Vacations - Australia
Most international travelers jet into Sydney, Australia, fly
north to Queensland's Great Barrier Reef or Gold Coast, and then
jet off home again. In doing so, they short-change themselves.
They miss the amazing diversity of the world's largest island.
If you fall into that trap - after all the planning and expense
of flying 'down under' - you will kick yourself when you get
home and find out what you missed.
Do yourself a favor now. Put Canberra - the 'bush capital' - on
your agenda, and multiply the richness of your visit to
Australia. Oh, it will not compare with experiencing the dust
and the flies and the emptiness of the vast Red Centre, or the
beauty, tranquility and peace of Tasmania. But it will give you
an insight into the unique Australian culture that you will not
find in the homogenized trappings of the most popular tourist
destinations.
Canberra is Australia's capital, a city of 350,000 people that
holds the key to the nation's treasures. Just three hours from
Sydney by car, bus or train - or a mere half hour flight -
Canberra is one of the world's few planned cities. It's called
the 'bush capital' because it is surrounded by native bush land,
with large tracts of woodland separating its town centers and
suburbs. Yet hidden beneath its leafy surrounds is a thriving
modern city with stylish restaurants, hip bars, boutique
shopping, fun for the kids, a busy calendar of festivals ... and
easy access to nature.
If you visit in January you can enjoy Summernats, a four-day
'ultimate car show' that attracts car buffs from around the
nation. There is a 10-day multicultural festival in February,
and March packs in three 10-day
Photo: Anthony Braxton
A Blog Supreme is on vacation. Until we return, we are periodically leaving you with some shots from The NPR Jazz Photography Pool on Flickr. Here, Tom Wiebe writes about capturing the great composer on film last winter.
Nir Felder: Introducing The Next Big Jazz Guitarist
The Brooklyn youngster has already played with John Scofield, Joe Lovano and Jason Moran. With a debut album slated for early 2011, Felder recently stopped by WBGO's <em>The Checkout</em> to give host Josh Jackson a taste of what's to come.
festivals - folk music, hot air
balloons and community celebrations free to all-comers. In
April-May it's car rally, wine, heritage, military remembrance,
and chamber music, then science, gospel and various other
sporting extravaganzas through the rest of the year. October is
special, too, for the famed Floriade, Australia's largest flower
festival. More than a million colorful bulbs and annuals bloom
on cue, creating a vibrant display unrivalled by any other event
of its kind.
Canberra's uniqueness, though, lies in the way it showcases the
entire nation. From the seat of this young country's political
power to world class museums and art galleries, sporting
institutions, Aboriginal cultural activities, and easy access to
beautiful coastlines, ancient mountains and historic sites,
there is a diversity and quality of experience that too many
tourists miss. National facilities showcase the treasures of the
nation, often in hands-on experiential formats that offer an
intriguing insight into the Australian character, leading edge
research and democracy. And you, too, can experience that
journey from indigenous continent to modern multicultural
nation.
Just make sure you allow enough time in your schedule to
explore, linger longer, and enjoy all Australia's bush capital
has to offer.
About the author:
Jay is the web owner of http://www.Rental-Cars-In.com Rental Cars, a website
that provides information and resources on rental cars,
vacations, airfare, hotels, and travel. You can visit his
website at: http://www.hotels-in.net Discount Hotels
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