Los Angeles is as much a fantasy as it is a physical city. A mecca for face-lifts, film noir, shopping starlets, beach bodies, and mind-numbing traffic, it sprawls across 467 square mi; add in the surrounding five-county metropolitan area, and you’ve got an area of more than 34,000 square mi.

credit: tourist-destnation.com

Things to do

1. The Getty Center - 1200 Getty Center Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90049 (Central L.A)

Spectacular museum boasts a most impressive collection by such luminaries as Van Gogh, Monet and Cezanne, along with the architectural triumph of its six buildings and gardens.

2. Nethercutt Museum- 15151 Bledsoe St, Sylmar, Los Angeles, CA 91342 (North San Fernando Valley)

The Grand Salon showcases cars of the 1910s to 1930s. There are also collections of furniture, dolls, timepieces and one of the world’s finest collections of mechanical musical instruments.

3. Magic and Wine Tasting with David Minkin- 1737 Vine Street, Los Angeles, CA 90028 (Hollywood)

4. Walt Disney Concert Hall - 135 N. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (Central L.A)

Home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, this concert hall is designed to be one of the most acoustically sophisticated in the world.

5. Griffith Observatory- 2800 E. Observatory Rd., In Griffith Park, at the end of Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027

A public observatory owned and operated by the City of Los Angeles for the benefit of all. Located in on Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park, the Observatory offers a planetarium, exhibits, public telescopes, cafe, bookstore, and the best views of the Los Angeles basin. Admission and parking are free, and visitors may drive directly to the Observatory and park in its lots and roads.

Source: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g32655-Activities-Los_Angeles_California.html

How to Hail a Can in NYC

Willie Sierra, a bellman at the Mandarin Oriental New York ($$$$),shows us how to flag down a cab like a real New Yawker.

• Step off the curb and extend your arm. It’s the best way to claim your corner. If the medallion number on the roof of the cab is lit up, it’s available.

• Need a ride to the airport? Flap your arms like a bird. Pedestrians may stare, but hacks will get the message.

• If you want a quick lift, make a “C” with your thumb and index finger—it means you’re looking for a “shorty.” You may even get an off-duty driver to pull over.

• Tell the driver your destination after you get in and just give an intersection (only tourists name an exact address).

Source: http://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-blog/carry-on/2013/4/23/how-to-hail-a-cab-in-nyc

Credit: http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov

Credit: www.pacificislands.com

Discover why the six Islands of Aloha are home to treasures unlike any other on earth: The dramatic cliffs of the Napali Coast on Kauai. The vibrant shores of Waikiki Beach on Oahu. The miles of white sands of Papohaku Beach on Molokai. The dolphin friendly waters ofHulopoe Bay on Lanai. The summit of Haleakala on Maui. The primal energy of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Hawaii Island. It won’t be easy choosing which island to visit on your first trip to Hawaii, but you’ll find there are no wrong answers.

You’ll likely begin your adventure at Honolulu International Airport (HNL) on Oahu. This is Hawaii’s major airport, serving as the entry point for most of Hawaii’s visitors. All major domestic carriers and many international carriers serve Oahu, so you can get here from just about anywhere. There are also direct flights from the U.S. mainland to Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii Island, but for the most part, you may need to connect through Oahu to get to the neighbor islands including Lanai and Molokai.

Then breathe deep. Smell the fresh plumeria in the air. Visit the historic landmarks of Hawaii and learn about the rich culture of the islands. Explore off-the-beaten-path destinations, from hidden beaches to small towns that you won’t find on a postcard. Learn to surf, snorkel or kayak and earn your Hawaii suntan. And don’t forget to go to an authentic luau where you can get a taste of Hawaiian culture and watch the art of thehula. You’ll find the itineraries on Hawaii are endless. From romantic escapades to family fun; from whale watching to walking on a volcano; you can do it all or you can simply sit back and do nothing. Explore Hawaii’s six unique islands and you’re sure to find your first trip to Hawaii won’t be your last. Learn more about things to do, activities and shoppingin Hawaii.

Source: http://www.gohawaii.com/statewide/discover/first-trip-to-hawaii

The hotel is located 5 km north of Quebec City, on the first slopes of the Laurentian mountains, in the Charlesbourg borough. It is the first ice hotel in North America and is built each December for an opening date in early January. The hotel has a four-month lifespan each year before being brought down in April. It had 22 beds when it first opened in 2000. In its last iteration it had 85 beds, all made of ice but lined with deer furs and covered with mattresses and Arctic sleeping bags. Only the bathrooms are heated and located in a separate insulated structure.

It takes about a month and a half to build with 60 workers. The Hotel makes its own snow using a special mixture to adjust the humidity.It is built with metal frames, it is allowed to harden for a few days, and then the cranes are removed. The hotel is made of 15,000 tons of snow and 500,000 tons of ice and the walls are up to four feet thick.