Archive for September, 2005

Camping Tips for the Holiday

You cannot let go of any summer until you have spent at least one weekend outside in the great outdoors. You will want to make sure that you take your time camping and learn how to really enjoy nature. You will find that lying beneath the states can help you to really relax. The best part of camping is that you won’t have people bothering you. You don’t have to worry about people calling you or come over unannounced. The summer and nature has a lot to offer a family.

There are campsites located everywhere and you can find one that is close to you that is affordable. You will find that practically every state has a park where you can go camping. You will find that they are very affordable and you will be able to share time with your family without having to give up a lot of money.

As for the campsites there are some of the best listed in this article. First, you may want to go to the A.B.C. or America’s Best Campground in Branson Missouri. You will find that this area happens to be the live entertainment capital of the world and will offer you tons of things to do and see. The campsite has electric, satellite, and phone hook ups. You will also be able to grill on a concrete patio. You will also find that pets are welcomed here. You just need to keep all animals on a leash and clean up after them. Also, you will find that there is air conditioning, and heart. It is a luxury place.

You may also want to think about going to Petit Jean State Park in Little Rock, Arkansas. It has tons of playgrounds, picnic areas, swimming areas, and hiking trails. You can also rent camping equipment. There are many trails that are famous along this area and you will be able to share some life time moments with your family.

If you are in the California area, you may want to go to Montana De Oro State Park or Angel Island State Park. There is plenty of things that you can do including hiking and swimming. There are many locations that you can hike in these areas, but you may find that there are no campfires allowed. You will be really learning how to become one with nature when you go to one of these campgrounds.

Finally, if you are in South Dakota you will find that Fort Welikit is one of the best sites that you can go camping. It has a lot of room to roam and lakes to explore, and very popular tourist attractions like Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Mountain, and Custer State Park. This is a great place to see history and enjoy activities like swimming and hiking.

Peter Wilson pens most often for alicante-spain.com alicante-spain.com an online site with topics around Spain, airport and other topics. Working on his reports, the writer affirmed his deep knowledge on topics relating to alicante-spain.com/murcia_flights.html Murcia flights and Spain.


A time share is essentially a purchase for the right to own a weeks worth of time at a resort. Typically one week of time is deeded to the time share owner which allows them to own and stay in one of the units at the resort for the week.

Time shares were created by a resort developer in the French Alps. He wanted to allow frequent guests to be able to have some way to own a part of the resort for a specified period of time instead of just renting. The patrons of course were happy with the idea and bought up the time shares quickly. The rest is pretty much history.

There are now over 5,000 time share resorts in the world and it has grown to a 9 billion dollar industry in just 50 years. Currently there are about 11 million time share intervals in the world. A time share interval is a week long increment of a time share. There are now a roughly estimated 7 millions families the world over that own the total amount of time share intervals.

In the United States the ARDA or American Resorts Development Association reports that there are 1,688 time share resorts in the United States.

So when all is said and done time shares are a very big industry and can be a lucrative business to trade in or simply enjoy. If you own a time share and are currently contemplating selling it then read on. There are a lot of great new ways to sell a time share via the internet that make it really easy.

Selling Time Share On The Web

As with most industries the internet has drastically change the landscape of time shares. It is now easier then any other point in history to sell or trade a time share. There are a large number of websites on the internet that you can sell a time share on. These websites make selling a time share much easier and safer. Time share owners that are interested in selling over the internet should consider the following ideas as a guide.

5 Tips For Internet Time Share Selling

1. One of the first considerations when getting ready to list or sell your time share over the internet is to find the right website. You want to find a well respected website that has traffic and is well established. There are so many out there be sure to do a little research before listing your time share.

2. Typically a decent sized website should be able to show your time share listing to thousands of visitors everyday which will end in a quick sale. This has really made selling a time share very easy. You do not have to go out and find prospective customers they now come to you.

3. Check with the website about fees for selling. Most of the larger and better established sites will clearly post their policies and costs of using the site. Often it is a very small amount when compared to the whole sale. However just first so that you are not surprised at the end of the sale. Buyers are also looking at the over all cost and if your fees can be held down to a minimum you can pass the savings on to the buyer and sell your time share more quickly.

4. Take the time to fill out the form correctly and accurately. Most time share selling websites will have some type of form that you will need to complete online in order for the time share to be posted for sale. The information you give during this stage is very important so take some time to work carefully.

5. Another benefit of selling through a well established website is there will be a large customer service group that will help you throughout the sale and transfer process. This way you have a good team on your side helping you sell and complete the transaction.

The time share selling website will help take care of all the aspects of advertising the time share for sale. They are professionals at this type of advertising and their help can get you the most value out of the time share. The extra protection in the form of the sites support staff also helps the transaction go more smoothly.

Check out this site for great


Levkas is a popular, lively and windy island. It is the only island linked to mainland Greece, a swing bridge providing access by road. The airport at Preveza is only a 30 minute ride away. Lefkas Town lies a short distance down the canal, at the point where the canal turns to run SE. The buildings of the town are easily seen and the harbour is not difficult to locate. There is a marina here or you can use the town’s harbour. Both provide good shelter in all weather conditions .The Lefkas canal enables sailors to pass along the east side of the island, which has most of the anchorages. The northern entrance can be found by locating the Santa Mauro Fort. The canal proper starts after Lefkas Town and is marked by red and green poles and by red and green buoys when the canal turns south.

Nidri is lively, the quay self provides water, fuel etc. but places you in the middle of yacht charter bases, tripper boats, ferries etc. A little further south he landlocked Vlikho Bay provides good all-round shelter the bottom is mud

On the southern end lies the sheltered bay of Sivota with several waterside bars and tavernas. On the southwest coast, Vasiliki has quayside bars, cafes and non-stop nightlife. Vassiliki was a sleepy little fishing village. It is now one of the islands main resorts The port is located in the south-east of the large bay. It offers good shelter although the prevailing wind tends to blow into the harbour making conditions uncomfortable at times. The bottom holds well. There are no anchorages on the west coast but you will find beautiful beaches where you can watch stunning sunsets.

Also worth a visit while on Levkas: The ancient city Nirikos was the first capital of the island from 2BC. Excavations have shown that Nirikos enjoyed significant economic growth. The collection in the Archaeological Museum of Levkas includes findings dating from the Proto-Hellenic period to the Roman era, including ceramics, pots, statues, signs, ecclesiastic pieces and photographs from the excavations in Nidri. Lefkata Cape is situated at the southern part of Lefkas and offers a majestic view. Originally, sacrifices to the gods and spirits took place here. Convicts were forced to jump from the rocks and attempt to fly using feathers tied around their bodies. The monastery of Panayia Faneromeni is the most significant religious monument on the island. It is situated 2 km east of the capital outside the village of Frynio and stands on the site of an ancient sanctuary for Artemis or Hera.

Meganissi has the magnificent inlet at Port Athene on the north coast. This is the perfect place for snorkelling and swimming and makes a good overnight stop. Vathi is the islands main port. It is a pleasant relaxed place with good walks through the olive groves to the bays on the east. The high village of Spartohori on can easily be seen from the north and west. Once you are in the bay the small harbour will be seen. Good shelter but the depth often exceeds 15m. The anchorage near the tavern is the best location in the bay. The village of Spartahori is an absolute must, walk up the hill for a warm local welcome and an incredible view out over Nidri, Madhouri and Skorpios and over to the mountains on the mainland to the east. The island has a number of picturesque bays where you can anchor and take a line ashore. Facilities are at best limited and usually non existent

Ithaca – Steeped in legend of Odysseus the island has beautiful bays and attractive anchorages. The island is essentially two heavily wooded mountain tops rich in flora and fauna, which protrude steeply from the Ionian sea, joined in the centre of the island by a thin stretch of land. It offers gentle green uplands in the south and rugged limestone hills in the north. Frikes is a small harbour and village in the north east of Ithaca set in the bay that it takes it’s name from. A lovely place at the bottom of a steep wooded valley. There are several old windmills standing on the rocks above the village. Kioni lies just to the south of Frikes. The village is stunning with buildings dotted around the steep slopes of the bay. The bottom is mud and weed and care must be taken to get the anchor holding. Shelter is generally good but there are often gusts from the north west. There are shops in the village and tavernas on the waterfront.

Further to the south is Vathi, the island’s capital and main harbour. It’s red-roofed houses set among enchanting scenery at the end of the closed bay of Molosmeans Vathi means deep and that’s what you will find. The bottom is a combination of mud and weed and care is needed to make sure the anchor is holding. There are plenty of shops and tavernas in the town. Three kilometres to the northwest lies the Cave of the Nymphs where, according to legend, Odysseus hid the gifts bestowed upon him by the Phaeacians who delivered him to his home after his many adventures. The bay of Polis on the west coast, near the village of Stavros, is the site of Loizos’ cave. A couple of interesting finds have been made here: Shards on which were carved inscriptions testifying to the worship of Artemis, Hera and Athena and twelve tripods similar to those which the Phaeacians gave to Odysseus.

Cephalonia is the largest of the Ionian islands covering some 700 sq. km. It is renowned for its wine and more latterly for the novel Captain Corellixs Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres. For the walker there are acres of forest covered limestone mountains to explore. 10 peaks rise above 5000 feet. The limestone rock results in remarkable caves and caverns as can be seen at the underground lake complex at Mellisani. Most of the mountains fall steeply to the sea and the you will be sailing at the foot of these peaks, in places this means the boat will be subjected to strong gusts of wind so care is needed.

Fiskardo is an enclosed bay and harbour on the north eastern tip of Cephalonia. It is an extremely popular stop for yachts and in the summer months the quay is normally packed. If there is no room anchor in the north of the bay and take a line ashore. The harbour provides good all round shelter. The village is picturesque and was one of the few places on the island that escaped the terrific destruction of the 1953 earthquake. Hence 19th century houses set amid green pine groves remain pretty much original and a historical preservation order should keep them that way. There are a number of shops in the village as to there are tavernas some serving excellent food. There are several anchorages on the coast between Fiskardo and Ay Eufimia to the south. Ay Eufimia is a small harbour in the north west corner of a large bay. Most provisions can be found and there are a few tavernas. Sami to the south of the same bay is the island’s main ferry port. It was developed after the earthquake and is nearly all modern buildings. There are good walks along the coast to the north east of the harbour. Still further to the south is the small harbour of Poros. This is not the most comfortable harbour in the Ionian with the prevailing winds creating a chop in the harbour. It is uncomfortable rather than unsafe. Most provisions are available in the village. There are several tavernas with a good one by the harbour.

The capital of the island is Argostoli the SW. The earthquake in 1953 bought almost total devastation, all that remained intact were a couple of houses, the arched bridge stretching across the lagoon and the obelisk at it’s centre. Sadly the rebuilding has produced a rather soulless place. There are plenty of shops and tavernas in the town.

Lixuri is a town with a small harbour opposite Argostoli on the western side of Kolpos Argostoliou. Unfortunately the harbour is situated next to the main sewer outlet and is extremely smelly during the summer months. Assos, on the western side of the island, should be used only in calms or when the wind is light from the west. There are numerous tavernas in the village and limited provisions can be found. The village is particularly picturesque set under the high cliffs and mountains and just across the peninsula from the ruined Venetian fort.

Zakinthos is the southernmost of the islands in the Ionian. A horseshoe shaped mountain range surrounds a rich fertile plain. Half of the island’s cultivated land is given over to the currant vine which was originally transplanted from the Peloponnese by the Venetians.

In the north east of the islands lies Ormos Ay Nikolaos. You can anchor in the bay in about 5m depths or go stern to the outside of the breakwater and take a long line ashore. Strong gusts can be expected in the afternoon and most yachts leave after lunchtime and head south to the capital. A visit to the Blue Caves is a favourite in this part of the island. Join one of the local caiques as visit with a yacht is not advisable as the area is unprotected from north westerlies and the waters to deep to anchor in. The underwater rocks are covered by a mauve coloured seaweed. The seaweed together with the white sandy bottom of the caves reflect the incoming sunlight producing a blue hue.

To the south lies Limin Zakinthos, he capital of Zakinthos and most of the island’s 35,000 population live here. The town surrounds a large harbour. It was devastated by the earthquake in 1953 but an attempt has been made to rebuild in the original style. When inside the harbour care is needed of the semi-sunk stone breakwater which protrudes from the north mole. Yachts should make for the designated yacht quay within the harbour. There are several museums in the town devoted to the islands history.

Porto Roma lies in the south east corner of the island. This is a wonderful anchorage in calm weather. There is a taverna on the beach.

The southern coast and beaches are host to the last and most important concentration of Loggerhead turtles’ nesting sites in the Mediterranean. From May to November this area is subject to restriction regarding access by vessels. It is advisable to check with the authorities in the capital what restrictions are currently in place if you are planning to sail in this area. Ormos Keri lies at the western end of the restricted area. Anchor either side of the stone mole and take a long line ashore. Be aware of the underwater ballasting protruding out from the mole. Ormos Vroma is the only anchorage on the western side of the island. Anchor on the northern side and take a line ashore.

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1. Commence at the car park in Porthgain by The Sloop Inn and walk downhill towards the small harbour.

2. Start the walk by leaving the harbour to the right by a round stone shelter and walk uphill (there is a coastal path way-marker sign here).

3. Walk 20yards to a stone cairn then follow the cliff edge, (admiring the steep granite cliffs) for 70 yards. Now cross the edge of two small fields and rejoin the coastal path for 200 yards steeply downhill to cross a small wooden bridge over a brook.

4. Then walk uphill along the coastal path for 300 yards to a kissing gate into a field – turn right to follow a stone wall to a field corner and a wooden stile.

5. Cross this stile and follow the fence on your right to a stone stile into a field (this field has a small circle of stones in it)

6. Follow the path downhill (clearly way-marked) and over a wooden stile then cross a stone stile into a lane.

7. Turn right and walk along the lane for 500 yards to cross a stile in the hedge on your right and into a field.

8. Cross this field diagonally to the left to a small wooden gate – go through the gate into another field and follow the left hand hedge to another small gate.

9. Go through this gate onto a farm track for 300 yards to the farm gate. Go through the farm gate and follow the track downhill to cross a small stream.

10. Cross the stream and go uphill for 50 yards to a small gate (there is a public footpath sign here) – go through the gate into a paddock – cross the paddock to a kissing gate and into a field.

11. Go into this field and follow the left hand edge to the bottom of the field to another kissing gate, then 20 yards to another small wooden gate to meet a stream.

12. Cross this by a wooden bridge then turn left along a track, which leads straight back to the car park where you started the walk.

Peter is a keen walker who used to run Brambles Lodge B&B at Penally but now runs Myrtle Villa Bed and Breakfast in Wiltshire near Bath
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Holidays come like a breath of fresh air amidst the horrendous monotony of work and busy schedule. These holidays make you come out from the pleasant happiness of the lifelong monotony that makes us so weary of life. But when it comes to choosing the vacation packages, many amongst us find it difficult to hit the right package that gives you a great value for money.

There are a million holiday packages which are at your disposal, once you come to find them. The travel agents will be eager to provide you with the best holiday package. Whenever, you have gone to avail, one of their popular vacation packages, it must be kept in the mind that they might take your advantage by swaying you by their swift talks and making you select any other package. And to break the myth of many, an experienced travel operator can make your trip much cheaper than you might expect, with the help of his links and resources. Also, you must not try to freeze any package that your travel agent suggests you but should try to compare the prices of different travel packages before giving a nod to the final option.

The new age has seen a lot of travel agencies which are totally operating via Internet. So trying the World Wide Web isn’t a bad idea either. But don’t forget to compare the prices of different online travel agencies while you select your final deal. Before deciding the final option, it is also suggested that you must find out each and every detail of the package. Then, you can find the details of the hotels on your own to avoid any further confusion. And don’t hesitate to ask for a discount!

So, what keeps you waiting? Just pack your bags and go! Happy journey!

Adam Jaylin provides you the latest and best info on ukonlinemarket.co.uk/Travel/Hotel_and_Accommodation.php Cheap Hotels and ukonlinemarket.co.uk/Travel/Travel_Agents_and_Packages.php Travel Package Deals.


Your sailing charter in Ibiza and Formentera could be the most exciting vacation in your life. Ibiza, also known locally as Eivissa, is located along the Mediterranean Sea. It geographically belongs to Spain’s Balearic Islands. Adjacent to Ibiza is the island of Formentera. It is the smallest island in Balearic measuring only 9 miles long. The two islands have a gap of three nautical miles from each other. In Spain, Ibiza and Formentera forms the Pine Group of Islands.

The weather condition around Ibiza and Formentera is typically good for sailing especially during the summer season. The summer season is from the month of May to October. During this period, the 2 islands’ beaches are warmer particularly on the first stage of May. This is when the sun will totally come out unfolding the islands’ beautiful sceneries. This climate is an ideal environment for your sailing holiday in Ibiza and Formentera because the sea is relatively calm. The summer temperature is approximately from 23° to 28° Celsius. From the month of June to September, the islands have small or no rains at all. The hottest months in the summer season, which averages about 30 º Celsius, are from August to September.

On the other hand, Ibiza and Formentera’s winter season are from November to April. Usually, the winter temperature will not drop below 0º. There are snows, which makes it difficult to sail clearly. Aside from sailing, the islands’ beaches are also affected during the winter season. However, several tourists still come to Ibiza and Formentera during this time of the year.

The island of Ibiza has 4 regions. These include Santa Eulària des Riu, Sant Josep de sa Talaia, Sant Joan de Labritja, and Sant Antoni de Portmany.

Sailing holiday in Ibiza and Formentera through Sant Antoni de Portmany can be an exciting vacation. This place has been a favorite tourist destination particularly by the British. There are several resto bars and nightclubs in this town making it one of Ibiza’s most active areas. Aside from this, Sant Antoni de Portmany also has eye-catching beaches.

The region of Sant Joan de Labritja, located on the northern portion of Ibiza, is more serene and relaxing. It is quite because there are only a limited number of tourists who come to this region. However, it has one of the clearest beaches in Spain. Among other things, Sant Joan de Labritja possesses an exceptional type of Mediterranean vegetation.

For more info on sboats.com/Sailing-Holidays/Spain-Mallorca-Ibiza/ yacht charter Mallorca – Ibiza visit D. Browall’s website sboats.com sboats.com – The Ultimate Guide to a Sailing Holiday.


Traveling is the great act of exploration. That being said, it pays to be a little careful so that you don’t spend much of your trip within 15 feet of the bathroom.

Nothing is worse than visiting some exotic local only to end up sitting in your room for days because you are sick. It literally stinks! When getting out and about, it is good to experience the local culture. Just make sure you take some minor precautions to avoid problems.

Don’t drink the water. This is perhaps the top travel cliché out there. Some clichés, however, are based in fact. If you are traveling abroad, it is important to understand a basic fact. Water has bacteria in it. This is true for any location. Yes, even your home town. The problem, of course, is the nature of the bacteria changes from place to place. While your body might be used to the strain at home, it is typically not ready for something new. Whenever possible, try to stick to bottled water in a new location. Alternatively, try to boil the water or treat it with tablets to kill the bacteria.

While most people know not to drink the water, they tend to do it anyway without realizing it. There are two specific areas where this occurs. Ice cubes are made of water. It is a rare day when they are made of bottled water. If you have a drink with ice cubes in it, you are drinking the water! Next, you need to brush your teeth. Per habit, you probably use tap water. Try bottled water instead.

A final area where people can get into trouble has to do the nightlife. Specifically, I am talking about exploring it. While dancing the night away isn’t going to make you sick, it does make you hungry. Just about every traveler has stopped by a street vendor on the way back to the hostel, hotel or whatever. When you do this, you may or may not get well cooked, health food. The bacon wrapped hot dogs in Tijuana, for instance are legendary. I can also tell you they can be deadly from first hand experience. If you are hungry late at night, weigh your options before digging into the local mystery in a bun.

There are other ways you can catch something nasty while traveling, but these are definitely the most common. If you get sick, keep pounding water to avoid dehydration.

Burton Jones is with


The Ohio State Fair Funfest

Have you ever seen a Butter Cow? Well that’s just one of the many things you’ll encounter if you check out the Ohio State Fair in Columbus, Ohio. This fair begins every year in early August and has been going strong for over 150 years. The butter cow is actually a unique sculpture of a Cow made entirely out of butter. Of course this tasty piece of art would melt in the August heat so it and other butter sculptures are kept indoors and well-air conditioned.

There are many other interesting exhibits which exemplify the agriculturally based economy of Ohio. From time to time visitors may find themselves in line to try the act of milking a real cow or heading to the vegetable exhibit to see this year’s Giant Pumpkin or best Indian corn. There will also be a new exhibit this 2006 called the ‘The Gallery of Stains.’ It will encourage visitors to make to messiest of stains on a wall and try to get them out with a name brand detergent.

The midway will offer up lots of carnival food including funnel cakes, elephants ears and a Midwest favorite, Roast Corn on the Cob, including as much butter and salt as you could want. Just don’t eat too much before you get on one of several rides.

For some family fun you can head over to the old time era pavilion. Here you’ll find people living and dressing in the style of over a hundred years ago. Sample some homemade Sassafras tea, learn how to whittle or meet Smokey the Bear and learn that only you can prevent forest fires.

There is also a small stocked catfish pond where fair visitors can pay extra to rent a pole and attempt to catch some fish to take home for dinner. This is a great activity for the kids.

Since the fair is in the state’s capitol there is usually plenty of accommodation available in the form of a hotel room in town. There tends to be a lot of traffic in town so be careful or you may want to spend some time at the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) exhibit this year.

Gail Leino is known throughout the internet world as Mrs. Party. She has become the internet’s leading authority on selecting the best possible partysupplieshut.com party supplies with clever themes. Her simple party planning approach demostrates how to use proper manners while teaching etiquette with organizational skills. She shares lots of interesting fun facts. See travel-via.com travel vacations for more tips and holiday spot destinations.


Best Bets For Spring Break

We all want to do something interesting but affordable with our kids for spring break. I have compiled a list of the ten most kid and adult friendly places to go.

10. Splash Lagoon indoor water park in Erie, PA. At a dreamy 84 degrees F any day of the year this is a location of guaranteed nice weather. This place is awesome with a lazy river to lounge in atop an inner tube built for two. There are three giant hot tubs, one for adults only to relax in. An enormous tipping bucket perches on a three story tree house waiting to dump a thousand gallons of water on the waiting crowd that gathers below. Monkey Shines Island is an area for little ones only with a pool and mini slides. The biggest bonus is that there are three hotels directly attached to Splash Lagoon so you can go to your hotel room and back even in the coldest weather without having to get changed. They offer packages for hotel and Water park starting at under $200 for a two day pass for four people and one night hotel stay.

9. Cuba is a good deal for families. Some all inclusive hotels offer kids to stay free programs so you only have to pay for the flight for passengers under 12 years old. Cuba can always be booked at the last minute for cheap. The food is not five stars but it’ll keep you alive enough to enjoy some spectacular weather and beautiful beaches.

8. Cancun has so many hotel rooms that you can usually find something to your liking and in your price range even for spring break. Cancun hotels have some of the biggest pools anywhere including the 1/4 mile loop pool at the Oasis hotel. Beware of the tide though; danger level flags are raised on the beaches everyday to let swimmers know how the tide is. If the flags are red do not let little ones swim in the ocean as the unseen undertow can sweep you out to sea in the blink of an eye. Cancun can get a touch rowdy during spring break so ask for a room on the quieter side of the hotel. On the other hand if you are one of those creating the party ask for a room on the lively side so you don’t keep young families awake with your night owl habits. Most hotels have a variety of restaurants so you are assured of getting food you like. An added bonus to traveling to Cancun is that the entire city has filtered water so not only can you drink the water but you can eat washed veggies and fruit too and add ice to your drinks.

7. Dominican Republic on the Eastern side of the island of Hispaniola, Haiti occupies the Western side of the island, is always an economical choice. March travel means getting your vacation in before the annual hurricane season. Be sure to stay on the Northern side of Dominican, Puerto Plata of Sosua area, for the best beaches. If it’s culture you’re after one of the oldest churches in the western hemisphere that Christopher Columbus had built is in Santo Domingo on the south side.

6. Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fl seems like an obvious choice and you may wonder why I didn’t rate it higher. Although I am a huge Walt Disney World fan I am not so fond of the lines that come with spring break. If you can’t resist then you must go to Disneyquest which never seems to be overcrowded and is an indoor theme park that will also give relief from the scorching Florida sunshine. While you are at downtown Disney you also must eat at the Earl of Sandwich restaurant.

5. Kennedy Space Center in Cocoa Beach Florida where you can be educated and entertained simultaneously. You may be lucky enough to visit during a shuttle launch, an unforgettable experience. There are two IMAX theaters showing film of what the first space subdivision could look like on back to back screens. You can see the old space suits complete with the attached vacuum for bathroom use while out in space. You can try out freeze dried food such as ice cream just like the astronauts.

4. Get a hotel in your hometown by bidding on Priceline. You can probably get a nice hotel with an indoor pool for under $60 a night by bidding on Priceline. Often your breakfast will be included with the price of your stay. In any case there is no airfare to shell out for which makes your stay affordable. It’s like having a resort near home.

3. Day trips from home are usually affordable. Take a trip to the zoo in the spring and see the animals hopping as you never would in the summer heat.

2. Jamaica is your new island home. The people are friendly and the water is drinkable since they have had filtered water since 1928. The language is English spoken albeit with an island lilt. The food is scrumptious at even roadside stands. There are many hotels and price ranges to choose from but you’ll never be disappointed. One of the best beaches in the world in Negril can be right outside your door if you choose.

1. The number one destination of all is a cruise. Carnival is my favored cruise line because they have a wonderful children’s program with age appropriate activities for those from 3 years old up to 17. From video games to dances for teens with special recipe mock tails, Carnival’s Camp Carnival program will keep you kids busy so you can enjoy a little adult fun in the casino or the dance club or just relaxing on deck. Carnival has something for every member of your group. There is a spa for Mom and gym for Dad and a 2500 sq ft playroom for junior. There are only so many people that are allowed to board any one ship so the crowds are always under control.

Ann Childs is a freelance writer and travel consultant. Her specialty is Caribbean travel including beach vacations and cruises. She is the editor and featured writer at


If you’re in the market to rent a vacation home for your next trip and happen to be heading to the Outer Banks, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. Nowhere else will you find such a large array of incredible examples to choose from, and nowhere else will it seem so right to hole up in a comfortable beach house with zero responsibilities. Gather the family together, call up your cousins or friends and have them meet you there, and head to one of the hottest spots the barrier islands have to offer; Corolla.

This northernmost point on the island is renowned for its beachy beauty, untouched wildlife, and luxurious collection of vacation rentals. Once cut off from traffic and home only to wild stallions and various other critters, this area has now been opened for business. You’ll be amazed at what a few years of building has done to this region, meaning that those with a taste for lavish digs will be especially pleased to make this the site of their visit.

Somewhere along the way, it was decided that the best method to enjoy the Outer Banks involves taking a healthy break from work, school and all other responsibilities and heading to a sturdy-looking, one-of-a-kind, elegant home. With boating, fishing, swimming and exploring nature as your primary diversions in this region, it makes sense that you and your companions will want a place that’s laid-back yet capable of meeting your needs. Running back and forth to the beach lends itself to having not just a hotel room but a house at your disposal, as you’ll see when you arrive.

Most Corolla properties are pretty nice, with spacious floor plans that will accommodate the aforementioned motley groups of kids, adults, and even pets. Fold-out couches and futons mean that everyone will have a place to lay their head, but don’t worry, whoever’s paying the bills will have an inviting master bedroom (some houses have more than one) so as to avoid the slumber party atmosphere. Extra towels and linens will most likely be included as well; all that you need bring are the clothes you plan to wear (casual, of course) and maybe a couple of novels to read on the beach.

You’ll be amazed at how the personality of the house comes to affect everyone. Not that your trips are normally dull, but this one will seem especially fun and light-hearted thanks to all the “extras.” The rec room on the ground floor, with its pool table and selection of games, will become the top gathering place for the kids. The upstairs deck will be the happening place for the adults, as it easily turns into happy hour each day. Catching up with everyone’s lives and bonding before a background of simple beauty isn’t such a bad way to spend one’s hard-earned vacation days, is it?

The kitchen will come in especially handy. Every utensil and appliance that you’ll need, including a dishwasher, will make things easier, so pick up a few groceries and stock the pantry with everyone’s favorites. From grabbing a quick snack after several hours on the water to organizing a lavish dinner featuring the fresh catch of the day, you’ll be consistently amazed at how you ever managed to do without this fabulous feature during previous vacations.

Each house is a little different of course, so you’ll want to go online to check them all out. Depending on the size of your group, the time you plan to come, and whatever colorful whims or secret desires you have concerning how a proper vacation should be planned and executed, you could end up in any number of