Panama Canal - 100th Anniversary

This summer marks the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Panama Canal, the 48-mile shortcut between the Atlantic and Pacific. Practical purposes aside, the manmade Continental Divide thrills cruise passengers who get to see their ship lifted and lowered through a series of locks, on its scenic route.

Photos by Cynthia Dial

#travel #traveltips #travelingcynthia #panamacanal #travelpix #travelpics #anniversary #100thanniversary

Borrego Springs, California

You feel like you're at the end of the world in Borrego Springs, though it's only 1 1/2 hrs from San Diego, #borregosprings #desert #lacasadelzorro

Borrego Springs - La Casa del Zorro

When it's 73 degrees in San Diego, what do you do? I headed to the desert, more specifically La Casa Del Zorro in Borrego Springs. 

#borregosprings #desert #lacasadelzorro

La Casa del Zorro - Borrego Springs, California

The jewel in Borrego Springs' crown is La Casa del Zorro. This view is from Suite 152.  #borregosprings #desert #sculpture #lacasadelzorro

US Top 10 Landmarks - Travelers' Choice Awards - TripAdvisor Travelers

The verdict is in for the Travelers' Choice awards naming the US's Top 10 Landmarks.  Based on the millions of reviews and opinions from TripAdvisor travelers, the following were selected.

Top 10 US Landmarks:

Photo by Cynthia Dial

1. Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

2. Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool, Washington, D.C.

3. Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California

4. Alcatraz, San Francisco, California

5. USS Arizona Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii

6. Cloud Gate, Chicago, Illinois

7. Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C

8. New York Public Library, New York City, New York

9. Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Savannah, Georgia

10. Korean War Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C. 

#travel #traveltips #travelingcynthia #travelerschoice #US #unitedstates #landmarks #tripadvisor #uslandmarks

LSA - Lone Star Attitude - Denton, TX

Country Western version of the Lord's Supper at LSA (aka Lone Star Attitude), a great restaurant on Denton's town square. This mural is a must see. #travel #travelpics #traveltips #lsa #denton #texas #TX #art #travelingcynthia 

2014's Best US Staycation Cities

Excerpted from ETurboNews.com

New analysis of the Best & Worst Cities to Staycation in 2014 compared each of the 100 largest cities in the US based on 20 key metrics – ranging from the number of public golf courses and swimming pools per capita to the cost of maid services – in order to help consumers who are on the fence about staying home or taking a trip make the best decisions for their wallets and enjoy a bit of fun this summer.

Photo by Cynthia Dial

2014’s Best Cities for Staycations

1. Buffalo, New York
2. Minneapolis, Minnesota
3. Cincinnati, Ohio
4. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
5. Portland, Oregon
6. Omaha, Nebraska
7. New Orleans, Louisiana
8. Tampa, Florida
9. Orlando, Florida
10. Seattle, Washington
11. St. Petersburg, Florida
12. Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky
13. St. Louis, Missouri
14. Cleveland, Ohio
15. Atlanta, Georgia
16. Boise City, Idaho
17. St. Paul, Minnesota
18. Winston-Salem, North Carolina
19. Honolulu, Hawaii
20. Raleigh, North Carolina

Key Stats:

~ Las Vegas, NV has 87-times more live performances per capita than Lincoln, Nebraska.

~ Tampa, FL has 143-times more zoos & aquariums per capita than New York, NY.

~ Going bowling in New York, NY is 3.5-times more expensive than in Buffalo, NY.

~ Going to a beauty salon in Los Angeles, CA or Long Beach, CA is 3-times more expensive than in Fort Wayne, IN.

~ Hiring a maid in Fort Wayne, IN is 5-times more expensive than in Winston-Salem, NC.

~ Cincinnati, OH has 173-times more parks per capita than Toledo, OH.

#staycation #travel #traveltips #vacation #2014vacations #travelingcynthia #2014staycations #staycations