Thursday, October 4, 2007
Thars Gold in Them Thar Hills - Gold Mountain Manor in Big Bear, California
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Thars Gold in Them Thar Hills - Gold Mountain Manor in Big Bear, California
Rajasthan hotels are famous for the ambience that is reminiscent of the royalty of yore. Hotels in Rajasthan are often renovated forts and palaces that have opulence and grandeur hardly found in modern architecture. In October and November, tourism in Rajasthan peaks. This is the festive season. Diwali is just round the corner and the place that is famous for its golden sand, wonderful forts, picturesque palaces and amazing people is decked up for the occasion. Rajasthan hotels add to the crescendo by offering lucrative festive discounts. Book a hotel through www.travelgorajasthan.com and get special discounts on hotel rates.
Hotels in Rajasthan are renowned for immaculate service and warm hospitality. TravelGoRajasthan.com offers some of the best known hotels for booking. Heritage hotels in Rajasthan are in itself unique places of attraction. Enjoy and experience hospitality of a different kind that you have not experienced ever before. Diwali means great news. Even heritage hotels and palace hotels in Rajasthan are offering fantastic Diwali discounts and privileges. This facility can be availed at TravelGoRajasthan.com.
In TravelGoRajasthan.com, tourists can find different categories of Rajasthan hotels. There are luxury hotels, palace hotels and heritage hotels. Tourists can also put up in business hotels and budget hotels.
People who want to tour Rajasthan during Diwali can book hotels online through TravelGoRajasthan.com and enjoy the luxury of spending a vacation in a heritage hotel or palace hotel at a discounted rate.
TravelGoRajasthan.com is among the very few travelsites that are exclusively devoted to tourism in Rajasthan. The travelsite has a number of premier Rajasthan hotels in its database and even during the peak tourist season the travelsite is able to provide online real time hotel booking. The status of the booking can be seen instantly. Since this is a real time hotel reservation, instant confirmation is displayed. This allows a traveler to plan the tour better.
Rajasthan hotels are falling over one another in a mad race to attract tourists. This is music to the ear for travelers. Avail of the exciting Diwali offers and experience royal hospitality of the beautiful land.
About the Author
Content writer in travel and tourism sites.I have written a few lines about myself. Traveling is a passion for me and exploring the infinite variety of Nature is my obsession. In my articles you will find more than just hills, rivers and forests. I try to look into the people, their society, culture and tradition. In the travel and tourism websites that I write for, there is a deliberate effort to bring out the very spirit of the place.
Hotels in Rajasthan are renowned for immaculate service and warm hospitality. TravelGoRajasthan.com offers some of the best known hotels for booking. Heritage hotels in Rajasthan are in itself unique places of attraction. Enjoy and experience hospitality of a different kind that you have not experienced ever before. Diwali means great news. Even heritage hotels and palace hotels in Rajasthan are offering fantastic Diwali discounts and privileges. This facility can be availed at TravelGoRajasthan.com.
In TravelGoRajasthan.com, tourists can find different categories of Rajasthan hotels. There are luxury hotels, palace hotels and heritage hotels. Tourists can also put up in business hotels and budget hotels.
People who want to tour Rajasthan during Diwali can book hotels online through TravelGoRajasthan.com and enjoy the luxury of spending a vacation in a heritage hotel or palace hotel at a discounted rate.
TravelGoRajasthan.com is among the very few travelsites that are exclusively devoted to tourism in Rajasthan. The travelsite has a number of premier Rajasthan hotels in its database and even during the peak tourist season the travelsite is able to provide online real time hotel booking. The status of the booking can be seen instantly. Since this is a real time hotel reservation, instant confirmation is displayed. This allows a traveler to plan the tour better.
Rajasthan hotels are falling over one another in a mad race to attract tourists. This is music to the ear for travelers. Avail of the exciting Diwali offers and experience royal hospitality of the beautiful land.
About the Author
Content writer in travel and tourism sites.I have written a few lines about myself. Traveling is a passion for me and exploring the infinite variety of Nature is my obsession. In my articles you will find more than just hills, rivers and forests. I try to look into the people, their society, culture and tradition. In the travel and tourism websites that I write for, there is a deliberate effort to bring out the very spirit of the place.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Legendary "Second Summer" Arrives on Oregon Coast
Legendary "Second Summer" Arrives on Oregon Coast
It's likely THE biggest news story about the Oregon coast, yet it's one of the area's biggest secrets: Fall is just the beginning of some really warm weather, and the start of a load of features that make this the most inviting time of the year on these beaches.
This pristine and often wild area, legendary for being among the cleanest sands in the world, is also completely free to the public: no one owns any section of Oregon's coast, and no one has to pay to play there (except for a few state parks with minor fees).
Fall is known as the "Second Summer" here: meaning this part of the Pacific shoreline is at its warmest in September and early October.
By the time September comes around, the ocean is at its warmest after being heated up all season. Meanwhile, things get cooler in the Willamette Valley - on the other side of the coast range mountains - which evens out the temperature differences between the two. This allows warmer air flows from the east and from California to help warm things up even more, as well as causing the winds to die down in general and decrease fog.
During the summer, those temperature differences drive the sea breezes and fog. But by early fall, those differences are not as significant, allowing these factors to come together and making for sunnier, hotter days than in June through August.
Weather experts say this usually lasts well into October, with the middle of the month generally being a turning point towards more blustery weather. However, in 2004, those summer-like conditions lasted well into the last few days of the month.
On top of it all, this season boasts lesser crowds, lower lodging prices and fewer cars on the highway - making this the best time of the year to venture to the Pacific Ocean.
SURPRISES IN SEASIDE
Each town on the coast has its own identity and each experiences the benefits of the "other summer on the coast," as it's sometimes called. But the resort town of Seaside, on the northern Oregon coast, has some particularly pleasant amenities during "Second Summer." Keith Chandler, manager of Seaside Aquarium noted he sees more whales wandering these waters at this time of year than at any other. "Not because there are more whales," he quickly adds. "But because less winds make for less white caps and calmer waters, so it's easier to spot them."
At Seaside Helicopters, all these nice days keep pilot/owner Gary Turel quite busy. The long run of pleasant weather makes for ideal flying conditions for his aerial tours of Cannon Beach and Seaside.
This consistently wowing flight lets you glimpse "Goonies Rock" - which was used in some of the last moments of the cult classic film. Hwy 101 - just south of Seaside. www.seaside-helicopters.com. (503) 440-4123.
LODGING SPECIALS ABOUND
In most cases, lodging prices begin to dip sometime in September, although some businesses don't drop until October or later. One interesting rule of thumb is that more expensive lodgings drop farther in price, while more inexpensive hotels, vacation rentals or motels drop less.
At St. Bernard's Bed & Breakfast, you can stay at a real castle, overlooking Arch Cape and Castle Rock, for less during the week. After October 1, weekdays are 15 percent off per night (two-night minimum), and you
can get weekends at three nights for the price of two. Look for East Ocean Rd., just north of the Arch Cape Tunnel. www.st-bernards.com. 800-436-2848.
At the adorable, family-friendly and pet-friendly San Dune Inn in Manzanita, prices are anywhere from $95 for two people to $160 for a family in August. Those drop 15 percent after Labor Day, and another 10 percent in October. The San Dune Inn features fun and funky pleasantries like free bicycles, game equipment for the sand, beach chairs, etc. www.sandune-inn-manzanita.com. 428 Dorcas Lane. 888-368-5163.
If romance is on your mind, Old Wheeler Hotel presents stunning views of Nehalem Bay in charming, ancient building so beautiful it's been nicknamed the "Westin-Benson of the Oregon Coast." Their prices, generally between $80 to $240, go down about $10 in October. They are celebrating Second Summer by allowing anyone who mentions "second summer" to stay at October/November rates. Hwy 101 and Gregory. www.oldwheelerhotel.com. 877-484-3843.
At the stunning vacation rental resort of Bella Beach, near Depoe Bay, prices drop substantially after September 20. These beautiful homes, just steps away from the ocean, go for 20 percent to 35 percent less. Many homes that were $250 per night drop down to $175 per night. 866-994-7026 or www.bellabeach.com.
SECOND SUMMER EVENTS "BREWING" FUN
Sometimes, local events bring out a whole new side to the Oregon coast's "Second Summer." The second weekend of October sees Newport's population swell to several thousand more with the 2005 Newport Microbrew Festival as the central coast town invites you to "Sail On Over for Suds & Surf."
This theme and title means a bevy of food vendors, assorted sellers of microbrewed goodness, wine, lots of live music and arts & crafts - as well as their famed homebrew competition. The event takes place at Lincoln County Fairgrounds, 633 NE 3rd Street, in Newport - a charming but bustling burgh that hosts two lighthouses.
The over-21-only festival happens on Friday, October 7 and Saturday, Saturday, October 8. Parking is free and admission is $8. www.newportchamber.org/microbrew. 800-262-7844.
Other discoveries to be made in Newport include the Nye Beach area, which is an historic section of town that reigned in the early 20th century as the "Honeymoon Capitol of the World." It still retains its ancient vibe and strong sense of romance.
While there, don't miss either Village Market & Deli or Blu Cork Wine Bar, both on SW Third, a street which deadends over the beach. Village Market features gourmet lunches that are becoming legendary in the state, including a Tuscan Turkey that has quite the zing to it thanks to a bit of wasabi. It's innovative and full of subtle layers. (541) 574-9393.
Blu Cork Wine Bar boasts an incredible interior of earth tones, a heady selection of mostly Northwest wines, and a dizzying menu of delicious items like a duck pate that is so light and smooth it threatens to levitate out of your mouth. 613 SW Third Street, Newport. 541-265-2257.
More on the subject of Second Summer can be found at www.beachconnection.net/secondsummer.htm
About the Author
Andre' Hagestedt is editor of Beach Connection, a tourism publication that covers the upper half of Oregon's coastline - some 180 miles.
It's likely THE biggest news story about the Oregon coast, yet it's one of the area's biggest secrets: Fall is just the beginning of some really warm weather, and the start of a load of features that make this the most inviting time of the year on these beaches.
This pristine and often wild area, legendary for being among the cleanest sands in the world, is also completely free to the public: no one owns any section of Oregon's coast, and no one has to pay to play there (except for a few state parks with minor fees).
Fall is known as the "Second Summer" here: meaning this part of the Pacific shoreline is at its warmest in September and early October.
By the time September comes around, the ocean is at its warmest after being heated up all season. Meanwhile, things get cooler in the Willamette Valley - on the other side of the coast range mountains - which evens out the temperature differences between the two. This allows warmer air flows from the east and from California to help warm things up even more, as well as causing the winds to die down in general and decrease fog.
During the summer, those temperature differences drive the sea breezes and fog. But by early fall, those differences are not as significant, allowing these factors to come together and making for sunnier, hotter days than in June through August.
Weather experts say this usually lasts well into October, with the middle of the month generally being a turning point towards more blustery weather. However, in 2004, those summer-like conditions lasted well into the last few days of the month.
On top of it all, this season boasts lesser crowds, lower lodging prices and fewer cars on the highway - making this the best time of the year to venture to the Pacific Ocean.
SURPRISES IN SEASIDE
Each town on the coast has its own identity and each experiences the benefits of the "other summer on the coast," as it's sometimes called. But the resort town of Seaside, on the northern Oregon coast, has some particularly pleasant amenities during "Second Summer." Keith Chandler, manager of Seaside Aquarium noted he sees more whales wandering these waters at this time of year than at any other. "Not because there are more whales," he quickly adds. "But because less winds make for less white caps and calmer waters, so it's easier to spot them."
At Seaside Helicopters, all these nice days keep pilot/owner Gary Turel quite busy. The long run of pleasant weather makes for ideal flying conditions for his aerial tours of Cannon Beach and Seaside.
This consistently wowing flight lets you glimpse "Goonies Rock" - which was used in some of the last moments of the cult classic film. Hwy 101 - just south of Seaside. www.seaside-helicopters.com. (503) 440-4123.
LODGING SPECIALS ABOUND
In most cases, lodging prices begin to dip sometime in September, although some businesses don't drop until October or later. One interesting rule of thumb is that more expensive lodgings drop farther in price, while more inexpensive hotels, vacation rentals or motels drop less.
At St. Bernard's Bed & Breakfast, you can stay at a real castle, overlooking Arch Cape and Castle Rock, for less during the week. After October 1, weekdays are 15 percent off per night (two-night minimum), and you
can get weekends at three nights for the price of two. Look for East Ocean Rd., just north of the Arch Cape Tunnel. www.st-bernards.com. 800-436-2848.
At the adorable, family-friendly and pet-friendly San Dune Inn in Manzanita, prices are anywhere from $95 for two people to $160 for a family in August. Those drop 15 percent after Labor Day, and another 10 percent in October. The San Dune Inn features fun and funky pleasantries like free bicycles, game equipment for the sand, beach chairs, etc. www.sandune-inn-manzanita.com. 428 Dorcas Lane. 888-368-5163.
If romance is on your mind, Old Wheeler Hotel presents stunning views of Nehalem Bay in charming, ancient building so beautiful it's been nicknamed the "Westin-Benson of the Oregon Coast." Their prices, generally between $80 to $240, go down about $10 in October. They are celebrating Second Summer by allowing anyone who mentions "second summer" to stay at October/November rates. Hwy 101 and Gregory. www.oldwheelerhotel.com. 877-484-3843.
At the stunning vacation rental resort of Bella Beach, near Depoe Bay, prices drop substantially after September 20. These beautiful homes, just steps away from the ocean, go for 20 percent to 35 percent less. Many homes that were $250 per night drop down to $175 per night. 866-994-7026 or www.bellabeach.com.
SECOND SUMMER EVENTS "BREWING" FUN
Sometimes, local events bring out a whole new side to the Oregon coast's "Second Summer." The second weekend of October sees Newport's population swell to several thousand more with the 2005 Newport Microbrew Festival as the central coast town invites you to "Sail On Over for Suds & Surf."
This theme and title means a bevy of food vendors, assorted sellers of microbrewed goodness, wine, lots of live music and arts & crafts - as well as their famed homebrew competition. The event takes place at Lincoln County Fairgrounds, 633 NE 3rd Street, in Newport - a charming but bustling burgh that hosts two lighthouses.
The over-21-only festival happens on Friday, October 7 and Saturday, Saturday, October 8. Parking is free and admission is $8. www.newportchamber.org/microbrew. 800-262-7844.
Other discoveries to be made in Newport include the Nye Beach area, which is an historic section of town that reigned in the early 20th century as the "Honeymoon Capitol of the World." It still retains its ancient vibe and strong sense of romance.
While there, don't miss either Village Market & Deli or Blu Cork Wine Bar, both on SW Third, a street which deadends over the beach. Village Market features gourmet lunches that are becoming legendary in the state, including a Tuscan Turkey that has quite the zing to it thanks to a bit of wasabi. It's innovative and full of subtle layers. (541) 574-9393.
Blu Cork Wine Bar boasts an incredible interior of earth tones, a heady selection of mostly Northwest wines, and a dizzying menu of delicious items like a duck pate that is so light and smooth it threatens to levitate out of your mouth. 613 SW Third Street, Newport. 541-265-2257.
More on the subject of Second Summer can be found at www.beachconnection.net/secondsummer.htm
About the Author
Andre' Hagestedt is editor of Beach Connection, a tourism publication that covers the upper half of Oregon's coastline - some 180 miles.
First Hotel on the Moon Finally Opens
August 23, 2025 - Today a new chapter in space tourism was written. Rod Markham and his wife-to-be Susan Millster arrived safely to the moon to spend 5 days as the first guests at the Starbright Hotel that was set up for this purpose two years ago.
Not are they only the first hotel guests on the moon, they also set a new record for expensive accommodation since the price was USD 3,7 million per night, per person. However, the exclusive transfer from earth to the hotel was included in the price.
The hotel itself will probably have a tough time just to try to gain one star at any hotel rating system, since there is no room service, the guests have to do the cleaning of the room themselves and there is no bathroom in them. However, they have more stars than they need just outside their window.
Rod and Susan will get married through link by their local minister in San Diego, California at 9.00pm EST tonight, and the wedding will be broadcasted live by several major TV networks in a 1-hour special including the preparations for the trip.
They were accompanied by six other astronauts that during the stay will set up further accommodations for the guests that have made reservations at the Starbright Hotel next year. The hotel has so far no employees, only temporary staff when guests.
About the Author
Pontus Edenberg is the editor of News of Future, a publication with news about future technology, society, health, environment etc. People of the world are invited to comment on the news and take part in shaping their future.
Not are they only the first hotel guests on the moon, they also set a new record for expensive accommodation since the price was USD 3,7 million per night, per person. However, the exclusive transfer from earth to the hotel was included in the price.
The hotel itself will probably have a tough time just to try to gain one star at any hotel rating system, since there is no room service, the guests have to do the cleaning of the room themselves and there is no bathroom in them. However, they have more stars than they need just outside their window.
Rod and Susan will get married through link by their local minister in San Diego, California at 9.00pm EST tonight, and the wedding will be broadcasted live by several major TV networks in a 1-hour special including the preparations for the trip.
They were accompanied by six other astronauts that during the stay will set up further accommodations for the guests that have made reservations at the Starbright Hotel next year. The hotel has so far no employees, only temporary staff when guests.
About the Author
Pontus Edenberg is the editor of News of Future, a publication with news about future technology, society, health, environment etc. People of the world are invited to comment on the news and take part in shaping their future.
Western Kilimanjaro to Southern Serengeti
Western Kilimanjaro to Southern Serengeti
This safari is centered on the plains of Western Kilimanjaro and then moves across to the remote Southern Serengeti. Western Kilimanjaro camp is set in a private concession which means just that - it is private and not a public park. It covers 75,000 acres and borders Kenya's Amboseli National Park. The landscapes here consist of floodplains, hills and acacia woodland. This destination is amazing as the camp is luxurious and game spotting is done against the dramatic back-drop of Mount Kilimanjaro. In the evening enjoy the stars of the southern sky and the amazing sight of Mount Kilimanjaro illuminated by moonlight.
The Southern Serengeti is an incredible place from January through to March, the wildebeest migration is in the area and during this time the hordes amass around the Kusini Camp for the birthing of their young. This is the world's last great migration and so can be said to be unique, without any danger of exaggeration.
Day 1 & 2 - Kambi ya Tembo in the Western Kilimanjaro
Kambi ya Tembo (Elephant Camp) looks across the plains at Kilimanjaro and offers accommodation in ten tents with en suite facilities. Each luxury tent is under the shade of a massive, old acacia tree and combines the luxury and warmth with the best cultural and natural experience possible. Full board here includes tea/coffee local beers, wines, sprits and laundry service.
Day 3 - Transfer to Tarangire National Park
Travel from West Kilimanjaro and stop in Arusha for lunch in this small bustling town in Northern Tanzania.
After lunch travel for ninety minutes to the Tarangire National Park and to River Camp Lodge which is close to an old Baobab, that dominates the dry riverbed. This camp is made up of 18 Luxury Safari Tents within 25,000 hectare concession which is set aside for conservation by the local Maasai community of Minjingu.
Day 4 - After breakfast enter into Tarangire National Park for the full day, stopping for picnic lunch in the Park.
In the late afternoon drive to Ngorongoro Farm House. This is an exclusive lodge facing the Ol-deani Volcano, and is set on a huge coffee farm. Three separate and intimate camps of nine comfortable bungalows each are built in the design of an old colonial farm. They are tastefully decorated, using local materials offering an imaginary journey to days long past.
Day 5 - Ngorongoro Crater: the full day is spent exploring the
world's largest unbroken volcanic caldera. The steep sides of the crater mean that it has become a natural enclosure for wildlife, including most of the species found in East Africa. The night is spent in one of the luxury lodges perched on the rim of the crater - all rooms offering magnificent views of the crater bellow. Day 6 to 8 - Journey to the Southern Serengeti with game viewing en-route. The lodge is Kusini Camp - full board here includes tea/coffee local beers, wines, sprits and laundry service.
The Serengeti would not be the same without the beautiful rock outcrops known as kopjes. The rounded shapes of these ancient granite rocks are the result of cracking and erosion from exposure to sun, wind, and rain. They provide shelter and capture water for a wealth of wildlife and plants. In fact, without such environs, lions and other large animals would be unable to survive the dry season on the plains.
Kusini Camp is perfectly sited in a cluster of kopjes, Kusini is a permanent tented camp blended seamlessly into the delicate environment of the predator-rich plains of the Serengeti. The surrounding short grass plains provide the setting for the most spectacular natural phenomenon in the continent of Africa, the wildebeest migration, during which time the hordes amass around the camp for the birthing of their young.
Day 9 - Leave the Serengeti and drive through the Ngorongoro Conservation and return to the Ngorongoro Farm House.
Day 10 - After breakfast game drive in Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National Park is home to millions of flamingos, pelicans, storks and other plentiful bird life, as well as hippos that can be observed at close range. Pink flamingo graze by the thousands whilst yellow-billed storks swoop and corkscrew on thermal winds rising up from the escarpment, and herons flap their wings against the sun-drenched sky. This park is also famous for the tree-climbing lions. In addition to the lions, the national park is also home to the largest concentration of baboons in Tanzania.
Return to Arusha and end of safari.
About the Author
For further information on Kilimanjaro, Tanzania and Zanzibar see http://betheladventure.co.uk using tourism to fund community initiatives focused on the education of the young and the medical care for the whole family. Using tourism to change lives.
This safari is centered on the plains of Western Kilimanjaro and then moves across to the remote Southern Serengeti. Western Kilimanjaro camp is set in a private concession which means just that - it is private and not a public park. It covers 75,000 acres and borders Kenya's Amboseli National Park. The landscapes here consist of floodplains, hills and acacia woodland. This destination is amazing as the camp is luxurious and game spotting is done against the dramatic back-drop of Mount Kilimanjaro. In the evening enjoy the stars of the southern sky and the amazing sight of Mount Kilimanjaro illuminated by moonlight.
The Southern Serengeti is an incredible place from January through to March, the wildebeest migration is in the area and during this time the hordes amass around the Kusini Camp for the birthing of their young. This is the world's last great migration and so can be said to be unique, without any danger of exaggeration.
Day 1 & 2 - Kambi ya Tembo in the Western Kilimanjaro
Kambi ya Tembo (Elephant Camp) looks across the plains at Kilimanjaro and offers accommodation in ten tents with en suite facilities. Each luxury tent is under the shade of a massive, old acacia tree and combines the luxury and warmth with the best cultural and natural experience possible. Full board here includes tea/coffee local beers, wines, sprits and laundry service.
Day 3 - Transfer to Tarangire National Park
Travel from West Kilimanjaro and stop in Arusha for lunch in this small bustling town in Northern Tanzania.
After lunch travel for ninety minutes to the Tarangire National Park and to River Camp Lodge which is close to an old Baobab, that dominates the dry riverbed. This camp is made up of 18 Luxury Safari Tents within 25,000 hectare concession which is set aside for conservation by the local Maasai community of Minjingu.
Day 4 - After breakfast enter into Tarangire National Park for the full day, stopping for picnic lunch in the Park.
In the late afternoon drive to Ngorongoro Farm House. This is an exclusive lodge facing the Ol-deani Volcano, and is set on a huge coffee farm. Three separate and intimate camps of nine comfortable bungalows each are built in the design of an old colonial farm. They are tastefully decorated, using local materials offering an imaginary journey to days long past.
Day 5 - Ngorongoro Crater: the full day is spent exploring the
world's largest unbroken volcanic caldera. The steep sides of the crater mean that it has become a natural enclosure for wildlife, including most of the species found in East Africa. The night is spent in one of the luxury lodges perched on the rim of the crater - all rooms offering magnificent views of the crater bellow. Day 6 to 8 - Journey to the Southern Serengeti with game viewing en-route. The lodge is Kusini Camp - full board here includes tea/coffee local beers, wines, sprits and laundry service.
The Serengeti would not be the same without the beautiful rock outcrops known as kopjes. The rounded shapes of these ancient granite rocks are the result of cracking and erosion from exposure to sun, wind, and rain. They provide shelter and capture water for a wealth of wildlife and plants. In fact, without such environs, lions and other large animals would be unable to survive the dry season on the plains.
Kusini Camp is perfectly sited in a cluster of kopjes, Kusini is a permanent tented camp blended seamlessly into the delicate environment of the predator-rich plains of the Serengeti. The surrounding short grass plains provide the setting for the most spectacular natural phenomenon in the continent of Africa, the wildebeest migration, during which time the hordes amass around the camp for the birthing of their young.
Day 9 - Leave the Serengeti and drive through the Ngorongoro Conservation and return to the Ngorongoro Farm House.
Day 10 - After breakfast game drive in Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National Park is home to millions of flamingos, pelicans, storks and other plentiful bird life, as well as hippos that can be observed at close range. Pink flamingo graze by the thousands whilst yellow-billed storks swoop and corkscrew on thermal winds rising up from the escarpment, and herons flap their wings against the sun-drenched sky. This park is also famous for the tree-climbing lions. In addition to the lions, the national park is also home to the largest concentration of baboons in Tanzania.
Return to Arusha and end of safari.
About the Author
For further information on Kilimanjaro, Tanzania and Zanzibar see http://betheladventure.co.uk using tourism to fund community initiatives focused on the education of the young and the medical care for the whole family. Using tourism to change lives.
Vacation in comfort with kids
Vacation in comfort with kids
Three stress relief tips for families while away from home
By David Leonhardt
It takes a special person to travel with kids – a parent. Children have their own needs. Their idea of a vacation is more "adventurous" than a parent's. They need constant stimulation and they can get as tired as they are tiring.
There are many top ten type lists of tips for traveling with children: how to ensure they eat well and drink enough, how to dress them for the various weather forecasts, how to provide the stimulation they need, how to make sure they don't drive off with the family car and leave you stranded in the Mojave Desert, etc.
This list is how to travel in comfort – without tying the children to the roof rack -- which hopefully will reduce your stress.
Make sure you have plenty of room while traveling.
This is easier said than done. On a plane, everybody is cramped. On a train, everybody is cramped, although a little less so. On a bicycle... don't even try it.
If you are driving, get a mini-van. Sure, you might be more of a "car" type, and you might have resisted buying a mini-van so far. But pick up a rental van for the vacation just to give the kids a little more room for fighting. (Make sure it has a roof rack, just in case.)
Reality check: Cram enough people into a tiny space and watch everybody get stressed and enraged. See my humorous but true article on hippo rage.
Accommodations along the way can be tricky. Usually it involves a cramped motel for just long enough to sleep, then back in the cramped car (or somewhat cramped mini-van). This is not anybody's idea of a home away from home.
An accommodation alternative is to camp. When not sleeping, you have all the space in the world (unless you have to huddle under the tarp while the storm passes through). I love camping, but not everyone enjoys a good early morning wake-up wrestle with a grizzly as much as I do, so a motel might be required.
Make sure you have plenty of room when you "get there".
My childhood vacations, often involved wandering around lost. Assuming you are actually heading for a destination, make sure to have lots of room when you get there. This part is easy. But it requires thinking outside the box. Forget hotels, motels, and inns. Look for private rental homes.
Probably the biggest destination for families is Walt Disney World in Florida. Good news – Orlando, Kissimmee and the surrounding area is just teeming with private vacation homes for rent. In Florida they call them vacation villas, and they offer all the space of home (without having to fix a leaky sink or
oil the door hinges or mow the lawn.) Here are some examples of vacation home rentals in the Disney area.
Sharon Baillie is a private villa owner in the Kissimmee area outside Orlando, just a few miles from Disney World, whose property is listed at Last Minute Florida Villas and Vacation Rentals. "Our guests enjoy the spaciousness of our 6-bedroom home. They love the private pool and the private yard in which they can relax," she says. "Parents love the space for children to run around outside, and we leave a box of toys in the garage. So while the parents rest, the children play – and let their parents rest!"
Be prepared for "children being children" events.
Sometimes, stress hits you from behind when the unexpected happens. Like a cut or a scrape ... or a child getting sick. Sharon Baillie told me that is why she tells all her villa rental guests where the first aid kit can be found, and exactly where to go for medical attention. This is particularly helpful for her many guests from abroad, who are unfamiliar with the US healthcare system.
She also makes sure her guests are informed about local pollen and viruses in Florida, so that parents can be prepared. Stress is so much more enjoyable when you are prepared for it, don't you think?
Booking tickets to theme parks and making reservations for just about everything in advance makes the trip less stressful. There is little more difficult than managing young children while trying to get into a theme park or show that requires prior booking.
And to prevent wandering around lost, pick up a AAA Triptik in advance – not that it ever helped us.
Try having your children baby-sat. This might mean bringing along a nanny, such as a grand parent (It's a tough job, but somebody has to do it.). The car might be more crowded, but if you've rented a spacious home for the week, it could just be doable. The other option is to hire a local baby-sitter once or twice. Vacation Home owners can set this up for you, and some hotels might be willing to, too.
When you are single, you can go on adventure vacations. When you are a parent, you get little vacation adventures. Here are three of my family vacation adventures.
So there you have it. Three ways to reduce the stress of traveling with kids, so you can actually relax on vacation. After all, isn't that what vacations are supposed to be about?
About the Author
David Leonhardt is a website marketing consultant in Canada, who is building his own vacation rentals listing website and related travel and tourism directory.
Three stress relief tips for families while away from home
By David Leonhardt
It takes a special person to travel with kids – a parent. Children have their own needs. Their idea of a vacation is more "adventurous" than a parent's. They need constant stimulation and they can get as tired as they are tiring.
There are many top ten type lists of tips for traveling with children: how to ensure they eat well and drink enough, how to dress them for the various weather forecasts, how to provide the stimulation they need, how to make sure they don't drive off with the family car and leave you stranded in the Mojave Desert, etc.
This list is how to travel in comfort – without tying the children to the roof rack -- which hopefully will reduce your stress.
Make sure you have plenty of room while traveling.
This is easier said than done. On a plane, everybody is cramped. On a train, everybody is cramped, although a little less so. On a bicycle... don't even try it.
If you are driving, get a mini-van. Sure, you might be more of a "car" type, and you might have resisted buying a mini-van so far. But pick up a rental van for the vacation just to give the kids a little more room for fighting. (Make sure it has a roof rack, just in case.)
Reality check: Cram enough people into a tiny space and watch everybody get stressed and enraged. See my humorous but true article on hippo rage.
Accommodations along the way can be tricky. Usually it involves a cramped motel for just long enough to sleep, then back in the cramped car (or somewhat cramped mini-van). This is not anybody's idea of a home away from home.
An accommodation alternative is to camp. When not sleeping, you have all the space in the world (unless you have to huddle under the tarp while the storm passes through). I love camping, but not everyone enjoys a good early morning wake-up wrestle with a grizzly as much as I do, so a motel might be required.
Make sure you have plenty of room when you "get there".
My childhood vacations, often involved wandering around lost. Assuming you are actually heading for a destination, make sure to have lots of room when you get there. This part is easy. But it requires thinking outside the box. Forget hotels, motels, and inns. Look for private rental homes.
Probably the biggest destination for families is Walt Disney World in Florida. Good news – Orlando, Kissimmee and the surrounding area is just teeming with private vacation homes for rent. In Florida they call them vacation villas, and they offer all the space of home (without having to fix a leaky sink or
oil the door hinges or mow the lawn.) Here are some examples of vacation home rentals in the Disney area.
Sharon Baillie is a private villa owner in the Kissimmee area outside Orlando, just a few miles from Disney World, whose property is listed at Last Minute Florida Villas and Vacation Rentals. "Our guests enjoy the spaciousness of our 6-bedroom home. They love the private pool and the private yard in which they can relax," she says. "Parents love the space for children to run around outside, and we leave a box of toys in the garage. So while the parents rest, the children play – and let their parents rest!"
Be prepared for "children being children" events.
Sometimes, stress hits you from behind when the unexpected happens. Like a cut or a scrape ... or a child getting sick. Sharon Baillie told me that is why she tells all her villa rental guests where the first aid kit can be found, and exactly where to go for medical attention. This is particularly helpful for her many guests from abroad, who are unfamiliar with the US healthcare system.
She also makes sure her guests are informed about local pollen and viruses in Florida, so that parents can be prepared. Stress is so much more enjoyable when you are prepared for it, don't you think?
Booking tickets to theme parks and making reservations for just about everything in advance makes the trip less stressful. There is little more difficult than managing young children while trying to get into a theme park or show that requires prior booking.
And to prevent wandering around lost, pick up a AAA Triptik in advance – not that it ever helped us.
Try having your children baby-sat. This might mean bringing along a nanny, such as a grand parent (It's a tough job, but somebody has to do it.). The car might be more crowded, but if you've rented a spacious home for the week, it could just be doable. The other option is to hire a local baby-sitter once or twice. Vacation Home owners can set this up for you, and some hotels might be willing to, too.
When you are single, you can go on adventure vacations. When you are a parent, you get little vacation adventures. Here are three of my family vacation adventures.
So there you have it. Three ways to reduce the stress of traveling with kids, so you can actually relax on vacation. After all, isn't that what vacations are supposed to be about?
About the Author
David Leonhardt is a website marketing consultant in Canada, who is building his own vacation rentals listing website and related travel and tourism directory.
SURVIVING THE ABORIGINAL OUTBACK
URVIVING THE ABORIGINAL OUTBACK
Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com
Read this entire feature FREE with photos at
http://jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/globe02/aunz02/outback/outback.html
Official Survivor II Tours
Spend your holidays with the Aborigines!
Want to experience the Survivor Outback without the backstabbing? Want to get up close and personal with nature, but not have to catch it for dinner? Think Tribal Council sounds fun but only if there’s no risk of being sent home?
Then book your spot on the official Survivor II Outback Experience.
The producers of Survivor II and the owners of Goshen Station, the location for the TV series, officially sanction the outback-Australian tours. This tour is your only opportunity to visit the sites used by the Kucha and Ogakor tribes and explore the ancient countryside made famous in the series.
This eight-day adventure tour includes biking, canoeing and hiking the Savanna lands surrounding the mighty Herbert River of Tropical North Queensland.
Participants experience many of the challenges faced by Survivor II contestants, with ample time to make new friends, explore, relax and enjoy the unique environment. The tour guides have been selected for their environmental skills and in-depth knowledge of the region, the history and culture of the traditional Aboriginal owners, and the struggles of the first European settlers.
This Fascinating Experience Includes:
Mountain Biking to Blencoe Falls
Canoeing the Herbert River
Visits to the two tribal campsites
Night ‘spotlighting’ for native flora and fauna
Camping close to the Tribal Council
rock (and holding your own Tribal Council)
Exploring remnant rainforest 300 million years old
Fishing for the famous Barramundi
Experiencing life on an Australian cattle station (ranch)
Tours depart Cairns every Sunday from 6 May to 18 November 2001, and are all-inclusive.
Cost: Approximately USD $1080 pp (Approximately $920 8-13 years – the last Sunday departure in any month is available for families with children as young as 8 years. The minimum age on all other tours is 14 years)
Inclusions: All meals from lunch on day one to lunch on day eight, basic accommodation and camping, all equipment for listed activities including camping gear, all safety equipment, FREE team bandanna and water bottle, transfers.
Three Day ‘National Parks Safari’
To Survivor Region
One of Northern Australia’s premier adventure tourism operators, offers a three day/two night adventure tour of the region’s most spectacular National Parks, including the Herbert River area made famous by Survivor II.
The three day tour showcases the best of Tropical North Queensland including rafting on the Tully River, meeting the best of Australian wildlife on Hinchinbrook Island, a visit to the historic town of Ravenshoe and hiking the Herbert Gorge National Park and spectacular Blencoe Falls, adjacent to where Survivor II was filmed.
Read this entire feature FREE with photos at
http://jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/globe02/aunz02/outback/outback.html
By Hooter - Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent - at www.jetsettersmagazine.com
About the Author
Jetsetters Magazine. Join the Travel Writers Network in the logo at www.jetsettersmagazine.co
Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com
Read this entire feature FREE with photos at
http://jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/globe02/aunz02/outback/outback.html
Official Survivor II Tours
Spend your holidays with the Aborigines!
Want to experience the Survivor Outback without the backstabbing? Want to get up close and personal with nature, but not have to catch it for dinner? Think Tribal Council sounds fun but only if there’s no risk of being sent home?
Then book your spot on the official Survivor II Outback Experience.
The producers of Survivor II and the owners of Goshen Station, the location for the TV series, officially sanction the outback-Australian tours. This tour is your only opportunity to visit the sites used by the Kucha and Ogakor tribes and explore the ancient countryside made famous in the series.
This eight-day adventure tour includes biking, canoeing and hiking the Savanna lands surrounding the mighty Herbert River of Tropical North Queensland.
Participants experience many of the challenges faced by Survivor II contestants, with ample time to make new friends, explore, relax and enjoy the unique environment. The tour guides have been selected for their environmental skills and in-depth knowledge of the region, the history and culture of the traditional Aboriginal owners, and the struggles of the first European settlers.
This Fascinating Experience Includes:
Mountain Biking to Blencoe Falls
Canoeing the Herbert River
Visits to the two tribal campsites
Night ‘spotlighting’ for native flora and fauna
Camping close to the Tribal Council
rock (and holding your own Tribal Council)
Exploring remnant rainforest 300 million years old
Fishing for the famous Barramundi
Experiencing life on an Australian cattle station (ranch)
Tours depart Cairns every Sunday from 6 May to 18 November 2001, and are all-inclusive.
Cost: Approximately USD $1080 pp (Approximately $920 8-13 years – the last Sunday departure in any month is available for families with children as young as 8 years. The minimum age on all other tours is 14 years)
Inclusions: All meals from lunch on day one to lunch on day eight, basic accommodation and camping, all equipment for listed activities including camping gear, all safety equipment, FREE team bandanna and water bottle, transfers.
Three Day ‘National Parks Safari’
To Survivor Region
One of Northern Australia’s premier adventure tourism operators, offers a three day/two night adventure tour of the region’s most spectacular National Parks, including the Herbert River area made famous by Survivor II.
The three day tour showcases the best of Tropical North Queensland including rafting on the Tully River, meeting the best of Australian wildlife on Hinchinbrook Island, a visit to the historic town of Ravenshoe and hiking the Herbert Gorge National Park and spectacular Blencoe Falls, adjacent to where Survivor II was filmed.
Read this entire feature FREE with photos at
http://jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/globe02/aunz02/outback/outback.html
By Hooter - Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent - at www.jetsettersmagazine.com
About the Author
Jetsetters Magazine. Join the Travel Writers Network in the logo at www.jetsettersmagazine.co
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