Attraction of Charlotte, Carolina
Over 2.9 million people visit Charlotte annually. Recognized as a prominent cultural capital, Charlotte continues to build its reputation as a world-class city offering arts, science, and historical attractions. There are several unique museums and historical sites of interest including:
The interactive Levine Museum of the New South which is home to the nation’s most comprehensive interpretation of post-Civil War Southern history.
The Mint Museum of Craft and Design is the sister to the Mint Museum of Art. At 16,000 square feet, it houses one of the country?s largest craft museums.
The James Polk Memorial is the historic birthplace and childhood home of the eleventh U.S. president.
The Discovery Place is an unbelieveable hands on science museum. Visitors should allow plenty of time to explore the acquariams, three-story rainforest, Omnimax Theatre, and the country?s largest planeterium, the Kelly Space Voyager Planeterium.
The Charlotte Nature Museum is designed for those who enjoy the outdoors. This museum houses a butterfly pavillion, an exhibition of Indian relics, live animals, and hands-on interactive exhibits for kids of all ages.
The Charlotte Museum of History and Hezekiah Alexandre Homesite is the county?s oldest stone house dwelling dating back to 1774. The musuem also houses furnishings from 1774 thru 1820, regional artifacts, and a colonial to modern objects archive.?
Attraction of Buffalo, New York
In 1926, the Shea?s Performing Arts Center opened its doors to the public as an arena for music and entertainment shows. It has played host to such artistic legends as Bob Hope and the Marx Brothers. This 300,000-seat facility has been entertaining residents of Buffalo and visitors from the entire nation for over 60 years.
The Wilcox Mansion has a unique place in history, as it is the mansion in which Theodore Roosevelt was inaugurated into the presidency of the United States. Every year, hundreds of visitors come to tour the facility from all over the world.
One of the most beautiful sites to see is the Buffalo-Erie county botanical garden. The garden paradise is situated within a late 1890?s tri-domed Victorian glass conservatory located in South Park, Buffalo. While strolling through these eclectic gardens, visitors can view plantings of exotic flowers from places all around the world. The only thing that is more pleasant than taking a casual stroll through the lovely gardens is the gentle fragrance given off by the large variety of flowers, which permeates the gardens.
Another attraction in Buffalo that thousands of visitors travel to every year are the Buffalo Zoological Gardens. The Gardens were founded in 1875 and is one of the oldest zoos in the country. There are over 1,000 different kinds of animals in this facility, including lions, tigers, gorillas, North American bison and even polar bears. There is also a petting zoo that the little ones enjoy spending time exploring.
Tourists and residents who have a penchant for fishing have named Buffalo ?the small mouth bass capitol world.? Every year thousands of people fish the lakes and rivers of the city for tournaments and casual fishing afternoons.
The winter season, which lasts much longer than in other parts of the country, brings outdoor enthusiasts flocking to the Buffalo region. Skiing and snowboarding are the favorites of both tourists and residents alike, drawing thousands of snow-lovers to the slopes for weekend excursions.
Although skiing and snowboarding are considered the favorite outdoor sports of most locals, tubing and tobogganing are equally as popular. Ice fishing and ice-skating are also favorite activities in Buffalo.
In addition to the year-round population in Buffalo, the winters and summers see a sharp increase in the number of seats filled in local restaurants and hotel rooms. That?s because Buffalo has many attractions that keep tourists returning year and year again.
The most majestic of all tourist attractions is the world famous waterfall, Niagara Falls. Niagara Falls is technically in Canada, but borders the edge of the States. It is along the Erie River situated only half an hour from Buffalo, making it an attraction for tourists and Buffalonians alike. Tourism from Niagra Falls also helps to fuel the economy of Buffalo, as many tourists choose to stay, dine and shop in the town.
Niagara Falls is estimated to be approximately 12,000 years old is one of the Seven Greatest Wonders of the World. Many believe that of all the Great Wonders, the Falls is the most majestic.
Since the inception of the full-fledged tourism industry in 1820, billions of tourists have visited the Falls on both sides of the Canadian-American border. Though the Fall seem to straddle the Canadian-American border, the Falls are in Canada.
Ironically, tourists cannot simply cross the border into the nations without following a strictly limited set of procedures and protocol. If traveling by air, all tourists must show a birth certificate and a passport. A driver?s license is not accepted as a form of identification to cross the border. Parents must provide a birth certificate for each child they take. If a child traveling with an adult tourist is not the tourists? child, the child needs to present a letter from the child?s parents, stating that the child has permission to enter the country. Furthermore, drivers are not allowed to be drinking alcohol or doing drugs or to be impaired by alcohol or drugs in anyway. If any tourist has a ?Driving While Intoxicated? conviction on their record in the United States, he or she is not allowed to drive into Canada, even as a passenger, across the four artery bridges that lead into Canada. Animals are allowed into Canada, but must be disease free and dogs must have proof of immunizations.
Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall, every season holds something fun to do in Buffalo, and everyone who visits invariably returns home with treasured memories that will last a life time.
Festivals
Buffalo hosts a large variety of festivals each year. Most notably, the festival grounds at the pier host gatherings of all kinds. The grounds host a wide variety of events, from boat races to weddings to concerts. There is almost always something exciting happening at the pier, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Many festivals have very long and rich histories in the area.
In 1865, the Juneteenth Festival was created just after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. This now-annual festival is attended mostly by African-American citizens and was originally created to celebrate their freedom from slavery.
Every fall there are crop-specific festivals held in Buffalo. A different festival is held for each of the crops grown that year. The reason for the festival is so that the community of Buffalo can get together and make the work of harvesting, preserving and pickling easier. They then get to relax and enjoy the fruits of their labor together.
The Disco Festival was started in 1979, and has drawn crowds of up to 13,000 people at a time to partake in the music, food and party fun that was popular at the time the festival first began. As one of the only true disco festivals left in the nation, the Buffalo disco festival helps to keep the art and culture of the popular American dancing style alive.
A Taste of Buffalo is another popular annual festival that brings together over 150 different local cuisines and 50 restaurants. A Taste of Buffalo is the 2nd largest food festival in all of the United States, bringing in tourists and residents to indulge their appetites quickly on a variety of types of food.
For the last 45 years, the Allentown Art Festival has ushered in the start of summer. This event brings around 450 people from all over the United States and Canada to walk among the streets viewing art and unique local architecture. At the Allentown Art Festival, there are six scholarships given out each year to those who are interested in perusing an education in art.
Attraction of Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Louisiana State Capitol
The Louisiana State Capitol building was the dream of Governor Huey P. Long and built in a short 14 months. Completed in 1932, the Capitol stands on a 27-acre tract and its 450 feet height and 34 floors allow it to retain the title of the tallest capitol in the United States. The historic building includes the Hall and the Senate and House Chambers and an Observation Deck on the 27th floor where visitors can overlook the city of Baton Rouge. Sadly, Governor Long was assassinated in his dream building in 1935. Alligator Bayou Swamp Tours
Just a few short miles from Baton Rouge lies another world of deep mystery and creatures that lurk in swamps. If you are ready for an adventure, cruise into the wild beauty of the Spanish Lake Basin, a primitive wilderness of swamps, bayous and lakes teeming with alligators, birds, cultural history and the Cajun lifestyle for which Louisiana is famous. Typical wildlife includes alligators, birds, turtles, nutria, and other animal species. Alligator Bayou invites you to explore and learn on a swamp tour and just have a great time entertaining your next corporate or private event on the bayou pavilion.
Houmas House
No visit to Louisiana would be complete without seeing an antebellum mansion. Houmas House Plantation and Gardens promises a genteel experience with all the charm and history of a pre-Civil War era home restored to perfection. The mansion is renowned for its architectural details and the elegant furnishings and accoutrements that still grace its rooms to perfection. Outside the Houmas House Gardens cover 12 acres and feature The Hampton Garden, The Upper Garden and The Croquet Lawn where visitors may stroll and take in the natural Louisiana flora beautiful in every season of the year.
Blue Bayou Waterpark/Dixie Landin? Amusement Park
Blue Bayou Waterpark is the only place to cool off during the hot Cajun summers. Splash to your heart?s content and drench your friends? it?s all fair at the waterpark! If you?re looking for excitement, don?t miss the Mad Moccasins but if you want to relax a bit, the Atchafalaya Run is just what you need. When you?re ready to dry off, step next door to the Dixie Landin? Amusement Park located on 80 acres at I-10 and Highland Road in Baton Rouge. You?ll find fun for the whole family with its thrilling rides, games and much, much more!
Baton Rouge Zoo
The number-one family attraction in the Baton Rouge area is the amazing Baton Rouge Zoo. You can expect to see over 1,800 animals at home including alligators, elephants, giraffes, flamingos and white tigers. Other attractions include The Otter Pond, L’aquarium de Louisiane, colorful Parrot Paradise, New Safari Playground, KidsZoo, the Cypress Bayou Railroad, White Tiger Tram, Safari Post gift shop and the Flamingo Caf
Attraction of Bakersfield, California
The main, large scale attraction of Bakersfield is the Rabobank Arena, home of the local hockey and arena football teams. Rabobank hosts a variety of professional and college sporting events, as well as concerts and theater performances.
Bakersfield?s most appreciated attractions are oriented towards the outdoors: city parks, nature areas, trails, campsites and the Kern River?s rugged shoreline provide a wide selection of activities and experiences to locals and visitors.
Attraction of Arlington, Texas
The best place to see a wide variety of attractions in Arlington is in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex area. In this area, guest can visit the symphony, opera, jazz, ballet, art galleries, dramatic and musical theater, museums of art and science, planetarium, and Omni Theatre. Six Flags over Texas also resides in Arlington. This attraction originally represented the six countries that have had control over Texas in the last 500 years, including Spain, France, Mexico, The Republic of Texas, The Confederate United States, and The Untied States of America. However, Inspired by Disney, Six Flags over Texas became its own theme park, in 1961, eventually becoming the largest theme park in the central states and the southwest. Also in the same area is The Ballpark in Arlington, home of the Texas Rangers, and The Jonnie High Country Music Review. Ripley?s Believe it or Not is also only a short drive away. In addition a plethora of great restaurants and shopping is just minutes away.
Attraction of Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a city that does need commercial theme parks and brand-named attractions. Anchorage is a homespun brand of its own, offer a wide variety of historical, cultural, and scientific attractions. The first place a visitor should stop is Log Cabin and Downtown Visitor Information Center, where the staff can assist is planning and navigating an upcoming trip. Places such as Russian Orthodox Museum and Alaska Native Heritage Center pay homage to the city’s history, whereas Imaginarium: Science Discovery Center and Earthquake Park allow the visitor to investigate the scientific nature of Anchorage. The Anchorage Museum of History and Art is at the center of attractions in Anchorage. Part of the Smithsonian, through The Smithsonian Regional Program, The Anchorage Museum of History and Art allows for visitors and residents alike to experience Native Alaskan culture and modern-day arts. Programs such as Anchorage International Film Festival, All Alaska Juried Exhibition, Annual Read Alaska Book Fair, and The Eskimo yo-yo Competition (in 2005) all serve to educate, entertain, and enlighten all who come through the door.
Attraction of Anaheim, California
The Disneyland Resort began with Disneyland, constructed between July 16, 1954 and July 17, 1955 on 160 acres of what had been orange and walnut orchards. The Resort has come to include several hotels, shopping facilities, and, since 2001, the new Disney?s California Adventure Park. Downtown Disney between Disneyland and Disney?s California Adventure Park is a resort-style public shopping between the two theme parks. The Disney light rail station is located within Disney Downtown.
Angel Stadium is the home of the newly and controversially re-named Los Angeles Angels at Anaheim baseball team and is the location of a huge regional train station, where Amtrak California lines and Metrolink lines out of Los Angeles meet, permitting easy access to baseball games and smooth transfers from metropolitan to regional transit.
Opened in 1993, the Arrowhead Pond is the hockey arena, home of the Anaheim Ducks (until recently known as the Mighty Ducks) NHL hockey club. The venue?s odd name is a product of a $15 million licensing agreement for naming rights between the arena management and the Arrowhead Mountain Springwater Company, headquartered in Los Angeles. The Pond seats 17,174 when configured as a hockey arena and 8400 when configured as an amphitheater, The Theater at the Arrowhead Pond, and has eighty-four luxury suites
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