As the longest railway on earth, the Trans Siberian Railway is a popular way for travelers to experience the vast expanse of land between the start and end of the line – Moscow and Vladivostock. The full route covers nearly 10,000 kilometers, and takes approximately a week in total to travel. The experience is one that seasoned travelers consider to be the most eye opening and fascinating journey imaginable, and it is made easier by the fact that you never need to pack and unpack – the train stays with you.

http://www.project-resourceblog.co.uk/2011/01/26/greatest-feats-of-engineering-part-11-the-trans-siberian-railway/

The Travel Experience: On a journey lasting for seven days, many people question whether they will get stir crazy. In short, the answer is no. Every few hours the train comes to a complete stop, letting off some travelers and picking others up. The train stops for 20-30 minutes, allowing you to get off, walk around and see what the area has to offer. Vendors sell local foods and crafts, letting you taste test your way through the Russian, Chinese and Mongolian countryside.

http://www.independenttraveler.com/resources/article.cfm?AID=1062&category=22

Experiencing Culture: Not only will you get to experience the culture briefly at each stop, but a week on a train gives you ample opportunity to make friends with your traveling companions, many of which are locals and others who like you have journey from abroad. There is no better way to get a first hand opportunity to talk to people from new lands.

http://www.kiku.com/electric_samurai/virtual_mongol/people.html

See the Countryside: The vast countryside between Vladivostock and Moscow boasts desert, plains, the Pacific Ocean, nomadic villages and more. Driving or even flying to these places is often impossible, but on the Trans Siberian Railway you have the incredible chance to view it all from the comfort of your own seat.

http://www.travelallrussia.com/grand-deluxe/-tour100.html

Sleeping: A question that many potential train travelers have is how the sleeping arrangements work on such a ling journey. Your options here are varied. A first class ticket, called SV in Russia, usually has a private bathroom and a two bed cabin that is well outfitted and private. Second class has four bunks in each cabin typically, and is a nice way to retain some privacy while still mingling with other travelers at the same time. The third class option is hard sleeper benches, many crowded together but often a fun environment. Some people believe this is actually the safest way to travel as there are many attendants about at all times.

One of Europe’s most historic and unique cities, Budapest is a must-see destination for anyone visiting that continent. The city is filled with history, Bohemian culture and a wide array of attractions and landmarks. Whether you’re a seasoned global traveler or just setting out for the first time, you’re sure to fall in love with this city. Budapest is the capital and largest city in the nation of Hungary.

http://www.wallpaperbase.com/photography-budapest.shtml

Budapest is filled with fascinating attractions and sites of interest. One of the top attractions in the city is the historic Castle Hill area. This district contains the city’s most renowned and well-known landmarks. Here, visitors will find the magnificent Royal Palace, which also contains the National Gallery museum. Other attractions on Castle Hill include the beautiful Matthias Church and Fisherman’s Bastion, one of the best spots in the city to view the scenic vistas and scenery around it. Castle Hill also contains a number of fascinating museums such as the Historical Museum of Budapest, the Military Museum and the Museum of Medieval Judaism.

http://seranditadventures.com/city_tour_bus_13.html

There are many other fascinating sites in Budapest. These include the Parliament Building, St. Stephen’s Basilica, City Park, Statue Park, the State Opera House and the ruins of Aquincum, an ancient Roman city that is now an open-air museum. The city of Budapest also contains a number of must-see museums and art galleries. Some of the top ones are the National Museum, the Ludwig Museum of Modern Art, the Natural History Museum and the Music Museum.

http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-photo/edmondbina/1/1283666964/the-roman-bath.jpg/tpod.html

Budapest is known for its world-class performing arts scene as well. The city’s top theaters include the Hungarian State Opera House, the Palace of Arts and the National Dance Theatre. Also, don’t forget to sample the city’s thriving culinary, shopping and nightlife scenes too.

Looking for some nightlife in Glasgow? Well, Glasgow is an excellent place for people of all ages to let their hair down. There are a few bars that come to mind when trying to find the hot spot for you!

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g186534-d730820-Reviews-Ashoka_Ashton_Lane-Glasgow_Scotland.html

One popular spot for younger adults typically in the early and mid 20s is a place called Ashton Lane which has bars including “The Loft”. Although, it is mainly a restaurant during the day, it turns into a full on bar and dance area at night. The place is a bit more catered to the casual market. The atmosphere is really nice with a set DJ to play every night. Drinks are priced decently with premium spirits ranging with the price around 5 to 6 pounds, and bubbly drinks 7 and up.

http://www.liquorice-media.com/press-office/may-2011/500-up-for-grabs-at-beer-cafe-quiz-night

Looking for something with a bit of a twist? There’s a pub called Beer Cafe that caters to all of the beer lovers out there! There are a great number of beers from places such as Belgium, South America, Poland, Germany, France, and Russia to name a few. It’s pretty spacious, so you can also get on the dance floor and do your thing if you want. It’s an overlooked spot, so it’s perfect when you’re on a night out on the town in Merchant City.

http://www.drinksinglasgow.com/pubs-and-bars/13th-note-cafe-glasgow/45/1618.html

Another cool place to check out especially for vegans and people that love live music is 13th Note. This is a fairly new spot that has a lot of spunk to it! You can hear free live local talent on Fridays and Saturdays. There are some really interesting art exhibits this spot hosts, so if you are an art lover this is the place for you. The different mix of food, culture, art, and music makes Glasgow an excellent spot for your nightlife!

The voice of art has been loudly heard throughout the underground metro stations of London for quite a while now. From graffiti art to local artists being commissioned for exhibitions, it is something altogether different than cities in the United States or anywhere else in the world.

http://london.metblogs.com/2004/11/30/the-tube-aint-that-bad/

We’re usually used to seeing scrawled, spray-painted letters on the side of trains, in underground stations, in alley ways, and everywhere above and in between in highly populated city areas. For London, they actually have commissioned artists that do posters and artwork for their subways. By engaging in a transportation-contemporary and modern art relationship, everybody who rides the subway gets to enjoy seeing art on a daily basis. Artists don’t have to risk their well-being of getting arrested for putting up artwork underground any longer – their works are displayed and approved legally. They works are beautiful, bright, and plenty on the Tube.

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/art/category/policy_funding/

When visiting London, be sure to take a trip on the Tube to view the many installations, posters, and new works of art that are changed regularly. Many artists have the opportunity to show their work and get a chance at showing an audience of thousands of people. When in the metro station in London, the art displays can baffle and amaze, all while still adhering to the culture diversity that makes a city like London complete.

http://gaylechongkwan.com/2007/07/journey-to-the-centre-of-the-earth-platform-for-art/

It is truly a unique experience riding on the Tube and enjoying the sights, sounds, and arts. It seems a more open, and understanding art culture than what people from the United States, or other countries, may be used to.

http://blogs.creative-jar.com/author/Vanessa.aspx

Since 2003, Art of the Underground has been enhancing lives with quiet and bold playful works of art. They nurture artists from the beginning, developing stages of their careers and also display internationally known artists throughout the world.

New York City is a city full of museums. Whether you’re interested in fine art, science, history or almost any other topic, there’s a museum in New York City you’ll want to visit. The two you must see are the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History.

http://tourism-zones.com/metropolitan-museum-of-art-new-york/

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, is one of most renowned museums in the world. This past week the museum, known simply as the Met, opened a new gallery of art from Islamic lands from Turkey through south Asia. The André Mertens Gallery for Musical Instruments reopened in March 2010. Showcasing works of art from the Met’s vast collection, the exhibit allows visitors to see instruments in their context. Part of the Met is located at the northern tip of Manhattan. The Cloisters is the Met’s collection of art and treasure of medieval Europe. Located in Fort Tyrone Park, The Cloisters and surrounding gardens are worth the visit.

http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-photo/miguele/7/1229907636/american-museum-of-natural-history.jpg/tpod.html

The American Museum of Natural History, is the largest museum of its kind in the United States. If you saw the 2006 movie, Night at the Museum, you saw scenes shot in some of the famous halls here. The world-famous dinosaur exhibit is here, as well as one of the most extensive collections of meteorites in the world. If you love gems and minerals, there’s a hall of these that will take your breath away. Special exhibits throughout the museum show you the flora and fauna of New York. Others demonstrate biology and how the human genome plays a role in human health and disease. The Rose Planetarium has an IMAX theater that features shows about space, weather or other explorations. The Hayden Planetarium offers shows that change over the year. Right now it’s showing a laser art show outside its entrance created using data from the Hubble space telescope.

Hitchhiking was popularized by Beat Generation novels and poems in the late 1950′s. By the early 1960′s, so-called “Beatniks” were everywhere, traveling the country with their rucksacks on their backs, ready for adventure. Probably no other book contributed to the rucksacking revolution more than On the Road, by Jack Kerouac. The main character of the novel, Sal Paradise, hitchhikes from the east coast to the west and many points in between. No other form of travel is as adventurous and spontaneous as hitchhiking.

http://9poundhammer.blogspot.com/2011/05/road-trip.html

You’ll have to be careful, of course, and make sure you’re prepared. You’ll be doing a lot of walking in between rides so you can’t go wrong with hiking boots. Make sure to dress appropriately for the weather. If it’s cold, bundle up and wear layers. If it’s the middle of the summer, don’t forget your sunscreen. You’ll meet plenty of interesting people during your trip, some of whom have even hitchhiked themselves. You’ll learn their stories and they’ll be interested in hearing yours, too. But, remember, you don’t have to accept every ride, either. If you don’t feel safe or someone is giving you a bad feeling, thank them for their trouble and politely decline. It’s also best to try to hook up with a car with only one or two occupants.

http://www.shining-wit.net/rick/buggy/why/index.html

Since this is the internet age, there are plenty of places to go to further familiarize yourself with the rules of the road. The most popular hitchhiking forum is Digihitch. It’s a place where new hitchhikers can ask questions to more experienced travelers. There’s also plenty of articles, tips and even rideshares.

http://www.eurotravelblog.co.uk/travel-tips-2/couch-surfing-dos-donts/

Also, if you’re looking to continue your adventure once you reach your destination, you might want to check out couchsurfing. You can sign up to let people sleep on your couch when they come to town, and others will do the same for you. It’s cheaper than a hostel and you might even make a lifelong friend. Remember, the essence of the Beat Generation was spontaneity and adventure. Prepare beforehand and be cautious, but otherwise, let the Fates take you where they will!