Category Archives: Hometown Travel Guide
Central American City Travel Guide
Central America is renowned for many things: its volcanic activity; its wildlife; its beaches; its Maya ruins and its sunshine.
But as a city break destination?
However, in my opinion, no Central American holiday is complete without experiencing the hustle and bustle of its urban centres.
Central American experts TrekAmerica are obviously of that opinion too because its tours take in many of the best cities in the region, including Antigua, Leon, Granada and San Jose. Here’s a guide to why these should feature on your Central American too.
Antigua, Guatemala
Nestled in the central highlands of Guatemala is the city of Antigua. Although it isn’t the capital of the country, Antigua is much more tourist friendly than Guatemala City and has plenty to keep any visitor interested for the duration of a short stay.
Even before we get onto the business of its Unesco World Heritage centre, one of Antigua’s biggest draws is the simply stunning backdrop formed by the triumvirate of volcanoes de Agua, de Fuego and Acatenango. The contrast between the small buildings and these mighty peaks is breathtaking, and a stark reminder that for many of the residents of Central America, the threat of an eruption is always hanging over them.
In town itself, you’ll find ancient ruins, pretty churches and chocolate makers, as well as a number of museums worth a look.
Leon, Nicaragua
Assuming most people know more about the Luc Besson film than Nicaragua’s second largest city, Leon is a city of 175,000 people situated in the far west of the country, just 18km from the Pacific Ocean.
Leon’s main draw is its Spanish colonial architecture, with a number of spectacular and colourful examples of 18th century design dotted around the city.
One of the most impressive is the Unesco World Heritage Cathedral of the Assumption, which was completed in 1814 and remains Central America’s largest.
Granada, Nicaragua
Further south, on the coast of the mighty Lake Nicaragua, is the city of Granada, reputedly the first European city in mainland America.
Established in 1524 by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba, Granada, like Leon, has many wonderful examples of colonial architecture – its colourful buildings reminiscent of Havana in Cuba.
And of course, it makes the perfect base for exploring what the largest lake in Central America has to offer.
San Jose, Costa Rica
As the capital city of Costa Rica, San Jose unsurprisingly has much to offer tourists, packed as it is with museums, restaurants and bars.
Visit the National Museum of Costa Rica housed in a spectacular ochre-coloured fortress bearing scars of the civil war in 1948, which led to the abolishment of the country’s military, or check out a performance at the National Theatre.
There are also a number of parks to explore and a zoo, if the weather is good. The biggest park is La Sabana, which has been nicknamed ‘the lungs of the city’. As well as plenty of green space to enjoy, it is also home to Costa Rica’s national stadium and art museum.
San Jose is a great place to end your Central American tour if you’re not planning on visiting Panama, as it has its own international airport, allowing you to catch a flight to the USA for connections to Europe.
We hope this Central American City Travel Guide was a bit insightful, and there are plenty more great cities in the region to explore, these are just great home bases for further exploration!
Photo of the Week: View of Panama City from Ancon Hill
I traveled to Panama in early 2012 and started my trip in Panama City. A sprawling metropolis that looks more like Miami than Miami itself, Panama City is a world class city that has something for everyone, from deep historical roots to soaring glass skyscrapers and top-notch nightlife.
I took a tour of the city, and one of the coolest places I went to was atop Cerro Ancon (Ancon Hill) which is a 654 foot hill right in the middle of the city. What’s cool about Ancon Hill besides the stunning views of the city below is that it is undeveloped and truly a jungle oasis in the middle of a bustling city. The reason it was never built up is because up until 1977, the hill was actually governed by the US as it was part of the Panama Canal Zone. Panama decided to keep it pristine upon gaining control and since has made it a protected area.
You can even still see exotic jungle wildlife living on the hill including sloths, exotic birds, condors, eagles, tamarins (small monkeys) and deer. If you make it to Panama City, then definitely head to Ancon Hill to take in the amazing panoramic vistas, you won’t be disappointed!
Pittsburgh Travel Guide
Gritty, hard-nosed, blue-collar sports fans; The Steel City. Until recently, this was the reputation of the major city in western Pennsylvania, which lays half way in between New York City and Chicago. Today, Pittsburgh, has transformed itself into a metropolis with one of of the highest rates for quality of living in the Unites States. Home to one of the nation’s top medical centers, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Pittsburgh is at the forefront of progressive medical innovations, business development and is home to many fine academic institutions including Carnegie Mellon, Pitt and Duquesne. With reasonable prices, vast options for accommodations and lively events, Pittsburgh, PA can certainly be a prime vacation spot or family trip destination.
When approaching downtown from Pittsburgh International Airport, visitors travel through the Fort Pitt Tunnel and while exiting, are hit hard with a gleaming skyline and an assortment of picturesque bridges. There are not many cities in the U.S., if any, that can match this enchanting entrance in which Pittsburgh has to offer. In fact, Pittsburgh is actually host to more bridges than any other city in the world, including Venice.
Downtown Pittsburgh rests at the tip of an arrowhead shaped peninsula where three impressive rivers come together— the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio. Whether it’s taking a walk along the lush riverfront trails, exploring a variety of world-class museums, discovering beautiful art, or taking in a sporting event—there is something for every one of all ages in Pittsburgh. We have compiled a wonderful list of ideas and activities for experiencing the best of what Pittsburgh has to offer:
Black and Yellow
It is of course hard to think of this city without thinking about its storied sports history. Home to the legendary “Steel Curtain” Steelers defense of the 70’s and sports legends such as Roberto Clemente, Mario Lemieux and Dan Marino, Pittsburgh is rich in sports tradition—both past and present. Wiz Khalifa describes Pittsburgh best in his rap “black and yellow.” What other city can say that all of their professional sports teams rock the same colors for uniforms? Enjoy part of your time in Pittsburgh sitting amongst the rocking fans at a Penguins hockey game, yelling with the strong steel spirit at a Steelers football game or taking in a Pirates baseball game at one of the nation’s most beautiful ball parks; PNC park; just be sure to wear your black and yellow to any of them!
Museums
The museums of Pittsburgh offer something for people of all ages and interests. Whether you are interested in art, aviation, dinosaurs, music or more; there is a Pittsburgh museum for you. First and foremost is the Andy Warhol museum. This 7-story museum dedicated to the Pittsburgh artist who influenced the world through his artistic expression is a must-see which features exhibits of all kinds. Another great and unique museum is the Mattress Factory. Located on the north side of Pittsburgh, this museum of modern art is host to several permanent and temporary exhibits and includes hands-on activities, workshops and tours. Lastly, you cannot go wrong with the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. This museum is one of the top natural history museums in the country and home to one of the best dinosaur collections in the world.
Oakland
Oakland is the area of Pittsburgh that is best known for hosting the University of Pittsburgh. This urban campus is dominated by its 42-story Gothic-Revival Cathedral of Learning which contains 26 nationality rooms designed by different ethnic groups and is the tallest academic building in the U.S.
Adjacent to the cathedral is the beautiful Heinz Memorial Chapel, a favorite for Pittsburgh weddings. Alongside the center of Pitt’s campus is the perfectly maintained Schenley Park which is home to Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens; a great place for a stroll or post-up spot to indulge in a sandwich from Primanti Brothers—one of the most famous sandwich shops in the country, known for serving sandwiches stuffed with cold cuts, coleslaw, tomato and French fries.
The university was built upon the grounds of Forbes Field, home of the Pirates from 1909 to 1970. On the Pitt campus still resides a section of the Forbes Field wall and enshrined within Posvar Hall is the original home plate; the site of Bill Mazeroski’s famed home run ending the 1960 World Series. Catch a college basketball game at the Petersen Events Center, home of the Oakland Zoo fan section, one of the most pulsating and rowdy home advantages in the country.
Bars and Restaurants
Pittsburgh is a city full of vibrant nightlife. The best place to go out is the South Side and its strip, East Carson Street. This street is one of the most bar-packed streets you can find anywhere and is loaded with great restaurants, cafes and venues. One of the best spots is Charlie Murdoch’s—a dueling piano bar and exceptional experience offering great live music. Be sure to check out nearby Station Square; a very large indoor and outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment complex.
Church Brew Works located in Lawrenceville was originally a Baptist Church. In 1996, it was altered into a brilliant brewery and restaurant like no other in the city. With very lofty ceilings, pipe organs turned into brewpubs and delectable food, this restaurant is inimitable. Try the delirious Untraditional Pittsburgh Pierogies or mouthwatering Buffalo and Wild Mushroom Meatloaf!
Monongahela Incline
Pittsburgh is home to one of the more underrated skylines in the country. Spending an evening riding the incline to the top of Mt. Washington for dinner is the best way to see this unbelievable panoramic view. There are a variety of restaurants located in a row on top of the mountain—each with glass walls for spectacular viewing of the skyline while you eat. Try La Tavola Italiana! This amazing restaurant has the view, the food and the ambiance for a great evening out; just no liquor license, so feel free to BYOB.
We believe Pittsburgh to be a definite worthwhile visit and are hopeful that our Pittsburgh Travel Guide will lead you to a memorable experience!
By Brian Longin
Photo of the Week: The Chocolate Hills in Bohol, Philippines
One of the last great frontiers on the tourist circuits in South East Asia is The Philippines. Named for King Phillip of Spain, The Philippines are an amazing collision of cultures as a result of over 300 years of Spanish colonial rule, Japanese and American occupation and an influx of people from other local nations, namely China. The nation, which is comprised of over 7,000 islands is very affordable and offers everything you could want for a vacation from sprawling metropolises to nature so untouched, you might be the first human to lay eyes upon it in years.
The above picture is from the island of Bohol in the Visaya region of the country. Bohol offers some of the most pristine beaches in the whole world as well as bountiful beautiful landscapes including the Chocolate Hills seen here. They are a geographic wonder known as conical karsts that result from the dissolution of limestone after rains, tectonic processes and ground water. There are over 1,500 of these hills that average in height from around 98 to 160 ft in an area of about 50 sq km. They get the name “chocolate hills” because in the dry season, the vegetation that covers them turns brown, i.e. looking like chocolate kisses!
There are plenty of tours that will take you to see the hills from the beaches where most people stay, but a more fun option is to just rent a motorcycle or scooter and make the scenic drive at your own pace!
Welcome to Home Town Travel Guides.com , your source for travel guides written by locals and those who've been there and done that! ~Jeremy