Posts Tagged ‘Canada’

The World’s 5 Most-Visited Tourist Attractions

November 29th, 2011

Times Square, NYC. Photo: Flickr/Loozrboy

Of all the cities in the world, only a few will fall on Travel and Leisure’s list of the world’s 50 most-visited tourist attractions. Looking for something spectacular? Millions of annual visitors can’t be wrong – check out the 5 Most-Visited Attractions around the globe:

Times Square, NYC (39,200,000 visitors/year): An impressive spectacle of neon lights, megastores, Broadway shows, taxis, and countless people. In 2009, pedestrian-only areas with tables and seating were added to space to hang out in the bustling crowd.
Central Park, NYC (38,000,000 visitors/year): 850 acres of green, right in the middle of Manhattan. People flock to the park to relax on the Great Lawn, visit the zoo, take a carriage ride, climb to the top of 19th-century Belvedere Castle, or enjoy one of many other attractions.
Union Station, Washington, D.C. (37,000,000 visitors/year): Since 1907, around 12,000 passengers a day ride this massive station, which features a distinctive mix of Classical to Beaux-Arts to Baroque. But Union Station is also a shopping destination—with over 70 retail stores housed inside, it’s definitely a D.C. must-see.
Las Vegas Strip (29,467, 000 visitors/year): There’s more to Vegas than gambling. Right in the heart of Sin City you’ll find the Bellagio fountains, plenty of shopping, and some of the most entertaining people-watching in the world.
Niagara Falls, NY & Canada (22,500,000 visitors/year): It may not be the tallest waterfall in the world, but Niagara Falls spews 6 million cubic feet of water every minute, which makes it one of the most powerful. It’s also more accessible than many other major falls, which makes it easy for millions to visit.

Want to check out one of the world’s busiest tourist attractions? You’ll probably need a quiet place to relax at the end of the day. >> Stay with Courtyard.

3 of Nature’s Amazing Autumn Displays

September 28th, 2011

[Photo: Flickr/ mricon]

Fall is here, and in some cases, that means it’s the best time to travel. The off-season brings some of the most stunning seasonal attractions–ranging from the best blooms, fall foliage, and harvest seasons—that appear for a limited time only.

Take a look at some of the fall’s most amazing natural displays from Frommer’s:

Fall Foliage in Quebec, Canada
Visit Quebec between September and November for the most breathtaking show of fall foliage. The autumn landscape in this Canadian province is painted with rich reds, yellows, oranges, and gold from the changing leaves of yellow birch and American beech trees mixed with native sugar maples. For the most colorful displays stop by Montreal’s Mont-Royal or Quebec’s Mont Tremblant for the annual Symphony of Colours festival in September and October.

Intrigued by the changing colors of the leaves? Stay with us in Quebec.

Sunflowers in Lop Buri Province, Thailand
Just 96 miles outside of Bangkok is the Thai province of Lop Buri. This historic area is earning an international reputation for its magnificent annual show of sunflowers. Each year between November and January, about 12,000 acres of bright sunflowers transform the hills and valleys of Lop Buri into a vibrant sea of gold. Plan your trip for December to visit the Blooming Bua Tong (Mexican Sunflower) Festival.

Want to be engulfed in golden sunflowers? Stay with us in Bangkok.

Green Season in Costa Rica
If you visit Costa Rica, between May and November, you’ll find positively lush and green scenery in every direction. The rainy season brings the landscape to life – bursting with full plants, flowering orchids, and beautiful rainforests – Costa Rica in the off-season is truly a sight to behold. The rainy season is also the off-season for travel to Costa Rica. So if you’re up for some wet weather you’ll find cheaper airfare and fewer crowds.

Ready for some rain and lush scenery? Stay with us in Costa Rica.

The World’s Most Livable Cities of 2011

September 27th, 2011

[Photo: Flickr/OzMark]

The most livable cities have it all – they’re safe, stable, have impressive culture, clean environment, good education and health care, and strong infrastructure. So if you’re seeking a city that strikes the perfect balance of all these factors –then look no further than Melbourne, Australia. For the first time in decade of livability reporting by the Economist Intelligence Unit, Vancouver, Canada was knocked out of first place and Melbourne happily took over the top position.

Melbourne is the capital, and second most populous city in Australia – and it’s filled with everything any resident (or visitor) could want:

Peruse hidden treasures at the outdoor Rose Street Artist’s Market
Hop from bar to café (and back again) on the eclectic Brunswick Street
Sample international flavors throughout Melbourne’s vibrant food scene
Visit Federation Square. Established in 1999, the square has become a hub for cultural events and exhibits in Melbourne
Or catch a cricket game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground

Check out the nine other cities ranking in the top ten:

Brian's Blog: My Visit to the World's Largest Courtyard Hotel

July 29th, 2008

In my last blog, I told you about my summer vacation to France. Shortly after I returned from France, I took another quick trip to a great city, Toronto, Canada, for the weekend to celebrate a close friend’s birthday.

I had a terrific time there. It was wonderful to see old friends and celebrate a special occasion with them. I always enjoy going to Canada and got to see some of Toronto’s most exciting sights, like the CN Tower, and enjoyed the energetic city center and the dynamic Metro Square.

I also had the chance to stay in the Courtyard Toronto, which is the largest Courtyard hotel in world. This Courtyard is actually even bigger than many of our full service Marriott Hotels & Resorts properties. It has 575 guest rooms and suites on 17 floors! As many of you seasoned business travelers know, that’s huge for a Courtyard! This hotel’s lobby hasn’t been renovated just yet, but it does offer many of the same features as a completely renovated lobby like a 24-hour Market and Wi-Fi.