Trivial

question

Today's trivia takes the form of a photo. Can you tell where this picture, which shows how to get out of town, was snapped? Hint: It's somewhere a lot of snow-shocked people in the northeast U.S. and Canada would like to be right now. (Answer somewhere below.)
 

      (Photo by Carol Horne)

Atlantic City is springing back to life

Perhaps spurred by the success of the HBO series "Boardwalk Empire," Atlantic City, N.J., is making a comeback in grand style with the slogan "Always Turned On."  Here is a sampling of 2011 events:

“[heart] by Atlantic City” weekend, Feb. 12-14

Visitors can enjoy an indulgent weekend dedicated to love with highlights including achampagne and spirits tasting hosted by Master Pastry Chef Jacques Torres and “A Crash Course in Love” hosted by VH1’s "Tough Love" talent Steve and Joann Ward.  Events will take place at Caesars Entertainment four Atlantic City properties – Harrah’s Resort, Caesars, Showboat, & Bally’s.Visit www.heartac.com.

Valentine’s Day Group Wedding Ceremony, Feb. 14

Couples looking to tie the knot on this iconic day can take part in a free Valentine’s Day group wedding, civil union and vow renewal ceremony presented by the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority.  The ceremony will take place in the Ballroom at Boardwalk Hall on Monday, Feb. 14, at 2 p.m. and will include a champagne toast, wedding cake and photo opportunities.  For more information or to pre-register, visit www.atlanticcitynj.com.

Atlantic City Restaurant Week, Feb. 27 - March 5

More than 70 of the area’s best restaurants will offer special three-course prix fixe menus for only $15.11 per person for lunch and $33.11 per person for dinner at this third annual event. Visit www.acrestaurantweek.com.

Atlantic City Beer Festival, April 1-2

This sixth annual event will host over 75 brewers and breweries from around the world.  Participants will have food, live music, entertainment, guest speakers and plenty of beer.  Tickets are $50 at the door or $45 per session in advance. Visit www.celebrationofthesuds.com. 

Pizza Slaughter Fest Competition, May 14

Tony Boloney’s, an Atlantic City original that hails turn-of-the-century Atlantic City style pizza and bad-a** grub will host the second annual Pizza Slaughter Fest beginning at noon. at 300 Oriental Ave.  Activities will include eating contests, live entertainment, face painting and temporary tattoo stations for kids. Visit www.tonyboloneys.com.

Summer Solstice Parade, June

Celebrating the longest day of the year, this parade brings local artists, businesses, organizations, street performers and spectators together on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. Visit www.acsolsticeparade.com.

International Nights, July-August

Free music from around the world with International Nights will be featured at Kennedy Plaza on the Boardwalk.The event takes place every Wednesday in July and August beginning at 7 p.m.  Visit www.acfpl.org.

Atlantic City Airshow “Thunder Over The Boardwalk”, Aug. 17

Called  the largest air show on the east coast, the ninth annual Airshow includes parachute teams, fly-bys and formations performed by military and civilian pilots. The show takes place on the beach and Boardwalk. FoVisit www.atlanticcityairshow.com.

Out in AC, October

This three-day GLBT weekend features concerts, comedians, special events, and after-hours parties at Caesars Entertainment properties including Harrah’s Resort, Bally’s, Caesars and Showboat.Visit http://www.harrahs.com/getoutinac/.

Savor Borgata - An Evening with Borgata Chefs, November

Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa offers an evening with the property’s lineup of award-winning chefs. Participants can sample menu items that showcase wines and spirits of Europe’s French, Spanish and Italian regions, as well as a beer garden with pairings that complement the Mediterranean atmosphere of the evening. Tickets are $100 general admission. Visit www.theborgata.com.

Holiday Celebrations, December

The city will host parades, tree lightings and gift-giving drives, as well as a Kwanza celebration at the Free Public Library and a “Running of the Santas” pub crawl sponsored by Tropicana Casino & Resort. Visit www.atlanticcitynj.com. 

For information on booking a stay and a complete calendar of events, go to www.atlanticcitynj.com.  A listing of annual public shows taking place at the Atlantic City Convention Center is available at www.accenter.com.

 Search Amazon.com for Atlantic City

Pampering pets -- and their 'parents' too

The historic Hermosa Inn in Paradise Valley, Ariz., named one of  Condé Nast Traveler’s top small resorts in the world -- has a Pet Package that includes a one-night stay, a treat for a dog and fruit and bottled water for its owner, an hourlong in-room canine massage, an in-room spa treatment for the canine's owner, a dog walk plus dog movie, breakfast in bed for dog and owner, and a dog bed and bowl. The package starts from $599 per night. Call 800-241-1210 or visit www.hermosainn.com.

Fascinating fact
What time is it in Alaska? Well, the state is in a time zone one hour behind the U.S. West Coast and four hours behind the eastern states. Ah, but there's an exception: The fartherst western islands of the state's Aleutian chain are an additional hour behind. Got that?

How'd you like to win a $30,000 safari?

The Tourism Board of the central African nation of Zambia is launching a worldwide contest to come up with a new slogan and  logo that will brand Zambia as a must-see tourist destination.  The contest is open to anyone over 18 years old. Just come up with a snappy slogan or a great logo design for Zambia Tourism. The prize for each winner is a 15-day, $30,000 trip for two to Zambia. The contest launched today and closes on Feb. 25. The contest can be followed on Facebook (Zambia Tourism) and on Twitter . For more information visit the competition page of Zambia Tourism. 

Trivial answer

Visitors to the Caribbean, where there is no snow,  may have recognized the sign pictured high above as being in Grand Cayman island, specifically Rum Point.

Meet Costa Rica, the happiest nation in the world

Travelers embrace Costa Rica's beaches and the greenery in its scenery.

This weekend's announcement declaring Costa Rica the happiest place on earth may have surprised many people. Ah, but there are other ways to measure happiness than the amount of bills stuffed into your wallet. The Happy Planet Index looked at three principal areas: a life expectancy,  citizens' satisfaction with their lives,  and a country's ecological footprint. While pondering all that, let us take a closer look at that pretty and peaceful Central American country.

* Costa Rica means "Rich Coast."  Good thing, because the country has 800 miles of coastline.

* Their McDonald's restaurants have home delivery.

* While violence, political and otherwise,  is not unknown in other Central American countries, Costa Rica has a stable democracy. More than that, it was the first country in the world to abolish its army.  

*Instead of referring to their wives as "my better half," men say (in Spanish) that their wives are "the better half of my orange."

* Costa Ricans refer to themselves as  Ticos  (males) or  Ticas  (females). 

* Life expectancy among its 4 1/2 million people is about 77 1/2 years. (The U.S. figure is 78.1.) The literacy rate exceeds 96 percent.

* The diversity of its wildlife is breathtaking. There are about 52 species of hummingbirds, four   species of monkeys, and four kinds of toucans. There are about 34,000 species of insects, not all of whom contribute to the happiness factor.

*Instead of saying, "She gave birth," Costa Ricans often say, "She gave light." 

* There are more than 120 volcanic formations.

* Speed bumps are referred to as "dead persons."

* More than one-fourth of the country's land is in national parks or other protected areas.

The Happy Planet Index report was  published by the New Economics Foundation, which studied 143 countries before placing Costa Rica at the top. And the United States? It came in 114th. 

For Costa Rica tourism information, click here.

Hurry, hurry: Crystal Cruises plans a 3-day sale

On  July 8, 9 and 10,  Crystal Cruises is offering 25 percent  additional savings on five already discounted itineraries this fall and winter. The extra  savings,  from $885 to $2,000 per person, apply to all deluxe outside and veranda category staterooms on its Sept. 26 Mediterranean cruise, a November itinerary from New York to Bermuda and the Caribbean, a Nov. 12 trans-Atlantic voyage, a Dec. 5 South American and the Amazon journey and a Dec. 10 Panama Canal transit. With the savings, and depending upon the cruise, prices will start at $2,300-$4,050 a person. Also, Crystal's  "All Inclusive -- As You Wish" program provides an additional $500-1,000 per person in  shipboard spending credits.  

The website is www.crystalcruises.com.

Trivial question

What is the world's most densely populated country? Answer Wednesday.

Kansas vacations at $30 per person per day

AAA has rated Kansas among the top five least expensive states to visit, and this summer vacation plans start at less than $30 per person per day, including lodging. Among the adventurous offerings, based around dinosaurs and other fabulous fossils; a quirky itinerary that will take you to such sights as the home of the world’s largest ball of twine; nature-based traveling; and a cowboys-and-cattletowns itinerary.

Visit www.travelks.com or call 785-296-2009.

Worth quoting

"He that is a traveler must have the back of an ass to bear all, a tongue like the tail of a dog to flatter all, the mouth of a hog to eat all that is set before him, the ear of a merchant to hear all and say nothing."

-- Thomas Nashe (1567-1601), English playwright

A hotel's reading choices for the digital age

EPIC, a new and upscale boutique waterfront hotel in Miami,  is going to give guests their choice of ways to read books, including  best-sellers and new releases.The EPIC Page Turner guest reading program will provide complimentary books, access to Sony Reader Digital Books, and an online choice where guests can access book excerpts from the  in-room desktop computer.  Author visits and signing events held during EPIC’s complimentary evening wine hour are also planned.

For more information, click here or call 866-760-3742. 

Were you standing where you thought you were?

Thousands upon thousands of people have had their pictures taken standing at the Four Corners Marker, where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah were said to meet. But in case you missed the news reports, the National Geodetic Survey found that the actual spot where you can  stand simultaneously in the four states is about 2 1/2 miles west of the marker. Update: The National Geodetic Survey says those reports were erroneous. See July 8 entry.

When it comes to hotel rooms, it pays to haggle

A new survey by Consumer Reports says that of people who tried to negotiate for a lower hotel rate, 83 percent were successful.