Those who are fortunate enough to be traveling to Shanghai between May and October of this year will have the unique chance to show their children what a World Expo is really like. You and your kids may never get to set foot on the soil of some of the countries showcased, but you’ll get to meet the people and learn about their cultures not from a textbook, but from the people who live in those areas every day.

Getting to the Shanghai Expo

The first thing you’ll need to do is travel from your city hotel to the Expo site itself. You have several options when it comes to transportation throughout Shanghai, but if you want to get to Expo 2010, you’ll need to call for a designated Expo taxi.

Expo taxi cabs can get as close to the main gates as humanely possible – something other taxi cab companies are not permitted to do. You’ll have to pay a fee for the Expo taxi, but once you are on the Expo Site you’ll find that all other modes of transportation are free of charge.

Fun with an Expo Passport

For a small price, you’ll want to get each of your children an Expo passport. They’re inexpensive and fun ways to remember your trip to the World Expo. Each country’s pavilion has its own stamp. When you enter, they’ll stamp your passport book and you’ll have a permanent keepsake detailing every country you visited throughout your stay.

Take note – the passport books are very popular and Expo officials only make a certain number available each day. Make sure you make a trip to one of the shops upon arrival at the Expo if you want to get your hands on one.

Line Hopping with the Kids (or Grandparents)

The lines to get into certain pavilions at the Shanghai Expo can be incredibly long – some requiring waits spanning 2 hours or more. The rumor we heard, however, is that if you have a child in a stroller you may be invited to go right into the pavilion without waiting in the line.

The trick is to try and bring your own stroller. As with the passbooks, stroller rentals disappear early in the day. If you have your own, you won’t have to worry about standing in long lines or holding your child in your arms when she gets tired.

Choose Child-Friendly Activities

You’re going to find a wide variety of events, activities, and parades all over the Expo grounds. Some are family friendly while others may seem boring to your small travel companions.

If you really want to keep the kids entertained, ask an Expo Volunteer to let you know what events are happening as part of the Youthful Expo Series. The Youthful Expo Series is a group of events specifically designed to keep children of all ages entertained at the Shanghai Expo.

One example is the Sesame Street Magic Map show. This show features a number of clever Sesame Street characters, all dancing and singing some of your child’s favorite tunes.

If your children are a little bit older, they may appreciate exploring the Bolan Square Youth Activities. Also a daily event, you’ll find a series of programs focusing on music, city life, and world cultures.

Teenage travelers should enjoy the Music Bay show. Held in a theme park environment, the Music Bay is actually a giant career fair. Teens will enjoy learning about more than 20 different careers, many of which are believed to be strongly grounded in the future.

Your children will enjoy the opportunity to visit the Shanghai Expo just as much as you will. Make sure you carefully plan your trip and choose which pavilions you want to visit in advance. The sooner you arrive each day, the better your odds of seeing what you hope to see.

Not sure what to do first? Almost every hotel in Shanghai will have Expo volunteers on site throughout the duration of the event. Ask one for help and you’ll be guided to your destination by a knowledgeable and friendly Expo representative. Enjoy!

Image credit: stefano meneghetti

Every World Expo is different, but each year international and theme pavilions draw the lion’s share of attention. Shanghai 2010 is no exception in this regard.

Image credit: stefano meneghetti

The overall theme of Shanghai Expo is urban life. As a result, a big part of the focus is on pavilions like Urban Footprints, Urban Planet, Urban Dwellers, Urban Beings, and Urban Dreams.

Urban Planet

Image credit: Triad Berlin

The Urban Planet pavilion showcases the importance of balance between human and urban expansion and the health of the planet. The pavilion features a gigantic globe and is split in five distinct sections.

The five sections, from “Blue Planet” to “The Only Planet We Have”, look at how development (or over-development) cause ecological instability.

City Being

The City Being pavilion takes a creative analysis approach and looks at urban environments as massive lifeforms that interact with the ecological environment. Again, with a strong message about fragility and our ability to stave off disaster.

Urban Planet

Image credit: author unknown

The Urban Dwellers pavilion weaves the story of human life in city environments and the net benefits of balance in the realms of family focus, work, social contact, education and health. Flashy multi-media presentations help the medicine go down, as it were.

Footprint

Image credit: sndrv

At the Footprint pavilion, visitors learn about their own personal contributions to the Earth’s present predicament and how they can reduce their own impact at home, play and work.

The Footprint pavilion has three main exhibition halls. They include “City’s Origin,” “Urban Wisdom,” and “Growing City.” Each works to present information about how urban areas are born, how they evolve and grow, and how they can exist in concert with the natural world.

Future

The Pavilion of Future offers a glimpse into what life can be like decades down the road in metro urban environments. Optimistic and hopeful (what else would you expect at a World Expo?), the pavilion combines artistic installations with multi-media to provide a potential crystal ball peek ahead.

Want to visit the Shanghai Expo? Discover some of the best hotels in Shanghai before you go.

15. Explore the Fountains

Roman fountains have played a huge role in the history and development of the city. There are dozens scattered throughout the city and all of them, located in separate piazzas, are free to see.

14. The Roman Pyramid

Located off of the Piramide Rome Metro stop is apyramid built to serve as the tomb for Gaius Cestius. It’s been a part of Rome’s stunning and ever-evolving cityscape since 12BC.

13. Acro di Constantino

Not far from the Colosseum you’ll find the Arco di Constantino. Built in 315AD, it is the highest arch in Rome. The arch stands 20 meters (or 65 feet high) and was built to honor the success of Emperor Constantine after his triumph over Maxentius.

12. Climb the Spanish Steps

In the Piazza di Spagna you’ll find a set of stairs extending towards the Trinita dei Monti. Formally known as the Scalinta di Spagna, the stairs offer stunning views of the city below.

11. Capuchin Crypt

Located beneath the Santa Maria della Immacolata Concezione church is a crypt you won’t want to miss. Inside you’ll find a collection of bones creatively decorating the walls of a series of small chapels. The remains of more than 4,000 monks are inside. Why are so many people buried there? Because the dirt inside originally came from the holy land of Jerusalem.

10. Campo dei Fiori

If you love shopping, you’ll really appreciate the bustling activity at the open air market known as Campo dei Fiori. The open air market features several great fruit, veggie, cheese and flower vendors.

9. La Bocca della Verita

If you can’t make it to all of the aforementioned fountains, make sure you make a special effort to see La Bocca della Verita, also known as “The Mouth of Truth.” Featured prominently in the classic film Roman Holiday, the marble icon is in the portico of the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin. As legend as it, if you tell a lie while your hand is in the fountain’s mouth, it’ll snap it off.

8. Visit the Vatican – On a Sunday

It usually costs a pretty penny to get inside the Vatican, but if you visit on the last Sunday of the month you can visit the Vatican Museum free of charge. The Vatican sometimes offers free tours of the underground excavations and audiences with the Pope are also free – though you’ll need to do some pretty extensive legwork to get the right reservation for that privilege.

7. Protestant Cemetery

Not far from the Pyramid is the Protestant Cemetery, also referred to as the “Non-Catholic Cemetery.” Several notable individuals are buried here, including John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley. It’s a quiet place, but beautiful and worth the time spent strolling the grounds.

6. Wander Gianicolo Hill

At the top of Janiculum Hill, you’ll find more spectacular views of the city. You’ll also see a few nice fountains, statues, old buildings, a cannon that is fired daily and a free puppet show.

5. Numismatic Museum of the Italian Mint

Want to learn how money is made in Italy? There are more than 20,000 artifacts on display at the Numismatic Museum of the Italian Mint, educating visitors about both past and present money-making procedures.

4. Explore the Pantheon

The Pantheon was originally built to serve as a pagan temple. It wasn’t converted to a church until 608AD, in an effort to save it from destruction. It’s located in the Piazza della Rotunda, on the same site where it has existed (in some form) since 27BC.

3. Largo Argentina

Largo di Torre Argentina square is home to a quartet of ancient temples, the magnificent ruins of the Theatre of Pompey and a somewhat curious attraction in the Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary. Rossini’s The Barber of Seville premiered in the piazza’s Teatro Argentina.

2. September’s White Night

If you plan to visit in September, ask the concierge or booking agent at your hotel in Rome about White Night, or La Notte Bianca. On this night only, admission to every museum in the city is free. It’s a huge party night in the streets too.

1. St. Peter’s Basilica

St. Peter’s Basilica is the most well known Catholic church in the world, let alone Rome or Italy. A visit means tough security and long lines but the wait (and free entry) is well worth it.

There are literally dozens of free things to see and do in the Italian capital. Before you know it, your itinerary will be jam-packed with free and low-cost attractions – and you can save your extra money for more gelato.

Each pavilion has its own schedule of events, but there are several thematic events and special programs sponsored by the organizers as well. Throughout the Expo, participants will be celebrating a number of important occasions. Here are just a few of the special events that have happened and will be occurring over the next few months.

Tianjin Folk Culture Week

During the week of May 10^th, the province of Tainjin treated the guests at the World Expo 2010 to a week-long display of authentic folk art.

The Pingiu Opera and Jingdong Drum song were performed and there were several demonstrations of Chinese acrobatics and Chinese martial arts.

Visitors to the Tianjin Pavilion during Folk Culture Week had the opportunity to take part in the celebrations as well. There were opportunities to make traditional Yangliuqing paintings, to build clay figurines with professional artists, and to participate in a fun and engaging street parade, complete with puppets, every afternoon.

Don’t despair if you missed out on Tianjin Folk Culture Week. Cultures from around the world are showcased each week throughout the Expo. Ask a volunteer for information about which country is doing a special showcase during the week you visit.

Daily Creative Events

There are a number of creative events that are taking place each and every day of the Expo. Each of the creative events was specifically designed to correlate with the overall theme of the Shanghai Expo 2010.

The Expo theme show, “Window of the City” is a daily event held in the Houtan Square area. This particular show is held indoors and involves the use of actors and equipment to illustrate the way the globe has changed over time.

The Shaolin Martial Art Show is another incredible presentation. The show is held outdoors each day between May 1^st and October 31^st, except for July 1^st through August 31^st, when it is held indoors. This show, held in Variety Hall, combines a unique blend of acrobatics, media, and dance in a stunning display of balance and coordination.

The Wudang Martial Art show is a completely different experience than the Shaolin Martial Art Show. Held daily from July 1^st through September 30^th, this show will feature Taoism as it is applied to the Wudang martial art. Not only will it teach about etiquette, but also about the way martial arts contribute to a person’s overall well-being.

Thematic Events at the Shanghai Expo

Thematic events are not planned by the countries participating at their pavilions, but are instead planned by those who organized the Expo in its entirety. The special thematic events are categorized as part of the festive series, folkway series, community series, or Youthful Expo series.

Community series events are designed to showcase Shanghai and its unique culture. Folkway series events are designed to help promote national cultures and the importance they have on cultural heritage and communication between developing civilizations. Festive series events are special cultural and art events that are designed to get visitors involved in hands-on singing, dancing, or craft projects.

Of notable importance, however, is the Youthful Expo series. The Youthful Expo series is dedicated to the youth of the world, bringing them together to enjoy new trends in fashion, to enjoy each other as people, and to allow juveniles to exchange ideas in creative forums.

One of the daily Youthful Expo series events, geared at very young children, is the Sesame Street Magic Map. If you are traveling with young children, they’ll enjoy seeing Hiabao and several of their other favorite characters perform a fun and engaging musical.

Music Bay is another daily even geared towards teens. Held in a theme park atmosphere, the Music Bay exhibit is designed to help developing youth explore and understand more than 20 different career fields – giving them opportunities to educate themselves and start thinking about their plans for the future.

These are just a few examples of the stunning events taking place at the Shanghai Expo every single day. Ask the Expo volunteer at your Shanghai hotel for help determining which events will be occurring at the time of your visit. Take part in the celebration and enjoy your trip!

Minnesota State Fair

The Minnesota State Fair is held in St. Paul, Minnesota each year and is 12 days long.  It includes Labor Day and the 12 days beforehand.  Possibly the largest state fair in the US in regard to attendance, there are a lot of activities and attractions that keep people from all over the country coming to this  state fair every year.

One of the most popular features of Minnesota’s State Fair is the Grandstand stage, where live concerts are performed to entertain the thousands of guests that attend the fair daily.  In past years, performers have included big stars like Def Leppard, Christina Aguilera and Lynyrd Skynyrd.  You have to buy tickets to see the big shows like these and prices vary, but there are free shows put on by local talent as well.

There are other forms of entertainment like comedy shows and the well known State Fair Talent Contest, where residents can become stars of their own show.  There are livestock shows and competitions as well for animals like horses, cattle, sheep and more.  You can also see resident art exhibits featuring paintings, sculptures, ceramics and more.

Not to be missed is the great food like cotton candy, cheese curds, which reflect Minnesota’s agriculture, and deep fried candy bars.  Enjoy rides and attractions such as roller coasters, a water raft ride and a haunted house.

The fair gates open at 6am and close at 12 am, but buildings are only open from 9am to 9pm most days.  Tickets are $11 for adults, $8 for kids 5-12 years of age and $9 for seniors 65 and over.  Kids under 5 get free admission.  There are sometimes discounts available on specially designated days such as “Thrifty Thursday” or “Ticket Deal Tuesday” where you can save up to $2 on admission each person.  Parking is an additional $11.

If you’d like to extend your stay to enjoy all of the festivities, you can apply to camp out at one of the campsites located on the fairgrounds at www.mnstatefair.org.

Ohio State Fair

The Ohio State Fair is held in Columbus in early August every year.  It’s usually 12 days long and is full of family fun such as exciting roller coaster rides as well as other usual fair rides such as a Ferris wheel and kiddie rides.  The rides do cost extra but you can buy “ride all day wristbands” at discounted prices.  The kids can also have fun in the petting zoo, fishing or watching magicians perform tricks.

The fair features competitions of all sorts including spelling bees, wrestling, cheerleading and martial arts competitions.  There are also many involving livestock like horses, cows and even rabbits.  Residents can also compete for titles in creative arts like antique collections and appraisals, hand work, like wood working, and cooking contests.

The fair is in operation from 9am to 10pm when it’s going on, except for the last day when it closes at 8pm.  Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for kids 12 and under and is free for kids under 4.  Senior tickets for those that are 60 years or more are $8 and parking is $5.  You can also save yourself some money by bringing some food and beverages along.  Most things, excluding alcohol are allowed.

You can camp out on the fairgrounds if you want.  Call 888-OHO-EXPO for more information or show up for one of the first come, first served campsites.  You can also get more information on the Ohio State Fair at www.ohiostatefair.com.

California State Fair

The California State Fair is held every year in Sacramento and has recently been moved to take place in July and August.  It usually lasts about two weeks.  There is tons of live entertainment on the Miller Lite Grandstand featuring famous acts such as Martina McBride, Eddie Money and Lonestar.  All concerts and performances are free and included in admission to the fair.  You can also see comedians like Howie Mandel and “Weird Al” Yankovic work the crowd.

You can put on a show of your own and enter the karaoke contest or watch residents compete in other contests such as horse racing and agricultural competitions.  You can also check out art exhibits featuring art from locals, a sand castle competition, or attend a classic car show.

Aside from the usual fairground rides such as the Ferris wheel, spinning tea cups and roller coasters, this state fair features a unique area called the “Weird, Wild and Wacky Zone” which features things that are supposed to show why California is one of the weirdest, wildest and wackiest states in the US.  This special category features things like a fire pixie show, where performers eat, breathe and dance with fire, as well as a world famous African acrobat team, rubber ducky races and hypnotists.

The gates open at noon Monday through Thursday and close at 10pm.  Friday through Sunday they’re open at 10am until 10m.  The rides are usually open later, until 11pm or 12am.  Admission to the fair is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors age 62 and over and $8 for kids 5 to 12, while kids under 5 are free.  Parking is $10 per vehicle.

So book your Sacramento hotel, and enjoy the food, rides, and entertainment at the California state fair.

Holidays are generally a time for over-indulgence – fine food and drink coupled with total relaxation while traveling can make for a rather unhealthy break. It might be expected to put on weight during the holidays but it is by no means a foregone conclusion.

If you book a healthy holiday, you can go away and actually lose weight while still enjoying yourself. Here are five of the top healthy holidays to help you keep off the pounds.

Skiing in the Alps

Photo by Shredded77

There are few holidays around that can keep you as continuously active as a skiing holiday. From the first blitz down the freshly pisted runs to the last blast back to the chalet, skiing is some of the best full body exercise you can do on a holiday. You can burn up to 565 calories in an hour of vigorous downhill skiing, and have great fun whilst you do so.

Red Sea Water Sports

Photo by Prilfish

The Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el Sheikh has become famous for water sports, in particular diving around its stunning coral. If you’re seeking activities which are a little more physical, then waterskiing, windsurfing and kayaking are all popular along Sharm’s shores.

Majorca Boot Camp

Photo by Urban Mixer

A holiday to Majorca may be a summer favourite, but if you are serious about losing weight while on holiday then visiting Mereo Boot Camp might be just the answer. Ex-army husband and wife team Ian and Liz Robinson run boot camp Majorcan holidays with military-style fitness routines coupled with activities like kayaking, mountain biking and runs along the beach.

Mexico Activity Holidays

Photo by Kthypryn

Tour operator Thomson sells package holidays to the Riviera Maya overlooking the Caribbean, which is stuffed full of activities to keep you dynamic and vigorous. Snorkeling, volleyball, tennis, swimming, canoeing and rock climbing are just some of the activities available in the beautiful settings of the Mexican coastline.

Yoga in Goa

Photo by MinkyMonkeyMoo

For those less interested in the explosive action-packed activities, a relaxing and contemplative yoga holiday in Goa, India, might be just the trick. Yoga harnesses a balance of body and mind, and experiencing the meditative art in the beautiful surroundings of Goa is truly enchanting.

Sources:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/advice/travel/top-ten/2010/01/03/our-top-10-guide-to-the-best-healthy-holidays-115875-21916356/

http://www.articlealley.com/article_785490_23.html

http://www.yogaez.com/goa-yoga-holidays.html

http://www.eddieoneverything.com/sports/how-many-calories-does-activity-x-burn.php

When venturing out from your Paris hotel, you should take whatever opportunity you can find to visit the Eiffel Tower – but make sure to keep the purposes it has served throughout history in mind as you marvel at its stunning beauty.

The History Behind the Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower, named after engineer Gustave Eiffel, was originally built to serve as the entrance arch for Exposition Universelle, the World’s Fair held in 1889. This particular fair was supposed to honor the centennial anniversary of the French Revolution.

Construction of the tower began in 1887 and took the efforts of more than 300 workers to complete. More than 18,000 pieces of puddled iron, which is considered very pure, were used to design the open framed structure.

The Eiffel Tower was not, at the time, the revered piece of architectural genius it is considered to be today. Because of the tower’s open design, the construction process was very dangerous. Gustave Eiffel knew this would be the case and, in response, implemented a number of safety features, including guard rails, and stages that could easily be moved. Only one worker died on the construction site.

Art critics hated the tower. They considered it an eyesore and published numerous letters in local papers complaining about the way it looked and how they believed it would impact the city’s skyline. They were counting down the days when Eiffel’s 20 year permit would expire. At that point, in 1909, the ownership of the tower was supposed to revert back to the city itself. The city did, at one point, have plans to dismantle the tower. Instead, the city government decided it served a great purpose for communications and allowed the tower to remain standing. They even used it for communications during the First Battle of the Marne.

Eiffel Tower Statistics

The Eiffel Tower is a stunning 324 meters (or 1,063 feet) tall – a height that is just about as tall as an 81 story building. At the time of completion, it was the tallest structure made by man standing in the world. It remained the tallest until 1930, when it was surpassed by the Chrysler Building in NYC. Today, the Eiffel Tower is the 2^nd tallest structure in France (if you do not include regular broadcast antennas in the mix).

While stunning and beautiful, the Eiffel Tower has become a bit of a cliché in movies. Most movies set in Paris feature shots of the tower, and many would like viewers to believe that the tower is visible from just about any building in the city. In reality, most of the buildings in Paris are limited to a 7-story height and, as such, very few can actually see the tower from their homes.

Visiting the Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is open for visitors daily from 9:30am until 11:30pm. From mid-June through the end of August, the tower opens at 9:00am instead. There are three platform levels for visitors to explore, and the cost of admission depends on whether or not you want to go to the top level, or if you want to visit the second level (and, if so, by elevator or stairs). Prices range from 3 Euros to 13.Euros, depending on the visitor’s age and desire to explore.

Visitors to the tower have the option of taking the stairs or the elevators to the first and second floors. There are three elevators to these floors, though only two are open at a time each day. There is a separate elevator from the second floor to the third floor. Be forewarned, however, that the elevators can be very busy during peak tourist seasons and the wait to get to the third floor can be considerably long.

Do take the time to explore all three floors if you can. The first floor is a great place for relaxing and learning about the history of the tower itself, both past and current. You’ll learn about the role the tower plays in modern technology and get to see several pieces of equipment that were part of the original tower. These include a piece of the original spiral staircase (no longer operational), one of the original hydraulic pumps used in the elevator system, and the current FerOScope used to create light shows from the tower.

The second floor may not be the highest level, but from this point you’ll be able to enjoy a 360 degree view of the city of Paris. Any picture you take of the city from here is guaranteed to provide you with stunning memories of your trip for years to come. You’ll also find several souvenir shops, a snack bar, and a restaurant on the second floor.

The third floor is, of course, extraordinary. From your position on the platform, you’ll feel as if you’re on top of the world. You’ll enjoy both indoor and outdoor platforms as well as a model of engineer Gustave Eiffel’s original office. There are also several panoramic indicators you can use to determine exactly what city landmarks you are seeing from your position on the platform.

No trip to Paris is complete without a trip to the Eiffel Tower. It’s one landmark you’ll appreciate for years to come.

Visiting the Stadiums for the 2010 FIFA World Cup

To be fair to all teams involved, the South African World Cup will be hosted at 10 prestigious stadiums throughout South Africa. This creates a competitive atmosphere where no team can have an advantage on any one playing field – and the setup also allows for locals and tourists to see a wider variety of match ups.

Perhaps one of the most well known stadiums on the list is the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg. After undergoing a stunning reconstruction, the stadium, which can easily hold almost 95,000 fans, has the honor of hosting both the first and last game of the series.

Ellis Park Stadium is special as well. While the folks at this stadium won’t be hosting a semi-final match, they will be hosting at least one quarter-finals match. No matter what type of sporting even you’re there for, you’ll find the stadium itself to be a unique attraction.  Built in 1928 and then subsequently rebuilt in 1982, the stadium has a seating capacity of about 62,000 and features some incredible perks – like wheelchair accessibility, special VIP areas, and an astounding audio and visual system.

Both the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town and the Durban Stadium in Durban will play prestigious roles in the 2010 FIFA World Cup games as well. These are the only two stadiums that will have the honor of hosting semi-final matches during early July.

The Opening & Closing World Cup Matches

If you’d like to catch a glimpse of the opening match, you’ll need to get tickets and reserve a hotel in Johannesburg as quickly as possible. The opening game is a great event and, as is to be expected, huge crowds will form in an attempt to get into the final game of the series. If you want to be amongst the screaming fans at the end of the World Cup, you’ll need to purchase your tickets as far in advance as you can.

Obtaining Tickets to the South African World Cup

There are two types of tickets available for the South African World Cup – match or team specific. Match tickets can be purchased for any of the individual matches throughout the duration of the cup. Individuals are limited to purchasing 4 tickets per match, and may only buy tickets for up to 7 matches.

Team specific tickets are strips that allow visitors to follow their favorite teams. Most team specific tickets are good for anywhere from 3 to 7 matches, depending on the team. If your favorite team is eliminated, you may have the option of following the team that moves forward instead.

The entire South African World Cup series contains a total of 64 games. While the public can certainly purchase tickets, they have been released in limited numbers. The 5^th and final release, which opened on May 15th, included a batch of 90,000 tickets spanning across all of the games and stadiums.

If getting to an opening or closing game isn’t important, you’ll have an easier time finding tickets. If you’d like to see a semi-final match and don’t care who is playing, you’ll want to invest in your tickets as well as either a hotel in Cape Town or a hotel in Durban as soon as possible.

Tickets can only be purchased through select South African ticket vendors, who will take your order and include you in a lottery draw for tickets.

Football fans from around the world will be flocking to South Africa to enjoy the games this month. Will you be amongst them – cheering on your favorite teams?

The Shanghai Expo is, of course, no exception. This year you’ll find not only 5 themed pavilions, but a collection hundreds of others representing countries of all sizes from around the globe. Some countries have grouped together to form massive joint pavilions, while a vast majority have developed pavilions of their own. While we can’t spoil the secrets contained within each pavilion at the Expo, we can certainly give you a glimpse into a few.

Canada Pavilion

The Canadian Pavilion stands alone, and will be available to the public throughout the entire Expo. About 6,000 square meters in size, the theme of the Canadian pavilion is “The Living City: Inclusive, Sustainable, Creative.”

The Canadian Pavilion is most notable for its distinct shape. It appears to be a looped ribbon in the shape of the letter “C.” Visitors will have the opportunity to visit the attractions featured within the outside, open-air center portion of the pavilion before going inside to see some of the larger displays. The Canadian Pavilion will be the featured National Pavilion of the Day on July 1^st.

Egypt Pavilion

The Egypt Pavilion Is another astounding creation. The theme for Egypt, appropriately named, is “Cairo, Mother of the World: A City that Keeps Reinventing Itself.”

Those representing Egypt decided to focus on Cairo, outlining its contributions not only to the country, but to the entire world. The modern pavilion is designed primarily in black and white and has two main sections, separated by an arch. Visitors will learn about Egypt’s history while exploring how future issues may be addressed based on the outcome of past challenges. Egypt will be the Expo’s featured Pavilion on July 23^rd.

Greece Pavilion

The Greece Pavilion’s theme is “POLIS: the Living City,” again keeping in line with the main theme of the Expo. The idea was to showcase Greece as a place full of cities where people are able to live well without giving up a sense of vibrancy and life. The urban, boxy design of the pavilion represents an abstract interpretation of life in a strong, functioning, and lively city. The Greece Pavilion will be the featured pavilion at the Expo on June 19^th.

USA Pavilion

Image credit: Motohiko Tokuriki

The United States of America created an interesting theme for the Shanghai Expo this year as well, choosing to “Rise to the Challenge.” The entire pavilion has been constructed from gray steel and spans over approximately 6,000 square meters.

The design of the pavilion was meant to depict that of an eagle spreading its wings in order to welcome visitors and guests. The theme encompasses the theory that health, teamwork, sustainability, and spirit of striving are all essential to the success of any nation or community. Inside, visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the history of the USA while uncovering its distinct levels of diversity. The USA will be the featured pavilion on July 2^nd.

China’s Joint Provincial Pavilion

Image credit: Brucke-Osteuropa

China’s Joint Provincial Pavilion is perhaps one of the largest at the expo. The end result was the joint effort of 31 distinct provinces, including Shanghai, Beijing, Jiangsu, Fujian, Yunna, Ningxia, and many others. Each province will be featured during a different week of the Expo.

Beijing, for example, was featured during the first week of May – from the 4^th through the 8^th. The theme was “Charming Capital – Art Beijing, Science Beijing and Green Beijing.” The actors and actresses within the pavilion looked back on the Beijing Olympics, even holding an opening ceremony rivaled by no others. Activities included paper-cutting, folk art presentations, and presentations showcasing the city’s strongest and most interesting attractions.

Shanghai, on the other hand, will not be featured in the Pavilion until the week of October 8^th through the 12^th. The theme of the Shanghai Pavilion will be “New Horizons Forever” and was modeled after the Shikumen. The pavilion will have a plain yet elegant and tasteful appearance, showcasing the city’s sense of decency modernism, and diversity – a true blend of East and West.

There are literally hundreds of Pavilions to choose from on the Expo grounds. It will literally take you days to explore them and you likely won’t be able to visit them all. Choose the ones you want to visit most, book your Shanghai hotel, and prepare for an experience you’ll always remember at the Shanghai Expo 2010.

5. Explore the Bibbulmun Track

The city of Perth is proud to present locals and visitors with a one-of-a-kind walking trail. The Bibbulmun Track spans over 1,000 kilometers (or 653 miles), guiding walkers and hikers through the Perth Hills to neighboring towns along the southern coast.

The Bibbulmun Track is the perfect free activity for adventurous souls who would love and enjoy exploring the Australian outback. You’ll walk through forests filled with tingle and karri trees, through stunning valleys, and (if you dare) enjoy camping in one of the area’s 48 different campgrounds.

Choose to explore part of the trail in one day, or spend an entire 8-week summer walking from end to end. “The Bibb” is one hiking trail you’ll always remember.

4. Bask in the Sunset at Cottesloe Beach

Watching the sunset from the beach is an enlightening experience. Every coastline has dozens of beaches where watching the sunset is a spectacular experience, but each one has at least one beach that is extra special. Just 15 minutes away from Perth is the gorgeous Cottesloe Beach.

During the day, Cottesloe Beach is a popular destination for both locals and tourists. It’s a great place for swimming, snorkeling, surfing, and all sorts of other water sports. The town itself is full of great cafes, restaurants, and shops, too.

The evening hours are especially enchanting. Relax on the beach with the one you love as you watch the sun dip into the simmering waters of the Indian Ocean. Top your evening beach picnic off with a glass of fine Australian wine and you’ve got the backdrop for a romantic evening you’ll always remember.

3. Munda Biddi Bike Trail

Do you and your family love cycling? If so, the Munda Biddi Trail is the perfect destination for a weekend or week away. Literally translated to “path through the forest”, the Munda Biddi Trail starts in Mundaring and currently spans all the way down to Nannup. The current trail is about 498 kilometers (309 miles), but is currently incomplete. When the trail is completely built, it will span almost 1,000 kilometers (653 miles), taking bikers all the way to Albany.

The length of the trail you choose to travel during your vacation is completely up to you. If you plan on staying in Perth, you won’t want to go far, and taking the entire family on an afternoon or day trip will turn out to be the perfect adventure. If you love camping, you’ll enjoy cycling along the Top Trail, gazing at the gorgeous river valleys, and exploring the state forests before camping out each evening. There are plenty of shelters along the way, most of which are spaced about a day’s ride apart for the convenience of long-term riders.

2. Fishing at Palm Beach

You don’t have to spend your entire vacation in shops, museums, or on hiking trails to have a good time. For a totally relaxing afternoon, consider heading about 40 minutes south of the city of Perth to spend the day fishing in the town of Rockingham.

The seaside town is, of course, great for the entire family – even those who don’t enjoy waiting for the fish to nibble at the line. Rockingham is known for its aquatic activities, ranging from trips to swim with the dolphins to snorkeling, sailing, and surfing. Soak up the sun on the beaches of Rockingham before retiring to your hotel room back in Perth for a relaxing, sleep-filled evening.

1. Visiting Kings Park

Kings Park is an incredibly popular tourist destination located right in the center of the city of Perth. Formally known as Kings Park and Botanic Gardens, you’ll find yourself working to decide which panoramic viewpoint you want to view the city from first.

Inside the park you’ll find a cornucopia of wildlife– with more than 319 plant species and 80 different species of birds. The gardens have been meticulously cultivated and the natural bushlands have been carefully protected.

Kings Park had dozens of picnic areas, has clean public toilets, and has areas specifically designed for families with small children. Enjoy the scenery while the kids spend some time in the playground. A visit to Kings Park is an afternoon your entire family will definitely enjoy.

The city of Perth and the surrounding areas have a lot to offer, whether you’re visiting the city on business or simply need to stretch your vacation budget. Take a few days to enjoy the wilderness and outdoors without breaking the bank. You’ll make memories that are bound to last a lifetime!