling.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Summer Travel Season Kicks Off Right Now]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/25/summer-travel-season-kicks-off-right-now/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/25/summer-travel-season-kicks-off-right-now/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/25/summer-travel-season-kicks-off-right-now/#commentsFiled under: , ,

summer travelSummer travel season traditionally starts on Memorial Day then ends on Labor Day. Nothing new there. This year though, there are solid signs that the summer travel season could very well be back up to pre-recession levels with Americans traveling more than ever before.

Helped by a dip in gas prices in many areas, Memorial Day weekend travel should start the summer off with a bang as 34.8 million Americans are expected to travel 50 or more miles from home between Friday and Monday. But even in places where the price of gasoline is higher, summer travel is a big priority.

"High debt burdens, gasoline prices, and uncertainties regarding the strength of the current economic recovery have not deterred Californians from holiday travel," said AAA spokesperson Cynthia Harris in the Newark Patch. "But many consumers intend to cut back on the distance they travel, as well on entertainment expenses, to compensate for reduced travel budgets."

To make those cutbacks, travelers may book less expensive budget hotels rather than a resort-style property. Best Western International told Gadling that advance summer bookings at the chain's hotels are up 21 percent this summer compared to summer 2011.

Continue reading Summer Travel Season Kicks Off Right Now

Summer Travel Season Kicks Off Right Now originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 25 May 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Best WesternCynthia HarrisFinanceFlickrLabor DayMemorial Daysummer travelSummerTravelFri, 25 May 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Heat-Map Shows Travelers Most And Least Frequented Destinations]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/25/heat-map-shows-travelers-most-and-least-frequented-destinations/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/25/heat-map-shows-travelers-most-and-least-frequented-destinations/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/25/heat-map-shows-travelers-most-and-least-frequented-destinations/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

mapHave you ever wondered what countries are the most and least frequented by travelers? Estonian tech firm Bluemoon has taken data from the photo sharing service Panoramio and created a heat-map based on photos. The map details which countries are the most visited (in yellow), which have a medium amount of visitors (in red) and which are explored the least (in blue). A grey area signifies that no photos have been taken there using Panoramio.

As you can see from the map, Europe is a major tourist destination, as is much of the east and west coasts of the United States and Japan. Certain regions that seem to receive few visitors include Mongolia, India and Australia. Moreover, many areas in Canada and Africa remain unexplored.

They've also created a map of the "world's most interesting remote places." It only looks at destinations away from cities with remote tourist attractions. Some examples from the data show the Greek Islands are touristy (red), the Amazon Basin has almost no tourism (green) and Ladakh falls in the middle (yellow).

For a bigger view of the map, click here.

Heat-Map Shows Travelers Most And Least Frequented Destinations originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 25 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>google mapsGoogleMapsheat-mapleast popular destinationsLeastPopularDestinationsmapmost popularmost touristymost visitedMostPopularMostTouristyMostVisitedphotostravel dataTravelDatawhere to travelWhereToTravelFri, 25 May 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Civil War Ballooning Revived This Memorial Day Weekend]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/25/civil-war-ballooning-revived-this-memorial-day-weekend/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/25/civil-war-ballooning-revived-this-memorial-day-weekend/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/25/civil-war-ballooning-revived-this-memorial-day-weekend/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Civil War
During the Civil War, the clashing armies used many new technologies to try to gain an advantage.

One military innovation was the balloon. Although the first balloon ascent had taken place in France in 1783 and the French army had already used them in battle as early as 1794, military aviation was still in its infancy and the United States and Confederacy became the second and third countries to use it.

Balloons were handy for spying on enemy movements. Observers would send back information either with signal flags or via a telegraph wire leading to the ground. The more industrial North had an edge in ballooning, but the South used them effectively too. Despite their best efforts, neither side was able to shoot these daring aviators out of the sky.

Now these early experiments are being re-enacted in Virginia. On Saturday, May 26, there will be a Civil War Balloon Observation Exhibit at the Yorktown Battlefield. There will be presentations on how balloons were used by both sides. It's part of a weekend of lectures and re-enactments.

On Memorial Day, Monday, May 28, at the Gloucester Main Street Center, there will be a Civil War re-enactment featuring a 45-foot diameter replica of the Union's balloon Intrepid. Re-enactors will portray Union and Confederate balloonists. Those who prefer more recent military history can meet special guest Richard C. Kirkland, who flew 103 combat missions in World War II and whose 69 helicopter rescues in Korea inspired the movie and TV series "M*A*S*H."

[Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons]

Civil War Ballooning Revived This Memorial Day Weekend originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 25 May 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>American Civil WarAmerican historyAmericanCivilWarAmericanHistoryaviationballoonballooningballoonsCivil WarCivil War ballooningCivil War reenactmentsCivil War reenactorsCivilWarCivilWarBallooningCivilWarReenactmentsCivilWarReenactorshistorymilitary aviationmilitary historyMilitaryAviationMilitaryHistoryreenactmentreenactmentsreenactorreenactorsVirginiawarYorktownFri, 25 May 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Iconic Road Trip: Route 66's Classic American Countryside]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/25/route-66-illinois-missouri-kansas-oklahoma-texas-new-mexic/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/25/route-66-illinois-missouri-kansas-oklahoma-texas-new-mexic/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/25/route-66-illinois-missouri-kansas-oklahoma-texas-new-mexic/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Most people have heard of Route 66. It's iconic. It's a classic American highway recognized in pop culture and its expanse covers many U.S. states. The route original passed through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. Although officially removed from the United States Highway System in 1985, many portions of the original road are now National Scenic Byways under the name "Historic Route 66." This route, or any section of it, is a good way to see the countryside of the U.S.A. You'll see the vast plains that define the term "big sky." When you drive through the New Mexico and Arizona portions of the road, you'll see vivid desert colors in the land juxtaposed with perfect pastel colors in the sky. My favorite thing about Route 66 is that it begins and ends with serene water views. Whether you wind up staring off into the Pacific Ocean or Lake Michigan, your journey through the desert can be complemented with a well-deserved swim if that's what you want.

Continue reading Iconic Road Trip: Route 66's Classic American Countryside

Iconic Road Trip: Route 66's Classic American Countryside originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 25 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure traveladventure-travelAdventureTravelbest road tripsbestroadtripsbudget travelbudget-travelBudgetTravelfeaturedroad triproad trippingroad-triproad-trippingRoadTripRoadTrippingroute 66route 66 road tripRoute66Route66RoadTripscenic drivescenic drivesScenicDriveScenicDrivesFri, 25 May 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Meet The Man Who Spent 11 Years Walking Around The World And The Woman Who Waited For Him To Return]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/25/meet-the-man-who-spent-11-years-walking-around-the-world-and-the/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/25/meet-the-man-who-spent-11-years-walking-around-the-world-and-the/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/25/meet-the-man-who-spent-11-years-walking-around-the-world-and-the/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

jean beliveau walk around the worldOn his 45th birthday, Quebec native Jean Béliveau went out for a walk. He crossed over Montreal's Jacque Cartier Bridge in Montreal, where he originally dreamed up the idea of escaping his life as a neon sign salesman nine months before, and kept going for 75,554 kilometers through 64 countries. He burned through 54 pairs of shoes but somehow managed to maintain his relationship with his wife, Luce, who stayed at home while Jean spent 11 years walking around the world. But when he returned to Canada, some criticized the walk as a self-indulgent escape from a midlife crisis since it wasn't done for a specific charity.

Seven months after returning home from what is believed to be the world's longest uninterrupted circumnavigation on foot, Béliveau is being courted by publishers who want the rights to his story. We caught up with Jean to find out more about his motivation for taking an 11-year walk, how he pulled it off without losing his wife and what he's up to now.

Why take a walk around the world?

Jean: I owned a small neon sign factory but when Quebec had a terrible ice storm in the winter of 1998, we lost power for weeks. We had to close the factory and then my wife had to move to Montreal for her job. I had a midlife crisis in the meantime. I began to sell neon signs but I wasn't making much money. I said, 'My God, what happened with my life? I'm throwing my life away.'

I felt like I was working just for money and giving my soul away, and for what? I ran over Jacques Cartier Bridge in Montreal one day and thought, 'I wonder how many days it would take to get to New York. And how many weeks or months or years to get to Mexico, South America, the rest of the world.'

Continue reading Meet The Man Who Spent 11 Years Walking Around The World And The Woman Who Waited For Him To Return

Meet The Man Who Spent 11 Years Walking Around The World And The Woman Who Waited For Him To Return originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 25 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FeatureJean BeliveauJeanBeliveauwalk around the worldWalkAroundTheWorldFri, 25 May 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo Of The Day: Happy Birthday Brooklyn Bridge]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/photo-of-the-day-happy-birthday-brooklyn-bridge/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/photo-of-the-day-happy-birthday-brooklyn-bridge/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/photo-of-the-day-happy-birthday-brooklyn-bridge/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

photo of the day - Brooklyn Bridge
Today marks the 129th anniversary of the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge. Happy Birthday, you barely look a day over 100! This photo by Gadling's own Willy Volk was taken from the NYC Water Taxi. He used a fake tilt-shift effect to get the unique perspective and slightly blurred edges, but it reminds me of the view you might see on a rainy day riding the subway over the neighboring Manhattan Bridge. It's a view that never fails to inspire visitors and New Yorkers - one that's unmistakably New York. Celebrate the anniversary with a walk across its span to Brooklyn and back; it's one of New York's last great free thrills.

Share your best travel photos with us in the Gadling Flickr pool. If we find them inspiring (and can download them), we'd love to include one as a future Photo of the Day.

Photo Of The Day: Happy Birthday Brooklyn Bridge originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 24 May 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brooklynbrooklyn bridgeBrooklynBridgeflickrflickr poolFlickrPoolfreemanhattanperspectivephoto of the dayPhotoOfTheDaytilt-shiftwater taxiWaterTaxiThu, 24 May 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cruise Terminal For Sale: No Ships But Great Fishing]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/cruise-terminal-for-sale-no-ships-but-great-fishing/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/cruise-terminal-for-sale-no-ships-but-great-fishing/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/cruise-terminal-for-sale-no-ships-but-great-fishing/#commentsFiled under: , ,

cruise

For cities and towns that want to be a home port for cruise ships, it would make sense to be set up to handle them first. Ensuring that today's giant ships can dock, that there will be shore-side services available and figuring out the logistics of it all are checklist items one might consider mandatory. But there's a big difference between being "ready" and having a $100 million cruise terminal sitting empty with no ships scheduled to call.

That seems to be right where Houston Texas is today; all dressed up and with no place to go as the would-be cruise port can't find cruise lines that want to sail from their bright, shiny terminal.

"I'm convinced that no cruise line is going to come. They may as well forget about using it as a cruise terminal," Texas Judge Ed Emmett told ABCNews.

Worse yet, the losses keep growing. In the last year, the port has spent another $4.7 million just maintaining the cruise terminal. The ABCNews report notes that some of the money was spent to improve the gangways for cruise passengers that may never use them.

Continue reading Cruise Terminal For Sale: No Ships But Great Fishing

Cruise Terminal For Sale: No Ships But Great Fishing originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 24 May 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cruisecruise terminalcruise vacationsCruiseTerminalCruiseVacationshome portsHomePortshouston cruise terminalHoustonCruiseTerminalThu, 24 May 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Future Looks Hopeful For New York's Proposed Underground Park]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/the-future-looks-hopeful-for-new-yorks-proposed-underground-par/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/the-future-looks-hopeful-for-new-yorks-proposed-underground-par/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/the-future-looks-hopeful-for-new-yorks-proposed-underground-par/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Back in September, we told you about New York's proposed Delancey Underground, or "Low Line." While we were unsure of its future at that time, it now looks as if the city's first underground park will become a reality.

The park, which was inspired by New York's "High Line," an abandoned elevated railway, also makes use of the concept of disregarded spaces. In fact, the project's founders, Dan Barasch and James Ramsey, are planning to build the park in an abandoned subway station. People obviously love outlandish ideas, as the pair was able to surpass their Kickstarter goal by $50,000, raising $155,000 of crowd-sourced funding. For the Low Line to work, special technology will need to be used, and the pair will now be able to show people exactly how this will work.

For a better idea of what helped the proposed park's success, check out the Kickstarter video above.

What are your thoughts on an underground park?

The Future Looks Hopeful For New York's Proposed Underground Park originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 24 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abandoned spacesAbandonedSpacesbudget travelBudgetTraveldelancey undergroundDelanceyUndergroundecotourismlow lineLowLinenew yorknewsNewYorkparksThu, 24 May 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The World Of The Great Gatsby: Long Island's Gold Coast]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/the-world-of-the-great-gatsby-long-islands-gold-coast/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/the-world-of-the-great-gatsby-long-islands-gold-coast/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/the-world-of-the-great-gatsby-long-islands-gold-coast/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

the great gatsby long island

The official trailer for Baz Luhrmann's new film adaptation of "The Great Gatsby" was released this week, inciting nostalgia across the Internet for the passion, parties and Prohibition-fueled recklessness of 1920s-era New York City. The film doesn't come out until Christmas but if you're hankering for a preview, try visiting Long Island's Gold Coast, where F. Scott Fitzgerald lived, wrote and based his famous novel.

Geographically located on the North Shore of Long Island, the Gold Coast's grand mansions and landscaped gardens beckon visitors to explore the lives of the magnates and tycoons that called them home. Former inhabitants include familiar names like the Vanderbilts, Roosevelts, Whitneys and Pratts, and nearly all of the estates are open to the public throughout the summer.

Gallery: Gatsby's Gold Coast: Famous Mansions On Long Island's North Shore

Old Westbury EstateSuffolk County Vanderbilt MuseumHempstead House at Sands Point PreserveFalaise at Sand's Point PreserveChelsea and Muttontown Preserve

One Gold Coast must-see is Old Westbury Gardens, a traditional English manor home that you'll recognize from films like "The Age of Innocence" and "Cruel Intentions." Built in 1906, the estate was once inhabited by financier John S. Phipps, who outfitted it with lavish furnishings and artwork. Guests are welcome to tour the home's interior or stroll around the estate's rose gardens, walled gardens and pond.

The Gold Coast's residents weren't all as traditional as the Phipps. A trip to the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum reveals the eclectic nature of former inhabitant William K. Vanderbilt II. The 43-acre complex includes a marine museum, seaplane hangar, natural history habitats and a wide array of quirky ethnographic objects. The on-site planetarium is currently under construction, but it is expected to be one of the most advanced in the country once it is completed.

And if you're a true literature geek, you can't miss the Hempstead House or Falaise Mansion in Sands Point, a part of Long Island that Fitzgerald referred to as the "East Egg" in "The Great Gatsby." Both homes are surrounded by wildlife, nature trails and picturesque spots that are perfect for setting out a picnic blanket and giving the classic novel a re-read.

The World Of The Great Gatsby: Long Island's Gold Coast originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 24 May 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>19201920sbaz luhrmannBazLuhrmanngatsby gold coastGatsbyGoldCoastgold coastGoldCoastlong islandLongIslandmanhattanmoviesnew yorknew york cityNewYorkNewYorkCitynorth shoreNorthShoreold westbury gardensOldWestburyGardensprohibitionroaring 20sRoaring20ssands pointSandsPointsuffolk countySuffolkCountythe great gatsbythe great gatsby long islandTheGreatGatsbyTheGreatGatsbyLongIslandvanderbilt museumVanderbiltMuseumThu, 24 May 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Airports To Implement Virtual Avatars To Help Tourists]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/airports-to-implement-virtual-avatars-to-help-tourists/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/airports-to-implement-virtual-avatars-to-help-tourists/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/airports-to-implement-virtual-avatars-to-help-tourists/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Virtual reality is becoming part of real life, as three New York-area airports adopt virtual avatars into their customer service program. The avatars are part of an expansive plan to enhance customer travel experience by the Port Authority. Starting in early July, JFK, Newark Liberty and LaGuardia will be the first airports in North America to implement the virtual avatar assistants. These hologram-like workers will provide automated, basic information, like directions to airport gates, shopping advertisements and security checkpoint notifications. And to make them look like real staff, they will wear the signature red coats of the live customer service agents.

"The Port Authority's three major airports - JFK, Newark Liberty and LaGuardia - are gateways to the world, serving over a hundred million fliers annually," said David Samson, Port Authority Chairman. "Ensuring the satisfaction of these customers is a foremost priority, and these initiatives move us closer to achieving that objective."

These basic avatars are just the beginning, as future plans include having interactive virtual agents that can answer questions.

For a better idea of the technology, check out the video above.

Airports To Implement Virtual Avatars To Help Tourists originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 24 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airport customer serviceAirportCustomerServiceairportsbest airportsBestAirportsnew yorkNewYorktechnologyvirtual avatars in airportsvirtual realityVirtualAvatarsInAirportsVirtualRealityThu, 24 May 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Iconic Road Trips: Around Michigan's Upper Peninsula With US Highway 2]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/u-s-highway-2-michigan/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/u-s-highway-2-michigan/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/u-s-highway-2-michigan/#commentsFiled under: , ,



US Highway 2, through Michigan's Upper Peninsula, is pristine. This stretch of road is so relatively far out of the way that its untouched beauty is its main attraction. This trip is 290 miles. You'll want to stop off and take a dip every time you see the waters of Lake Michigan glistening beyond the birch trees, and so you should. That's what I did when I drove across this portion of Highway 2. The actual US Highway 2 spans from Houlton, Maine, to Rouses Point, New York, in one chunk. In another chunk, it spans from Michigan's Upper Peninsula to Everett, Washington. I've driven on parts of 2 both east and west of the UP, but the UP section is my favorite. Begin this drive early in the day and be sure to stop for pasties for lunch. Although the water is cold, no beaches I've been to in the U.S.A. feel quite as clean as the Great Lakes beaches. Make sure to cross the Mackinac Bridge as part of this trip. Not only is it a beautiful bridge, but parts of the water have the same turquoise glow you'll see in the Caribbean.

Continue reading Iconic Road Trips: Around Michigan's Upper Peninsula With US Highway 2

Iconic Road Trips: Around Michigan's Upper Peninsula With US Highway 2 originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 24 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure traveladventure-travelAdventureTravelbest road tripsbestroadtripsbudget travelbudget-travelBudgetTravelfeaturedMichiganmichigan road tripMichiganRoadTriproad triproad trippingroad tripsRoadTripRoadTrippingRoadTripsscenic drivesscenic road tripsScenicDrivesScenicRoadTripsThu, 24 May 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Museum Month: Cockroach Hall Of Fame & Museum, Plano, Texas]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/museum-month-cockroach-hall-of-fame-and-museum-plano-texas/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/museum-month-cockroach-hall-of-fame-and-museum-plano-texas/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/museum-month-cockroach-hall-of-fame-and-museum-plano-texas/#commentsFiled under: , ,


We've covered some pretty weird museums this month here on Gadling. One that may take the prize for the weirdest is the Cockroach Hall Of Fame & Museum in Plano, Texas.

Museum curator and professional exterminator Michael Bohdan opened the museum so he could educate people about a bug that's got a serious knack for survival. As Bohdan points out, cockroaches have been around more than 350 million years and survived a lot of Earth's upheavals that have killed off lesser species, so we might be able to learn something from them.

Wearing his roach-lined fedora, Bohdan takes visitors around the displays, showing off little dressed up bugs such as Marilyn Monroach and Ross Peroach. There's even a Liberoachie that plays the piano. More serious displays tell about roach biology and the amazing ways they've adapted to a wide range of habitats.

For more strange educational experiences, check out more of our articles on weird museums!

Museum Month: Cockroach Hall Of Fame & Museum, Plano, Texas originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 24 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bugscockroachcockroach hall of famecockroach hall of fame MuseumcockroachesCockroachHallOfFameCockroachHallOfFameMuseumexterminatorexterminatorsgrossmuseummuseum monthMuseumMonthmuseumsoddPLanostrangeTexasTexas tourismTexas travelTexasTourismTexasTravelweird museumsWeirdMuseumsThu, 24 May 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World's Largest Chocolate Sculpture To Go On Display In California]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/worlds-largest-chocolate-sculpture-to-go-on-display-in-californ/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/worlds-largest-chocolate-sculpture-to-go-on-display-in-californ/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/worlds-largest-chocolate-sculpture-to-go-on-display-in-californ/#commentsFiled under: ,

World's Largest Chocolate Sculpture
California dessert and pastry school Qzina has just broken the Guinness World Record for the World's Largest Chocolate Sculpture. Modeled after the Kukulcan Mayan pyramid in Chichen Itza, Mexico, the chocolate pyramid took more than 400 hours to construct and weighs 18,239 pounds.

Qzina's chocolate "architects" built an exact scale model of the Mayan temple to celebrate the school's 30th anniversary and to pay homage to 2012, the supposed end of the world according to some interpreters of the Mayan calendar. Measuring one-thirtieth the size of the original Mayan temple, the solid chocolate replica stands at six feet tall with a symmetrical base of 10 feet by 10 feet. Every last detail, from the number of steps up the sides of the temple to tiny figurines modeled to look like Mayan tribesmen, was created out of chocolate. More amazing photos of the chocolate pyramid are available in this Flickr set.

The chocolate sculpture goes on display on June 4, 2012, in the Qzina product showroom in Irvine, California, and will be destroyed on December 21, 2012, the last date on the Mayan calendar. "The method for destruction is yet to be determined," according to the Qzina website.

By the way, the previous world record for a sculpture made of chocolate was held by Italian chocolatier Mirco Della Vecchia, who built the Duomo of Milan out of 10,736.5 pounds of chocolate.

World's Largest Chocolate Sculpture To Go On Display In California originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 24 May 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>californiachocolatechocolate sculpturesChocolateSculpturesGuinness World RecordsGuinnessWorldRecordsNorth AmericaNorthAmericaunited statesUnitedStatesThu, 24 May 2012 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A Traveler In The Foreign Service: A 'Trailing Spouse' Speaks Out]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/a-traveler-in-the-foreign-service-a-trailing-spouse-speaks-ou/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/a-traveler-in-the-foreign-service-a-trailing-spouse-speaks-ou/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/a-traveler-in-the-foreign-service-a-trailing-spouse-speaks-ou/#commentsFiled under: ,

foreign service spouse jen seminaraOne of the most common questions I receive about life in the Foreign Service is: what will my spouse do? With that in mind, I invited my wife, Jennifer, who worked while I served overseas in Macedonia, Trinidad and Hungary, to offer her thoughts on what it's like to be a "trailing spouse."

Jennifer Seminara

I really had no idea what I was getting into when I agreed to be a Foreign Service (FS) spouse. My boyfriend of five years joined the Foreign Service and asked me to marry him right before he left Chicago for his training in Washington. I didn't know where he was headed but a life overseas as a diplomat's wife seemed exciting and I was in.

I was in graduate school at the time, pursuing a master's degree in public health and had grand ideas about working on public health programs in developing countries. At the time, I didn't realize how difficult it is for the "trailing spouse" to have a career.

Being a FS spouse can be a great opportunity to stay home and raise children or pursue hobbies. Housing is covered by the U.S. Government, which makes it much easier to get by on one income, especially when living in a country with a low cost of living. Having a career as a FS spouse, however, is not easy for most.

Continue reading A Traveler In The Foreign Service: A 'Trailing Spouse' Speaks Out

A Traveler In The Foreign Service: A 'Trailing Spouse' Speaks Out originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 24 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>A Traveler in the Foreign ServiceATravelerInTheForeignServiceTrailing SpousesTrailingSpousesThu, 24 May 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Challenge: Learn All Of The Countries In The World]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/a-challenge-learn-all-of-the-countries-in-the-world/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/a-challenge-learn-all-of-the-countries-in-the-world/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/a-challenge-learn-all-of-the-countries-in-the-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,



While in DC a couple of weeks ago with fellow Gadling writers, a few of us hopped into a taxi on our way to dinner. Our driver was an African man from a country he kept under wraps. He told us that if we wanted to find out which country he was from, we'd have to earn our way to the answer through his impromptu trivia. And so we tried to answer his questions.

"You have to exercise your anthropological and geographical versatility to comprehend my country of originality," he teased us.

"I can guess the continent," one of our writers chimed.

"Oh yes, guessability, no problem, Madam," he cooed.

"West Africa?" she guessed.

"Well," he drew out the word for a few seconds. "I will formally agree but I will formally disagree with you. I am an individual of complexity. You want a clue?"

"Yes," we all answered in unison.

"OK. I am going to give you a complex geographical clue. Let me see. Name me 11 countries in the world that have four letters," he began.

Continue reading A Challenge: Learn All Of The Countries In The World

A Challenge: Learn All Of The Countries In The World originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 24 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all of the countries in the worldAllOfTheCountriesInTheWorldcountries in the worldCountriesInTheWorldgeographygeography challengegeography questionsgeography triviaGeographyChallengeGeographyQuestionsGeographyTriviahow many countriesHowManyCountrieslearn geographyLearnGeographylist of all of the countries in the worldlist of countriesListOfAllOfTheCountriesInTheWorldListOfCountriesobscure countriesObscureCountriesthe countries of the worldTheCountriesOfTheWorldThu, 24 May 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Literary Maps By The Literary Gift Company]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/literary-maps-by-the-literary-gift-company/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/literary-maps-by-the-literary-gift-company/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/literary-maps-by-the-literary-gift-company/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


What makes a destination complex and thick with curiosity is its history and culture. These interests shape your perception of and experience in a place. On a trip to Baltimore my family took while I was in high school, I succeeded in convincing my parents to take me to Edgar Allan Poe's grave. Literature often provides a great backdrop to a place; writers describe the ins and outs of a place with beautiful accuracy. And that's why I think these literary maps made by The Literary Gift Company are so cool. These maps of both England and the U.S.A. have been formed with the names of writers from the two countries. If you love travel and literature, check these out here.

Continue reading Literary Maps By The Literary Gift Company

Literary Maps By The Literary Gift Company originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 24 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gifts for readersgifts for writersGiftsForReadersGiftsForWritersliterary gift companyliterary giftsliterary mapliterary mapsLiteraryGiftCompanyLiteraryGiftsLiteraryMapLiteraryMapsliterature giftsLiteratureGiftsmap of englandmap of usamap of writersMapOfEnglandMapOfUsaMapOfWritersThu, 24 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hester Nights Brings Night Market Atmosphere To New York City]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/hester-nights-brings-night-market-atmosphere-to-new-york-city/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/hester-nights-brings-night-market-atmosphere-to-new-york-city/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/24/hester-nights-brings-night-market-atmosphere-to-new-york-city/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

new york city night marketA night market in "the city that never sleeps" might seem like a no-brainer, but somehow the concept has never really caught on in New York City - that is, until now.

Tonight marks the kickoff of Hester Nights, a stylish new night market from the team behind the Lower East Side's popular Hester Street Fair. The weekly Thursday night event will bring Hester's renowned selection of food vendors to the courtyard of the Hotel Eventi, a Kimpton property located in midtown Manhattan's red-hot NoMad (North of Madison Square Park) neighborhood. Offerings will include a mix of global foodie favorites like Taiwanese lunch boxes from Bian Dang, Jamaican jerk chicken wings from Spur Tree and French macarons from Macaron Parlour, as well as a lineup of film and multimedia installations focused on fashion and design. The Hester team has also announced that it will be curating a new lifestyle concept shop at the Eventi, which is slated to open later in the summer.

Hester Nights will run every Thursday, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., until October 25. The Hotel Eventi is located at 851 Sixth Avenue.

Update: Due to thunderstorms, the Hester Nights opening event was moved to Thursday, May 31.

Hester Nights Brings Night Market Atmosphere To New York City originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 24 May 2012 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bian dangBianDanghester nightshester street fairHesterNightsHesterStreetFairhotel eventiHotelEventikimptonmacaron parlourMacaronParlournew york city night marketNewYorkCityNightMarketspur treeSpurTreeThu, 24 May 2012 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Make Father's Day Special With One Of These Packages Offered By Hotels Around The US]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/23/make-fathers-day-special-with-one-of-these-packages-offered-by/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/23/make-fathers-day-special-with-one-of-these-packages-offered-by/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/23/make-fathers-day-special-with-one-of-these-packages-offered-by/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Dad's special day is just around the corner. To help make this Father's Day memorable, check out the unique packages and manly programming being offered by hotels around the country.

father's day Travaasa Austin
Austin, Texas

This Father's Day, the Travaasa Austin is celebrating by featuring a full lineup of manly programming at their nature-immersed property. Some activities dads can expect include:
  • Male Bonding: Texas-Style
  • Beer Making 101
  • Grilling and Smoking with the Travaasa Culinary Team
  • Beer Tasting Experience
  • Discover Your Six Pack: Core Fitness
  • Conquer the Prickly Pear Challenge Course
The hotel will also be featuring a new spa menu and line of products, specially designed with men in mind.

Rates for Travaasa Austin begin at $113 per person, per night, based on double occupancy. Programming is included in the rate. Click here to book.

Continue reading Make Father's Day Special With One Of These Packages Offered By Hotels Around The US

Make Father's Day Special With One Of These Packages Offered By Hotels Around The US originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 23 May 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beerbudget travelBudgetTravelfathers dayFathersDayfly fishingfly-fishingFlyFishinggolfhotel packages for fathers dayHotelPackagesForFathersDayhotelsspa packagesSpaPackagesWed, 23 May 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Adam Yauch 'MCA' Mural In East Village]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/23/adam-yauch-mca-mural-in-east-village/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/23/adam-yauch-mca-mural-in-east-village/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/23/adam-yauch-mca-mural-in-east-village/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Laughing Squid's Rusty Blazenhoff did us all a favor when she took a photo of a mural she recently passed in New York City. At East 7th Street in the East Village, Blazenhoff came across a new mural of the late Adam "MCA" Yauch from the Beastie Boys (Adam Yauch died on Friday, May 4). Created by a team called Cram Concepts, this mural has likely found a welcoming home in the East Village. Go see it for yourself if you're in the area.

Continue reading Adam Yauch 'MCA' Mural In East Village

Adam Yauch 'MCA' Mural In East Village originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 23 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam mca yauchAdam Yauchadam yauch mcaadam yauch muralAdamMcaYauchAdamYauchAdamYauchMcaAdamYauchMuralbeastie boysBeastieBoysgrafittiMCAmca muralMcaMuralmuralnew york artnew york grafittinew york muralnew york muralsNewYorkArtNewYorkGrafittiNewYorkMuralNewYorkMuralsWed, 23 May 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Iconic Road Trips: Blue Ridge Parkway Paradise]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/23/blue-ridge-parkway-north-carolina-and-virginia/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/23/blue-ridge-parkway-north-carolina-and-virginia/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/23/blue-ridge-parkway-north-carolina-and-virginia/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The Blue Ridge Parkway is famous for a reason. It's a 469-mile stretch along the Blue Ridge, which is a mountain chain within the Appalachian Mountains. The mountains out west might be more grandeur, but I grew up in the Appalachians, so this drive has a special place in my heart. Contrast to the jagged, towering, snow-capped mountains you'll see in the western parts of the U.S., the Blue Ridge Mountains are subtler in their majesty. You'll see rolling hills upon rolling hills all the way into the horizon while driving the Blue Ridge Parkway. The park connects the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with the Shenandoah National Park. When you feel moved to stop and take photos of the jaw-dropping landscape, you'll find there are plenty of places to pull over and do just that. Buy some homemade jam, salsa or an assortment of other treats when you stop. These kinds of Blue Ridge specialties are widely available along the route and unlike so many gimmicky regional foods many of these offerings are worth the price.

Continue reading Iconic Road Trips: Blue Ridge Parkway Paradise

Iconic Road Trips: Blue Ridge Parkway Paradise originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 23 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best road tripsbestroadtripsBlue Ridge Park WayBlue Ridge ParkwayBlueRidgeParkwayfeaturedNorth CarolinaNorthCarolinaroad triproad trip ideasroad trippingroad tripsRoadTripRoadTripIdeasRoadTrippingRoadTripsscenic drivesScenicDrivessummer road tripsummer road tripsSummerRoadTripSummerRoadTripsVirginiawhere to road tripWhereToRoadTripWed, 23 May 2012 14:00:00 EST