Reminiscing In Raleigh's Rich And Historical Past (Raleigh)

Raleigh, North Carolina’s capital and political seat is just as modern as any urban city in the United States. It is a city that encourages the emergence of talent in music and arts, as evidenced by various entertainment hotspots and art exhibits all around.

As modern it is now, it is also as old; it has seen the days of the pre-Civil War era in the 1700s and 1800s, and the mounting progress of the times that followed. Raleigh was born in 1792 as a resting area for travelers who would find themselves at this crossroad on their way from the north or from the south. Eventually, plans for a city were mapped out and local landowner Joel Lane sold off some of his plot to make way for the expansion. You’ll find the layout of modern day Raleigh to be well thought out because of ambitious planning; at the time of its city conception, its streets and zoning were patterned after Philadelphia, the country’s capital in those days. Raleigh was named after Sir Walter Raleigh of England, colonizer, traveler and explorer.

With a past that runs so deep, exploring old-world Raleigh in a new-world setting is an exciting adventure. There are many places of interest that have historic value and are worth visiting.

First stop recommended is an official city landmark, the North Carolina Capitol Building, right at the heart of Raleigh. Its construction finished in 1840 and this building stands as one of the most beautifully preserved buildings anywhere in the country today, and only fitting that it was archived a National Historic Landmark! Designed in Greek-Revival style architecture, it is a majestic monument that beckons to the public as if to make them aware that it has stood strong through the many trials time has thrown.

Another point of historic interest is a two hundred year old residence of the Haywood family. Haywood Hall was built in 1799 and although it has been continuously lived in by family until 1997, it stands as strong and beautifully preserved, marking it the oldest standing house in Raleigh, right up to its original address. No longer used for dwelling, its lush sprawling gardens are sought after locations for all sorts of parties and occasions.

The Moore Area is another place of historic interest and one park that is located in the area was included in the original city plan for Raleigh in 1792. It is a place for picnics and fun gatherings. Today, the Moore Square can stir up quite a gathering come Artsplosure Festival time. However, it is best known for its giant copper acorn sculpture designed by artist David Benson. It is an art piece beloved to the residents of Raleigh for what better to represent the City of Oaks than their acorn sculpture? If you find yourself there, rub it for good luck!

As previously pointed out, Raleigh embraces the arts. In the early 1900s, City Market was built as a trading ground amongst farmers for tobacco and cotton, amongst others. Still used for trading now, City Market has transformed into a popular shopping district for shops, dining and entertainment. True to its historic beginnings, a trip into City Market will find you walking along the original cobblestones that were first laid.

And before leaving Raleigh, don’t go without a quick visit to the Oakwood district. Many Victorian-inspired homes still stand with little refurbishments and improvements for modernization. Oakwood is, in fact, the first designated historic area of Raleigh and is listed accordingly in national documents. Aside from the old homes, the nearby cemetery commemorating Confederate heroes is worth the peek for their ornate and old-style headstones that bring you right back to the past.

There are still many more sights of old Raleigh to discover and delight in, but these landmarks are already worth the city tour.


About the Author: Please visit The Allure of Clayton NC Real Estate and Exclusive Buyer's Agents in Higher Demand Than Ever In Light of Recent Housing Slump.

Top Reasons to Visit the Los Angeles Zoo

The Los Angeles Zoo is located in the heart of the 2nd-largest city in the United States, and is an amazing California vacation destination for the whole family.

By 1956, the city of Los Angeles had outgrown the small Griffith Park Zoo. The citizens passed a $6.6 million bond measure to help build a new one and a 113-acre site in Griffith Park was chosen as the new location. In 1964 a private, nonprofit organization was created to support the new facility. The zoo then began raising money and acquiring animals

When the Los Angeles Zoo opened in 1966 it was the 4th zoo to serve the city. The Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA) had already graduated a class of trained, volunteer docents and had produced several issues of a quarterly magazine called Zoo View. Some 80,000 Angelenos attended the November opening of the Los Angeles Zoo (also in attendance was an alligator named Methuselah, who is still a resident of the zoo today).

In 1967 the zoo acquired 3 endangered Arabian Oryx for $75,000. The Los Angeles Zoo cooperated with the only other American zoo to house Oryx, the Phoenix Zoo, to successfully bred the gazelle-like animals, which were facing extinction in the wild. Today descendants of those animals have been reintroduced to the wild in Israel, and other descendants of that original L.A. Zoo herd live on at the zoo.

The Los Angeles Zoo’s 1st Beastly Ball was held in 1970. This safari-themed dinner-dance is an important fundraiser for the Zoo, but only the visitors get to eat; in the interest of health and safety, the L.A. Zoo was the 1st major zoo in the United States to prohibit visitors from feeding the animals, and maintains the policy today.

The Los Angeles Zoo became an accredited member of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) in 1972. Just 2 years later Dr. Warren D. Thomas became Zoo Director.

Thomas assembled one of the world ’s most respecteded animal collections during his 17-year tenure. The zoo acquired rare and endangered species, including the Sumatran Rhino, the Jentink’s and Zebra duikers, yellow-footed rock wallabies, giant elands, gerenuks, emperor tamarins, and bongos. The Andrew Norman Education Center, the ZooMobile, Wolf Woods and Monkey Island, were all built in the Thomas-era1970’s, as were new exhibits for gorillas, orangutans and flamingos,

In the 1980’s the Zoo became part of the new California Condor Recovery Program. In 1982 the Zoo built the extensive “condorminiums,” which are still considered among the finest and largest facilities in the condor recovery program. In1982 the Ahmanson Koala House was opened. Currently the Los Angeles Zoo the only zoo in the world to exhibit these nocturnal animals in a darkened setting.

Today Los Angeles Zoo is located in the heart of the 2nd-largest city in the United States. Nearly 11/2 million visitors visit the zoo every year to see one of the country’s biggest and best collection of animals.

Discover the best that L.A. has to offer while staying at a downtown luxury hotel! We offer great discounts on rooms, car rentals, and plane tickets.

Condominium Hotels Gain Popularity

You can spend a vacation, a season-or the rest of your life-in the lush desert of Southern Arizona and reap the benefits of a resort residence at the same time.

You can live in one resort, with all of the resort amenities, year round or use as a vacation home. If you choose, you have the opportunity to place your suite in a rental program. This is a relatively new concept in vacation home ownership that's becoming more popular at desirable destinations across the country. Resort residences can be found in major cities and at resorts.

The resort is in Green Valley, Arizona, 20 minutes south of Tucson, in a scenic area at the base of the Santa Rita Mountains. It looks over the Canoa Ranch Golf Course, a par-72 championship course designed by Lee Schmidt and Brian Hurley. The Torres Blancas golf course, designed by Lee Trevino, is close by. Every resident of Canoa Ranch Resort Condominiums enjoys preferred rates and priority tee times at both courses without ever having to purchase a golf membership.

The condominiums are clusters of three-story Santa Barbara-style buildings, each housing two-bedroom suites. The homes range from 1,500 to 1,726 square feet depending on the three available floor plans.

Each residence is upgraded, completely furnished and professionally decorated, including granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. Everything is included, from furniture to flat screen digital televisions to dishes and kitchen appliances. The homes have high-speed Internet access, voice over IP phones and premium cable television. All you need to bring are your clothes, your laptop and your golf clubs. Housekeeping services are optional.

The Grill on the Green restaurant is part of the Canoa Ranch Golf Course; a pool and outdoor patio are part of the amenities. The community of Green Valley provides shopping, restaurants and retail services. The Tucson International Airport is less than 30 minutes away.

Imagine bright clear night skies, mountain vistas and pleasant weather year round in your own resort residence in Arizona. The hotel is part of the Wyndham Hotel & Resorts and is managed by Aimbridge Hospitality. Fairfield Homes, Inc., a long-time Arizona company, is the developer.

For more information call (877) 625-1642 or visit www.canoa ranchresortcondos.com.

More and more Americans are enjoying the high life in the high desert at resort-condominium combinations.

(NAPSI)