Owerri – Hospitality Capital of South East Nigeria

Since its creation in 1976, Owerri, the capital of Imo State, the Eastern Heartland, has grown gradually but consistently to assume the status of the hospitality hub of the entire South-Eastern Nigeria and the tourism destination of the world.

Imo State was formerly part of East Central State, one of the 12 states created in 1967 by the then military Head of State of Nigeria, General Yakubu Gowon in an attempt to foster peace in a country bedevilled by civil crisis and on the verge of disintegration. That was just on the eve of the Nigeria/Biafra Civil War. In 1976, however, East Central State, which had its capital at Enugu, was split into Anambra and Imo States. Enugu remained the capital of Anambra State while Owerri became the capital of the new Imo State. Over the years, Imo has given birth to another state, Abia, with its capital at Umuahia, while Anambra gave birth to Enugu, and later Ebonyi State, which also comprises parts of Abia State. The new Enugu State retained its capital at Enugu; Awka became the capital of the new Anambra; while Ebonyi established its capital city at Abakaliki.

Among all these state capitals, Owerri has remained the most developed in terms of social life, arts, music, hospitality, entertainment, and tourism. Not even Enugu which became the capital of the Eastern Region in the early days of colonial rule in Nigeria can compete with Owerri in these aspects. Read the rest of this entry »

The 4 Best Animal – Friendly Zoos in the United States

For many adults, the idea of going to a zoo is not as appealing as it is for children. Many people feel that zoos are too crowded, that the food is bad, and that many of the animals seem depressingly unhappy. These concerns were quite legitimate a couple of decades ago, but things have changed for many U.S. zoos, and anyone who hasn’t been to a zoo in 10 or 20 years is in for a pleasant surprise. Many of the modern zoos are designed so that both kids and adults get the most out of the experience, with pleasant design, appealing snacks, and educational opportunities for people of all ages. Perhaps most importantly, many zoos have committed themselves to principles of the “cageless” movement, enhancing the health and happiness of their animals. Visit any one of these four zoos, and you’ll be treated to a perfect modern zoo experience. Read the rest of this entry »

Great Day Trips – Grand Canyon Skywalk From Las Vegas

Going to Las Vegas? Make sure to add the Grand Canyon Skywalk to your list of “must-see” attractions. The “Glass Bridge” is only two-and-a-half-hours away and offers Sin City sightseers a number of unique experiences that are only available in this part of the Canyon.

Getting There

Part of the ever-evolving Grand Canyon West area, the Skywalk is situated some 120 miles east of Las Vegas. Getting there is half the adventure. En route, you skirt Lake Mead, the largest man-made lake in the U.S., cross Hoover Dam, enter Arizona, and ply a beautiful gorge carved out by the persistent Colorado River. In the Grand Canyon State, you’ll hit flat land whereupon you’ll take a right going east down a dirt road for 10 miles until you arrive at the Rim.

The Glass Bridge

The Skywalk is an engineering marvel: It’s a glass-bottomed cantilever structure that juts out 70 feet into the Canyon’s abyss. Nearly 4,000 below, the Colorado River quietly churns. The Bridge has been designed to withstand significant earthquakes and can support 800 people at once. Read the rest of this entry »