On January 31, 2000, the historic Mapes Hotel in Reno was imploded by 75 pounds of explosives tucked into the art-deco structures support columns. The destruction of the Mapes put an end to years of efforts to preserve the building via lawsuits, redevelopment proposals, and grass roots action. The National Trust for Historic Preservation took up the cause of the Mapes, and challenged the destruction in a suit that eventually reached the Nevada Supreme Court.

While the logic and necessity of demolishing the Mapes is very questionable, one thing that is certain is that the hotel was an important part of Northern Nevada history. The Mapes opened in’47 and with it ushered in a new era for casino gambling and the state of Nevada. Despite some historical revisionism that suggests that the modern era began in Las Vegas with Bugsy Siegel’s famed Flamingo, the Mapes was actually the first building in America to have a hotel, casino and live entertainment under the same roof. The Mapes attracted countless celebrities who’d make it their home when business brought them to Northern Nevada–this included movie stars like Clark Gable, TV stars like the cast of ‘Bonanza’ and political power brokers like infamous anti-Communist crusader Joseph McCarthy.

During the ‘Rat Pack’ era of the 50’s and 60’s it became along with the Cal-Neva Lodge in Lake Tahoe the place to be seen in Northern Nevada. The 11th floor, window walled Sky Room Lounge hosted performances by a roster of entertainment legends including Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin, Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Milton Berle and Mae West. Downtown Reno struggled during the’60’s and 70’s but the Mapes continued to prosper. The hotel finally closed in’82, due to financial problems experienced by the Mapes Family brought about by their other Northern Nevada casino holdings.

While the last twenty years brought an amazing boom in the population and economy of Southern Nevada, the Northern part of the state didn’t see much of it at all. For that reason, the urgency of destroying the Mapes is even more questionable. In the Las Vegas area, its easy to justify the demolition of older hotels with simple economics–the older properties simply can’t compete in the current mega-resort dominated marketplace. Furthermore, the insane valuation of the land on which they sit makes it financially unfeasible to preserve them as pop culture museums.

This is not the case in Reno, where land and buildings for development in virtually every casino area are abundant. The official reason that the Mapes had to come down was that the city needed the land–which sits along the banks of the Truckee River–to expand its riverside district of art galleries, restaurants and shops. The revitalization of downtown Reno is definitely needed and a legitimate goal, but at the same time it is hard to think that the Mapes was a barrier to this. Indeed, a number of proposals for redevelopment including office space, artists lofts and upscale senior housing would have probably served to enhance the livability of the downtown area. For whatever reason, the City Redevelopment Authority wouldn’t approve any of the proposals and the fate of the Mapes was sealed.

The role of the City Redevelopment Authority was questioned throughout the process. Overlooking the Truckee River, the hotel was on a prime location between the downtown casino area and the riverfront district. A number of sound financial proposals were presented that would preserve the integrity of the structure including condominiums, office space, and perhaps most viable, upscale senior apartments. Oddly, all of these proposals were turned down by the citys Redevelopment Agency which continued to maintain that demolition was the only viable option despite copious evidence to the contrary.

After the demolition of The Mapes Hotel, the lot remained vacant for almost a year until a temporary ice skating rink was constructed in the winter of 2001. The site now houses a permanent ice skating rink which, while not a bad use for the land, brings into question the insistence by the City Redevelopment Agency that none of the proposals to preserve the building were viable. Clearly, they had no specific plan or even general idea of what to do with the land but for some reason wanted to see the hotel come down. This has led to all manner of speculation, ranging from financial self interest to a rumor that the structure was ‘haunted’ and needed to be destroyed to forestall future paranormal activity in Washoe County. Whatever the reason, the city of Reno lost a valuable landmark of a more civilized era.

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected sports betting expert. He is also a consulting handicapper for Sports-1 Sportsbook and is in charge of setting NFL lines. He has written extensively on sports handicapping theory along with a wide range of other topics including fencing, self defense and falconry.

New York is a prime tourist destination. New York attractions sprawl all over the city. One in demand must-see is the Museum of Modern Art which is located in Midtown Manhattan.

With distinctive designs of its buildings, the MOMA attracts many visitors compared to other hot spots in New York. Is it because there are so many people who have become aware and recognized the beauty of modern art? This museum has filed over 70,000 artists including those who work with architecture and design, sculpture, paintings, photography, electronic media and drawings.

The MOMA also supports exhibition of artists by showing off their work on a specified schedule. Now if you are a fan of an artist you might need to go and check if it could be your favorite artist on the next featured exhibition.

The MoMA is popular choice for school visits by art and film schools. A trip to the MoMA is an enjoyable learning experience. It is the museum that has the best commemoration of modern art than any other in the world. Most of the crowd visits every Friday since admission is free during Fridays.

What makes the MoMA unique among New York Attractions is its continuous spread of creativity, ideas and inspiration through the art. It doesn’t matter what medium of art you love, once you visit the MoMA you’ll end up adoring everything that you see in there.

The MoMA also releases seasonal catalogs which give you a glimpse of breath taking pictures and drawings with write ups from photographers and artists. It’s also a good souvenir to have. The museum also has a shop where they sell some cool stuff and artwork that are must haves.

A visit to the MoMA must not be missed when wanting to see the many New York attractions. There are two good things about a trip to the MoMA. For one, it can be a relaxing breather from the busy streets of New York. Second, you’ll be learning new things you didn’t know that you didn’t know.

As a popular saying goes, to touch art is to touch the mind; to touch the mind is to touch a life. So make this quote a reality and head on to the MOMA, one of the famous New York attractions worth visiting. Going to the different New York attractions such as the MOMA is now more convenient. Certain tour passes have been introduced that include guide booklets and prepaid admission tickets to six of the most visited New York attractions.

If you ever do research on Belize City, you will find that a lot of people call it the most dangerous city in Central America. Tourists tend to avoid it like the plague and if they must stop in there they quickly book at trip out to the Cayes.

Whatever your vision of Central America is, check it at the door before entering this beautiful and welcoming country. Many travel guides will tell you to “get out of Belize City and head for the islands.” It is too bad really, because they are causing people to miss out on meeting the very proud and helpful citizens of this vibrant town.

Belize City is actually a port on many cruise liners itinerary. However, most passengers either spend their time shopping in the terminal or hop on a tour to explore other parts of the country. Where the cruising crowd doesn’t exactly have the time to explore the area, a traveler should definitely take a walk to get a feel for the Caribbean City.

Belize has an eclectic mix of architecture. In the 16th century it was settled by the English and the buildings reflect that era. There is your typical colonial architecture, you will see churches and modern buildings are starting to crop up. There is a wide variety in Language as well. The official language is English, but if you listen to conversations, people speak with a mix of Creole. They also speak Spanish, Mayan and German.

Now that you have actually explored Belize City and realized that it isn’t the big bad city that you thought it was, you can catch a water taxi with peace of mind. You aren’t running away from anything, you are simply moving on to see the rest of beautiful Belize. From downtown, you can catch a water taxi for $10 to take you out to the Cayes on the Caribbean Sea.

The relaxed Caye Caulker is a popular place for the backpacker crowd. Far less touristy and quieter than Ambergris Caye, it feels as if you are relaxing in Jamaica. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the island keeping noise and pollution to a minimum. You will see the odd golf cart or you can rent a bike to check things out. Rooms are cheaper and you won’t find any enormous resorts desecrating the land.

While there, you have to take in the sites and the number one excursion is to hire a guide and boat to take you out to Shark Ray Alley. Located 1 mile from shore is the Belize Barrier Reef. A protected marine preserve for since 1996, it has a healthy stock of marine life and coral. The highlight of the trip however is having the chance to swim with a group of nurse sharks and manta rays that inhabit the reef.

The blue hole is one of the most famous dive sites in the world and it is located in the waters of Belize. A perfectly formed giant blue hole in the middle of the sea attracts established divers. At 400 feet deep, it is not for new divers. If you have your deep diving certificate, you will be able to bounce down to 150 feet here where you will witness giant stalactites in still deep blue water. Most operations chum the water to attract sharks that circle above as you complete your dive.

If getting into the water with natural predators isn’t your cup of tea, take a sailing trip to visit other Islands. Belize has several islands and you can take a trip to have a picnic lunch on the beach or enjoy an island drink at an upscale resort on Ambergris Caye. You can find a company to go with by simply walking down the main sandy street where operations line the path.

Dining is high on everyone’s list when traveling and Caye Caulker has its fair share of restaurants. There is jerk chicken, fresh seafood and western flare. After dinner stop in at a beach bar and enjoy a cocktail as you look out over the Caribbean Sea. You won’t find crazy nightclubs, but you will find a great bar to listen to music while you relax in the islands.

There is so much more to do in beautiful Belize that you need at least two weeks to see it all. Jungles and caves, wildlife and sanctuary’s Belize has something for everyone. Even Mayan ruins can be found in the country and beaches aren’t only out on the islands, Placencia actually has the most beautiful beach in the country and it is located on the mainland.

Belize is not a country that most people think of when they decide to take off to a warm Caribbean destination, but it is growing in popularity every year. Book your trip soon to experience this untouched paradise. It won’t be long until the rest of the world follows and it will never be the same.

If you are looking for a wonderful holiday in the sun, there is no place like Didim, Turkey. You can book accommodations at a Didim hotel and from there, see the sights of the ancient city of Didyma. Didim is located along Turkey’s southwest coast, a part of the country which is famous for its mild climate and beautiful coastline. With unspoiled white sand beaches and the incredible deep blue waters of the Mediterranean, it is quite simply a paradise on earth.

Pick your Didim hotel from the wide choice of accommodation on offer. There is something to suit every budget. From self-catering holiday homes to beach-side resorts, Didim is the ideal holiday destination for families, groups of friends and couples. That’s just about everyone!

The ancient city of Didyma is a short distance from the city of Didim and is a must-see. You can take a day trip to explore the ruins of this ancient place, visit the Temple of Apollo and marvel at the beauty of this historic site.

If you are a history lover, the fun doesn’t stop there. The ruins of Miletos are right next to Didim and are the perfect way to spend a day exploring. The theater, stadium and baths are incredibly well preserved and are intriguing to walk round. If that’s not enough, the Temple of Serapis is also on the site of the ancient city.

Didim also has many other things to do and see both in and close to the city such as the city’s weekly farmer’s market where you can try and purchase fresh local produce, a water park for family fun and Lake Bafa National Park. There is no shortage of activities in the Didim area; or you can just relax and take in the beauty of southwestern Turkey’s coastal region.

Your Didim hotel is likely to have stunning views of the coast, as well as being close to a number of amenities. After a hot day in the sun, on the beach or exploring the ancient history of Didim, you can cool down and relax with a drink in one of the many bars. Altinkum beach is home to several great restaurants, clubs and bars that will help you embrace the holiday atmosphere. Enjoy Turkish or English menus and find the perfect style of music to suit your taste.

Although there is much to offer in Didim and it is very popular as a holiday resort, it is still family friendly destination. The nightlife is entertaining but not wild and there is a great element of unspoiled beauty along much of the coastline. With incredible views and loads of fun and interesting activities to do, Didim should be your first choice of holiday destination.

Make sure to book your Didim hotel well ahead of time so that you can have your pick of lodgings which enable you to have great views of the Turkish coast, access to historical attraction as well as all of the modern amenities that Didim has to offer. With its natural beauty, relaxed atmosphere and so much to do and see, booking a Didim hotel is the best way to have an unforgettable vacation in this, one of Europe’s best kept holiday secrets.

There’s no question why Mexico is such a popular vacation destination. This place is much more than just sunny beaches, it’s incredible. Tulum is one of the hot spots that lets you see history as well as nice beaches on your vacation.

Tulum has both a historical spin and a beautiful beach coast. It is located just south of Playa del Carmen and Akumai. Perched on the breathtaking limestone cliffs that overlook the Caribbean ocean you’ll find Tulum.

Tulum is a nice mix of history and the beaches Mexico is well known for. You will get to experience both of them right in the same area where you can focus on having a good time instead of traveling about the country to see all the different types of sites.

History is important in Tulum. The archeological site here was built between 1200 and 1450. It is clouded in mystery, as are all Mayan ruins.

It was a trading post due to its location off the water. The city’s skyscraper El Castillo is used as a lighthouse to help and direct travelers through the reefs.

The city which was surrounded by walls in its three sides is its distinct feature. This wall is seven meters thick and up to five meters tall. Warriors could defend against attack from a walkway on the city wall. The remaining side of the city is protected by the sea.

Now, sixty buildings are still at the scene, those are all open for visitors. There are information panels on the walls to help visitors on their self-guided tour of the site.

There are amazing beaches in Tulum, just like the ones you have in mind from Mexico’s coastline. Visitors from all over the world are attracted to these beaches, as they are rated among the world’s most beautiful beaches.

The beaches feature turquoise water and white sands. It is the typical beach you would expect in paradise.

The reef at Tulum, the Great Mayan Reef, goes from Cancun, Mexico to Roatan, Honduras making it the second largest in the world. It is 1000 kilometers with 120 kilometers at the Tulum beach.

Like to provide opportunities in the sea off the beach and see eighty four types of people, fish and other sea creatures of more than 450 varieties of coral. It is a true adventure.

Tulum is without a doubt one of the most amazing places in Mexico and has so much to offer. You will always remember your visit to this place, so rich this place is.