Need a late-fall, family-friendly trip idea? Or you’d rather travel alongside your friends? Either way, this time around with fall in full bloom, you could go leaf-peeping, a concept that’s becoming more and more popular. And what better destination for a colorful encounter with the nature than New England, well-known for its picture-perfect scenery painted in shades of yellow, red and green and for the enormous leaves carpets you can find here?

They say there’s no better place in the whole country to enjoy the fall foliage season than New England and not just because of the breathtaking sights, but because fall’s best harvest and cultural festivals take place every year in this region. Therefore, whether it’s a few days of hiking, discovering the nature, carving or tasting pumpkins, joining the locals for a festival, New England seems to be the perfect destination for both the weekend and the day trippers. Since this region seems to be the fall’s travelling hotspot, here are some of the main events and festivals it hosts in the following period. Mark them on your calendar and hit the road!

Haunted Graveyard, Bristol

This Halloween-themed event held at Lake Compounce in Bristol has reached its tenth edition and gathers every year, between October, 17 and 18 more and more fright-seekers. The ghosts, the witches and the goblins are the events’ main attractions and can cause many hair-rising experiences. Therefore, if you’re willing to venture into the scariest graveyard tours of all, get to Bristol every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday by October 31, 2009.

Keene Pumpkin Festival, New Hampshire

If you’re a fan of the jack-o-lanterns and you enjoy carving and lightning pumpkins, then you shouldn’t miss the Keen Pumpkin Festival held every year on October, 17 in New Hampshire. During this year’s edition you can admire more than 25, 000 pumpkins creating a huge torch and enlightening the city. Plus, there are many other fun-filled activities that you and your family can enjoy here like concerts, costume parades and pie eating contests.

AppleFest at Wachusett Mountain, Princeton

This fall festival held between 17 and 18 October is a family-friendly event featuring something for every member to enjoy. While the adults’ curiosity might be piqued both by the farmers’ markets and the craft exhibitors’ works, the little ones will definitely love the magic acts, the funny clowns and the pony rides. However, the festival’s tasty slices of apple pie will cater to each sweet tooth in your family!

Martha’s Vineyard& Wine Festival, Edgartown, Massachusetts

Taking place from October, 16 to 18 the third edition of the Martha’s Vineyard& Wine Festival will bring you the most delicious dishes prepared with fresh seafood by the famous chef Stefan Richter and will also offer you the possibility to sample some of the world’s best refined wines. Aside from tasting mouth-watering specialties, you’ll also be able to visit Martha’s Vineyard Museum as the Grand Tasting, held on Saturday afternoon will  take place right in the museum’s garden.

Your tickets have arrived, you have booked an early morning cab to the airport, your neighbour is going to feed your cat and you have waved a cheery au revoir to your co-workers. Your brain is in `holiday mode` and you cannot wait to relax, take in the sights and sip sangria at sunset! Except, there is one more hurdle you have to cross - packing! Packing is, without doubt, one of the most stressful elements of going on holiday. Whether you are going skiing, camping, trekking, on a business trip, beach holiday, or even a romantic weekend away - packing can be a complete nightmare! What to take, what not to take, getting the suitcase closed, packing too much, fear of packing too little… It is an absolute minefield! However, you too can be a savvy packer if you abide some simple packing tips and tricks! The top packing tip has to be `honesty`. Be honest with yourself about how much stuff you need.

You will not magically lose five pounds and be able to wear that slinky dress that has hung in your wardrobe for five years (unless you get a touch of Delhi Belly!), you do not need four coats, three pairs of stilettos and matching handbags! Approach packing logically, put everything you would like to take out and then try to cut it down by a third (ideally half), then take out a few more things! Remember that some travel wash, or a simple bar of soap and hand-washing means you can re-wear many of your clothing items!

When you have sufficiently cut down on your items, turn your attention to getting them in your bag/suitcase. `Carry ons` and hand-luggage have become contentions issues, but using the smallest bag possible is still the best solution. Pack wisely, use sample toiletry bottles, micro-sized beauty products, stuff socks into shoes to save space and roll your clothes instead of folding! This also can prevent clothes from wrinkling, meaning you can unpack your travel iron! Create a wardrobe of basics that can chop and change to make other outfits - such as zip off cargo pants that can be used as shorts or trousers and lightweight cotton shirts that will do for day/night.

Liaise with friends to make sure you do not duplicate packed items. Remember must have items such as passports, sunscreen (for both winter and summer) insect repellent, after-sun, a money belt (more stylish than a pouch) and a waterproof coat (good for winter and summer). Check ahead with resorts to see if you need to bring your own equipment on sporting holidays, or if you can save space by renting when you get there.

If camping make sure you pack basic first aid kits, torch, map and sterilizing equipment. Check out storage and locker facilities! Know you space requirements if bringing a tent, whether it is a one man lightweight tent or a something larger and snazzier, such as Coleman tents eight berth. Remember, with tents, bigger is better!

Tired of the same menu served at your favorite restaurant? Do you want to spice up your dining experience? If so, set up an easy escape to one of the cities that harbor the best and the most unusual restaurants in the world. Strange locations, crazy-themed decors, unique yet expressive outfits, exotic food, entertainment, these are just some of the ingredients that make a restaurant unusual and that act like a magnet both for the gourmands and the average tourists. So hold on to your hats as we start a virtual itinerary including the most unusual restaurants in the world!

Dinner in the Sky, Belgium

This restaurant, suggestively entitled is hosted by the Belgian capital Brussels and would top any list of the most unusual restaurants worldwide. The reason? Both the table and the clients’ seats are suspended 150 feet in the air with the help of a crane! Indeed, the view is spectacular and a dinner up in the air can turn into a soul-stirring, thrilling experience. The restaurant can cater for 22 guests and including the chef, the waiter and the entertainer who are seated right in the middle. If you decide to book a table here, you’ll definitely enjoy the ultimate culinary experience even though it comes with a hefty tag price!

Dans Le Noir, France

Paris is praised for its exquisite restaurants that have on the menu the oldest and the most flavored bottles of red wine. Still, the French capital is not only the ideal place for the romantic couples to dine out, but for the thrill-seekers as well. Therefore, if you’re after an unusual feast, head over to Dans Le Noir restaurant and you’ll have the possibility to have a tasty dinner in a complete dark atmosphere. More exactly, once you’ve stepped in, a waiter welcomes you, takes your order and you are invited to dine in a pitch dark room. The restaurant reveals many chefs’ credo that a meal is a delight when engages all your senses. Plus, the owners thought about your security and other unfortunate events as well and there are some infrared cameras that record everything.

Ithaa Restaurant, Maldives

The Ithaa Restaurant in Maldives is much more than mouth-watering, fresh and exotic sea food. It is also the first fine restaurant built at 5 meters underwater with a capacity of 14 people which offers its guests the possibility to admire the coral reefs that surround them and to spot the frolic fish while savoring a tasty, top-notch meal. Given you could have both the high-quality food and the fantastic aquatic 270 degrees panorama view for around $300, we believe it’s a once in a lifetime experience that is worth every penny.

Treehouse Restaurant, New Zeeland

The Treehouse restaurant set up in Auckland in New Zeeland is yet another proof that human ingenuity is boundless. Featuring a spectacular treehouse-shaped architecture, this restaurant is the perfect place to enjoy the ultimate and the most romantic dining experience. Plus, it’s eco-friendly and overlooking a verdant forest. Briefly, you could feast on the chef’s gourmet menu in the heart of the nature.

Ninja Restaurant, New York

When it comes to unusual dinning, the Japanese Ninja Restaurant in the City that Never Sleeps is quite difficult to beat. Aside from the food that will be a delight for your taste buds, the unique subterranean décor, history-inspired is overwhelming. Not to mention that the delicious food is brought to you by waiters that don Ninja-like, authentic costumes. Plus, you don’t even have to worry when the bill arrives since previous clients confess it’s quite affordable.

All in all, the secret of a successful restaurant seems to be a mix of tasty food, entertainment and creativity, all in equal dosage.

Experts advise us to discover each of the world’s delights in a particular season. Hence, while it is best to catch the sun beams on a Hawaiian or Caribbean golden beach and to snorkel in the azure ocean water when summer is in full swing, there’s nothing like a getaway to a resort in the Alps when the snow is sifting down from the sky and Christmas is near. Still, what are the world’s best places to visit when the chilly autumn is knocking on summer’s back door? Well, if you are eager to start an early-fall out-of-country escape and to rejoice the lower rates, the crowd-free locations and a mild wind, here’s a one-stop shop for some of the most amazing destinations scattered worldwide that you can discover in the fall.

Florence

Due to the multiple works of art, buildings, churches, monuments featuring an impressive architecture, Florence, the capital of the Italian region Tuscany draws millions of tourists all year round. The heart of the city is constantly crowded with eager-to-know travelers gazing at the Dome (also known as Santa Maria del Fiore Church) and wandering in Piazza della Signoria overwhelmed by the spectacular architectural masterpieces. However, during the first months of autumn, this open-air museum isn’t as crowded as in the summer days and you can avoid all the agitation surrounding the multiple groups of tourists.

Great Smoking Mountains

If you’re a nature-lover, you shouldn’t cross the borders of the country to admire the perfect fall picture drawn in shades of orange, yellow, green and red because the Great Smoking Mountain National Park offers top-notch sights during the rainy season. Aside from escaping the bustling city and breathing fresh air, you can spot multiple species of animals (including the black bear) and plants. The park is home to deciduous forests so you can step on a colorful carpet of leaves when strolling down the narrow forest paths. What better and more beautiful sign of the nature living the autumn?

Munich

Nothing says autumn like the Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. It is a time of celebration when the locals hold fairs, organize exhibitions and serve traditional culinary delights like the tasty wursts, traditional fried sausages that come with mustard and a pretzel. Still, the festival has gained reputation among the tourists due to the large pints of flavored beer sold with this occasion. Not to mention there are multiple beer styles featuring different mouthfeel and color that you can savor. Despite its denomination, the festival kicks off in September and comes to an end in October, so if you happen to be in Germany in the aforementioned period, stop by and experience a slice of the German culture.

Napa Valley

Autumn is not only the season of the falling leaves, but also the time when the rich, mellow fruit are gathered, including the grapes that produce a sweet-tasting aromatic wine. So what better time to stop by the Napa Valley in Carolina dotted by vineyards than the harvest season? Whether you’re a wine-lover or a less experienced traveler when it comes to this drink, I’m sure a freshly-squeezed grape juice or an old bottle of locally produced wine will satisfy your taste buds.

Shanghai

A visit to the China’s major city, Shanghai can cost you less provided you catch a travel deal and decide to start your trip at the beginning of October. Hence, you can pay a visit to the City God Temple or to the Bund on a sunny day as in this country autumn is a mild, enjoyable season. In addition to the fine weather, visiting the Chinese metropolis during fall features another advantage: the streets are less crowded and this cosmopolitan package is a blast.

Even though Labor Day symbolizes the end of the hot season, being celebrated this year on September, 7 it doesn’t mean it has to suggest the end of the summer fun as well. Therefore, why don’t you extend the summer fun-filled days and set up an easy escape to a magnificent destination? After all, this three-day weekend is all about rest, parades and tasty food. In spite of the fact that over the years the tourists have been after the cosmopolitan package, picking a big bustling city for a quick exploration, we suggest you to give up the classic formula and to go for a top-notch destination that will help you enjoy the sunbeams and the warm weather close to the nature and not far away from your home. Best of all, we came up with several solutions, whether you would like to spend a few days on the beach, hiking, gazing at overwhelming lake sights or sample the fine restaurants and the amusing, cultural  aspects of certain towns. Briefly, let us countdown some of the destinations that would make for the ideal Labor Day weekend.

Great Falls, Montana

Provided you’re a nature-lover, the Great Falls in Montana featuring spectacular multi-chutes is definitely going to quench all your needs. Aside from the one-of-kind verdant landscape, there are all sorts of fun activities that will animate your day like fly-fishing for trout and salmon, kayaking or canoeing.  In order to have an overall image about this area, you can stop by the local museum or go on a cultural guided tour to find out all the details about the Lewis and Clark expedition.

Hawaii

Worldly reckoned for their white-powdery sand beaches, the Hawaii idyllic Islands have it all: azure ocean water, coral reefs, animated nightlife and mouth-watering seafood. And the best part is that these islands are located at nearly six hours from the West Coast. Plus, you could never get bored in this summer paradise as you have multiple activities to choose from: gentle surfing, scuba diving, snorkeling to spot the colorful fish, biking, hiking or simply swimming and basking in the sun. Make Hawaii your Labor Day destination and you’ll have the illusion of an all year long summer.

Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri

The Lake of the Ozarks, a result of the human ingenuity is the main attraction in central Missouri and the perfect end-of-summer getaway due to the ring of restaurants, glitz shops and many-star hotels luring the tourists. Moreover, the area provides you with plenty of recreational activities like boating, fishing, shopping or bicycling. If you have time to kill, visit one of the two nearby state amusement parks and have fun in the sun. Therefore, this might be a good option for those of you seeking for family-friendly destinations as well.

Niagara-on-the-Lake

Niagara-on-the-Lake, a picturesque small town close to the worldly renowned Niagara Falls is quite an off-the-path and beautiful escape on Labor Day. You can discover the local vineyards and taste a fine wine while taking part at the Shaw festival and admiring the actors portraying characters imagined by the famous playwright Bernard Shaw. Plus, you don’t have to worry about the accommodation as the city is crowded with B&Bs which will not have you spend an exorbitant sum of money.

Turks& Caicos

The main advantage of this summer hotspot refers to its location: a three-hour ride from the East coast and accessible for those of you living in any other corner of the country. The chain’s major asset is Providenciales, an island boasting the tourists with one of the best golden beaches in the Caribbean. You are guaranteed to love this island for its immense coral reefs, azure water, parties on the sand that last until dawn and water sports.

All in all, grab a deal, as we all know the end of the summer comes with tons of bargains, pack up your car or take the plane and kick off the Labor Day Weekend.

While some people travel to see overwhelming sights, natural wonders or worldly renowned landmarks, some other tourists seek for relaxation and are willing to discover exotic tastes of food and drinks. After all, a travel is set due to multi-fold reasons: admiring new places, gazing at landscapes, architectural marvels, food and drinks… When it comes to coffee, some people’s experience is reduced to a $5 cup bought from Starbucks and which is meant to keep them fresh and up all day long. However, the real coffee drinkers appreciate the flavor of a coffee made of high-quality freshly roasted beans without any sugar or milk added and enjoyed with a fluffy muffin. Nevertheless, regardless of the category, you have to admit there is nothing like the flavored smell of a hot cup of coffee that you drink in the morning hoping it will give you enough energy for the rest of the day. Lengthways time, some cities have gained reputation for providing the tourists with the best coffee in the world. So it’s high time we all know where can be savored the most flavored coffee worldwide.

But first you should know that aside from featuring a different aroma from one country to the other, coffee is also served differently. For example, in Turkey and Greece, coffee is usually brought to you in a small-sized cup presenting a thick consistency. While some coffee connoisseurs might find it unacceptable, when ordering a coffee in Japan coffee you receive a cup of the black drink with accompanied by condensed milk.

Java, Indonesia

Situated in east of Jakarta, Java is worldly famous for producing one of the most aromatic coffee beans from which a natural sweetened coffee is prepared.  Wet processed, the coffee in Java is a delight for your taste buds. A more light and aromatic specialty is the Mocha Java obtained from mixing Java with other type of coffee beans.

Coban, Guatemala

This city is a paradise for the coffee lovers because it offers not only distinct, exotic flavored coffee but also tours emphasizing the coffee making process. Therefore, we advise you to stop by the Finca Santa Margarita plantation because you will be also give a sweet treat, free samples of coffee produced here.

Costa Rica

La Finca Escondida, the coffee plantation in Costa Rica is praised for the organic, caffeine high coffee beans growing here. Moreover, the tourists can also rejoice a spectacular view of the coffee forests while sipping from an aromatic drink.

Kona, Hawaii

Here’s another destination boasting you with the local coffee culture and featuring endless plantations. Tourists claim the beans collected from the trees in Kona are not only sun-kissed, but golden and make for the best fresh coffee in the world. And if you’re curious about the making process, you are free to take glance.

We have countdown so far the places where you can drink your coffee right from the tree and which are praised for producing the best coffee in the world, but there are also some high-class locations in the world were the accent is put on the way the drink is served.

Vienna, Austria

There isn’t a more elegant place to enjoy your coffee than in the heart of Austria’s capital. The local coffee tradition imagines the tourists sipping from their drinks and tasting from a mouth-watering cake, like sacher torte. In the coffee shops located here, you can try blending the taste of your coffee with brandy, whipped cream, honey or milk for a unique flavor. Probably one of the most popular coffee specialties on the Viennese menu is Maria Theresa which is prepared with a dash of Cointreau.

Rome, Italy

There is a certain unwritten rule in the capital of the boot-shaped peninsula: to sit down on a terrace and laze while enjoying a cup of espresso or cappuccino topped by rich foam. However, you should know that Italians consider it a bad habit to order coffee after breakfast, so if you don’t want to divulge your identity, order after 11.30.

Nothing says summer like a trip to a white-powdery sand beach rimmed by azure water just perfect for surfing, diving or near coral reefs for snorkeling or sailing in between. Long strolls on the soft sand, swimming, enjoying fresh cocktails while lazing on a lounge chair, these are the elements that make for an ideal getaway. In spite of the varied range of possibilities you can choose from when planning your summer holiday, there’s nothing more suitable for the hot season than a sun-drenched beach. Admittedly, it all depends on each traveler’s interests. Nevertheless, when travelling alongside your children, things get slightly more complicated as the priorities are way different: you search for amusement, sandcastle potential, water featuring small waves and all instead of a bustling nightlife. Hence, for those of you penciling a family vacation, here are the best five kid-friendly beaches across the United States.

Cannon Beach

Located not far away from Portland, Oregon, Cannon Beach overlooking the Haystack Rock attracts many families with amusement activities such as kit flying, tide pooling and a sandcastle building competition which is held every year on the Sandcastle Day, June, 13.

Cape May

This beach situated in southern New Jersey features something for all ages to enjoy. While it lures the children with many ice cream shops lined up on the extension of the beach and selling multilayered, sugar sweetened ice-cream and other candies, the parents will be delighted by the sea food served at the exclusive elegant restaurants set on shore.

Coast Guard Beach

This beach in the Cape Cod region of Massachusetts magnets parents and kids alike with an enormous sand area and great waves for surfing and both recreational and educative activities.  For example, while leaving your footprints in the sand, show your kids the endangered piping plovers or the place where Mayflower ship first arrived in the US.

Coronado

Take the ferry from San Diego and stop by the Coronado beach which many families choose as their summer holiday destination since it is the ideal place for surfing, swimming and spotting colorful fish in the crystal-clear water. You can also spend some time with your children by renting bikes and meandering your way through the shore or playing beach volleyball.

Daytona Beach

This beach is praised for providing the little visitors with fun-filled days on the sand and in the warm water, either surfing or swimming or off-sand featuring a ring of touristy objectives that could arouse their interest like Marine Science Center. Plus, the Disney Amusement Park in Orlando is just one hour car ride from the beach so you might want to put a smile on their faces by taking them to meet the fascinating Disney characters.

Hilton Head Island

If you’re children are animal lovers, you should definitely travel to the Hilton Head Island not far away from South Carolina to see the friendly dolphins either by taking walks on the beach or by booking a dolphin cruise. The calm sea dotting the idyllic island is just perfect for swimming and surfing. Moreover, you can also take your children to one of the two dozen golf courses available on the island.

Newport Beach

Enjoy some time with your family baking under the glorious sun of California on the Newport Beach. Aside from the 20-foot waves drawing the pro surfers, you will find gentle waves for the children at the Corona del Mar State Beach. A ride with a bicycle featuring four seats sounds both fun and quite a unique experience. And if you feel like going island hopping, Catalina Island is located not far away from Newport.

All in all, kick off the summer holiday season and choose one of these family-friendly beaches and rejoice the natural beauty of a seaside resort and the facilities they provide you with together with the ones you love the most.

Hot summer weekends are here and everybody is weighing their options for a rightfully earned vacation that is sure to include fun-filled activities, cool cocktails and tasty dishes, recreation and quality-time alongside their family. Well, for those who fell like cooling off and enjoying the sun-drench days, there is the possibility to book a vacation package to a seaside resort or to buy a ticket to one of the best water parks across the United States. Going for the latter option can help you save yourself a mint of money and in the same time rejoice the thrill of the rides on a water slide, the relaxation when riding in a tube on the lazy river and arriving eventually in a wave pool. Plus, your kids will be delighted to dabble all day long. Therefore, glimpse at our top comprising the American water parks that are worth a visit and put together an affordable easy escape.

Schlitterbahn Waterpark, Texas

Built up in New Braunfels, Texas this amazing water park features incredible rides for the thrill-seekers and the water-lovers which brought it the Golden Ticket Award for Best Water Park for seven years in a row. Both soft rides for children and speedy, adrenaline-filled ones are to be found here, quenching every visitor’s needs.  Best of all, you can have dinner at one of the restaurants lined up in the park and find an accommodation at this location as well. For those of you who are planning a low-budget visit to this amusement park, there’s nothing to worry about! You can bring food and drinks from home and have a picnic in the facility.

Noah’s Ark, Wisconsin

This water park is famous for harboring the longest water coaster in the country, symbolically called the Black Anaconda. It draws many tourists during the summertime with dozens of waterslides, cozy wave pools, winding rivers, play areas, a Paradise Lagoon activity pool and mini golf courses, just to mention a few. So if you crave to feel the adrenaline rush or you’re simply looking for recreational activities and enjoying the sun beams, Noah’s Ark makes for the perfect destination.

Aquatica in Orlando, Florida

There is something for all ages to enjoy when coming to the Aquatica Park: exciting, vibrating rides of all sorts like raft slides, bowl rides, mat-racing slides, multi-passenger inflatable raft rides, large pools, lazy rivers or frolic animals. However, it is mainly praised for the golden beaches that surround the wave pools, creating the illusion of a natural seaside view.

Water World, Colorado

This park beckons the tourists with countless attractions such as water slides, among which the Flat Line is a blast by giving the riders the optimal combination of water, thrilling drops and instinctive hands up, endless lazy rivers, a Captain Jack’s wave pool, family raft rides or tube rides. However, most of the tourists stop by to experience the ultimate adrenaline rush by taking a nearly 5-minute Voyage to the Center of the Earth, which has them travelling in spirals  through an artificial cavern in family rafts and featuring a scary final encounter with a dinosaur.

Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach in Orlando, Florida

This water park boasts with the largest outdoor wave pools worldwide and your visit can reach its apex on a shoe string by taking a ride with the Crush N Gusher, the Summit Plummet or with the Downhill Double Dipper. Other great activities include snorkeling, swimming and catching the sun beams on the beach.

When travelling with your children, it’s very difficult to find a holiday destination that is sure to meet your tastes and that of your little ones as well. Since kids are after games, sports and in most of the cases their lack of patience doesn’t match the idea of a tour featuring important monuments and museums,  we advise you to consider including in your travelling itinerary a trip to one of the best zoos in the country. Apart from being an educative experience for your children providing them with information on multiple species, such a visit can turn into a fun-filled manner to spend time with your family…not to mention that most of these zoos are home to some endangered species that no longer live in the wild and the only way to ever see them is by paying a visit to these facilities.

Fort Worth Zoo in Fort Worth, Texas

Built up a century ago, this zoo has gained reputation worldwide by offering the animals great living conditions in the form of natural habitats. This zoo harbors more than 350 species of animals from all the continents, except for Antarctica, numbering also multiple local fauna (like domestic goats, Guinea hogs, domestic chickens, opossums) and flora species. Here you have the possibility to learn about the wildlife in Texas and also to wander in a reconstructed town with houses featuring the same architecture as they had in the early 1900’s. A ride on the carousel will make your children grin ear-to-ear.

Phoenix Zoo in Phoenix, Arizona

When in Arizona, you should definitely stop by to visit arguably one of the largest zoos on the American territory covering 125 acres of land. Housing more than 1200 animals, this zoo’s main attractions are the African lion, the Aldabra tortoise, the baboon and the giraffe. You can make a quick tour of the zoo by hopping on the Safari Train which circles the entire facility. At the end of the ride enjoy the Wild About Animals Show and buy some plush toys for your kids.

Lion Country Safari in West Palm Beach, Florida

You can venture inside the Lion Country Safari with your own car drive about 4 miles and gaze at the zebras and giraffes that frolic in their natural habitat. For security reasons, the lions’ savannah-like home is surrounded by fences that you cannot cross. You are also allowed to fees some of the animals and that could be quite a memorable adventure.

San Diego Zoo in San Diego, California

Praised for its size and the involvement of the human caretakers in offering the animals the best conditions, this zoo often tops the list of best, most modern zoological parks in USA. The zoo is cage free, with the giraffes and other species running and roaming freely. In spite of harbouring more than 4,000 animals and 880 species, most of the animal-lovers come here to take a glance at the Giant Panda.

Columbus Zoo in Columbus, Ohio

Divided into eight regions, each of them harboring species living in a particular area of the planet, this zoo is worldly reckoned for being a natural paradise. Once you get here, you can take a train or a boat in order to tour particular regions within the zoo. Currently holding the title of America’s oldest and largest zoo, it harbors over 5,000 animals including also a golf course, a water park and an amusement park. Hence, there is something here for all ages to enjoy: both you and your children can have tons of fun and laughs and after admiring the animals and the singing birds you can go for a ride in the carousels or have a bite.

Is there a carousel, a cotton candy, an intense roller coaster ride or an acrobatic show in your near future plans? If not, you should weight your options well as amusement parks are sure to quench both your needs and your child’s providing a ton of fun, tasty food that you can grab from one of the restaurants or kiosks that are lined up within the theme park or enjoy multiple games of chance. And let’s face it…what can be more fun than tossing a colored ring and attempting for it to go through a bottleneck? Provided we managed to draw your attention, let us countdown the best amusement parks scattered across the world.

Cedar Point

Located in Ohio, United States, this amusement park draws many thrill-seekers who can’t wait to enjoy a ride on Top Thrill Dragster, a roller coaster which currently holds the record for being both the tallest and the fastest worldwide. Nevertheless, if you think you cannot steel your nerves for such an adrenaline-filled experience dotted by unexpected drops, super speed and tall vertical loop, play mini golf or enjoy another ride like Space Spiral or Antique Cars alongside your children. You could also watch Snoopy’s Big Bow Wow On Ice and spend some time together laughing. Best of all, you don’t have to use all your money when booking a ticket to the park as it features each season hot deals that can help you take off some bucks from the total rate.

Disney

Probably the most well-known theme park in the world, Disney creates a fantasy word that seems detached from a fairytale. It is populated by magic characters that put a smile on every child’s face like: Minnie or Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Pluto which all happen to be human-sized. Not to mention Cinderella’s castle which proves fairytales, princesses and princes are more real than ever.  Actually, all four Disney locations Anaheim (California), Orlando (Florida), Tokyo and Paris have it all: fun, exciting rides, mouth-watering food that you can taste in one of the many restaurants, great games, animal parks.

Asterix Park

Situated in the north of the French capital, and named after the funny cartoon character, the Asterix amusement park is home to all the characters in the comic books and mythology-related. You can experience the adrenaline rush by purchasing a ticket to rides such as the Flight of Icarus, Caesar’s Spies, and Descent Along the Styx. Other entertainment sources are the “Theft of Mona Lisa” and the “Musketeers” shows. There is also a ring of 40 candy shops and multiple restaurants featuring traditional dishes or fast food (not healthy!) a delight for your taste buds.

Ratanga Junction

Built just three years ago, this amusement park is situated outside Cape Town, in Africa. Ratanga is destined to offer to the most daring riders the ultimate, soul-stirring experience of their lives.   Numbering about 26 rides, there is something here for all ages to enjoy: dizziness-inducing drops for roller-coaster fans like the Tarantula to soft rides for children such as The Hippo Hollow.

Everland

The South Korean largest amusement park has quite some history, first opening its doors to the visitors in 1976. Currently it is composed of three theme parks: Festival World, Caribbean Bay and the Speedway. While the Festival World houses seasonal celebrations such as the Tulip Festival and a wild-animal zoo, the Caribbean Bay is like a refreshing oasis, harbouring water amenities. As for the food, the blend between the Korean and the American dishes is sure to meet every tourist’s taste.

All in all, a visit to one of these amusement parks is a great manner to spend your spare time alongside the one you love. Such a trip can turn into an affordable deal one you catch the deals pumped up continuously by the park’s managers. And when you decide to head back home, leaving behind fun-filled days, do not forget to some plus-toy gifts or a pair of mouse ears!