When scientists did a study on the genetic makeup of the common body louse, they were able to establish the approximate time that human beings first began to wear clothing. The louse is a parasite that feed on the human body, but can not do so with out clothing. The testing showed that humans first began to wear clothing 72,000 years ago. Since Homo sapiens have been around for 200,000 years, it appears that all humans have been nudists for over half the existence of the species.

In the historical area, there were less social and moral issues involved with nudity during the Classical period. In ancient Greece the human body was viewed as beautiful and was the subject of art. Athletes commonly were nude as they competed in events against each other, and the word gymnasium comes from the Greek root, gymnos, which means nude.

Although the first nudist colonies were established in British India in 1891, it was in Germany that the naturism movement really began. In the early 1900’s several papers were published that advocated the idea that the human body was neither sinful nor obscene. They talked of the concepts of self hate, and shame. The first nudist colonies were opened in Germany around 1903, and grew into popularity during the 1920’s. They were suppressed by the Nazi party, but never completely eliminated.

The Germans seemed to be the missionaries of the Naturism movement. In the 1960’s German’s vacationing along the Mediterranean coast in France began nudist colonies, and nudist beaches and nudist resorts grew in popularity there. The movement had its early beginning in North America in 1929 when a German immigrant named Kurt Barthel opened a colony in the United States. In the early days of the movement in America, nudism became associated with family values and alcohol was prohibited from all activities.

Despite the attempt to associate high moral standards with the nudism movement it was subjected to much harassment and misunderstanding due to the prevailing social climate in the country that saw nudism as a sexual and even pornographic activity. Over the past three decades this has largely changed. Nudist vacations became more common, and nudism lost some of its social stigma. Nudism became less restrictive as well and clothing optional gathering became more common. Topless beaches also became popular, and the organized nudist movement made strides in erasing the negative perception of nudism.

Natalie Aranda writes about travel. The Germans seemed to be the missionaries of the Naturism movement. In the 1960’s German’s vacationing along the Mediterranean coast in France began nudist colonies, and nudist beaches and

Deciding on the next vacation with your family can be a daunting task, especially when your choice of place does not interest your children. You might plan to visit Alaska, but your children could be longing for a trip to the Bahamas. The best option is to figure out where your kids wish to go this vacation and finalize a kid-friendly destination.

With the release of movies like ‘Madagascar’, children have become all the more keen to travel through exotic and adventurous destinations. While Madagascar is not considered to be the most popular family destination, a trip to other places like Costa Rica or Kenya can prove to be an invaluable fun-filled learning experience, well within your budget. Costa Rica serves a dual purpose as your children can learn Spanish as they explore the lush green rain forests or erupting volcanoes. Even Kenya can be a good option, as the family can learn to speak a little Swahili while exploring the rare glimpse of the mass migration of the wild beasts. You can enjoy your vacation with children listening to the sounds from within the rainforests, as well as relaxing under the star-studded sky on a safari that would be certainly more interesting for the whole family.

Eastern cities like Beijing, Seoul and Bangkok are also part of the list of favorite destinations with children, in terms of adventure. The holiday can prove to be a learning and entertainment experience, as one can see the Great Wall and learn about different cultures. Different food, different money and an altogether different way of life can be highly entertaining for you. But, entry to the country could probably take a considerable amount of time, so plan your trip well ahead of time to ensure a smooth trip to your chosen destination.

European cities such as Italy have also gained tremendous popularity over the years, but a trip might be a little too expensive. However, the Western Europe country trips generally come with discounts and amenities. You can experience a different culture. You can explore the ruins of Pompeii and go on a Gondola ride in Venice or taste delicious Italian sweets in Florence. Most Western European families enjoy vacations to countries like Italy. This gives them an opportunity to explore their ancestors.

The Caribbean is the next best holiday spot with children. Basking in the sun, playing in the sand and swimming in the deep blue water are the local indulgences that also form the basic reason for a number of families visiting this place. The holiday spot is blessed with plenty of sun, sand and water. Jamaica is full of fascinating natural beauty that is breathtaking. With white sandy beaches, black volcanic mountains and deep red sunsets, the island has evolved into a tourist’s paradise.

Hawaii as a holiday destination is also very popular with a number of children visiting the place every year. It also offers sun, sand and water in abundance, along with all kinds of summer and water sport activities ranging scuba diving to swimming with the dolphins. You can also go whale watching. Besides having fun with your family, you can also acquaint yourself more closely with the volcanic geology of Hawaii.

No matter where you plan to go for your next family vacation, do not limit yourself. Always try to explore the place to its fullest and get as foot loose and fancy free as possible. Select a destination that will be stimulating and fulfilling for your entire family. But, do not forget to plan your trip properly, as a trip to the most fascinating destination too can be very stressful without proper planning.

Jack Blacksmith often writes short articles on areas relating with Torrevieja and Benidorm. His abstracts on

The first pioneers to live on the land that the Resort Municipality of Whistler now inhabits arrived in the 1880s. The Squamish and Lil’wat people have been the stewards of these lands and to this day these two First nations people follow in the footsteps of their ancestors.

Alta Lake, BC was the original name of Whistler. The lake itself was originally called Summit Lake as its creeks flow out of both north and south creating a chain of four connected lakes (Alpha, Nita, Alta, and Green). The valley was part of the traveling route known as the Pemberton Trail. The area was first surveyed and documented in 1858 by Hudson’s Bay men looking for an alternate route into the Caribou area. In the 1860’s British Naval Officers and Surveyors named what is now Whistler Mountain as ‘London Mountain.’

London Mountain soon became locally known as ‘Whistler’ because of the shrill whistle made by the Western Hoary Marmots who lived among the rocks. One of the first settlers was John Millar, a trapper who ran a stopping house on the Pemberton Trail near today’s Function Junction. In 1911, John Millar met Alex Philip on a trip to Vancouver to sell furs. He invited Alex and his wife Myrtle to experience the superb fishing on the chain of lakes near his cabin. Myrtle and Alex Philip, both from the state of Maine, had moved to the west coast and dreamed of opening their own fishing lodge and resort.

In 1914 the Pacific Great Eastern Railway (PGE) reached Alta Lake and opened the valley to the outside world. The legendary hospitality combined with a spectacular setting and excellent fishing, allowed the Philip’s to expand Rainbow Lodge with cabins until it could accommodate 100 people. It soon became known as the most popular resort west of Banff and Jasper. The Philip’s operated the Lodge until 1948 when they sold it to Alec and Audrey Greenwood. The main Lodge burnt down in 1977, but today the area has been preserved as Rainbow Park. Some of the original cabins and a replica of ‘the Bridge of Sighs’ are still standing at the park.

Alex Philip, an incurable romantic and writer of fiction novels, named the ‘Bridge of Sighs’ and the ‘River of Golden Dreams and Romance’. The Philip’s both remained in the valley until their deaths. Alex died in 1968 at the age of 86, and Myrtle died in 1986 at the age of 95. Many other lodges were built around the lakes due to the summer tourist trade.

By 1965 the Provincial Government had completed a narrow gravel road from Vancouver. It followed a rough service road under the large Hydro towers leading to Bridge River. Electricity in the Alta Lake community was not realized until a substation was built to power the ski lifts in 1965. GODA made a total of four separate bids for the Winter Olympics. In 1968 Vancouver/Garibaldi won the Canadian nomination for the 1976 proposed site. However, Montreal was bidding for the 1976 Summer Olympic Games, which they were awarded and the International Olympic Committee would not allow both summer and winter games in the same country. On August 27, 1965 London Mountain’s name was officially changed to Whistler Mountain.

Today Whistler welcomes millions of visitors a year with fantastic skiing, great restaurants and an array of excellent property rentals in whistler making it one of the most popular destinations in North America. Luxury properties for rent are located around Whistler village as well as nearby towns and villages catering for every need of the guest. Whistler chalets provide every amenity the discerning guest could desire.

Skiatwhistler.com Skiatwhistler.com offers real time bookings of premium properties in the world class ski resort of Whistler, British Columbia. Our business is to market skiatwhistler.com/FrontEnd/findlodging.aspx property rentals in Whistler to high end vacationers in order to maximize property owner’ return on investment (ROI).

Flowers can enhance your travel memories in many ways. There you are, visiting the Spanish Colonial city of San Miguel de Allende in Mexico and the blooming jacaranda trees surrounding the buildings and throughout the plazas are so striking, they take your breath away. Or you are in Tokyo in April and come across the Kameido Tenjin Shrine covered with 100 wisteria plants on 15 trellises that were planted 320 years ago. At either location, the perfumed air and the lavender-colored light from so many purple flowers will create a scene you’ll never forget.

In fact, flowers can greatly impact what we remember from our travels. Visually, their individual beauty can provide delightful mental triggers to refresh our memories of a trip: it could be a single blossom on a Saguaro cactus in Arizona or a pink Jersey lily in the Channel Isles or the impact of a mass of color, such as heather on the moors in Scotland, a lavender field before harvest, or a field of pink opium poppies in Tasmania.

In some locations, unique geological areas are accented or highlighted by wildflowers. Places with dramatic scenery, such as Iceland, South Africa, Australia, and the moors of Britain, have thick carpets of seasonal flowers that not only frame the landscape but seem to soften its edges.

Other places serve as a backdrop to area flowers. The presence of flowers adds visual significance to the site: the anemones blooming amid the ruins in the Karpaz Peninsula in Cypress; frankincense trees located in a rocky Wadi outside Salalah, Oman; Darwin’s cotton trees on Isabella Island in the Galapagos; and dogwood trees blooming among the giant sequoias in California’s Sierra Mountains.

Our nose offers another effective travel memory trigger. The aroma that fills the air—a plaza of blooming orange trees in southern Spain, the “pizza” scented hills of Crete, a coffee plantation in Costa Rica, or Turkey’s commercial fields of roses grown for their oil—provides a powerful reminder of the entire trip when we’re exposed to that fragrance again.

A perfect example of all of these memory stimulants is the Burren on Ireland’s mid-western coast. Definitely dramatic, the Burren offers a unique combination of environment and flora. Picture this: the Gulf Stream determines the weather on the great limestone plateau which allows both Mediterranean and arctic wildflowers to grow together in one natural landscape. Plants common to the southern regions reach their northern limits and plants common to the northern regions reach their southern limits. And alpine plants are growing here at sea-level. It’s like one-stop shopping for flower lovers!

© 2007 Kate Savory

Know anyone who loves flowers and loves to travel? For a free report (Why Go There?
Tips on Selecting Your Next Travel Destination) visit flowertripping.com flowertripping.com home of a new book, FLOWERtripping™ A Traveler’s Guide to What’s Blooming When, by Kate Savory.