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TurtleTrek, now open at SeaWorld Orlando

2012 and 2013 sees SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment biggest expansion in its 50 year history!

  

With three new attractions opening at SeaWorld Orlando and Discovery Cove, there has never been a better time to visit.

TurtleTrek, now open at SeaWorld Orlando, gets guests closer than ever before to incredible sea turtles and manatees through nose-to-nose encounters combined with jaw-dropping entertainment, with a first-of-its-kind 3D 360 degree domed cinema attraction. 

If that wasn't enough, opening at Discovery Cove in early summer 2012 is Freshwater Oasis, an all-new attraction featuring swimming and wading adventures and face-to-face encounters with playful otters and curious marmosets.

To top it all off, spring 2013 sees the launch of SeaWorld Orlando's most incredible attraction, Antarctica - Empire of the Penguin dash Never has there been a theme park attraction so cold! 

To enjoy all that SeaWorld Parks & Enterntainment have to offer why not stay in a SeaWorld Official Partner Hotel such as our favourite Doubletree by Hilton at SeaWorld and get the following benefits

·        Early Entry to SeaWorld Orlando and Aquatica on selectdays

·        Complimentary Quick Queue Unlimited at SeaWorld Orlando

·        Access to an exclusive 20-minute tour & SeaWorld Rescue Tour ''highlighting SeaWorld rescue and rehabilitation efforts''

·        Complimentary transportation to SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica, Discovery Cove and Universal Studios Florida

·        10% off all dining options at SeaWorld and Aquatica

·        10% off purchases of $50 or more at Waterfront stores at SeaWorld and Kiwi Traders and Adaptations at Aquatica

Check out these special offers on right now at Tour America;

07Sepx 7 nights

Doubletree by Hilton at SeaWorld &euro849 per person 2 sharing

Special offer 3 Park for price of 2 Park ticket from only &euro98 per person


16Nov x 7 nights

Doubletree by Hilton at SeaWorld &euro757 per person 2 sharing

Special offer 3 Park for price of 2 Park ticket from only &euro98 per person


19Dec x 14 Nights

Doubletree by Hilton at SeaWorld &euro935 per person 4 sharing

Special offer 3 Park for price of 2 Park ticket from only &euro98 per person


Go to www.touramerica.ie/attractions, or call on 01 817 3535, or 021 242 9555.

Highlights of San Francisco

On a recent trip to California I was lucky enough to spend a few days in the beautiful city of San Francisco - although that was not my first impression of the city! On arrival, jet lagged (and with a terrible sense of direction inherited from my mother) I ventured out of my hotel, took a wrong turn somewhere and ended up in an area of the city that most locals tend to avoid - Tenderloin. The colourful characters of the district are probably harmless enough (if people talking to themselves incoherently is harmless to you) but it just wasn’t the San Francisco on the brochure and when I eventually found my way back to my hotel room I wondered if this city stop was a mistake.

Luckily when I meekly left my hotel the next morning it was a very different San Francisco awaiting me. The steep city streets, the beautiful early summer sun and the funky locals all made me smile as I made my way happily toward Chinatown. Chinatown is definitely worth a visit. It’s the largest Chinatown outside Asia and there are plenty of quirky shops and tea tasting outlets to keep you amused for a few hours. Plus there are hundreds of restaurants where the food is authentic, delicious and very reasonably priced.

Haight Ashbury is another district well worth a visit. Located near the Golden Gate Bridge this little neighborhood became the centre of the San Francisco Renaissance and was the hub of drug culture and rock-and-roll by the mid 1960s. Acts like Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead, and Janis Joplin all lived in and around the district and today it still has that same carefree, hippy feel about it. Check out the vinyl record stores, cute cafes and vintage boutiques.

If you want some serious shopping time though hit Union Square in the city centre. All the big names are located there; Macys, Saks, Bloomingdales, Barneys and a host of other shops, boutiques, cafes and art galleries.

A good way to get a sense of the city is to take a city bus tour where you can hop on and off as you please throughout the day. We got a 24 hour pass for about $34 and it took us from Union Square to Fishermans Wharf via numerous great attractions including the Golden Gate Bridge which of course is spectacular.

From Fisherman’s Wharf we hopped on a night tour to Alcatraz with Alcatraz Cruises. Book this in advance as they tend to sell out fast. It’s an audio tour with a presentation at the end and it’s thoroughly engaging. You can also enjoy breath-taking views of San Francisco as night falls.

Another must-do in San Francisco is to rent a bike and cycle across the Golden Gate Bridge to the waterfront community of Sausalito.  Try a company called Blazing Saddles. We spent a leisurely summer morning cycling around the city, then up and over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito for a well deserved lunch before getting the ferry back.

Unfortunately I can’t offer any pearls of wisdom on the night life as we tended to crash out most nights after our busy sightseeing during the day.

Can anyone enlighten us on the best nightspots in San Francisco?

 

My 3 days in Vegas

Just back from my first trip to Las Vegas and I must say it far exceeded my expectations. From the flamboyant hotels to the thrill of the casinos - I revelled in every bit of it. I stayed at Paris Hotel which boasts an Eiffel Tower (half the size of the real one in Paris), an Arc de Triomphe and numerous French restaurants and patisseries. It was a lovely hotel and I’d stay there again, however if you’re in your early twenties and looking for a younger hotel with more pool parties and such then Planet Hollywood and Hard Rock Hotel are the best options for you. Couples with more to spend might try The Venetian which is reportedly gorgeous.

There are hundreds of restaurants to choose from in Vegas and far too many to mention but my advice is to use the coupon book you get from your hotel and you can eat out at some top Vegas restaurants for amazing value. Our 2 favourite finds were Mon Ami Gabi in Paris Hotel and Todai Sushi and Seafood Buffet in Planet Hollywood (all you can eat for $20!).

I didn’t go to see any shows as we only had 3 nights and we were far more interested in chancing our luck on Roulette and Blackjack, but if you want to get a show in then head to the Tix4Tonight box office where you can get up to 50% off tickets for any of the big shows. Blue Man, Cirque De Soleil and David Copperfield still seem to be the most popular.

If casinos and theatre aren’t your thing there are plenty of bars and nightclubs to keep you entertained. Coyote Ugly and Nine Fine Irishmen at New York New York Hotel are worth a visit as is the Voodoo Lounge at Rio. Best idea is to pick up a 24/7 magazine and scout the bars for the best live music and happy hours – you won’t be disappointed!

For those of you who don’t want to recover by the pool during the day there are plenty of other options. Obviously the Grand Canyon is the most popular day tour. There is also great shopping available everywhere and each hotel has a day spa if that is the way you like to rejuvenate. We chose to visit a shooting range as we’re both adrenalin junkies and it’s something we had never tried. We went to Guns and Ammo Garage. We booked over the phone and got a free return pick up from out hotel. This was great as a taxi would have been expensive. I bought the “Ladies Package” (handgun and P90) and he bought the Call of Duty Package” (P90, FN Scar Semi, M4 Carbine and M9). I know this wouldn’t be for everyone but we thoroughaly enjoyed it and I will definitely be going back there on my next visit to Vegas.

Overall it was just a fun packed 3 days and I can’t wait to go back. For amazing flight and hotel packages to Las Vegas visit www.touramerica.ie.

By the way does anybody have any other tips for Vegas?

Susan O'Driscoll