1. Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio

Having ranked first in top dedicated to the best amusements parks in the world, Cedar Point certainly deserves its title. It features no less than 17 roller coasters, the most of any amusement park in the world; among them, the astonishing Magnum XL-200, and the awesome Top Thrill Dragster, both known once as the tallest and the fastest roller coaster in the world, are the stars.

2. Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida

This fun guide would not be accurate without Walt Disney World occupying one of the first positions. The most famous themed park in the world and the largest as well introduces children and adults alike into a world of fantasy and magic.  For children, one of the main attractions of the park is Cinderella’s castle while adults may indulge themselves in one of the many restaurants, water parks and shopping districts.

3. Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida

Universal Studios is extraordinarily entertaining. This theme park is built around movie characters and stories, such as Shrek, Jaws or Terminator. The absolutely musts are the “Revenge of the Mummy” and “Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit”, intended for adults and older children, while the little ones may enjoy the “E.T adventure”, or they may become agent trainees in the “Men in Black: Alien Attack” themed ride.

4. Legoland in Carlsbad, California

Legoland, California is composed of 9 sections, all intended to be exciting and amazingly interesting for small children and entertaining for big children (mommies and daddies). The park has to offer impressive life sized Lego structures, more than 60 rides, shows and many, many attractions.

5. Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia

Ranking 5^th on this fun guide, but certainly, not the last on many people’s own lists is this amusement park in Virginia, known as beautifully designed and exceptionally well taken care of. The two characteristics which come to one’s mind first when thinking about Bush Gardens are definitely beauty and quality. Featuring the fastest and tallest dive coaster in the world and many other attractions divided in 10 sections, this park is certainly entertaining as it is aesthetically appealing.

By Look Travel Network

Look Travel Network combines two things any traveler would like to know: the practical and useful, tips and advice on one hand and historical facts, design, architecture, stories or legends on the other hand, for the greatest destinations. Come and find out about train stations, airports, parks, bridges, <a href= http://lookfunguide.com/>fun guide</a> and landmarks!

1. The term ‘bus’ derives from the word ‘omnibus’, which in itself was a pun on the name Omnes, a hatter whose shop was situated outside one of the first bus stations in France. It is not known if he created an enormous bus shaped hat to celebrate this fact – but it thought doubtful. This is also where the idea of a ‘French pun’ derives, meaning a pun, which has no humorous value whatsoever.

2. The famous yellow school buses used in North America first appeared in 1939. This may explain the delay in the US entering the Second World War. They were busy picking bus colours. The colour is now officially known as National School Bus Glossy Yellow. So all that hard work didn’t go to waste.

3. The oldest unchanged bus route in London is the 24, which runs from Hampstead Heath to Pimlico and began in 1910 and has been infuriating the denizens of the capital ever since.

4. If you are called a ‘bus driver’ you probably work one of two occupations. You could be a person who drives a bus around the streets of a particular area or conurbation. Or you could be the rapper Busdriver, whose latest album “Jhelli Beam” is available now on Epitaph records. Though you are more likely to be the former as there is only one of the latter.

5. China is said to be home to the world’s largest bus; the Neoplan Jumbocruiser which has three sections, five doors, and a 300-person capacity. Though both Australia and Brazil claim to have buses of equal, if not larger, girth. It is thought that if this bus envy spirals out of control and culminates in war followed by global apocalypse that will be a really depressing thing.

6. Venezuela is known for its lawless driving conditions, due to the incredibly cheap price of petrol there. In an attempt to stop the roads resembling something out of Death Race 2000, traffic laws have recently been implemented and the historic first person to have their licence suspended was bus driver Ramon Parra. Ramon was caught speeding, was overloaded with passengers and had one of the busses wheels sitting in the aisle. That’s outrageous. A bus speeding.

7. Bus spotting might not be as popular as train spotting, but has its own devoted, passionate followers. It is particularly popular past time in Hong Kong, for reasons no one seems able to explain. One man in Suffolk ran up a bill of £10,000, fraudulently exploiting his position at an insurance firm to improve his personal bus spotting log. This led to the government sponsored campaign: “Bus Spotting: It Screws You Up”.

8. Paul Stender from Indianapolis fitted a school bus with a Phantom fighter jet engine and created the world’s fastest bus. Capable of reaching a top speed of 367mph, it was still ten minutes late for its first pick-up.

9. One of the great movie mysteries was finally deciphered when the solution of how the gang from the Italian Job got their gold off the bus teetering over a cliff was worked out. The solution was easy: science.

10. The future of the humble bus may have been spotted recently in China where the ‘flying’ or ‘straddling’ bus was unveiled in Beijing. This mechanical marvel takes buses out of the busy road equation by placing them above the traffic on rails. I’m telling you, it’s a short step from straddling busses to hover busses and that is one vehicle I will definitely be onboard.

About the Author: Dale Shaw is a freelance writer currently working for experience day website Wish. If you’re looking for something exciting, then check out their range of activities here.

• The Ethel M. Chocolate Factory. Satisfy that sweet-tooth with a visit to Ethel M. Chocolates for a behind the scenes tour. Located 15 minutes from the Strip, past guests rave about the free samples provided post-tour. The self-guided Factory Tour is open seven days a week, as is the world-famous Ethel M. Botanical Cactus Garden, renowned for its large collection of cacti.
• Marjorie Barrick Museum of Natural History. The oldest building on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) campus, holds duel distinction. The building was originally a basketball court, but currently holds 2,000 years of Mesoamerican artwork. Described as an educational treasure, this museum will appeal to all ages. From live native lizard exhibitions to old Indian artifacts and ancient figurines, there’s a lot to see. Every Sunday is family funday and of course, there’s free entry every day except Monday when the museum is closed.
• CBS Television City Research Center. Visitors have the chance to be a part of network history, offering their opinions after watching screenings of as-yet unreleased television material. The center handles programming for a number of networks, including CBS, MTV and Nickelodeon and is open daily from 10am to 8:30pm.

In addition to the attractions listed above, some Vegas hotels offer freebies for visitors to enjoy even if they do not gamble. Here are a few options:

• The Bellagio Hotel. The Bellagio has a couple of free attractions, the water show and the botanical gardens, which are not to be missed. The Fountains of Bellagio water show, a stunning combination of water, music and light, starts every half hour, and the Botanical Garden, with its exotic plants and flowers, is open twenty four hours, allowing for a peaceful escape any time of the day.
• Circus Circus. This casino is a center for family fun. The Adventure Dome Theme Park features free daily clown shows, starting from noon, with additional shows on Fridays and Saturday. On the mezzanine level, guests can enjoy an incredible circus experience in the Carnival Midway, with clowns, jugglers, flying trapeze and much more, absolutely free. Performances start from 11am daily.

While there are many free attractions and activities to be had in Las Vegas, getting there and staying there are two items you generally won’t find anyone offering for free. Grabbing the best package deal to Vegas is a matter of taking the time to compare pricing information on discount hotel and flight combinations. Online booking agencies allow travelers to customize their experience with add-ons including to-and-from airport transportation, show tickets and rental cars. Bundling travel items can add up to big savings.

About the Author: Olivia Bennet is an avid traveler and writer. She lives in the UK and works for Wink Bingo.

1. If you traveling to another location for extended period of time, you will need a car when you get there.  Using someone else’s can be annoying. Having to rent a car for a long time will be expensive.  The most stress free option is to ship your own car to you new location with an auto transport.  Your car can be shipped virtually anywhere easily and without a hassle.
2. The entire flying process can be very aggravating.  Some of these annoyances are unavoidable, such as having a screaming baby sitting right next to you.  Why not eliminate the stress that you do have control over such as always making sure to confirm your flight in advance.  There is nothing worse than showing up at the airport only to find out that you flight was canceled or even a couple of hours delayed. By confirming you flight you will know exactly when to be there.
3. Remember to pack lightly. No matter what your means of transportation are, be it by bus, train or plane the fewer items you have to schlep around with you the better.  Listen to the 10 day forecast and pack accordingly.  No need to take along everything in your closet.  The more bags and packages you take along with you the more likely you are to lose things along the way. Who wants to spend their vacation locating there lost items.
4. Do make sure to pack for yourself and especially for the kid’s ample food for traveling.  Hungry people, make grumpy people.  Also, make sure to conceal some cash in your hand luggage, just in case.  You rather be prepared than unprepared.
5. Don’t be cheap.  Sometimes being frugal and trying to save a couple of dollars can cause you unnecessary aggravation.  For instance, when booking your hotel room, go the extra mile and book two rooms if you will be traveling with children.  Don’t plan on having them roll in extra cots and or crib. The end results will be a cramped room with nobody sleeping, hence, nobody enjoying and everyone is sour moods.  Do it right! Save the coupons for your grocery shopping.  Don’t skimp on your vacation, you will regret it.

With the right amount of advance planning, you will be able to plan your trip to be hassle free and stress free. You deserve your vacation; make sure to make the most of it!

Amy Trip is a business consultant for 1autotransport.com which specializes in Florida NY auto transport . Amy has advised many happy and satisfied customers in using an auto transport when planning their trip.

You see them across Americas freeways; buses filled with college students on their way to athletic events, competitions and outings. Let’s take a fresh look at some of the challenges presented by this mode of travel. In this blog, we will consider the economic, social, and safety of college bus travel. Bus travel is not perfect, but is often a better choice. While a private auto can stop whenever they choose or take an alternate route, there are many benefits to bus travel for students.

Traveling to an event by bus helps to build unity and student moral. It provides an atmosphere where students can interact with one another outside of the formal classroom. Bus trips are often responsible for new friendships, and communication is encouraged by the lack of distractions.

With fuel cost increasing almost daily, using busses to transport 60 or more students to an event is very efficient. Can you imagine having 60 cars on the road to the same event instead? Just the thought of that many college students driving is enough to cause fear in the hearts of any experienced driver. But beyond economics, there is a real concern here for safety.

According to NIAAA, 88% of college students drink alcohol. If students drive themselves (or their friends) to an event, there is the likelihood of them driving back while impaired. A trained, professional bus driver can safely transport our sons and daughters back to their dorms. In 2008, there were 24,000 people reported injured in all types of bus crashes.  While that may seem like a large number, compare it with the 2.35 million injuries from automobile accidents in the same year.

A secondary benefit is that people riding in a bus are far less likely to be killed or injured in a crash than those in an auto. This double benefit – less crashes and less injury – cannot be ignored.

Another safety aspect to be considered with bus travel is a far less likelihood of a student being attacked or robbed while in a group. College students alone can become easy targets, but that liability is decreased as they travel together. We encourage our children to use a buddy system when traveling, and what better method than with 59 of their closest friends. Additionally, many schools often provide a chaperone or staff to accompany the traveling group of students. Teachers, coaches and other adults are also a benefit to the safety of our students.

When we consider all the facts, it makes sense for college students to use charter bus service whenever it is available. Cheaper, safer and really just more fun, buses fill a need that would be hard-pressed to be replaced.

Thomas Masterson is a career advisor and content contributor for thebestcolleges.org, a website providing a list of cheap online schools as well as college rankings for a multitude of specialty programs.

Well, here are some of the things you need to consider before you make that ultimate decision:

Consider the amount of time you have

The first thing you need to consider is time. Travel time is a very important factor to think about before you decide whether to drive your car or take the plane on your next vacation. If time is essential for you and you’re in a hurry to get to your destination, then the best option is to fly. If your trip is jam-packed and you have lots of places to visit or people to meet, it would be best to take the plane so that you can maximize your time. Traveling by plane is fast and we all know how convenient it is, right? Don’t worry if you think you don’t have enough money, you can find cheap airfares and promos. Try to ask around or check online for the latest deals and promos you can grab. That will definitely save you a lot of money.
The downside is that when you take the plane, you must prepare for some flight delays or add in some extra time for airport security and check-in. Sometimes, flights get delayed due to unavoidable circumstances like bad weather or technical problems. Security and check-in activities may also delay you especially if the airport is packed and there are a lot of people.

Consider your budget for the trip

Well, another thing you have to consider is your budget. Before you decide whether to drive or fly, why not compare the travel expenses for both modes of transportation. If your destination is not too far, the car is still the best option since it can save you more money. Make sure you compute your car’s miles per gallon rating. Usually, the smaller the car, the smaller the fuel expenses will be. There’s an available fuel cost calculator which you can check out online. Just indicate your car’s make and model plus your travel details so you would know how much money you would need for fuel.

Consider the passengers coming

Whether you’re traveling solo or with your whole family and children, it’s important to ask the others (if there are any) what they’d like to do. Some young children don’t like to fly, while some adults get plane sick. It’s important to figure out what works best for everyone.
As you can see, there are some tips to consider when it comes to driving vs. flying for your next vacation.

This is a guest post written by the author of FindGasCards.com where you can find the best Gas Credit Cards

Become A Member: Whether for a hotel chain’s discount club or a frequent flyer group, join anything you can, as long as there are no fees. While you might get pestered by an occasional email, belonging to these members clubs can actually be very beneficial to travelers. At the very least, you will find out about cheap ticket deals before others do. At best, you can have your bags checked free on flights, get upgraded, or redeem points for a free night in your favorite hotel.

Travel Coupon Codes: Before paying full price for anything, whether that is a flight, a restaurant meal or even a hotel booking, be sure to head online and look up “coupon codes” for that specific product or brand. You can also find coupon codes or discount by liking the company or airline on social network sites like Facebook and Twitter. They often offer discounts to their fans, so check often and scoop up any discounts you might see.

Eat With The Locals: Whether you are in the Philippines or Brooklyn, ask around to find out where the locals eat their meals. Instead of paying full price for an international breakfast at a touristy restaurant, get something special and authentic to the area. It might be a quick bite from a street vendor, or an upscale restaurant that doesn’t cater to tourists. Not only will you save money, but you can also try out foods you can’t get anywhere else. Along the same idea, you can visit local grocery stores to buy basic foods and snacks that can cut down the costs of your meals while on vacation.

What are some ways you are able to save money and cut costs while on vacation?

Travel Bingo:

Passengers young and old enjoy this classic game. Using magnetic boards and pieces can help keep things from sliding around while the charter bus is in motion. There are several different versions available, such as bingo games that substitute numbers with objects you may see from the window of the bus. The first one to find all the objects to create a line on their card wins. If you want to give a little incentive, you can offer cheap prizes that have the same theme as your trip.

Window Scavenger Hunt:

This is an easy game everyone can play. Before the trip, print out lists of items that can be found looking outside the window and hand them to your travelers. This can include license plates from neighboring states, cows, billboards, or even popular crops for the areas you are traveling through. The first person or team to find all the items wins. This is a great game for breaking the ice if some of the travelers don’t know each other well. Pair them up in teams based on where they are sitting and they can get to know each other better.

Name that Tune:

This is a great game that sparks competition and fun. Using a radio, tune through the stations and have your passengers try to guess they name of the song playing. The winner is the person who guesses the most songs at the end of the game. If you want to make it more challenging you can include naming the artist as well as the song.

The Chain Game:

This is a fun game to get your group thinking on their feet, well, in their seats. Start by saying the name of a celebrity, for instance George Clooney. The next person in line must take the first initial of the last name, in this example C, and think of a celebrity with the first name that starts with that name, for instance Chris Rock. The next person uses the letter R and names another, like Rodney Dangerfield. The game continues until someone gets stumped. Once the person can’t think of a name, they are out and the name passes to the next person. Put a time limit of 10 seconds to keep the fun moving along. The last person remaining wins the game.

License Plate Poker:

This a fantastic game for those who want a travel spin on a great card game, especially if you are taking a trip to Las Vegas. The object of the game is to make the best poker hand using 3 license plates that you see from your window. The letters A, K, Q, and J are of course Aces, Kings, Queens, and Jacks. The number 0 would be 10, and the remaining numbers would correspond with their values. The next person in line has to beat the first persons hand, if not they are out. If they get a better hand, they win and the first person is out. The winner is the remaining player with the best hand.

20 Questions:

This is a game that never gets old and is always different. The first player has to ask 20 yes or no questions to try to guess the object the next person in line is thinking of. If they are able to guess, they continue on. If they are unable to guess, they are out and the second person must guess the next persons object that is in line. The winner is the last person remaining in the game. You can include instructions to use only objects that relate to your trip to get your passengers excited about your destination.

Secret:

This game shows how secrets and rumors start. The first person whispers a sentence or secret into the ear of the person next to them. That person repeats the secret into the next person’s ear. That continues until the last person on the bus receives the secret. Once they have the secret they tell the rest of the group what the secret is. Chances are the secret has changed a little or a lot by the time it reached the last person.

Traveling with friends and family can be a lot of fun, but long trips can be boring as well. Next time you choose to travel, take the time to plan some fun activities for your group. Gather everything you will need and be prepared to have a great time on the way to and from your destination. Games and activities are a great way to bring a group closer together.

Author Tony Pomilia also enjoys writing for Brainz, an interesting website that suggests we learn something new, then share it; whether it’s the best board game of all time or 33 ways to fund your startup business.

A family reunion can be a very rare occasion or a very regular occasion, but the ultimate goal is to spend as much time as possible with the people you don’t get to see on a daily basis. It’s also a trip down memory lane where the oldest members of the family get to see the newest members of the family, and what better way to accomplish this than by taking the journey together to a family reunion destination?

Caravans: Stop and Go

One of the ways to get to your reunion destination is by forming a long line of cars, trucks, station wagons, minivans, SUVs, motorcycles and other vehicles and heading out on the highway. This initially sounds like a good idea—everyone is independent and those with kids can stop as often as they need to—but there can be problems.

1. Not everyone has a GPS – Someone needs to provide directions to the family reunion and not all parties will be able to plug the address into a GPS. Also, not everyone is familiar with the location you’re headed to and trying to keep all of those cars in line and paying attention can be difficult. Think about the dangers of having multiple drivers and cars in an unknown location trying to follow directions, follow other cars and follow the needs of the all the people in their vehicle.
2. Breakdown – The more cars you have, the more chances of a breakdown there will be. You may have an ace mechanic in the family who can double back to assist the car that’s having trouble, but it will still slow down the caravan and prevent everyone from arriving on time for the family fun.
3. Bathroom breaks – Not everyone is going to be on the same bathroom break schedule and though you could arrange scheduled stops to solve this problem, inevitably, there will a need to stop when it’s not planned.

Charter Bus: A Smoother Ride All Together

There is an alternative to coordinating 10 to 20 cars for a family reunion trip. A charter bus can help remove a major concern for your family reunion planning: getting there.

Everyone all together, charter buses can accommodate as many as 56 passengers and have all the modern features needed to make your ride comfortable.

Here are some other good reasons to choose a charter bus:

• You can get everyone excited about the trip by showing family videos on the buses equipped with DVD players.
• Charter buses often have a bathroom, which means everyone is free to use it when they want to without slowing down the group.
• Charter buses can also accommodate lifts and wheelchair securements.
• The bus driver is well-equipped to get you to your destination safely and on time. If there are any mechanical problems, another charter bus can quickly take everyone on to the family reunion.
• Bus companies are also aware of traffic patterns in your destination area since they frequently travel the roads there. This can be especially helpful if you are having a reunion at a destination not in your neck of the woods.
• And the last reason, perhaps one of the strongest, is everyone is together on the bus. You’ll all laugh and marvel in the sites seen along your journey. You can sit next to that aunt/cousin/granddaughter/grandpa you haven’t seen in years but are eager to speak with, and then swap seats to talk with someone else. It creates yet another opportunity to catch up with your family, because although reunions are filled with events, they don’t last forever.

Above all, consider all of your options, but you’ll quickly realize the benefits of renting a charter bus and how affordable of an option it is for you and your 20 or more family members.

Amanda Porta is a freelance and SEO copy writer and blogger. Her most recent project was helping with web content for this Michigan used cars website. She also blogs at her own website, http://amandaportawrites.wordpress.com/

While it’s true that the world is getting smaller, and that it’s possible to learn a lot about other cultures without ever leaving your home country, there’s still a lot to be said for travelling and experiencing the rest of the world for yourself.

Gap years don’t have to be taken abroad, but by taking a gap year in Argentina, Australia or any other foreign country, travellers can get experience of foreign cultures, make new friends, and enjoy learning new skills whilst taking a holiday at the same time. Adventurous souls often like to go even further afield. For example, taking a sporting gap year, or heading overseas to do volunteer work, conservation work, or teaching.

For many students, especially those looking to get in to a prestigious university, a gap year  is a valuable step towards building a strong CV. Gap years were once limited to the very rich, and to those who do not have a sense of direction in their lives, but today that has changed.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to go on a gap year. Many exotic countries may seem to be an expensive destination if traveling as a tourist on a conventional holiday, but if you make the trip a working one (and many gap years do involve some paid work), you can enjoy a comparatively low cost trip. If you are volunteering it may be a case that your board and lodging is covered which will make travel substantially cheaper.

Why Take a Gap Year?

Going to university is expensive, and if you go there straight after college, you may find that you burn out quite quickly. Spending your gap year in an interesting country such as Argentina gives you a chance to spend some time in the real world – to get away from text books, projects, and tests.

You can earn some money (which will come in handy – student loans don’t go very far!), and enjoy an extended holiday before you go back to your studies. You can also spend some time learning more about your chosen field – perhaps even gaining some entry level experience in the industry while you’re on your gap year.

If you choose a less career focused gap year – for example an extreme sports gap year in Australia or a year out where you do conservation work, or just go to a foreign country to soak up the culture and make new friends, then that’s still a valuable experience.

The one year that you spend not studying won’t set you back when it comes to pursuing your career, and can actually be beneficial when it comes to seeking employment. Interviewers don’t just care about your academic credentials – they want to know about you as a person.

Are you resourceful, reliable, and level headed? If you can honestly say that you survived a year backpacking across Australia, then that proves you are a capable and sensible person. That could be enough to set you apart from competitors who have never set foot outside of the campus town they studied in.

This article was written by Amy Fowler on behalf of Sport Lived, who offer sports focused gap years across the world.