Things to Make Your Gap Year in Africa Easy!

The kind of things you pack when you go on a trip says a lot about where you're heading and what you're going to be doing.

Taking a warm top and a ‘blanky’ is OK if you're going to stay at Granny’s house, but when you're taking a gap year in Africa, these items come highly recommended...

Work Pants with zip-off longs x 2

Great for casual wading in the water and getting within meters of Southern Right Whales breaching just off your sea sprayed research boat.

This is what work at the O.R.C.A Foundation in Plettenberg Bay was all about. Plettenberg Bay is a coastal town located along the world famous Garden Route. It's where some of the worlds most fascinating marine species can be seen, anything from Humpback Whales to Great White Sharks.

My gap year travel here gave me a once in a life time chance to work with these magnificent marine species in exciting and groundbreaking marine conservation volunteer work.

My Gap year at the O.R.C.A. Marine Foundation was also spent doing:

Rescue and rehabilitation of marine speciesSampling, tagging, monitoring and dissection of fish speciesParticipating in commercial marine-eco tourism activities, that included whale and dolphin watching tours, sea kayaking, township tours, and river ferry cruisesSupervised collection of touch pool and aquarium species for the O.R.C.A. Education CentreO.R.C.A. patrol boat trips to collect data, monitor the bay and take photos of whales, dolphins and other marine species

The Fleece Beanie

The Kapama Private Game Reserve gets cold at night; I reckon fleece beanies are essential. Long nights monitoring and tracking game is an amazing experience, chills or no chills.

I found the stars in the sky were a thousand times brighter than they are in the city. Though the stars were beautiful, most of the time the thrill of stalking around in the bush took preference. Darting parties were conducted to inspect and tag animals for conservation purposes.

The monitoring programs enable conservationists to keep records of the movements and numbers of the game in the area.

Working at the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre involved feeding and taking care of baby animals. Quite a few species are bred here, including the cheetah, which is a most interesting cat when you get to see one close up.

Other activities we were involved in: Camping in the reserve to get the African feeling Target shooting Capturing of wild animals when required by the reserve or the sanctuary Assisting in hand raised animals Elephant back safaris

Handy Gloves for the Colobus Trust

You can't even begin to imagine how a pair of gloves help while you're fixing fences and chasing baboons and monkeys all day. They're also a great help for removing vegetation from power lines to prevent these silly monkeys from being electrocuted. Another priority was removing the snares in the Diani Forest in an effort to protect the Colobus Monkey and its habitat.

I've never done anything quite like conducting a census for monkeys. Counting hundreds of colobus, sykes, vervet monkeys and baboons is an oddly rewarding experience.

What else did I do on my gap year on the South Coast of Kenya:

Repair and installing Colobridges, monkey-crossing bridges over Diani Beach road Remove vegetation from power lines to stop monkeys from being electrocuted Work alongside the school children doing studies on medicinal plants used by the community

Binoculars: Eyes in the Field

For the Shamwari Game Reserve, Binoculars were undoubtedly the most useful piece of equipment I had. You’ll understand why they are often called field eyes when you get to Shamwari.

They are especially useful for the mammal monitoring and tracking program that requires diligent scanning of at least 20,000 hectares of African bush. You also need them while taking game counts and conducting the anti poaching patrols. This makes you feel like you're really playing your part in things.

These missions in the name of nature are incidentally carried out from the back of land rovers; the genuine experience!

We spotted so many varieties of amazing animals; I don't even know where to begin. While stacking up thorn trees around the village, a technique used to keep predators out and livestock in, we were surprised by the sighting of a cheetah, a perfect time to zoom in with those binoculars.

My gap year voluntary work on Shamwari also covered the following: Assisting with game darting Alien vegetation control and identification Camp outs in the bush Feeding of predators at The Born Free animal rescue sanctuary

A Trusty Pair of Hiking Boots

If you're walking through 54 000 hectares of mountains, plains, indigenous fauna and flora and the incredible rock formations of the Warmwaterberg Mountains, I recommend getting good boots.

Most of the animal research projects at the Sanbona Wildlife Reserve involved tracking. This meant covering a lot of rocky terrain in order to complete our objectives of game counts, monitoring and transect analysis. Camps outs in the bush and nocturnal game monitoring turned out to be extremely adventurous.

Generally, it was more of a team thing. I felt connected and part of something that, beyond just talking about it, really was doing something to help conservation efforts in the real world.
These are only a few examples of the hands-on experience we had:

Plant studies and identification Animal habituation Bird monitoring - bird counts on the dam including the raptor familyMedicinal use of plants and vegetation biomes

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By Gregory Hudson
Worldwide Experience provides conservation volunteers & gap year in Africa opportunities on some of Southern Africa's premier private game reserves. This gives volunteers from around the world a chance to work closely with animals and to help forward the South African National Park's conservation objectives.

Health Tips for International Travelers

Summers and Winters are popular vacation times for many people, with ocean cruises, ski packages and trips to a favorite tropical paradise. With foreign trips like these, it's a good idea to do some health planning and preparation before travel abroad.
Karen Angelichio, registered nurse in the International Travel Division of Duke University Medical Center, says advance preparation should start with making sure medical immunizations are current.
"You should always make sure your standard U.S. immunizations are up-to-date before you embark on any type of trip," she says, "Then look at the list of required immunizations to enter the specific country, as well as those that would be recommended for your general health and safety."
Angelichio says it's also wise to learn about food and water precautions where you're going, as well as insect repellents.
"We don't have vaccines for everything," she says, "so it's very important that you educate yourself on the do's and don't's for food and water and that you know the proper repellents to use both for your skin and your clothing."
If you have concerns about receiving medical care or being hospitalized in a foreign country, and especially if you may require treatment for a chronic condition, you should be sure to have evacuation insurance. Angelichio says the cost is nominal compared to having to pay for the service without insurance, and there are a number of reputable companies you may wish to contact.
"Make sure that you have elicited the service of a medical evacuation company so if the health care is not up to standard in the country you're traveling to, you just call their toll-free number and there are medical services available by private medical jet to air-evacuate you out of the country and bring you home," she says.
Angelichio suggests that travelers check out on-line resources to stay current on specific diseases and other updates that may relate to their destination. In addition to the U. S. Department of State, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization, travelers can also find useful information at the Web site of the International Society of Travel Medicine.

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DukeMed News
DukeMed News - http://www.dukemednews.org/

Tranquil Setting for the Weary Traveler

The DeLaunay House, located 185 N. Pioneer in Ashland is a wonderfully remodeled 1909 Craftsman style house just blocks from downtown Ashland and the Historic Railroad District. The comfortable and attractive suites have imaginative and spiritual names to reflect the joy and spiritual process of the owner-operator Deborah DeLaunay. Peace Pilgrim, Peace Mountain, Zen Cottage and the Harmony Suite are luxuriously appointed yet restful and comfortable. Originally named Breathe Peace Inn, The DeLaunay House is truly a place to "breathe peace in", a tranquil setting for the weary traveler.

A successful artist, interior designer and proprietor, Deborah DeLaunay, says restoring and decorating the home was an act of love and the fulfillment of a dream. Besides her own stained glass designs that are displayed throughout the house, you will see the hand painted clouds and sky above as you walk up the stairs then, the gorgeous Shakespeare robe wall hanging. In the Zen cottage bath you will notice the claw foot tub adorned in tiger stripes to match the animal prints of the adjoining rooms. Deborah has a way with pulling the interior together with eclectic twists that are interesting and stylish.

In addition to the fabulous suites, the DeLaunay House offers a variety of amenities which include on-site laundry facilities, Cable television, telephone and Internet, fully stocked kitchen and kitchenettes, private patios and gardens, and a front porch so inviting no one can resist settling into one of the Adirondack chairs or antique rockers.

Visitors to Ashland will find an abundance of activities within walking distance of The DeLaunay House, including theaters, restaurants, galleries and shops. The post office, banks and grocery stores are close by as well. Suites are available by the night or weekend for the many who come to Ashland each year to experience the award winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival , as well as, monthly during the off season to accommodate visiting actors, professors or other visiting professionals.

Leave your cares behind and visit The DeLaunay House soon. It will be an experience to remember. You can see the Inn and the suites on the web site: www.delaunayhouse.com or call for reservations at 541/621-5409 or email Deborah DeLaunay at: d2peaceart@aol.com.
Freelance writer and marketing consultant in Southern Oregon

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By Tina Janke

How To Close A Timeshare Sale – Minimize The Hassles

Making the decision to dive into the world of timeshares for investment or family vacation fun is a huge one. With a small financial exchange and the stroke of a pen, the commitment to join an ownership group in the maintenance of a piece of property, sometimes a world away, is sealed.

Getting from Point A to Point B, however, can be a tough road, especially with so many timeshare opportunities available in locations that are exotic, alluring and simply fantastic for vacations. The first step on the road to closing on a timeshare sale is to first decide where to invest. From the balmy beaches of Florida to wonderful, historical European locations, timeshares exist in just about every corner of the world. Typical practice under a deed or ownership certificate system involves picking a destination. A points program might help alleviate the choice, but the closing will still require signatures and a financial commitment.

After location has been chosen, it's a very smart practice to check into the companies that offer timeshare sales and management. Some major players in the real estate world, such as Re/Max, also specialize in timeshares, making some of the worries go away.

What a buyer can expect when dealing with a reputable time share company, whether for points sale or outright purchase, is pretty amazing. Buying into a timeshare is like no other purchase experience. The property purchased belongs to the owner for set weeks. Essentially they own a piece of a fully-furnished and maintained piece of vacation heaven without the hassles of year-round ownership. Management companies make sure the property looks good, is kept clean and is ready for the next owner to visit. They also handle the day-to-day hassles of upkeep through the payment of annual maintenance fees from all owners of a set unit.

After a timeshare property has been chosen, there are several options for closing, depending on location and investment. Some closings will go very much like the sale or purchase of an actual residential home. For these, closing services are available to provide title searches, title insurance, deed recording and more. These services will even handle the transfer of monies and can provide legal assistance to ensure the deal looks good and is legal. Other, more simpler closings, can also take place. These do not involve title insurance or even deed searches. Here is it up to the buyer and also the company involved.

In the case of a full closing with title searches and recording fees, it's a good idea to involve a service with legal representation. This will help ensure that the transaction is handled smoothly and efficiently. Since so many others are involved in the ownership of a timeshare property, it's a good practice to have an attorney working on your side to point out any "small print," and contractual obligations. To find a timeshare closing service that's right for you, just log on to the Internet and visit locations such as www.atimesharesz.com/timeshare closingservice to do a thorough search.

Once papers have been finalized, closing on a timeshare is easy. Whether it's actual paper documents or online transfers, the process is much easier than handling a full home purchase and the rewards, too, are so much more fun. Just imagine owning your own slice of vacation paradise!

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Copyright 2005 by Dana Sanders. All rights reserved.

Looking for information about timeshares? Go to http://www.atimesharesz.com - A Timeshares Z is a timeshares and vacation, resort and condo rentals and resales directory.

Coastal Vacations Club Offers Up to 85% off Week Long Condo Stays

When vacation time rolls around, some people choose to stay home, putter around the house, and get caught up on repairs or cleaning. While this might be a cheap option, it is not the most ideal.

Psychologists and thinkers like twentieth century Russian literary critic Victor Schlovsky emphasize the importance of what they call defamiliarization. This means that to make you better appreciate life and your surroundings, you need to step back and look at it from a different perspective. You must defamiliarize yourself from you present situation.

One of the best ways to do this is a vacation to a far away and exotic place. Take yourself out of your everyday surroundings. While many of us want to do this, cost is often a deciding factor. It is important, however, not to let cost dictate your vacation plans. There are ways to reduce the costs of travel so that you can experience the tremendous benefits of defamiliarization.

Start by visiting one of the high quality discount travel websites on the Internet. These sites can help find discounts on condos, hotels, and plane tickets. Next to airline fees, the cost of a condo on the beach or a nice hotel room is the biggest expense of a vacation. Finding a condo at a discounted rate will go a long way to enabling you to realize your vacation dreams. When you stay in a condo, you can relax in a home-like environment. You can often prepare your own meals and have room to spread out and really relax.

Coastal Vacations Club offers it members use of many different condo rental options that cost on average, about $200-$300 per week for 1 or 2 bedroom condos.

There are no timeshare presentations, no timeshare tours or any secret sales gimmicks here with Coastal, just use the condo, like you are an owner, and one never has to pay those high yearly maintenence fees that come with timeshare and vacation ownership.

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Jeff Mills is a former Youth Pastor of 9 years, who is now a full time internet information entrepreneur, author, speaker, sales coach, and also an avid traveler. Jeff has passionately pursued seeking the best discount travel clubs and has discovered Coastal Vacations Travel Club to be the top of the heap. Discover more about it immediately at http://www.travelwithcoastalvacations.com

Top Ten Reasons To Pick A Vacation Rental

We are planning a family trip for just a few days. That is my family, my brother's family, and my other brother's family. Our mother will be joining us, too. That makes four households, seven adults and six children all under three years old. Praise to my brave (foolish?) wife who has somehow volunteered to coordinate the arrangements.

Even reserving months in advance, we were unable to get four rooms adjoining at the motel, all with the right view and on the right level. If we were going for longer, we would probably rent a house as we have done before. There are vacation rentals in almost every corner of the world, but they are particularly common in high-tourist areas like Florida, California and the Mediterranean countries.

Here is my top ten list of why a family should pick a vacation rental (and specifically a vacation rental home):

1. Not toiling to find ideal, adjoining rooms.

2. Everybody gets privacy, without having to worry about where the kids are.

3. You don't have to share the common area with strangers, but you can still lounge around together.

4. More than one bathroom. Need I say more?

5. Lots and lots and lots of more room. This is usually the main selling feature.

6. Private pool, in most cases. "Great to swim with the sound of insects....fortunately outside the 'cage'", wrote one visitor in the guestbook of Lesley & Gerry's villa. http://www.lastminutevillas.net/villa/?villa_id=15&x=21&y=7

7. Usually cost less than hotels.

8. Store cold drinks, ice creams, fresh fruit or any other snacks you fancy, which is a huge cost saver, suggests villa owner Christine Creasy. And a great convenience, too.http://www.lastminutevillas.net/villa/?villa_id=65&x=26&y=7
9. Barbecue any time you want. You can still eat out, but you don't HAVE to.

10. You don't have to take home several weeks' supply of dirty laundry.

There you have it. My top ten reasons to choose a vacation rental. I've written before on the benefits of renting private accommodations:
http://www.lastminutevillas.net/villa-hotel.html

Of course, I still prefer a tent in a wilderness park, but I might have some difficulty convincing my mother to join us there.

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David Leonhardt is a freelance writer.

For Florida vacation villa rentals:
http://www.lastminutevillas.net .

For Orlando vacation home rentals:
http://www.orlandovillaowners.com
Info@thehappyguy.com

Alternatives for Business Travelers

"I'm coming home. I've been away too long. Been away so long. I'm coming home" – Ian Thomas, in Coming Home

I still recall my road warrior days. It seemed like every other week, I was hopping on a plane for Orlando or Vancouver or Palm Springs or Washington or Chicago or Toronto.

It might not be Rome, Paris, and Monte Carlo, but Washington, Toronto and Orlando are pretty classy places. I went to crucial meetings. I was an important person. I was a frequent flyer.

However, after a while, all the towns begin to look the same. One airport hotel looks amazingly like another. Surely the taxi driver in Washington and the taxi in Orlando were twins separated at birth. I was yearning to just stay put. I had had enough of hotels and restaurants.

Traveling sounds glamorous until you have to do it over and over and over. Especially when you have a family, you want to spend some time at home between the episodes of jet lag. Comfort becomes a much bigger deal, and you want every place to feel like home.
You just can't do that in a hotel. Not in a Marriott. Not in a Sheraton. Not in a Hilton.
I wish I knew then about two other options.

Private Vacation Homes (or rental villas)

Private vacation homes, known also as holiday homes or villas are essentially houses that rent on a weekly basis. They are not much help for fly-in meetings. For those, only an airport hotel will do.

But if you plan to be in town for the better part of the week, there is nothing like kicking back in your own private home – a rental home, of course.

"Hotel rooms are cramped; a villa is spacious with room to walk about. Hotel rooms have a TV and desk in the bedroom; a villa has surround sound TV and stereo with comfortable couches and chairs in various parts of the home. A hotel has a public pool; a villa has a private pool," says Florida villas rental agent Stewart Granville. "It's private. It's comfortable. It's like a home away from home."

Mr. Granville notes that a vacation home rental also serves as an office away from home, with one room dedicated to the office. "In a villa, you don't have to sit on your bed when you type those memos. And what a great way to entertain business contacts."

Mr. Granville specializes in villas in America's vacation heartland: Orlando, Florida. Business travelers often bring their family along to enjoy Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and other famous theme parks. The family plays while the business traveler works. When the meetings are over, they all head for Disney together, perhaps for another week. With family in tow, a private rental home makes much more sense than a crowded hotel room.

Bed and Breakfasts

Bed and Breakfasts are also an option. Although they do not offer the same privacy and space as villas, they are warmer and more homey than a hotel. And like a hotel, they rent by the night, not by the week.

Is a bed and breakfast for you? If a relaxing atmosphere is more important to you than room service, a bed and breakfast is for you, yes. They are comfortable and relaxing, so the business traveler can walk confidently into his meeting free from stress and worries.
Bed and Breakfasts are growing more popular for weekend getaways in the country, but most major urban centers have bed and breakfasts right in the heart of the city...and these are ideal for road-weary business travelers.

So forget about room service and the mint on the pillow. For a stay of several days, the business traveler can rent a spacious, private vacation villa. And for just a night or two, it's a warm and comfortable bed and breakfast.

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David Leonhardt is a freelance writer, and an online and offline publicity specialist.
Contact him at: mailto:info@thehappyguy.com
or visit his website at: http://www.thehappyguy.com
For Florida vacation villa rentals: http://www.lastminutevillas.net
For Orlando vacation home rentals: http://www.orlandovillaowners.com

Ditch The Hotel For A Villa Or Vacation Home

Two visits to Budapest. Two apartments, walking distance from downtown. I did not even set foot in the Hilton. My mother and I saw Budapest like only someone who stays away from the Americanized hotels can. We stayed with the locals. We came to feel the city, not just see it.
Several years later, I returned to Europe on my honeymoon (this time, without my mother). The first two nights in a little village near Schaffhausen, Switzerland, we stayed in the European version of a vacation villa rental: our own unit in a private home, our own balcony overlooking the scenic village, comfort, privacy and peace.

Three weeks of touring brought us to one or two hotels, several bed and breakfasts, and a couple "gasthauses" in Austria and Liechtenstein that felt more like private homes.

"There is no way to compare the comfort and privacy of a private villa with squeezing everybody into an impersonal hotel room," says Stewart Granville, CEO of Last Minute Villas ( http://www.lastminutevillas.net ), a booking site for Florida villas and vacation rental homes. "You have your own space – and lots of it – and you don't have to worry about noise of peeping eyes. Usually you have a private pool, spa, sound system and other luxuries."

Last Minute Villas books some vacation rentals on Florida's Gulf Coast, but mostly in the Orlando area. Typically, theme park visitors stay in the motel strip in Kissimmee. Those with deeper pockets might stay at the Disney World Hotel. Few people realize that a Vacation home near Disney World or in nearby Orlando is even an option.

Fewer still realize how cheap it is. One Florida villa owner describes how he had just checked his guests in to his own Kissimmee/Orlando area villa. Drew was heading out of town, but he missed his flight. With ten people staying in his rental home, there really was no place for him. He checked into a very basic motel, typical of the Kissimmee strip, and realized he would be paying over $200 per night for ten people – or about $1500 per week – for uncomfortably basic motel rooms typical of Orlando and other vacation mecas.

"They stayed in my house for $900 - and they got their own private pool, ensuite bedrooms, laundry facilities, refrigerator and all the things you now take for granted in villas," Drew says. "It really opened my eyes to just what a sweet deal my visitors are getting – and how little motel visitors get for their money, too."

Two years ago, my brother and I rented a private cottage in the Laurentians. We had four bedrooms, enough to accommodate both our young families. We could see two of the neighboring houses, which would be useful in case of an emergency.

We had the television, the stereo, the fire place, fresh raspberries right off the bushes around the house (some blueberries, too!), a screened patio with a private table/bench swing, and a nice big fridge to keep juice, milk and beer cool. We had plenty of space to spread out and a table just perfect for a relaxing evening of cards.

Last summer, we rented a private villa in the Laurentians again, this time overlooking a small lake, and a canoe was supplied.

Why would anybody want to crowd their family into a hotel room? Or even two? I've been spoiled. From Orlando, Florida to Budapest, Hungary, travel in style by staying in a private vacation rental home, no matter where you go.

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David Leonhardt is a freelance writer, and an online and offline publicity specialist. Contact him at: mailto:info@thehappyguy.com or visit his website at: http://www.thehappyguy.com
info@thehappyguy.com

Why an Algarve Vacation?

If a vacation, as defined by a dictionary is: 'leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure', then one taken in Algarve must be the epitome of that term.

The southern-most region of Portugal, Algarve is a holiday-maker's dream. Wonderful year-round weather, great beaches, fabulous scenery and - best of all - the local people!

Algarveans are a tolerant, laid-back lot, who have seen much change in the several decades since their region started to become a tourist magnet. Some of the age-old ways of life (such as small-scale fishing) continue undisturbed by the leisure-seeking visitors who are drawn to this lovely area.

Most who sample the attractions of Algarve become converted enthusiasts. If you love warm places, sand and sea and generally relaxed holidays, then Algarve is your dream destination.
It's a compact area, only some 90 miles by 30 miles at its furthest extremities - but it's home to over 100 miles of gorgeous sandy beaches.

While, for those who don't mind leaving the coast behind for a while, the region is steeped in history, and has much to delight the visitor's eye. Much of the Algarve's heritage has been preserved, especially in the profusion of Moorish-influenced architecture on show. And the contrasts, between coast and mountains, sand and greenery, modernity and history, offer visitors many choices of how to spend an Algarve vacation.

The region's ancient past is positively celebrated, and most sizeable towns boast a local museum that shows relics from Roman times - and even earlier.

Algarveans are proud of their distinct culture and some of the diversion on offer to the holiday-maker is even free (concerts and gallery admissions spring to mind from my last visit).

Whatever the month of year, there's usually a Saint's day that gives rise to a colourful festival, in which the locals take a whole-hearted part.

Public transport within the region is efficient and cheap, which serves to keep the tourist dollars and Euros circulating, while allowing holiday-makers to sample more than just the tourist areas.
Even a tour of either the western or eastern halves of Algarve can be undertaken within a single day (though it helps to have your itinerary sorted before you set out). And a meal at an inland restaurant during the return journey to your holiday accommodation will likely prove cheaper than one taken in the tourist-populated coastal areas (a bonus for the more adventurous tourist!).

Am I keen to get back there soon? You bet!

Which leads me to a rather obvious question: why am I sitting here writing this, instead of making a booking with my friendly local travel agent?

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Jennifer Dodds is the owner of www.algarve-beach-life.com, her enthusiast website, where she shares everything she loves (and is still discovering) about her favourite vacation spot. She publishes a monthly newsletter, Algarve Beach Life News to update subscribers about what's new on the site

You Have To Love The Location, Say These Owners Of Orlando Florida Villas

It has been said that in real estate there are three things that count the most: location, location and location. I recently discovered how powerful this concept can be.

Not long ago, I wrote an article about owning a vacation rental and what to consider before making the plunge ( http://www.seo-writer.net/clients/villa-ownership.html ). Like every decision, there are pros and cons, and it also depends on an individual's temperament, comfort with risk and many other factors.

I asked a few dozen villa owners who were listed at an Orlando Florida villas rental listing site at http://www.lastminutevillas.net why they had chosen villa ownership and what cautions or advice they would offer somebody considering a Florida vacation rental.

What struck me, however, was how most of the vacation rental owners I interviewed offered more comments on why they chose Florida as a location, than why they chose to be a villa owner.

In other words, the location more than the occupation inspired villa ownership, and that location is Orlando, Florida. Considering the battering Florida had recently taken by one hurricane after another, this struck me as kind of odd. So I picked up the phone and called Stewart Granville, owner of the listing site.

"It's late Fall and I'm sitting out here in my shorts. Do I need another reason?" he asked. "How are you doing up there?"

"Uh...let me just go get a sweater," was all I could respond.

To give you some idea of how important it for a vacation rental property owner to fall in love with the location, here are just two samples of what some villa owners told me:
"When we are driving back to the airport in Florida we never want to leave," says Michelle Prince, owner of Secret Key Villa in Kissimmee, Florida ( http://www.lastminutevillas.net/villa/166/ ), adding "It was something we have always wanted to do since taking a Christmas break in Florida every year."

"I believe that to feel that you wish to buy property in Florida you must think further than 'Profit'," says Dave Gordon, owner of Lindisfarne Villa in Orlando ( http://www.lastminutevillas.net/villa/89/ ). "I sincerely believe that most foreign villa owners have the 'feel good' factor themselves and buy because they want to return time and again…if they make a profit…what the heck!"

Of course, no business venture should be run on the off-chance of making a profit, but every business venture should be a labour of love, and few require as much love as the tender nurturing of vacation rental homes.

_____________________

David Leonhardt is a freelance writer
http://www.seo-writer.net/freelance/writer.html
Info@thehappyguy.com

Sea Pines Plantation - The Pearl of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Sea Pines Plantation – The Pearl of Hilton Head Island

Hilton Head Island is one of the nicest places to vacation, regardless of what time of year you decide to stay. And I must inform you that a stay in Sea Pines Plantation must be top on your list. The island is home to more than 40,000 full time residents and over 2.2 million vacationers each year. With an average temperature around 70 degrees and so many outdoor activities available, this is a vacation that will keep you active and healthy.

The PGA MCI Heritage Classic is held each year in April at the Harbour Town Golf Links located inside Sea Pines Plantation. Thousands of golf enthusiasts enjoy the weekly activities with friends and family. Former winners include Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, and this year’s winner Peter Lonard. This is a great golf tournament with a lot of history and is always an enjoyable experience for all who attend.

There are three golf courses in Sea Pines Plantation. Harbour Town Golf Links is ranked the #1 course in South Carolina by Golf Magazine and is the most sought after golf course to play on Hilton Head Island. The Ocean Course was the first golf course on Hilton Head Island, rebuilt in 1995 by Mark McCumber and features the signature oceanfront 15th hole with panoramic ocean views. Last is the Sea Marsh Course, which is my favorite. With length not a factor and very wide fairways, I recommend this course if you want to feel good about your golf game when you leave the course.

The Sea Pines Racquet Club has grown into one of the premier resources for tennis players. Under the guidance of Stan Smith, Director of U.S. Olympic Men’s Coach and former U.S. Open and Wimbledon Champion, everyone receives the personal attention that makes each guest feel important.

The great advantage of having a Hilton Head Island vacation is you have the liberty to stay wherever you want, there are great deals and golf packages and you can arrange for almost any type of activity on the island. Whether it is bicycle rentals, tee times, free tennis, or water activities.

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Rich Neste lives in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. He is an expert writer and insider who's columns appear in numerous papers around the country. He is a Junior Executive with Performance Development Corporation. He can be contact at (843)671-4700 or email at rich@hiltonheadrentals.comhttp://www.hiltonheadrentals.com

Mindfulness and Retirement: Considering Brazil

I have a 17-year-old daughter who is finishing up a year in Vitoria, Brazil. She's been having the time of her life in a gorgeous coastal city with the beaches of her dreams and the cute guys to match. What's not to like?

Tara told us that we could buy a beautiful home ("All marble floors!") on a spectacular beach ("White sand!") in a number of lovely cities ("Amazing architecture!") with friendly neighbors ("Dancing all night with people who don't know you but love you anyway!")

In fact, she helpfully suggested that we could snag one of these properties for a mere $100,000...less than half of the median price for a typical house in our area.

She went on to say that we could buy a house on the coast in Brazil and retire there, with a delightful lifestyle, plenty of great friends, outstanding and inexpensive medical care, and zero chance of boredom or loneliness.

We weren't surprised that she suggested this. After all, she has an ulterior motive--why, SHE could be the one to manage the property until we decide to retire! She would, of course, have to live in beautiful, coastal, hunk-heavy, dance-crazed Brazil in order to do this, but she was willing to make this supreme sacrifice to support our perfect retirement.

How thoughtful. No, really. It sounds fantastic. I'm turning 45 in June, and that's not too early to think about how I want to spend the next few phases of my life. I truly appreciate the suggestion.

The people I admire most are those who continue to reinvent themselves about every decade, and who laugh out loud at the notion of retirement. They're on their fifth or sixth "career" and fully expect to have a couple more, just for fun.

What we really long for in retirement is time to play, and what we don't recognize is that we should be playing on a daily basis. We need to live our lives in a way that connects us to our creativity and joy. Think of it as the Brazilian plan.

How do you picture yourself at age 65? 75? 85? You've got a decent shot at living to be 100.
Howard and Marika Stone have been inspiring people to reinvent themselves as they get older. On their website, 2Young2Retire.com, they share dozens of stories of folks who have done just that. Their intention is to help others "navigate the uncharted waters of longevity" and they do so with great passion and humor.

Whether we're 20 or 70, we can use mindfulness to help us see who we want to be next. The first step? Pay attention to what we consider to be FUN. Focus on what we do that feels like we're playing instead of working. Notice our "guilty pleasures"--those things we do when we think we should be working on something else.

Here's the good news: You can get paid for having fun. You can help your community while you're doing what you can only describe as goofing off. You can learn new skills and demonstrate overlooked talents in a way that helps others while making you laugh. And it's not too early to start thinking about what that might look like.

Retire your idea of retirement and embrace the concept of reinvention. Look at what you're dreaming about doing, and be mindful of how you can start "investing" in your opportunities for greater fun. That's my personal prescription for the not-enough-Social-Security blues.
That, and perhaps finding a lovely house on the coast in Brazil, where I can become fluent in Portuguese and become a painter, or a novelist, or start a school, or build a playground, or design a community garden, or write songs, or dance til dawn, or be the happiest grandmother alive. Or all of the above.

I'll tell my daughter to start looking.

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Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse in Portland, Oregon. Through her company, Real-World Mindfulness Training, she teaches fun and effective eyes-wide-open alternatives to meditation. To subscribe, please visit http://www.MassageYourMind.com

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina – Is It A Family Or Golfers Vacation Destination?

Before finding the answer to this dilemma, let’s take an overview of Hilton Head and its surrounding area.

Conveniently located along the south Atlantic coast, Hilton Head Island combines breathtaking natural beauty, world-class golf, award-winning dining, and quality shopping on a barrier island just 12 miles long and 5 miles wide.

With over 12 miles of sandy beaches overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, water lovers will find that Hilton Head Island is a coastal paradise.

The unique blend of unspoiled natural beauty and environmentally sensitive design is complemented by world-class resorts, amenities and activities. This makes Hilton Head Island, South Carolina a vacation destination like no other. That’s why Hilton Head Island is widely considered to be one of the finest resort communities in the United States, welcoming millions of visitors from across the country and around the globe each year.

What if a family is visiting the island? What can they do to really enjoy their vacation? The variety of activities and family fun is unique, but browsing through the short list of sample activities below will give you an idea about the friendliness and family fun you can have in Hilton Head Island:

• Close dolphin encounters, bird watching and ocean ecology awareness

• Family Golf, Miniature Golf & Tennis

• Family Biking - with miles of bike paths available, many of which take you through nature preserves, this is truly an enjoyable way to experience the natural splendor of the island

• Guided Kayak Tours & Kayak Fishing

• Kayak Birthday Parties – something different

• Discovery Days – activities centered on interpretive beach walks, kayaking through the marshes, and plenty of great games and activities

• Eco-Adventures - older children enjoy learning the basics of sea kayaking while developing an understanding of our connection to the natural world through hands-on study of coastal ecology.

• Adventure Island - teens take a boat ride to a secluded tropical island that they’ll have all to themselves. Here they will kayak in the pristine waters, engage in teambuilding activities, explore the island for Indian artifacts, and learn about coastal ecology through hands-on exploration.

• Teen Tours – teens are exploring the coastal marshlands of Hilton Head Island, where they’ll have fun paddling kayaks, throwing cast nets, or even learning kayak rescue skills.

• Teen Expedition Camping - Camping on a pristine deserted island

• Wave Runners – experience the thrill of riding the waves within Calibogue Sound.

• Wakeboard/Water-ski School – novices and veterans can enjoy that water sport here.

• Parasailing - get an eagle's eye view of Hilton Head Island and the surrounding areas. View up to 20 miles in all directions.

Hilton Head Island offers this and so much more...

Sounds like fun? I think so...

What about the golfers then, what can they do?

As you may know, Hilton Head Island is home to the PGA Heritage Classic Golf Championship and the Celebrity Golf Tournament. With an average yearly temperature of 70 degrees, Hilton Head Island visitors are sure to enjoy year round golf on any of the 24 golf courses located on Hilton Head Island and another 40 golf courses just over the bridge.

Our golf courses were designed by the game's greatest– Nicklaus, Fazio, Player, Jones & Dye.
So is Hilton Head Island better suited for golfers or for family vacationing?

Let me first tell you a little about the accommodation and dining options on Hilton Head Island.
There are a large number of hotels to choose from on Hilton Head Island. In general, prices range from $50 per night for basic accommodations to $300 per night for some of the luxurious hotels.

Long and short term rentals alike are readily available. You can come for the weekend or stay a few weeks. Most vacation rentals on Hilton Head Island include the standard amenities such as washer and dryer, cable television and swimming pools. Many luxury rental properties feature Jacuzzis, indoor pools, ocean views, private beach access, tennis courts and golf facilities.
Villas and condos, homes and timeshares are all available in varying price ranges. Vacation rentals can range from $500 per week for a one bedroom villa up to over $10,000 per week for an oceanfront mansion.

What a wonderful setting for a private wedding reception on the beach.

Over 250 restaurants run the gamut of casual to elegant dining options on the island. Fresh seafood abounds. From five star formal restaurants to fast food and everything in between, every taste and budget is catered to on the island.

So the answer to the dilemma is pretty obvious.

Whether you are a golfer searching for a world-class golf destination, a family on vacation seeking relaxation on the miles of clean sandy beaches or just want to enjoy the gentle sway of palm trees in unspoiled nature, a stay on Hilton Head Island is sure to please the most discerning of vacationers.

Whether you just want to relax in the sun or try your hand at scuba diving, water-skiing or dolphin watching there is something for everyone on beautiful Hilton Head Island.

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Josh Szatmari is a Web Developer, Web Marketing and Promotion, Search Engine Optimization Specialist. Mr. Szatmari is the developer and marketer of numerous vacation related websites. http://www.hiltonheadrentals.com

Amazon Expeditions with Time Magazine “Hero of the Planet Year 2000” - Dr. Marc van Roosmalen

The Amazonat Jungle Lodge is offering in addition to her standard programming combined land/water expeditions in which the guests will stay part of the time at the lodge and part of the time in a regional boat.

In addition the Lodge is working exclusively with the worldwide re-known primatologist (Time Magazine; “Hero of the Planet Year 2000”) Dr. Marc van Roosmalen.

Dr. van Roosmalen, discoverer of numerous plant, bird and fauna species is organizing with the lodge exciting educational expeditions to the region of his discoveries.

It is in these regions that Dr. van Roosmalen himself will show the visitor recently discovered numbers of tree species not yet known to science; five bird species (i.e., Thryothorus and Microcerculus), and several large-bodied mega fauna elements, among them 7 monkey species (including the second smallest monkey in the world called ‘dwarf marmoset`), two peccaries, one deer, one tapir, a new species of manatee, and even a new dolphin (Inia).

Depending on the season, several of the new species can be observed in and along the river or from observation towers mounted in the middle of the forest.

Moreover, Dr. Van Roosmalen located a number of the deepest and finest known terra pretas, anthropogenic fertile soils manufactured by prehistoric Indians and abandoned at first contact with colonists and Indian invaders hundreds of years ago. During the summer (July-December), unique artistic rock carvings can be admired along some rocky riverbanks.

For more information about these 10 to 14 day expeditions, contact the Amazonat lodge at http://www.discoverbrazil.com/nhotels/AmazonatJungleLodge/

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Robert Phillips is Managing Partner for Intelligent Leisure Solutions and www.DiscoverBrazil.com. He has worked for many years developing tourism and entertainment destinations, project, resort, hotels, tours, etc. He currently lives in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. For more articles take a look at his Blog site - http://brazil-travel.blogspot.com/.
rgp1@terra.com.br

Amazon Lodges

I had always been told that if you wanted to see wildlife do not go to the Amazon.
That the jungle was so dense that you could never see the wildlife and that the wildlife was mostly nocturnal.

Well, I recently decided to venture into the Jungle, after a conference in Manaus, and was pleasantly surprised.

I spent 2 days at the Uacari lodge and saw more wildlife than I had ever in my life - Pink dolphins, piranhas, monkeys, huge fish, and vast quantities of birds.

I then ventured over to the Amazonat lodge, which in 2 hours drive from Manaus and had some incredible interpretive tours with a local Indian guide.

The guide showed us fluorescent fungus that lit up the jungle at night, the huge Amazon tarantula coming out of its hole in the ground, took us fishing for piranhas and many other large river fish, and even made me a blow gun just like the Indians use.

Definitely worth the trip.

_________________

Robert Phillips is Managing Partner for Intelligent Leisure Solutions and www.DiscoverBrazil.com. He has worked for many years developing tourism and entertainment destinations, project, resort, hotels, tours, etc. He currently lives in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
rgp1@terra.com.br

Desiya – Smart Travel Engine Making Indian Sojourn Memorable

India has always been an irresistible tourist destination for people from around the world. The diversity of India and the element of mystery associated with some of the most exotic locales in India makes it an ideal getaway. In a vast country with a number of language and a variety of culture, a stranger can find himself in difficult situation unless there is somebody to help him out. A potential tourist always finds it extremely helpful if he can get some Indian hotel information before he steps in the country. Online hotel booking in India is a trend that has picked up in recent times. At Desiya you will have the opportunity to compare the rates of different hotels and the facilities that they provide before you book your hotel online. Built to become the finest travel site, Desiya works closely with some of the best hotels in the country and helps you to get the best available service at the lowest possible rate.

The sights and sounds of India will fascinate even the most travel-hardened person. You can ensure that your stay in India will be one of the most cherished moments of your life with the help of Desiya’s online hotel reservation. At Desiya you will enjoy the opportunity to choose a list of hotels, varied in terms of the services provided and rates charged. This travel search engine will help you to book a hotel at the place where you wish to stop at an extremely competitive rate. Desiya is committed to ensure that you have the opportunity to soak in the pleasure without having to worry about your next stopover.

Travelers always look forward to some services that will allow them to enjoy the tour rather than spend time planning on it. Before you embark on your tour, make sure that you have booked hotels wherever you will be stopping. At Desiya, you will have the advantage of booking a hotel anywhere in India. This travel engine will help you in booking hotels that will not burn a hole in your pocket. Many hotels offer discount rates and you can avail of this facility through Desiya. Enjoy your tour of the Himalayas or chase big games in reserve forests without having to worry about your place to stay. You can avail of the online hotel booking system to find hotels that provide finest facility at an excellent rate.

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By Madhu Saha
For more information visit http://www.desiya.com

What Not To Wear

What makes certain styles of pants so popular? One reason is fashion and the other comfort. Two examples of pants bought for comfort are tapered leg jeans or pants and Capri pants. Younger women flock low-rise jeans because they are fashionable. Both Capri pants and low-rise jeans look best on tall, slim silhouettes - how many 'real’ women are tall and slim? The truth is that the majority of the female population does not have 'Barbie' figures so those styles instead of looking great actually accentuate flaws.

To look your best take your body type into consideration before choosing to wear the latest fashion. You will appear slimmer and more fashionable if you wear clothing that suits your body type. Lets look at cropped pants, low-rise jeans and high-rise tapered jeans and decide what to wear and what not to wear.

Cropped pants (pedal pushers, Capri, clam diggers) end usually somewhere in-between the knee and the ankle, What they do:

* Make you look shorter

* Make you hips look larger

* Your legs look shorter

* Your ankles thicker

However, some of these problems can be avoided depending on the style of Capri pant. Capris that are the best choice:

* Dark in color

* Plain color (no prints)

* End just below the knee

* Have tapered legs (more fitted at the bottom)

* Worn with a tiny sandal

* Without cuffs

Most young women like to wear low-rise jeans despite how ill fitting they might be. Low- rise jeans sit below the hips about 3 inches below the belly button. Low-rise jeans can:

* Make a thick waist look thicker

* Narrow hips look more narrow

* A long waist look longer

* Short legs, shorter

* Can make you look 10 lbs larger

This style (low-rise) is flattering only to those who are absolutely slim. Don’t be discouraged. You can still wear jeans that look great and wear them low, but not low enough that they create bulges. Wear them:

* Not too tight

* Approximately 1 inch below the belly button.

High-rise, tapered pants fit snuggly around the waist with a leg that tapers in close to the ankle. If you own and wear high-rise tapered pants or jeans get rid of them now unless you want your:
* Hips to look wider and larger

* Tummy to look bigger

A better choice is straight or wide leg pant with a flat front.

____________________
Sheila Dicks is an Image and Wardrobe consultant who teaches women how to dress to suit their body type and look fabulous. You can reach her at http://www.sheilasfashionsense.com to download her ebook, "Image Makeovers" and get "How to Build a Wardrobe" ebook free.

Ormond Beach, FL: A Small Piece of Paradise

Within Volusia County, Florida, the small community of Ormond Beach claims the highest standard of living. Since its founding, the town has always been a Mecca for those who were looking for the good things in life.

Founded in the late 1800's, the town was built on the foundation of the rich and famous of the times. Around the turn of the century, notables such as the Rockefellers, the Vanderbilts and the Asters made Ormond Beach their winter getaways.

The first real hotel, The Ormond, became popular not only with the rich but also with creative types; writers and artists have long flocked to the area because of its natural beauty. The town boomed in the 1920s, especially with the rich that the railroad relocated the tracks so that the hotel could have its own platform.

John D. Rockefeller became so enamored with the area; he built the Casements, his winter home. Today it serves as a cultural anchor for all of Ormond Beach.

The town, while upscale and with a typically older population, still boasts several elementary and middle schools, a full array of shopping and entertainment, a municipal airport, a nearby state park and of course the Atlantic Ocean beachfront.

The medical facilities offered in either town or the surrounding area covers nearly every specialization of medicine. The unemployment rate is one of the lowest in the state and the crime rate is well below the national average.

A perfect bedroom community to Daytona Beach, the town offers everything a family or a retiree could possibly want. Between the beaches, the parks and the golf courses, Ormond Beach offers everything to meet your recreational wants or needs. In addition, of course, the nearby Daytona Speedway is always an attraction.

Near perfect weather year round guarantees the opportunity to take advantage of everything the community has to offer.

Move to Ormond Beach and enjoy life!

_________________
More Info: Ormond Beach
Written by Heather Durner, owner of Gift Baskets by Heather & Chestnut Creek Gift Baskets:Purchase Gourmet Gift Baskets.

The Cape Town Wine Route Wonders

Just drive out to one of these delightful wine estates to find something quite magical about the art of viticulture and we dare you to say you didn't have a great time.

The most trouble you'll have is trying to decide which wine estate to visit on which wine route - there's so many and they're all different.

However, there's an art to this, especially in the busiest tourist times, so let us guide you round our particular favourites and show you how to pick the best ones for you to visit to ensure you make the most of your time and get to experience the best of the wine route wonders around.
Once you get the bug, you'll want to return more and more often, until finally, just like us, a trip to Cape Town wouldn't be complete without a wine route trip.

Nailing down your particular favourites can often lead you to a particular estate that specializes in these wines, but don't let that stop you finding a new grape varietal, or why not discover the skill involved in brandy making?

What draws you up the driveway to discover what's beyond the rather bland, brown signposts?
Gateways filled with the most glorious flowers - Canna Lilies and Roses. Spectacular beds filled with wonderfully vivid colour, stretching into the distance just urging you to find what's at the top, all with a backdrop of soaring mountains.

The estate houses themselves are usually the traditional Cape Dutch style houses, built in an H shape. Many of them are open and maintained as museums, of an age long past and we've spent many an hour wandering around the cool interiors, whilst the sun blazes outside in a clear blue sky.

One example of these very gracious wine estates is Uitkyk, pronounced "Ate Cake". Tucked away down a short track leading from one of the main roads into Stellenbosch, this wine estate is worth a visit just for the handsome manor house alone, but why not try your hand at boules, sometimes known as petanque. Uitkyk supply the boules and a set of rules, all for free, whilst you enjoy tasting it's award winning wines. Better still, book a picnic hamper the day before your visit, sample wine for your lunch before finding the perfect spot under the trees to enjoy the awe-inspiring views, whilst whiling away the afternoon.

Uitkyk is one of our particular favourites because it's rather off the beaten track of the usual wine route tours. A number of the extremely well-known estates end up with bus-loads of people all vying to taste wine and view other attractions and at certain times of the year, this can be extremely off-putting. Knowing where to go to find the best estates and the best wines, will save you a lot of time and stress, making your wine route experience truly memorable.
Others that are memorable for their manor houses are Vergelegan, Somerset West Boschendal, Franschhoek Groote Constantia, Constantia, Cape Town

However, these are all very big and very well-known, with a large number of cruise ships and tours prefering to take their customers to these wine estates. Choose your time to visit them with care, so that you miss the crowds and enjoy your visit.

Not all the wine estates are old. One or two are ultra modern, like Eikendal, just outside Somerset West or Dornier Wines just of the beaten track on the road to Somerset West.
Others like Spier in Stellenbosch, combine the very old with the very new, in a tremendous combination.

Wine is not the only consideration at the majority of estates. Described by South Africa's wine bible, John Platter as "this manicured, riverside pleasure dome" Spier's latest attractions include "Moyo", an outdoor African eating experience with Arabian Nights-style tents and a treehouse platform, providing the most exotic setting for a bountiful buffet. During the chilly Cape winter nights, you're warmed by large brazier's and woolly blankets. Be warned - this is incredibly popular with tourists, so booking early is a must.

Other attractions include an hotel, conference centre, open-air amphitheatre with a full season of music and the arts, five other restaurants, a deli, golf course, tennis centre, equestrian centre, wildlife close encounters and last but by no means least ... fine wines! If you only had one day to do a wine tour, you would probably not go far wrong in chosing Spier - there is literally something for everyone here!

You would be forgiven for thinking that wine sometimes takes a back seat to everything else going on, but taste the wines made on the Spier Estates and you'll be in no doubt you're tasting an excellent quality wine.

Couple that wine with a picnic from their Deli, the setting sun, swallows winging their way through the early evening sky, candles and the Cape Town Philharmonic orchestra playing Christmas carols and you have the makings of one of the most memorable evenings you could experience.

Not what you had in mind when we said wine?

How about Chocolate?

______________________
Helen Palmer is the author of the website http://www.magical-cape-town-vacations.com, whose family's love of Cape Town was spawned some 30 years ago, when her aunt moved there to live. Regular visits and a genuine love of travel persuaded Helen to share her passion. To find out where the chocolate is, go to http://www.magical-cape-town-vacations.com/wineroute.html
Get the newsletter, Cape Town Vacation Magic, keeping you up-to-date on the happenings in Cape Town - http://www.magical-cape-town-vacations.com/newsletter.html

Welcome to Florida's Emerald Coast!

Stay a week or stay a lifetime, the Emerald Coast of the Florida Panhandle is hard to resist. You'll never forget how you relaxed on the sugar, white powder sands, listening to the blue green gulf water. One of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, this 100 mile stretch offers vacations that you will never forget. From elegant houses to highrise condos, the emerald coast has it all.

The emerald coast mainly consists of Destin, Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa Island, Panama City Beach, Sandestin, and the Beaches of South Walton(Grayton Beach, Seaside, Watercolor, and Seagrove Beach).

With its clear turquoise green water, the Gulf of Mexico is waiting to be discovered. Try deep-sea fishing in the world's luckiest fishing village - Destin, or enjoy miles of unspoiled beaches that provide plenty of swimming, snorkeling, jetskiing or parasailing. Leisure activities abound, too. The Emerald Coast has many golf courses and tennis courts on which to play, paths to ride bikes, and state parks to explore. If you have one of those days where you just want to get out of the sun, try visiting one of the many museums or shopping centers.

When you visit the Florida Panhandle, expect something out of the ordinary and wonderful. Remember - if you are considering vacationing on the Emerald Coast - natural beauty is the main attraction.

_______________________
Terry Malone is the webmaster and owner of Vacation Rentals Unlimited - http://www.vrul.com Visit us to find great deals on vacation rentals that are offered directly from their owners.

Vacation Getaway's and Healthy Living Tips

Going away on a vacation brings numerous benefits. It refreshes our enthusiasm, helps us to know ourselves a little better, and makes us, upon our return home, happier, healthier, and much more effective in coping with stress. The key to reaping the benefits of traveling is in the going away. Hardly anyone reaps a benefit from spending a vacation time at home to work around the house.

Want a reason or two to go away on vacation? Here are fifteen:

1. Relaxation: Vacations break our day-to-day routine.

2. Stimulation of new sights: New sights give us new insights.

3. Meeting new people: Seeing how other people live broadens our perspective on our own live.

4. Fellowship and camaraderie: Shared hardships and good times form long-lasting bonds of love and friendship.

5. Education: We learn new skills and activities. Remember when you picked your first farm-fresh fruit or vegetable, climbed a mountain, learned a new language?

6. Adventure: Travel returns a sense of adventure to our life and improves our self-esteem when we accept and conquer challenges that don't exist in our routine life.

7. Surprise: It is the unexpected surprises in life that give us some of our fondest memories.

8. Beauty: When we open our eyes and take in new sights, we begin to tune into the majesty of nature.

9. Anticipation: The planning and preparation give us some of the most pleasurable experiences we can recall. 10. Memories: We'll always have the joy of reflecting on our pleasant memories.

10. Freedom: A vacation gives us the freedom to do what we want to do. Even if we are generally satisfied, we may yearn for something more.

11. Self-discovery: In letting our soul talk to us, we develop our inner peace, creativity, and harmony.

12. Appreciation of things taken for granted: When we get home, we will get more out of life. We will notice the miracles where we live.

13. Time stands still: The best part is when we get completely lost in the moment.

14. Happiness: Constructive use of leisure time makes us happier people. The major goal of a vacation is happiness.

After all the above, your vacation or getaway experience will be one of the most relaxing and refreshing times away. We wish you all the best. Happy Travels!

__________________
Darren H.
http://www.greatwestcabins.com

Vacation / Honeymoon's 101 - Planning for Perfect Weather on Your Trip

Did you ever worry when traveling about the weather? Most people worry about weather and it can play a major role in making or breaking your vacation.

People ask all the time and think just because they are going to a tropical island that it doesn't rain. Well just ask people who have been to some of those tropical hot spots while in their wet season.

Tropical Island's get more rain in a month then some places do in a whole entire year.
Wouldn't it be great to be able to plan your vacation or honeymoon around the weather? Granted some locations rain everynight and when you wake in the morning everything is dry and you would never know it rained while you were sleeping, but I am talking about planning for perfect weather.

We have visited various locations all around the world over the years and recorded critical data to plan for perfect weather. When I say "Perfect Weather" I mean Sunshine all day long, not too hot, not too cool, not a cloud in the sky type weather.

Well we have created a guide with various vacation hot spots and when its best to go to this exotic locations in order to have the time of your life. Hope you enjoy'

JANUARY & FEBRUARY
Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Bali, Belize, Brazil, Canada (ski destinations), Caribbean, Central & South Africa, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Maldives, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, the Florida Keys, USA (ski destinations)

MARCH
Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Belize, Brazil, Canada (ski destinations), Caribbean, Central & South Africa, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Egypt, French Polynesia, Hawaii, Maldives, Mexico, Morocco, the Florida Keys, USA (ski destinations, Southeast, Southwest)

APRIL
Argentina, Bahamas, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Caribbean, Central & South Africa, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Egypt, French Polynesia, Hawaii, Italy, Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Spain, the Florida Keys, USA

MAY
Belize, Bermuda, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Caribbean, Central & South Africa, Czech Republic, Fiji, France, French Polynesia, Greece, Hawaii, Ireland, Italy, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Seychelles, Spain, Thailand, the Florida Keys, USA

JUNE
Bermuda, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Central & South Africa, Czech Republic, Fiji, France, French Polynesia, Greece, Hawaii, Ireland, Italy, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Spain, Thailand, USA (Alaska, Northeast)

JULY & AUGUST
Bermuda, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Central & South Africa, Czech Republic, Fiji, France, French Polynesia, Ireland, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Seychelles, Thailand, USA (Alaska, Northeast)

SEPTEMBER
Australia, Bermuda, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Central & South Africa, Czech Republic, Fiji, France, French Polynesia, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Spain, Thailand, USA

OCTOBER
Australia, Bali, Belize, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Central & South Africa, Egypt, Fiji, French Polynesia, Hawaii, Italy, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Seychelles, Spain, USA

NOVEMBER
Australia, Bahamas, Bali, Belize, Brazil, Canada (ski destinations), Central & South Africa, Egypt, French Polynesia, Hawaii, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Seychelles, Spain, USA (ski destinations, Southeast, Southwest)

DECEMBER
Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Bali, Belize, Brazil, Canada (ski destinations), Caribbean, Central & South Africa, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, the Florida Keys, USA (ski destinations)

Well there you have it the perfect time to visit all the wonderful places you want to visit. Personally my Wife and I love Punta Cana located in the Dominican Republic, which we assure all of you will love if you haven't already experienced it.

__________________
Jason Wilt is a successful Webmaster who owns and operates a wide array of websites in the Pittsburgh, PA area. He loves providing advice for consumers on a variety of topics such as Wedding Planning, SEO, Marketing techniques, and other Webmaster related topics.
Article Source: http://www.weddingsnthings.com

So You Want to Sell Your Timeshare

You are the owner of a timeshare and have decided the time has come to part ways. You may be interested in another timeshare or have decided a timeshare isn’t for you. Whatever your reason may be, a timeshare is a piece of real estate and you should place as much thought and planning into selling a timeshare as you would any other piece of real estate. Many agencies exist that will assist you in selling your timeshare or buy it outright. However, just as any situation where money is involved, there are many agencies that will successfully take your money and your timeshare, leaving you with a small percent of your profit. Of course, legitimate agencies exist that will assist you selling your timeshare in a completely professional manner. Weeding the legitimate agencies from the scam artists will save you a lot of time, frustration, and money.

The best scam detector you have in your arsenal is your common sense. Before placing your money and property in someone else’s hands, it would be a good idea to do some research on that agency. Ask questions, check out their references, and contact the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed against the agency. Remember the golden rule of buying and selling: if it’s too good to be true, then it probably is! Do not decide on a whim. Spontaneity may be a good quality in other aspects of life, but not when dealing with anything to do with money. Your goal isn’t to line someone else’s pockets. Your goal is to sell your timeshare for its full market value. Beware of companies who require a fee before the sale of your timeshare has transpired. Even if they claim this fee is refundable once the sale is made, the best thing to do is turn on your heels and leave. Remember the basic relationship between a company and a client. Pay only after the desired result is achieved. Once the agency has your money, you have taken away their incentive to work.

Selling a timeshare can be a difficult task since there are many factors that are involved. Not only are you selling a specific time during the year, you are also selling a location and a resort. These factors make finding a buyer a bit more difficult, since someone may be interested in the time and location, but not the resort or vice versa. In order to provide the buyer with the best timeshare option, you need to price the timeshare realistically. Find out the going market value for other timeshares in your area or during your allotted time. To find this information, contact the resort for their current selling prices or check out the real estate records for your area. Another way to obtain a price is through an appraisal of your timeshare. An appraisal company will charge a fee for their service and can readily be found in the telephone book or by contacting an appraiser’s association, such as the Appraisal Foundation.

Keep in mind, your goal is to sell your timeshare. Making a profit on your timeshare is a totally different matter. Remember, the key word to pricing is “realistic.” The realistic pricing for your timeshare may be considerably less than the original selling price. Keep in mind, you have used the timeshare for the length of your ownership and probably have fond memories attached to your time on vacation. If the price is less than you were hoping for, remember these good times and think of the difference in price as vacation costs.

After pricing your timeshare appropriately, you can choose an agent to sell your timeshare or sell it yourself. If you opt to sell your timeshare yourself, start by advertising. Take advantage of any local newspapers where your timeshare is based. A great tool is the Timeshare User’s Group at www.tug2.net. This website has great information on owning and selling a timeshare and is an excellent resource. Also check into advertising at the resort itself. Many resorts have publications, newsletters, or bulletin boards.

To learn more about selling your timeshare, just log on to the Internet and visit locations such as http://www.atimesharesz.com/sellingtimeshares to do a thorough search. However you choose to sell your timeshare, making well-planned decisions will ensure you will succeed in selling your timeshare and having the best possible experience.

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© Copyright 2005 by Dana Sanders. All rights reserved.

Looking for information about timeshares? Go to http://www.atimesharesz.com A Timeshares Z is a timeshares and vacation, resort and condo rentals and resales directory.

A Dream Vacation

What is the meaning of a “dream vacation”?

What is so magic about the word “vacation”? The word itself is so exciting and is looked forward with kid like anticipation all over! Kids and children like to take time away from school for change! Adults eagerly wait for the annual vacation! Take time off the routine office work. While Americans use the word “vacation”, rest use “holiday”! In the past, upper class families would move over to their summer houses for a small part of the year, while leaving the usual family home vacant at least for a while. In Toto, this precious time was used to refresh and replenish the spent energy; all for a change.

Understanding the objectives of a meaningful vacation or a holiday is the first step in having a “dream time”. A vacation is not meant to be a stressful and painful ordeal! Vacations are time to rejoice. Travel and be together. Planning well ahead means a well earned and happy vacation. Packing a well planned itinerary would probably make a big difference. Vacation time is meant for leaving behind all disappointments, sadness and failures of the year! Return back with full vigor and charged up spirits. Looking forward for a brand new year. Vacations are for every one! For adults and kids. Teens and elders.

Before taking any vacations, just ponder over the action plan. Discussing with family members could make one’s vacation worth remembering for many years. Just dot down what you would like to do during the vacation. What do the other family members want from this vacation? Do they need fun and relaxation? What about those kids? Arming them with constructive activities during vacation could make them more intelligent and enterprising. Try to consider the age and temperament of the children. As they tend to get tired easily, packing too many activities in a day can make them dull on the next day. Just give respect to your kid’s interests and hobbies. A pet loving kid may like to be among wild animals in zoos! While a studious and art inclined one may like museum or an art gallery. A sport loving teen may like to visit a sports arena like Super Bowl! Or a quiet one may just keep himself aloof and play video games on his PS2 or X Box.

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Stein Ove Stien is the webmaster of http://www.Travel-And-Vacation.com A portal with Travel and Vacation related online offers.

Sussex County Delaware Beach Area Towns and Villages Are Unique and Historic

I love Sussex County Delaware. I am native born, multigenerational and proud to be one of those who, as they say; "are from here". In fact the earliest records of our family show we were here well before the Mayflower arrived; some our ancestors were here in the mid 1500's or before. They settled as farmers and missionaries in the areas of what are now Lewes, Milton, Angola, Long Neck, Broadkill and Red Mill Pond.

I was raised at what is now Eagle Crest Aerodrome, near Milton and started school at Milton school then went to Lewes School and graduated from Lewes School. Since then I've lived in several areas of what we locals sometimes call "Saltwater Sussex" and what I used to call The Henlopen Quadrant; that is the locations within 25 miles of Cape Henlopen.

Cape Henlopen is the anchor point of Salt Water Sussex County, where the Delaware Bay meets and flows into the Atlantic Ocean at Lewes. When you stand at Cape Henlopen Point, you can see the razor line of color change where the dark waters of the Bay meet the blue waters of the ocean in a diagonal line extending from the beach out into the sea.

The waters of the Delaware Bay are tributary and watershed runoff from the Great Marsh and all the little streams, creeks, rivers and wetlands of eastern Delaware and New Jersey as well as the effluent of the Delaware River flowing down from Pennsylvania and New York. Thus the darker waters of the Delaware Bay are that way as a result the particles and filtered organic matter from the Great Marsh and wetland areas. These darker waters then flow generally south along the Rehoboth, Dewey, area beaches until the clear waters of the Indian River and Bay pushing out the Indian River Inlet force the darker waters away from the coast and out to sea. Thus the ocean water on the beaches south of Indian River Inlet tends to be far clearer than that north of the inlet.

Lewes is known as the First Town in the First State. Lewes was the first town settled in Delaware and Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution of The United States - hence the title we proudly proclaim. Lewes was first settled by the Dutch and Swedes. There are numerous books on the history of Lewes in the local book stores, perhaps as many as two dozen different historical and entertaining books on this fair town.

Lewes has become one of the most historically sensitive towns in the area. Some people still call Lewes by its old name Lewes Towne. Some of our visitors have nicknamed it Williamsburg North with a bit of a wink and a smile. We have a wonderful little downtown along Second Street, Pilottown road, Market Street, Savannah Road and King's Highway. There are numerous specialty shops, restaurants and even the famous King's Ice Cream shop on 2nd St. to entice our numerous walkers. Lewes is, more than any other town in our region, a great place to walk all over town as you discover the little nooks, shops, businesses and trades that are usually in historically attractive buildings. In is not unusual to see hundreds of people walking the streets in Lewes, even in the off season. In the summer season, spring and fall, it is customary to see thousands of people and families slowly walking and looking at our old homes, businesses, museums and scenic views.

The Lewes Harbor is a wonderfully scenic deep water port, the only one in eastern Sussex County. There are sailboats and larger boats moored along the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal from the Roosevelt Inlet at the north end of Lewes down to the Canal Bridge where Kings Highway and Savannah Road combine to cross the drawbridge and connect historic Lewes to Lewes Beach.

Lewes Beach is more recently developed than the town of Lewes. The homes of Lewes Beach have seldom been there longer than 50 years and many of the older, smaller fixer-upper homes are being removed and larger modern homes built on the lots there. The lands of Lewes Beach, all of the lots, are owned by the town of Lewes. Residents, property owners and businesses get a 99 year lease which is renewable. The modest lease fee is paid to the town of Lewes annually. The lots in Lewes "sell" actually the leases are transferred to the new land tenants at the same price as land would be deeded.

Cape Henlopen State Park includes most of the bay front and ocean front land and beaches around Lewes. There are some communities; Pilot Point, Cape Shores, Port Lewes, and the Delaware River and Bay Pilots Association along the Bay. The Cape Henlopen State Park was once Fort Miles the Army base. Fort Miles was set up between World War I and World War II to protect the Delaware Bay shipping traffic from the German submarines. Now the thousands of acres of beach, dunes, wetlands and woods that stretch between Lewes and Rehoboth are all part of the park and the military buildings have other beachy uses.

Rehoboth is the next historic town south of Lewes. Rehoboth Beach is known as the Nation's Summer Capital; because so many of the power elite of Washington D.C. vacation and visit here. Rehoboth Beach; The Nation's Summer Capital has another name as well - Weekend Washington, a name popular in particular with the college crowd from George Washington University in downtown D.C. The traffic flow from Washington D.C. is so heavy that it is not unusual for people to spend 4 to 8 hours each Friday or Saturday driving the 100 miles from the city to our beach.

The universities of Washington D.C. are noted for being the power training bases for the world's social and ruling elite. The Georgetown University Department of Government, in cooperation with the School for Summer and Continuing Education, offers undergraduate students a unique opportunity to spend an exciting semester as an intern in the nation's capital, while living and studying on the campus of one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the United States. Students gain valuable practical work experience necessary to be competitive in today's job market, while enriching their academic resume with undergraduate credits from Georgetown University. G.U. is known for its tough standards, especially at the Law school and the Medical school. This pressure is continued for the summer sessions as well. These students will become some of the finest and most famous Doctors and Lawyers in America. Almost 100% of these G.U. students exit the downtown campus on Friday after lunch and drive straight to Rehoboth and Dewey Beach. The party starts when they start the car, or in most cases the Jeep or SUV.

George Washington University sprawls throughout downtown D.C. along Pennsylvania Avenue and over toward the Watergate. G.W. or G.W.U. either one is correct, is noted as the place where the future leaders of our country are educated and interned. The school is running over with students whose parents rule and work on "The Hill", Capital Hill in D.C. G.W. students are often some of the first to escape the city and speed toward the Beach, especially Dewey Beach.
As the student guide for prestigious American University in DC says: there are many resort areas along the coast, such as Bethany Beach, Fenwick Island, Rehoboth Beach, known locally as the "nation's summer capital" because of its popularity among Washington, D.C. residents. The summers are hot and humid in Delaware and the beach is the major recreation area. American University is famed for educating the future leaders of the world. Many of the students are expected to help rule their particular countries after graduation. For this reason among others the sitting President of The United States gives the Commencement address at A.U. each June - no other school in the world can make that claim.

A.U. is a huge sprawling campus that meanders all over the D.C. area. These thousands of well connected students From G.W.U., G.U., A.U., and other DC area schools, are particularly expected to lead their individual countries or if they are not quite that well connected they are expected to intern and then work as executives in one of the Embassies, the European Union, the International Chamber of Commerce, World Court, International Monetary Fund, Organization of American States, Peace Corps, World Bank, World Health Organization, World Intellectual Property Organization, World Trade Organization, or the United Nations. So when you see some "kid" at the beach in Rehoboth or Dewey - pay attention, it is just possible that these "kids" may be ruling and running countries and making international headlines in a few years.

Dewey Beach is noted for it's motto's "It's A Dewey Thing", "Just Dewey It", "Live IS a Beach", "Dewey - A Way of Life" and more. Dewey Beach is the primary party spot for well financed singles with fit bodies. Dewey is the Happy Hunting Ground for the high pressured professionals of the DC area. Many have pseudonyms that are used in Dewey to protect their other place identities. Some of these Dewey People start living the summers in a Dewey House in college and never stop. There are Group Houses now where most of the participants, the partiers are in their 40s and 50s and act like they are still in their 20s - and always will. There are over two dozen party houses in Dewey on the Web alone. This represents several hundred singles that spend most of their disposable income in Dewey - and that can be substantial.

Dewey Beach is known around the world for the famous Rusty Rudder Restaurant and Ruddertowne. There is also the famous or more properly infamous Starboard, the rowdy Bottle and Cork, The Waterfront, and The Lighthouse. The customary Dewey lifestyle is to party all night, get up and run early then go to the beach and sleep off the night before while tanning. Then perhaps a little volley ball, some more running and then checking out the other "hard bodies" for someone to hook-up with for the nights partying and on it goes. The "Professionals" are able to keep this up for the Hundred Days during college and then after employment, usually in DC, they try to keep up the same average action on just the weekends and recuperate during the week. There is a famous quote, no longer legal to put in rental ads for beach houses, "4 bedrooms - sleeps 50" and the tenants try to stretch even that occupancy. Beds are often used for sleeping anyway, except by accident. Do you have an idea of what "A Dewey Way of Life" might be?

Bethany Beach is just a few miles down The Ocean Highway or The Coastal Highway or Route One or Delaware Sea Shore Highway or whatever name they change it to next week. The ride from Dewey Beach is a pleasant and beautiful one of only a few miles but the two towns are universes apart in difference. Bethany Beach is "The Quiet Place", "The Family Resort", and "The Quiet Resort" and is a town with little going on, outside of the homes. There is very little commercialism and lots of just staying at home or in some cases going to the beach or the boardwalk. Bethany Beach and South Bethany, Delaware are nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the inland bays. Bethany Beach and South Bethany Beach are situated on the Atlantic Ocean just south of Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach, Delaware, and north of Fenwick Island, Delaware and Ocean City, Maryland. Each of these little beach towns is a world different from each other one.

Fenwick Island is the southern-most town in the state of Delaware and is nestled between the ocean and the bay. Fenwick Island was incorporated in 1953 and is also locally referred to as "The Quiet Resort." This little town has maintained its own unique quality, charm and small-town atmosphere. The pristine beaches and bays offer a myriad of recreational opportunities to please even the most discerning vacationer. Activities can range from boating, sailing, water skiing, fishing to biking. The ocean water is the clearest and cleanest in the state. The Fenwick beaches are the most spacious and least used and the primary activity outside of staying home is just lying on the beach for that perfect tan. Come see how relaxing Fenwick Island can be for you and your family. Outdoor activities are backed up with friendly home-town services. Family operated motels and restaurants provide the ultimate in comfort.

Let's NOT forget some of the lesser known beaches of Southern Delaware - those hidden little places that not even the locals know much about. These are all along the Delaware Bay, north of Lewes. They are in order: Broadkill Beach and some call it the old name Broadkiln Beach; next to the north are Prime Hook Beach, Slaughter Beach and then Bowers Beach. These little beaches, each one with a unique personality of its own have no commercial establishments to amount to anything, no boardwalks and very little rental property market. The homes are mostly very modest older homes but that is changing fast.

Broadkill Beach, where I had an office for several years, was originally just squatters who did not own the land but had little "cottages" there, usually made of spare pieces of lumber and stuff picked up in the personal junk piles of the farmers who spent time there. Broadkill Beach still has some incredibly unique and sometimes ugly homes scattered among the beautiful modern showcases. Gradually the older homes are being removed by the new owners and larger and usually spectacular homes put in their place. Prices in Broadkill are less than half of those in Lewes, sometimes far less than half! There are no lifeguards, no beach cleaning, no town hall, no police, no mayor or government of any kind and few restrictions. This is a great fishing community. There are thousands of prehistoric Horse Shoe Crabs that mate and die on the beaches each summer but the locals consider that keeps the citifiedpeople away and they like that.

Prime Hook Beach or Primehook beach depending on which map you use is far less expensive than Broadkill. There are far fewer modern homes there but the trend has started. Little by little the older, sometimes rough homes at Primehook are being refurbished. The waterfront homes at Primehook were always far larger and nicer than those at Broadkill. Many of them are not being removed, but are one by one, being restored.

Broadkill and Primehook as well as Slaughter Beach are all surrounded by huge barriers of wetlands behind them and between them. Fishermen can surf fish in the bay but mostly it is just the view from these beaches that the residents enjoy and the lost in time lack of modern restrictions and commercialism. Slaughter Beach does have its own volunteer fire department which serves as the social focus of the town. But mostly there are just good neighbors and a laid back life available at these old beaches. If you want something else, you'll have to drive a half hour or so to one of the small towns inland to find it.

Bowers Beach is a strange and wonderful world out of place. For one thing you can't get from south Bowers to north Bowers by car or foot - only by boat, unless you go many miles inland and back. The channel is only a hundred feet wide that divides the town but the two sides of town are remote from each other - except for the residents who just hop on a dingy and slip across. Bowers, on a busy day, in the height of the summer seasonmight see six or seven tourists in a day - but not usually that many.

Each beach as you travel north up the bay has lower prices, less swimming enjoyment, less fishing as a rule and less government and restrictions. Each has its lovers and most people will have a love or hate response to any given one of the beaches. I love them all, each in a different way and will gladly help you find your utopian dream location. Just let us know when you are ready to choose!

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By Jody Hudson

Copyright www.JodyHudson.com

Source Page is: http://www.ruralrehoboth.com/essays/beachareatowns.html

Keep Cruising and Keep Traveling - It is Safe

In the time that has followed since the tragic events of September 11, we have seen numerous changes happening to us all.

These changes began with shock, disbelief and anguish and so overwhelmed us, that they made all work related issues seem trivial and personal relationship seem especially dear. And believe me, this hits very close to home with a wife who works in the cruise industry in the United States.

Those of us in the travel business began to see numerous cancellations of long planned holidays and vacations, mostly from fear and misunderstanding of security, schedule changes even with the combined will and effort of the cruise industry attempting to keep passengers traveling and enjoying the process.

Should you take a vacation? Should you travel? I think we North Americans pride ourselves on our freedom to travel and enrich our lives by interacting with cultures from all over. To cocoon and avoid travel allows those who seek to destroy our freedoms the power to bring us to our knees.

I believe that America will not stop travelling, it is in our blood. The key is to increase your knowledge of travel related issues and to understand how the process has changed. What follows is a synopsis of the changes you can expect to see for the near and distant future.

What can I expect at the airport? There are stricter security measures on airport employees, merchants, airline employees, and vendors that service the airports…and also on travelers. Expect the line that you are standing in to take longer than before. Plan for longer time at the airport to park, check-in, and get to departing gate. You may also experience some inconveniences and delays - please be patient.

There will be thorough searches of all airports and airplanes before passengers are allowed to enter the aircraft. You will be required to limit carry on baggage and to possess government issued photo identification, and as always, I strongly urge you to obtain a passport as the most important piece of identification. You may also notice additional uniformed law enforcement officers and canine teams patrolling airports - all to guarantee your safety.

What changes will you see regarding your cruise experience? Embark and Disembark may take longer due to additional security measures. Strict enforcement of required identification and nationality/travel papers. Boarding will be denied without presenting proper documents. Your documents must be original - no copies will be allowed.

Here are the Top Ten Cruise Traveler Tips

1. Purchase trip/vacation interruption insurance. Check with your travel agent as to the coverage benefits and limitations.

2. Review your cruise documents in advance for important guidelines and travel tips. Again check with knowledgeable cruise agents to ensure you are well prepared.

3. Prior to leaving home, call the airline - or check their website for flight arrival and departure information

4. Be at the airport early - 2 hours or more unless local circumstances dictate allowing a longer time. Security screenings will take additional time.

5. Minimize carry-on luggage OR be prepared to have them searched and suspicious items confiscated (nail files, scissors/clippers etc.) Please make sure luggage is clearly tagged with the complete color bag-tags provided with your documents.

6. Make sure necessary medical items are with you rather than in checked luggage.

7. Make sure you have your passport and other identification on your person - not in checked baggage.

8. Lower the stress level of “getting to the ship on-time” by arranging a pre-cruise land package. Consider coming in a day early - especially when flying a long distance to the cruise.

9. Expect delays and longer lines than usual - and be pleasantly surprised if they are not that bad.

10. Be patient - once on board your cruise, you will have the fantastic time cruising is noted for.

To be very practical consider that if you look at the damage on September 11, the total number of deaths on the airlines is 288 including crew and militants. I will guarantee you that since September 11 more than 288 people have lost their lives on America’s highways. It is estimated that greater than 34,000 will lose their lives traveling on the road and if you average that per day, 93 people daily will not make it to their destination via car. Flying is still the safest form of traveling.

This writer believes we have an obligation to continue the business of life, to live freely and to travel when and where we want within the constraints of common sense. To do other would suggest the terrorists have won.

Rest assured the cruise lines have made major changes in itineraries to place their ships in the safest and most enjoyable voyages possible. The Middle East itineraries may be eliminated for the duration but there are fantastic values on hundreds of other itineraries.

If you are concerned, sit down with a cruise expert and discuss your situation face to face to learn why cruising remains a safe, and enjoyable vacation and why now is the time to make your plans.

The good news today is that more people than are enjoying the hassle free way of cruising than ever before - securely!

Talk to your agent about price protection, deposits, penalties or lack of for cancellation and all the little details that will help assure a vacation like none other on earth. See you on board!

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Sid Kaplan Cruise Vacations Guide
Sid Kaplan has extensive experience in the travel business. He owned and operated a large retail cruise only agency in Canada and his wife has 25 years experience working for major cruise lines. Their website is Cruise Vacations Guide which offers advice and tips to those looking to create memorable cruise vacations. Shore excursion and land tour information is also provided. Cruise, hotel, car rental and vacation adventure booking online.

Alaska By Ship

When was the last time you saw an eagle descend from the sky, or stood in awe as a glacier cracked and an ice berg emerged?

Imagine your sense of wonder as you glide past glacier after glacier or your first sight of a cresting whale. While we have much to be proud of in our Alberta parks, I think Alaska is mother nature’s most spectacular show piece.

This year over 30 ships are providing you the incredible delights of warm, pampering service combined with the awe of this magnificent journey.

Remember, there are no roads to Glacier Bay, nor to many other top Alaskan attractions. That’s why exploring these pristine areas by ship is such a privilege.

Cruising Alaska offers us breathtaking views of Alaska’s natural wonders, as well as nights of thrilling entertainment, fine dining, pampering service, and an endless variety of activities.
From the moment you depart the convenient port of Vancouver, this will be the vacation you have only dreamed about.

As you cruise along the Glacier route, you will experience a magical, unspoiled land where walls of ice rise up from crystal blue seas and landscapes of wild flowers give way to snow-capped peaks.

Alaska is a mecca for lovers of wildlife and vast wilderness. It is a place where you see sea lions gathering to bathe in the sun and the bald eagles circle overhead searching the waters for salmon. And you might see humpback or orca whales as they acrobatically breach the water’s surface.

You’ll be spellbound by the beauty of the Inside Passage. You’ll pass quiet bays, wooded islands, innumerable mountains and waterfalls cascading from granite cliffs - a panorama interrupted only by sightings of sea lions and whales frolicking in the waters around you.

Even more fun can be had as you visit ports as interesting as Ketchikan, southerly most port on the Inside Passage route and known as the “salmon capital of the world”. This port is also renowned the world over for its famous totems. Enjoy a stroll down famous Creek Street, the towns “red light” district; visit Misty Fjords, America’s newest national monument or attend the “Salmon Bake” and sample the local fare.

Juneau, Alaska’s capital and your first taste of the gold rush era, is a contrast of wild, natural country and thriving city. Explore the fascinating City Museum, quaint St. Nicholas Church and stop at Juneau’s favorite watering hole, the Red Dog Saloon.

The treasures beyond the city limits will beckon you too. Tour Mendanhall Glacier by motorcoach or helicopter. This river of ice, with craggy rock sentinels 3,000 feet above sea level is a natural wonder.

Skagway, a magnet for gold-seekers in the late 1890’s, was referred to as the “roughest town on earth” with its over 80 saloons. You can relive the racy Klondike days in this colourful turn-of-the-century town where cancan dancers and other entertainers in 1890’s garb will welcome you or take an authentic horse drawn taxi into town and explore the “Trail of 98” museum.
The plank sidewalks, false front buildings and narrow-gauge White Pass and Yukon Railroad will make you feel as if you were back in the days of the Gold Rush.

On northbound cruises, you’ll also visit Sitka. When Alaska was still Russian territory, this was her glittering cultural centre in the West. Today, evidence of Russian culture can be found in the priceless icons and paintings of the onion-domed St. Michael’s Cathedral. Remnants of Sitka’s Indian culture are preserved in the National Historic Park.

A cruise to Alaska us the ideal vacation for couples, families, single people, honeymooners and fun-lovers of all ages and interests.

And there is no other way to do it with so much ease, affordability and excitement than by modern cruise ships.

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Sid Kaplan
Cruise Vacations Guide
Sid Kaplan has extensive experience in the travel business. He owned and operated a large retail cruise only agency in Canada and his wife has 25 years experience working for major cruise lines. Their website is Cruise Vacations Guide which offers advice and tips to those looking to create memorable cruise vacations. Shore excursion and land tour information is also provided. Cruise, hotel, car rental and vacation adventure booking online.

Bingo At Sea?

Under the “G” for Great Holiday. Bingo players can take their passion for the game to new heights by enjoying play aboard most of the world’s finest cruise lines. Now a featured form of entertainment, Bingo is offered day and night in many of the show lounges aboard ship with prizes ranging from cash jackpots to complete cruise packages.

In addition to being a standard offering on board, many Bingo players get together and cruise together sharing their passion on Bingo specific cruises. As an example, the 17th Annual World Championship Bingo Tournament and Gaming Cruise takes place in September aboard Holland America Line's luxurious new "Vista" class cruise ship, the ms Oosterdam, as it sails the Alaska "Inside Passage" from Seattle! Other Bingo groups may choose the west coast and a 4-day Baja Bingo cruise. Not only do the ships offer you fabulous Bingo but much much more.

Some cruise guests have won enough money in on board casinos to pay for their next cruise vacation. Even if you are not the “gambling type”, you’ll enjoy the excitement of these glittering “ocean going” casinos. With all the bells and whistles of their Las Vegas cousins, they feature a fair number of traditional games of skill and chance - blackjack, electronic slot machines, video poker, craps, roulette and Caribbean stud poker. Cruise Ships even offer tournaments such as a “Festival of Slots” with large cash prizes and cruise raffles.

You get all the excitement of the land based gambling halls combined with fabulous food, fabulous ports of call and a world of colorful entertainment and nighttime enjoyment! And best of all, there is no cover charge, no tickets to buy or reserve, no waiting in line. Dazzling musical revues salute the very best of Hollywood and Broadway, with advanced lighting and sound systems and spectacular special effects.

Your entertainment aboard spotlights a variety of marquee performers, including musicians and singers, comedians and magicians. Cruise lines recruit professional performers from some of the best-known stages on land. The entertainers vary from ship to ship and line to line however don’t be surprised if Bill Cosby, or Bowser from Sha Na Na or jazz greats Manhattan Transfer is on your ship. The shows will easily rival anything you might see on land. Except that on-board your ship you don’t have to remember your tickets or struggle to find a parking space.
Not only will you enjoy Broadway style reviews, musicals, stand-up comics, movies and specialty acts, and guest talent shows, many cruise lines including Norwegian and Holland America offer “theme” cruises from Budd Friedmans famous Improv at Sea to a Bavarian style “Oktoberfest” where, in addition to daily beer tastings, the staff host a Bavarian Beer Garden Party and an authentic German/Bavarian dinner.

Prefer country music? No problem, you can join top-act headliners and other guest performers aboard foot-stomping, knee-slapping country music cruises. Learn the latest line dancing or try not to smile as you two step your way across the Caribbean.

How much would you pay back home to catch a Broadway show, enjoy the midnight buffet and then head for late night comedy before you hit the disco? It’s all included aboard your cruise ship.

Norwegian Cruise Lines treats you to extravagant, full-scale productions of classic Broadway musicals like Grease, 42nd Street, The Pirates of Penzance, The Will Rogers Follies, Crazy for You, and George M! And again, you don’t pay for tickets! Just walk in to the beautiful theatre at sea, and enjoy the show.

Can theatres at sea rival those on land? A three-deck-high showroom, the Palladium, on Carnival Destiny, is home to two showstopping Vegas style productions that combine complex sets, laser technology and awesome talent that leave you spellbound. And there is not a bad seat in the house! After the show, visit one of the many lounges to enjoy a jazz ensemble, or 50’s and 60’s music or spend some fabulous times around the piano bar becoming a karaoke star.

Between your ports of call, you will be surprised how much there is to do on board your ship. When it comes to nighttime entertainment your choices are as diverse as you want to make them. From ballroom dancing to late night comedy, from first run movies to dazzling shows, all free and all with guaranteed seating.

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By Sid Kaplan
Cruise Vacations Guide
Sid Kaplan has extensive experience in the travel business. He owned and operated a large retail cruise only agency in Canada and his wife has 25 years experience working for major cruise lines. Their website is Cruise Vacations Guide which offers advice and tips to those looking to create memorable cruise vacations. Shore excursion and land tour information is also provided. Cruise, hotel, car rental and vacation adventure booking online.

Entertainment At Sea

“All the world’s a stage”, the saying goes! And on your cruise - the ship is the stage for a world of colorful entertainment and night-time enjoyment! And best of all, there is no cover charge, no tickets to buy or reserve, no waiting in line.

Dazzling musical revues salute the very best of Hollywood and Broadway, with advanced lighting and sound systems and spectacular special effects.

Your entertainment aboard spotlights a variety of marquee performers, including musicians and singers, comedians and magicians. Cruise lines recruit professional performers from some of the best-known stages on land.

The entertainers vary from ship to ship and line to line however don’t be surprised if Bill Cosby, or Bowser from Sha Na Na or jazz greats Manhattan Transfer are on your ship. The shows will easily rival anything you might see on land. Except that on-board your ship you don’t have to remember your tickets or struggle to find a parking space.

Not only will you enjoy Broadway style reviews, musicals, stand-up comics, movies and specialty acts, and guest talent shows, many cruise lines including Norwegian and Holland America offer “theme” cruises from Budd Friedmans famous Improv at Sea to a Bavarian style “Oktoberfest” where, in addition to daily beer tastings, the staff host a Bavarian Beer Garden Party and an authentic German/Bavarian dinner.

On this cruise, Anheuser Busch will provide a broad selection of their turn of the century recipe beers to enjoy all week, albeit at an nominal extra charge! The six man “Die Bier Barons” band will be on board to play traditional “Oom-Pah” and polka music.

Prefer country music? No problem, you can join top-act headliners and other guest performers aboard foot-stomping, knee-slapping country music cruises. Learn the latest line dancing or try not to smile as you two step your way across the Caribbean.

How much would you pay back home to catch a Broadway show, enjoy the midnight buffet and then head for late night comedy before you hit the disco? It’s all included aboard your cruise ship.

Norwegian Cruise Lines treats you to extravagant, full-scale productions of classic Broadway musicals like Grease, 42nd Street, The Pirates of Penzance, The Will Rogers Follies, Crazy for You, and George M! And again, you don’t pay for tickets! Just walk in to the beautiful theatre at sea, and enjoy the show.

Can theatres at sea rival those on land? A three-deck-high showroom, the Palladium, on Carnival Destiny, is home to two showstopping Vegas style productions that combine complex sets, laser technology and awesome talent that leaves you spellbound. And there is not a bad seat in the house!

After the show, visit one of the many lounges to enjoy a jazz ensemble, or 50’s and 60’s music or spend some fabulous times around the piano bar becoming a karaoke star.

Disney’s Magic, is a masterpiece of entertainment at sea. On this ship, amazing diversions are everywhere. You can screen the ocean premiere of a new Disney film in the beautiful Buena Vista Theatre. And in the Walt Disney Theatre, you will view a magnificent tribute to the grand theatrical palaces of long ago that provided the inspiration for three all-new Disney productions-a different show each night of your cruise with state-of- the- art staging, lighting and special effects that only Disney can do!

Between your ports of call, you will be surprised how much there is to do on board your ship. When it comes to nighttime entertainment your choices are as diverse as you want to make them.

From ballroom dancing to late night comedy, from first run movies to dazzling shows, all free and all with guaranteed seating.

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Sid Kaplan has extensive experience in the travel business. He owned and operated a large retail cruise only agency in Canada and his wife has 25 years experience working for major cruise lines. Their website is Cruise Vacations Guide which offers advice and tips to those look to create memorable cruise vacations. Shore excursion and land tour information is also provided.

Luxury Cruising

A great cruise is much more than a journey. Blending the grandeur and nobility of seafaring with the imagination and style of the good life, it is my favorite way to explore the world. Moving up to a luxury ship helps make memories that endure forever.

The right ship or cruise line is one that makes you very comfortable and very special while fulfilling all your vacation desires. You need to look at the size of the vessel, the nature of the experience, the activities available, dining schedules, on board dress code and the style of service. Equally important are your itinerary, the type of accommodations, and the cost of the cruise, along with the inclusions that may be offered.

Ships in the luxury category are generally smaller than the mass-market vessels with passenger capacities ranging from less than 100 to near 900 and offer the most generously proportioned and inviting accommodation. Many of the staterooms will feature private verandah, sitting areas and rich décor and deluxe amenities. The standard of service you will enjoy can be measured by looking at the crew to guest ratios. Exceptional service will be found on ships that have a ratio of one (or more) crewmembers to every two guests and mirror the warmth and discretion of finest hospitality. The following unique cruising styles can be celebrated each in its own right - so you can choose to travel elegantly with companions who share your sensibilities.

Ultimate luxury cruises are quite formal and embody the ceremony of cruising, recalling the days when traveling by ship was an event in itself. Voyages in this category offer the ultimate travel experience and excellence in every detail. These cruises are breath taking in every respect and offer you an atmosphere of sumptuous refinement with service that is truly indulgent. Guests are treated to the finest meals in exquisite dining rooms and in a single seating. Jackets and ties are generally the rule for dinner and tuxedos are not uncommon with a dress code that is observed faithfully.

Casual elegance cruises offer a luxurious cruise experience with a “resort elegant” country club type of shipboard atmosphere. Windstar Cruises, vessels are wonderful examples for traveling in unregimented, graceful and subtle luxury. Shipboard lifestyle on this type of cruise is generally unstructured, with few organized activities. In keeping with the contemporary, easygoing atmosphere on board these ships, the style of dress is casually refined. Jackets, if worn, are casual and ties must be left at home! The dining experience is flawless with the added flexibility and convenience of open seating. You ennjoy dining at your leisure with your choice of new found friends. Ships in this category tend to be smaller and the service on board is of the highest calibre.

The last category of luxury cruise is “unique exploration”. You can explore many of the world’s most intriguing destinations while enjoying a friendly comfortable cruise experience. The ships in this category offer overall excellent cruise value. The ships themselves are anything by ordinary and each have their own unique features and highlights. The emphasis for these voyages is on the special itineraries.

Ports of call have been carefully selected to highlight the history and culture of each region. Each offer you the opportunity to experience, learn and explore. Most of the vessels in this class include an official guide or guest lecturer, theatres for lectures, enrichment programs and often an extensive library. The on board environment is relaxed and the service is very personal.
The dress is generally resort casual by day and varies for evening dining depending upon the ship. Whether experiencing an Antarctic expedition, the Amazon River or the national heritage of the legendary clipper ship, this class of cruising gives you a unique blend of style and adventure.

When choosing your next cruise, take time to examine the possibilities of Seabourn, Windstar, SeaDream Cunard, Radisson, Crystal, and Silversea. These cruise lines allow you to follow your own desires and inner rhythms, discovering your own unique vision of Utopia.

Bon Voyage

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Sid Kaplanhttp://www.cruisevacationsguide.com
Sid Kaplan has extensive experience in the travel business. He owned and operated a large retail cruise only agency in Canada and his wife has 25 years experience working for major cruise lines. Their website is Cruise Vacations Guide which offers advice and tips to those look to create memorable cruise vacations. Shore excursion and land tour information is also provided.

Cleaning Sails

Washing Sails

Often you will see a beautiful sail boat with a dirty sail, you say “yuk” and are glad that is not you out there. Sometimes you feel sorry for the gent, knowing that cleaning sails is difficult and can take hours. Have you ever washed your sails? Have you ever paid someone else too? Are you sure they knew what they were doing? How do you know they did not do more damage than good in cleaning it?

It is safest to wash sails by hand. Mix soap in a bucket and lightly brush with a soft bristle 18” brush. If using a hot water pressure washer, put a 45º tip on it and cut pressure to 1100 PSI. Too much pressure wears out threads, often those who own boat washing companies are too hastily in their cleaning and inadvertently cause slight damage each time they clean it. Don’t put sails in a washing machine, many people still do this, however many of the newer materials are not conducive to this type of cleaning. This especially kills Dacron fabrics.

It is important to remove all of the salt and grime. Salt can act as an abrasive wearing down life, sealing in dirt and holding in moisture. Never put away a wet sail. Make sure it’s dry. Do not over brush or use too much pressure. Mold and mildew spots may need a mild form of bleach. On Kevlar sails, do not use soap. Rinse only and no bleach, please never use any bleach. You may be surprised that you can remove ten pounds or more worth of salt and dirt from a large sail. This will increase performance and you will be able to feel the difference.

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By Lance Winslow

Cleaning Canvas Tops on Boats

Cleaning boat canvas covers is difficult unless you know the secrets. Here are some tips to assist your so you can get out on the water where you belong.

Dodgers, cockpit cushions, sail covers and sails must be cleaned because salt water leaves a residue on fabric that attracts and holds moisture on the surface. Caring for canvas when cleaning boat canvas, they key is to be gentle. Never use detergents to clean canvas. Using a soft- bristled brush to prevent damage, apply a mild solution of Lux, Ivory soap or Borateem in water no hotter than 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The soap Boat Books recommend is Sudbury Boat Zoap. It works great on Sunbrella materials. Starbrite makes two products: Vinyl Shampoo for cleaning and Vinyl Polish for cleaning pre-coated canvas. After light scrubbing, rinse thoroughly with cold water.

For more stubborn cases, soak the canvas in a solution of one-quarter cup Clorox, one-quarter cup Ivory soap and one gallon of warm water for about 20 minutes. Again, rinse with cold water to remove all soap. After you’ve washed the canvas, let it line-dry in a well-ventilated area. The material will shrink if heat-related drying methods are used. Never try to fold or store canvas while it’s still wet; this can lead to premature wear and damage. Keep in mind that washing canvas may remove its ability to repel water. Be sure to reapply a water-repellent after. There are several canvas coatings you can buy and they can be easily bought as over the counter canvas coatings or as exclusive marine products. Never use a brush on clear vinyl windows. Use Meguiar’s Mirror Glaze in the white bottle to remove cloudiness and fine scratches. Never roll up canvas covers while they are wet. To remove soda stains use water with 70% isopropyl alcohol.

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By Lance Winslow

If You Can Afford A Vacation - You Can Afford A Cruise!

Some vacations are just more fun than others!

There will be very few times in your life when you are completely free. Free from cares, responsibilities, chores, deadlines, timetables, ringing phones or demanding voices. It’s time to start planning for such a vacation and you feel overwhelmed by all the choices.

You may be looking for a place the whole family can enjoy. Perhaps a romantic vacation or a place to meet people. At the same time you want great value for your money. Seem like an impossible task? Then maybe you haven’t considered cruising.

With so many destinations and so much to do on today’s cruise ships it is becoming a very popular alternative to more traditional vacations. Hold on a minute, you might be thinking, I thought cruises were not for me.

Not anymore. Dance clubs, sports facilities, live entertainment, movies, classes, casinos and supervised children’s activities are just a few examples of how cruise ships are catering to people of all walks of life.

One of the main benefits of cruising is it’s all inclusive nature. The cost includes all the meals, 24 hour room service, cabin and entertainment just to name a few. Once you’re on board you’ll be amazed at the variety of activities and land excursions to choose from – or you can choose to do nothing but lounge on the deck.

Get ready to be pampered in a safe and relaxing environment. The high quality and worry free environment will make it a true escape from the “real world”. And what other vacation hotel lets you go to sleep at night and wake up to a new country at your front door every morning?

Enjoy fine dining every night at your reserved table. Go ahead, taste several appetizers. Try more than one soup. If you can’t decide between two salads, have both. Every night indulge yourself with such international entrees as Beef Wellington and Duck a l’Orange.

And never say no to desserts that can include such masterpieces as Baked Alaska. Every meal is an event designed just for you. So satisfy your every craving, and then walk out of the dining room without ever paying a bill.

Oops, eat too much? Staying in shape is easy. Every floating resort has a spa facility featuring state of the art gym equipment and aerobics classes. And you’ll love jogging on deck in the fresh sea air. Then relax, have a massage, steam or sauna or just a dip in the swimming pool.

If you think you’re always surrounded by other guests, think again. On your ship it’s easy to find a quiet corner to contemplate the sea, read a book from the library, hold that intimate conversation or just count your blessings.

Whether you’re a newlywed or celebrating your 50th anniversary, you’ll feel the special magic of being on a cruise ship miles out to sea. Which isn’t to say singles won’t enjoy a sea going vacation. As a matter of fact they’ll have a blast.

Whether you love musicals, hard rock, country or big band you’ll find ships playing your song. In the showroom you’ll cheer the Vegas-style revues. Don’t plan on deep conversation in the high energy dance club; save your talks for the friends you’ll meet at the sing-along piano bar, or for each other as you stroll along the deck before turning in.

Nothing on earth compares to the value of a cruise vacation. Because on a cruise one low price covers just about everything. All your meals are included. Almost every shipboard activity is included. Even the entertainment is included.

Compare that to most land vacations when you’re constantly faced with the added expenses and hassles of reservations, valet parking, buying theater tickets and searching for things to do.
Can you afford a cruise? Absolutely!

And what land vacation can take you from one exotic destination to another while you dance and dine or dream the night away!

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Sid Kaplan
http://www.cruisevacationsguide.com

Sid Kaplan has extensive experience in the travel business. He owned and operated a large retail cruise only agency in Canada and his wife has 25 years experience working for major cruise lines. Their website is Cruise Vacations Guide which offers advice and tips to those look to create memorable cruise vacations. Shore excursion and land tour information is also provided.

Orient Beach Shore Excursions - Beauty on the Beach!

When cruising to St. Martin (or Sint Maarten), some of the most beautiful land trips you could take would be the Orient Beach Shore Excursions. This fabulous clothing optional beach has much to offer cruises passengers.

Most cruise ships stopping at the island disembark on the Dutch side (Sint Maarten) at Phillipsburg on Great Bay. A brief (20 minute) scenic bus or taxi ride takes passengers across the island to the French side (St. Martin) where Orient Beach is situated. Passing the giant salt pond on your way to the beach, you tour guide (driver) gives a brief history of the area including the importance of the Salt Pond. No need for passports or customs checks as you cross the border from the Dutch side to the French side of the island.

You must be aware that Orient Beach is a clothing optional beach. Nude bathers are visible in the beach lounges, in the warm water, and walking the beach. Most of the "nudism" is kept to the nude section of Orient Beach. For those who find this offensive, perhaps this is not the beach excursion for you. But, if you can get past this, Orient Beach is a wonderful excursion to spend a morning or afternoon.

There is a restaurant right on the beach where you can grab a bite while still soaking wet from the Orient Beach water. Of course bar drinks are available for the beach as well. Everyone is friendly at Orient Beach and most speak English very well.

There are a great number of activities available on Orient Beach. All of the usual shore excursion beach activities are provided at various huts along the beach. Para-sailing is a popular activity, and you can usually see at least one parachute cruising across the waters in front of Orient Beach.

The scenery from the Orient Beach shore is incredible! Looking out to the water from the beach, the bay is protected by a rugged little island allowing accesses to the bay at each end of this island. From the water looking back toward the beach area, you will see the low land gradually rising up to the tops of the surrounding hills that protect Orient Beach. And of course, there is the fabulous scenery on Orient Beach that one expects on any Caribbean beach!

Whether your Sint Maarten shore excursion is to Orient Beach or one of the other fantastic beaches, be sure to save a little time to wander the shops in Phillipsburg. There's lots of fascinating vendors for your shore excursion shopping pleasure!

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Brian A Schmidt is the author and web publisher of a1-discount- cruises. This site is your #1 source for cruise information, discounts and deals! Visit http://www.a1-discount-cruises.com to book your fantastic cruise to St. Martin! For more information on Orient Beach, Caribbean beach shore excursions and tours check out some of the other interesting cruise articles at our Article Map page.

Shape Up and Ship Out

For some, the ideal cruise consists of a lounge chair, gourmet food, and many, many drink umbrellas. And while I admit that sounds wonderfully seductive, there are those whose ideal cruise is a bit more active.

Some of you might want to spend a week immersed in your favorite sport, or engage in some sporting activities you haven't done in a long time - if ever. At the very least, you may want to do something to help ease the guilt of excesses at the ship's bountiful tables.

Staying healthy aboard today's cruise ships is fun. Modern cruise ships are equipped with some of the largest and most sophisticated fitness facilities anywhere. On Carnival's Victory, for example, passengers are making a beeline for the ship's vast two-level health club where a collection of every conceivable gleaming exercise and body- toning device awaits them. And it's always free.

The view from the deck-to-ceiling ocean view windows in the Nautica Spa is spectacular. The state-of-the-art gymnasium, with its two whirlpool baths and steam, sauna, massage and loofah rooms, provides a fitness center that rivals most land facilities.

If you desire to start a fitness program during your seagoing vacation, you can turn to the trained instructors. More experienced workout-aholics can look forward to keeping fit with the most modern high-tech weight and workout gear. From exercise bikes to treadmills, step and rowing equipment, the spa has it all, ready to raise your heart rate and tone your physique.
And of course, there's the jogging track high above the ocean, and indoor and outdoor aerobics classes. Some ships now offer you in-line roller blade tracks as well. Cruise lines are rewarding you with prizes based upon the number of physical activities you participate in throughout your cruise. You may even go home with a new fitness wardrobe from your Cruisercise programs and activities.

For you ultra-conscientious, most cruise lines offer heart smart alternative dining choices, identifying menu items lower in sodium, cholesterol, calories and fat but full of flavor and delightfully presented.

Not enough? Too regimented? Many cruise lines offer you a combination of ship and shore activities to keep your land game sharp. On Royal Caribbean's Voyager and Explorer of the Seas (and others) you can experience a rock-climbing wall towering 200 feet above the sea. Not long ago, anyone who suggested ice-skating on a cruise ship would have been laughed out of the room. Not anymore, the Voyager, Explorer and Adventure of the Seas feature Center Ice at Studio B, which accommodates professional ice shows, and open skating (complete with skate rentals). Now at sea you will find million-dollar state-of -the-art golf simulators where you can play courses around the world and golf cages to fine-tune your long game and a small-scale course to assist with your short game.

For realism, you and your friends can tailor a unique combination of a world-class cruise and championship golf on courses. You can choose from a variety of different courses in the Caribbean, Panama Canal, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Mexico and Hawaii. You will play only the best golf courses each port has to offer. Just imagine driving a golf ball cleanly down a lush tropical fairway.

Looking for more? Tear yourself away from the wonders of your ship for in-port activities that include snorkeling in crystal clear waters, scuba diving along vibrant reefs, or just plain walking miles of beaches. Imagine yourself taking scuba diving training right on board combined with graduation dives in areas with stunning underwater beauty. Certified divers are offered even more exotic adventures to the home of 14 million varieties of fish and sea life.

Why not rides a raft over river rapids, or bicycle down the side of a 10,000-foot volcano? You can go horseback riding, and leave miles of hoof prints along secluded tropical beaches.
If you would rather be above the water than in it, you can take to sea aboard a world class sail ship and be part of the crew for a few wonderfully exhilarating hours. If there's still time (and you aren't ready to rest yet) play tennis or basketball, catch a record marlin or just swim the soothing waters.

Just because your cruise ship offers plenty of delicious and wonderfully tempting food, doesn't mean you have to come home out of shape. Burning calories was never so much fun!
Sid Kaplan - http://www.cruisevacationsguide.com

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Mr. Kaplan has extensive experience in the travel business having owned and operated a successful cruise only travel agency in Canada.

Cruise Vacations GuideA great resource for those planning a Cruise Vacation! Information for getting the best cruise deal, family cruises and kids vacations, cruise ship layout and more. Free Cruise-Zine Newsletter with tips and ideas for memorable cruises and vacation adventures!

Dining Out At Sea

If eating fine food is your pleasure, a cruise vacation is for you. If you get up early enough, go to bed late enough and catch the elevators on your ship just right - you can eat up to 13 times a day on board. And that does not count 24 hour complementary room service.

Fine cuisine and five star dining has always been a part of the cruise experience. On board, you'll be treated to more options than ever before. As soon as one serving is ending, somewhere on the ship another is beginning. Today the on board dining experience rivals almost any land based restaurant.

Celebrity Cruise Lines cuisine, for example, is acclaimed by food experts, travel authorities and the most discriminating connoisseurs of all, their passengers. Whether the succulent, broiled lobster tails and coquilles Saint Jacques served on the finest china or fresh pastas and omelets "made to order" from the buffet, an array of exotic dishes and familiar favorites are yours to enjoy.

Menu offerings on Celebrity are created by master chef, Michel Roux, a Michelin three star restaurant owner, and are as outstanding as the setting in which they are served - grand, multi-level dining rooms, with a piano played softly in the background. Imagine Smoked Salmon Claudine, Pheasant Mousseline with Blueberry Vinaigrette, Consommé with Vegetable Brunoise, Broiled Lobster Tail, Veal Medallions, Coffee Profiteroles with Jamaican Sabayon and Swan Puff with Chocolate Sauce.

The price? Includedwith your cruise as is all dining on board your floating resort. And there is virtually no limit on what or how much you can order!

If what I just described is too formal for you, how about breakfast in bed, sunrise coffee and pastries on deck. Of course there is always a full breakfast in your ship's dining room or a relaxed buffet in one of the alternative dining areas. French toast. Spanish omelets made to order. And Danish, of course. You'll find them all at breakfast, along with such traditional fare as ham and eggs, fresh fruit and yogurt, a choice of toast and rolls, pancakes and home fries Lunch? Casual, poolside lunch or full menu in the dining room and on some cruise ships the between meal most popular attraction, 24-hour pizzerias and ever present ice cream bars or buffets.
While the 24 hour room service on some ships is restricted to snacks, cold sandwiches and sometimes hamburgers, other cruise lines offer you a full dining room menu in your cabin during regular dining hours. Princess Cruises now offers true 24-hour dining in their Horizon Court restaurants featuring their own galley which allows it to stay open ALL day and ALL night, offering a full menu of both hot and cold meals. Your dinner is served tableside by waiters from 7:30p.m. through 4:00a.m. and all other meals are available buffet style from free-standing islands designed to eliminate lines.

I do not want to panic the health conscious crowd, so you will be secure in knowing that most ships can accommodate salt-free, low-carbohydrate, kosher or other diet preferences. The variety of healthy and guilt-free choices will astound your eyes and your taste buds. Almost all Cruise lines offer a "heart smart" section on their menus, including vegetarian entrees at lunch and dinner and fresh fruit and other natural snacks are always available. And then there is always the expansive fitness areas for you to use and remain ship-shape.

On mainstream cruise lines, you'll have to choose your dining time when making your cruise plan. There are usually two dinner seatings, one between 6:00p.m.- 6:30pm and one between 8:00p.m. and 8:30p.m. depending on your ship itinerary. The 6:00p.m seating will allow you to work up an appetite for the mid-night buffet. But some ships have a 1:30a.m. buffet so you can be comfortable going to the late seating. Your table is reserved for you for the entire cruise and your waiter and busboy will become like family, dedicated to making your cruise a dream vacation.

Table size is usually, for 4, 6, 8 or 10 with the occasional table for two. If you are traveling in a group or with friends you'll want to ensure that your seated together at the same dinner seating.
My suggestion is to always ask for a large table. What a great way to meet new friends from around the world. Unless, of course, your stateroom has a balcony and your significant other wants a private dinner for two!

Best of all, the one thing you'll never see on a cruise ship menu is a price! Bon Appetit!
Mr. Kaplan has an extensive travel background and opereatd a large cruise only travel agency in Canada. He and his wife are both in the Cruise travel industry.

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By Sid Kaplan

Cruise Vacations GuideA great resource for those planning a Cruise Vacation! Information for getting the best cruise deal, family cruises and kids vacations, cruise ship layout and more. Free Cruise-Zine Newsletter with tips and ideas for memorable cruises and vacation adventures!

Boat Cleaning Business - Bilge Clean-up Tips

These areas, like any other car engine and compartment that you may come across, can either be very clean, or be extremely greasy, dirty and grimy. Remember to mention the difficulty in locating fuel, oil or water leaks on a dirty leaky bilge. You will need to take extreme caution when doing in the bilge area as there are extra switches and wiring, like you might find underneath in a car engine. It's critical to avoid damaging any of these as they are extremely expensive, roughly two to three times the cost of a comparable car part. You'll also have to be cautious of getting any of the waste water spilled out into the fresh water if you're doing it in open water. If this happens you’ll be violating The Federal Clean Water Act of 1972 and your City, County and State’s NPDES permit.

To clean the bilge area, you're going to need a shop vac, that is one that you don't care for very much. Probably an old one because it's going to be sucking up nasty oily water, and it's not something you want to transfer into a nice carpeted area. The hose area will get greasy and grimy. So invest, or if you've got an old one hanging around, use that shop vac for reclaiming the water that's going to be produced inside the bilge area after cleaning. Be sure to remove vacuum bag from the filter before using it to suck up any waste water. The most important thing is to constantly check the water level while working. You will need a small handheld wash brush, a sponge or two, some detail brushes for getting into some crevices, a good paint-safe degreaser, one that's diluted down to be paint-safe, some engine dressing for hoses and surrounding parts that can be dressed. You'll also need some plastic baggies or large plastic covers and large rubber bands (much like doing a car engine underneath the hood) to cover the distributor or any other sensitive electrical parts. Do not use aluminum foil to cover parts. Soap near by areas in case degreaser gets deflected onto areas of painted surfaces or aluminum heads where discoloration may occur.

Also, before beginning, realize that the boat's bilge pump can come on. Once it reaches a certain level, a float switch will send water flowing out the outside of the boat usually high up just below the rub rail. So you'll want to perhaps rig a bucket on the outside of the boat to catch anything that might spill out that you can't catch. Periodically, you're going to have to stop the progress of work to pump it out with your shop vac. Especially in those cases where you're working over water, the fines can be hefty and you do not want to pollute with the oily, greasy water that's going to be produced when cleaning a bilge. Use the minimum amount of water necessary and you'll minimize problems associated with cleaning the engine compartments and bilges in these boats. Set your pressure washer at 1200-2000 PSI and 180 degrees and work in short and accurate bursts whenever possible, if you do not have one use gunk, but if you can rent one it is a better idea.

We recommend if possible a ‘surfactant’ type water soluble degreaser. Make sure the area is well vented. When applying dressing make sure the engine is cool and dry. If you decide this job is too difficult expect your costs should be about $50 for single engine boats, $100 if reclaim is necessary. Twin engine boats from $80 to $100 for small boats. Large boats or extremely greasy boats from $100 to $400 depending on condition and reclaim time. Pay special attention when working in tight compartment areas because of cuts on knuckles, knees and arms. Lots of sharp edges. The fiberglass often comes apart and/or is lazy cut and unfinished. Don’t stick your hands where you can not see them. Wear leather gloves.

Step By Step Processes

First, begin by covering any of the sensitive electrical parts, the distributor, any main electrical boxes, the battery switches which are sometimes found in the bilge area. Spray some paint-safe degreaser on the valve covers and on the top portions of the engine in the crevices where you'll find grease. Usually underneath or immediately underneath the sides of the engine, it'll be heavier in those areas as well. Spray and let degreaser sit for a bit to work in. Then hit with your pressure washer if available to clean up the areas sprayed with degreaser. Scrub where you're able to reach carefully, and be very careful where you place your hands or your feet, as it is sometimes a tricky area to work in but you have to be very careful not to break anything underneath. As mentioned, the parts are extremely expensive and if something goes really wrong in an engine compartment, you could possibly damage the boat so that it sinks. So, you have to be extremely careful.

Never exert too much pressure on the manifolds. Although they seem solid they may not actually be as solid as they look. If you were to break one of them the boat could take on water and sink. And that's going to create a big problem. So once again caution, and being extremely careful and sensitive to that engine area is critical. Remember as you are taking water into the bilge you need to be taking it out with the shop vac as you are cleaning just to make sure it does not get above the float level and start spilling out. Use extreme caution when doing this or the fines can be hefty on this one.

Once you have drained the water out of the bilge area, take a large nasty terry cloth towel that you've had sitting around that you don't want to take care of anymore, your nastiest towel, use that to wipe down any areas that were extremely thick with grease and/or oil. Use this towel to also dry and remove right underneath the engine areas as there will sometimes be some residual moisture. Continue on by using a water base only, never ever a solvent-based dressing, to condition and renew some of the rubber underneath in the engine area, some of the hoses, the black parts, the black areas. Once again, never ever use a solvent base as this is a flammable material and if a boat fire starts, you can cause severe injury or possible death to the passengers of the boat or you can cause the boat to sink if an engine fire takes place inside a boat. So, never ever use anything with a solvent base as a dressing in an engine compartment.

If you are using a garden hose be careful of the gallon per minute rate at which water comes out of the hose. One of our Washington competitors in Carillon Point Harbor nearly sank a 29 foot Sea Ray. He left the water running while cleaning the cockpit and dashboard. Batteries all dead, electrical system shot. He would have lost the entire boat except luckily the dock master had a bailing bucket and water pump

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By Lance Winslow

Hydrofoils as Strike Vehicles on Water; Fast, Safe, Smart

High Speed boat-car, Hydrofoil. Hey slow down so we can wash that? Car? Boat? Hydrofoil? Sports Car? Strike Vehicle? Whatever it is or all of the above. We were doing some boat washing industry research out there on the Internet and found this site:

http://www.dobbertinhydrocar.com/

Then we remember a research company in CA doing a private industry project with a water skimmer speed boat.

http://www.americanhydrofoil.com/

There are many such projects, which we do not know about as well as some pretty bizarre conspiracy theorists misinformation type information out there.

http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/1028393/posts

The actual unit being built is much faster than the specified speed. And it is a lot more capable than ever thought. And they are in use now. But the smaller assault style hydrofoil skimmer vehicles are the future like the strike vehicles used now in Baghdad only on the water actually traveling above it. These type of water vehicles have all kinds of uses from transporting seal teams, delivering weapons to enemy ports for blockage or Unmanned Above Water patrols for coastlines or to swim circles around the whole fleet at 50 miles out for additional buffer zone to give information to the Net Centric system guarding those assets in the fleets. Six or seven of these going around in circles and you have a complete out ring safety net, including taking weather, surf, temperature readings.

Now then, what if you used the some of this technology and this prototype and set up skimmer skis, which come out as the boat/car reaches speed. If this worked with some armor light-weight armor plating. You build a car-boat on a chassis of a vehicle like a SmartTruck or Presidential Limo. You could have a amphibious, strike vehicle once you got to the shore. A car, a high speed boat and if you got into serious problems head for the water. From the water to the land You could literally hit the beach at 30kts. On the water at 100+ Knots and then slow down to 50 knots on the water as this boat can do that already. Slow down to 30 knots and drive out of the water and accelerate to 100 knots again.

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By Lance Winslow

Reducing Wake Turbulence and Wing-Tip Vortices Using Contoured Winglet Designs

Some Taiwan scientists have figured out a way to reduce the wake from ferries crossing the harbor, most harbors and lakes, many rivers have speed limits to reduce the wake which cases hardships accidents, inconvenience and damage to other craft. We have all heard of the gentleman who ended up between the dock and hull of a large boat and was crushed to death, so obviously it is a serious matter. Yet speed on the water saves time and means greater profits more movement in less time means more efficiency. In places like Taiwan with the insanely high populations, there are serious needs getting all the people where they need to be.
By redesigning the hulls in a wavy fashion they are able to reduce significantly the wake. Mr. Cheng-Hung Huang has come up with a wavy design, which reduces wake. Here is the design.

http://www.newscientist.com/data/images/ns.../99996368F1.JPG

Here is the premise:

http://else.hebis.de/cgi-bin/sciserv.pl?co...87_atihcphfbcgm

Now then let’s take this concept and apply it to a winglet on a heavy airliner, cargo aircraft or military troop transport. We know the winglets help reduce drag and wing tip vortices and wake turbulence, which is quite a violent disruption, which moves a lot of air. For instance if you google NASA's LARC project you will see the studies done.

http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Movie/B-7...EM-0073-01.html
http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Movie/C-5...EM-0085-01.html

Now then in the Mr. Cheng-Hung Huang model the researchers designed their Ferry Catamaran hulls for both deep water and for shallow water. This would work for both dense and less dense air, which takes into consideration the changes in altitude for the aircraft. Now realize the airfoil is different than the hull in that the hull of a ship is going through fluid that is 750 more dense than air, yet the same principles do apply in limited sense. So even if the wavy design is somewhat less exaggerated on the winglets of an aircraft the savings in wing tip vortices could be significant and therefore more efficient flight.

The hull design in this case is a perfect compromise shape for efficiency between the salt water and fresh water since the two have different densities. Instead of a normal sleek hull designs they have designed a hull with bizarre contours at specific intervals. The peaks are set at 24, 68 yards from the bow with the trough 44 yards. These very same techniques in fluid dynamics occur in aerodynamics

The research would indicate that as long as the dimensions were proportional the concept could be used on any length simply by adjusting the position of the convex peaks and concave troughs in proportion to the hull length. So if the winglets on an A340 or a C-17 are 68 inches then the trough would be at 44 inches. As the air flows across the wing up onto the winglet. For the fuselage of an aircraft the same thought could be used. And you thought those old B-52’s needed to be re-skinned just because they have 500,000 TT Airframe hours and are wavy and worn out? No actually they may actually work better that way to reduce induced drag and with a little modification work exceptionally better, interesting no doubt. Should intakes of jet fighters be contoured along this concept? To reduce fan blade ware and tear and smooth airflows to help produce maximum smooth and sustained inflows and thrust? The answer is yes. Most likely the compression and Bernoulli principle will not effect this only help it flow through by allowing the air to hug the surface and lower the boundary area. If we learn that such an effect compresses the air to a greater degree, while allowing it to flow, then that information is equally as valuable in hypersonic intakes and engines.

Wing tip vortices are so violent and move so much air we had even considered the wind energy potential to power up runway lights or blue tax lights. You may want to google that for a recent study which was done.

We should look into these ideas for aircraft fuselages and tail sections, as well as UAVs, smart munitions and airships. Is this something that should be taken into consideration on the 7E7? We know that wing tip vortices and wake turbulence have sound. Sound causes a signature, if we wish to reduce the signatures of sound the tops of the stealth UAVs might wish to have the wavy surface? A UUV or Submarine would also benefit by reducing it’s acoustic signature since a submarines safety depends on not being able to be detected. There is much benefit to this concept for the insides of engine intake tubes to reduce harmonic damage, increase airflows and the friction associated with the boundary layer for temperatures. It also makes sense for the outside of a submarine hulls, Torpedoes, 18 Wheeler tanker trucks, blimps, nose cones on bullet trains, propeller blades or aircraft fuselages.

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By Lance Winslow

The Fabulous New Caribbean Princess Ship

The magnificent Caribbean Princess ship is the new queen of the Princess fleet. Her innovative design takes the Princess "Personal Choice Cruising" theme to a new level. With nearly 900 staterooms having balconies, the Caribbean Princess offers more than any other ship cruising the Caribbean year round. Accommodating 3,100 passengers, this incredible ship has an entire deck of mini-suites! At 113,000 gross tons, the 952 foot long Caribbean Princess carries Bermudan registration.

Dining Caribbean Princess Style.

The amenities aboard Caribbean Princess are astonishing and dining options are no exception. There are no less than twelve eating options plus room service! The traditional dining option is in the Island Dining Room. For anytime dining check out the Coral Dining room or the Palm Dining Room. Specialty restaurants include Sabatini's Italian Trattoria and the Sterling Steakhouse. For casual eating and snacking, there are the Horizon Court 24-hour dining, Café' Caribe, Wine and Caviar Bar, Patisserie, Prego Pizzeria, Trident Hamburger Grill, and the Ice Cream Bar.

Caribbean Princess Entertainment!

For entertainment, the Caribbean Princess offers two theatres - the Princess Theatre and Club Fusion. Check out movies on deck and under the stars at the Movies Under the Stars outdoor theatre. The Skywalker's Nightclub offers entertainment 16 decks above the sea! The Explorer's Lounge offers nightclub-style performances. And the Grand Casino offers Caribbean Princess cruisers added action and excitement. The Joker's lounge, Crooner's Bar and Churchill's lounge provide Caribbean Princess passenger's room to meet and greet fellow cruisers or an intimate spot for two to get re-acquainted.

Pools Caribbean Princess style!

This Princess ship has five fabulous pool options! Both the Calypso Reef and Pool and the Neptune's Reef and pool offer two spas along with the pools. The Terrace Pool and the Lotus Pool have lots of lounging space as do all of the pools. The Pirate's View Spa and Splash Pool round out the Caribbean Princess pools.

Caribbean Princes Sports!

A ship as fabulous as this would be expected to offer great sports facilities, and this ship will not let you down. The renowned Lotus Spa, gym and fitness area has what you need to stay fit, feel great, and wind down. There is a swim-against-the-current lap pool on board. A nine-hole putting course and two virtual golf simulators will keep your links skills highly tuned. The Caribbean Princess also provides the "mandatory" paddle tennis and jogging track facilities.

Other Caribbean Princess Activities!

The Caribbean Princess has a collection of world class art with gallery and auctions. The Princess Internet Café allows passengers to keep in touch or to surf the high-tech web. Princess offers a ScholarShip@Sea program for cruisers. The Library and Writing Room offer a quiet place to enjoy and reflect while on board Caribbean Princess as does the Hearts and Minds Wedding Chapel. Of course, there is always duty-free shopping. Princess looks after kids and teens with The Fun Zone, Off Limits and the Splash Pool.

This fantastic ship has something to offer for anyone planning a Caribbean vacation. This is a five star floating resort hotel with options at various ports of call throughout the Caribbean. What more could your fun-in-the-sun vacation require?

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Brian A Schmidt is the author and web publisher of a1-discount cruises. This site is your #1 source for cruise information, discounts and deals! For more interesting articles about cruise ships, cruise lines, great cruise deals and other cruise related topics check out http://www.a1-discount-cruises.com/articles to reach our article map. Visit http://www.a1-discount-cruises.com where you can book your fabulous discount cruise on-line. Then all you need to do is get excited!

Boat Detailing - Diagnosing Gel Coat Surfaces

Determining Oxidation Levels on Your Yacht and how to deal with them:

Gel coat is an extremely tough porous surface applied to boats. It is best to preserve the original surface as much as possible just like cars, trucks, etc. You will come across boats that have been improperly sanded, washed, buffed, boats that have been neglected for years, and boats that will require intensive reconditioning because of these flaws. Without question for most boats to look good requires the touch of a professional. To make them look great it is definitely required. First, you must diagnose the level of, if any, oxidation. Do not be intimidated if there is absolutely no gloss, and a chalky residue appears on your hand if you touch the surface. Even this can be redone. Gel coat is tougher than automotive paint and 15 to 20 times thicker. More often than not, you will be able to machine buff out most oxidation and other blemishes. These cloudy surfaces can be remedied and repaired.

Levels of Oxidation

Level 1 or light oxidation: You will see patchy cloudiness in the finish. Remainder is good to very good. You can use a new special product called; Aussie Gold DuraGleem to remove the oxidation and any swirl marks without abrasive action. Or you can do it the hard way, the old fashioned way. In this case you will need to use Meguiar's #44, Production’s Bristol #9, Monster Aqua Blue or an appropriate light compound. Machine buff with a non-abrasive wool or foam pad and apply the sealant by hand or orbital polisher. A wool pad may be easier than a foam pad to use to keep from sticking or bouncing, especially as the friction heats up the surface. Usually .a high grade Carnauba will suffice. Starbrite has a liquid wax which is very easy to use as well. Most automotive detailing products will suffice at level one oxidation.

Level 2 oxidation or medium oxidation: The surface will have obvious degradation on the deck and the hull. The best product we have found is Aussie Gold's DuraGleem Extra Cut. It is a little tougher than Aussie Gold DuraGleem Original, but with level 2 oxidation you are going to need it. This may not work on all level two oxidation, but it better to try the easy way first. If this does not work, then you will need to proceed with the Meguiar's product #49, you'll need to follow with #45 polish and their #55 sealant. Monster Aqua Blue also has a similar product. Many Marine Industry Detailers prefer Starbrite Products up to level two oxidation. Polish with a polishing pad, orbital buffer or by hand.

Level 3 would result in severe oxidation: You'll see no reflectivity. The surface is chalky to the touch and to sight. We do not always recommend a foam pad on severe oxidation gel-coat surfaces because it heats up and may slip. Gel coat conditions such as these will usually require a very thorough washing, uni-grit sanding of a minimum of 1500 sandpaper grit, machine buffing with Meguiar's #49, polishing with Meguiar's #45 and a finishing with Meguiar's #55 sealant. If this does not work to your complete statisfaction, you should probably paint the vessel. If you are still intent on saving it then this will require many, many hours of labor and due to environmental concerns, may usually only be performed on land in a controlled setting. If you use Monster Agua-Blue 100, it contains no petroleum products or silicone and is 100% water based and water soluble. This may avoid the hassle of wet sanding.

First try using Monster Agua-Blue 100 and 200 buffing compounds with a wool pad. They are like wet sanding with 1000 grit and 2000 grit sand paper. Then follow with Blue Magnum 80% Carnauba wax or sealant to prolong the finish. There will be pricing guidelines in the manual or you may e-mail the home office for bid price assistance as each project can vary. Here is where we get the stuff.

SwirlMasters http://www.swirlmasters.com/products.htm
Meguiar's Unigrit http://www.meguiars.com (for safest results)
3M Products http://www.3m.com

If you cannot find a competent marine canvas person in your area we suggest this phone number to owners who realize that it is far too late for cleaning after holes have occured. If it is time for a new cover call 1-800-362-9154 Walk-Winn Covers.

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By Lance Winslow

At the Boat Ramp

The weekend is finally here. You're all loaded up (well, the car is loaded, you're not) and it's time to head for the lake. You get to the ramp and take your place in line. When your turn comes, you back and fill until the trailer is absolutely straight on the ramp. You back up to the water's edge, untie the cover and start transferring fishing and ski gear plus several coolers to the boat. You back into the water and launch the boat, then pull out to park while your wife and kids hold the boat. You come strolling back, jump in the boat and take off. You're happy - on the water in only 45 minutes.

Then your wife tells you that unless you find another lake to go to, she's staying home. While you were parking the car, all sorts of people hollered at her and the kids. They were really upset and made the kids cry. And the language they used.

I hate to tell you this, but they were right. At least partly right. I certainly don't advocate abusing women and children, and the ones who unloaded on her but couldn't face you are cowards. They should have unloaded on you! You were about as inconsiderate as you could be without trying.

Next time you go to the ramp, stop in the parking area first. That's the place to take off the cover and load the boat. When you get onto the ramp, the only point of attachment should be the winch strap or cable.

Realize that almost nobody outside of a fishing show backs a trailer on a straight line all the way. The important thing is to end up straight enough to launch when you reach the bottom of the ramp. Try putting your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel. Then simply move your hand in the direction you want the rear of the trailer to go. You may be making many small corrections, but you're making quick progress down the ramp.

Now that the boat is in the water, clear the area. If the ramp provides a dock next to ramp, have your partner wait for you with the boat there. If there is no dock, hold the boat off to the side so someone else can launch.

When you're done for the day, just reverse these steps. You should be able to get in and out in under 10 minutes. You'll be happier and so will your wife.

Oh, and if you get the urge to holler at some poor schnook doing what you used to do - don't. Give them this article and help them on the road to better boating. And have a little patience with beginners, and those of us who get told "no, your other left."

[note: I know that many women will read this, and some will resent the gender bias in some of my writing. This is not a slight, I just find the he/she thing awkward and making sure the references are balanced resembles work. I was cursed with a Y chromosome, so that's the point of view I write from.]
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John McCabe's Web Guides show you how to find more and better success in all facets of your life. For more articles on living an abundant, vibrant, joyous life, come to http://Web-Guides.com

Boat and Yacht Detailing - Teak Reconditioning and Care, Detailing the Deck

If you find your boat with gray and weathered teak, you may use any of the variety of products that are recommended from Nauticaleze. You may also wish to clean it with Snappy-Teak-Nu.
If you apply a fresh coat of varnish or sealer as soon as the finish starts to dull or show signs of wear and touch up nicks, your work will be very easy and your profit margin sustainable.

You'll want to wear a nice set of protective gloves, long pants and a long sleeve shirt. Some of these products will have some strong acids in them, which are used to de-clean the teak.

With a very stiff brush, do not use a wire brush, or try using bronze wool or stainless steel wool but not steel wool, begin usually with the step one cleaner. Apply on a wet surface, the wet teak, scrub in thoroughly, rinse, and let dry for a couple of minutes.

You can either progress onto the last step after letting this dry thoroughly usually taking several hours, or you may proceed to lighten the teak wood as some people like it with a step two product which kind of bleaches the wood out.

Basically it is the same as you do with step one. You put it on a wet surface, scrub gently, rinse and let dry.

Teak must be extremely dry before applying any of the teak oil. Putting oil on teak that is not completely dry will result in splotchiness and an uneven finish. Properly cleaned teak will be tan in color. If it is grey it isn't clean enough. Remember that teak will begin to oxidize within an hour or two so treat it right away. Before applying any products to teak, make sure you know how the teak has been taken care of in the past. Be sure not to get any cleaners on adjacent surfaces such as fiberglass, polished metals or aluminum moldings. If it is varnished or has been varnished in the past, using the steps described previously will not work.

Applying a teak oil or sealer is a lot easier than applying varnish. There is no industry-wide standard that spells out the difference between a teak 'sealer' and a teak 'oil', so merely seeing these words in a product's name is not always an accurate indicator of how one product differs from another. Both are penetrating finishes that are designed to soak in to the pores of the wood and leave a matte finish. Broadly speaking, a teak sealer is supposed to contain more solids than a teak oil, which leads some manufacturers to claim that the sealer will require fewer coats or will last longer. However, some products labeled teak sealers do not last any longer than those that are labeled as teak oils - and some oils actually may last longer than some sealers.

All tend to darken the wood somewhat, but the amount of darkening will vary considerably from one brand to another.

The only way to tell how much a particular finish will darken your teak is to try it on a small area, or see what it looks like on someone else's boat. Most of these oils and sealers will oxidize and darken over time, so the color may change as the finish ages. All of these oils and sealers are difficult to remove from fiberglass, gel coat and painted surfaces after they dry, so be very careful to avoid runs, drips and smears when applying them. Masking tape helps, but don't trust it too much. Some of the oils have such a low viscosity that they will work their way under the tape. In addition, many will soften the adhesive on the tape. Your best protection is to wipe off smears and drips immediately. You can apply it with an inexpensive throw-away foam-type brush or even a sponge mop or roller. There is never a worry about brush marks. If you really want to go fast use a long handled mop sponge.

Another idea is to use a mixture of half turpentine and half boiled linseed oil. Shake mixture well. Pour a small amount of this potion onto a rag and rub back and forth in the direction of the wood grain. If you put too much teak oil on, don't worry. Sprinkle on corn starch to absorb excess stain and oil. Allow to sit one hour and then dust off. You'll find it shiny underneath. Teak oils and sealers should be re-applied every six to eight weeks. If you do not have a lot of experience in revarnishing, you are advised not to recommend this as it requires a long learning curve and very expensive products to do this and is very time consuming.

However, if you are good at working with wood and you have the patience, please contact the home office for some of the procedures on how to do it and some of the recommended products.
As mentioned, unless you have gone through an extensive training program and have practiced a lot on teak that is not on an actual boat, it is definitely not recommended that you try varnishing and all the steps involved with it. The good news is that the marine industry is working currently on a system to radically reduce the time for reconditioning teak with a minimal of products. This will be available soon.

When using the cleaning products on teak, always be careful to keep them away from the gel coat and other striping as they sometimes can stain. Make sure you wet the area down when you are doing it and if you are ever going to redo teak, make sure that it's done as the first step before you start on the rest of the boat. You may even wish to tape off an area with high grade masking tape. That way by the time it dries, you are able to apply the teak oil or other coatings as a last step.

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By: Lance Winslow

Yacht and Ship Registration in the Isle of Man

The maritime history of the Isle of Man dates from the eighteenth century and the Island is recognised internationally as an efficient and well- run centre for both registration and management. It was ranked third in the world by Port State Authority in September 2004.

The Marine Administration was established in 1984 and offers 24 hour cover for both yacht and ship owners. Local legislation has also been amended to adopt the “Megayacht” code and enable commercial yachts exceeding 24 metres to be registered on the Island.

Benefits of registering a vessel on the Isle of Man include

• A zero rate of tax for shipping related activities

• No annual tonnage dues

• A low registration fee

• Attractive VAT arrangements

• Security of mortgages registered on the Island

• A Demise Charter Register, both in and out

• British Flag and support of British Consular services

• Flexibility in the requirements for registered owners including limited partnerships

Merchant ships to be registered in the Isle of Man should be registered with one of the approved Classification Societies and it is a requirement that functions of effective management are undertaken by a ship management company, resident in the Isle of Man, having responsibility for the ship.

The Isle of Man recognises the following Classification Societies

• Lloyds Register of Shipping

• Germanischer Lloyd

• Bureau Veritas

• Det Norske Veritas

• American Bureau of Shipping

• Registro Italiano Navale

• Nippon Kaiji Kyokai

Registration

Owners have the option of registering either on the main register or on the Demise (Bareboat) Charter Register.

The registration process is in two main steps

• Incorporation of a company on the Isle of Man. There are no nationality restrictions on the ownership of shipping companies.

• Registering the vessel. The majority interest in the vessel must be owned by one of the following,

o A company incorporated in the Isle of Man and having its principal place of business within the Island

o A company incorporated in the U.K. Channel Islands, any British Dependant Territory, or in a Member State of the E.U. or E.E.A. and having its principal place of business in one of those territories

o Limited Partnerships established and registered in the Isle of Man

The Chesterfield Group provides a full range of trustee, and corporate advisory, formation and management services and invites enquiries. More particulars can be found on our web-site http://www.chesterfield-management.com REF=CH6EZ

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Christopher Evans

Simple Things for the “Sailing Life”

Owning a boat has an oxymoronic quality to it. “The simple life” can be pretty complex--I think of it as having a plane, a car, and a house compressed into a very small space. This specialized environment calls for specialized equipment and tactics...sometimes. In spite of what marine retailers would like us to think, there are a number of 'normal' (and inexpensive) items that we can put to very efficient use aboard our boats. For example:

For easy lighting that won't impair your night vision, stock red cellophane (the kind you get in rolls in a gift wrap store) and rubber bands. Cut squares to fit over flashlights and rubber band them in to place.

Forget buying purpose-made bag clips. Clothespins can do double duty by securing laundry to the life lines as well as keeping the bag of potato chips (or whatever) closed. And only use rubber covered clothespins--the metal hinges on the wooden ones rust out in about five seconds in a marine environment.

When the clothes dryer eats a sock, don't throw away its mate. Save those unmatched socks to use as jar and bottle covers aboard the boat. They provide good shock absorbency.

If you haven't completely switched over to a digital camera, you should have plastic film canisters hanging around. Reuse them for storage aboard the boat--small fittings, pill boxes, herbs/spices, anything small that needs a compact home.

Have several plastic spray bottles on board. Besides their use for cleaning solutions (e.g., a bleach/water combination for controlling mildew), they are great 'hand showers'. Douse yourself on hot days to encourage evaporative cooling. And when you’re out on the ocean and go over the side for a bath, use a spray bottle to rinse yourself off with fresh water- works great. Just make sure you keep your cleaning solution bottles separate from your shower bottles.

If you aren't already doing so, save your old toothbrushes for cleaning and maintenance on the boat. There are loads of tight places above and below decks where a small brush works great. One overlooked spot: Use a toothbrush to clean the inside of anchor chain links.

You can never have too many zip-locking bags. Keep several sizes available, and use them for more than just food storage. Spare parts, clothes, office equipment, medicines, and lots of other stuff will pack more compactly when transferred to zip locking bags. And reuse the bags: invert, wash, and then hang to dry with those double-duty clothespins.

These are just a few examples of the use of 'non-marine' things that have a place aboard a boat.

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Kerry Mason is the webmaster for http://www.finesailing.com, The #1 resource on the Internet for sailing, boating and water sports enthusiasts. Be sure to visit his complete archive of articles at... http://www.finesailing.com/articles/index.html

New cultural centre opens June 29

NC)-When The Rooms opens in St. John's on June 29, the collections of mainly contemporary visual art in the province's permanent collection and that of Memorial University will finally be shown in a modern display space big enough to show the major works and themes - with space left over for travelling exhibits. The Rooms - based on the architecture and use of an old seaside fishery enterprise where each component had its own "room"- will also house the Provincial Archives and Provincial Museum. The Art Gallery and its two cousins will each have a four-storey module, with the three connected by glassed-in common spaces. The new Art Gallery will be a state-of-the- art 10,000-square-foot facility for the 5,500 pieces in the collections and travelling exhibits, plus enough storage space to accommodate 10 years of additions to the permanent collection. There will be an expansion of the educational and public programming, an online magazine for teachers, a studio-classroom, and a shared multi-media theatre. One unusual facet is the artist-in-residence studio for local and visiting artists to work on their own projects and take part in educational activities. For more information, please go to www.therooms.ca.

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News Canada

The long road ahead Family-friendly road trip tips

(NC)-Whether you're packing the car up for that long drive to Grandma's, or planning a month-long family excursion across the country, road trips can bring a great deal of excitement and anxiety. Travelling with children doesn't have to be stressful - it can be a joyful adventure, creating funny anecdotes, amazing discoveries, and memories to last a lifetime. Take some helpful tips from Uniroyal and family travel expert, Kate Pocock, to prepare your family for the road ahead.

1. Divide and conquer. It's always better not to have siblings sitting right up against each other in the back seat. Position a mesh bag filled with soft toys or puppets between the kids, or have Mom or Dad take turns in the back seat to play cards, listen to a story, etc. Even in a small car, sometimes just changing seats will stop the wrangling.

2. Stop a lot. Kids can't sit still for long periods, period. So plan lots of pit stops for food and refreshments, a swim at a local beach or pool, or even just free playtime to run off steam. Carry a soccer ball or frisbee for impromptu sports breaks. Keep swimsuits and towels handy for a quick swim -every small town has a local outdoor pool.

3. Picnics. The last thing kids want to do when they emerge from the car is sit again at a restaurant table. So keep a spare set of plastic cups, bowls, and plates in the car for picnics. Local supermarkets along the way offer ready-made sandwiches, juice boxes, and treats. Or carry a cooler with provisions.

4. The wired mobile. Story tapes such as Grimm's Fairy Tales, Harry Potter or the Narnia series that the whole family will enjoy, are indispensable. You can install TV and DVDs so that backseat buddies can watch movies all the way to the ocean. Some vehicles even come equipped.

5. Kid-tested schedules. Have the kids plan part of the trip and they will go along with you happily. Give each kid a survey - would they like to stop at Old Fort Henry in Kingston, or at the sand dunes in Picton along the way? Let each kid pick one stop for the family. This works!
6. Clean-up patrol. Bring cases of wet wipes, bottles of water, washcloths, towels, stacks of clean diapers, paper towels, etc. to clean up messes and disasters. Dress the kids in layers and dark clothing just in case of spills.

7. Making memories. Even the worst road trips will become memories to laugh about later, so bring a camera along and let the kids take some of the pictures. You'll see your holiday from a totally new perspective.

8. Make sure to pack an easily-accessible box of games and activities for the kids such as window stickers for mosaics, song sheets for sing-alongs, loot bags filled with small surprises, clear plastic photo albums filled with colour photocopies of family pictures, travel puzzles and games and action figures.

9. Prepare your car for the road - as important as it is to pack the kids' security blanket, it's equally important to provide your family with that same security by ensuring your vehicle is in tip-top shape and road trip ready. Make sure to check the air pressure on your tires, top up all of your fluids, and if you've been meaning to get that funny noise checked out, now is the time. Don't leave home without all of the necessary emergency equipment such as extra windshield-wiper fluid, a flashlight, batteries and a first aid kit.

For more helpful hints for a successful road trip, don't forget to pick up your Uniroyal Passport to Road Trip Adventure, written by family travel expert Kate Pocock, packed with interactive road trip games, valuable coupons and fun for the whole family, available at participating Uniroyal dealerships across the country beginning in June.

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- News Canada

Traveling Essentials For Life's Little Mishaps

(NC) - This summer millions of people will set out on their family vacation - by car, airplane, train, boat, even bicycle. While the oil may already be changed, suitcases packed and reservations confirmed, travelers should also remember to pack key emergency essentials such as a well-stocked first aid kit.

Here is a checklist of the important first aid items we should never leave home without when going on vacation - just in case:

. A first-aid manual along with your list of emergency phone numbers

. Sterile dressings and gauze pads to stop bleeding

. Rubbing alcohol for sterilization

. Soap or antiseptic wipes to disinfect hands before treating any cuts or wounds

. Antibiotic ointment or cream to prevent infection

. A variety of different adhesive bandages such as Nexcare Comfort, Waterproof and Active Bandages, because covering a wound leads to faster healing time than just leaving it open to air

. Eye wash solution to flush the eyes

. Prescription medications you take every day such as asthma inhalers and insulin

. Travel Insurance

When it comes to planning summer vacations, be prepared! A well-stocked first-aid kit will help you handle an emergency at a moment's notice. You should always keep a first-aid kit in your hotel room or camper, but don't forget to bring it along for those daily outings.

For more information on safety and healing tips, visit www.nexcare.ca.

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- News Canada

Enjoy A Atress Free Holiday Vacation

(NC) - According to a poll conducted by Ipsos-Reid, more than half of Canadians will be taking a trip during the upcoming winter season. The joys of vacationing can be stressful, especially when preparing and packing for the big day. Planning ahead and being prepared can ease travel pains so time can be spent enjoying the holiday - not worrying about what got left behind.

Here are some useful tips to assist with planning and preparation:

Prepare Travel Documents:

. Acquire necessary travel documents such as ID, passport, visas and travel health insurance. Keep documents in one place by using a large envelope or file folder. Leave a photocopy of these with a trusted friend or relative in case of an emergency.

Pack bags:

. Before packing, consider what vacation activities the family will be involved in and what the weather will be like. This will help in deciding what to pack. Prevent soiling the clothes in your luggage by wrapping shoes and breakable bottles with GLAD Press'n Seal sealable wrap.

. Don't forget the basics. Visit each room of the house and think about items you use every day. This step-by-step effort will ensure that every day items like a toothbrush aren't forgotten. Pack toiletries such as make-up with special care, use Press'n Seal to wrap and protect toothbrushes, package cotton swabs and hair accessories to ensure they are easy to find in a pinch. Avoid the dreaded "shampoo spillage" in your suitcase by covering any flip top bottles with Press'n Seal wrap.

Get spending ready:

. Get traveller's cheques or the appropriate currency in advance.

. Call credit card companies to advise them you may be spending more than usual so that they don't freeze your card.

. Contact the bank to ensure debit cards will work in foreign banking machines.

Don't forget!

. Put a hold on newspaper subscriptions for the length of the holiday.

. Adjust the thermostat.

. Unplug any appliances or electronic devices that do not need to stay on while you're away. Appliances like microwaves, computers, radios and televisions consume power even when they're not being used.

. Ask a neighbour or relative to visit your home to water plants and check on the house.

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- News Canada

New Requirements for Travelers Between the United States and the Western Hemisphere

Travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada will be required to have a passport or other secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States. This is a change from prior travel requirements and will affect all United States citizens entering the United States from countries within the Western Hemisphere who do not currently possess valid passports. This new requirement will also affect certain foreign nationals who currently are not required to present a passport to travel to the United States. Most Canadian citizens, citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, and to a lesser degree, Mexican citizens will be affected by the implementation of this requirement.

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US Department of State

Machine-Readable Passport Requirements To Take Effect at U.S. Borders on June 26, 2005

The Department of Homeland Security today announced that as of June 26, 2005, all persons traveling under the auspices of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) must present a machine-readable passport (MRP) to travel to the United States without a visa.

The Immigration and Nationality Act originally set October 1, 2003 as the date by which Visa Waiver Program travelers were required to present a machine-readable passport for visa-free travel to the United States. Twenty-three of the 27 Visa Waiver Program countries requested and were granted a postponement to October 26, 2004 of this requirement. The countries not requesting this postponement were Andorra, Brunei, Liechtenstein, and Slovenia. Nationals of those four countries have been required to present a machine-readable passport for visa-free travel since October 1, 2003. Belgian nationals traveling under the auspices of the Visa Waiver Program have been required to present a machine-readable passport since May 15, 2003.

For a limited period that started on October 26, 2004, the Department of Homeland Security has provided immigration inspectors at U.S. borders and ports of entry the authority to grant a one-time entry at no charge for Visa Waiver travelers arriving without a machine-readable passport. This limited period will end on June 26, 2005. Starting on that date, transportation carriers will be fined $3,300 per violation for transporting any Visa Waiver traveler to the U.S. without a machine-readable passport.

The Department of State has been working closely with Visa Waiver Program countries to communicate information about the machine-readable passport requirement to their citizens. Since October 26, 2004, Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection officers have been notifying Visa Waiver travelers entering the United States with a letter explaining the machine-readable passport requirements.

Machine-readable passports include two optical-character, typeface lines at the bottom of the biographic page of the passport that, when read, deters fraud and helps confirm the passport holder’s identity quickly. A sample image of a machine-readable passport may be found at http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html#4.

Visa Waiver travelers who are not in possession of machine-readable passport may also apply for a nonimmigrant visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad if seeking entry for business or tourist visits to the United States. Information on the Visa Waiver Program and how to apply for a U.S. visa is available at www.travel.state.gov and www.unitedstatesvisas.gov.

The machine-readable passport requirements do not affect the separate deadline requiring Visa Waiver Program country passports issued on or after October 26, 2005, to contain biometrics in order to be used for visa-free travel to the United States.

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US Department of State - Released on May 12, 2005

SARS Information Resources for Travelers

Since it first appeared in China's Guangdong Province last fall, severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, has spread to many other countries, including the United States. Epidemiologists, public health officials and other medical experts are working to investigate the possible cause of the disease and stop its spread.

Karen Angelichio, a registered nurse with the International Travel Clinic at Duke University Medical Center, says people should postpone any nonessential travel to affected areas in Asia if at all possible. These areas currently include mainland China and Hong Kong, Singapore and Hanoi, Vietnam.

Angelichio says if you cannot avoid traveling, be sure you take precautions.
"Keep your distance from people as much as possible," she says. "You can wear a mask, but standard masks won't offer much protection. Be aware of people around you who might be exhibiting symptoms such as coughing and sneezing and be very diligent about hand-washing. Wash your hands often or carry anti-bacterial hand gel or wipes with you and use them frequently."

The SARS situation is changing so rapidly that Angelichio urges anyone planning to travel to affected areas to check the latest updates and advisories frequently.

"The two best information resources that are updated on a daily basis right now are the Web sites for the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization .

"Regardless of our technology and communications, it's very difficult to keep on top of this," adds Angelichio. "Every day there are new facts as far as routes of transmission, laboratory studies to help in diagnosis and possible new ideas about treatment. But there's really nothing definite yet except support of care for those who come down with the illness."

Angelichio has one more bit of practical advice for anyone making travel plans.

"Make sure you have your medical evacuation insurance. I talked with one of the vendors yesterday, and they will carry you out of an affected country if you are infected with SARS."

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By DukeMed News - http://www.dukemednews.org

Boat Washing 101 - Spring is Here, Let's Go Boating

Every boat owner knows the joy and stewardship that goes along with their beautiful watercraft. They know that in order for that floating cash box to stay beautiful, it must be maintained properly. Several aspects go into proper boat care from interior cleaning and dusting, oil changes and regular engine servicing, to the all too familiar swabbing of the deck and boat wash.

The boat owner is not stupid, and knows the obvious benefits of proper boat maintenance, ranging form more money for the boat at resale, added peace of mind, to keeping up with the Jones’. Not everyone needs to keep up with the other slip owners at the marina; obviously this was not the case at a prestigious marina located in Kirkland Washington. The boat was so dirty it was ordered by the marina management it must be washed or lose its moorage space. The boat was becoming the flora and fauna and could have been mistaken for a moss bog. This sounds a bit extreme, but true.

Over 13 years of combined boat washing experience has helped us learn how to save time and increase efficiency to keep boats away from becoming the grass. Hopefully your boat isn’t so dirty your moorage is at risk, so we want to offer a few basic tips and suggestions on how to wash a previously waxed and maintained boat located in a marina on the water.

The traditional method of boat washing is with a bucket, brushes, soap, and lots of water. This works well for the majority of the time, but not in all cases when excellent results are desired. You’ll need a pressure washer capable of heating the water. The warm water can be helpful when removing moss and deep cleaning unpainted fiberglass non-skid decks and walkways. Hot pressurized water also works well to steam clean canvass.

If you were to wash the dishes would you use cold water or warm water? Washing dishes works better with warmer water, because you are heating up surface molecules, which increases soil and grease removal efficiency, same principal here washing boats.

For those with out access to heated pressurized water, you will need an extension pole with a soft bristle brush, stiff bristle brushes, a wash mitt, squeegee, Shammy, cotton towels, good low ph boat soap (we use Monster Bubbles with Carnauba wax), hose, nozzle, clean water, and lots of elbow grease. When selecting good boat soap, find one that doesn’t strip the wax. Avoid dish soap like Joy or Ivory, these products strip the wax and dull the gel coat which makes the shinny surfaces oxidize more quickly leading to more headaches and expense to remove it.

Pour boat soap in the bucket while on the dock and leave the bottle on the bow; fill the bucket with water when on the boat, not on the dock unless your morning work out wasn’t enough. Remember physics and gravity, and how it affects water. Begin on the highest point of the boat. This is usually the fly bridge, but first set the brushes, wash mitt and Shammy up there, and hang the water hose on a reachable area near the bridge to minimize dock stepping. If you have to step on the and off the dock repeatedly, you’re creating more work for yourself because you’ll have to wash off your dirty footsteps.

Remove canvass covers and seat cushions. Wet all surfaces to be washed with water first. This helps loosen dirt to make scrubbing easier. Always work front to back. First, soap down the brow with the soft brush on the pole. Next, wash the windscreen and dash using the mitt, and rinse. Wash down the house side of the boat opposite of the dock with the extension pole and soft bristle brush, then rinse (wait to wash the dock side of the house of the boat because it’s more easily reached from the dock.) Continue to wash outside house surfaces aft, then inside house areas above the deck forward to the dash.

Next, if applicable, wash the radar arch and instruments, then the seating areas closest to the helm, rinse all water aft. Clean forward scuppers and drains with the mitt, then use the stiff bristle brush and scrub the non-skid deck and rinse. Use the mitt to wash metal railings. Finally, Shammy the dash, instrument panels, and the windscreen, then move to the bow of the boat. Refill the bucket with soap left on the bow, but don’t wet the deck yet unless you really want a soggy shirt. Wash the hull opposite the dock. Yes lie on all fours and begin working font to back. Next, wet the deck, windshield, and other areas. Wash the bow pulpit, and exterior toe rail above the gunwales aft. Lift all hatches and clean water trays and anchor chain box. Wash the deck from the front of the bow to the windshield. Wash the windshield and work to the side opposite the dock working aft, and rinse. Wash the metal bow railings with the wash mitt and rinse; finish brushing the deck on the dockside and rinse, squeegee the washed windows dry, then hop on to the dock. Standing in one position reach from the front of the bow, washing the outside toe rail then the hull and waterline before moving footing, continue this process aft, working top to bottom, front to back, then squeegee the windows dry.

Move to the stern of the boat, wash the entry doors, ladder, and interior vertical surfaces, then wash the deck, and rinse. Lift engine hatches and wipe drains with a towel (if its been a while, this can be nasty, so wear gloves if desired.) Be careful not to direct water into the engine compartment when washing about the drains. A 29-foot Sea Ray at Carillon Point marina in Washington nearly sank when its washer left the water running on the open engine compartment while cleaning the dash, batteries were dead, good thing for the dock masters’ bailing bucket and water pump. The final step is to wash and rinse the transom, and swim step, then squeegee the windows, and you are done.

You did it! Great job. Come and wash my boat

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Lance Winslow - Discuss Thought Provoking Concepts, Controversies and Major Social, Economic, Political, Science and Technology Issues That Impact Our Planet At The World Think Tank: http://www.WorldthinkTank.net/wttbbs Geniuses Wanted. Join our free forums to develop the genius in you or share your unique perspectives.

There Are Many Reasons Why You Should Choose Inflatable Boats Over Traditional Boats

If you spend any time in or around the water then you probably own or have considered owning an inflatable boat. There are many uses for inflatable boats and many people own them for a variety of very different reasons.

What Can I Use An Inflatable Boat For?

Inflatable boats were originally used in the Navy to haul cargo and missiles back and forth to larger ships. Eventually the inflatable boats moved into the recreational market for fishing, personal transportation and for tenders on larger boats, particularly yachts.
Some other uses are:

* Scuba diving
* Search and rescue
* Emergency lifeboats
* Security patrol
* Law enforcement
* Fishing and hunting
* Pleasure
* Water sports
* Many others

What Are Some Benefits Of An Inflatable Boat?

There are many advantages to an inflatable boat over a hard sided boat, but to see the true benefits you really need to know what you plan on using your boat for.

Are They Heavy?

Inflatable boats are extremely lightweight in comparison to more traditional hard sided boats. And the fact that they are light weight makes them an excellent choice for many people. This is great if you are using your boat for fishing. Instead of towing a regular dinghy or canoe behind your vehicle you will be able to strap your inflatable boat to the roof of your car or even strap it into the bed of your truck.

The lightweight nature of the inflatable boat is excellent if you need to pull your boat up on the shore of the lake, or river during a fishing trip. One or two people can easily pull an inflatable boat up on shore a safe distance.

What About Stability?

A big concern of most people have when they are considering an inflatable boat over a more traditional boat is the stability of the inflatable. Will it be tipsy or unsteady when you are standing in it? This is a major and very common misconception of most people. In fact, an inflatable boat is generally much more stable than a traditional boat.

Because of their buoyancy tubes, inflatable boats are actually known for their incredible stability. And because of these buoyancy tubes these boats actually sit flat in the water which makes them virtually impossible to flip over. This is a great feature for people who might be a little bit nervous about small boats, or especially scuba divers who need to flip backwards into the water and pull themselves up and into the boats.

Why Choose An Inflatable Boat?

There are a number of reasons why inflatable boats make a better choice than the more traditional aluminum or fiberglass boats. Depending on why you need a small boat will depend on why you are better off with an inflatable.

If you are a fisherman, a lightweight inflatable canoe makes a much better choice than a traditional hard shell canoe. With an inflatable you will be able to carry the boat to the river or lake by yourself, which is very handy if you prefer to fish by yourself. Also you will be able to transport the boat to and from your fishing site easier and without fear of scratching your vehicle if you choose to transport it on top of the vehicle.

If you are a yacht owner looking for a tender for your larger craft an inflatable boat is the best choice for a few reasons. It is very important to yacht owners that they not scratch their beautiful boats; with an inflatable, those concerns are virtually eliminated, because these boats are made from materials that are soft and will not mark the surfaces of other boats.

Also, because inflatable boats are lightweight they can easily be brought on board when the yacht is under sail. However, just because you have an inflatable does not mean that you cannot attach a trolling motor to it. In fact most inflatable boats allow quite large motors to be attached to them. Although many inflatable boats are not built for performance and speed, some are built for speed and efficiency. However, even if you have a motor you should always carry paddles with you and you should always wear a life jacket.

All Purpose Inflatable Boats

Inflatable boats are much more than the image of a blow up boat that you played with in the pool as a child. You can now attach motors to these boats, put boat seats in them and even drive through the ocean surf at top speeds. This is much more than the boat that you remember as a child!

You can get inflatable kayaks, inflatable canoes, inflatable rowboats and fishing boats. No matter what you need a small boat for; there is an inflatable boat that is perfect for your needs.

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Kevin Brown is successful author and publisher of many informative websites including http://www.inflatable-boats-now.com. His websites offer tips and advice on a wide array of topics including inflatable boats, inflatable kayaks, boating accessories, and more.

What Is Best For You; An Inflatable Kayak Or A Hard-Shell Kayak?

If you are buying a kayak for the very first time it is very exciting but there are a lot of things that you need to consider and to think about. You will need to consider what type of kayak you need for the type of activity you will be doing with it.

What types of kayaks are there?

* Hard sided or rigid kayaks
* Inflatable kayaks
* Collapsible kayaks

Hard sided kayaks are also known as rigid kayaks and they are made traditionally from wood. Wood kayaks are beautiful and can be very symbolic to those that own them or make them with their own two hands; however they do require a lot of maintenance and upkeep.

More commonly, plastic kayaks are found. Plastic kayaks are typically the least expensive of all of the rigid kayaks; however you will find that they are also the heaviest of them all. If finances are an issue then you may want to choose plastic for a first kayak, because not only are they more inexpensive but they also do not damage as easily and therefore do not require frequent repairs. However, be aware that when the plastic kayak does sustain damage, they are much more expensive to repair.

There are also kayaks that are made of fiberglass, which is another very popular choice. Fiberglass is one of the most popular materials for rigid kayaks because it is much more lightweight and it is easier to repair. However, you will pay more for a fiberglass kayak.
You can also find kayaks that are made from composites such as carbon fiber or Kevlar. These composite kayaks are more expensive, but they are much lighter and easier to maneuver.
What About Collapsible Kayaks?

Collapsible kayaks are typically more expensive than hard sided kayaks or inflatable boats because they can completely collapse. Basically they are made of a fabric that stretches over a metal or wood frame to take the shape of the kayak. They are very tough and durable and although they are typically more expensive, they also hold their resale value very well.
What About Inflatable Kayaks?

Inflatable kayaks are quite possibly the best choice for someone who has never owned a kayak before. They are very portable, and extremely lightweight. There is an inflatable kayak that is created for every type of kayaker whether you enjoy easy paddling or white water rapids. The prices of inflatable boats are generally cheaper than that of hard sided boats and they also are remarkably tough and durable as well.

What Is Better, A Hard Sided Kayak Or An Inflatable Kayak?

There are a lot of different opinions about what is better, an inflatable kayak or a more traditional hard sided boat. Both have their pros and cons.

Many people are under the impression that you cannot take an inflatable boat into white water rapids. However, that is not true; in fact there are many different inflatable boats that are created especially for the purpose of white water rapids.

If you are looking for an inflatable kayak to take into class IV rapids, an excellent brand of kayaks to look at are manufactured by Sea Eagle. Sea Eagle has been one of the world’s leading manufacturers of inflatable kayaks since 1967. Sea Eagle manufactures inflatable kayaks for one to two people; they even have boats that will seat three people. If you are planning on using your boat for overnight trips or camping you will want to choose a boat that will accommodate you, your traveling partner and all of your equipment.

The beauty of an inflatable boat is that it can hold a few hundred pounds but only weighs a few pounds itself. A two person kayak can carry not only two people, but their gear and their equipment such as paddles as well. Even though the boat carries so much, only one person is necessary to carry it to the water.

With a hard sided boat, you will not be able to find a boat large enough to carry two people, their gear and equipment that is lightweight enough for only one person to carry to the waters edge.
Another major difference between boats is the price between inflatable kayaks and hard sided kayaks. Hard sided boats are generally much more expensive and require more maintenance over the life of the boat. With an inflatable boat, you will pay less for the initial purchase of the boat, and it will not cost as much to maintain it either.

What Is The Bottom Line?

The bottom line is that when you are choosing a kayak for yourself, you need to choose a boat that will suit your needs, your lifestyle and your boating needs. Depending on if you are looking for a tough and rugged sea kayak that can withstand white water rapids, or if you are looking for a light weight boat perfect for easy paddling in a lake, there is an inflatable kayak that is right for you and your budget.

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Kevin Brown is successful author and publisher of many informative websites including http://www.inflatable-boats-now.com/. His websites offer tips and advice on a wide array of topics including inflatable kayaks, small fishing boats, boat accessories, and more.

Small Boats Should Have Certain Equipment On Board For Proper Safety Precautions

Relaxing in your canoe on a beautiful calm lake, fishing for the perfect fish is a very enjoyable and peaceful pastime that is enjoyed by many. Or maybe taking your kayak down a white water river braving class four rapids is more your style? Inflatable boats or Zodiacs are a lot of fun cruising in the ocean, slamming through the surf as well.

No matter what your personal preference is, enjoying small boats on the water is a lot of fun and can be exciting and relaxing all in one trip, depending on what you prefer. But no matter what type of boating you enjoy, you should be aware of some fundamental boating safety rules before you head out.

Pay Attention To The Weather

No matter if you are going for a paddle along the shore line of a local lake or a wild cruise through the ocean surf you should pay close attention to the weather report of the area that you are going.

Out on the water, the weather can change very quickly causing a whole host of problems to small boaters. It is very important to look at the short term weather report if you are going on a day trip to see if the weather forecast is calling for rain or any other major disturbances.

Rain storms can be a lot worse on the water than they are on land. A small rain storm can quickly turn into a very frightening experience if you are in a small boat such as a canoe, kayak or rowboat. Very small boats do not have as much stability and can be capsized or flipped much easier than larger boats. Also, there is nowhere to escape from the rain on a small water craft which means that you will become wet and cold much faster.

It is also a good idea to look to the sky as well as the weather report. Of course it is important to look to the weather report for the official weather; however the weather can turn around very quickly around water so it is a good idea to look to the sky. If you see some black clouds forming quickly and filling the sky, you may want to avoid the water that day or keep a very close eye on the sky.

Don’t Forget…

It is always a very good idea when you are a planning an excursion on the water to tell someone where you are going and when you plan on coming back. If you plan on going out onto the ocean you should file a float plan with the marina. This is extremely important incase a sudden ocean storm comes up and you find yourself in trouble in your small boat.

Also, if you are going out on the ocean you should carry a VHF marine band radio with you. A VHF radio is the easiest and fastest way to make contact with someone who can help you if you find yourself in trouble.

What Should You Have On Board?

No matter what type of small boat you have, there are a few things that you should carry on board with you at all times:

* Life Jacket or PFD* Flashlight* Oars* Bucket* First Aid Kit* Rope* Blanket* Mirror or shiny object* Garbage bags* Life Jacket

The reasons to have a life jacket or PFD (Personal Flotation Device) on board are fairly self explanatory; however, many people die from drowning every year because they were not wearing their life jacket. If you are in a small water craft such as a canoe or kayak you should be wearing your life jacket or PFD at all times. Due to the nature of these small boats, they can flip easily and suddenly creating an emergency situation quickly.

There are few different types of PFDs that you can choose from depending on the situation that you have. The Type I PFD is also known as the offshore floatation device. A type I is useful if you are going into rougher waters where you may not be rescued very quickly. Type II PFDs are also known as a near shore buoyant vest, this type of PFD is more useful if you are in calmer water where rescue will be quicker. Type III PFDs are floatation aids that should only be used in very calm and protected water where you will be rescued quickly.

Whistle

You should be sure that you have a whistle on board that will work when it gets wet, and one that is made of a color that you will be able to see in the dark. Whistles are very important no matter where you go boating, because a whistle call will attract help if you are stranded. However, a whistle is known as a distress signal so it should only be used in an emergency.

Flashlight

A waterproof flashlight is essential for your boats safety kit. If you get stranded on the water after dark, you can use the flashlight to signal for help using international SOS signals. You can also use the light to look for other boats or objects to avoid hitting them.

Oars

You should always have oars on board even if you have a motor. If your motor breaks down, or you run out of gas you will have a way to paddle into shore. Be sure that your oars are secured to your boat so that you will not lose them in a storm.

Bucket

A bucket or pail is very important to have on board in case you begin taking on some water, you can use the pail to bail yourself out. You can also use the bucket to tap out SOS signals.

First Aid Kit

This is an essential piece of equipment for small boats. It is also important to know how to use the first aid kit as well.

Blanket

In case you get wet or your clothes become soaked a blanket will help you prevent hypothermia.

Ropes

Ropes are very useful for a variety of reasons and should be kept on every boat. They can be used to tie the boat to shore, to another boat for towing or even to rescue someone from the water. It is also important to know some useful knots.

Mirror Or Shiny Object

This can be used to attract attention during the day time by reflecting the sun. If you are stranded on the water, you will need to attract help and a flashlight will not be very useful during the day light hours.

Plastic bags

Bags are useful to create make shift rain ponchos during bad weather, also you can keep equipment dry and secure. If you have to, you can use orange garbage bags to attract attention as well.

The Last Word

These are just a few accessories that you should keep on board of your small boat in case of an emergency. It is also a very good idea to take a course about small boat safety and know the laws in your area before setting out onto the water.

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About the AuthorKevin Brown is successful author and publisher of many informative websites including http://www.inflatable-boats-now.com. His websites offer tips and advice on a wide array of topics including small boats, inflatable boats, boat accessories, and more.

What To Expect - My 1st Cruise Experience

Some years ago my wife and I decided to take a cruise. We headed for Southampton to join our cruise ship, weighed down with luggage. (Why do women take twice as much as men?) Not knowing what to expect, we arrived at the terminal whereupon our cases were taken from us and firmly assured that they would be sent to our cabin. We checked in with one of the many assistants, boarded the ship and that would be it.

As this was our first cruise, we had been advised to choose an outside cabin which had natural light coming through the 2 portholes in our cabin. (See inside or outside). Once we boarded, we were escorted to our cabin by one of the many cabin stewards. Our luggage had not yet arrived so we decided to wander around the ship to get our bearings. This is always well worth doing as this also helps to get a feeling for the ship and its luxurious surroundings. We had also been advised that we would have to attend a lifeboat drill just after departure that was mandatory.

We wandered back to our cabin to find our luggage had arrived and proceeded to unpack. Yet again my wife managed to take most of the wardrobe space, although space in cabins has increased significantly since our first cruise. The cabin also had a TV, and private facilities that were more than adequate.

The ships alarm sounded and we made our way with life jacket to our muster station, generally shown on the rear of your cabin door. Once finished, we could sit back and totally relax.
The ship had lots to offer with two swimming pools, a casino with Black Jack and Roulette, a card room, show lounge which also doubled up to give advice on forthcoming ports of call and the excursions available, plus a well stocked library.

A misconception of cruising is that it is solely for the elderly. This is far from the truth with many younger couples and even families on board. There are also clubs and meetings for single travelers.

Our first port of call was La Corunna and we arrived one and a half days after departure. We arrived early in the morning which gave us the whole day to explore the Atlantic City. Others had taken the full or half day excursion that are bookable on board. (Prices vary according to content but as a guide £25 for a half day and £45 for a full day excursion.) Our cruise took us on to a number of ports including Lisbon, Cadiz, Casablanca, Tenerife and Madeira.

1st Cruise Holiday Tip

Once you have decided on your excursions try and book these as early as possible as many are on a limited basis and it is easy to miss out on the best excursions.

Food on board is a major plus and what you would expect from a floating hotel. Breakfast and lunch can either be taken in one of the ships main restaurants or in the open air around the outdoor swimming pool .On board our 3 star ship, the dress code alternated between, formal with dinner jackets and cocktail dresses to informal and casual, although no dress code is compulsory. (If you do not possess a dinner suit, these can be hired on board most ships, although a suit and tie will suffice in most cases.) The food is varied from vegetarian dishes to roast sirloin of beef, from sticky toffee pudding to passion fruit salad. The problem is, not knowing when to stop. If at the end of the day you are still hungry, you can always participate in the midnight buffet, before you wake up and it starts all over again. There was also a range of good wines to suit all tastes, and all drinks are very reasonably priced. (The house red was of a high standard and very good value.)

Life on board is so relaxed and you can either join in all the activity or sit back and watch the world go by. Information came via a daily bulletin with a full timetable of events, weather forecasts and special offers in the many shops on board.

The captain and officers are regularly seen throughout the ship and this commences early in the cruise with The Captain’s welcome cocktail party. This generally happens on the first formal night where you are introduced to the captain, and have the pleasure of having your photo taken with him. This ceremony happens again all too soon at the captains farewell party. (If you are lucky you may be invited to dine with the captain one evening.)

Our cruise holiday had gone all too soon when we pulled back in to Southampton. The previous 14 days had been the perfect antidote to the dull grey weather of Good Old England. Some of the passengers on our 14 day adventure became friends who to this day remain in touch. It is certainly a most wonderful way to relax and it transformed my life completely.

I entered the cruise business shortly afterwards and since my first cruise with Fred.Olsen, I have had the pleasure of cruising with P & O, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Festival, Star Clippers, Holland America, Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Lines and Orient Lines. In addition I have visited ships from Thomson, Island Cruise Line, Cunard, Discovery Cruises and Costa Cruises.

Our team at 1st Cruise Holidays have a wealth of knowledge and like myself will help where possible to ensure that the cruise you choose is right for you and will I am sure, like many others become a frequent cruiser.

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By: John Gibb

Since his first cruise John Gibb now works in the Cruise industry and cruises regularly.

From Ocean Cruises and Ocean Liners to Vacation Cruises and Cruise Ships

The golden age of transatlantic ocean shipping and travel began long after Columbus' trying to prove that the earth was round. After that time, ocean sailing vessels traveled to the new world on a rather infrequent schedule. It was not until the first ocean steamship, the paddle steamer "Savannah" crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 1819 that a new era in travel heated up. Since that time, ocean cruises and ocean liners have become a thing of beauty and romance.

By the end of that century, and starting into the 20th century, ocean liners had established themselves as a status symbol for their companies and their countries on the ocean. A "battle" for ocean supremacy - Having the newest, largest most extravagant ocean liner afloat - had begun!

Cunard Lines had, in the early 1900's two fantastic liners named Mauritania and Lusitania sailing the ocean. In order to boost the White Star Line's (by this time owned by International Merchant Marine) ocean liner position to the top, director Bruce Ismay decided to build not two, but three fabulous liners. One of these monster liners became the most infamous ocean liner in the world. Titanic would enter the scene as the largest and most elegant ocean cruise liner. Her sister ship, the ocean liner Olympic actually entered service before Titanic. These two liners put White Star Line again on top of the ocean liner heap - albeit very short lived as we all know the fate of Titanic.

Ocean Liners to Cruise Liners

The age of the jet aircraft all but finished the era of trans-ocean cruise liners. As the pace of business got faster, so did the travel needs of passengers to cross the ocean. Transatlantic ocean crossings by plane meant hours instead of days by ocean liners. There became a need to find a new purpose for the existence of the liners. Enter the age of cruise ships.

The story of one particular ocean liner perhaps sums up this change. In the early part of the 20th century, the Canadian Pacific Railway Co. had an ocean crossing presence with a fleet of ocean liners. As late as the 1960's, the company had liners built. The "Empress of Canada" joined the fleet of ocean liners after being christened by the wife of then Prime Minister John Diefenbaker. She joined two other "Empress" liners - "Empress of England" and "Empress of Britain".

The Empress of Canada quickly gained a very good reputation for ocean liners because of her stylish looks and amenities. She was a very modern ocean liner fitted with stabilizers and was air-conditioned throughout. During the summers, the liner made the transatlantic ocean run from Liverpool to Quebec and Montreal where she made her turn around. In the winter, the transatlantic ocean crossing was stopped. The ocean liners were either terminated at Saint John, or became cruise liners sailing from New York to the Caribbean.

During the '60's, air travel became more and more popular. The ocean shipping companies had to find new duties for their liners. More time was spent doing cruises and by 1970, the "Empress of Canada" became the last ocean liner in service for Canadian Pacific. She was then only doing 13 transatlantic ocean crossings per year, and spent the rest of the time doing cruises. Canadian Pacific decided in 1971 that it could not retain its ocean crossing business and on November 23 of that year the ocean liner "Empress of Canada" arrived at Liverpool for the last time. After 68 years, the North Atlantic Ocean liner service had ended for the Canadian Pacific Railway Company.

Fortunately, great potential was still seen in the liner. A man named Ted Arison bought the ocean liner as the very first cruise ship for his newly founded company - Carnival Cruise Lines. The mighty ocean liner was renamed "Mardi Gras" and was refitted for her new cruise life. She kept her beautiful external profile, but the liner did lose her cargo cranes that would no longer be required as a cruise liner. Carnival decided to even keep the general pattern of the Canadian Pacific ocean liner's funnel identification and reworked it to identify the cruise liner as the new Carnival cruise ship.

The cruise liner had a very shaky start with the company losing money in the early years. However, a couple of years later Carnival Cruise Lines progressively introduce the "Fun Ships" concept and spent a whopping (at that time) 10 million dollars in converting their ocean liner Mardi Gras. In order to maintain their business (having only one cruise ship), Carnival kept the liner operating while the renovations were being completed - closing off areas of construction and thus having only about 60 percent cruise ship occupancy available while on the ocean and seas.

Things started to turn around for Carnival Cruise Lines and by the mid '70's they were having great success marketing the cruise liner in Canada and the U.S. In December of 1975, Carnival purchased their second cruise ship - the ocean liner "Queen Anna Maria". Oddly enough, this liner had been originally named the "Empress of Britain". That's right, after many years, the two sister ocean liners from Canadian Pacific Railway were again in the same fleet cruising the oceans together. She was renamed "Carnivale" by the company and the two liners were very successful.

In 1977, a third cruise ship was bought for the fleet and named "Festivale". Carnival now had a "Golden Fleet" of 3 cruise liners sailing the oceans and was still growing in success.

Carnival ordered their first new-build cruise liner which entered service in 1982 and was named the cruise ship "Tropicale". From that time, Carnival Cruise Lines never looked back.
Thus the age of transatlantic ocean liners carrying travelers from one destination to another had transformed into an age of cruise liners transporting vacationers on exotic ocean itineraries. Ocean crossings still exist from the New World to the Old World, but now they are for relaxing vacations, and are quite often re-positioning cruises by the cruise lines.

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Brian A Schmidt is the author and web publisher of a1-discount cruises. This site is your #1 source for cruise information, discounts and deals! For more interesting articles about cruise ships, cruise lines, great cruise deals and other cruise related topics check out http://a1-discount-cruises.com/articles to reach our article map. Visit http://www.a1-discount-cruises.com where you can book your fabulous discount cruise on-line. Then all you need to do is get excited.

How to Choose Alaskan Cruise-Tours with Princess Cruise Lines' Vacation Packages

Are you planning to take a cruise- tour vacation to Alaska? Princess Cruise Lines has arguably the best Alaskan cruise-tour vacation packages available. Princess has their own sightseeing rail cars to transport you to one of their custom built lodges. To help you in your planning, we have put together a few hints and ideas on how to choose Alaskan cruise-tours.

How Long will I spend in Alaska?

Princess includes a seven night Voyage of the Glaciers cruise on every cruise-tour vacation package. You now need to decide how long you would like to spend exploring the natural beauty of Alaska's wilderness.

A fascinating three night vacation tour will take you directly to Denali Park for a two night stay at the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge.

On a four night cruise-tour you can experience some of Alaska's highlights featuring Denali, Anchorage and Fairbanks. You have the option of staying longer at your favorite destination.
The five night tour is the most popular of all Princess cruise-tour vacation packages. Explore Alaska's interior at a more relaxed pace.

Six to eight night tours allow plenty of time to leisurely travel and explore the very heartland of Alaska. Perhaps an extended look at the highest peak in North America, Mount McKinley, is on your agenda!

You can of course add extra nights to your stay in Alaska on any of the cruise-tour packages. You can even add a vacation tour package to the Canadian Rockies.

What do I want to see?

The heart of Alaska cruise-tour goes directly to the Denali Park area of heartland Alaska. Alaska Wilderness cruise-tours include Denali with some of the other fascinating areas of Alaska. You can explore the lovely Kenai Peninsula, the history-steeped Copper River Area. Perhaps you would like to cross the Arctic Circle and visit the "Land of the Midnight Sun". The longer you stay, the more there is to see and do. It's up to you to decide where to go and what fascinating areas to see.

When will I go?

From May through September, Princess offers their fantastic cruise-tours. You will need to decide, generally, when you would like to go. If wildlife viewing is a big part of your cruise tour, perhaps July would be desirable when the young are emerging. To take advantage of "special" values, perhaps early or late in the season is best. In any case, these are very popular packages and you are well advised to book early.

What cruise to select?

Once you have determined when you would like to enjoy your cruise-tour vacation package, you must check the actual cruise schedule. Find a cruise that sails either before or after your desired tour time. You are now ready to make the next important decision - what stateroom to choose. You must decide whether you would prefer an interior room, an oceanview cabin, a balcony stateroom or a mini-suite.

As was stated earlier, these cruise-tour vacation packages with Princess Cruise Lines are very popular and do sell out. It is best to plan early so that you can take advantage of early booking discounts when available. This also guarantees that you will be able to get your desired cruise date and ship, in your desired stateroom with your desired tour package.

For more information on Princess Alaskan cruise-tours check out some of the other interesting articles including Alaska Cruise and Tours a brief review of the Princess packages.

The very best way to experience all that Alaska has to offer is to enjoy a cruise through the glaciers fields to Alaska where you star your land tour of this vast wilderness. Check out your options, make your decisions based on some or all of the above tips and book your fabulous Alaska cruise and tours on-line. Then all you need to do is get excited!

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Brian A Schmidt is the author and publishier of a1-discount-cruises.com. For more articles relating to Alaskan cruises and tours, different cruise itineraries and other cruise related information check out http://www.a1-discount-cruises.com/articles for an article map. Visit http://www.a1-discount-cruises.com to find great discount cruises!

Stocking up Your Boat

There, you have just got a boat. A nice new hobby for the weekend and it is time to stock it out. It is time to get all that equipment and gear that you have read about in all the magazines and that you have dreamt about for so long. Time to fill that boat up with all the latest goodies and set sail into the unknown. Sail out and over the horizon, ready for all that may be placed in your way!

The engine has always been my greatest problem and I have this constant nightmare of breaking down whilst away from shore. The last thing that I want to do is to call for help and admit to everybody that I was not ready. Spanners, screwdrivers, engine tool kit and a few essential spares are of course a necessity but the Chain Block and the torque wrench, the hydraulic spanner and the ten-pound hammer? I am not so sure that I will ever really need them at sea.

What are you going to do with them? Lift the engine off the block and do a complete strip down whilst bobbing on the water? Let us look into this before we dive in and fill the boat up full to the brim with unessential items. Before we fill up the cabin drawers with tools of all shapes and sizes and electrical equipment that would stretch your power supply to its limits. It must be remembered that if the problem is a serious one then nine times out of ten you will not have the correct spare part anyway! So what do you really need before you make a storeroom out of every available space onboard?

Tools are essential and maybe the saving grace to any that lose their power at sea. Tools are required to unblock a fuel filter or cure a leaking pipe, but you are not going to be doing a complete overhaul so leave the 18” monkey wrench behind along with the engine lifting frame and the welding machine. Leave them safely at home in the garage and set sail with the minimum of required tools for essential repairs. Have in your boat enough tools to do the job and leave plenty of space for all the food and goodies that will make the trip into what you dreamt it would be like. Don’t turn your boat into a nightmare with unnecessary tools falling out of cupboards and leaving oily stains everywhere, just have what you need and set sail happily. Don’t have your friends and guests complaining of stubbed toes and bruises on the head as they work there way through the cupboards whilst searching for some food to eat!

The crucial point to remember about engine maintenance and repair is that it should all have been done before you left port. The engine and auxiliary equipment should be in a good condition and able to do the job it is meant to do before you take the last rope off the jetty. So any repairs and work should have been carried out before you even thought of stocking up for the trip. When you set sail you should have underneath you a boat ready and prepared for all occasions, one that you can trust in to do the job that it is required to do.

In many situations the amount of equipment that you carry does depend on the skills that you yourself possess. First of all, if you are not very good at engine overhauls then it is pointless to have the larger pieces of equipment anyway. If you are good at doing engine overhauls and have knowledge about what you are doing then you should not have set sail with a faulty engine in the first place. It is possible that you breakdown through no fault of your own but it is far better to have a good communication system to call for help and swallow your pride than to try and fix the engine yourself.

Essential items therefore consist of a set of spanners, a couple of hammers, a set of screwdrivers, and an adjustable wrench. One monkey wrench of a small size, filter removal strap for the Fuel filters and LO filters, hand crank handle if the engine is small, a spare set of batteries, some spare Lubricating Oil and some odds and ends of screws and nuts and bolts. Along with these items should be the engines tool kit, essential spares for the engine including a couple of injectors, fuel filter and LO filter inserts and anything else that the manufacturer recommends for that engine.

Leave behind the Chain Block, the large Monkey Wrench and the Hydraulic Spanners. Leave behind the spare heads and the spare crankshaft and all the spares that require the use of a chain block. Make sure before you leave that the engine is in top working condition and that you can trust in its ability to take you where you want to go without breaking down on the way. And finally make sure that your communication system is suitable and in a good working condition, so that if a problem does arise help is not far away.

There is no pride to think of when you breakdown. Safety is of a higher priority.

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Ieuan Dolby

Author and Webmaster of Seamania. As a Chief Engineer in the Merchant Navy he has sailed the world for fifteen years. Now living in Taiwan he writes about cultures across the globe and life as he sees it.

Norwegian Cruise Line - American Style!

It’s not just the size and opulence of their sleek and stylish fleet that attracts passengers to Norwegian Cruise Line. Norwegian Cruise Line boasts the largest ratio of staff to passengers of any cruise company and this extra service shows from stem to stern. Every inch of every ship gleams and on any trip through the corridors you always meet friendly and courteous staff in perfectly appointed uniforms.

A particular cruise feature that Norwegian Cruise Lines introduced is free-style dining. Historically, shipboard dining has been a structured affair, with meals served at preset hours, usually with assigned seating in the dining room and a dress code. Free-style dining changes all of that to match the contemporary American lifestyle. Passengers may choose from eight to a dozen dining areas on board and eat when they wish. Some dining areas serve cafeteria-style, with food already prepared and jean-clad passengers taking a tray and selecting their food items. The main dining areas serve menu-based meals with full service wait staff and where jeans and shorts are prohibited at the evening meal. All food in the dining rooms and cafeteria is included in the price of the cruise.

And you get more than your money’s worth in the quality and presentation of all food items. The average passenger gains seven pounds on a week-long cruise! In addition, Norwegian Cruise Line offers a selection of specialty or upscale restaurants on each ship and meals in these restaurants are offered at additional cost. For example, Asian, French, Japanese or Italian cuisine may be featured in a suitably decorated small restaurant. But know full well, the upscale restaurants excel in service and cuisine and provide value for the dollar for the more discriminating.

Food service is a major attraction on any cruise, but Norwegian Cruise Line also provides a full range of on-board activities 24 hours a day. A fully equipped fitness center attracts those who want to stay in shape on their vacation. The pool area is the hub of live entertainment day and evening. Ships have a number of bar, lounge and disco areas that come to life with talented performers every night. Also included in the price of the cruise is theatre entertainment that ranges from stand-up comedy to full show revues that rival those found in Las Vegas. And speaking of Las Vegas, while in international waters, passengers can enjoy all the amenities of a sparkling casino, including slots and gaming.

Norwegian Cruise Line, a premier cruise line, currently has ten large and modern ships in its fleet. The most luxurious ship in the fleet, the Norwegian Star, seasonally alternates on trips to Alaska during the summer season and cruises to the Mexican Riviera in the colder months. One of the newest ships, Norwegian Spirit, also sails to Alaska in the summer but crosses the Panama Canal to sail the Caribbean in the winter. The Norwegian Wind follows the whim of the wind and sails to many major destinations: Alaska, Hawaii, the Panama Canal, and the Caribbean while Norwegian Sun and Dream quietly cruise the Caribbean.

The brand new Pride of Aloha, as its name implies, is dedicated to custom cruises hopping between the islands of Hawaii. There is no better way to thoroughly tour Hawaii than on a cruise ship. Also brand new, Norwegian Dawn is dedicated to sailing from New York to ports in Florida and the Caribbean.

The newly renovated Norwegian Sea routinely sails from Houston, Texas through the Caribbean. A ship fit for royalty, the Norwegian Majesty, also sails through the Caribbean to ports of call in Mexico and the Bahamas.

The Norwegian Crown is nearly 20 years old but, with only 527 staterooms, provides a much more intimate atmosphere than the newer ships that accommodate nearly 2,000 passengers. Two more luxury ships will be added to the ever-expanding fleet in 2005. The soon to be introduced Norwegian Jewel will expand ports of call to Scandinavia, the French Riviera, and Italy.

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By: Colin Hartness

Looking for information about cruises? Go to: http://www.whatcruises.com 'What Cruises' is published by Colin Hartness - An excellent resource for Cruises! Check out more cruise articles at: http://www.whatcruises.com/archive

The History of Water Sports

Swimming is noted in many of the classics as relating to heroism and religion. Nicolas Wynman's Dialogue Concerning the Art of Swimming (1538) is the first recorded written document on swimming methods. Swimming first appeared in the Olympics in 1896, paralleled to the development of the swimming pool. Swimming the English Channel is the most publicized non-Olympic event. It proves excellence in strength and endurance. Matthew Webb from England was the first man to cross the English Channel in 1875, and later Gertrude Ederle of the Unites States of America became the first woman to cross in 1926.

Snorkeling to view exotic fish and aquamarine life is a much-loved vacation adventure. In ancient times snorkels were crafted from hollow reeds found in lakes and marshes. Pliny the Elder, a first century A.D. Roman makes reference to the snorkel, so the activity holds rank as one of the oldest recorded water sports. Loenardo da Vinci created a more modern snorkel when the Venetian senate summonsed him to do so. Divers attached this hollow tube to leather helmets The present-day diver's snorkel is typically a J-shaped tube that is open at the top and has a mouthpiece at the other end, usually no more than 2 ft (61 cm) long.

American West-coasters go wild riding the waves on a wooden plank known as a surfboard. Originally, surfing developed in Hawaii in the nineteenth century. It became popular in California in the 1920s, and became a hit youth sport in the 1960s.

Surfers originally used long, cumbersome wooden boards but now ride lightweight synthetic boards that allow a greater degree of maneuverability. Hawaii holds annual international surfing championships.

Water polo originated in England in 1870, and American joined the bandwagon in the early 1900s. Many club and college teams exist for this rigorous sport. Americans gave the game a twist by using a softer rubber ball in a larger pool, a game known as softball water polo. Violence and rough play ended this faction of the sport, and today only the hardball version continues to be played worldwide. Men began Olympic level water polo in 1900, and women first played in the Olympics in 2000.

Diving, another favorite Olympic sport, initiated competition in 1871 off the London Bridge. Diving is now a popular sport at the high school and collegiate level, and is an amazing display of strength, control and agility.

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Keith Kingston is a professional web publisher offering advice on inflatable boats and sail boats for sale

5 Steps to Crime Prevention at your Marina

Spending the day or weekend on your boat is one of the pleasures most boaters look forward to all the time. Unfortunately, the marinas where vessels are stored at are just as susceptible to crime as our homes and places of work, if not more so. Criminals prey on two facts. (1) Many boats are left alone for days and weeks at a time and (2) when a boater heads out onto the water, criminals know that they have more than enough time to burglarize their parked car.

With that being said, it becomes important for boat owners to learn some common-sense practices for keeping the property on their boats and in their vehicles as safe as possible. Listed below are five steps that boaters can take to help protect their property from crime.

1. Mark It This is a proven deterrent and you will have a better chance of having your property returned if it is stolen. Etch or engrave an identification number, such as you vessel ID number, onto all of your valuable items. This will enable authorities to trace lost or stolen items back to your vessel. Also, enroll in a crime prevention program, like Boat Watch USA. It is free, and you receive a Vessel ID decal which includes a warning for all would be perpetrators to avoid your vessel. Place this decal where it can be easily seen from the most common spot your vessel is boarded from. Boat Watch USA also offers smaller Boat Watch USA warning decals to affix prominently to your major equipment.

2. Record It Secondly, record in detail all of your valuable equipment. Compile a written inventory of your boat, trailer, and all onboard equipment. Boat Watch USA includes with it’s free service a form to list unique details and other special identifying features of your vessel. If you have a trailer, you can include particulars about it too. List all electronics, outboard engines, and other gear by brand name, model and serial number. Be as descriptive as possible for both the police and insurance companies. Again, Boat Watch USA offers an online vessel equipment log where owners can record equipment information and keep it readily available for the law enforcement and insurance companies should they need it.

3. Photograph It Photograph or video tape the interior and exterior of your vessel, showing all the installed equipment and additional gear stowed aboard. These photographs should show any identifying marks or scratches that can be useful in the recovery efforts of law enforcement. Include photographs of open drawers and lockers with all contents revealed. Date and sign the photographs and add clarifying or identifying messages as necessary. Store these photographs or video tapes in a safe location outside of your boat, such as your home.

4. Secure It Most thieves are opportunists and seek out the easiest vessels to strike. Purchase and use quality locking devices for your boat to make entry and accessibility as difficult as possible for would be thieves. Also, remove as many items as feasible when you are going to leave your boat unattended. The best way to keep thieves from stealing property from your boat is to not leave it aboard. Remove high risk items like TV’s, radios, and CB’s. If you are not going to remove items, store them out of sight in a securely locked cabinet or locker. Lastly, you may consider having an alarm system installed on your vessel. Care should be taken to select security equipment that is resistant to environmental elements typically found near waterways.

5. Marina Security Many thieves are successful because they look as if they belong in the area. Become acquainted with your fellow neighbors at the marina. A tactful offer to help assist a stranger to find a person or a boat will signal to thieves that you are looking out for each other and that nobody goes unnoticed. Urge your fellow neighbors to also be observant of strangers in the area and to question their presence as well.

Be sure to always lock your vehicle when parked at a launch site, marina or dock. Remember to keep all windows secured and to remove any valuables from sight. If you are not taking your purse, cell phone, or other property with you, lock it in the trunk while you are gone. Also, to lessen the opportunity a would-be-thief has to break into your vehicle, park it in an open, visible area.

Be mindful and alert of any suspicious vehicles or persons who are lingering in the area. Record license plate numbers and remember physical descriptions of these vehicles and persons you observe loitering in the area.

Remember, a marina with good security equipment and good security practices is a good start. Having marina members who actively carry out these five steps can make the difference between crime prevention and criminal activity.

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Marc Eskew is a managing partner with Boat Watch USA and widely recognized for his knowledge of marina crime prevention. To find more information on marina and boat crime prevention, visit http://www.BoatWatchUSA.com

Why Take a Cruise Vacation?

Have you considered taking a cruise vacation but just aren’t sure if it would be right for you? With all the cruise lines available, all the cruise destinations, the range of prices, there is a cruise for just about everyone.

Do you commute to work every day, sitting in traffic for perhaps hours? Think about it, on a cruise you don’t drive anywhere for 7, 10, 14 days or more. Now, even if you were on a bus tour with no driving yourself, you haul your luggage or at least pack and unpack it at each stop. On a cruise, you check your luggage when you check in and it magically appears in your cabin, stateroom, or suite. You unpack once, feeling at home for the duration of the cruise. The cruise staff will tell you when to place your bags outside your accommodations at the end of the cruise and, just a magically, your luggage will be waiting for you on shore at a designated pick-up point. Taking a cruise vacation frees you from some of the hassles of traveling.

If you take a driving vacation, there’s always the question of where to stop to eat. All meals are included in the price of your cruise and great food is one of the main attractions of taking a cruise. Most contemporary cruises take into account the modern casual lifestyle and provide a variety of restaurants and snack bars on board. Typically, there is a varied and plentiful breakfast and lunch buffet similar to what you find in Las Vegas. Or you can eat breakfast or lunch in one of the ship’s restaurants, ordering exactly what you want from the ample menu, prepared fresh for you. Restaurants are usually open for meals for extended hours and buffets are generally open all day and into the night. Have you heard of the midnight buffet available on some cruises?

Dinner is an important event on a cruise ship, a tradition dating back to the late 1800’s when cruises were for royalty and the wealthy who expected elegant formal dinners. Again, in today’s lifestyle the elegant dinner is optional, and for those who prefer to dine casually, the dinner buffet is available usually until 9 pm. Most cruise ships offer excellent cuisine, especially at dinner, in the main dining room or rooms plus offer meals at upscale specialty restaurants at additional cost. Cruise lines base much of their reputation on their food service, and terms such as “world class cuisine” and “gourmet meals” are combined with “impeccable service” to insure that the onboard dining experience is truly memorable. Many cruises still offer one or more optional formal dinners where ladies where long formal gowns or other evening dresses and gentlemen wear tuxedos or dark suits.

Once onboard your cruise vessel, there are activities 24 hours a day. Modern cruise ships boast state-of-the-art 700 plus seat theatres for quality shows and entertainment, all included in the cruise price. There is unique entertainment in the theatre every evening of the cruise. Most ships also have a number of themed bars, lounges, and discos with live entertainment that are open into the early morning hours. Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks are seldom included in the cruise price. Most ships also provide a casino that is open while the ship is in international waters.

If night life isn’t your style, you can enjoy the onboard pool, spa, library, fitness center, and other amenities. Many cruises now offer instructional classes on a variety of topics during the day. If you have children on the cruise, there are usually play areas and programs geared to different age groups.

Did we forget about the cruise destination itself? Cruises typically stop at a different port of call each day or every other day, depending upon distances and sailing time between points of interest. You may stay aboard the ship all day or disembark at any stop. You are free to explore each destination on your own as long as you return to the ship by the designated time.

Also cruise lines offer a variety of shore excursions at additional cost. These adventures are geared toward the unique features of the destination. For example, Caribbean cruises offer snorkeling, diving or beach excursions while Alaskan cruises offer helicopter tours or dogsled trips. For the less adventuresome, normally there are bus tours or supervised shopping excursions in the local port. Everything, including meal stops, is prearranged. All you need to do is find the correct line onshore and an experienced guide handles the rest of your tour.

With all these great services available at a reasonable cost, why not take a cruise vacation?

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By: Colin Hartness

Looking for information about cruises? Go to: http://www.whatcruises.com 'What Cruises' is published by Colin Hartness - An excellent resource for Cruises! Check out more cruise articles at: http://www.whatcruises.com/archive

Airboats - The Right Boat For Many People

The state of Florida is filled with lakes, swamps and unchartered territory that can only be reached by airboat. Airboat popularity continues to rise in Florida and boating enthusiasts are making new airboat purchases everyday. Choosing the right airboat is important and can be something like choosing a car or truck, it is a major purchase. There are a few things that you may want to consider as you shop for the right airboat.

The following is a general outline of the topics that can help you decide what you really want.
You have to ask yourself many questions when determining what airboat is best for you. Including topics such as the cost factor, whether to purchase a new or used airboat. Your stability needs to include the size of hull that you will require will help determine the size of engine. Also, what is the main purpose of the use of the airboat? In addition, you need to determine the performance expectancy meaning, what do you want your boat to be capable of?
Next is choosing your power drive and propeller design. Reliability of all welded aluminum hulls are other items of consideration. New or used, it is important to know your craft and the tolerance of the hull. In reference to the boat’s warranty, materials and construction, use quality airboat industry standard parts. And finally, what options would you like on your airboat.

Whichever options you decide to choose, consider what you are doing and what you are getting into before you start. And remember, you get what you pay for, so from the safety perspective, going cheap probably isn’t the best idea.

Airboat safety is important. The general population can't explore the type of territories that an airboat owner can. Airboats have the versatility that other boats don’t. So in many cases and situations, when air boating in the back areas of the rivers, eddies and swamps, you are normally on your own.

It is great to have a craft that goes so many places but sometimes this can also be somewhat dangerous. Travel in two or more craft if possible and have reliable communications onboard such as a cellular or satellite phone or a two-way radio.

Once you categorize your needs, it will often determine what design is required to suit that need. This will get you into the right ballpark. Airboats hulls come in a variety of sizes of airboats. Sizes range from 10x7 ft to the large 25x8 ft airboat. Each foot-length of boat comes in three available widths: the 7, 7.5 or 8 ft. The most popular sized boats are the 12-14 ft boats. There are also companies that specialize in making large sized tour boats. Once you decide what hull is needed the rest of the boat comes easier.

It is very rewarding to step into the right airboat and enjoy the endless acres of fun and water forgotten and unused by conventional craft. Be safe, know your limitations and let it happen.

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By: Troy Denson
http://www.airboatsbyhamant.com

Yacht Charter From Rhodos Base - Dodecanese

The most famous of the Dodecanese, beautiful and famous for its mixed lifestyles, Rhodos has contributed the Colossus, a huge statue which stood at the port's entrance, to the seven wonders of the world. The old city is surrounded by powerful fortifications with bastions, battlements, gates and moat; a fine example of 15-16th century art. In the midst of the old city, and separated from it by an internal wall, stands the Palace of the Grand Masters of the Order of Saint John.

Now fully restored, with its fine wooden ceilings and floors paved with marble in various colors or with ancient mosaics brought over from Kos and alabaster windows, its fine 16th century furniture, this castle will fascinate you and make you understand the great diversity of Greek history. Rhodos offers beautiful holiday resorts along an endless coastline, restaurants, tavernas etc. and a famous casino. Numerous excursions and sailing trips can be made to visit sights like Kamiros, regarded as the Pompeii of Rhodes, and Butterfly valley, the Castallia fountain and many more.

Last but not least, the Acropolis of Lindos, where a spacious arcade marks the beginning of a stately staircase leading to the raised terrace on which stand the remains of 5th century BC Propylaea. Past this , the way leads to the sanctuary of the Lindian Athena with its beautiful 4th century BC temple perched on the edge of the cliff commanding a breathtaking view of the sea below.

Rhodos is the main base in the Dodecanese for bareboat charters in the area and the adjacent Turkish coast. Crewed yachts are available from Rhodos at an extra charge, due to the cost of the empty run. Click on the following link http://www.seascope-sailing.com/english/bbprices.html for bare boat charters and this one http://www.seascope-sailing.com/crewed/motoryachts.asp for our list of crewed yachts.

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Yannis Moraitis, director of Seascope Sailing Yacht Charters.

Cruising with the Mouse – Disney Cruise Line

There’s magic in everything that team Disney touches and their cruise line is no exception. Michael Eisner himself commissioned a talented group of ship designers, cruise experts and Disney creators to produce cruise ships that would appeal to adults and children of all ages. The result was two nearly-identical ships, Disney Wonder and Disney Magic.

The ships are distinctively Disney, with the famous mouse silhouette prominently placed on the smokestacks and appearing frequently throughout the ships. That’s not all; a fifteen-foot statue of Goofy is the figurehead on Disney Magic while Donald Duck adorns the front of Disney Wonder. Of course, cast members masquerade through the ship in costumes of the famous Disney characters. Disney art is featured on the walls and images of Disney characters appear everywhere. Disney excels at promoting everything Disney so expect onboard shops to be full of Disney memorabilia.

Disney Cruise Line offers three, four, seven and ten day cruises that sail from Disney’s own Port Canaveral near Orlando to popular spots in the Caribbean, including St. Maarten, Nassau, Antigua, Cozumel, St. Thomas, Grand Cayman Island, St. Lucia, and Key West. All cruises stop at for a day at Castaway Cay, a private island developed by Disney solely for the enjoyment of Disney Cruise Line passengers.

The cruise can easily be combined with a stay at Walt Disney World; passengers can stay at Disney World for several days before or after a cruise for one price that includes transportation on, what else, a Disney bus to or from Port Canaveral. And with the latest technology, tourists check in only once and the key card issued to them unlocks both their hotel and stateroom doors.

As expected, Disney Cruise Line caters to children with activities for all age groups all day long. In fact, more than 15,000 square feet of ship’s real estate is devoted to children. Teens have a private area of the ship dedicated to their interests that offers video games, movies, and a place to listen to CD’s. Supervised teen sports are also available.

Disney Cruise Lines provides quality nighttime entertainment in a 977-seat theatre each evening with, of course, a family orientation. While other cruise lines mimic Las Vegas entertainment, Disney entertainment is similar to shows at Disney World. As might be expected, there is no casino on board the Disney ships. However, adults can find evening entertainment in a number of lounges and nightclubs.

A special feature of the Disney cruises is the dining arrangement. Dinners are served at 6:30 and 8:30 pm in one of three family dining areas. Over a three day period, a passenger will have dinner in a different restaurant each night, thus getting to experience the unique ambiance of each one. For a $10 cover charge, those wishing to avoid family dining can opt to eat at the upscale adult-only restaurant, but only after gaining sought-after advance reservations.

If you or your children adore everything Disney, you will certainly enjoy a Disney cruise.

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By: Colin Hartness

Looking for information about cruises? Go to: http://www.whatcruises.com 'What Cruises' is published by Colin Hartness - An excellent resource for Cruises! Check out more cruise articles at: http://www.whatcruises.com/archive

Who's Looking Out For Your Boat When Your Not There?

Over 72 million Americans participated in recreational boating in 2003 on the estimated 17 million recreational boats in the United States. For many Americans, the investment in their vessel ranks along with their homes and automobiles. However, unlike homes and automobiles, most boat owners only spend a fraction of their time on their vessel which creates a few areas of serious concern; burglary and damage reporting.

Burglary and vandalism are crimes of opportunity. Criminals know that boats are frequently left unattended for long periods of time, making them an easy target for burglary and vandalism. Imagine showing up at your boat on a beautiful Saturday morning looking forward to a great day on the water only to find out that all the possession you stored on your vessel were stolen or that your boat has been seriously damaged, criminally or otherwise. That beautiful day just turned ugly very quickly. This is when you realize that, unlike your home or car, your boat is quite vulnerable without you there to protect it.

Crime prevention is a national crisis for boat owners all across the United States. What can boat owners do to alleviate this problem? A neighborhood watch style program would be a great start - fellow boat owners could then practice techniques for observing and reporting malicious activity. Unlike a neighborhood watch program though, concerned citizens can’t just knock on your boat door to inform you of theft or stolen property from your vessel. They can report it to local law enforcement, but there are some unique challenges with that:

Can local law enforcement get in contact with you?

If your vessel is registered, the local authorities will have access to your address, however, boat owners do not submit a phone number when registering their vessels. Herein lies the problem: law enforcement can only contact you in person or by mail and if you are not at your registered address or if that address is far away from you vessel, it could take days or weeks for you to be reached.

If a fellow boater noticed damage or suspicious activity on or around your vessel, would you find out?

Many boaters will make the good will gesture of reporting suspicious activity or criminal damage to local law enforcement; however, this leaves you back at square one when it comes to getting that information to you in a timely fashion. If a fellow boater notices damage or activity they do not perceive as criminal, there is virtually no chance that information will be passed on to you. People will call the police to report criminal activity but seldom report an incident otherwise.
What can be done about these issues?

There is an organization offering a service that addresses these issues for boat owners across America. Boat Watch USA has developed a National Boat Registry where boat owners provide (1) information about their vessel; (2) contact address and phone number, and (3) how and when to contact them. Boat Watch USA is a private, third-party intermediary for boat owners, and the personal information they keep for owner’s is not publicly accessible. When law agencies and concerned citizens want to report damage and criminal activity; they (1) call a toll-free hotline and, (2) report the incident using the unique vessel ID number. Both the hotline and vessel ID # are located on the Boat Watch USA decal the vessel owner affixes to their boat. Then, when an incident is reported, Boat Watch USA matches the vessel ID number to the contact person and reports the incident according to the owners preset directions.

Boat Watch USA has also developed neighborhood watch style program called "Boat Watch." This is a public awareness campaign to educate vessel owners on crime awareness and the Boat Watch USA reporting methods. Boat Watch USA is also working to certify "Boat Watch USA Authorized" marinas and storage facilities that comply with the "Boat Watch" program.

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Marc Eskew is a managing partner of Boat Watch USA, L.L.C. Boat Watch USA’s mission is to generate crime awareness campaigns and a timely reporting system for criminal activity and non-criminal damage to vessels for boaters throughout the United States. For more information, please visit http://www.BoatWatchUSA.com.

Carribean Cruise

Caribbean Cruises are among the most demanded cruise vacations in the world; with almost two million plus travelers sailing on different liners every year. Warm tropical climates sprinkled with great beaches, exotic foods and excellent tourist spots in a chain of fine islands is a hot tourist destination in the world. Cruising along Caribbean is very popular as the liner anchors at different ports in different islands giving cruisers a rare opportunity to explore the whole region. Cruises to any country are fun as they offer comfort at one’s finger tips and amenities of top order.

Planning for a future Caribbean Cruise is relatively easy nowadays, as most of the cruise liners have their details listed on their own web portals. Tour operators abound all over the continent and a lightening speed service is almost assured on a click of a mouse button. A well planned tour schedule might well work advantageous as tourists clog the liners during vacation time. Depending on the season, cabins may get completely booked months before the cruise is scheduled to set sail and hotel accommodation becomes too difficult. Caribbean cruise bookings can be made either online or by tour operators. Here comes the most difficult part of the plan; choosing the right liner! Most of the cruise liners vie each other for their share of almost two million prospective travelers. The competition among these cruise line operators is very fierce and getting the major chunk of the lot is the ultimate motto! Never ever get confused as to which liner should be chosen! Well, it depends on your objective.Travelling with full family? Then choose a liner which offers facilities for tiny toddlers to mature adults. Keep in mind the comfort of elders too! Teenagers need special attention on the cruise liners. For instance, if the time allotted for the planned cruise is for the family, it makes a perfect sense to choose a Disney cruise; it might be best since these ships design activities specifically for children and teens. May be a liner which is based on family themes. There are liners for travelers on a tight budget too! Traveling couples should opt for a quiet ship with romance theme; likes of Princess Cruise is a wonder! Fat wallets can find some of the most luxurious liners which offer anything and every thing except moon! Look for liners known for their top notch services such as Crystal, Silversea, or the new Queen Mary II. However, it is best decided with a cool mind after surfing over the information provided by them in their online portals.

Of the numerous cruise liners bound to Caribbean Islands, each offers a variety of price, schedule, and island stop options. Pick your dream ship liner-be it an extravagant vacation aboard a floating luxury hotel, a romantic getaway with your loved one on a love liner, or an activity-filled voyage on a family cruiser. Almost, 20 different classes of cruise liners travel over to different parts of Caribbean! Four classes of cruises are right now available and pick any one of them depending on your objective, budget, time, places to visit and the facilities offered. Contemporary/Value class caters mostly to tight budget travels while premium, luxury and specialty classes cater to those special classes traveling on extravagance, comfort and status.

Carnival and Royal Caribbean are two of the most popular contemporary/value cruise lines and together make up almost 90% of the entire cruise industry. These are designed for people with tight budget and on popular holidays. Premium cruises are more expensive and the ships aren’t too large, but the service is considered superior to that of a contemporary/value cruise. Ocean liners like Celebrity, Princess, and Holland America boast a larger online staff for fewer passengers. . Ocean cruise liners like Seabourn, Windstar and Cunard belong to this highest class and offer top-notch service and amenities and are designed for those who are high society and premium grade. Specialty cruises like American Hawaii cruises sail to a secluded and unique destination and are exclusively designed for special passengers like elders, singles and some times gays and lesbians too.

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Stein O Stien is the webmaster of http://www.travel-and-vacation.com. If you want to read more, you can find it at Carribean Cruise:

Spain´s Beaches - You´re Spoilt For Choice

Spain offers the visitor over 4,000 kms of coastline where s/he can enjoy shining sun and sapphire seas in wonderful settings.

And what a choice of sands. Golden sands, white sands, grainy sands, powdery sands, and even the black sands of the Canary Islands.

Allergic to sand? No problem! Just plump for a resort with smooth, white pebbles! You´ll find a good selection!

Already holidayed several times by the Mediterranean? Then why not try the fairy-tale fishing villages washed by the Cantabrian Sea or Atlantic Ocean?

"Spanish beaches are the most environmentally healthy in Europe" says the Foundation for Environmental Education, which has awarded the much-coveted Blue Flag to 450 of the country´s beaches - more than any other participating contry!

Leading the way within Spain itself is the Costa Blanca, which received 48 Blue Flag awards. Then came the Costa Dorada (37) and Mallorca (33).

The Blue Flag Campaign, which started in 1987, is owned and run by an independent, non-profit-making organization called the Foundation For Environmental Education, or FEE for short.

The Campaign gives an exclusive, eco-label award (ie the Blue Flag) based on compliance with 27 criteria spread over four categories: water quality; environmental education and information; environmental management; and safety services.

The awards are made for one season only and if any of the categories are not fulfilled during the bathing season, or if conditions change over the season, the FEE withdraws the awards.
So, where are all these 1,779 coastal bathing areas to be found?

On Spain´s mainland, there are 16 different "costas", and then you also have the beaches of the Balearic and Canary Islands.

And, what are the names of these 16 sensational costas? Why not come to Spain and enjoy discovering them for yourself!

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Linda Plummer is webmistress of Top Tour of Spain providing comprehensive information on Spain for travel, food, language and living.

No Artificial Ingredients Indeed

Back from our family's vacation to Costa Rica, I am left feeling extremely grateful for not only the well-received rest and relaxation with family; I enjoyed exhilarating experiences previously unimaginable.

Costa Rica's ad in this Sunday's New York Times includes the tagline "No Artificial Ingredients." I'll say. What with monkeys offering our singular wake-up call swinging limb to limb just outside our hotel balcony, to iguanas joining us on our walk to breakfast, to a highly venomous snake slithering right before our eyes on our drive to dinner, to native raccoon-like critters sharing the bar under the grass-thatched hut where we dined for most meals...nature called out loud and clear. Everywhere.

We watched the volcano erupt at Arenal and watched with delight when we saw it played again on the national news that night; patted the frogs which resident caretaker Valencio sheltered and raised; glared at the crocodile swimming in the same water where we white-water rafted; and enthusiastically spread mud on our faces while we sipped organic coffee at a mountaintop café. (I never thought I'd be wearing a volcanic mud mask in the middle of Costa Rica in front of strangers...but then again, I figured I'd never see these people again, either.)

I have to admit: my more frequent attire, when traveling south, looks a lot more like it leapt out of a Lilly Pulitzer closet. A couple of loudly colorful capris, coordinating Jack Rogers shoes, and cute straw bags can usually get me about anywhere in the summer.

But not in Costa Rica. It was the place for hiking boots, surfer shorts, and fanny packs. I was totally out of my element.

Risk taking is one of the things I heartily recommend for creative living. It is one of the secrets of creating creative genius. All creative people take risks. They live outside of their comfort zone. They engage in new activities, surround themselves with different types of people, and deliberately put themselves into foreign surroundings. They create situations over which they have little or no control over the outcome.

Such was the case with my family on our summer vacation. I was in totally foreign territory. I don't speak Spanish, and my feeble attempts at putting an "el" in front of every word with an "o" behind it (i.e. "el guide-o") were only met with side-splitting laughter by my fluent husband and kids. "Por favor, club soda with lemon" became another mealtime joke.

I also don't hang out in surfer shorts and those tight-fitting surfer tops. I can't surf. My husband and kids took lessons everyday while at the beach, but because of my mangled right leg (car accident twenty-seven years ago), I can't even think about it. Everybody at the beach in Costa Rica surfs. I was odd-man out there, too. I had no particular affinity for night hiking in the cloud forest, though my husband and sons found that to be one adventure they would not go home without experiencing firsthand. Nor did I desire a night trek beyond the "No Trespassing" signs at the erupting volcano, (can you even imagine what might lurk out there in the dark?) but my husband and sons found that irresistible. When we stopped for lunch at a local "soda" on the side of the road (literally) I announced that I wouldn't eat there for fear of catching malaria. But I was hungry. I ate there. It was good. I didn't catch malaria. But I did get laughed at-once again-by my husband and kids.

We traveled by SUV on paths that could only be described as just that. To call them roads would be incredible overstatement. Boulder-studded and dirt-lined, they were beyond anything I had ever seen-except when traveling to Panama. Signage was, well, confusing at best and non-existent at worst. We figured it was the native's conspiracy against US tourists.

But we're already anxious to go back. Costa Rica's national motto is "pura vida." The pure life. Or "life is good." And when all was said and done, I was very glad to have lived for a couple weeks with no artificial ingredients. No make-up...only volcanic mud on my middle-aged skin. No clothing labels...just cotton t's and baggy shorts. No jewelry..except for the green cat's eye cross-and-beaded-trinket I bought from a native craftswoman on the beach.

I walked on the most incredible beaches I'd ever seen, rode horseback through the woods, paddled down white-water rapids, and witnessed the cloud forest from 400 meters above ground level. I came back home sore and exhausted, but exhilarated and happy.
My biggest challenge now is figuring out how to translate all of Costa Rica's charm-and "pura vida" mantra-into my New England culture, family life, and schedule. But no artificial ingredients? Now that's a tough one.
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Carolina Fernandez earned an M.B.A. and worked at IBM and as a stockbroker at Merrill Lynch before coming home to work as a wife and mother of four. She totally re-invented herself along the way. Strong convictions were born about the role of the arts in child development; homeschooling for ten years provided fertile soil for devising creative parenting strategies. These are played out in ROCKET MOM! 7 Strategies To Blast You Into Brilliance. It is available on Amazon.com, in bookstores everywhere, or by calling 888-476-2493. She writes extensively for a variety of parenting resources and teaches other moms via parenting classes and radio and TV interviews.

Please visit http://www.rocketmom.com to subscribe to her free ezine and get a weekly shot of inspiration.

A Trip To Iqaluit In Nunavut, A Canadian Arctic City

In 2004, I completed two Inuit art buying trips to Iqaluit (formerly Frobisher Bay), the capital of Nunavut, Canada's newest territory. For both trips, I flew out of Ottawa on Canadian North airlines. The other airline that services Nunavut is First Air. Only the last half of the jets was allocated for passengers as the entire first half was for cargo. Being so remote, Canadian Arctic Inuit communities pretty well have to have everything shipped up there by plane or by boat during the summers since there are no roads connecting to the rest of Canada or even between each Nunavut community. The Arctic landscape from the air was desolate, hilly and barren. As the plane got closer to Iqaluit, the airport's small terminal building stood out with its bright yellow color. The airport itself is within walking distance to the rest of the town. There are taxis that charge a flat rate of $5 per trip anywhere in Iqaluit. Interestingly enough, these taxis also pick up and drop off other passengers along the way so shared rides with others are common here. There are several hotels in Iqaluit and rooms are generally clean, comfortable but quite basic. Accommodations and dining up north in Nunavut are both expensive. All food items with the exception of local Inuit fare must be flown up from the Canadian south. A carton of milk will cost about $10 in Iqaluit. Most Inuit locals cannot afford to buy overpriced fruits, vegetables and meat from the south. Many local families still rely on Inuit hunters who bring caribou, seal and whale to the table.

There is only one high rise building in Iqaluit and it is used mainly for local Nunavut government offices. All other buildings are low rise, including the hospital. The vast majority of the residential housing is similar to cabins that are raised off the ground because of the harsh Canadian Arctic winters. Many look a bit run down with junk and disposed items piled outside. With the fact that there are no lawns or trees possible this far north, the neighborhoods are certainly not the prettiest sights around. But one Inuit art carver told me that his government subsidized rent is only $36 per month. There are some small clusters of nice homes on the outskirts of town. Some houses have husky dogs tied up outside and many have snowmobiles. In fact, the roads, most of them unpaved, are shared by cars, trucks, snowmobiles, all terrain vehicles and people. During the summers, Iqaluit can get quite dusty with all the vehicles turning up the dirt on the roads. As a result, Iqaluit did look a bit nicer during my first trip which was during the winter when the city was in white snow rather than brown dirt. There is new construction going on since with the creation of the Nunavut territory, Iqaluit is growing as more Inuit from other Arctic communities are migrating to the city.

One thing that was very noticeable in Iqaluit was the large numbers of children everywhere. Nunavut has a very young population with 56% under the age of 25. I saw many Inuit mothers wearing traditional Inuit parkas with large hoods in the back where their babies are carried. The Inuit youth is one of the Canadian Arctic's untapped resources and its future. They have access to satellite television and dress just like their counterparts in the south. However, at present only about 25% of high school students graduate so a big challenge for the Nunavut government is to encourage the Inuit kids to stay in school. During my second trip, there was darkness for only a few hours each day so it was very strange to be walking around town at 10 pm in the evening with daylight still present. Even at this hour, there were still quite a few young Inuit children playing outside. The locals, Inuit and non-Inuit alike were very friendly. I got the impression of a tight community perhaps because of the isolation of the Canadian Arctic. However, the local Inuit were also very open to visitors and willing to share a bit of their lives. During the daytime, I went up to a few Inuit art carvers who were working outside their houses. Each turned off their power saws when I approached them and seemed happy to talk to me. I met most of them later during the evenings when they showed me their finished works of Inuit art.

I had the opportunity to walk about 30 minutes to the outskirts of town past the airport one day. I climbed up a hilltop with a satellite dish facility overlooking an expansive valley. There was nobody else around and it was incredible how silent the area was. It was like a vacuum where I could hear only my own breathing. It was a very peaceful and even spiritual moment there. While sitting on this Arctic hilltop, I was suddenly startled at one point by a noise and it turned out to be the flapping wings of a large raven flying by. There are tours offered by local outfitters to see the northern wildlife and experience some of the Arctic tundra further out. I hope to take one of these tours on a future visit. A trip to Nunavut is not cheap since everything, including flights are so expensive. However, I will definitely return not only for more Inuit art, but also to experience more of the local Inuit culture and the Arctic land.

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Clint Leung is owner of Free Spirit Gallery http://www.FreeSpiritGallery.ca, an online gallery specializing in Inuit Eskimo and Northwest Native American art including carvings, sculpture and prints. Free Spirit Gallery has numerous information resource articles with photos of authentic Inuit and Native Indian art as well as free eCards.
info@FreeSpiritGallery.ca

Australia : The Sight-Seeing Travel Tour

If you haven’t been to Australia or are planning to visit it a second time, then you must have all the information about the places to visit so that you can fully experience the wonderful land that is Australia.

Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world and is divided into 6 states and several territories. The 6 states are New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia. The two major territories are the Northern Territory (NT) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).

The largest part of Australia is desert or semi-arid, but the south-east and south-west corners have temperate climate and moderately fertile soil. The northern part has tropical climate, which is part tropical rainforest, part grassland and part desert.

When you go to Australia, you just cannot miss seeing The Great Barrier Reef. It is the world’s largest coral reef and extends for over 1,200 kms! It lies a short distance from the north-east coast.

Another spectacular place to visit is Uluru. It is the second largest monolith in the world and is located in central Australia. You can also visit the Great Artesian Basin, which is the world’s largest and deepest fresh water basin. Along with its beauty, it also serves as an important source of water in the parched outback.

You sure can’t miss going to Sydney if you visit Australia. Sydney is located in a coastal basin situated between the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Blue Mountains to the west. You can enjoy all the activities associated with beaches because there are more than 70 beaches in Sydney! If you have limited time, then you can only go to the famous Bondi Beach of Australia.
Sydney has more amazing landmarks for you like Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. Both are located in Sydney Harbour. If you are interested in rowing, boating, recreational fishing, racing small yachts and Dragon Boat racing, then you can get all that in Sydney Harbour.

The city also boasts of musical, theatrical and artistic activities which come under one roof in the Sydney Festival which happens every January. More information can be found here - Sydney Australia.

Melbourne is another major city of Australia which is situated in the south-east corner of the mainland Australia. It has a large and vibrant cultural life along with a chain of pubs, bars and nightclubs. Fashionable nightclubs, ubiquitous faux-Irish pubs, serious jazz venues on Bennetts Lane, massive pickup joints like The Metro on Bourke Street are all part of the city’s magic.
If shopping is what tempts you the most, then there are many reasonably priced shopping places where you can go and shop till you drop. Melbourne has innumerable clothing shops for every budget and various outlet stores in Bridge Road, Richmond for bargain hunters too!
Perth is a city known for the pristine quality of its beaches. Unbroken stretches of golden sands run through the entire length of the city’s coastal suburbs. If you are a nature lover, then you got to see this place.

Adelaide or the ‘City of Churches’, as it is often referred as, is a coastal city situated on the Fleurieu Peninsula. The name City of Churches is a reflection of Adelaide’s past rather than its present. The city has many wine growing districts such as the Baroosa valley.

Food lovers can taste traditional Australian cuisine which consists of grilled chops, Sunday roasts etc. Some English trends are still evident in domestic cuisine like hot roast turkey, chicken or ham with all the trimmings followed by Christmas pudding. Australia’s two most traditional takeaway dishes are the meat pie and sausage roll.

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Mark Minding is a top travel journalist from the UK who has recently established a string of websites based on his travels, including places like France ( http://www.franceuk.co.uk ) and Egypt ( http://www.egyptuk.co.uk ).

Oh No! Summer Camp's Over... So Now What?

Well, there is a name for it and it's called post-summer camp gap year travel!.

A mouthful to digest, but an easy decision to make. And as an after taste you'll have plenty of time to let it all sink in on your explorations of America.

Once your summer camp duties have been fulfilled and you've squeezed every ounce of fun and satisfaction out of your time there, the last thing you'll want to do is go home. So, what else is there to do in America? And what are you going to spend that hard-earned summer camp cash on anyway?

America is a land of infinite possibilities. Since the US has a staggering 12,000 available summer camps scattered throughout the country, you'll have to consider which camp the launching pad for your adventures is going to be.

A good idea is to plan your route before deciding on the camp you're going to be working at. Remember, with your J1 visa, you'll have up to ten whole weeks of travel time in the United States. Spend that time wisely.

Summer camp is a great place to meet the people who actually live in America. They know the country well so get their advice on interesting places to visit, especially the ones that are off the usual touristy trails. Since there are 12,000 summer camps to choose from and thousands of possible places to visit, here are a few options to help give you some ideas on your camp choice.

Let’s start at Route 66

Route 66 is the Great American Road Trip. “In addition to (working at) Camp America, I got to travel from coast to coast” says Bojan from Serbia. Many who leave camp start road trips in Chicago and end them on the sunny beaches of the Pacific Ocean in Los Angeles, California.

Travel through a series of eight American states and the landscapes that made the West famous. You'll literally find thousands of things to see and do. It is highly recommended that you take your own transport. That way you'll be able to stop in the various towns for as long as you like. If you're familiar with motorcycles, this is the iconic bikers dream route; there is no other.

America: Land of Theme parks

The most awe-inspiring park has got to be Six Flags Magic Mountain in Los Angeles, California. From a New Yorker’s perspective, Gordon Teoh says “It’s all going on, all the time”.

This is not a theme park so much as it's an extreme park, and it's home to one jaw dropping rollercoaster – The Viper, otherwise known as the largest looping rollercoaster in the world. But wait, the Viper is set to lose this title to an even taller and faster opponent with the planned unveiling of The KingDa Ka. Towering at 456 feet and launching you screaming at over 127 MPH, America's theme parks just keep getting bigger, faster and meaner....almost out of control. So make sure your camp is based around the Los Angeles area if you decide to take the plunge.

The Grand Canyon

Few people have not heard of the Grand Canyon, but not many have seen it. This is an American classic for film locations of every kind and for those who know, this was Airwolf's lair in the famous TV series by the same name. The Grand Canyon is an exceptionally deep, steep-walled canyon in the northwestern Arizona area.

“It is amazing - just like in the movies!” comments Helen Anderson who worked at Camp Canonicus. River rafting in the Colorado River, hiking and of course good old photography are things to do at the Canyon. The Grand Canyon cannot be missed; it's big, it's wild and it's absolutely amazing.

These destinations represent only a small fraction of the possibilities of post-summer camp gap year travel. The summer camp you work at could be anywhere in the USA, so do some research or contact one of the camp organizers for things to do after camp. Ten weeks of America's infinite possibilities await, so waste no time.

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by: Gregory Hudson

Camp America (http://www.campamerica.co.uk/) is the largest and most respected provider of staff to summer camps in the USA. They work closely with summer camps around America and have affiliations with a number of travel companies that can be used to plan gap year travels in America.

Taking an Alaskan Cruise – What to Pack

Packing in general can be a hassle. But when going on an Alaskan cruise, it can be even harder because of the colder weather. Here are some general suggestions to make this task a little easier.

Casual clothing – You will want to take some casual clothing for the daytime. This will include jeans, cords, turtlenecks, and sweaters.
Dress in layers – If you dress in layers, you can add or subtract layers as the weather dictates.

Outerwear – You probably will not need a heavy down coat if you dress in layers, however, you will need a jacket.

Dinner wear – You will want to dress up for dinner each night. If you stick to a core wardrobe color, you can mix and match. Use bold accessories such as pins, necklaces, and scarves to change up the look.

Shoes – Try to plan your wardrobe around one basic color so that your shoes will match everything. Of course, dinner shoes will be different from every-day shoes.

Misc – Remember to take your camera and binoculars. Don’t forget the film and extra batteries. An umbrella may also be needed.

By packing this way, you may be able to get everything into one suitcase and a backpack that you can carry with you on the plane. You’ll be prepared and worry free.

Copyright © 2005 Susan Daniel and Debbie Overstreet
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By: Susan Daniel and Debbie Overstreet

Susan and Debbie are internet marketers. You can review more articles and Web sites on Alaskan cruises by visiting http://www.gocruisevacations.com

Disneyland for Hikers: A Walk to Mt. Whitney

Base camp sits at 12,000 feet — stark, windy, unshaded from the blazing August sun, but an otherwise great place to stop for a snack. Voices echo across cold granite as the breeze wraps around dozens of tents, backpacks, cooking stoves, and bear-proof food canisters. An unopened package of banana chips on my lap is immediately snatched up by a marmot, unhindered by my presence and unfazed by my pursuit.

Here, the animals, the people, and the barren granite form a bustling community in the Sierra Nevada wilderness. The trail to Mount Whitney sees thousands of people each year, all in pursuit of the highest peak in the United States (excluding Alaska). The people crowd the trail, the animals exploit the people, and Inyo National Forest rakes in thousands of tourism dollars. They say if you want solitude, go to Antarctica. Mount Whitney is Disneyland for hikers.

That’s not saying Whitney should be avoided. Like Disneyland, there’s a good reason crowds all congregate at one California landmark. Few other places in the world offer a well-tracked trail to 14,496 feet, where anyone with a pair of sturdy boots can trek to the top of a country, and a big one at that. Technical skills are optional on this trail, though patience and a degree of elevation tolerance is vital.

The trail begins at 8,368 feet in the Whitney Portal campground, at the end of a paved road from Lone Pine. The trailhead is a maze of parking lots, which, in the summer months, are nearly always filled to capacity.
This is the part of the forest where black bears rule; they bash in the windows of parked cars and steal whatever they find. So frequent are the bear burglaries that people are aggressively ticketed for leaving tempting packages in plain view.

I feel relieved when I walk into the wilderness and away from bear country. From the trailhead it’s over 11 miles and 6,000 vertical feet to the flat-topped summit, a gradual trail, but not for wimps. Whitebark pine forests slowly give way to exposed granite over the first 7 miles, then base camp marks a strenuous and rocky climb to Sierra Crest.

I drafted my dad and his friend Tom, two avid hikers in their late 40’s, up the steep section of trail affectionately called “100 switchbacks.” I lose count after 75. Most hikers complete this hike as two to three-day backpacking trip, but Dad, Tom and I are going to do it in a day.

Sierra Crest is marked at 13,600 feet, already higher than I have ever hiked. The elevation puts a clamp on my lungs, and I feel a vague sense of sleepiness creeping into my head, even though my heart is pumping. The trail rolls along the ridge behind sheer pinnacles. You could stumble and fall 2,000 feet, but the immaculate trail helps prevent that. Thousands of footsteps per year have worn a nice groove in the jagged mountain
At this point I’m laboring up the trail, but it doesn’t matter. I’m a hiker that climbs to look, not conquer. The green and gold of Sequoia stretches across the horizon. Deep blue lakes sparkle beneath a cloudless sky. From here you can almost see the depths of Death Valley - the lowest point in the United States and only 90 miles from this point.

Dad and Tom are a ways ahead by the time I ascend the final slope - a gradual ramp that eventually levels off. This is the peak - flat, spacious, almost custom-designed for large capacities. A crowd of about a dozen people are scattered over the rocks. We plop next to a geographical marker - “Latitude: 36° 35’ x; Longitude: 118° 17’ x,” it says - and fix some lunch. We have great view of Lone Pine - 13 miles east, of Yosemite national park, of the expansive Nevada desert, of the Sierra Nevadas stretching over the horizon.

A strong wind whips past my head and muffles the incessant chatter. If I turn my head toward the sheer drop to the east I almost feel alone. Almost. They say if you want solitude, go elsewhere. If you want to see the spectacular top of America’s biggest and brightest, go to Whitney.
Directions: From Los Angeles take highway 14 to U.S. highway 395 north to Lone Pine, about 200 miles. Turn west onto Whitney Portal Rd. 13 miles to the trail head. Permits are required for this hike and are somewhat difficult to obtain. Call Inyo National Forest, Mt. Whitney District, (760) 876-6200, for more information.

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Jill Homer is a graphic artist and freelance travel writer currently residing in Tooele, Utah. She specializes in outdoor adventure writing. For more information please visit www.biketoshine.com or contact jill@biketoshine.com.

Eight Tips For A Bug-Free Summer

(NC)-With approximately 42,000 mosquitoes for every person in Ontario, most of us spend a great deal of our summers swatting away these pesky insects. Protecting yourself against mosquitoes will not only make your summer more enjoyable, it will help prevent you and your family from getting annoying and sometimes dangerous bug bites.

As a family physician, I recommend the following tips for a bug free summer.

Stay Scent-Free. Avoid using scented soaps, lotions and shampoos.
Gear Up. Cover your skin as completely as possible. This may be challenging by the beach, but when possible wear long sleeves, pants and socks.

Be Colour Conscious. Mosquitoes are attracted to blue, so avoid this colour and stick to neutral colours.

Use Repellent. Repellents containing DEET are most effective for areas with heavy mosquito or tick infestation.

Alternative Repellents. When applied frequently, citronella-based repellents can provide the same bug protection as products containing low concentrations of DEET. I recommend Natrapel®, which contains 10 percent citronella to ward off bugs for up to two hours.

Meal Time. Be alert to the time of day when certain insects are most active such as dawn and twilight.

Check Point. Upon returning indoors, check your children and yourself for bites.

Treatment. Sunburn and bite treatment products should be included in every outdoor adventurer's travel kit.

Dr. Brian Aw is a general practitioner specializing in travel medicine.

For more tips on bug bite prevention and product information visit: www.tendercorp.com/canada.

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News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.

News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial "fill" items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.

Bicycling Down The River

My river-rafting adventure started on a bicycle. The small daypack I wore carried a hatchet, a saw, some scraps of rope, food, water, a garbage bag bivy sack, a hat, and odds and ends. It weighed less than fifteen pounds total.

It was late May, so Id stay warm in my homemade bivy, without a sleeping bag. I might wear my hat, and pile up some leaves to sleep on. If the mosquitos were bad, I'd use my headnet, which, I had learned, would also trap warm air around my head, keeping me warmer. I had matches and a lighter, in case I needed a fire in an emergency.

Thirty miles of pedaling had brought me from my home in Traverse City, Michigan, down the backroads to the Baxter Bridge, on the Manistee River. It was almost 10 a.m. I pushed the bicycle into the woods, and rolled it along, lifting it over logs, until I was a mile upstream. Looking around at the trees, I knew this was the place to start the river rafting part of the trip.

Sometimes Adventure Involves A Lot Of Work

The first tree was the biggest, and I almost couldn't drag the ten-foot sections to the river after cutting them. They were perfect, however. Dead, dry-rotted Poplar was always good, because it was like styrofoam inside. It cut easy, and floated well. White Cedar was the best quality, but it was more difficult to find, and to cut.

When I had hauled enough logs to the river, I got into the water and pulled the first two pieces in after me. I tied them together, then tied two long thin poles to them perpendicularly near either end. The other logs were guided, one by one, under these two rails, and tied in place.
By early afternoon I was finished. With the last piece of rope, I tied the raft to shore. I cut a good rafting pole to guide me. I was ready.

Tom Sawyer Day

My first river rafting adventure had involved four of us. I advertised it to my friends as an adventure-disaster, sure to get them wet and cold. Three took the bait. Apart from snacks and water, we took only a hatchet, a small saw, and whatever scraps of rope we could find. It all fit into a small backpack.

We parked near the river and hiked a trail upstream until we were a few miles from the car. The plan was to build a raft, using only dead trees and our scraps of rope. We would then get on it and go rafting back to the car.

It was dubbed "Tom Sawyer Day," and became a much anticipated event among an ever-changing group of participants. Since it was, in equal parts, fun and dangerous, we didn't usually bring beer. Even sober, it was enough of a challenge to keep a thousand-pound pile of logs, with four people on it, from going where it wanted to go. Where it wanted to go inevitably involved pain and cold water, but with each trip I managed to learn a little. Sometimes we even stayed dry.

Sometimes Adventure Involves Math

The first trip, Roland and I were cutting and hauling logs to the river, while Cathy and Leslie cooked hotdogs over a fire. We began to do geometry on a piece of birchbark, trying to figure out how many logs were needed, allowing for the dishonesty of the women's stated weights.
"Cedar weighs 37 pounds per cubic foot," I told Roland, "leaving a lifting capacity of about 27 pounds, given that water is 64 pounds per cubic foot." The girls were laughing at me. "The volume of a cylindrical object is pi times the radius squared, times the length, right?"
Roland agreed. We counted out the logs and began to build the raft. When finished, we had a floating pile of old rotten logs and two frightened women.

Sometimes Adventure Involves Getting Wet

Leslie and Cathy sat on a stump in the middle of the raft. Roland and I stood with our poles, ready to fend off the banks of the river and the overhanging trees. We did this successfully for at least fifteen minutes.

Then, when a low, horizontal tree refused to move, Roland pushed us all off in order to regain his balance. We quickly gave up trying to find the bottom of the river, and swam after the raft. Sputtering and cursing at Roland, the three of us climbed back on.

This first rafting trip was in late April, when the water is still like ice. The sun warmed us, but our feet were almost always in the water. It was bad enough that the raft didn't float very high off the water, but then it began to change shape before our eyes and under our feet. "It's a square. No wait! It's a parallelagram... Now it's a square again." The girls decided that there was too much geometry in river rafting, so a few minutes later we let the raft drift close to the shore, where they stepped off into the shallow water.

The water, however, wasn't shallow. Once the girls had resurfaced, and climbed up the sandy bank of the river, we waved goodbye. The trail took them to and from the river on their way to the car.

The next time we saw them, Leslie was hiking in her wet bra and panties. This part of the adventure story was crucial to recruiting other young males in the future. The trail went into the forest again, and the girls didn't see us for thirty minutes.

Sometimes Adventure Involves Running

Actually, they saw the raft first, floating quietly down the river by itself. Soon they saw Roland and I, running along the opposite side, trying to catch up. This was because of a tree that stuck out from the bank, low to the water.

We were unable to avoid it, despite our excellent rafting skills, but we thought we could jump over it as the raft passed underneath. It seemed like a reasonable plan at the time. It didn't seem so reasonable when Roland was pushing my face into the sicks in the tree while climbing over me to get to shore.

The raft went on, not noticing our absence. We ran through swamp and woods, pretending this was part of the plan when the girls saw us. The raft came near the riverbank just as we caught up to it. We leapt for it, and we were back in control. More or less.

"How do we get off?" Roland asked, when we were near the car. We decided that we just had to get close to shore and jump. It seemed like a good idea. Roland was still hanging over the river from a tree when I started up the big hill to the car. Tom Sawyer Days went a little smoother after this first one.

Sometimes Adventure Involves Being Pointed At

After pedaling thirty miles and hauling logs for hours, I was tired, but satisfied. It was the best raft yet, and I was soon rafting down the river, under Baxter Bridge, and into the National Forest. I noticed immediately that these rafts float better with only one person on them. There was just one small group of houses to pass before a long uninhabited stretch. My bicycle stood proudly in the center of the raft, tied in place, with the backpack on the handlebars. The first guy to see me yelled hello, and pointed me out to his wife. The second didn't know what to say. The Manistee is not a well-traveled river, especially not by bicyclists. A few minutes later I was past the houses. Around the next bend, a whitetail deer saw me and backed off through the cattails.

I floated for hours. Apparently my previous river rafting experience was paying off, because I managed to miss the trees, rocks, riverbanks, and to stay dry. I was even able to sit down and soak up the sun for a minute or two at a time. The latter was always interrupted, of course, by the necessity to jump up and use the pole to avoid something.

In the evening, I stopped, disassembled the raft, and began pushing my bicycle through the woods. A mile later I found a trail, and started pedalling. A mile after that I met two guys on a two-track, with there truck. The ice-cold beer they gave me made them instant friends, so I told them that, no, I wasn't out bicycling. I was river rafting. Then they weren't sure they wanted a new friend, so I traveled on.

Sixty miles of bicycling, miles of pushing the bike through the woods, three hours of log-hauling, and five hours of rafting, all in one day, seemed like a worthy goal, so I decided to just head for home. And the mosquitos were worse than I had anticipated.

Sometime after dark I rolled into the driveway, dropped the bike, and stumbled into the house. I took a shower and answered the phone. It was time to go dancing.
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By: Steve Gillman

Steve Gillman has been hiking, biking, floating and adventuring in general for decades. For more of his stories and outdoor advice, you can visit http://www.TheMountainHikingSite.com

Going it Alone: The Waterfall at Mendenhall Glacier, Alaska

I stood at the observation point on the balcony at the Visitor Center overlooking the great Mendenhall Glacier at Juneau, Alaska. Before me was a beautiful scene. The glacier reflected in the large lake. Ooh, ahh. Both to the left and right were mountains. It was a beautiful clear day. I watched the people too, walking around taking photos, and looking at the scenery before us and at the displays in the center, just a few feet away.

A constant roar came from a tall and full waterfall to the right of the glacier. Once, the glacier covered the waterfall. No one was aware of its presence before the glacier receded. I looked closer at the base of the waterfall. There seemed to be a sandbar and people walking on it. With my binoculars I traced the path they must have taken below me. It crossed large sandbars separated by streams and covered with bushes. I found the general location of the beginning of the path. A ranger told me that there was a way to get out there, but it wasn't official, and that it was a little steep at one point. I decided that the best way to see such a beautiful place was up close, so I decided to try it. My mom and my husband were along with me. I told them I wanted to try the path, and asked if they wouldn't mind just hanging around waiting for me since they didn't want to join me.

Into the bushes I went. Immediately, I had to scramble along steep wet slate under the cover of brush. After following some wrong trails and trying again, I found myself in the large bush-covered sandy area heading towards the waterfall. I jumped little streams and plotted my course across to my goal. My last obstacles were climbing a large rock, and then traversing a 20 ft. wide stream dotted with well-placed stepping stones.

I walked right up to the roaring waterfall, and even climbed up along side it a ways on large rocks. Walking away from the waterfall I encountered a large cloud of mist that emanated from its base. I walked out along the sandbar towards the center of the lake and found a large rock to sit on. I had a snack, enjoying being present in this amazing location -- surrounded by the lake and flanked by a glacier, a grand waterfall and mountains. I met people too. Some kids were climbing up much higher than I had on the rocks. A gentleman from Germany took my photo, and I took a photo of two girls out on their own adventure.

After an hour of 'hanging around,' I turned back. I crossed the creek, climbed the rock, and then looked for hikers emerging from the bushes to find the best path back. A couple times I had to stop and wait for new hikers so I could find the path again. The sun was setting, the floating icebergs were glimmering on the lake, and I enjoyed every moment of delay.

My entire trek took about two hours -- worth every moment. My husband and my mom were very understanding and said they enjoyed the visitor center and the scenery (which included me through the telescope!) I'm glad I had the courage to ask for that time. It would have been easy just to do the scheduled tour, and to take no risks. William Shedd once said, 'A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.' I find that when I go further, it makes all the difference. It creates treasured memories.

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By: Theresa Gabriel

Paths began to beckon Theresa when she was 12, visiting the Bridger Wilderness in Wyoming. Walking, dancing, and movement are a part of her, nourished by John Denver*s musical challenge for her to *fly.* Join her *walking with women* Life Discovery Tours.
Learn more about Theresa Gabriel - Women Summit LLC
http://www.womensummit.com - Life Discovery Tours, Women's Retreats

Highpointing: It’s Not Just For Mountaineers

Mount Sunflower, Kansas. Ebright Azimuth, Delaware. Hawkeye Point, Iowa. Hoosier High Point, Indiana.

They may not have the name recognition of Mount McKinley (Denali), Mount Rainier, Mount Whitney, and Mount Hood. And they certainly are far, far easier to get to! But all these places have something in common. Each is the highest natural spot in its state.

Welcome to the world of Highpointing. Thousands of otherwise sane people have set out to drive, stroll, hike, or climb to the highest point in each of the 50 states. Many never plan to make it to the tougher highpoints like Denali (in Alaska), Rainier (in Washington) or Granite (in Montana), but they’ve discovered the fun in planning trips to locate the unusual “summits” of Sunflower (located on the flatlands of Kansas), Ebright Azimuth (yes, a suburban neighborhood can be the site of a state highpoint), Hawkeye Point (located at the end of a feeding trough on a farm in Iowa), and Lakewood Park (turn right at the restrooms, and stroll a short way along a path in a Florida park).

Of the 50 state highpoints, 14 are drive-ups. You drive right up to the highpoint, or so close to it you could toss a rock and hit it. Probably 8 more are extremely easy, involving a round-trip walk or hike of 30 minutes or less. In fact, only about 9 or 10 of the state highpoints involve more than a hike along a good trail. OK, some of these trails require long hikes that may gain a fair amount of elevation. Still, if you’re in good condition, and can walk for many hours, you can manage to check off about 40 state highpoints.

Why do people get into highpointing? It’s a great way to see our country. You’ll find highpoints in popular resort areas (Mount Mansfield at Stowe in Vermont), National Parks (Clingmans Dome, in Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee), and State Parks (Mauna Kea in Hawaii; Harney Peak in Custer State Park, South Dakota). But many highpoints are well off the beaten path, and will take you to beautiful and interesting parts of the country that you may have otherwise overlooked. Eagle Mountain is in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness of Minnesota. Oklahoma’s highpoint, Black Mesa, is near the very tip of the panhandle. Taum Sauk Mountain in Missouri is in a beautiful region of the Ozarks. Visit when the autumn leaves are at their peak, climb the nearby Lookout Tower, and prepare to be thrilled.

There are also many interesting things to see and do near the highpoints. Take in a concert by the Boston Symphony Orchestra or Boston Pops at Tanglewood in Massachusetts. Looking for something less cultured? How about the Boll Weevil Monument in Florida? Or the Wisconsin Concrete Park, featuring concrete sculptures of horses, soldiers, and heroes? If food and drink are more to your liking, don’t miss a tour of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory in Vermont, Great Adirondack Brewing Company in New York, or stop in at the Hilltop Restaurant in L’Anse, Michigan for the most decadent (and largest) sweet rolls you can imagine.

Happy Highpointing, everyone.

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Diane Winger is co-author of “Highpoint Adventures – The Complete Guide to the 50 State Highpoints”, and other guidebooks. Visit www.HighpointAdventures.com to learn more about hiking, climbing, and travel adventures in the great outdoors.

Diane Winger © 2004 All Rights Reserved

Vacation In Comfort With Kids

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 weather variances ( http://www.weather4you.info ), 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: http://www.thehappyguy.com/hippo-rage.html .

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: http://www.lastminutevillas.net/Disney-vacation.html .

Sharon Baillie is a private villa owner in the Kissimmee area outside Orlando, just a few miles from Disney World. "Our guests enjoy the spaciousness of our 6-bedroom home ( listed at http://www.lastminutevillas.net ). 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 vacation adventures. Here are three of mine: http://www.thehappyguy.com/family-vacation-adventure.html 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?

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By: David Leonhardt

David Leonhardt is a freelance writer, and an online and offline publicity specialist. Contact him at: mailto:info@seo-writer.net or visit his website at: http://www.seo-writer.net . He is building a vacation rentals site of his own at http://www.wv-vacation-rentals.com and a travel directory at http://www.wv-travel-directory.com .

How To Breeze Through The Security Checkpoint At Airports

Air travel is such a common method of transportation today, we sometimes forget the practical tips to help us enjoy a flight. The following tips will help you reduce your wait time at the security checkpoint.
What to do before you arrive at the airport.

Do not pack or bring prohibited Items to the airport. Prohibited items are weapons, explosives, incendiaries, and include items that are seemingly harmless but may be used as weapons - the so-called "dual use" items. You may not bring these items to security checkpoints without authorization.
Place valuables such as jewelry, cash and laptop computers in carry-on baggage only. Tape your business card to the bottom of your laptop.

Avoid wearing clothing, jewelry and accessories that contain metal. Metal items may set off the alarm on the metal detector.

Avoid wearing shoes that contain metal or have thick soles or heels. Many types of footwear will require additional screening even if the metal detector does not alarm.

Put all undeveloped film and cameras with film in your carry-on baggage. Checked baggage screening equipment will damage undeveloped film.
Declare firearms & ammunition to your airline and place them in your checked baggage.

If you wish to lock your baggage, use a TSA-recognized lock.

Do not bring lighters or prohibited matches to the airport.

Do not pack wrapped gifts and do not bring wrapped gifts to the checkpoint. Wrap on arrival or ship your gifts prior to your departure. TSA may have to unwrap packages for security reasons.

At the Airport

Keep in mind that every adult traveler 18 years and older will need to keep available his/her airline boarding pass and government-issued photo ID until exiting the security checkpoint. Because of the differences in airport configurations at many airports, you may be required to display these documents more than once.

Place the following items IN your carry-on baggage or in a plastic bag prior to entering the screening checkpoint:

Mobile phones

Keys

Loose change

Money clips

PDA's (personal data assistants)

Large amounts of jewelry

Metal hair decorations

Large belt buckles

Take your laptop and video cameras with cassettes OUT of their cases and place them in a bin which will be provided at the checkpoint.

Take OFF all outer coats, suit coats, jackets and blazers.

By following the suggested tips, you will breeze through the security checkpoint, which will help you to enjoy your flight.

Copyright 2005. GetCheapAirlineTickets.com All Rights Reserved.
Permission is freely granted to use this article so long as our resource box remains at the end of this article with all links live.

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By: Jamie Madison

Jamie Madison is a flight attendant with a low-cost airline based in JFK. She enjoys consulting in the travel business and has provided a FREE website to offer consumers a stress-free way to make travel plans. Download your FREE “Travel Tips” Report by visiting http://www.getcheapairlinetickets.com.

Costa Rica White Water Rafting Trip

Costa Rica's mountainous topography and copious rainfall are both responsible for one of the best white water rafting river choices in the world. Experienced rafting outfitters regularly run about half a dozen of rambunctious rivers, and those river trips not only provide plenty of excitement, but also allow enjoying gorgeous scenery. Not only do white water rafting enthusiasts flock Costa Rica, including several Olympic kayaking teams, but every year tens of thousands of visitors experience here the thrill of rafting for the first time.

Costa Rica is the perfect place for a first white water rafting trip experience, since it has several rivers that offer a combination of reasonable rapids and beautiful floats. There are even rivers that are great for family excursions and bird watching, since they lack big rapids and flow through forests full of birds and other animals. In fact almost all river trips offer chances to see a bit of the country's wildlife, such as iguanas, blue morpho butterflies, parrots, otters, king fishers, and herons.

The river routes available to rafters range from the turbulent waters of the lower Reventazon, where you hardly have enough time to catch your breath between rapids, to the meandering curves of the Corobici, where you spend more time watching wildlife than paddling. The most popular Costa Rica white water rafting trip offer a good combination of challenging rapids and calmer stretches where you can sit back and enjoy the passing scenery. If you've done a bit of rafting up north, you'll find the comfortably cool water of Costa Rica's rivers a nice switch from the chilly water of the northern rivers. All white water rafting trips can also be done in kayaks, but kayakers must be experienced.

A wide selection of outfitters run trips down the country's most accessible rivers using trained river guides and modern equipment - all rafters are provided life vests and helmets - ensuring safe but exciting excursions. Costa Rica white water rafting trip one-day include transportation to and from the river, breakfast and a picnic lunch on the riverbank. Overnight trips often include lodging riverside cabins and all meals.

Following are a few of the most convenient rivers for Costa Rica white water rafting trip:

Reventazon: The Tucurrique section (Class III) is easy enough for first-timers. The Pascua section (Class IV-V) is very wild, and requires previous rafting experience. Can be run year round

Pacuare: The country's longest and most spectacular river trip (Class III-IV) can be run from mid May thru mid March. Two-day trip recommended.

Sarapiqui: Beautiful river (Class II-III), good trip for beginners. Can be run out of San Jose or the Arenal area, from mid May thru mid March.

Savegre: Another beautiful river (Class II-III) excellent for first timers. River trips leave from Manuel Antonio and Quepos, May thru January.

Naranjo: A wild river (Class III-IV) near Quepos that requires some rafting experience. Run from June thru November.

El General: A popular three-day kayaking or rafting trip (class III-IV) best during the height of the rainy season, September to November.

________________
By: Andy Bezara

For amazing Costa Rica white water rafting vacation package visit http://www.mytraveltocostarica.com
info@mytraveltocostarica.com

Costa Rica: Land of Natural Wonders

Costa Rica is a small country - just 75 mi/120 km separates the Pacific Ocean from the Caribbean Sea at the narrowest spot - Costa Rica still has some of the most diverse scenery in the world. Its coasts have both sandy beaches and marshy swamps, while its interior is dotted with volcanoes, dense with rain forests and abundant with unusual flora.

When you are planning your Costa Rica vacation, make sure to visit destinations like Monteverde Cloud Forest, Corcovado National Park, Tortuguero National Park or Manuel Antonio National Park. In addition, you will enjoy in your Costa Rica vacation, a wide range of adventure travel activities, including scuba diving, hiking around the Arenal Volcano area, and exploring the dense tropical rainforests.

What to do? Where to do? Fly through the rain-forest canopy on a zip line? Go white-water rafting? Climb a volcano? Laze on a white-sand beach in guanacaste and manuel antonio national park on the pacific coast or Limon on the caribbean coast? Check out colorful marine life while snorkeling? Or try to hook one on a deep-sea fishing excursion?

Costa Rica offers plenty of pleasant choices like these, especially if you're interested in nature and outdoor activities. That's why so many people have chosen to go there: In the past decade, the number of visitors has quadrupled, and tourism has become a big part of the nation's economy. Costa Rica is practically synonymous with ecotourism - travel that incorporates education about the environment and promotes preservation of natural resources. The country has a large number of national parks and nature preserves that boast a rich array of birds, mammals, reptiles and rain-forest plants. The variety of birds, in particular, is astounding: Some 850 species are packed into a relatively small area, a bird watcher paradise. Approximately 25% of the country's land has been set aside in protected areas, earning Costa Rica a reputation as an environmentally sensitive country and leader in ecological conservation.

The country has excellent conditions for a number of adventure sports, among them surfing, river rafting, hiking and scuba diving, wind surfing and mountain bike.Those who prefer a less strenuous vacation can view more than 50 volcanoes (Poas volcano, Rincon de la Vieja volcano, Irazu volcano and Arenal volcano) take boat trips down jungle rivers and float through the treetops in the world's first Rain Forest Aerial Tram, visit La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Tortuga Island, The Cafe Britt Coffee tour
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By: Andy Bezara

Visit www.mytraveltocostarica.com and find the most wonderful Costa Rica vacation packages
info@mytraveltocostarica.com

Penguin Parade

Phillip Island is a small island and nature reserve off the coast of South Australia, about 140 km from Melbourne. On the island you can see koalas, kangaroos and the main to attraction, the Penguin Parade on Summerland Beach.

Every day at sunset, the Little Penguins (also known as Fairy Penguins) because of their diminitive size, return to the beach. As my husband is a penguin fanatic, it was one of the places on our list to visit during our trip to Australia.

There is a visitor centre at the top of the beach with details of all the world's penguins, there is a gift shop too and rangers who can answer questions about everything you wanted to know about penguins and more.

As dusk was approaching, we made our way down to the beach, as did everyone else. On the beach was a stone grandstand, rather cold on the behind, so bring a coat or blanket to sit on.

Some people had even brought along a picnic, a family day out. As it got darker, people became more subuded and talked less, keeping an eye out on the beach to see the arrival of that first penguin.

Suddenly there was movement at the edge of the surf and all heads turned as one. There, standing by the edge of the water was the smallest penguin we had ever seen. He looked left, then right, as if he was contemplating crossing a busy road and then he ran quickly across to the sand dunes and the penguin burrows.

He must have been the scout, because after him, there came groups of penguins, some consisted of two or three penguins, some had about ten or fifteen, but they all made that same mad dash across the sand into the burrows, as if they couldn't get there fast enough.

The crowd of penguin watchers was quiet, except for the occasional, "ooh" and "ahhs" from adults as well as children. The groups started to dwindle and finally no more penguins emerged from the sea.

We sat on the grandstand for a while, not talking, just feeling awed at what we'd just seen. Neither of has had ever seen penguins in the wild before, only in zoos and it was an amazing feeling.

You could see the penguins here every evening and morning, but they weren't in cages or in small pools, the sea was their playground and it is a sight we would definitely recommend to anyone.

There were two floodlights by the grandstand, which didn't seem to bother the penguins, but you weren't allowed to take flash photographs as it scared them. Of course, there were some people who didn't listen to the ranger and they were told off and escorted off the beach, so do listen to what they say.

After the penguins had gone to their burrows, you could walk along boardwalks and see them there. They make a lot of noise for all the size of them.

It wasn't available while we were there, but now there is the option to have breakfast at sunrise, just before the penguins make their way back to the sea. That's got to be worth a look.

So if you are venturing down under, make a small detour to Phillip Island and Summerland Beach. You won't regret it.
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By: Annette Gibsy

Annette Gisby is the author of the novels, Silent Screams and Drowning Rapunzel and the short story collection, Shadows of the Rose. She loves travelling and seeing new places, despite getting travel sick!
For more information on Annette and her books, please visit her website http://www.annettegisby.n3.net

Article copyright 2004, Annette Gisby.
annette.gisby@which.net

RV Vacations: Ten Tips

Perhaps you have wondered about taking an RV vacation. It seems like fun and you'd like to try it, but you aren't sure if it's for you. Well, it's a growing industry. Annual RV retail sales topped $14 billion in 2004. As baby boomers take to the road, the RVing pastime and lifestyle are becoming increasingly popular. If you have a hint of the RV itch, then here are 10 common reasons for taking an RV vacation:

1.Getting Back to Nature: If you are interested in the great outdoors, an RV is a great way to vacation. You can visit state or national parks, tour famous landmarks and simply enjoy some fresh air and natural settings. Take a hike or go fishing. Try white water rafting or canoeing. Play some golf, go swimming, ride your bike. Get some exercise or simply do nothing but enjoy your surroundings.

2.The Comforts of Home: In an RV, you can have the best of both worlds. Enjoy the great outdoors with more creature comforts than tent camping. Whether you own an RV or try a rental, most RVs are well equipped. You will likely have a kitchen with microwave, fridge and stove, a TV and VCR, beds, living and dining areas and bathroom with shower. Many RVs have slide out rooms that increase the living area at the touch of a button. You can sit outside under your awning, get out of the rain if the weather changes, and turn on the air conditioner if it gets too hot.

3.Family Matters: Family members of all ages tend to connect with each other when they are away from their normal routine enjoying a simpler lifestyle. Remember that family togetherness can be a double-edged sword. While the RV is comfortable, it is a small living area for a large family. If you are renting, bear this in mind in choosing the size of your rental RV. During the day, try to spend time outdoors or in different activities, so that each family member gets a bit of personal space and time for themselves. But the minor logistics can be managed. The general consensus among RVing families is that an RV vacation tends to bring the family closer together with more communication and the sharing of good times.

4. Cool for Kids: An RV vacation can be a great way to travel with children. They can go out to play or take part in campground activities. There are likely to be other kids to meet and new places to explore. Children of all ages will enjoy an old-fashioned campfire complete with stories, songs and stargazing. And most kids think it's pretty cool to be in an RV "home on wheels".

5. Campgrounds: There are many choices in campgrounds and RV parks. In peak season and tourist areas, you should make reservations. Look for the amenities that are important to you. Campgrounds may have swimming pools, lakes, boating, fishing ponds, miniature golf, playgrounds, hiking trails, game rooms, walking or bike paths, tennis courts and activities for kids and adults. You may find dances, barbeques, contests or other entertainment. RV Clubs are worth joining to get campground discounts and other services. Consider the size and setting of the campsites and check out overall campground ratings in campground directories. Also consider proximity to other attractions or landmarks that you want to visit.

6. Flexibility: In an RV, you have the flexibility to change locations if you get the whim. But take this with a grain of salt. For popular destinations, you may not be able to pick up and find another campground without a reservation. You also want to strike the right balance between seeing different areas, the amount of time spent driving and ensuring you have enough time to relax. Cautions aside, an RV can give you a lot of freedom and spontaneity. RV travel appeals to an inner pioneering spirit and allows you to create your own adventure as you go along your way. You can explore the country at your own pace or take off for last minute mini-vacations, tailgating events and weekend trips.

7. Affordability: The question of whether it is cheaper to take an RV vacation doesn't have a "one size fits all" answer. The comparison really depends on the type of vacations you would take instead, as well as the way in which you plan to RV. For a one-time trip, you can compare the costs of renting a suitable RV to the costs of hotels, airfare or other means of travel. Or if you are considering regular RV vacations, you may want to purchase a motorhome or towable trailer. In this case, you would need to factor in operating costs, maintenance and the purchase price. In an RV, you can save money by cooking meals at home vs. dining out. You can minimize expenses if you take advantage of activities and amenities already included in the campground rate. Fuel expenses can be managed by reducing the distances traveled and staying longer at a given campground or park.

8. Driving the RV: Driving yourself gives you control over where you go and the pace of your travel. You don’t have the hassle of airline counters and keeping to schedules. You can stop and take a break when you choose. You don't need a special license to drive an RV. Sure, it takes some getting used to -- but the number of RVs on the road should tell you that it is doable. Practice on your own (or with one other person) before you load up your passengers. Take advantage of any classes available through your dealer or one of the many RV organizations.

9. How about a relaxing vacation for a change? How many times have you returned from a trip saying you need a vacation from the vacation? Now don't kid yourself - if you are the type who likes to schedule all the details of a trip, that's not going to change simply because you are traveling in an RV. But in choosing an RV vacation, you may shift your thinking and be more apt to use your time off as an opportunity to truly relax and unwind.

10. Test out the RV Lifestyle: The RV vacation may serve as a test drive to gauge your overall interest in the RV lifestyle. There are RVers who spend several weeks per year in RV travel. Other RVers take off for months. Snowbirds are RVers who make an annual trek to warmer climates for the winter season. And then there are fulltime RVers whose only home is their RV. Many of these people started out by vacationing in an RV as a way to try out the RV lifestyle.

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By: Jill Ferrer

Copyright 2005 Your RV Lifestyle, all rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.
Publication is permitted provided the resource information at the end of the article remains intact, and links are live. Please notify the author via the Contact Us form at http://www.your-rv-lifestyle.com, providing a link to the location of the article, or a copy of the newsletter.

Jill is a fulltime RVer and the editor of http://www.your-rv-lifestyle.com, where you can find more advice for choosing, affording and enjoying your RV lifestyle.

Old Barney -- A Visit to Barnegat Light, New Jersey

Barnegat Light, NJ is the home to "Old Barney" a historic lighthouse located at the northern tip of Long Beach Island. Long Beach Island, or "LBI" as the vacationing folks like to say, is a narrow island nearly twenty miles long and six miles at sea off the coast of Ocean County, NJ.

The lighthouse is a destination in and of itself, if lighthouses are something that you like. Like all lighthouses, this one has distinctive markings: the top half is red and the bottom half is white. Built in 1859, the current lighthouse is the second one for that site. The original, constructed in 1824, was in disrepair and sorely in need of being replaced. Thus, the present lighthouse -- fondly called Old Barney - was constructed.

Barnegat Light is the second tallest lighthouse in the US. It served those at sea and on land with distinguishment until its light was extinguished forever in 1965, made obsolete by electronic navigation. In the late 1980s the lighthouse was shut down for three years for much needed repairs, but then reopened to visitors. Old Barney remains a popular visitor destination and is now a state park. Nearby attractions include the beaches, fishing, historic homes, and neighboring communities on the island. LBI is easily accessible to Philadephia and New York City and is a favorite destination for those who travel to the Jersey Shore.

Matt is a fan of lighthouses and enjoys the history associated with the sea. His area of work is more upward as he manages business aviation websites including the Corporate Flight Attendant Community at http://www.corporateflyer.net/ and the Aviation Employment Board at http://www.aviationemploymentboard.net.

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By: Matthew Keegan

Code of Conduct for Outdoor Enthusiasts

My favorite outdoor related quote comes from John Muir, the father of our national park system and founder of the Sierra Club. He said, “When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” This quote means more to me today than it did twenty years ago and will undoubtedly mean more to me still as I spend an increasing amount of time out of doors. Muir is telling us something of great importance - we are attached to nature too. Therefore, how we think and act while visiting wild places today will ultimately determine the amount of enjoyment by outdoor enthusiasts for ever more. So how should we think and act?

A code of conduct exists for outdoor enthusiasts. It is called the Principles of Leave No Trace. This set of best practices was designed specifically to ensure our outdoor recreational activities are sustainable over long periods of time. Leave No Trace is an organization dedicated to educating people on how to minimize their impacts while enjoying the outdoors. Here are their seven principles.

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare

2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

3. Dispose of Waste Properly

4. Leave What You Find

5. Minimize Campfire Impacts

6. Respect Wildlife

7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

BackCountry Toys is a supporter of Leave No Trace and we encourage all outdoor enthusiasts to do likewise. To learn how to put these principles into action, you may find more information on their website at www.lnt.org or on our website as well.

Over the years, I have tugged on countless things in nature. I have found out they are indeed attached to everything else - including me. As outdoor enthusiasts we understand the importance of our relationship with the backcountry and we are keenly aware of how our attitudes and our actions determine the long term viability of these wild places. Here is another of my favorite quotes. This one is by Michel Montaigne. “Let us permit Nature to take her own way; she better understands her own affairs than we." Use this information and you’ll Get It Right The First Time. Get Outdoors!
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By: Chuck Fitzgerald

Chuck Fitzgerald is the owner of Arizona based BackCountry Toys, an online specialty store with the “Best Gear Out There” and dedicated to helping outdoor enthusiasts to “Get It Right The First Time” with timely educational information. Please visit http://www.BackCountryToys.com to find great gear and to receive the Fact & Tips e-newsletter, "FreshAir.” (800) 316-9055.

Bird Watching Tips

Simply sitting and watching birds is a popular hobby around the world. It's fun and relaxing at the same time.

Many people quite enjoy just watching the birds in their garden, yard, trees and bushes from their front window. And it's even better to actually go out into the wild and watch the birds in their own natural habitats.
"Natural Habitat" of course usually means going into the woods, or to remote areas. So before going on a bird watching outing, be sure you've prepared a little. First and foremost, be sure you're wearing the appropriate clothes for both the location you'll be visiting, and the climate that area is currently experiencing.

If you live in a warm desert area for instance, and you plan to go up a mountain for a day of bird watching, you'll want to first find out if there's any snow on the mountain, or whether it's cold during the daylight hours.
You'll of course also want to be sure you have some food or snacks, and plenty of water to keep you hydrated.

Binoculars are almost a requirement for bird watching too. They allow you to get a close up view of any birds, nests, and chicks. Many bird lovers also enjoy having pen or pencil, and a notepad on hand so they can take notes about the birds they've seen, or sketch them as they're watching.

And of course if you like pictures... you'll want to bring along a camera :)
Last but not least, it would be helpful to have some sort of bird identification system or reference available. Whether you can take it with you into the woods, or you have it hanging at home, these are always quite useful over the long term.
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By: Kathy Burns-Millyard.

This article is brought to you by The Bird House Shop Section of The Garden Source Network. Attract Wild Birds to your Garden this Spring with Bird Houses, Bird Feeders, & Bird Baths

This article may be freely published on any website, as long as the author, copyright, website address and link, and this notice are left intact.

A Holiday in Rajasthan

Romancing History – A Holiday in Rajasthan

Rajasthan, the name evokes myriad impressions – an intricate tapestry of colour, sound and smell. Holidaying in Rajasthan brings one face to face with mammoth contradictions – where royal grandeur is easily offset by rustic charm and lavish opulence belies ingenious survival. Geographically too, Rajasthan is a land of contrasts: dense forests give way to an arid landscape and lofty hills separate baking dunes from brimming lakes. And no Rajasthan holiday is complete without an experience of the spirited Rajputs, whose proud and haughty exterior conceals an inner friendliness and warm sense of hospitality.

Rajasthan, meaning the land of the kings, has a history dating back 5000 years. A Rajasthan holiday is the experience of a living tradition. Dotted with well-preserved architectural wonders echoing age-old legends, many of these, especially the ancient havelis are in use even today. Similarly, ancient temples in this mystic land have effortlessly spanned eons of worship by the devout as they resound even today with chanting and ringing of bells.

Holiday in Rajasthan! Follow in the footsteps of the ancient caravans as you travel through this ageless land by a camel safari or step into the shoes of kings, as you ride into palaces sitting atop an elephant. Track the tiger in wild Rajasthan or have a holiday adventure driving a jeep over sand dunes in a hip desert adventure.

Cultural Rajasthan

Rajasthan is dotted with the reminders of its ancient past, its forts ringing with ballads of the valour and romance of the Rajputs. But the tourist is not a visitor to dead relics showcased in a museum. A Rajasthan holiday is an enthralling ride through the living portals of history.

Bikaner: Located in North Rajasthan, Bikaner is desert country famous for its medieval spirit, its monuments and camels. Junagarh fort, Lalgarh palace, Jain Haveli and Bhandeswari are a feast for the holiday crowd.

Jaipur: Rajasthan’s pink city offers a holiday with a refreshing blend of the traditional and the modern. Its attractions include the Hawa Mahal, Albert Hall, Jantar Mantar and the forts, Nahargarh, Jaigarh, Amber and Moti Dungri.

Jaisalmer: The magic of the desert is very alive in this legendary town famous for its havelis – traditional mansions that are artistic expression with skilled craftsmanship, carvings and paintings. Other attractions include the breathtaking Jaisalmer Fort and the Tazia Towers.

Jodhpur: The ancient Marwar empire in the desert, this military town is also famous for the kingly sport of Polo. It is famous for its monuments including Umaid Bhawan Palace, Mehrangarh fort and Jaswant Thada.

Udaipur: Known for its lakes and palaces, this is the ultimate Rajasthan holiday. Udaipur epitomizes artistic endeavor from brilliant architecture and miniature painting to vibrant performing arts. Tourists are simply dazzled by the City Palace, Lake Palace, Crystal Gallery, Durbar Hall, Bagore-ki-haveli Dharohar, Jag Mandir, and Maharana Pratap Memorial.

Wild Rajasthan Holidays

Rajasthan is also a haven for some thrilling wildlife holidays, housing as it does some of the best National Parks and Sanctuaries in India.

Ranthambore National Park: Located at the junction of the Aravalis and the Vindhyas, Rajasthan’s important hill ranges, this former hunting ground of the Maharajas is one of the best places in the world to see the tiger. Other wild life her includes sambar, chital, nilgai, hyena, caracal and panther.

Sariska National park: Situated among the rugged Aravali hills that dominate North West Rajasthan, Sariska’s dry deciduous forests are