| | | |  |  | | January 9, 2008 | | |  |  |  | |
INTELLIGENT TRAVEL
| | 1. GPS Treasure Hunting | | So you've already navigated your way to and from grandma's house with the new GPS system you got under the tree this holiday season. But looking for directions is hardly a fun way to play with your new toy. So why not try taking part in a modern-day GPS-savvy scavenger hunt known as Geocaching? (FYI: It's pronounced geo-cashing). The adventure game allows participants to use GPS technology to uncover hidden treasures, or caches, hundreds of thousands of which are now located all over the world. The caches usually are boxes or buckets that have a few tokens and a logbook inside, and the whole premise is based on a simple theory, "take some stuff, leave some stuff," in order to keep the game going. Many cities and states, seeking to draw caching enthusiasts, are now working to promote geocaching tourism. Asheville, North Carolina, for example, is holding the Ultimate AsheCache in May of this year, and will put $1,700 in prizes in caches stashed within a 100-mile radius of downtown. Other tourism boards have sponsored caches in Prince Edward Island, Canada, upstate New York, and Arkansas. Click here for more on Geocaching and other news from IT. |
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FREE CITIES
| | 2. Free Samples and Sounds in the Emerald City | |  At once grungy and gourmet, lush and mod, the Emerald City's newest boom is revitalizing its best attractions while offering plenty for penny-pinchers. Immerse yourself in the sound of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra's 26-foot tall, 4,490-pipe Watjen concert organ in Benaroya Hall at one of the symphony's free recitals, held Mondays at 12:30 p.m. on a bimonthly basis and performed by the symphony's resident organist Joseph Adam. Or, take a public tour of Benaroya Hall every Tuesday and Friday (and following Watjen concert organ recitals) at noon and 1 p.m. Head northeast to Woodinville for a tour of Red Hook Brewery, which includes a brewery walk with information on Redhook's history and processes, 3-4 beer samples, and a souvenir tasting glass for just $1. Click here for more free picks.
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PHOTO GALLERY
| | 3. Dragon Spine Valley | |  "I took this photograph in the valley of Longji, or Dragon Spine," says photographer Keren Su. "The area has these breathtakingly beautiful hills sculpted into tightly packed rice fields that wrap around the hillsides. Because China has a huge population and scarce arable land, we have had to cultivate whatever arable land we can—and endured great hardship in doing so. The most remarkable aspect of this scene is that it captures the spectacular scale of these terraces. The rice terraces in Bali, Indonesia, may be world famous, but to me there is no comparison. The valley here is deep, dropping 3,000 feet, and these terraces are carved on steep slopes from top to bottom. The plantings are tended by the Zhuang people, who created this marvelous landscape." Click here to see more photos from China.
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SMART TRAVELER
| | 4. Learn to Pack the Right Way | | Wrinkled suits, overstuffed luggage, forgotten essentials, spilled liquids. At some point, every traveler has suffered the consequences of poor packing. In case your bags are delayed or lost, Susan Foster, author of Smart Packing for Today's Traveler, recommends cross-packing: Pack a couple of things into your traveling companion's luggage, and vice versa. Always travel with a change of clothing in your carry-on, or at the very least, wear something on the plane that you wouldn't mind wearing for the next few days. For more smart packing tips, click here. |
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THE REAL DEAL
| | 5. Special Three-Night Rate offered at New Riviera Maya, Mexico Resort | | Book a minimum of three nights at the new Rosewood Mayakobá, located along Mexico's Rivera Maya on the Yucatan Peninsula, and receive $100 off the nightly rate plus a free daily breakfast for two. Reservations must be booked by February 15 and the offer is available on stays between February 1 and April 30. The luxury all-suite Rosewood Mayakobá features Sense, a Rosewood Spa, private plunge pools in each of the 128 suites, an 18-hole Greg Norman golf course. Rates begin at $695. For more information and reservations call 888 ROSEWOOD or 212 710 6280 or click here. |
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| "I am still surprised that car rental companies have not yet added a tick box for 'I declare that I am a paleontologist and will not attempt to drive this vehicle to destruction while climbing vertical rock faces in the pursuit of dinosaurs.'"
—Phillip Manning, from the book Grave Secrets of Dinosaurs | |
Click here to buy the book.
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| | | | | | | | | Warm up this Winter with Prince Resorts Hawaii! | | Book a Prince Winter Escape and enjoy discounted rates on luxurious rooms at our spectacular oceanfront properties in Hawaii. Plus, receive a $100 resort credit for championship golf, dining, massages, and more! | | | | ResortQuest Hawaii | | Take advantage of our Stay and Play spring specials which offers a third or fourth night free, a free two-for-one luau, and a complimentary copy of our Aloha Book containing exclusive offers at Hawaii's top attractions. | | | LifeDreams | | Are you striving to fulfill a life goal? Tell us about your LifeDream, and your story may be chosen as our next LifeDreams feature. | | | | | | To unsubscribe from all future National Geographic e-mails, click here.
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