Destination Germany reports record numbers of stays

The volume of international travel to Germany reached a record high for the fifth year in a row in 2014, with a total of 75.6 million
overnight stays.

The USA, which remains the biggest overseas market for Destination Germany, continued to grow strongly, with its travelers making nearly 246,000 more overnight stays in Germany than the previous year, as part of a total volume of 5.2 million in 2014.

According to the German Federal Statistical Office, the number of overnight stays by visitors from abroad in accommodation establishments with ten or more beds went up by 3.7 million in the period from January to December, a year-on-year increase of 5.1 per cent.

Petra Hedorfer, Chief Executive Officer of the German National Tourist Board (GNTB): “Once again we are able to look back on an outstanding set of results – our record in 2014 provides further evidence that Germany has arrived in the top tier of international travel destinations.

Arrivals went up by 4.6 per cent. This means we are comfortably above the comparable growth rate for Europe, which the UNWTO puts at 3.9 per cent, and on a par with the global growth rate of 4.7 per cent.

The latest UNWTO forecasts suggest that the international travel market will expand by between 3 and 4 per cent in 2015. We will build on last year’s strong performance and take a bigger than average cut of this growth.

This will lay the perfect foundation for our long-term outlook of achieving 121.5 million international overnight stays a year by 2030, which we believe is a realistic objective.”

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Bohomme Carnaval welcomes guests to Quebec’s Winter Carnival

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By Richard Irwin, Staff Writer

Frosty the Snowman has nothing on Bonhomme Carnaval, the iconic snowman of Quebec’s Winter Carnival. Like Frosty, Bonhomme invites children of all ages to come out and play in his fantastic winter wonderland every year.

Since it began in 1894, the Carnaval de Quebec has grown into the largest winter carnival in the world. Since then, the inhabitants of New France have enjoyed getting together just before Lent to eat, drink and be merry.

This year’s grand celebration offered more than 200 events from Jan. 30 to Feb. 15. Last year, the carnival drew more than 520,000 visitors, with almost half coming from outside the region. The Carnaval has become the city’s biggest tourist draw.

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Macy’s Museum Month gives half price admission

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Leap into 45 museums in San Diego this February. Presented by Macy’s, this popular event allows participants to enjoy half-off entry fees at 45 San Diego Museum Council membership museums.

The savings encourages locals and visitors to explore a variety of arts, culture and science-oriented destinations. From Oceanside Museum of Art down to the Tijuana Estuary, there are ample opportunities for edutainment, creating memories and fun for the whole family.

Museum Month Passes may be picked up starting February 1, 2015 at any of Macy’s fourteen locations in the San Diego Area, Temecula and Imperial Valley. The passes are free to obtain while supplies last.

With a pass, up to four visitors can gain admission to any of the over 40 participating museums for half-price. Plus, you can use the pass all month long!

Follow this link to find the Macy’s store nearest you

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Scenic river cruise to Pillnitz Castle in Dresden

Pillnitz Castle, the summer palace of the kings of Saxony. (Photo courtesy of Dresden Marketing)

Pillnitz Castle, the summer palace of the kings of Saxony.
(Photo courtesy of Dresden Marketing)

By Richard Irwin, Staff Writer

For something different, jump on one of the eight historic paddle steamers owned by the Saxon Steamship Co. It gives you a chance to explore the picturesque Elbe River, which divides Dresden.

Beautiful mansions line the scenic riverbanks, the summer homes of Dresden’s rich and powerful families. Our tour stopped at Pillnitz Castle, the summer palace of the kings of Saxony.

The complex actually has three palaces interlinked. The palaces encircle a wonderful baroque flower garden, while a lovely public park surrounds the grounds.

The castle was originally bought for the mistress of John George IV. When he died, his brother, Augustus the Strong, gave it to one of his own mistresses.

Since it was a warm fall day, we also strolled through the English gardens, Chinese pavilion, conifer garden and orangery.

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The Green Vault is the jewel box of Dresden

The Green Vault in Dresden (Photo courtesy of Dresden Marketing)

The Green Vault in Dresden (Photo courtesy of Dresden Marketing)

By Richard Irwin, Staff Writer

Dresden is literally a jewel box when you visit Grünes Gewölbe, the Green Vault. It is one of the oldest museums in the world, even older than London’s British Museum.

Rulers used it as a private treasure trove in the 17th century. It was opened to the public by Augustus the Strong, who displayed his priceless works of art in gold and silver, as well as fabulous jewelry.

Named after the green-painted bases of its columns, the Green Vault was rebuilt after its destruction during the war, and the treasures were returned to Dresden in 1958 after being taken by the Red Army. In 2004, the New Green Vault opened its collection of art on the second floor of the Dresden Castle.

In 2006, the Historic Green Vault reopened with 3,000 magnificent pieces of jewelry made from gold, silver, amber and ivory. It also has the largest green diamond in the world.

While the new vault can be visited any time, the historic vault requires advance-purchase tickets for a specific time. A limited number of tickets are also sold every morning.

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Dresden Frauenkirche rises from ashes of WWII

 

Dresden Frauenkirche, the Church of Our Lady,  (Photo courtesy of Dresden Marketing)

Dresden Frauenkirche, the Church of Our Lady, (Photo courtesy of Dresden Marketing)

By Richard Irwin, Staff Writer

The Dresden Frauenkirche, the Church of Our Lady, is perhaps the city’s diamond. Settling in for an evening musical performance, we felt transported back in time to when Dresden was indeed one of the cultural capitals of the Old World.

The majestic music floated up through the grand space. It’s hard to believe this stately church was destroyed in the Allied bombing.

Though the church withstood two days and nights of bombing by British and American bombers in February 1945, temperatures reached 1,832 degrees from the 650,000 incendiary bombs dropped on the city.That heat is what destroyed much of the area.

They say the church’s pillars glowed bright red before shattering, dropping 6,000 tons of stones through the floor.

Only the altar, with its depiction of Jesus’ agony in the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives, and the chancel were left standing.

The blackened stones sat in the city center for the next 45 years.
Residents balked at removing the ruins for a parking lot, and it became a war memorial. In 1982, the ruins became part of the peaceful protests against the East German government.

By 1989, tens of thousands of protesters toppled the Communist regime, bringing down the Iron Curtain to reunify East and West Germany.
Using the original plans, Dresden began reconstruction of the Church of Our Lady in 1993.

The famous landmark was finally finished in 2005. Today, the blackened stones stand out against newer stones.

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Dresden is the jewel box of Saxony, Germany

Dresden is a jewel on the Elbe River in Germany. (Photo courtesy of Dresden Marketing)

Dresden is a jewel on the Elbe River in Germany. (Photo courtesy of Dresden Marketing)

By Richard Irwin, Staff Writer

Dresden has long been considered the jewel box of Saxony, Germany, with its many baroque and rococo buildings.

This gem was destroyed in the controversial Allied bombing that took place during the last months of World War II. An estimated 25,000 residents died in the attack, which leveled the city center.

It also lost some of its luster under the Communist regime of East Germany.

But the capital city of the state of Saxony, located near the border with the Czech Republic, is shining brightly once again.

Most of the historic downtown has been rebuilt, much of it from the original plans, restoring the unique culture and architecture of this city of 2 million on the Elbe River.

Take your time strolling through the clean streets, and savor the jewel box built by the wealthy kings and electors of Saxony. They brought artists, architects and musicians from across Europe to Dresden and the stunning results can be seen everywhere.

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Win a wintercation along Oregon Coast

This winter, take advantage of one of Oregon’s best-kept secrets — winter on the Coast. This is the season that the Coast reveals some of its most beautiful treasures.

Catch sight of great gray whales on their southern migration from the Bering Sea to the warm waters of Baja. Look for spouts from 24 designated whale-watching spots staffed with volunteers during Whale Watching Week in December.

Winter is also storm-watching season — time to curl up by the fire and catch the tremendous wave show going on outside. The calm weather that follows is perfect for agate hunting and beaching combing on freshly scoured sands.

Try your handcrabbing from the dock during Dungeness season, which peaks in December, or purchase a freshly caught crustacean from a Coast fish market.

Get out on the water and explore miles of kayaking trails. Winter’s higher water levels on Coast rivers, bays and estuaries make for great wildlife- and bird-watching from the boat. And for some indoor pleasure, warm up inside with a pint of Oregon craft beer from a growing number of fine Coast breweries.

Want to win an Oregon Coast Wintercation of your own? Enter to win a trip for two on a guided whale-watching charter from Newport Tradewinds, $100 to spend at Rogue Ales and a stay at the Elizabeth Street Inn. We’re also including tickets to the Oregon Coast Aquarium, Ripley’s Believe it Or Not, Undersea Gardens and Wax Works, and a couple of bowls of clam chowder at Mo’s.

Get inspired: Read more about some of our favorite Oregon Coast Wintercations.

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Christmas markets entice visitors in Ireland

Christmas markets in Dublin and Belfast are bursting with unique gifts, festive spirit, fantastic craic, and adventure-shopping.

Fall under the spell of spicy mulled wine, the scent of gourmet food, Christmas carols and the spirit of jolly shoppers. Dublin is a magical place at Christmas.

The first city-center Christmas Market on St Stephen’s Green promises to be the jewel of Dublin’s festive calendar through Dec. 23.

More than 60 traditional wooden chalets line St Stephen’s Green Park, next to the famous Dublin shopping mecca of Grafton Street – itself a great Christmas destination – offering a unique selection of quality goods.
There’ll be everything from handcrafted gifts, spices and chutneys as well as gourmet crepes, bratwurst, chocolate fountains, Glühwein and other seasonal non-alcoholic drinks to enjoy. Entertainment from local choirs and carollers add to the festive spirit.

There‘s an amazing amount of events around Dublin too, everything from the Peter Pan panto at the Gaiety Theatre to Ireland’s largest Christmas ice rink at Christmas Wonderland to a Live Animal Crib and Carols by Candlelight at Christ Church Cathedral.

In Belfast, there’s the huge, lively Continental Market that transforms the City Hall lawns into a bustling village.
Almost 100 European traders offer something for everyone, including a wide selection of food, unique gifts, drinks and entertainment.

Everyone comes to chill out in the onsite bars serving the best local and European brews, and to sample exotic tastes like ostrich burgers and eggnog.

The Victorian-vintage St George’s Market was voted the UK’s Best Large Indoor Market 2014 by the National Association of British Market Authorities.

It runs an annual Christmas Craft Fair and opens for additional days during the Christmas period. Enjoy the experience of being at St George’s Market at Yuletide.

Rediscover the adventure of real-life market browsing.

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Universal Studios offers 20 Days of “Grinchmas”

Photo courtesy of Universal Studios Hollywod

Photo courtesy of Universal Studios Hollywod

It’s the most wonderful time of the year as Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal CityWalk deck the halls for a wintry calendar of cool holiday activities at The Entertainment Capital of L.A.

A very, merry Grinchmas returns to Universal Studios Hollywood as the theme park celebrates the Who-lidays with The Grinch, his faithful dog Max and a roster of Whos from the town of Who-ville.

“Grinchmas” runs weekends on Dec. 6-7 and 13-14, then continues daily from Dec. 19 through Jan. 3.

The Universal Plaza, an elaborate grand piazza at the heart of the theme park, will serve as the backdrop for the lighting of the towering “Grinchmas” tree – a whimsical centerpiece twisting and spiraling 60 feet above visitors and providing the ideal setting for merry holiday making memories, while The Grinch, his adorable dog Max and the WhovilleWhos entertain guests nearby with fun-filled photo opportunities.

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