Happy birthday to the U.S.A. -- plenty to see

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Las Vegas is popular, but there are other must-see destinations in the United States. (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

A friend is having a birthday today, and I am really pleased to share in her celebration.

I have not always liked her politics or political leaders but, other than for the occasional trade dispute, we have always been the friendliest of neighbours.

Her name is America, and from a tourism perspective, I think she has one of the most welcoming hospitality and service industries in the world.

We have a lot in common, but one particular aspect has always impressed me. And it is that, as in Canada, you can travel the world over and in the end come to the realization that what we can experience near to home is often as spectacular as anything you will find far and wide.

So it is in the spirit of genuine friendship that I wish our American visitors and residents a very happy Independence Day.

Question: This winter, will there be non-stop flights to Orlando from Winnipeg, and if not, why not?

Answer: The 'why not' part of your question is a really good one, since it appears that this year again, no tour operator seems willing to inaugurate a schedule that allows us to visit Mickey & Co. in Disney World.

At first blush this seems a little 'Goofy,' considering the fact that almost a million Canadians visited that specific area of Florida last year. That obliterated the previous year's numbers by 20 per cent.

The Orlando area is loaded with golf courses, which would be a significant draw to many. From Orlando, one has easy access to the beaches around Daytona, not to mention the Kennedy Space Center and numerous other attractions.

But tour operators expect near-full flights all the time. They know they can count on a waiting list during the school breaks, but they don't have that same confidence for the other weeks of the winter.

January does not always bring perfect weather to the region either, so the real marketable time frame becomes even shorter.

Larger population areas like Toronto are able to come close to filling flights all year round. As a result, if we want to feel the magic of the kingdom, we must accept the bonus of an aerial view of the CN Tower, and often, an overnight in a Toronto airport strip hotel or motel as well.

Question: I understand I need a tourist card to enter the Dominican Republic this year. Is this new, and where do I have to apply ahead of time to get one?

Answer: If you are travelling on a vacation package you don't have to do anything except fill out the tourist card provided to you by the tour operator. This requirement is not at all new. It is also a revenue-generator for this and many other countries. Any charges for these entry cards should be eliminated wherever they exist.

Tourism boards have tried to get countries to not use these as a hidden tax of sorts, to little avail. In fact, some countries charge much more than the Dominican Republic does.

So far the tour operators have built the charge, as well as the departure fees, into their price, so all you do is fill out the form on the aircraft and hand it in as you are in the customs clearing area.

You do, however, require a passport. Make sure yours is up to date. I provide that advice as an important reminder because of a recent event that came to my attention. An individual forgot his passport had expired and was forced to miss not only the flight but the majority of their family vacation.

Question: I think that Las Vegas is one of the most visited areas of the United States, but I am curious what some of the other 'best choices' are?

Answer: Everyone's version of best choice will be different. This holds especially true in a nation like the U.S. where urban destinations like New York and Las Vegas balance out against scenic or lifestyle choices like their string of national parks that also attract millions.

However, with credit to an online travel newsletter called etn at www.eturbonews.com, who did some research into this general topic, here is what I can pass on.

As popular as Las Vegas is, it runs second to New York City, whose 47 million annual visitations top all U.S. destinations. Visitors to Las Vegas turned a mere 37.5 million through the revolving doors of its casinos and other attractions.

Washington D.C.'s National Malls and Memorial Parks, including the Vietnam War Memorial, the Smithsonian and memorials dedicated to Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson attracted 25 million visits.

I have yet to visit Boston, but its Faneuil Hall Marketplace alone, which was created in 1742, brings in over 20 million visitors and is one of America's top single attractions.

The two Disney parks follow, with Orlando, referenced above, at over 17 million. It leads Anaheim by just 2 million, who are quite justifiably proud to host 15 million parents and children each year.

Some of the others on the top 10 list include the attractions in the San Francisco Bay area and Niagara Falls N.Y. (although I suspect most cross the bridge to the Canadian side). The Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Chicago with its landmark Navy Pier are also heavy hitters when it comes to traffic.

Manitobans, who choose not to take the long journey to these exceptional attractions, seem to still continue to enjoy their own U.S. destination choices, closer at hand. We have no numbers on this, but try to find a hotel room in Grand Forks on any long weekend, as we go in search of those real or imagined shopping bargains.

Book ahead or you have no bed.

Forward your travel questions to askjourneys@journeystravel.com. Ron Pradinuk is president of Journeys Travel & Leisure SuperCentre and can be heard Sundays at noon on CJOB. Previous columns and tips can be found on www.journeystravel.com or read Ron's travel blog at www.thattravelguy.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 4, 2009 E2