I have fond childhood memories of my visits to many of the national parks out west with my family. From 1971 to 1977, we visited Yosemite, Lassen, Redwood, Sequoia, King’s Canyon, Crater Lake, Mt. Rainier, Olympic, Glacier, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Grand Canyon, Brice, Zion, and Mesa Verde.
We first visited Yosemite in 1971, when I was nine. It was spectacular! This was the first time I’d ever seen snow-covered mountains. We stayed in Yosemite Valley, home to Yosemite Falls, the tallest waterfall in the United States, as well as Half Dome and El Capitan. We went on several hikes. I have been back to Yosemite about a dozen times since then.
Another national park we often visited was Glacier. We’d take a road trip up there each summer from 1973 to 1975. We stayed at the Many Glacier Hotel, the largest of a chain of seven hotels at Glacier and Waterton, the extension of Glacier into Alberta, Canada. The restaurant staff at Many Glacier performed music every night after dinner as well as a musical every summer.
Another one of my favorite national parks is the Grand Canyon. One day we rode about halfway down the canyon on mules. The Grand Canyon is also near Brice and Zion canyons in Utah, two other spectacular canyons.
Perhaps my favorite national park is Yellowstone. We visited there in the summer of ‘75 I believe. Unfortunately, this was the only time I’ve been there. I remember Old Faithful, which erupts roughly every hour, as well as several other geysers. I also recall the wide variety of wildlife, including deer, moose, elk, and bears.
Biosphere 2 is a landmark simulated space colony 20 miles north of Tucson, Arizona. In the scenic sense, it resembles a Mars colony. Its parent company, Space Biospheres Ventures, built the airtight steel-and-glass structure to demonstrate the principle of environmental closure, the type of life support system one might want to use in space. It sealed eight human “biospherians” into the three-acre laboratory for two years (1991-1993). The attempt was successful, but not without incident. Paranoid behavior on the part of the management of Space Biospheres Ventures alienated the press and the scientific community. However, the experiment led to new knowledge about the difficulties of building closed ecosystems, about the physics and chemistry of building materials, and about how humans react to enclosure.
These days, the facility is not used for science, but offers tours featuring perfect weather, great views of the Catalina Mountains and a fascinating trip under glass through a highly instrumented tropical rain forest, wetlands, a desert, savanna, and an ocean biome, complete with mechanically-generated wind, waves, and rain. It might have made great science fiction reality TV.
Yet Biosphere 2 is dying. Not biologically, although that may happen, too, but financially.
Decision Investments Corporation of Fort Worth, Texas and its multibillionaire principal Ed Bass provided the $200 million backing for Biosphere 2. Bass, never having made a dime on the deal, is looking for an exit strategy that does not involve bulldozing his brainchild.
Briefly, Biosphere 2 tried running as a scientific tourist attraction. It offered tours, though not under the glass, a gift shop, restaurant, hotel and conference center. It failed.
From 1996 to 2003 Columbia University tried running the campus as a biological research station with student help. No longer sealed, the big space frame was nevertheless controlled, with scientists manipulating temperature, carbon dioxide, and nutrient levels to determine how Biosphere 1 (the Earth) might respond to human-induced global warming. One finding: rising CO2 may do more harm to coral reefs than anticipated. The Columbia business model assumed intellectual property spun off from the project would lead to capital development, but that did not happen. The facility was said to be too expensive to run. A 2003 Department of Energy report put the cost of operating Biosphere 2 at $4 million/year, financially about the size of a small business.
The 85,000 people who visited Biosphere 2 in 2004, at a cost of $20 each, together generated $1.7 million. Do the math. It’s clearly not enough.
A deal with Fairfield Homes to build luxury houses on the 1658 acres around Biosphere 2 was called off in the fall of 2006, possibly because Fairfield proposed to knock down part of the Biosphere to improve the view. Shortly after that, Jerry Hawkins of CB Richard Ellis, a Tucson broker representing Decision Investments, told the press that the property was NOT available for sale.
At about the same time, the Arizona Daily Star reported that the University of Arizona was negotiating to take over the 140-acre Biosphere 2 campus in an undisclosed deal that the negotiators said “won’t cost the UA a nickel”. Maybe, but an editorial in the same newspaper observed that “Biosphere 2 has been more of a tourist attraction than a research center.” That being the case, the writer doubted that the “not a nickel” plan applies to the taxpayers generally.
As has frequently been true with Biosphere 2, scant facts are available, but here are two:
1) There is a consensus among visitors that the one-of-a-kind facility is a cultural must-see.
2) Biosphere 2’s future is uncertain. Better go see it soon.
Laurence B. Winn is an engineer, pilot, adventurer, and author. His web site, alienlandscapes.biz www.alienlandscapes.biz, provides insight into the greatest escape adventure of all time.
When traveling to San Francisco, looking for a hotel can be tough because there are many to choose from.
With different tourist attractions in San Francisco, the hotel business is a booming industry. Whether you are looking for a hotel near Fisherman’s Wharf, a bed and breakfast near the marina or a luxurious hotel near the airport, you will surely find what you are looking for.
If you want a hotel in the tourist area, then hotels near the Fisherman’s Wharf are the place to look. Hotels in this area can be very expensive, and parking fees are usually not included in hotel rates. It is advantageous, however, to choose a hotel in this area, because they are among the most sought-after because of their location. The area where they are located is considered vibrant and where most tourists go. It also has the most number of scenic attractions in the city.
If you are looking for more luxurious and classy hotels, there are many in San Francisco. If your travel to San Francisco is business-related, and you need a hotel near the downtown financial district, the place offers the best hotels for traveling businessmen.
If you want to save money and have a car, hotels near the airport could be the perfect choice for you. Hotels near the airport are generally 40% cheaper than those you find in the city. Staying in these hotels is convenient, especially if you need to catch an early flight. Even if there is heavy traffic in the city, you do not have to worry about ruining your trip itinerary.
Whatever your reason for going to San Francisco, you will find the right hotel to suit your needs. There are various types for travelers like you to choose from, including those that meet your budgetary requirements. Choosing is simply of matter of preference.
e-SanFranciscoHotels.com San Francisco Hotels provides detailed information on San Francisco Hotels, San Francisco Airport Hotels, San Francisco Luxury Hotels, Cheap San Francisco Hotels and more. San Francisco Hotels is affiliated with e-SanDiegoHotels.com San Diego Beach Hotels.
A Fabulous Guide to Florida’s Best Rentals: Condos for rent, rental houses, rental condos and townhouse rentals – how to make sense of the overwhelming mass of fabulous and not so fabulous real estate to spend your Florida Vacation in!!
Chances are, at least once in your life time, you will find yourself finding out everything there is to know about renting a place to stay while on vacation in Central Florida. It could be that the kids want to see all of the wealth of attractions and theme parks in and around Walt Disney World. Maybe your family wants to loll about in a hammock while you play some golf near Orlando, or take in some of the many dinner shows and museums. Perhaps the siren call of Florida’s balmy winter climate may be your idea of a great way to take your family away from the frigid northern snow, ice and lack of sunshine. Better yet, maybe your folks have asked you to come down and enjoy a holiday or two with them, but you prefer to have a modicum of privacy and some elbow room while your kids stroll through the theme parks with their Grandparents.
Whatever your reason or reasons for paying a visit to the Central Florida area are, you will no doubt begin to wonder where on earth you will find a suitable, low cost, attractive, rental condo or how you can find out how much to pay for the condos rent. And the questions don’t stop there. What type of rental house would be close to Disney yet far away from the noise of the city? What type of townhouse rentals would be a suitable environment for the kids, yet offer enough luxury amenities to pamper the older members of your family and their fine acquired tastes? This guide won’t contain any hints on what to wear to the theme parks, or how to get crazy old Aunt Bertha to stop asking how to get a good supply of unicorn chow. This is more of a no nonsense, straight forward guide to doing the best vacation near all of the attractions (Including Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, The Winter Haven spring baseball camps for professional baseball players, and so forth).
To start with, you will need to scour the web for the best price. Then you can begin your search in earnest after excluding some accommodations that leave little to be desired in terms of lodging features or even safe and attractive townhouse rentals. Could your family be happy in a rental house, or would your family prefer to have their down time spent in a resort near Walt Disney World featuring the safest, lowest price rental condos? Are you traveling with a large group of adults who would prefer to split the condos rent while giving the Orlando area’s bars and nightspots a try? The Orlando area is a vast, sprawling region, flavored by its surrounding town in many distinct ways. The cracker settlers who came in the early days of Florida’s history were quick to discover cheap lodging in the Old Town Kissimmee Florida area, and that legacy remains to this day. The area near Disney offers many cheap lodging in several cities and counties. While there are several high dollar advertising campaigns designed to lure travelers to the area around Disney’s borders, the lion’s share of tawdry and lowest price condo for rent belongs to the Kissimmee area, near Disney=s back entrance .No one wants to stay overnight in rental condos that are surrounded by gaudy tourist traps and three for ten dollar tee shirt shops, or worse yet stay in the midst of a poorly designed low cost accommodation that offers no amenities and poor service. Hardly the dream vacation or worse yet, honeymoon of your dreams, right?
When you choose your ideal rental condos, your location should be the first factor in your quest for booking a low cost townhouse rental reservation or rental house reservation and scoring the perfect blend of luxury, best price and proximity to the attractions that you want to visit. Ask a few pointed questions to the person answering the lodging’s phone lines: What type of rental condos do you offer, and how many bedrooms are actually separated by walls from each other? Does the resort offer any last minute specials or deals for those who are traveling from places near the central Florida area? Sometimes you can get a discount or gain a cheap reservation for simply belonging to an automobile club or having a military identification card? Orlando condos should always come with the following lodging details: central air conditioning, central plumbing and hot water, linens of a decent thread count, a certain lack of wandering nearby marsupials, a clean appearance, recent construction or the addition of new modern renovations to the lodging, family amenities such as a kid’s playground or a pool, and some kitchen amenities such as a working refrigerator’, a good microwave and some place to store your family’s spare clothing while you explore the central Florida area.
If your family or traveling party will be staying in a rental house and needs to have some room to wander, you may want to consider what type of neighborhood that you will need to book a reservation in. The area close to the route 27 and route 192 are seems to span the best of all worlds, offering low cost reservations and spacious accommodations in beautiful, usually new or renovated rental condos, rental houses, and rental townhouses. The presence of the nightly Disney fireworks in the evening skies in the Davenport area is stunning, and yet the Davenport Florida resembles the quiet May berry type of town that all of us long to bring back to life for our modern families. Close enough to be a neighbor to Walt Disney World and house many of its cast members, the Davenport Florida area seems to have escaped the rush to build monuments of gaudiness and preserved its small town feel, all while offering the traveling family a short drive to all of Florida’s attractions, theme parks, dining and shopping areas. The best of all places to choose a rental house or a rental condo, Davenport features many inroads to all of the best of central Florida, and the Orlando area. The rental condos and rental condos (or rental houses)in this area near Disney and yet close to Universal and a short drive to Busch Gardens in Tampa, yet they lie a short drive away from the wealth of attractions and theme parks of the International Drive area. Luxury shopping and dining choices await those who wish to travel the I4 highway near Davenport Florida, including the Florida Mall (featuring the best in shopping with such fabulous stores as Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and diverse selections such as Tommy Bahama and Sephora) and the mall of Millennia, near downtown Orlando (offering such splendid choices as Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, Anthropologie, Z Gallery, Coach, Tiffany, Louis Vuitton and Godiva chocolates, to name a few). The vast region of central Florida is a patchwork of several choices for the family who wishes to find a great price on their condos rent, or get the best neighborhood for their vacation townhouse rental.
Art McCarty
Orlando Florida Lodging Expert
islandhideaway.net islandhideaway.net
Orlando, Florida
Traveling is a hobby for many people and they love to go to places which have natural beauty in abundance. Freeport, the capital city of the Bahamas, is a very attractive tourist destination and many people dream of holidaying there with their friends and loved ones. Freeport Bahamas is located near the United States, so reaching there is very simple. Once a while all of want to take a break and go for a holiday to relax our senses and enjoy and going to tourist destinations like Freeport Bahamas. In fact, Freeport Bahamas is the perfect destination where you can rest, relax and enjoy during your break from work.
The beaches in Freeport are a wonderful delight for people who love water and enjoy water activities like fishing, diving and snorkeling. The beaches have white sand and it is completely stone free. Many tourists say that the beaches in Bahamas are the best attraction of that place and they go back again year after year just to enjoy all the different water sports and the lovely beaches. The beaches are kept very clean completely free of any litter, so who would not love to go back there again and again and enjoy their vacation.
Going for a vacation is not as simple as it sounds, one needs to take care of various factors for this. First you need to find a good tour operator who provides tour and travel packages to the place you want to travel. You can browse the web and find out all the information which you can about the tour operators. If you are a little short on finances, still you need not worry. You can easily take a discount holiday package and overcome the financial difficulty which you have. Make sure that you make all the arrangements properly before you go for the vacation in Freeport Bahamas.
You can book rooms in a hotel or resort to enjoy your time there. Visitors can also find several houses which are given by owners on a rent to people who want to stay with their family in a home live environment during the vacation. If you are planning to do all these during the holiday, simply make sure that you make arrangements for all this before you reach the Bahamas. Imagine how frustrating it would be for you to find that nothing is booked and you have no place to stay once you reach there. So to avoid any such situation you must make sure that everything is in place before you go to Freeport Bahamas to enjoy your holiday.
You can enjoy seeing the natural sights at Bahamas. The market at Bahamas is another attraction for the tourists. Here one can buy the souvenirs they want to take back home for their family and loved ones. When one goes for a holiday, it is but natural for them to buy souvenirs and other stuff to take back home. The Bahamas is the east place for you to go, if you want to enjoy the best holiday of your life.
Suzane Gray has been offering Bahama travel and vacation packages advice for quite some time. She is working as a consultant for GoBahama. To find Cheap Bahamas vacation packages, Grand bahama island,Bahamas travel package, gobahama.com/bahamaact.htm freeport bahamas package at cheap rates that best suits your needs, visit gobahama.com gobahama.com
With a population rapidly approaching 300,000, Leicester is the largest city in the East Midlands and is in the top 20 cities in England by size of population. The ratio of males to females is 51% to 49%. Leicester is unusual in having a high proportion of its population aged under 35; the largest group by age is those under 15 years old, who represent 20% of the population. Leicester is also the most ethically diverse city, 36% of its population is Black, Asian or from other ethnic minority backgrounds. Nationally these figures are about 13% for both sexes. .
According to the 2001 National Census the actual population of the city stood at just under 280,000. The census cites 64% of the population as being white, 30% Asian, 3% Black, 1% Chinese and 2% being of mixed ethnicity. Life expectancy for those living in Leicester is lower than the national averages with the average for a male being 73.6 years and a female 79 years. Nationally these figures are 75.7 and 80.4 years respectively.
Leicester has a mixed housing stock of a little over 110,000 dwellings. 25% of these dwellings are detached houses or bungalows. The proportion of dwellings that are flats of one description or another is around 20%, with the remainder of the accommodation being terraced or semi-detached housing. 33% of these dwellings or households are inhabited by single people, compared to national average of around 30%. 9% of the properties are inhabited by lone parents, whereas the national average is 6%. Whilst almost 60% of all the housing is owner occupied, in Leicester the proportion of rented properties at 40% is considerably higher than the national average at 29%. Some of this could be accounted for by the high proportion of student properties in the city, which is reported as being 10%, compared to the national average of 7%.
Socially 55% of the population of Leicester are said to be ‘middle-class’, falling into the C1 and C2 bands. 27% fall into bands D and E and as such are defined as ‘working-class’ with the remaining 19% being labelled as being in band A and B. Over 75% of the working population are in full-time employment.
With an estimated workforce of around 112,000, Leicester city workers are not great commuters. Over 60% live with 3 miles (about 5 km) of where they work and over three quarters of them live within 6 miles (about 10km) of their work-place. With approximately 91,000 vehicles between the 110,000 dwellings in the city, over half of those vehicles are used to commute in. Only 17,000 use the bus to get to work but, encouragingly, there is a high proportion of people who walk to work.
From the census Leicester would appear to be a healthy place to live, with only around 10% of the population feeling they were not in good health.
How safe is Leicester to live in or visit? Crime figures for the city do not look good, on a per 1000 of the population basis. Violent offences against a person are recorded at 40, compared to a national average of 16.5; household burglaries are 10 against the national average of 6.4; theft from a motor vehicle at 13 is three above the national average and robbery offences are also nearly triple the national average, at 4 per 1000 of the population.
As a large city Leicester city’s schools do not fare well in national attainment tables. The city has 86 Primary, 16 Secondary and 10 Special schools. In the 2006 Achievement and Attainment tables at Key Stage 4 (Secondary schools) the percentage of pupils scoring at least 5 GCSEs at grade C or above was 33.5% for the Local Authority compared to a national average of 45.8%. For Primary schools at Key Stage 2 attainment in the three core subjects at Level 4 or above was English 72%, Mathematics 69% and Science 80%. The Local Authority figures are 7% below the national average in all three subjects. However, for both sets of statistics, some schools returned excellent results, as can be seen in their ‘value-added’ scores.
Leicester has two universities, Leicester University and De Montfort University.
Leicester University was inaugurated in 1921 but it wasn’t until 1957 that the university was given full degree awarding powers with its Royal Charter. It was founded by the local philanthropist Thomas Fielding-Johnson after the First World War, as a living memorial to the fallen of that war. The University’s motto is “So that they may have life”. Leicester University is ranked 24th in the ‘Good Univerities Guide’ (GUG).
In 1969 Leicester Polytechnic was established by the amalgamation of the old Technology and Art colleges. In 1992 the Polytechnic was given university status and De Montfort University was founded. De Montfort is 89th in the GUG out of 100 universities.
Article by Susan Ashby of Leicester-singles.co.uk/Default.aspx Leicester Singles. To read more articles like this or for Leicester-singles.co.uk/Romance/Default.aspx dating in Leicester visit Leicester-singles.co.uk Leicester-singles.co.uk
The good news for adventure travel and wilderness hiking trails is that the USA has protected some of the most unique and incredible places to see on earth. Our National, State Parks, Monuments and Wilderness Areas are awesome, but for years there have been reduced number of visitors. Many citizens have said that a four-year program to increase national parks entrance fees to make them more uniform may discourage some Americans from visiting their national parks such as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Zion and Yellowstone.
The National Parks have been faced with a budget crisis. The parks are struggling to protect the historic, cultural and natural resources that the parks were created for. The parks are short of funds for operating facilities, repairs to roads, bridges, trails and buildings. There was an 814 million dollar shortfall in 2006. There are almost 400 areas of protection covered by the National Parks Service. Almost every park has fewer full time employees now than in 2001, while there were over 273,000,000 visitors to the parks in 2005. The park service needs more funding to provide education, interpretive and for the safety requirements of their visitors. This is a time of controversy about park fees, current plans for oil, gas and mineral exploration in our parks and of course removing the O’Shaughnessy Dam to restore the Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite.
Recently the federal government has moved to replace the National Park Service’s $50 annual pass with a new $80 multi-agency pass. Some people think that the fee increases are getting out of line. The park service raised entrance fees at 34 parks over the past two years and plans to raise them at another 124 parks in 2008 and 2009. At Glacier National Park in Montana and Joshua Tree National Park in California, the fees will go up twice, and beginning in 2011, park officials plan to increase fees every three years, based on inflation. There is a proposal to double entrance fees next year at Crater Lake National Park, now $10 per car. Will it drive the local visitors away? In 1997, when the park service began raising fees, the number of national parks visitors has fallen 1% while entrance fee revenue has gone up almost 16%. Many of them are from outside the United States and love to visit the American protected lands.
Will the National Park Centennial Act to rescue our parks before 2016 – the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service? The acts purpose is to eliminate the annual operating deficit and maintenance backlog in the national parks. If it passed, it was to create a check off box on American tax returns to fund the parks. As H.R. 1124 and S 886 it did not get passed in 2006. In spring of 2006 the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report about our National Parks based on research, to the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee that found that funding had not kept pace with need, requiring park managers to reduce services including, “reducing visitor center hours, educational programs, basic custodial duties, and law enforcement operations, such as back-country patrolling. Additionally, the park system has been forced to close campgrounds, shorten operating hours, eliminate many interpretive programs, lay off many seasonal rangers, and eliminate many of the parks’ scientific studies programs.
So where’s the good news? Being an outdoor writer and avid traveler to our parks and wilderness areas Bob Therrien, President of TrainingPASS Sales, Inc. has created an outdoor recreation message board, he commented “The hardest part over the years, for me has been the research about which parks, hikes, climbs, locations and activities I want to visit with my family and friends. Exploring federal then state website after site, then mapping the distance from each area of interest is inefficient and many times lacking in information. To solve that inefficiency we have collected all the basic information about our parks, wilderness areas and national monuments and put them into one website. I don’t personally have a problem with the new park fees. It cost’s me more to take my family to the movies, and I’d rather enjoy a full day or two at a place like Denali National Park.
The USA has incredible adventure travel wilderness and hiking trails. To promote these areas AdventureZoneTOURS created a forum for sharing trip reports on National Parks, State Parks, National Monuments and Wilderness Areas.
The Outdoor Adventure Message Board opens up to reveal a listing of U.S. States, separated into travel regions. Click on any state region and there are sub forums for all the parks, monuments and wilderness areas in that region. Many times there are several interesting choices to pick from within a state region. For the activity-specific minded, AdventureZoneTOURS.com encourages users to share trip reports for a variety of outdoor activities from hiking, climbing, canyoneering, geo exploring, photography, ghost towns, mines, and cave to water sports such as boating, fishing, jet and water skiing, tubing, rafting, and scuba. Winter travel sports such as snowmobiling, skiing and snowboarding are featured. Hunting locations, ATV and horseback trails as well as the most scenic areas for outdoor photography are also available as individual topic posts. To research or share your favorite adventure travel location, and to share and promote outdoors, join us today!
Bob Therrien is a travel writer and has traveled all over North America. He currently operates the website at adventurezonetours.com adventurezonetours.com
The website has all the National Parks, National Monuments, State Parks and Wilderness Areas in one spot for research, sharing and message posts.
Pet air travel tips, road trip tips and more Pets are like a child to many and the thought of leaving them at home while on vacation is not an option for some. However, before taking your pets on vacation with you, there are several items that you need to be aware of and a few pet travel tips that need to be followed.
Pet travel decisions While it may be tempting to bring your pet with you on vacation, keep in mind that some animals are not suited for travel whether it is due to illness, age or physical impairments. It is very important to consult with your veterinarian about pet travel and pet air travel before embarking on a trip to ensure the safety of your pet.
Trains, planes and automobiles
Pet air travel Every airline has different rules and regulations when it comes to flying with pets. So to avoid finding out your airline doesn’t allow pet travel at the last minute, there are several things that you can do. First, contact your airline well in advance and find out their pet air travel regulations. Carrying your pet on board with you is the best option, but oftentimes cargo is the only option with some airlines if your pet is large. While Congress did pass the Safe Air Travel for Animals Act in April 2000, there are several items that need to be considered to ensure your pet’s safety while flying in cargo. First, many airlines have specific carrier requirements so make sure you fulfill these. Second, make sure the carrier you choose is large enough for your pet to be able to turn around in and be comfortable for the long flight. Third, try to make sure it is a non-stop flight to ensure that your pet does not get lost. Fourth, correctly adhere a label on the pet carrier with your phone number, address, final destination and contact number while on vacation. There are plenty of other considerations and tips that can be found by looking at the Humane Society’s Web site. If your airline does not allow pets to travel or you are wary of transporting your pet via cargo, you have other options to consider.
Road trip with pets Many pets love traveling by car; so it is a personal decision as to whether your pet needs to be kept in a carrier or not. Cats oftentimes are uncomfortable traveling, so it is better to keep them in a carrier for their safety and yours. If the pet is not going to be kept in a carrier you need to make sure they are safely secured in the vehicle. There are special harnesses that can be bought to secure or “seatbelt” your dog in safely. It is important to stop frequently when traveling with pets to let them exercise and go to the bathroom.
Trains, buses and ships Very few ships allow pets to accompany travelers and Amtrak does not allow pets. However, many European trains and a few small US railroad companies allow pets on board. As far as buses and other public transportation, the rules and regulations vary between states and cities.
Pet accommodations There are hundreds of Web sites out there that list pet friendly hotels and a pet-friendly hotel can be found in almost any city. For example if you’re traveling to San Francisco you can stay at the Hilton San Francisco Financial District or if you’re visiting Austin you can stay at the La Quinta Inn Austin North.
Pet Fun Wherever you are vacationing, a pet-friendly park or beach can be found and outdoor related activities are best for pet travelers. For restaurants, outdoor places will oftentimes allow pets to accompany.
When traveling with pets it is important to ensure their safety and not to do anything that could put them in danger. And if you’re going to bring your pet with you, make sure that you will be able to entertain them. Here’s to happy traveling!
Jillian Scheeler makes it easy to provide advise on how to carry pets along with you while travelling. To recieve your free part minicourse visit the travelpost.com” target=”_blank Travel with pets.
In April this year I returned to Livingstone in Zambia for my first visit in several years. What a change. For those not familiar with this part of Africa, Livingstone is a small town on the Zambian side of the Victoria Falls. When Zambia was known as Northern Rhodesia, Livingstone was the capital. A small smart town with tree lined avenues and colonial buildings, it was considered very much the place to live. A short distance away, across the Livingstone Bridge was the town of Victoria Falls in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).
Until the 1980’s Victoria Falls was a rather basic one horse town, and the only decent place to stay was the old Victoria Falls Hotel. By the late 80s and 90s these two towns could not have been more different. By then both countries had become independent. Independence was good to the town of Victoria Falls, tourism rocketed and many excellent hotels and lodges sprang up on the
Zimbabwean side of the Victoria Falls. Meanwhile Livingstone went into decline. Lusaka had become the Zambian capital and it attracted business and people. Livingstone was left looking rather desperate. The expatriate community had long since left the area and little industry had developed to support the growing local population. In comparison there were plenty of jobs to be found in Victoria Falls town to support the local Zimbabweans.
The Victoria Falls themselves have and always will be a major attraction for travellers, but the recent political instability in Zimbabwe has been a benefit for Livingstone. Over the past two to three years investors have poured money into the area. As well as some extremely good small lodges along the banks of the Zambezi River, the new five star Royal Livingstone Hotel deserves a special mention. It was built on the old foundations of the rather drab Mosi O Tunya (The Smoke That Thunders) Hotel. For somebody who is not a fan of large hotels as a rule, I had to eat humble pie on this one. Designed along the colonial lines still very evident in town, the hotel has the best location imaginable. From the mature gardens you can see the spray of the Falls themselves, and the service and food could not have been bettered in either Europe or the US.
Livingstone now has daily flights direct from Johannesburg and the local market bustles with people spending their well earned wages. The town just feels like a great place to be. It might have taken nearly all my lifetime to regain its pride, but I truly feel it will now keep this new found prosperity.
Any great summer vacation starts with planning your travel destination. Make sure to talk with your entire family before you start booking at travel arrangements. People’s lives are busy and you would hate to book a hotel just to find out that someone in your family can’t make it.
Another great family vacation tip is to layout what family members should do in case of an emergency or if someone is separated from the family. Most vacationers take this for granted, but you should always be safe rather than sorry. This is especially important if you have small children in your family. Tell them what they should do if they get lost or designate a meeting spot to go to. When you are visiting large amusement parks or relaxing at a water park, it is very easy for a child to wander off and get lost.
When planning your family’s summer vacation make sure that everyone is well aware of what you will be doing while on vacation and for how long you will be traveling. This helps everyone plan out what they need to bring and how many changes of clothes and other items. Also, if you will be driving to your vacation spot you may want to suggest that everyone bring games or reading materials to help make the travel enjoyable.
While on the topic of traveling in a car, make plans ahead of time to make the drive more fun. For example, you could rent a car television and DVD player so everyone can watch movies while you are traveling. Make sure and pack movies that the entire family will enjoy because you do not want any fighting over what gets watched before you ever reach your vacation spot.
You should also encourage family members to pack other things that will entertain them. Suggest that they bring their PSP or iPod and that way there will be no fighting over what music everyone has to listen to. Also make sure to pack extra batteries and power cords for charging everyone’s devices. The last thing you want to do is head off for vacation and after 1 hour of traveling everyone’s PSP or iPod is out of juice.
If you are taking a long trip and have to travel for a large distance make sure everyone brings a pillow for comfort and to take naps. You may also want to pack snacks and beverages so you are not required to make a stop every time someone gets hungry or thirsty.
Taking a summer vacation with your family should be an enjoyable, relaxing and memorable experience. Following the tips outlined above will help ensure that your vacation is a fun trip for everyone.
