International Travel Article

There are some really exciting vacation destinations throughout the world just waiting to be discovered by you and your family. Here are just a few great ideas for a truly fascinating journey.

Visitors are attracted from all over the world to a small village in Lapland. It is 200 km north of the Arctic Circle in Jukkasjarvi, along the Torne River. It is called the Ice Hotel and is what the name suggests. A hotel built of ice and snow. It apparently is the largest in the world and the first of its kind.

The building must be done each year and much work goes into the making of the Ice Hotel, but it is much more than that. It is an amazing work of art. The process starts as soon as winter begins around the middle of November. Ice blocks are harvested from the Torne River and it takes a team of artists from around the world to design and create this magnificent structure.

The first part of the hotel is open by the middle of December with the opening of the Main Hall, Lobby and the Absolut Icebar. The Ice Church is completed next and the construction is completed by the end of December with a total of 60 rooms.

Thousands will visit the Ice Hotel to sleep in the rooms made of ice and snow, many of those people are couples who used the Ice Church to make wedding vows.

As spring arrives the hotel is closed for another season until the work can begin again and another work of art can be produced.

Grand Canyon National Park is located in north-western Arizona and is considered a Heritage Site. There are so many things to see and do no wonder there are close to five million visitors to the park each year. The park itself covers 1,218,375 acres with a spectacular view of the forces of nature at work through erosion, which has shaped the landscape and continues to do so.

The South Rim of the park is open all year, but the North Rim is closed from late October until May. There are many activities available at the park including hiking, fishing, camping, backpacking, rafting, mule rides and more. There is a visitor's centre with maps and brochures, programs for children and exhibits to view about the history of the park. Only the very adventurous get to the bottom of the Canyon. Those who are backpackers, or hikers or river rafters travelling down the Colorado River get to see what lies below the Rim.

The Taj Mahal is considered one of the eight wonders of the world. It's beautiful white marble construction is magnificent and the architectural design is beyond compare. It was built as a monument by Shah Jahan, the Emperor of India, to immortalize his wife the queen who died in childbirth. The name Taj Mahal is a derivation of her name. It was built as a Mausoleum and in the lower chamber lays the grave of the queen as well as her husband.

The construction is a blend of Islamic, Persian and Indian architecture. It took twenty-two years to construct it and thousands of workers. There are five principal elements of the complex, a main gateway, garden, jawab, mosque and mausoleum.

These were designed according to the Mughal building practice, which allows no additions or alterations. There is a central dome flanked by four minarets. The mausoleum has chiselled into it passages from the Qur'an and the entire area is decorated with inlaid flowers and gems. There is an elaborate garden with several reflecting pools to set off the magnificent landscape and buildings.

Niagara Falls doesn't just have a spectacular view of the Falls, There are attractions to keep the whole family busy both summer and winter. Considered the honeymoon capital of the world, it is a place where many couples go for a romantic getaway.

There are many attractions on Clifton Hill that can keep a family busy all day. If you are a flower enthusiast you might like to see the Botanical Gardens or the Butterfly Conservatory. See the Niagara Falls and surrounding area from the Skylon Tower or try your luck at the Fallsview Casino. The whole family will enjoy the day at nearby Marineland.

You can have a ride on the Maid of the Mist for those adventurous ones who want to get a close up look at the Falls. The winter is a great time to visit as well to see the Winter Festival of Lights which draws over one million visitors each year. There are three million ground and tree lights as well as over one hundred animated light displays to amaze and dazzle you.

These are just a few of the fun and exciting places you can check out as a couple, family or single person for an experience that is well worth exploring as you search for your own vacation destination.  Valerie Shortt