There are many parts of Florida that, through no fault of their own, are often overshadowed by Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, simply because of the peerless nightlife that can be found in these cities. Jacksonville is one such city; it is Florida’s largest, and has a huge number of activities and attractions, but you rarely hear it mentioned in the same breath as Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, or even Orlando. There’s really no reason for this, other than its comparatively remote location, and serious Florida travelers should consider visiting, as you will never run out of things to do in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville offers shops and restaurants that rival those found in any other part of Florida, has twenty miles of Atlantic coast, several championship golf courses, and a handful of state parks to explore. Having an abundance of both city and outdoor attractions means that Jacksonville is a fantastic vacation destination. For those who enjoy shopping (as well as historic districts), check out the Avondale/Riverside district on the north bank of the St. Johns River. There is also a quaint shopping district in San Marco Square, south of the river. If you seek more cultural/educational destinations, Jacksonville has those in spades as well – check out the Jacksonville Historical Center and the Jacksonville Maritime Museum. If you enjoy music, you’re in luck, because Jacksonville hosts the second largest jazz festival in the nation.
If there is one thing you should go to Jacksonville for, it is the Jazz Festival. They have so many fantastic musicians all in one place, it’s really a must see for jazz fans. Last year, the highlight for me was undoubtedly Herbie Hancock performing with Marcus Miller on bass and one of my favorite up-and-comers on guitar, Lionel Loueke. One of the best things about the festival is that it is by no means only for aficionados. Many people get there first real exposure to jazz at this festival, and end up loving it for the rest of their lives. It’s really worth it if you can make it – the 2007 festival runs from April 12-15.
But, how best to get to Jacksonville for the festivities? Why, it shouldn’t surprise you that a limousine is the preferred mode of transportation for anyone in Florida. Limousines enhance any pleasurable experience, so keep Mirage in mind when you head to the festival this coming April!
Nick Jurkowski is a senior editor for MilleniumLimo.com MilleniumLimo.com: the essays above can be found on his night life blog, updated daily and available via RSS, at
There are a few cruise tips you should take note as it may just save you some hassle and frustrations before and during your cruise trip.
Getting to the Cruise Ship
Double checks to confirm you have the following documents ready.
Cruise lines tags on your suitcases indicating the sail date, ship name and cabin identification numberCruise ticketsCruise documents and passesValid passports
If your flight is delayed, inform the airline immediately that you need to catch a cruise ship. Provide them with the cruise line details and there may be a slim chance that there may be other cruisers on the same flight as you. If that is the case, the airline may just be able to help you hold the cruise ship. Otherwise, you may need to make arrangements to meet the cruise ship at the next port.
Check in to the Cruise Ships
Remember, there are many other cruisers just like you during the embarkation process waiting to board the ship. It is good to check in early to avoid the queue and the crowd. You can use the extra free time that you gain to explore the ship and sign up for popular spa treatments or shore excursion packages. Once you have checked in, you will be given your dining-room table assignments, so let the cruise crew know of your seating preference.
On board the Ship
There is a daily program inside your cabin that tells you the programs for entire cruise trip. Meals times are included as well. During this time, you may not have received your luggage yet. Do not worry as it does take some time for the luggage to be properly distributed to the respective passengers. Give the purser’s office a call if you still have no news of your luggage by the end of the day.
Remember to lock your valuables and keep any important documents inside the safe provided in your cabin. All you need to carry with you is the shipboard credit card and your cabin key with you. There is also a deck plan ready in most cruise ships for you to find your way around the cruise ship yourself.
Enjoying the Cruise
Time can passed very quickly when you cruise. Decide what attractions you want to see and what things you want to do on board the ship. Most cruisers would be exploring the islands when the ships docks at the port. With fewer people on board remaining, the ship may be quieter and if you are lucky, a few offerings such as live music, seminars and spa treatments may still be available.
Copyright 2006, Jerrick Foo and Cruise-Ships-Vacations-Guide.com
Reprinting this article is allowed provided all references and acknowledgment to the author, the website, and the URL remain intact.
Jerrick is a travel writer with keen interest in cruises. He has designed a website cruise-ships-vacations-guide.com www.cruise-ships-vacations-guide.com especially for cruise lovers. Learn how to choose the right
Our country is famous for its beaches, some of the most beautiful in the world, remote, pristine and bathed in sunshine!
But there are pros and cons to a lazy day on the coast of Australia and there are many things you’ll need to be aware of as a first timer or visitor. Below we’ve put together a list of the biggest and most important rules to follow, ensuring your Australian beach outing is one to remember, for good reasons, and not bad ones.
* You WILL need sunscreen. As great as it looks to have a dark tan these days, 1400 people die each year from sun cancers in Australia and 8,800 are diagnosed with melanomas. A layer of 30 sunscreen is both smart and necessary, not to mention an easy way to stay sun cancer free. Take a look around, all of the locals are slathering some on, you should too.
* Don’t forget a hat and a shirt to put on, for when the sun is out in force and your shoulders need a break. The hottest time in the day during an Australian summer in between 10am and 3pm, keep this in mind during outdoor activities.
* Keep up your water intake. In summer it is easier to become dehydrated, especially on the beach, so keep a bottle of water handy.
* Swim between the flags. Australian beaches have sections of beach that are patrolled by highly trained lifeguards, these sections are easily marked by bright yellow and red flags. In this area, the lifeguards are able to quickly spot you if you are in danger, and come to your rescue. Outside of these flagged areas you run the risk of not being seen by someone and being carried further out into the ocean by rips.
* Decide how long you’ll stay in the surf and how high the waves should get before going in shore. It sounds small, but it’s easy to get into big trouble if the waves are too high or rough for you. The surf is no place to be a cowboy! If you start to feel uneasy where you are, that’s a major sign that you’re already in too deep.
* By aware of scary things at the beach. This can mean lots of things, rocks under the water, jelly fish, sharks, rips in the tide or even people on the shore who might like the look of your belongings and want to steal something of value while you swim 20 metres away. You have to take care of yourself and be aware of what’s going on around you!
If you find yourself in trouble, there are a few easy things to remember that might save your life.
* If you get caught in a rip; wave your arms to attract attention from others around you (and the lifeguards). If you are too far out and are struggling, it’s best to swim parallel to the shore along with the rip. This way, you won’t exhaust yourself and eventually the rip will break and you can swim to the shore. The important thing is not to swim against the current.
* Listen to lifeguards. If they say a particular area is dangerous, it is. You might think otherwise, but they have your safety in mind. Also, if a lifeguard comes to help you, follow their directions.
* Seek attention immediately if you are stung by something. If you are stung by the dreaded blue bottle and there are no lifeguards to help you, a good remedy for pain is to bathe the sting in hot water.
Leah Bradicich has travelled comprehensively through Europe, the UK, South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand. She works for Vroom Vroom Vroom, vroomvroomvroom.com vroomvroomvroom.com, a travel website collating all the deals and specials from the nation’s largest car rental companies, offering discounts on car rentals. Her pieces focus on the ‘best of’ parts of each city, offering a fail safe guide to travelling and listing interesting facts that make each city unique.
Cruises in and around Europe are increasingly popular and if sneak peaks at the 2008-2009 itineraries are any indication, cruise passengers will be getting more options. In fact, a new cruise line called Azamara is even promising not just more Europe, but new European ports of call.Which brings us to one of the oldest European ports, the city of Venice.
Venice is not like anywhere else on earth. It’s not the only city that is laced with canals (Amsterdam has canals, too, so does Stockholm), and it’s not the only city with an ancient past (Rome probably beats Venice in the historical department and Florence definitely edges her out in art). But there is something incredibly different and delightful about Venice.
You can’t drive in Venice. Entrance in and out of the city is by boat (you take a water taxi from the airport), so arriving by cruise ship is close to the way the city was meant to be approached.
When you actually reach Venice, you’ll have to get around by walking or boat. By far, the quickest, easiest, and least expensive way to go from point A to point B is to jump on the boat-bus, called a vaporetto. You buy tickets for it just like the bus. If you’re a cruise passenger in town for the day, it may pay for you to buy a pass good for the whole day. Not only could it save you some lire, you don’t have to hassle with buying tickets when you want to get a ride.
Water taxis are another option, but they’re a bit more expensive. Even more expensive, but delightfully romantic and unique, are gondolas. Expect to fork out a lot of money for the experience, but, trust me, it will be an experience.
Most Venetians get around by foot, and you probably will, too. The city has all the twists and turns you’d expect from an ancient town. Because of the network of canals, you will sometimes find yourself in the intriguing position of being able to see where you want to go but not be able to figure out how to get there. Relax, Venice has something interesting practically around every corner, so even if you get lost, you’ll probably still do a lot of great sightseeing.
The biggest tourist spot in town is the Piazza San Marco where St. Mark’s Cathedral is located. You can tour the cathedral and even climb the towers (not hard) to get a panoramic view of the square. Legend holds that the cathedral contains the grave of St. Mark, author of the Gospel according to St. Mark.
The square is full of pigeons (all of the time) and tourists (mostly in warmer months). Depending on when you travel, you may also see scaffolding or wooden walkways around the plaza. These aren’t risers for a concert or show. They are walkways designed so that people could get across the square even when it floods, which it does often enough for the city to have built elevated walkways.
Nearby is the Doge’s Palace. Doge (dough-jay) is the name the Venetians gave to their ruler back in the day when Venice was an independent nation. It’s a sumptuous kind of place, fit for a monarch, but most tourists enjoy the lesser accommodations better. The Doge had so many enemies he annexed a prison to the palace which is reached by crossing the Bridge of Sighs. There is a self-guided tour of the prison but it is very important to stick to the pathways marked. You are perfectly free to wander around as you see fit, but the place is like a honeycomb and you can get lost.
Getting lost is a typical Venetian experience. The city is full of unmarked streets, twisted lanes, and narrow passageways.
One of Venice’s favorite native sons was reputed to have been lost. Marco Polo lived in Venice and set out for China, where he spent 20 years. When he returned, he was vilified by Venetians who called him “The Liar” for making up stories. You can visit his home. It is located on a short cul-de-sac named “The Liar”The Liar.”
Venice was always better known for commerce than art, but there are some artistic treasures. If you like eating what the locals do, you’re going to try seafood and a dry sparkling wine called Prosecco. Of course, most tourists end up enjoying more generic Italian favorites here, too, such as cappuccino or espresso and rich gelato.
If you have time, take a vaporetto out to Lido island. It’s an island that’s just a short boat-bus ride from the main drag (the Grand Canal) and there is more relaxed (and less expensive) shopping and some beaches.
Another great thing to check out is Murano, an island famous for colorful hand-blown glass. You can buy Murano glassware all over Venice, including a special design known as mille-fiori (thousand-flowers). In Murano, you can watch artisans at work and get a much broader sampling of their products. You’ll find Murano glass products in lots of stores.
Glass purchases from large stores can be shipped to you at home; most shopkeepers will be able to make such arrangements, at least for larger purchases.
Venice is a well-known city for tourists. It always has been, and cruise ships and package tours to Europe continue to feature it prominently. But Venice is also a very personal kind of city. Two tourists visiting the city on any given day can walk away with distinctly different impressions and experiences.
Mandy Karlik is a travel writer and cruise aficionado who is going to Mexico on her next cruise. To read more about cruise destinations, go to thecruise-shopper.com thecruise-shopper.com
Mandy Karlik blogs at cruiselinenews.blogspot.com cruiselinenews.blogspot.com
