December 30th, 2009
Situated in the southwest of New Zealand’s South Island, Queenstown has been described as the adventure capital of the world. Adventurers of all types choose this area as their adventure vacation destination. There are plenty of thrills for the adrenalin junkie – bungee jumping, canyon swinging, white water rafting, river surfing, skiing, heli-skiing, skydiving, mountain climbing, mountain biking, jet boating, and more.
For those that want to stay on this planet for as long as possible, there are other “less challenging” things to do. For example, you can go for a scenic walk along the shores of Lake Wakatipu with its crystal clear waters, tour Lake Wakatipu aboard a 100-year-old coal fired steamship, fish, hike, cycle, golf, walk, or tour the local wineries. Excellent restaurants populate Queenstown and neighboring Arrowtown. As well, the Pinot Noir that is produced in the wine producing area surrounding the city is excellent.
Summer officially begins on 1 December and ends 28 February. This is an ideal time for those who prefer warmer weather. Daytime temperatures range from 20C to 30C (mid 70F-90F). Because it is 45 degrees south latitude, Queenstown’s summer days usually start at 5am and dusk at 10pm.That means there is plenty of daylight for you to thrill yourself senseless!
December 16th, 2009
A vacation…that’s what most of us need these days. We’re buzzing from one place to another, doing chores, fetching ours kids to piano, taekwondo, tuition classes, gym, etc. Others? Probably spending most of our waking hours working or running our businesses. There is only so much that our bodies and minds can take and soon, we will need to take some time out for some real stress-less activities… vacations. Well, the type of vacation that you end up taking usually depends on who is going and here are some popular types of vacations.
The learning and experiencing vacation. Usually, this would be a to place that you have never been before. Places like Boston and Washington are incredibly historical and if you have never been to their museums or historical cities, you have not completely visited the city. More often than not, a vacation where you get to learn and experience different things can give you a new perspective in life. For teenagers and kids, they come back more knowledgeable and more interested in knowing more about other parts of the world…a world traveler in the making, maybe.
December 5th, 2009
Santa Paula, a Southern California town located in Ventura County about fifteen miles from the Pacific Ocean has a rich and fascinating history. People have lived in the area for over 10,000 years, from the villages of the Chumash, a Native American tribe that first settled the area to today’s modern city.
The Chumash arrived in the area about 10,000 years ago and lived in villages ranging from Morro Bay in the north to Malibu in the south as well as on three of the Channel Islands off the shore of Santa Barbara. Due to the abundance of natural resources in the area, the Chumash were probably the most successful Native American tribe in California. Many of the local landmarks still retain Chumash names, such as the nearby city of Piru and Mupu School.
Juan Cabrillo, a Spanish explorer was the first European to encounter the Chumash tribes during his exploration of the California coast in 1542. It wasn’t until centuries later that Spanish expeditions and settlers began arriving in the region in large numbers. In 1769, Spanish settlers arrived at the site of what would eventually become Santa Paula. They found the Chumash villages of Mupu and Srswa. The nearby Ventura Mission was founded soon after in 1782 by Father Junipero Serra. During this period the Chumash tribes experienced a steep decline in population during this time as new diseases were introduced and their historical way of life was disrupted by the Mission system and Spanish rule.
As the Spanish and Mexican colonization of Southern California continued, Santa Paula and the surrounding area was eventually divided up into various land grants. Rancho Santa Paula y Saticoy was a 17,773 acre grant that was given to Manuel Jimeno Casarin in 1843 by the Mexican governor of California. Throughout the 1850’s the rancho changed hands a number of times, eventually being purchased in 1862 by George G. Briggs. Five years after purchasing the land, Briggs divided the land up in 150 acre parcels and began selling it to farmers.
November 12th, 2009
How on earth did the Windy City get its name? A lot of contentions have been made regarding Chicago and its famous nickname. Some say it isn’t really the sea breezes the city was named after but its politicians who overly promoted the city at one time that they were known to be full of ‘hot air’. It also referred to most Chicagoans ability to exaggerate on some issues. However it was coined though, the name seems to have adapted itself to the city weather and Chicago to date has become one of the most relaxed destinations for sports requiring a strong amount of, what else, wind.
Sailing is one of the sports Chicagoans take part in. Chicago has all the elements required for sailing. Smooth waters provided by Lake Michigan and ample winds for sail give just the right touch for the sport. There are several charter services in the area which provide a sailing tour with boats even beginners can have fun in. Beginners who want to get their hands dirty with sailing lessons can avail of several different training and charter by award-winning Captain Ben Sells. Those who want to simply let the professionals do their job and just enjoy the view can also do so, getting the famous Chicago skyline and lakefront as scenery. The sailing tour will also stop over certain attractions such as the Field Museum, Adler Planetarium and Shedd Aquarium before turning back to the lakefront to cap the day.
November 4th, 2009
Looking to choose just one of the luxury hotels Turkey has to offer? Learn more about how to narrow down your choices.
From the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar to the ruins of Patara and the lagoon beach of Olu Deniz, Turkey is a country that is blessed with dozens of astonishing places to visit and sights to see. Whether you want a relaxing beach holiday, an exciting cultural experience or an active adventure holiday, Turkey can accommodate your needs. It is also blessed with a huge selection of high quality places to stay, and choosing just one of the many luxury hotels Turkey has to offer may be a hard thing to do.
Here are a few of the factors to consider when selecting your accommodation.
Large or Small?
The character of a hotel is often affected by its size, and it’s up to you whether you go for a boutique hotel or for something larger. For many people, the intimacy of a boutique hotel is an essential part of their holiday experience. Then again, the larger hotels, such as the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul or the Cappadocia Cave Resort and Spa usually have spectacular facilities and expansive grounds. The luxury hotels Turkey has can accommodate your specific needs, so make sure you choose one that suits the kind of holiday that you want to have.
October 25th, 2009
It was one miserable night. The wind was howling through the rigging, and occasionally when the lantern would sway in a certain direction, you could see the rain blasting by in a horizontal downpour. The temperature in and of itself was not that bad, it was in the mid 70’s, but the wind and blowing rain caused a chilled you to the core of your body. Foul weather gear wouldn’t even keep you dry in these conditions. The sails were all reefed to the last reef point. Any farther would result in no sail at all and we would loose the ability to control the boat. This is the third day of this nasty weather and the navigator has not been able to get a celestial fix for two days now. The only fix he had was from the first day, and due to the poor conditions that day, he wasn’t sure of its accuracy. It sure would be nice to know what our position is. We should be close to landfall, as we left Tampa three days ago for what should have been a three-day run to Panama City. This weather has caused us to change course so many times though, that we are not sure of where we are exactly. Our only hope is that the weather will break just long enough for us to see the light from Cape San Blas.
The story above, in this instance is fiction, but having been to sea myself, I know all too well that it has been lived and re-lived thousands of times over the years. Modern electronics make things a lot simpler these days for navigators, but in the days before electronics were invented, lighthouses were a primary source of coastal navigational information. Cape San Blas lighthouse is no exception. True, it is now dormant, but it still stands as it did when it was constructed in 1848, as a solitary beacon, and a reminder of our maritime history. In 1882, in the midst of its active service years, there was no other light along the 120-mile coastline between Cape San Blas and Pensacola.
October 11th, 2009
At this time of the year, when spring is fast approaching, we start to think of that much-wanted break. If you are looking for something different, you can get on a cruise.
Tips in planning a cruise:
* Who will join the cruise? The number of people, the ages and the sex are to be taken into account.
* Your budget. This is very important or else everything will be spoilt. The common knowledge is you need to allocate at least $100/person in a day, excluding airfare. Booking in advance (9 months before) or take risk and book late (2 months or less in advance) will minimize the costs. Your budget will also determine the length of your vacation, the schedule of the cruise and the cabin.
* The places you are to see and the activities offered by the cruise. This must be discussed and agreed upon by everyone.
* Dinner time. Cruise offers three choices – early dinner (6 pm), late dinner (8-9 pm) or the open dinner (6:30-9:30 pm). You are given the freedom to choose to fit in your schedule. One thing which you need to know is that some ships have assigned seating and thus, you will be asked of your preference.
October 3rd, 2009
When you’re planning your perfect holiday in Australia there are many things that you will need to consider. One of the most important aspects of any trip is the accommodation that you choose, and choosing a bed and breakfast accommodation in Australia can give you a chance to enjoy the country in a whole different way.
Traditional hotel chains and resorts are great in some instances, but Australia is well known for its bed and breakfasts and you should check them out on your holiday. Travelling to a new country gives you a chance to experience their lifestyle and the things that they hold important, and when you are in Australia staying in a B and B is going to give you a much more personal experience than any resort might.
Sure, resorts and chain hotels have all of the amenities – pools, spas, room service, and other features that you might not find in a local bed and breakfast accommodation in Australia. However, they lack charm and character and can allow you to miss out on a great experience if you aren’t careful. A typical bed and breakfast is going to be quaint and intimate, while chain hotels or resorts often offer a stale, bland environment. There are many types of accommodation to choose from, and each one offers a different level of luxury for travellers.
There are guides available to help you choose a bed and breakfast accommodation in Australia. You don’t even have to know what you’re looking for because these guides will help you to learn where you can stay, which cities and towns have the best B and B accommodation, and how to book the rooms that you want for your holiday travels. Whether you’re coming as a family, on a romantic weekend, or even just a relaxing holiday where you can get away from it all, bed and breakfast lodging can be the perfect way to unwind and enjoy yourself in Australia.
September 27th, 2009
As Frank Sinatra famously sang, if you can make it in New York you can make it anywhere. New York is one of the most exciting cities in the world, and the mix of diverse culture and the combination of urban chic and upper class charm make it one of the most popular to visit.
The city is also a favourite with celebs, with some of Hollywood’s biggest names switching to the East Coast to take up home there. And now you, too, can be part of the buzz. Thanks to an influx of competition in the airline sector, flights to New York can now be as cheap as £200 from London. The best way to find cheap flights is to use a price comparison website.
Price comparison sites contain details of all the best deals around, so holidaymakers can be sure of finding the cheapest New York flights on offer. If you just go to your travel agent, they may be tied in to certain deals or products meaning you can’t be sure you’re getting the best deal on the market.
And once you’ve got your cheap New York flights? Well, then it’s time to start planning what you want to see in this fantastic city.
September 13th, 2009
The Reichstag or Parliamentary Building is one of the most symbolic structures in Germany. It was opened in 1894, and housed the parliament until 1933 when the Nazi started a fire to grab power. World War II damaged it further. The building was reconstructed by Arch. Norman Forster with its stunning new dome, which is one of the city’s biggest tourist attractions and a prominent feature in Berlin’s skyline. A huge German flag is prominently displayed at the building’s front. It was first used at the celebration of German reunification in 1990.
Visitors have to join a queue to enter the building and will be subject to security screenings prior to reaching the dome. A presentation of the building’s history is available at the bottom of the cupola. In the dome, a ramp winds its way up to the dome’s peak. The funnel, which has lots of mirrors, is a great venue for taking interesting pictures. It also affords visitors with awe-inspiring views of the city. The peak is an open-air area.
When Parliament is not sitting, the visitors’ gallery of the plenary chamber serves as a venue for talks regarding the history and architecture of Germany’s Reichstag Building, as well as working methods and functions of parliament.
The building is located west of the Brandenburg Gate. It is set on the grounds of the Tiergarten which is against what used to be the Berlin Wall. Admission to the Reichstag is free of charge. Opening hours are from 8am to 12mn every day. However, the last admission is at 10pm. Visitors should expect long queues during peak visiting hours.
