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Photo Of The Day: Gum Wall
See any odd attractions in your travels? Add them to the Gadling Flickr pool for a future Photo of the Day.
[Photo credit: Flickr user Mark Fischer]
Cruise Line Can't Build New Ships Fast Enough
Norwegian Cruise Line announced this week a plan to build one, maybe two more new ships, their biggest yet, on the heels of their two Project Breakaway ships that are still under construction. Citing the buzz among cruise travelers and travel professionals in Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway as reason enough to build the 163,000 ton ships, the cruise line is as confident as ever.
"Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway have garnered significant attention in the marketplace with their innovative design, rich stateroom mix and world-class amenities," said Norwegian President and CEO Kevin Sheehan in a Seatrade Insider report.
Indeed, Norwegian has had a laser focus on the deployment of their next ships. Dedicating Norwegian Breakaway to year-round service from New York City, the cruise line brought on board pop artist Peter Max to paint the ships hull with the New York skyline. About a month ago, Norwegian announced the Godmothers of Norwegian Breakaway, the New York City Rockettes. Sister ship Norwegian Getaway will sail year-round from Miami in 2014 and a close tie to Miami and South Florida is expected there as well.
SeaWorld Brings Antarctica To Florida
"Only SeaWorld and its parks can take you on these journeys or bring these experiences to you," said Terry Prather, SeaWorld Orlando's president. "We're excited about what the future holds for our parks and our fans.
First, guests will meet SeaWorld star, a young gentoo penguin and the ride's guide who leads guests on a journey through the Antarctic. Casting the park's colony of penguins, including gentoos, rockhoppers, adelies and kings, guests' experiences with the penguins will be a theme park and zoo first.
China To Open Atomic Bomb Tourism Site
![atomic bomb](https://web.archive.org/web/20121019023217im_/http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2012/10/atomicbomb23.jpg)
The country tested its first atomic bomb on October 16, 1964. Since then, over 40 nuclear tests have been done in Xinjiang over the decades before a moratorium was called in the 1990s.
According to BBC News, tourists will now be able to view the laboratories and dormitories scientists used, as well as a 985-foot anti-strike tunnel. It will be a "red tourism site," a location chosen by the Communist Party to commemorate what it considers a historic event.
While Beijing's Tsinghua University and the local government are hoping to attract many tourists, it's unclear how successful they will be as the location of the site is in one of China's most remote areas.
Would you visit this new red tourism site?
[Image via Shutterstock]
Sustainable Tourism Observatories Look To The Future Of Travel
A product of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism, Sustainable Tourism Observatories have been set up in 155 countries. Representing the private sector, educational institutions, tourism associations and local tourism authorities, the UNWTO tackles challenges like climate change, poverty elimination and others that will be affected by tourism.
10 Best Underground Bars In New York
![the vault at pfaff's](https://web.archive.org/web/20121019023217im_/http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2012/10/thevaultjf1.jpg)
New York offers many experiences for the traveler looking for a quality libation. As the weather gets colder and the streets get more crowded, try warming up away from the masses at one of these cozy, underground spaces.
The Vault At Pfaff's
643 Broadway
Located underground at Broadway and Bleecker in NoHo, The Vault at Pfaff's is a neighborhood bar and lounge inspired by Charles Pfaff's original beer cellar. The space played host to numerous actors and literary legends in the 1850s, such as Walt Whitman and Mark Twain. The bar pays homage to its history with refined touches like menus on newsprint, while also keeping the space modern with stylish interiors. On the menu, expect handcrafted cocktails, world-class wines, Champagne, beer and upscale bar bites like mahi mahi ceviche, filet mignon medallions and truffle mac and cheese.
The Wandering Writer: A Tour Through Manhattan's East Village With Tony Perrottet
![](https://web.archive.org/web/20121019023217im_/http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2012/10/tony-pdt-entrance.jpg)
Tony Perrottet won't talk to me. When I call him from the lobby he picks up his phone but doesn't utter a word. Rules dictate that he can't speak in the Writers Room, the shared workspace where he churns out articles and books, and the first stop on our walking tour of Perrottet's favorite neighborhood spots. Five silent seconds pass, then ten.
"Oh heeeeyyy, Rachel," he says finally, his Australian accent infused with a Bob Dylan-esque twang. "I'll be right down."
Silver-haired and wearing dark blue jeans and collared shirt under a soft green sweater, a college-professor-on-sabbatical look, Perrottet ushers me into the elevator. When we reach the Room, I can see why he's a stickler for cellphone protocol. The large loft is quiet as a coffin except for the rhythmic tapping of keyboards – and the twenty or so writers present seem cognizant of doing even that as softly as their productive fingers can manage. Back to back desks are occupied by whoever has shown up for the day, faces obscured by dividing screens. There's a kitchen for lunch breaks and a nap room in case you need to rest up before returning to the Muses. You can come here any day of the week, any time of the day, and stay as long as you like.
At this 30-year-old institution, Perrottet has rubbed elbows with literary celebrities like Jay McInerney, as well as the famous aspiring to the literary, like Molly Ringwald and Brooke Shields. But despite the many well-known authors who work here, Perrottet says it's actually very democratic. "They'll let anyone in as long as you're serious about your writing."
And membership isn't too hard on a writer's often-measly budget. "It's around $100 a month and they give you free coffee so you could actually make a profit if you had a cup every day," he says. It's a pretty good sales pitch, especially in a place like New York, where we cram ourselves into apartments people in other parts of the country would assign to kitchens or particularly roomy bathrooms.
Roadside America: Princeton, New Jersey, The Quintessential College Town
Breathe it in: the warm aroma of fall leaves and cable-knit sweaters, the musty scent of old buildings and library books, and the added jolt of freshly brewed coffee.
It's the smell of a college town, but not just any college town: Princeton, New Jersey, home to the fourth oldest Ivy League university in America.
Princeton particularly shines in the fall, when the energy from the start of the school year is fresh and deciduous trees light up the collegiate Gothic campus in shades of red and orange. Driving into town on Washington Road, it's clear why the Princeton Review consistently ranks Princeton University among the ten most beautiful college campuses in the country.
Located in the south-central part of New Jersey, Princeton is an hour-and-a-half drive from both New York and Philadelphia and an even easier train ride, making it the perfect city getaway. A day trip into town isn't complete without the following stops.
Gallery: Princeton, New Jersey
Mammoth Mountain Makes Big Changes Ahead Of Opening Day
![Mammoth Mountain gets ready for Opening Day November 8.](https://web.archive.org/web/20121019023217im_/http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2012/10/4207921015044403152739550014018n.jpg)
Snowboarders and free skiers in particular will find plenty to love at Mammoth this season. In addition to their massive Superpipe, which is traditionally the first to open and last to close in North America each year, the new Progression Park is sure to be a big draw. Specifically designed to help skiers and riders improve their skills, the Progression Park starts with some easy features at the beginning and gradually builds to more challenging obstacles further down the hill. Additionally, the new Downtown Collection adds urban themed obstacles to the Main and South Parks, giving snowboarders a whole new set of features to explore.
Mammoth's new updates and enhancements extend well beyond the slopes and terrain parks, however, as the resort has brought some additional amenities that visitors are sure to love. For instance, new digital lounges have been added to both the Main and Canyon Lodges that offer recharging stations for smartphones and cameras. Those lounges will also provide Internet connections, which will allow visitors to upload their favorite videos and photos to Facebook or Twitter, giving them the opportunity to gloat to friends stuck at home.
Photo Of The Day: Pyrenees
![](https://web.archive.org/web/20121019023217im_/http://www.blogcdn.com/www.gadling.com/media/2012/10/pyrenees.jpg)
This photo from a trip through the Pyrenees is making me eager to plan my next trip. The idea of backpacking through the mountains, specifically these mountains, and seeing views like this appeals to me. Christoph Sahle is a photographer and physicist based in Helsinki, Finland. You can check out a collection of his photos here and live vicariously through him in viewing them. Wish your photo was on Gadling for Photo Of The Day? No problem! Just upload it to the Gadling Flickr Pool and we'll take a look when we get the chance.
[Photo credit: Christoph Sahle]