Enjoy A Virtual Tour Of Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is one of our great national treasures. Now, thanks to the Web, even if you can't get there to experience it firsthand, you can do the next best thing. Courtesy of MountainVisions.com, you can take a virtual tour of Yellowstone National Park whenever the mood strikes you, right on your desktop!

This remarkable site features more than 50 panoramic views of the park and what's more, they've even included the types of sounds that you'd expect to hear if you were actually there in person!

Here's one virtual tour that's a feast for the eyes and ears!

Take A Virtual Tour Of Stonehenge

Few sites are shrouded in as much mystery or inspire as much awe as Stonehenge. Now you don't have to travel all the way to Wiltshire, England to experience this remarkable ancient wonder. You can tour it virtually right on the Web!

To take a virtual tour of Stonehenge, simply point your browser to The Stonehenge World Heritage Site where you can enjoy a 360 degree panoramic view of one of the most intriguing places on the planet!

Where To Find Free Printable Travel Guides

Do you like online travel guides but want to have something tangible that you can hold in your hands too? You'll be happy to know that many online travel sites offer printable travel guides as well-sometimes for free!

Here are a couple of places on the Web where you can download free travel guides that you can print out:

• MilebyMile.com - You'll find plenty of printable road map travel guides here.

• InYourPocket.com - Thinking of traveling to Europe this summer? Download a travel guide from this site before you leave!

• TakeOffGuides - If you'll be vacationing in either Barcelona or Rome, you might be able to use one of the downloadable guidebooks available at this site.

These sites conveniently put the travel information you're looking for in the palm of your hand-literally!

Tour The Great Wall Of China Right From Your Desktop

The Great Wall of China is arguably one of the greatest man-made wonders of the world. Now, thanks to the Web, it's also on your desktop! To see 360 degree panoramic views of this most impressive architectural marvel just point your browser over to the virtual tour of the Great Wall of China at TheBeijingGuide.com.

Maybe you can't really see the Great Wall of China from the moon, but you can definitely see it in 360 degree splendor on your computer screen!

Take A Virtual Tour Of Popular Cruise Ships

Thinking of taking a cruise sometime soon? Perhaps yesterday's post on ocean liners piqued your interest. How would you like to experience right now what it's like to be aboard a cruise ship? You can-through a virtual tour!

To see a good example of this on the Web, point your browser to the 360 degree panoramic virtual tours available at Royal Caribbean International, one of the most popular cruise lines in the world. Just click on View Virtual Tour under the cruise ship of your choice and follow the instructions.

All aboard-virtually!

Experience The Majesty Of The Grand Canyon On Your Computer Screen

Have you ever had a chance to visit the Grand Canyon, one of the great natural wonders of the world? Well, even if you haven't there's a site online that will let you experience it virtually, with just a click of your mouse. But be warned, it's so real it will take your breath away!

Ready? Just point your browser to The virtual tour of the Grand Canyon you'll find on the Web site of VRMag.org. The Grand Canyon will come alive in 360 degree panoramic splendor right on your computer screen.

Remember, it's only a virtual tour!

Click To The Top Of Mt. Everest

In the news today you might have read about 75-year old Yuichiro Miura's quest to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. Now, if you're not quite as daring as Mr. Miura but would still like to experience the sensation of being on top of the world, you'll be happy to know that you can get to the top of Mt. Everest with just a click of your mouse!

You'll find a 360 degree panoramic view from the summit of Mt Everest on a Web site called Panoramas.dk, created by Hans Nyberg, a virtual reality photographer. Thanks to this terrific site, you can reach the top of the world by clicking instead of climbing!

Enjoy the view!

A Virtual Visit To The Eiffel Tower

There are few man-made structures that are more awe-inspiring than the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. Now, thanks to the power of the Web, you can tour this historic landmark right from the comfort of your computer chair.

The virtual tour of the Eiffel Tower is available at Arounder a Web site featuring virtual tours of many European cities and some U.S. cities as well. In addition to the Eiffel Tower, they host several other virtual tours of points of interest in Paris, worth checking out as well!

By the way, if you suffer from vertigo or are afraid of heights these 360 degree panoramic views from points high atop the Eiffel Tower might not be for you-they're that realistic! Otherwise, c'est merveilleux!

Tour The Eternal City Right From Your Desktop

They say all roads lead to Rome. Well, they must be right because even the Information Superhighway will lead you there-virtually speaking of course. If you want breathtaking, 360 degree views of the Eternal City right on your computer screen, head over to the Virtual tour of Rome hosted on the Web site of ItalyGuides.it.

You are a couple of clicks away from touring these fabulous sites:

• The Roman Coliseum
• Roman Pantheon
• Trevi Fountain
• Ancient Via Appia

And so much more. The virtual tour you are about to embark on is stunningly realistic. Get ready to say "Ciao Roma!"

A Travel Blog From A Titan In The Industry

Travel guide sites abound on the Internet, but how many allow you to read the views and opinions of the founders of those sites on a daily basis? That's exactly what you'll be privy to when you read Arthur Frommer Online, the blog from the founder of Frommer's Travel Guides.

Arguably among the most respected names in travel, Arthur Frommer regularly updates his blog with travel news, advice and recommendations. The itinerant Frommer even blogs from the road, offering fascinating firsthand accounts and observations of the places he visits.

A must read if you're interested in travel and it's from a titan in the industry!

Watch NYC TV On The Web

Planning a trip to "The Big Apple" any time soon? Already live in New York City but would love to learn fascinating things about it you never imagined? If you haven't already discovered it, some of the best programming about New York City can be found on NYC TV, the official television network of the City of New York.

And now you don't even have to worry if you missed a show or if NYC TV is not offered in your viewing area, because you can watch it on the Web. All their programs are viewable online any time you want at NYC TV On Demand. That's right, programs like Secrets of New York, Blueprint: New York City and Eat Out NY, among others, are available right on your desktop.

Whether you're a tourist or a resident who's just plain curious, these online shows will teach you everything you ever wanted to know about the city that never sleeps!

How To Use The Web To Find The Best Travel Deals

If you want to use the Web to find the best travel deals you should know about travel search engine sites. Using these types of sites is like having your own private travel assistant who scours the Web for the best travel bargains so you don't have to!

Here are some examples of sites that act like travel search engines:

• Kayak.com
• SideStep.com
• Mobissimo.com

Next time you're trying to find travel discounts on the Web, let one of these sites do the work for you-it's quicker and easier!

Your Gateway To State Tourism Web Sites

Haven't decided yet on where to go for your next vacation getaway? Why not check out one of the many state tourism web sites for some terrific hints. And there's no need to bounce around the Web to locate each one of them, by the way. All you have to do is stop by the Travel and Tourism Sites for the 50 States and U.S. Territories page on the Web Site of USA.gov!

You'll find this alphabetized directory of state tourism sites a welcome convenience and a handy reference when it's time to make travel plans. It will save you time because it includes all the links you need to important state tourism sites.

If you're thinking about vacationing somewhere in the U.S., don't forget to bookmark it!

How To Take A Virtual Trip Around The World

Want to see the waves crashing on the beaches of Waikiki, view Rome's most famous landmarks or simply people watch in Times Square all from the comfort and convenience of your computer chair? Just visit a web cam directory site!

Typically these sites offer links to video cameras from around the world that stream live video and still images over the Web-hence the name web cam-for you to see right on your computer screen.

Here are a few web cam directory sites worth noting:

• EarthCam.com


• CamVista.com


• Travel-Webcams.com
  

Before your next trip why not take a sneak peek at your travel destination through a web cam? You'll feel like you're already there!

Use An Online City Guide Next Time You Travel

When you're staying local you probably already know where to find the best restaurants, shops and other attractions, and even if you don't, chances are your friends and family can make recommendations. But, what about when you travel to another city? You might find an online city guide like Yelp.com especially helpful. From the site:

Yelp is an online city guide made up of real reviews from real people. The definitive local guide in big cities from San Francisco and Los Angeles to Chicago, New York and Boston. But really, Yelp is everywhere. From Austin to Madison and everywhere in between, reviewers are chiming in from all over the country!

When you use a site like Yelp.com, it's like having friends in every city whom you can go to for recommendations on what's hot and what's not! Check it out next time you travel to another city-and don't be afraid to contribute your own reviews too!

An Educational Travel Organization You Can't Afford To Miss

Have you ever dreamed about taking exciting but affordable trips that are as intellectually stimulating as they are fun? Well stop dreaming and check out what Elderhostel.org can offer you. According to the site they are, "the world's largest educational travel organization for adults 55 and over."

More from their site:

From Paris to New Orleans, Delhi to Council Bluffs, Elderhostel offers unique educational experiences, infused with the spirit of camaraderie and adventure, that enrich and enhance the lives of its participants. Our expert instructors share stimulating information through in-depth lectures, field trips and cultural excursions. Lively discussions with faculty and fellow participants illuminate issues and broaden horizons.

Sound like your cup of tea? If you're a senior who'd like to find out more about educational travel opportunities, then head on over to Elderhostel.org where you can sign up for a free monthly newsletter, learn all about their programs, request free catalogs and more!

Currency Conversion Made Easy On The Web

When you're traveling abroad, figuring out the exchange rate for the U.S. dollar is probably not one of the highlights of your trip. But now, thanks to the power of the Web it's gotten a whole lot easier. The fact is, there are many currency conversion tools available online-you just have to know where to find them!

Here are a few worth a look:

• Currency Converter - Yahoo! Finance - A leading online portal for so many things, is it any wonder they include a great currency converter?
• CNN Money.com's Currency Conversion Tool - The web site you go to for the latest news also offers a handy currency converter.
• Google - That's right, this behemoth among search engines offers a "built-in currency converter" too, and it's very easy to use as Google Help: Search Features explains.

Next time you need info on currency conversion don't forget to try one of these helpful web-based tools!

Online Travel Guides From The New York Times

If you're like many seniors you're probably passionate about travel. After all, what better way to spend your golden years than by visiting all those faraway places you never got around to in your younger days. And if you happen to be a senior surfer who loves to travel, then you'll be happy to learn that the Web has some terrific tools to help you research, plan and book your trips.

One of the more notable of these types of resources for travelers is the Guides and Deals for Hotels, Restaurants and Vacations from The New York Times.

Some of the highlights include:

• Feature length in-depth articles on destinations from all over the world
• Multimedia offerings like slide shows and video from vacation hot spots
• Interactive maps
• Readers' comments and recommendations

Before your next trip make sure to check out this useful resource - it just might help you have a bon voyage!