Universal Studios Tours VIP Studio Pass

Unlike Disneyland, reservations cannot be made for any of the attractions within Universal Studios. However, you can get a VIP Studio Pass, which will allow you to skip many of the lines, and will even provide you with a personal tour of the back lot.

The cost of the VIP Studio Pass is quite affordable under $300 for two people, and it entitles you to many special perks.you get to see everything, including many things that are not part of the standard Universal Studios Tour, although the VIP tour actually starts with the standard Universal Studios Tour then it just gets better.

If you are in possession of a VIP pass, you will be allowed to get off the tram and wonder around the movie sets. You will be allowed to visit the props department as well, which is great fun. You will also be entitled to prime seating at all of the shows, and have the opportunity to meet the cast members after the shows.

If you will be going on a Universal Studios Tour and visiting the theme park, the VIP Studios Pass is definitely the way to go!

Top

A History of Alcatraz Island

A History of Alcatraz Island
Alcatraz Island is a small isle with a colorful history. Located in the San Francisco Bay,
the land has filled important functions for the United States since Californias Gold Rush.
Today it is best known for housing the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. Alcatraz Island has
been a national recreation area since 1963.
The island first became known to Europeans in 1775. That year, Spanish naval officer
Juan de Ayala discovered it while charting the San Francisco Bay. He named the land
mass La Isla de los Alcatrices, which translates to Pelican Island.
Spain put the island under Mexicos jurisdiction. After a few sales and legal battles, the
island eventually became the property of the United States government; explorer John
Frmont purchased it on the nations behalf for $5000 in 1846.
Two years later, when gold was discovered at Sutters Mill, ships from around the world
set sail for San Francisco Bay. Sailors urgently needed a lighthouse for navigation, and
Alcatraz Island was a prime location. A lighthouse was set atop Alcatraz in 1853.
That same year, the US Army began studying the islands potential as a defense base.
The Army Corps of Engineers began a five-year fortification project in 1853. Soldiers
moved in by 1859. When the American Civil War broke out, resident soldiers mounted
more than 100 cannons around the islands perimeter. They never fired the cannons, but
they did use a guardhouse basement to imprison west coast Confederate sympathizers,
Native American Hopis, and other persons deemed threats to the Union.
Following the war, the government transitioned Alcatraz Island from a center of military
defense to a detention center. The islands isolation amidst cold water and powerful
currents made prisoner escape highly unlikely. A brick jailhouse was quickly constructed,
and long-term military prisoners were delivered there by 1868.
Alcatraz Island began housing civilian prisoners by the hundreds in 1906. This was a
result of the San Francisco earthquake; with jails destroyed on the mainland, law
enforcement needed a new secure location for the inmates. In 1907 the building was
designated the Western US Military Prison. The original lighthouse gave way to a three-
story concrete cell block in 1909. (A second lighthouse was constructed later that year.)
As a military prison, Alcatraz held a range of prisoners from convicted murderers to
World War I conscientious objectors. Those who behaved well might enjoy time
outdoors. Some even worked as servants for families who lived on the island! However,
others experienced the militarys strict discipline; punishments included solitary
confinement, severe food and water restrictions, and hard labor.
The prison drew interesting characters as Prohibition era crime developed. Famous
mobsters like Al Capone and George Machine Gun Kelly found Alcatraz was their new
home. The government responded to their especially ruthless reputations by upgrading
security. This included such additions as iron bars, metal detectors to screen visitors,
teargas canisters, and the cementing of old underground tunnels. Prisoners were closely
monitored with the issuing of one guard for every three inmates. There were also twelve
inmate countings per day!
According to prison records, no inmates successfully escaped during the penitentiarys 29
years in operation. Most people who fled the island were shot, were returned, or were
found to have drowned. Some escaped convicts are unaccounted for, but most people
assume they perished in the frigid San Francisco Bay. A $1 million recapture reward
offered by a local ferry operator remains unclaimed.
Despite the restrictions, prisoners also had recreation. By the 1920s these prisoners had
formed baseball teams, and on Fridays the Army hosted Alcatraz Fights, a tradition of
boxing matches between inmates.
The War Department closed the famous military prison in 1934. The prison had
unusually high operational costs, and waste from island residents was polluting the San
Francisco Bay. The Department of Justice assumed management until 1963.
Today, the island is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The National Park
Service provides tours. During the warmer months, tourists reach the island via a ferry
that departs San Franciscos Fishermans Wharf neighborhood. Some Alcatraz Island
attractions include the scenic bay view, the islands flora and fauna, and tours of the
famous prison.
PPPPP
(word count 694)

Top

Choosing a Yacht Chartering Company? Why You Should Ask

Choosing a Yacht Chartering Company? Why You Should Ask for Recommendations

Have you recently decided that you would like to charter a private yacht, instead of taking a traditional cruise? If so, you are not alone. Each year, a large number of individuals make the decision to charter a private yacht. Many feel that it is a nice and relatively affordable way to enjoy a private and peaceful vacation on the open seas. As nice as chartering a private yacht is, you will need to choose a company to do business with. Unfortunately, this can sometimes be easier said than done.

When it comes to choosing a private yacht chartering company, there are a number of important factors that should be taken into consideration. Just a few of these factors include available reservations, the cost, the area or areas serviced, as well as reputation. For the best experience, it is advised that you choose to do business with a private yacht chartering company that comes highly rated and recommended. Unfortunately, you can not tell whether or not a yacht chartering company comes highly rated and recommend just by reading their business listings or by examining their online websites. To really learn about a yacht chartering company, or even any company for that matter, you are urged to seek recommendations. There are a number of different ways that this can be done.

Perhaps, the easiest way to go about getting recommendations on a private yacht chartering company is by asking those that you know. As it was previously mentioned, the popularity of private yacht charters has increased. What does this mean for you? This means that there is a good chance that one of your friends, relatives, coworkers, or neighbors has chartered a private yacht before. If so, you may want to speak to them about their experience and see if they have any recommendations to offer.

Even if you do not know anyone who has personally chartered a private yacht before, you may still be able to seek recommendations from those that you do not know. This is now easy to do with the internet. For the best chance of success, you are urged to join an online message board community, particularly one that has a focus on travel. You could explain that you are hoping to charter a private yacht, but state that it is your first time doing so. Asking for recommendations online is a great way to get a large number of responses. Although you will not personally know the people who are giving you recommendations, you will find that many are more than happy to offer you feedback, recommendations, or suggestions.

When seeking recommendations from those that you do know or even those that you dont know, there are a number of important questions that you will want to ask. First, you will want to ask the area in which a private yacht was chartered. Next, you will want to know which private yacht chartering company was selected. It may also be a good idea to ask about the yacht in question. Did it meet their expectations? Most importantly, you will want a quick summary of their experience; was it a good one? These questions may help you choose a private yacht chartering company, but not any ole company, one that comes highly rated and recommended.

Although it is nice to know who you can seek recommendations from or what questions to ask, you may also be wondering exactly why you should. In all honesty, there are a number of different reasons why you should ask for recommendations. One of the biggest ones has a focus on expectations. By asking for recommendations, you will know what to expect when choosing to do business with a particular yacht chartering company.

The decision as to whether or not you want to ask for recommendations, before choosing to do business with a yacht chartering company is yours to make, but you are advised to keep the benefits of doing so in mind. In fact, even if you dont want to ask for personal recommendations, you are still advised to do a little bit of research or at least look into the background of your first choice yacht chartering company.

Top