The Windy City bursts into bloom each spring. This fact is most evident in the annual Chicago Park District Spring Flower Shows. The Shows run during the early spring, ending on Mothers Day, and encompass two locations: the Lincoln Park Conservatory and the Garfield Park Conservatory.

Garfield Park Conservatory is one of the largest in the country. It spans 4.5 acres and is a little over 100 years old. It has several permanent collections and a standing exhibit on how sunlight “feeds” plants. The Lincoln Park Conservatory dates back to the late 1800s and is housed in an impressive Victorian glass house. It features ancient fern species, rare orchids, and tropical plants in addition to native blooms.

During the annual Flower Show, residents and visitors to the city will have the opportunity to see spring flowering plants at their best. The Show traditionally highlights azaleas, especially the great azaleas that have been a Chicago landmark since the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. Many of the blooms featured in the show are direct descendants of those original blooms.

Tourists heading to the city and armed with a Go Chicago Card will probably have a full schedule of sights to see. They should definitely consider adding the show to their itinerary to get the full springtime in Chicago experience.

Chicago Parks in Bloom is a post from: Scape Now News and Views

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As society becomes more mobile and business becomes more global, the number of people who travel regularly is increasing. No longer are rock stars the only ones who globe trot as consultants, executives, and other business workers find that their job is no longer limited to one city, state, or country. At the same time more people are finding freedom from the confines of nine-to-five jobs and figuring out how to make money from their personal brand, which allows them the ability to travel the world without missing a beat.

A common need of all these travelers is health insurance. Unlike traveler insurance, global health insurance is designed for the long term. It provides comprehensive medical coverage in every country, including the US so that constant travelers don’t need to carry multiple policies. It’s also a good option for non-immigrant workers in the United States who aren’t eligible for the same policies as residents.

A good global health insurance policy will have provisions for emergency treatment, preventative medicine, and medical evacuation. Better policies also offer maternity and mental health coverage when needed. This coverage is ideal for so called permanent travelers, cruisers, and international workers.

The Benefits of Global Health Insurance is a post from: Scape Now News and Views

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September 30th kicks off the 10th annual Bike Fest in Vegas . The city is bracing itself for more than 30,000 bikes to gather for competitions, concerts, a custom bike show, the Miss Las Vegas Bike Fest Competition and a huge Vendor Village. It’s a chance for bikers to relax, have fun, and check out the latest and hottest new bikes and accessories. The Fest will take place at various locations including some of the iconic hotels Las Vegas is famous for.

One of the main attractions is the Vendor Village. This year the Village will be home to 250 booths offering motorcycles, parts, and accessories. There will also be unique bike exhibitions and lots of biker apparel available for purchase. As part of the 10th Anniversary, there will be three separate Grand Prize Giveaway motorcycles, including a 2010 Triumph Speedster , a 2011 Harley-Davidson (winner’s choice of three models), and a 2010 Harley-Davidson Custom Fatboy. There will also be a special drawing for a custom Coffin Couch.

Popular events include bikini contests, wet t-shirt contests, cruising the Strip, and plenty of concerts and parties. Whether bikers are there for the poker runs, the competitions, the beer bashes, or the rock and roll, the main draw remains the chance to be with other motorcycle fans and celebrate their rides.

Bikers Head to Las Vegas is a post from: Scape Now News and Views

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South Africa has has some really nice wine exported around the world in the past few decades. It makes sense that the wine would be good because the climate is actually perfect for growing wine. While you visit Cape Town get out and see some of the wineries that are nearby. They have hundreds of wineries to visit.

Take a drive through along the Constantia Wine Route which has eight different wineries along the the way. This area has actually been making wine since the late 1600s. This particular route has some of the most famous wine producers of the whole country all right in a row. They have always been popular with the aristocrats of Europe and now America has been taking notice.

Take a tour and wine tasting at vineyards like Steenberg, Constantia Uitsig, Buitenverwachting, Klein Constantia, Groot Constantia, High Constantia, Eagles Nest and Constantia Glen. The grounds are breathtaking along with the views of the valleys. Each winery has its own flair and style. All of the grown a number of the popular grapes and age into wines such as Chardonnay, Semillon, Merlot, Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Frac and Pinotage. All you need now is a ride from the lobby of one of the Cape Town hotels and you’re off for a wonderful jaunt through the grape lands.

Something to Wine about in Cape Town is a post from: Scape Now News and Views

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When you visit Zurich, Switzerland it can be difficult to decide where to begin your sight seeing adventures. It is an incredibly beautiful city and serves a major cultural center for the country. It is also the largest city in Switzerland and attracts millions of tourists every year. The architecture alone in this historic city could account for the entire visitation agenda for many trips. Though there are also some incredible cultural attractions and entertainment options that you will definitely not want to miss. From museums to theatres and also some great restaurants, nightclubs and shopping opportunities, there is a great deal to do and see in this beautiful city.

If you’d like to tour some of the architectural aspects of Zurich, which actually you can’t help but doing just by visiting the city, you will want to visit the Old City District and pay attention to the works of Gustav Gull. He was a prominent late 19th century architect who is responsible for building the Swiss National Museum among other buildings. There are numerous cultural attractions in the city and the Zurich Opera House is extremely popular with the guests in one of the city’s great hotels. In Zurich you can find great theatre, music and all other forms of performance arts and it is common to find a great Shakespeare production or interpretation of Goethe’s Faust .

Architecture and Performances in Zurich is a post from: Scape Now News and Views

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Imagine driving back from a trip to Las Vegas through the Mojave Desert , and your check engine light comes on, or your air conditioner or your alternator stops working. The check engine light might just be an electrical problem or a warning about something worse. No air conditioning in a desert is certainly a problem, but no alternator is an even greater one. Without it, you’re hoping you have a cell phone that receives a signal, because you may not be traveling again without a tow truck. If you don’t know anything about your car’s engines, you’ll be forced to trust whatever mechanic you can find. However, with a little preparation before your trip, you can learn a few things about auto repair .

Basic automotive repair information may be found online, and will give you a fighting chance to know what an unknown mechanic is talking about. Familiarity with how an engine works, and, more specifically, how the engine of your particular car works, is crucial in these situations. Reviewing repair manuals for your vehicle is one way to be prepared; you may not be able to fix the car yourself, but at least you’ll know what the mechanic is talking about, and whether or not the mechanic may be trusted.

Aside from packing your vehicle with water and food, knowing your car’s capabilities inside and out is the best defense against a breakdown — unless, of course, you win big in Las Vegas. In that case, you can always buy a new car when yours breaks down.

Auto Repairs and Breaking Down is a post from: Scape Now News and Views

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When in Arizona a ‘must-do’ is WestWorld Equestrian Center of Scottsdale . WestWorld is nationally recognized as a premier equestrian and special event facility that provides recreation and entertainment for the entire family.

This open-air arena is home to a great number of horse shows, international car exhibitions such as the world-renowned Barrett Jackson Classic Car Auction and many other exciting activities throughout the year, like the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show, and the McDowell Mountain Music Festival .

Coming August 22, 2010, is the Blue Ribbon Horse Show; on August 28th the AZ Reining Horse Fool ‘em and School’em, which is an event where competitors have to complete one of 10 approved patterns in the arena, for instance, a trademark pattern may include large and small circles of various speeds, flying lead changes, 360 degree spins in place, roll backs and sliding stops; all geared to show the close relationship between the horse and its rider and fun for the whole family.

If horsing around doesn’t suit you, check out WestWorld’s Sanctuary Golf Course, built on the Western slope of Scottsdale’s McDowell Mountains right next door to the equestrian center. Acclaimed golf course designer Randy Heckenkemper has transformed the Bureau of Reclamations’ storm water retention area into one of the premier Scottsdale golf courses; 6,624 yards, par-71 and a haven for native plants and wildlife; it even acquired status with the Audubon Society.
The WestWorld Equestrian Center and Sanctuary Golf Course is located at 16601 N. Pima Road, next to several five star hotels Scottsdale is renowned for throughout the world.

WestWorld is Scottsdale’s Best Outdoor Event Venue is a post from: Scape Now News and Views

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When you’ve had a great day of golf in Rancho Mirage , then it’s time to have a great meal at ‘Shame on the Moon’ restaurant , located at 69550 Frank Sinatra Drive. This restaurant is warm and extremely welcoming with its busy main room and romantic patio and has been serving its desert patrons since 1983. There’s nothing better than to sit down to a great Continental cuisine as you and your golf partner recount your great day of golf.

The menu, under the direction of Jorge Villabona features everything from wild mushroom ravioli to one of the best sauteed calf’s liver in town. The homemade veal meatloaf served with garlic mashed potatoes, and the grilled filet mignon glazed with a fabulous blue cheese Cabernet sauce is an exquisite, tantalizing dish not to be missed. The desserts are made right on the premises, including a tasty banana napoleon and the freshest creme brulee possible.

The menu is extensive and expensive, but still less than its competitors, and besides the cuisine, it’s the staff you’ll fall in love with, from the moment the Hostess, Ginger, greets you by name and escorts you to your table, which by-the-way, also has your name on a placard, to having a cocktail at Johnny’s bar, to the wait staffs excellent personal service, you’ll feel as if you’re one of the family. Plus, now that it’s summer, Shame on the Moon offers a summer special, their annual summer $19.95 three-course menu, which is available Sunday through Friday until August.

As you head back to your hotel Rancho Mirage offers its resort guests, you’ll regale in the most excellent day of golf and a night of excellent dinning. Even if the next day, your golf game is a little off, head on back to ‘Shame on the Moon’, where the staff and the food will make you only remember the good swings.

No Shame in Rancho Mirage is a post from: Scape Now News and Views

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There are so many beach and coastal towns and cities in Florida and each of them seems to offer their own thematic atmosphere and various cultural attractions and activity structures. And this is particularly true for Panama Beach, which has one of the state’s paradise like beach atmospheres. It is not as populated and chaotic as some of the major spring break locations such as Fort Lauderdale, which has its own attractive charm and tourist interest, though the pristine and more quiet sands of Panama Beach are perfect for romantic getaways. And you can frequently find honeymooners and anniversary celebrating couples on these beaches.

Panama Beach is also a great place for families to enjoy their summer vacations. The beaches are full of fun and friendly family oriented attractions and many of them are specifically intended to satisfy the imaginations of children. From Ripley’s Believe it or Not to the Shipwreck Island Waterpark, there are exciting, enticing and fun loving activities and establishments that will make your stay in a one of the hotels Panama Beach the best vacation your family has ever experienced.

Ripley’s Believe it or Not is a three story museum that includes fifteen galleries of some of Ripley’s odd attractions and relics. Many of these have been part of the world-based rotation tours and the items always create a curious fascination with visitors. The Shipwreck Island Waterpark encompasses twenty acres and is all about family fun. The Lazy River is one of the most popular features in the park and it is a relaxing ride through Panama Beach and it includes great views through lush landscapes. The Tadpole Hole is a favorite for young children and is also intended specifically for their enjoyment. This waterpark has something for everyone and is a great way to spend your afternoon.

Family Fun at Panama Beach Attractions is a post from: Scape Now News and Views

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Oregon has some very interesting and mysterious things going on. The most mysterious place to visit in the state is The House of Mystery which lies on a piece of land that is considered a vortex. All sorts of strange things happen right in front of ones eyes that are unexplainable for most people. See bottles roll up hill or how people seem to just get shorter or taller depending on where they stand. It is near the town of Gold Hill and it has been entertaining travelers since the 1930s. This place is really fascinating but you may want to check into one of the best hotels in oregon to get some real rest. The accommodations here are a little rough.  

If you find yourself in the Eastern part of the state check out the Wallowa Lake Tramway . This a great way to catch a view of the Eagle Cap Wilderness as you float up to the top of Mt. Howard on a tram. When visitors reach the top they are encouraged to take a walk or hike on some of the trails and see the plant life and other vegetation.  

The Pendleton Underground Tours is anther interesting tour. The town of Pendleton has a whole tour of the underground town where the Chinese railroad laborers lived. There are underground businesses including the Hop Sing’s Chinese laundry and a card room used during the Prohibition years in the 1920s. This is another almost unbelievable live lived in the history of the state.  

Then there is all of the interesting and fun activities going on along the Columbia River Gorge as it flows from the Eastern region to the Western region. On a windy day one can see many windsurfers and boats playing in the white tipped waves. There are plenty of ways to join in the fun with water sport companies to get you hooked up with a fun toy.

Interesting and Mysterious Oregon is a post from: Scape Now News and Views

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