What are our Trip Directors up to? They’ve certainly got some incredible moves … Find out in the next few months as we #countdown2summer.
The Westcoast Blogger
May 022012
Mar 012012
We all know we’re turning 30 (happy birthday to us!) but we should also let the Golden Gate Bridge join in on the celebrations as it is turning 75!
The bridge opened in 1937 and connects the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula to Marin County (home to Sausalito, a small fishing town we village on many of our western Active Teen Tours). The bridge has been named one of the Wonders of the World and it is arguable the most photographed bridge in the world. When the bridge opened, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world and had the world’s tallest suspension towers.
Some fun facts …
- To build the bridge today would cost $1.2 billion.
- The bridge is coated in orange vermillion or International Orange, a color chosen to compliment the surrounding scenery and improve the visibility in fog.
- 38 painters continually paint the bridge and 17 ironworkers continually replace corroding steel and rivets
- As of April 2011, 1,929,896,448 vehicles have crossed the Golden Gate Bridge.
- Some recent movies that have featured the Golden Gate Bridge as the backdrop include Going the Distance, Star Trek, Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus, Monsters vs. Aliens, X-Men: The Last Stand and the Core.
- The bridge has been closed three times when wind gusts were over 70 mph – fortunately that has not happened when our groups have been there!
Join the celebration this summer on a western Active Teen Tour.
The Westcoast Blogger
Feb 092012
For the first time in six years, the Dancing Fountains of the Bellagio, Las Vegas’ number one free attraction, will have some new moves when our western Active Teen Tours visit them this summer.
Some of the new songs include the Beatle’s Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean and Glenn Miller’s In the Mood.
The fountains are located in an 8.5 acre body of water, illuminated by just over 5,000 white lights (color lights were nixed during the initial installation). There are 798 minishooters, 208 swaying oarsmen who have a full range of spherical motion, 192 super shooters that blast water up to 240’ into the air and 16 extreme shooters that blast water up to 460’ into the air. A fog system can create an ambiance in the lake.
The whole production is managed daily by a team of 30 including divers who fish out coins and wedding rings frequently. All monies collected are donated to Habitat for Humanity. Once, someone threw in a catfish that was a pain to catch. Boats are also available to rescue anyone who decides to go for a swim.
The show takes place every 30 minutes in the afternoons and evenings, and every 15 minutes from 8 pm to midnight. Before the production, the nozzles break the water surface and the lights illuminating the Bellagio towers turn to a purple hue or red, white and blue.
Don’t miss this spectacle on our California Sprint, California & The Canyons, Californian Extravaganza, U.S. Explorer, American Voyageur, Adventurer, California Dreaming, Ultimate California and Hawaiian Spirit programs.
The Westcoast Blogger
Sports Illustrated Senior Editor Kostya Kennedy stopped into the WCC/360° office today to talk about our Major League Madness programs next summer. Kostya has many great stories to share about baseball! His book 56: Joe DiMaggio and the Last Magic Number in Sports is a New York Times Best Seller. The book is about Joe Dimagio’s incredible 56 game hitting streak. Here is what broadcasting legend Bob Costas has to say on the book: “56-the number alone still has meaning, but there is a compelling and textured story behind it, a story that pre- and postdates the summer of 1941. Kostya Kennedy tells that story beautifully.”
A great preview of his book is on the Sports Illustrated website and can be found here. The book is is available at Amazon here.
“56” is a great read for the baseball fanatic, and a great thing to throw into your backpack while on our Major League Madness programs!
Speaking of Major League Madness, our schedules have recently been finalized with the release of the MLB schedule. Our East & Midwest program will see 12 games and visit 12 ballparks including Wrigley Field and Fenway Park. In California, you will visit 5 ballparks. For the outrageous fanatic, pair the two together and see 17 parks and games on our Combination program!
Hope to see you on the road this summer.
110 days until the season begins!
The Westcoast Blogger
Dec 132011
The Market Theater Gum Wall is a landmark in downtown Seattle. The wall is located in Post Alley underneath Pike Place Market. It is 15 feet high, 50 feet wide and is covered in multi-colored gum (many pieces in creative designs). Named the 2nd “germiest” tourist attractions by CNN in 2009 (after the Blarney Stone), it is a must see on our Active Teen Tours that visit Seattle!
The sticking began in 1993 when people waiting to get into the theater would stick their gum to the wall – many attaching coins to their gum. The theater scraped the gum twice … then gave up. In 1999, the wall was declared an official tourist attraction (check out the wall’s Facebook page here). The Gum Wall was featured in Love Happens with Jennifer Aniston and believe it or not is a very popular site for wedding photographers.
There are no “rules” for sticking, so leave your mark on the wall on our Adventurer, American Voyageur or Northwestern Odyssey this summer. If you’re feeling creative, make a design too. If the movement grows, this could become the #1 attraction in Seattle by next summer.
The Westcoast Blogger
