Travel Updates: Green Options, Controversial Museums, and More

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

02 Aug 2007 11:46 PM

GREEN OPTIONS

These days going green while on vacation is getting easier and easier. Resorts are moving beyond just recycling newspapers and are now harnessing the power of the sun to transport visitors.

A resort in St. Lucia just unveiled a solar-powered ferry---the first of its kind in the Caribbean. The Sunshine Express has photovoltaic panels mounted on the roof and carries up to 15 guests from the Discovery at Marigot Bay resort to waterfront bars and restaurants using the sun's rays.

CONTROVERSIAL MUSEUMS

In a previous blog I detailed the controversy surrounding the opening of a northern Kentucky museum that teaches the biblical story of creation. Despite the ongoing protests and various demonstrations held near the building's entrance, the Creation Museum hosted its 100,000th visitor last week, less than two months after it opened. According to museum managers, that puts the attraction on pace to exceed the 250,000 visitors they were hoping to get in the first year.

The museum is packed with high-tech exhibits designed by an acclaimed theme park artist. It is also home to dozens of large fossils. Museum curators say the replicas are modeled after the fossils created by the massive flood detailed in the book of Genesis.

OLYMPIC UPDATE

In a previous blog I told you how Beijing's taxi cab drivers are gearing up for next summer's Olympics, but I haven't touched much on the progress of the 31 new Olympic venues. If you are planning to travel to China next August to take in the world's greatest sporting events here's what you will find:

Beijing is building 12 new Olympic venues--11 are currently under renovation, and eight are being built as temporary structures. Most are located in the northern portion of the city. In addition, five more venues are going up outside Beijing in mainland China --for soccer and sailing. Meanwhile, the equestrian events will be held in Hong Kong.

The Olympic Village -- a high-rise complex that will house more than 10,500 athletes -- will be located at the far northern end of the Olympic Green. The Olympic Green area is where more than half the competition venues will be clustered. It is about 10 times larger than it was in Athens and four times what it was in Sydney.

The venues that are garnering the most press are the Bird's Nest National Stadium -- described as a massive bowl-like structure that seats 91,000 -- and the Watercube National Aquatics Center, which consists of a translucent, blue-toned outside skin that makes the structure look like a cube of foam.

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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