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Jump-start your vacation plans: Peruse this travel trivia to discover some unusual destinations and fun activities.
1. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Enjoy fine dining and a mariachi band on the site of the 1963 filming of "Night of the Iguana." Located on the actual sets of the classic movie starring Ava Gardner and Richard Burton, "Los Sets de la Noche del Iguana" is a gourmet restaurant overlooking Mismaloya Bay in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
2. ResidenSea Luxury Liner
The World of ResidenSea, launching in 2000, is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's most expensive luxury liner. The 631-foot-long ship contains 12 decks with 110 year-round residences and 88 guest suites. The company promises that you can "travel the world without leaving home."
3. Lubbock, Texas
The Buddy Holly Center in Lubbock, Texas, is a museum dedicated to the rock-'n'-roll pioneer who died in a plane crash in 1959. Housed in a large, elaborate building that was once a railway depot, the museum features the guitar-shaped Buddy Holly Gallery. In September you can attend the annual Buddy Holly Festival in Lubbock.
4. La Soufriere, St. Lucia
The world's only drive-in volcano, La Soufriere, is located on the scenic island of St. Lucia in the Caribbean. The island also features unique bubbling sulfur springs located in the seven-acre crater of a dormant volcano, a pristine rainforest, the oft-filmed Marigot Bay, and the famous Pitons (two mountain peaks covered with lush vegetation).
5. Route 66
The original Route 66 meandered over 2,000 miles through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. If you got your kicks watching the "Route 66" TV show or listening to the song about the famous road, visit its remaining stretches. Or, wait until next year, when Albuquerque, New Mexico hosts "Remember the Route," the 75th Anniversary Festival of Route 66, from July 20 through 22, 2001.
6. Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee boasts the world's only full-sized reproduction of the Greek Parthenon. Its statue of the goddess Athena measures almost 42 feet in height, and is the tallest indoor structure in the western world. Nashville is also the cradle of country music with its Country Music Hall of Fame and the Grand Ole Opry.
7. Kauai, Hawaii
The lush Hawaiian island of Kauai is clearly photogenic. It has been the backdrop for popular movies like "Blue Hawaii," "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "Jurassic Park," "South Pacific," and others.
8. Sydney, Australia
Play a different kind of bridge when you visit Sydney, Australia, home of the 2000 Olympics. You can harness up and climb atop the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which towers more than 400 feet over the harbor. A safety line supports you while a souvenir photo is snapped.
9. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Just minutes from the financial center of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is the world's largest urban rainforest. The Tijuca National Forest covers almost 8,000 acres and is home to waterfalls and hundreds of exotic plants and wildlife. You can visit the bustling city and then escape to its rainforest.
10. Hasselt, Holland
On January 1, 2000, the smallest restaurant in Holland opened its doors. Restaurant Kiliaen is only open on Saturday nights and seats only two guests. There are no reservations for this tiny establishment in the town of Hasselt, an hour and a half away from Amsterdam. Hopeful diners call in and leave their names for the drawing held once a week. The lucky winners receive a free, five-course dinner for two, as well as a complimentary limousine ride to and from their home or hotel.
11. Llanfair P.G., Wales
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch is a village in Wales and has the longest place name in the world. Its name means "The church of Saint Mary in a hollow of white hazel, near a rapid whirlpool, and Saint Tysilio's church of the red cave." It is also known as Llanfair P.G. With its cool summers and mild winters, Wales is a perfect destination for walkers and climbers in search of scenic wonders.
12. Danube River Cruises
The "beautiful blue Danube" River touches or runs through eight countries--more countries than any other river in the world. Cruises on this one river can take you through a number of destinations. These tours often start in Vienna, Austria and take you through countries such as Austria, Hungary, and Romania, among others.
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