Holiday & Travel

With six states to explore, the Great Lakes celebrates the festive season like nowhere else. From world class shopping to unique New Year's traditions, below is just a taster of what the Great Lakes has to offer this Christmas time.

This spectacular mountain route takes travellers on a grand tour through picturesque Yukon towns and alpine passes to the Alaska Panhandle. The Golden Circle Route contains some of North America's grandest scenery and wildest places. Within relatively short distances, the route covers a wide range of eco-systems— from boreal forest to coastal rainforest to immense icefields.

NSW has shown it is the adventure playground of Australia with the return of the Bravo Challenge to the Illawarra in September 2016. Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events and Minister for Sport Stuart Ayres said the 2016 Bravo Challenge will run over two days and provide participants with a series of physical challenges that will test strength and mental endurance while showcasing the best of Wollongong's natural features.

Just the word “Junkanoo” has a fun sound to it, and it is every bit as much fun as it sounds. It is an extravagant street parade filled with elaborately themed colorful costumes, music and dance that takes place in The Bahamas on Boxing Day (December 26) and New Year’s Day. The liveliest and largest of the sensational Bahamas Junkanoo party celebrations is in Nassau, but you can also experience the intoxicating carnival atmosphere on Grand Bahama Island, Eleuthera/Harbour Island, Bimini, The Exumas and The Abacos.

Icelanders are happy to spend quite a lot of money on fireworks for this one special night. The reason in simple. Selling fireworks is the main income for all the volunteer rescue teams around the country and Icelanders want to show active support for them. The result is spectacular. Last year 500 tons of fireworks were imported to Iceland for which amounts to about 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs) of fireworks for each man, woman and child in Iceland. 

The countdown to Christmas has officially begun so make sure you have the inside scoop on the very best places take family and friends for an unforgettable festive season. Visitors to Kent will be spoiled for choice when it comes to fun-filled days out, super shopping, places to party and stunning winter scenery. And residents will be amazed at just how much there is to see and do on their doorstep this year - from Dickensian markets and sparkling castles, to ice skating and a festive world record attempt!

Feeling Wanderlust? When it comes to sheer choice of places to stay, Booking.com now reports 30 categories of accommodations, including vacation homes, boats, igloos, tree houses, guest houses, farm stays, apartments and more. More than 70% of the total properties available to book on Booking.com are actually from all of the categories beyond the traditional hotel, including apartments and chalets!

In the same month that saw the one millionth person log-on to the Northumberland tourist information website visitnorthumberland.com, Northumberland have swept the board at the 2015 North East England Tourism Awards, and then scooped Silver at the prestigious British Travel Awards. It is a great result for Northumberland - a county sometimes known as England's last 'hidden gem' - proving that the county is considered amongst the top visitor destinations in the UK.

The 2015 Tourism Eminent Achiever Award in Africa went to Minister Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture, and this is a sign of appreciation for one's work said the Minister. Minister Alain St.Ange added another prestigious accolade to his already impressive collection, when he was last week awarded the Eminent Achiever Award in Africa.

The world's tallest moving observation tower, currently being built on Brighton seafront, was today named British Airways i360. The airline has signed a five-year deal, which includes full naming rights, with the developers of the Brighton beach attraction which has been conceived and designed by Marks Barfield Architects. Standing at 162 meters high, the i360 will be the world's first vertical cable car and the world's most slender tower.

Winter is here! Cortina d'Ampezzo opens early due to the superb snow conditions, with the official launch coming next week in typically cool, chic Italian style, bringing five days of fashion, aperitifs and music throughout the town.

YHA (England and Wales) is holding its own Black Friday sale – Black Friday Flash - on 27 November 2016. It is offering 33% off dorms and rooms at 25 of its most popular Youth Hostels, including Eden Project, St Briavels Castle, Treyarnon Bay, Brighton, Cardiff Central and Snowdon Pen y Pass, for stays between 27 November and 30 December.

Taiwan is blessed with an abundance of hot springs and a bounty of irresistible fine cuisine. To celebrate this, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau is hosting its annual Hot Spring and Fine-Cuisine Festival from October through to 31st February. The festival invites visitors to take advantage of the holistic benefits of the naturally occurring hot springs whilst indulging in the best of Taiwanese fresh cuisine.

Frazzled parents looking for a winter sun destination where their children can find fun and frolics should be turning to the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba where youngsters go top of the class. Across the sun-drenched island, hotels and resorts make great efforts to ensure their smaller guests are given a big welcome.