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Learn what the locals know before your trip
New York, Sept 29: There`s no need to be a stranger in a strange place when you travel. Everything you`ll need to know about your destination can be found on the Internet, before you even leave the house.
New York, Sept 29: There's no need to be a stranger in a strange place when you travel. Everything you'll need to know about your destination can be found on the Internet, before you even leave the house.
A little Web surfing can uncover the fancy five-star restaurants that require formal dress, as well as the greasy spoons with loads of local character.
With just a few clicks, you can find information on must-see tourist attractions, along with not so well-known points of interest. Many sites have comment areas that allow users to offer feedback, both positive and not-so-positive, when they get back off the road.
The most obvious way to start is by entering the name of the city you're planning to visit, followed by ".com." Often this brings up a Web site with extensive information about that location. What varies is the operator of the site.
For example, tapping out www.anchorage.com will actually route you to the home page of the Anchorage Daily News at (www.adn.com).
Along with the standard information on restaurants, shops and weather, there's a section on "AlaskaSpeak" ("Cheechako" describes someone who lives in Alaska but hasn't spent a winter there yet) and tips on where to view the only tidal bores in the United States. At Turnagain Arm, a section of Cook Inlet far inland from the Pacific Ocean, bore tide waves can race in at 15 mph and crest at up to six feet.
On the other side of the continent, solid information about the Steel City is at www.pittsburgh.com. Sponsored by local NBC affiliate WPXI-TV, the site provides guides on art museums, entertainment, historical and landmark attractions, and the city's vibrant sports scene. Information is available about the Andy Warhol Museum, still the largest museum in the United States devoted to a single artist.
Several city.com entries, including www.albuquerque.com, www.philadelphia.com, www.seattle.com and www.washingtondc.com brought up sites connected to www.boulevards.com, based in California's Silicon Valley.
Dan Pulcrano, president of Boulevards New Media Inc., says his company has about 100 city.com destinations, which he believes makes it the largest in the field. "Search engine independent" destinations like his, which also provide links for booking hotels, rental cars and dining reservations, benefit from heavy "type-to-prompt" traffic, he said.
"People can go to our site and find the 10 best attractions about a city," said Pulcrano, whose company is also responsible for www.sanfrancisco.com and www.dallas.com.
"For the leisure traveler, we offer a wide range of options," he said. "You can book a table at a restaurant online. Your whole trip can be set up in one night. In less than an hour you can plan the trip, and book it." Bureau Report
A little Web surfing can uncover the fancy five-star restaurants that require formal dress, as well as the greasy spoons with loads of local character.
With just a few clicks, you can find information on must-see tourist attractions, along with not so well-known points of interest. Many sites have comment areas that allow users to offer feedback, both positive and not-so-positive, when they get back off the road.
The most obvious way to start is by entering the name of the city you're planning to visit, followed by ".com." Often this brings up a Web site with extensive information about that location. What varies is the operator of the site.
For example, tapping out www.anchorage.com will actually route you to the home page of the Anchorage Daily News at (www.adn.com).
Along with the standard information on restaurants, shops and weather, there's a section on "AlaskaSpeak" ("Cheechako" describes someone who lives in Alaska but hasn't spent a winter there yet) and tips on where to view the only tidal bores in the United States. At Turnagain Arm, a section of Cook Inlet far inland from the Pacific Ocean, bore tide waves can race in at 15 mph and crest at up to six feet.
On the other side of the continent, solid information about the Steel City is at www.pittsburgh.com. Sponsored by local NBC affiliate WPXI-TV, the site provides guides on art museums, entertainment, historical and landmark attractions, and the city's vibrant sports scene. Information is available about the Andy Warhol Museum, still the largest museum in the United States devoted to a single artist.
Several city.com entries, including www.albuquerque.com, www.philadelphia.com, www.seattle.com and www.washingtondc.com brought up sites connected to www.boulevards.com, based in California's Silicon Valley.
Dan Pulcrano, president of Boulevards New Media Inc., says his company has about 100 city.com destinations, which he believes makes it the largest in the field. "Search engine independent" destinations like his, which also provide links for booking hotels, rental cars and dining reservations, benefit from heavy "type-to-prompt" traffic, he said.
"People can go to our site and find the 10 best attractions about a city," said Pulcrano, whose company is also responsible for www.sanfrancisco.com and www.dallas.com.
"For the leisure traveler, we offer a wide range of options," he said. "You can book a table at a restaurant online. Your whole trip can be set up in one night. In less than an hour you can plan the trip, and book it." Bureau Report