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For something different, when choosing hotels in New York City, the boutique variety may be the way to go.   It’s a unique way in which to experience one of the world’s great cities, and one of the best ways to relax after exploring all that Manhattan Island has to offer, from the neighborhoods of Soho and Tribeca, to Downtown Midtown and Upper Manhattan.  All of these places offer great places to stay, but also excellent places in which to experience the culture of the city, from cuisine to clubs, from theater to perhaps one of the most famous parks on the planet, Central Park.

Central Park started out when New York City was only a half million strong (as compared to today’s population of eight million plus) around 1844, one hundred and sixty-six years ago.  The editor of the Evening Post, William Cullen Bryant, wanted to establish a green, open space in the city; otherwise, the fast-growing town would eradicate the natural surroundings.  The land was purchased for five million dollars between Eighth and Fifth Avenues and from 106th to 59th Street.  In 1857, a competition was held in order to design the new park.

As the 19th Century continued, engineers and architects tried to figure out a way to turn the purchased land, which was muddy and swampy, into a place people actually wanted to visit.  The solution was to bring in topsoil from New Jersey, about five hundred thousand cubit feet of it.  Boulders were blown apart with gun-powder.  Bridges and arches, thirty-six in all, were constructed, as well as six bodies of water.

Today you can enjoy over 843 acres of parkland, including woodlands and lawns (136 and 250 acres each ), as well as seven bodies of water (150 acres).  You may dine at the Tavern on the Green or visit the Belvedere Castle (created in 1872 — at one time you were able to go to the castle to view the Croton Reservoir, but this reservoir was filled in to become the Great Lawn decades ago.  The Park is one of the key features of the city, with about 9,000 benches and 58 miles of paths for pedestrians.  Check out the Carousel, as well as all the sculptures (51 in all).

Central Park is an excellent tonic for whenever the city’s concrete and skyscrapers become overwhelming, a fact for which you may thank William Cullen Bryant.

There are many reasons to visit the New York neighborhood of Little Italy.  From the history of the neighborhood and the historical points of interest, to the plethora of authentic Italian restaurants, bistros and cafes.  This has long been a favorite spot in a city with so many different neighborhoods to choose from.  One of the best times to find a small, NY boutique hotel in this neighborhood and to make plans to stay for at least ten days, is during the month of September and the 10 day festival, The Feast of San Gennaro.  This is not only the longest festival in the entire city of Manhattan, but the most long running and famous of them as well.  2010 will mark the 83rd Annual Festival, and will donate all of the proceeds, as they have done for the last 13 years, to the Children of San Gennaro, which is a non-profit organization that benefits the well being and the education of the children of Little Italy.

San Gennaro is the patron saint of the Italian city of Naples, and the newly arriving immigrants continued on with this traditional feast upon their arrival to the city beginning in the 1920’s.  Originally, this was a one day celebration, but now has become ten days of celebration, religious ceremonies, feast and parades that wind through the neighborhood, along Mulberry and Mott, between Houston and Canal.  Once the parade has commenced, everyone attends Mass at the Most Precious Blood Church, which houses the national shrine in honor of San Gennaro.  The atmosphere is that of a large party, but it is imbued with the religious traditions of the early immigrants and ancestors.

This is a time when the more than forty of the most famous restaurants in Little Italy literally roll out the red carpet, for those in the neighborhood as well as the many visitors who travel here to celebrate.  Along with the fine meals to be found in the restaurants, the streets are filled with food stalls, all set in the decorative banners and colorful flowers, offering food, merchandise and goods.  It seems odd to say that this is one of the best times to visit the city, as many times throughout the year can be considered “the best time to visit” the city, however it is a truly wonderful time to experience the traditions and the flavor of the neighborhood of Little Italy.

The South African Museum is the oldest of the the sub Saharan region of Africa. The collection housed here is not only meant for exhibition, but is designed to stimulate and educate as well as to entertain. As well as paintings and sculpture, artifacts from the the archaeological world and the natural world are displayed, such as the incredible rock art, displays which depict the reptiles and mammals of the Karoo, and the preserved fossil specimen of the now extinct species, Quagga. The only specimen of this species in the world is at this museum. Many travel to this area and find accommodations at the best hotels. South Africa has a rich cultural history and one that is immense, so it may be necessary to spend a few days wandering throughout the different sections of the museum. The history is diverse, and the specimen collection here represents that. The museum is located in a magnificent historical building which has been updated with modern architectural facilities. Showcased here is not just the history of the natural world, but the history of the people of this region of Africa.

The museum which was founded in 1925, has been adding to their collections for more than two hundred years. This is also the only South African museum which is connected to a planetarium. The shows at the planetarium change regularly and are definitely something not to be missed when touring the region. The collections in the archaeological realm vary from tools of the Stone Age, more than one hundred thousand years old, to fossils of fish and insects discovered one week ago. There are displays of clothing that was traditional during the last century, to those that are worn today. This museum is the key to understanding the history, and the present times, of the country. The cultural and biological elements that have contributed to the evolution of the African societies are illustrated throughout and will leave travelers and tourists with the understanding and the knowledge of the earth, of the country of Africa, and of her people.

Just off the coasts of the tip of South Africa, two oceans meet. These great oceans are the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean. From this location, the city of Cape Town offers travelers total visual experiences of the marine life just off of the shores, most of those capable of being witnesses from the beach itself. From the windows of the best Cape Town hotels and apartments, one is able whale watch, with all the comforts of being on dry land. This is one of the best venues worldwide. Every year, the migration of the Southern Right Whales takes place off the coast. The females give birth and nurse their young in the waters just off shore beginning in August and continuing through the month of November. Of the seventy eight species of dolphins and whales throughout the world, thirty seven of those can be found in the waters off the coast of South Africa.

The migration of the great Humpback whales takes place from May to December every year. And the Bryde Whales are in the waters, a bit further out to sea, all year long. There are many spots along the coast of the Cape which provide the opportunity to witness these large animals, a few of them being Saldanha Bay, Elandsbaai, Cape Town, and Yzerfontein. There is a local paper that lists the schedules of the ‘whale events’ throughout the year called the “Whale Crier“. This gives those interested a heads up on the activities of the whales and the most current sightings reported. And in the town of Plettenberg there is a whale ‘hotline’ number that lists current sitings and the times when the whales are seen to be close to shore. The waters surrounding the coasts are now protected, so as to give these animals the environment that is so rightly their own, to bear their young and continue on with their natural migratory patterns.

On this Spanish island of Ibiza, there is much more life than the ‘night-life’ the island has become so well known for. One hundred and seventy one migratory species have been identified, 5 various species of mammals, of which the monk seal is included and is currently on the top ten endangered species list, eleven species of reptiles and fifty-six endemic species of invertebrates. Most are living along the coasts, in the saltworks and lagoons. One of the few endemic pine tree forests left in Europe is on the island. Combine that life with sea grass and incredible reefs of corral, and a small form of marine life, of the 220 different species, the most concentrated area of life in all of the Mediterranean Sea, Ecteinascidea turbinata , discovered to have certain properties that combat and prevent various cancer forms, and it becomes quite clear that the government’s decision to declare this region protected, as just, valid and necessary.

The population of the two largest cities on the island, Sant Josep and Sant Francesc, combines to total just over 15,000 people. Not long ago, in 1995 the Nature Reserve, ‘Salinas de Ibiza y Formentera’ received the support and backing of the Spanish Government. It is now nominated to become a Heritage Site, Mixed Natural and Cultural. For just as the treasures found living today shed some light,archaeological findings have been discovered, more than ten underwater sites dating back to Stone Age, none have been thoroughly excavated or study as of yet. So just next to the patios and verandas of the luxury Ibiza hotels, lie the key to understanding the history of the island and her people. By study of these sites, more knowledge will be gained concerning the trade and interaction between the islands and the rest of the world. And by excavating the various underwater caves, must is to be learned about the evolution of the societies now living on the island. Preservation of the life now existing, and the preservation of the life that came before is the concern of the Reserve. With only ten permanent employees and various experts and scientists now traveling to the island, not only for the night life but the day life as well, the organization is hoping to discover the past and gain knowledge for the future co-habitation of the wildlife and the humans that are living together.

A wonderful blend of traditional India and modern metropolis, Chennai offers a unique and exciting experience to the many visitors who arrive each year. As the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu, Chennai is the center of Tamil culture in the world, including dance forms such as Bhratanatym, and films in the Tamil language, not mention the delicious Tamil cuisine. Tourists will enjoy staying in the luxurious 5-star hotels in Chennai, bargain hunting in the city’s many markets, and perhaps relaxing on one of the beautiful beaches. Still, the city has more to offer, in the form of its many historical and cultural sites, such as Fort St. George.

Fort St. George is the current home of the Tamil Nadu Parliament as well as the Secretariat. The church of St. Mary, which is the oldest Anglican church in all of India is housed within the Fort. It also encompasses the Fort Museum and Wellesley House. There is still an active troop garrison in the fort, which can be used to quarter troops on their way to various South India locations. While some areas are secured, visitors are allowed to visit parts of the Fort.

The English Company of the Eastern Indies built Fort St. George between 1639 and 1653. Named for the patron saint of England solidified British control of the area. The walls of the fort are six meters high. Although the Fort was briefly under French control in the 1740s, it remained a British stronghold throughout the colonial period.

St. Mary’s Church was completed in 1680. The church is nicknamed the “Westminister Abbey of the East” and holds the oldest British tombstones in the country. The Fort Museum exhibits artifacts from the colonial period from Great Britain, India, and even France. This includes uniforms, coins, medals, coins, and portraits and statues of colonial leaders. Wellesley House also holds likenesses of the Forts Governors and other colonial officials. The museum’s ramparts feature the canons of Tipu Sultan.