USA, Canada, Mexico | Viator Travel Blog

Contest: Las Vegas Dinner & Show

28. June 2009

Editor's note: The contest is now closed and we're pleased to announce the winners! It was not an easy decision, there were a lot of great entries. But we've selected 2 runners-up and 1 grand prize winner for answering one simple question: "Why should Viator give YOU free tickets to a Las Vegas dinner & show?" The catch -- your answer must be 10 words or less! We've written about the new Dinner in the Sky in Las Vegas, involving a large crane, an elevated outdoor table, and amazing views of the Las Vegas skyline...

New York’s 9/11 Ground Zero Museum Workshop

26. June 2009

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New York’s 9/11 Ground Zero Museum Workshop

While few people chose to travel in pursuit of tragedies, occasionally a tragedy helps put a destination into meaningful context. No where is that more true than New York City. The attacks of September 11, 2001 are easy to overlook nowadays; New York is healing, moving on, looking forward not back. And yet 9/11 was (and remains) a defining moment of modern New York. You cannot appreciate the city and everything it has endured, without confronting the gruesome reality of the attacks, the death and destruction, the heroism of Ground Zero's rescue workers, the courage and resilience of everyday New Yorkers.

San Francisco: Weekend Getaway

24. June 2009

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Welcome to San Francisco, that exotic city of hills where east meets west, high tech lives with crunchy granola and bohemian culture births movements and culture known around the world. The Beats, the Hippies and the Summer of Love flowered here as well as music from the Grateful Dead to The Dead Kennedys. The cities fabled attractions are seen on countless postcards and TV programs; Fisherman’s Warf, Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge and the famed cable cars. But we’ve done the tourist trail on previous trips. This time we’re exploring neighborhoods.

Things to Do in New Orleans: Uptown Jazz to Carrollton Crawfish

2. June 2009

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Things to Do in New Orleans: Uptown Jazz to Carrollton Crawfish

This is where dreams of New Orleans become reality. There I sat in a timeless bar, in the cradle of jazz music, listening to a screaming clarinet player, propelled by a drummer, stand-up bass, piano and banjo. Time and space ceased to exist as the music, beer and crowd flowed into a singular composition we call New Orleans. It was a perfect opening night because we’re here for the French Quarter Festival, a festival that celebrates the culture of New Orleans.

Things to Do in Memphis, Tennessee

24. May 2009

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Along the highway in Arkansas, a bright pink billboard for Graceland got my heart a-thumpin’ for Memphis, and even though Timmy was driving, I pushed the eject button right in the middle of "Truckin’" and popped in Chuck Berry’s “Memphis, Tennessee.” Such a sad and beautiful song. Timmy cursed a blue streak all the way across the Memphis-Arkansas Bridge, and seeing we still had half a tank of gas, pronounced he was good for another 200 miles. We didn’t stop until we were halfway through Mississippi. That was my first, tragically short glimpse of Memphis. I hopped off Timmy's bus in New Orleans and that was the last I saw of him.

Astoria, Oregon: Maritime History Meets Beer

20. May 2009

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Astoria, Oregon: Maritime History Meets Beer

Lewis and Clark couldn’t wait to high-tail it out of the area back in 1806 when they set up their winter camp near Astoria. Then again, they didn’t hang around until spring when the flowers bloom, the sun shines, and the Columbia River glistens and shines. At least it did the weekend we visited. If you want a quick getaway to the Oregon coast at an affordable price, Astoria, Oregon, might be your ticket.

Toronto: Top Things to Do & See

12. May 2009

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Dedicated readers of the Viator blog will know how much we enjoy Toronto. Great restaurants. The Hockey Hall of Fame. The Toronto Blue Jays. An eminently TV- and move-friendly skyline (who knew Detroit Rock City and Good Will Hunting were filmed here!!). Toronto is Ontario's capital and the largest city in Canada; so please, let's show the city some respect.

Cancun Now?? Yes!

7. May 2009

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The US State Department has not yet updated its Mexico travel advisory (as of May 7), but we're seeing news reports and hearing from travelers on the ground that arrivals in Mexico are up. We're also hearing that Mexico's tourism authorities are (belatedly) getting the news out that, as of today, there are still no confirmed swine flu cases in the beach resort areas of Cancun, Cozumel and Puerto Vallarta. Plus it's a safe bet that airfares to Mexico are cheaper than they've been in a long time.

Ghosts, Ghouls and Haunted History Tours

29. April 2009

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Ghosts, Ghouls and Haunted History Tours

Next time you’re planning a trip, think about taking an excursion to the dark side… Who needs to hang out with the living, when you can go and visit the dead? There is a fabulous and fascinating itinerary of ghosts and gravestones, haunted histories and underground vaults to be explored, from Memphis to the Orbs [...]

Update on the Grand Canyon Skywalk

23. April 2009

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It's been just over two years since the Grand Canyon Skywalk opened. Since then the Skywalk has become one of the top attractions on the Grand Canyon's West Rim (click here for a map of the Las Vegas & Grand Canyon areas or tips on visiting the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas). If you've been following the news about the Skywalk, you'll know that it had a rough start (minimal facilities, long lines). We've remained enthusiastic supporters of the Skywalk and its caretakers, the Hualapai tribe. But we did have some concerns about the inevitable crowds the Skywalk would draw, and the ability of the organizers to cope with the rush of visitors.