Colorado Springs Vacation Destinations
Colorado Springs is the most populated city in El Paso County, Colorado. With over 372,000 residents, it is the 2nd most populated city in the State of Colorado.
Colorado Springs is located slightly east of the geographic center of Colorado state and 61 miles south of the State Capitol in Denver. At an elevation of 6,035 feet (about 1839 meters) Colorado Springs resides at over a mile above sea level, while some areas of the city reside much higher. Colorado Springs is located near the base of a very famous American mountain, named Pikes Peak, at the east edge of the southern Rocky Mountains. In 2006, Colorado Springs was selected by Money Magazine as the number one Big City in "Best Places to Live".
Colorado Springs Tourism
Most vacationers in Colorado Springs are attracted to the surrounding natural wonders such as the famous Pikes Peak mountain. Colorado Springs has numerous trails and national parks due to its proximity to the Rocky Mountains, making it a popular travel destination for its beautiful scenery. With the nearby Rocky Mountains, Colorado Springs has also gained popularity for its large rock formations and other geological features.
Attractions in Colorado Springs
Pikes Peak is one of America's most famous mountains and one of America's national treasures. It is is home to a diverse and abundant combination of plant and animal wildlife. People have traversed Pikes Peak's valleys and hillsides for centuries searching for sport, natural beauty, education and spiritual enlightenment.
Pikes Peak Toll Highway runs through Pikes Peak Summit House and Glen Cove and Crystal Reservoir. The highway toll is $10.00 per person or $35.00 per car, whichever is less.
Approximately six miles from the tollbooth, you will visit Crystal Reservoir. At Crystal Reservoir, you can pan for gold & gems in the mining waters, rent a paddleboat, and take in the beautiful mountain and valley views. Half way through the trail, you can stop and take a break at Glen Cove. This will help you acclimate to the high altitude while offering you an opportunity to visit a friendly gift shop and eat at the restaurant. As you continue your climb, you'll come across the Summit House, where you will find a warm and cozy spot to enjoy world-famous high-altitude donuts, photo opportunities, a gift shop and the restaurant itself. For more information on Pikes Peak and the hours of operation, call 719-473-0208.
"Cave of the Winds"
67% of the visitors to Cave of the Winds are repeat visitors and nearly all of them say they'll return again in the future. When visiting Pikes Peak region, we hope you will stop to enjoy their hospitality for yourself. They will welcome you and your family to enjoy the perfect combination of recreation, relaxation, natural beauty, and history blended to create a mountain full of great memories and fun.
Decade after decade and century after century, water persisted against rock, leaving behind crystalline deposits of limestone sediments. As rock gave way to space, a cave was born. Cave of the Winds is an underground cave system of rooms and passages, decorated with limestone stalagmites, stalactites and flowstone curtains draping from the ceiling. Often called Jewels of nature, these limestone formations took centuries to form and are preserved for all to view and enjoy. Nestled in the foothills of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, this magnificent and scenic cave system records over 200 million years of geological history. Informative tour guides will lead you through one of three different caverns while explaining how they were formed, in addition to their history as one of Colorado's most marvelous natural attractions.
Colorado Springs Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
A visit to the Pikes Peak region is not complete without a trip to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo - the only mountain zoo in America! At this unique zoo, your family will experience unforgettable adventures, combining breathtaking mountain scenery with over 740 animals from around the world. This includes hand-feeding a herd of giraffe (the largest herd of giraffe of any zoo in the world).
From lions and giraffes to hippos, bears, monkeys, and penguins, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see over 30 endangered species like the lowland gorilla and Siberian tiger.
Here you can also come face-to-face with great apes, watch your kids enjoy the children's petting zoo and play area, ride a 1920's historic carousel, and see the most spectacular views of Colorado Springs all in one location. Zoo admission also includes access to the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Admission: Children: $6.00 (3-11) Adults: $12.00 Seniors: $10.00 Directions: From I-25 exit 138, drive west, (Circle Dr. becomes Lake Avenue) towards mountains, and follow the signs. Prices subject to change so call before visiting for exact pricing.
Colorado Wolf and Wildlife
Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center is certified by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is the only certified public wildlife sanctuary in the state of Colorado. The AZA is America's leading accredited organization that sets meticulous, professional standards for zoos and aquariums. The AZA is building North America's largest wildlife conservation movement by motivating the 143 million annual visitors to its member institutions and their communities to care about and take action to help protect wildlife.
Colorado Casinos
There are multiple casinos just outside Colorado Springs. These are: Brass Ass Casino, Bronco Billy's Casino, Deuces Wild Casino, and Midnight Rose Hotel & Casino.
Colorado Springs Golf
Colorado Springs Golf courses include: Patty Jewett Golf Course in Colorado Springs, Shining Mountain Golf Course in Woodland Park, and Valley Hi Golf Course in Colorado Springs.
Colorado Springs Amusement Park
Bigg City Amusement Park, located at 5825 Mark Dabling Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80919
Colorado Springs Fishing
Angler's Covey: Experience Colorado fun and adventure! Join Angler's Covey for a full-day or half-day private water or corporate guided fly fishing trip. All equipment, waders and fishing flies included. You're sure to go home with more than a big fish story!
Colorado Springs Horseback Riding/Hiking
"Cowboy U" Colorado: "Cowboy U" Colorado offers everything from an easy 1-hour trail ride (for guests of all ages) in the Pike National Forest to a 5-day pack trip in the Lost Creek Wilderness. M Lazy C (Mule Creek) Ranch: Here is a sampling of what M Lazy C (Mule Creek) Ranch can provide for you:
Horseback Riding Hay & Wagon Rides, Carriage Rides, Pack Trips, Cattle Drives, Chuck Wagon Meals, Cowboy Shooting Range, Group/Corporate Activities, Weddings, RV Sites, Horse Camping, Guest Cabins/Lodging, and Fly Fishing Trips
River Rafting Companies in Colorado Springs
Adrift River Runners, Rafting Adventure Outfitters, American Adventure Expeditions, 4 Corners Rafting, Arkansas River Tours, Bill Dvorak Kayak & Rafting Expeditions, Buffalo Joe's Whitewater Rafting/Cottonwood County Snowmobiling, Canyon Marine Whitewater Clear Creek Rafting, and Colorado Adventures/Wilderness Aware Rafting: Twice named "Colorado Company of the Year!" Rafting on 5 exciting Colorado Rivers including America's most popular rafting river - the Arkansas River, located near Colorado Springs. Raft the Royal Gorge, the highlight of your Colorado vacation.
Colorado Springs Rock Climbing
Gravity Play: Guided rock and ice climbing trips plus classes for your entire family or company party. Some rock climbing destinations include the Garden of the Gods, Red Rocks Open Space, and Cheyenne Canyon.
Pikes Peak Alpine School: Guided rock climbing, ice climbing, mountaineering, backcountry skiing & snow shoeing, treking, alpine touring, avalanche clinics, expeditions, all ability levels.
Colorado Springs Scenic Tours
Adventures Out West Jeep Tours: Scenic Entertainment on Pikes Peak. Our Jeep tours explore the rugged south side of Pikes Peak via Gold Camp Road. Our informative cowboy driver guides will tell stories of the old west and show you the splendor nature.
Attic, The Old Town Tours: 150 Years covered in just 90 minutes. Tour Old Town and experience true Wild West history. Learn Of Gold, Local Characters, Ghosts, Hidden Underground Tunnels, Saloons And The Infamous Red Light District.
Colorado Adventures 4x4 Jeep Tours: Immaculately maintained open top jeeps are the perfect way to enjoy the Colorado mountains. Choose a dramatic climb on 14,000-foot peaks or venture through old scenic mining towns. Friendly and knowledgeable guides do the driving for you so you can take in the scenery.
Rockhound ATV Rentals: Ride a variety of Pikes Peak Area's back country's most popular trails with the best views in Colorado. From beginner to advanced, Rockhound ATV will direct you to a trail best fitting to your level of experience.
Don Guy is an avid traveler and co-founder of MrVacation.com, a vacation rental directory offering vacation rentals and vacation homes for sale. When planning a Colorado Springs vacation, search MrVacation.com for the perfect Colorado home, condo, or villa vacation rental your entire family will enjoy.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Mauritius Holidays - A vacation paradise
Mauritius Holidays - A vacation paradise
With white sandy beaches and deep blue lagoons welcoming you, and a number of exquisite churches, museums and art galleries waiting to be explored, Mauritius is an island with a rich heritage of its royal culture and history.
Some of the best tourist attractions in Mauritius are as follows:
Pamplemousses garden
Pamplemousses is an exceptionally beautiful botanical garden spread over an area of 60 acres. Built and designed by Pierre Poivre, the garden offers sights like themes from Indonesia as well as tortoises and water lilies from the Amazon. On a holiday in Mauritius you must enjoy the natural beauty of this tourist spot, as it offers plenty of unusual species of plants to add freshness to your vacation.
Port Louis
This Mauritian capital is the best way to learn about its culture, history and the Mauritius lifestyle. The port is a major tourist spot in Mauritius and gives a historical background to interest the tourists and visitors holidaying in Mauritius. Many of the old building on the port were occupied by British and French people. Other such attractions offered are the series of museums such as blue penny museum, natural history museum, postal museum and windmill museum.
Casela Bird Park and Nature Park
Casela is a perfect family tourist spot for those holidaying in Mauritius. The Casela bird park offers a variety of remarkable bird species from different parts of the world. Apart from its bird collection, tourists and visitors also get drawn towards the zoo, fish ponds, rock climbing, safari, biking and hill top eating sites. On a Mauritian holiday you must not miss the experience of bicycling through the Natural Park, quad biking and taking photos whilst on safari. The Casela Bird Park and Nature Park are beautiful attractions in Mauritius for a fun filled family day out.
Museums of Mauritius
For the art and history lovers holidaying in Mauritius, this place brings an unusual and amazing collection of various museums like the naval museum, blue penny museum and even more. The blue penny museum is worth a visit when on holiday in Mauritius as it presents striking artworks, coin collections, historic pictures, colonial maps and much more. L'Aventure du Sucre is another museum well worth visiting, as the museum once was a sugar factory and brings out the history and importance of sugar.
Best time to holiday in Mauritius
The ideal time for a Mauritian holiday is in the months from July to September
If you found this information useful you can find out more at http://www.bargainholidays4u.org.uk/. You will be able to watch holiday videos as well as find out more about holiday destinations and browse Bargain Holidays.
Please feel free to republish this article provided a working hyperlink remains to our website -
Luki Johnson
With white sandy beaches and deep blue lagoons welcoming you, and a number of exquisite churches, museums and art galleries waiting to be explored, Mauritius is an island with a rich heritage of its royal culture and history.
Some of the best tourist attractions in Mauritius are as follows:
Pamplemousses garden
Pamplemousses is an exceptionally beautiful botanical garden spread over an area of 60 acres. Built and designed by Pierre Poivre, the garden offers sights like themes from Indonesia as well as tortoises and water lilies from the Amazon. On a holiday in Mauritius you must enjoy the natural beauty of this tourist spot, as it offers plenty of unusual species of plants to add freshness to your vacation.
Port Louis
This Mauritian capital is the best way to learn about its culture, history and the Mauritius lifestyle. The port is a major tourist spot in Mauritius and gives a historical background to interest the tourists and visitors holidaying in Mauritius. Many of the old building on the port were occupied by British and French people. Other such attractions offered are the series of museums such as blue penny museum, natural history museum, postal museum and windmill museum.
Casela Bird Park and Nature Park
Casela is a perfect family tourist spot for those holidaying in Mauritius. The Casela bird park offers a variety of remarkable bird species from different parts of the world. Apart from its bird collection, tourists and visitors also get drawn towards the zoo, fish ponds, rock climbing, safari, biking and hill top eating sites. On a Mauritian holiday you must not miss the experience of bicycling through the Natural Park, quad biking and taking photos whilst on safari. The Casela Bird Park and Nature Park are beautiful attractions in Mauritius for a fun filled family day out.
Museums of Mauritius
For the art and history lovers holidaying in Mauritius, this place brings an unusual and amazing collection of various museums like the naval museum, blue penny museum and even more. The blue penny museum is worth a visit when on holiday in Mauritius as it presents striking artworks, coin collections, historic pictures, colonial maps and much more. L'Aventure du Sucre is another museum well worth visiting, as the museum once was a sugar factory and brings out the history and importance of sugar.
Best time to holiday in Mauritius
The ideal time for a Mauritian holiday is in the months from July to September
If you found this information useful you can find out more at http://www.bargainholidays4u.org.uk/. You will be able to watch holiday videos as well as find out more about holiday destinations and browse Bargain Holidays.
Please feel free to republish this article provided a working hyperlink remains to our website -
Luki Johnson
Maldives Holidays - holiday ecstasy
Maldives Holidays - holiday ecstasy
The Maldives is a popular vacation destination for travelers from across the world and has so much to offer. The tranquil beauty of the Maldives is refreshing and breathtaking for those looking for an amazing experience on their holiday. From thrilling water sports to walking on gorgeous shore lines, the Maldives is truly a destination for everyone.
Out of a long list of its tourist attraction, mentioned below are some of the best places to visit when holidaying in the Maldives:
Male
Capital city of the Maldives, Male is a remarkable tourist attraction and is situated near to the airport. Often, tourists and visitors holidaying in the Maldives travel to Male to shop for local handicrafts or visit the magnificent national museum that holds a collection of beautiful artifacts, including Palanquins and Sultanese thrones and various mosques.
Grand Friday Mosque
Biggest mosque in the whole of the Maldives, Grand Friday Mosque is a major tourist attraction due to its architecture and design of bygone times. Constructed in the year 1656 by Sultan Ibrahim Iskandhar, the mosque is worth visiting on a holiday in the Maldives. With a popular Islamic centre and a capacity for 5000 people, the Grand Friday Mosque is a prideful attraction. Even if you are not very religious, you must visit this mosque for its unique coral engravings and tombs of national heroes.
Esjehi Art Gallery
This tourist attraction is an art gallery situated in the capital city, on the eastern side of Sultan Park. Located in one of the oldest buildings, the gallery is quite a treat for art lovers as it preserves, promotes and presents artwork (traditional and modern)of local people. In spite of being a small gallery, the place holds various workshops for Maldive artists and has a decent collection of art, which makes it worth visiting during your holiday in the Maldives.
Maldives Fish Market
Situated on the north side of the Male waterfront, The Fish Market of is a crowded tourist attraction. Tourist, visitors and locals are found shopping for vegetables, fresh fruits, dried fish, tuna and many other such fish variety. The uniqueness of the market is its cleanliness. When holidaying in the Maldives, do visit this market for its commercial activities.
Beaches in the Maldives
No holiday in the Maldives is complete without its beaches, which is why lots of tourist and visitors head first to its exotic and vivid beaches. The Maldives has numerous beaches with breathtaking beauty and lots of water activities. Most of the Maldives tourism depends on its beaches and resorts. Some of these beaches are the beaches of Sun Island, Paradise Island, Royal Island Resorts, Fuammulak and many more. When on a holiday in the Maldives, the best way to enjoy a vacation is to go for its beaches and activities such as parasailing, scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing and windsurfing.
Best time to holiday in Maldives
The Maldives is a year round holiday destination, but the ideal time for a holiday would be December to April.
If you found this information useful you can find out more at http://www.last-minute-holidays.me.uk/. You will be able to watch holiday videos as well as find out more about holiday destinations and a Last Minute Holidays. Please feel free to republish this article provided a working hyperlink remains to our site - Simon Johnson
The Maldives is a popular vacation destination for travelers from across the world and has so much to offer. The tranquil beauty of the Maldives is refreshing and breathtaking for those looking for an amazing experience on their holiday. From thrilling water sports to walking on gorgeous shore lines, the Maldives is truly a destination for everyone.
Out of a long list of its tourist attraction, mentioned below are some of the best places to visit when holidaying in the Maldives:
Male
Capital city of the Maldives, Male is a remarkable tourist attraction and is situated near to the airport. Often, tourists and visitors holidaying in the Maldives travel to Male to shop for local handicrafts or visit the magnificent national museum that holds a collection of beautiful artifacts, including Palanquins and Sultanese thrones and various mosques.
Grand Friday Mosque
Biggest mosque in the whole of the Maldives, Grand Friday Mosque is a major tourist attraction due to its architecture and design of bygone times. Constructed in the year 1656 by Sultan Ibrahim Iskandhar, the mosque is worth visiting on a holiday in the Maldives. With a popular Islamic centre and a capacity for 5000 people, the Grand Friday Mosque is a prideful attraction. Even if you are not very religious, you must visit this mosque for its unique coral engravings and tombs of national heroes.
Esjehi Art Gallery
This tourist attraction is an art gallery situated in the capital city, on the eastern side of Sultan Park. Located in one of the oldest buildings, the gallery is quite a treat for art lovers as it preserves, promotes and presents artwork (traditional and modern)of local people. In spite of being a small gallery, the place holds various workshops for Maldive artists and has a decent collection of art, which makes it worth visiting during your holiday in the Maldives.
Maldives Fish Market
Situated on the north side of the Male waterfront, The Fish Market of is a crowded tourist attraction. Tourist, visitors and locals are found shopping for vegetables, fresh fruits, dried fish, tuna and many other such fish variety. The uniqueness of the market is its cleanliness. When holidaying in the Maldives, do visit this market for its commercial activities.
Beaches in the Maldives
No holiday in the Maldives is complete without its beaches, which is why lots of tourist and visitors head first to its exotic and vivid beaches. The Maldives has numerous beaches with breathtaking beauty and lots of water activities. Most of the Maldives tourism depends on its beaches and resorts. Some of these beaches are the beaches of Sun Island, Paradise Island, Royal Island Resorts, Fuammulak and many more. When on a holiday in the Maldives, the best way to enjoy a vacation is to go for its beaches and activities such as parasailing, scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing and windsurfing.
Best time to holiday in Maldives
The Maldives is a year round holiday destination, but the ideal time for a holiday would be December to April.
If you found this information useful you can find out more at http://www.last-minute-holidays.me.uk/. You will be able to watch holiday videos as well as find out more about holiday destinations and a Last Minute Holidays. Please feel free to republish this article provided a working hyperlink remains to our site - Simon Johnson
Baja California's Best Sport Fishing Holes
Baja California's Best Sport Fishing Holes
Copyright © 2008 Anita Mckenzie
Baja's sport fishing waters are becoming more and more active each year. The scenic 1,070-mile drive south along Baja Mexico's peninsula is no detour.The state of Baja California Sur has three major international airports located in Loreto, La Paz, and Los Cabos. Many people simply choose the short 2hr flight available from San Diego.
It is obvious that the main Baja Mexico fishing centers are now expanding with growth and crawling with tourist activity; however, as you fly over Baja or cruise along either side of the coasts the Pacific side or the inside Sea of Cortez, you'll see that Baja is still very much that wild and rugged land. The larger portion of development is concentrated over only a small percentage of Baja's land.
Fishing in Baja Mexico is still amidst a wonderland of the desert's harsh beauty which is available to fulfill an exhilarating life-enriching adventure.
A squall of development over the last ten years in the Los Cabos Corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo has drawn a tremendous amount of attention; and unfortunately as a result, Baja's natural beauty is at times difficult to see and often overlooked. Fortunately for those who wish to experience and enjoy Baja's amazing and natural wonders it has not disappeared, you just need to know where to look.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with Baja Sport fishing, it's important you be aware that this elongated rocky desert peninsula, surrounded by ocean waters has the potential to display a whole host of faces; all dependent on your approach to it.
If you're of the folks who choose to drive south along Baja's major highway (Mex 1) you can feel more at ease knowing that this highway has received many improvements over the last several years. While traveling Baja's highway for the first time you'll soon recognize that this highway is far from the well groomed spacious highways or freeways we have all grown accustomed to in the US or Canada; however extra care and attention is recommended while driving. Things to be on the alert for are variable numbers of grazing cattle and other unique Baja wildlife that frequently clutter the banks of the highways. Taking your time and planning your trip to Baja will help ensure a safe and enjoyable travel south. Make frequent stops so you may absorb the breath taking ocean and red desert scenery.
La Paz Fishing
The first of the Baja Sport Fishing centers I'd like to introduce is La Paz. La Paz is the charming capital city of the state of Baja California Sur. This large city has a warm and inviting traditional friendly Mexican population. La Paz features a beautiful waterfront known as "El Malecon", this is where the focal points of activities are centered. The Malecon is a popular and beautiful sea walk stretching along and beyond the downtown water front. Throughout the summer months this boulevard offers both locals and visitors alike an enjoyable place to hook-up with friends and enjoy many of Baja Mexico's traditional foods, grab a taco, a special coffee or take in the various choices of vibrant night life.
La Paz also is host to some spectacular fishing; especially during the warmer months when the migrating Dorado, Rooster fish, Tuna, and Bill fish travel up the channel between the Baja mainland and Isla Cerralvo in order to blend with the inhabitant leopard grouper, Pargo, and various reef species. Isla Cerralvo is situated directly over top of one of the globe's best rooster fish holes. Espiritu Santo Island is an island near La Paz and has incredible big-game fishing and reef fishing. Espiritu Santo can be available by means of fast safe boats placing you right where the action is. Tuna, marlin fish, Wahoo, and the giant Travelly are just a few of the species caught in these amazing crystal clear blue waters.
Million Dollar Point is known as a focal point for snorkeling. This is where the Americans discarded massive amounts of war surplus in 1945. You can see everything from vibrant corals, shipwrecks, bulldozers and forklifts; that are populated with various species of resident fish life. If you're not a scuba diver....try the snorkeling. There is so much to see when you visit these unspoiled reefs.
Although La Paz Baja's fishing is a major attraction, La Paz has so much more to offer; La Pa has a traditional Mexico charm, distinguished yet energetic Mexican lifestyle not found elsewhere in Baja. Cobblestone streets provide an old world appeal as well as fun and interesting places to walk. Take a moment to sit on one of the many beach front benches and gaze and enjoy the lovely bay of La Paz, or go in search of great bargains, explore the fascinating history and culture as you stroll through the many narrow alleys that open to a whole host of shops specifically catering to the tourists.
Cabo San Lucas Fishing
The Cabo San Lucas fishing areas include the Cabo Corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. These areas in particular have undergone the largest and most rapid amounts of growth above and beyond any location in Baja California. Over the course of the last decade these communities have exploded with multi-story hotels, condos and new golf courses. As a result of this rapidly changing community it is easy to find yourself turned around and unable to find the street you're looking for; because it may buried within a new large development neighborhood.
One thing that hasn't changed is the Cabo Baja fishing, the fishing is always fantastic! San Jose del Cabo host to the world famous double Gordo Banks; is also known to be Baja's most consistent all year round off-shore fishing hole. The Gordo Banks hole can be easily accessible within a panga boats range of approximately six miles off-shore. This hot fishing hole is filled primarily with resident bottom fish; of which are attractive to hordes of migratory tuna, wahoo, dorado, and marlin fish ranging in the 1,000 lb range. The winter months are exceptionally good fishing at Gordo Banks, mainly because it is situated within the wind shadow of the range that forms the tip of Baja known as "The Sierra de la Laguna Mountain". Cabo San Lucas is situated at the very tip of Baja California also where a nice sized marina exists. Many who visit Los Cabos enjoy the energetic night life as well as the variety of beach front hotels, exquisite and fine restaurants; and or sunning on the beaches while watching the cruise ships come and go daily.
Cabo San Lucas sits right on the meeting place of the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean. From the geographical perspective this is the reason for the consistency of terrific fishing on either side, or often both; for wahoo, tuna, dorado, and various types of bill fish. Cabo's sport fishing industry is famous for its Striped Marlin Core Zone; the striped marlin makes its home just off the southern tip of Baja California Sur. Many who experience an exhilarating sport fishing extravaganza claim the thrill and excitement of it all to be unparalleled.
A Baja sport fishing adventure is not limited to fishing; it can include snorkeling in the revitalizing crystal azure waters, or perhaps a visit amongst the assortment of sea life and coral reefs off the Baja coasts, or explore any of the many remote white sand beaches and islands near La Paz or Los Cabos Baja.
You can learn more about Baja sport fishing and sport fishing charter packages that can be tailored to suite your needs available in the Baja.
More information on Baja Sport Fishing and Luxury Yacht Services is available at... Baja Sport Fishing Luxury Yacht Charter! Virtual-La-Paz.com
Copyright © 2008 Anita Mckenzie
Baja's sport fishing waters are becoming more and more active each year. The scenic 1,070-mile drive south along Baja Mexico's peninsula is no detour.The state of Baja California Sur has three major international airports located in Loreto, La Paz, and Los Cabos. Many people simply choose the short 2hr flight available from San Diego.
It is obvious that the main Baja Mexico fishing centers are now expanding with growth and crawling with tourist activity; however, as you fly over Baja or cruise along either side of the coasts the Pacific side or the inside Sea of Cortez, you'll see that Baja is still very much that wild and rugged land. The larger portion of development is concentrated over only a small percentage of Baja's land.
Fishing in Baja Mexico is still amidst a wonderland of the desert's harsh beauty which is available to fulfill an exhilarating life-enriching adventure.
A squall of development over the last ten years in the Los Cabos Corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo has drawn a tremendous amount of attention; and unfortunately as a result, Baja's natural beauty is at times difficult to see and often overlooked. Fortunately for those who wish to experience and enjoy Baja's amazing and natural wonders it has not disappeared, you just need to know where to look.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with Baja Sport fishing, it's important you be aware that this elongated rocky desert peninsula, surrounded by ocean waters has the potential to display a whole host of faces; all dependent on your approach to it.
If you're of the folks who choose to drive south along Baja's major highway (Mex 1) you can feel more at ease knowing that this highway has received many improvements over the last several years. While traveling Baja's highway for the first time you'll soon recognize that this highway is far from the well groomed spacious highways or freeways we have all grown accustomed to in the US or Canada; however extra care and attention is recommended while driving. Things to be on the alert for are variable numbers of grazing cattle and other unique Baja wildlife that frequently clutter the banks of the highways. Taking your time and planning your trip to Baja will help ensure a safe and enjoyable travel south. Make frequent stops so you may absorb the breath taking ocean and red desert scenery.
La Paz Fishing
The first of the Baja Sport Fishing centers I'd like to introduce is La Paz. La Paz is the charming capital city of the state of Baja California Sur. This large city has a warm and inviting traditional friendly Mexican population. La Paz features a beautiful waterfront known as "El Malecon", this is where the focal points of activities are centered. The Malecon is a popular and beautiful sea walk stretching along and beyond the downtown water front. Throughout the summer months this boulevard offers both locals and visitors alike an enjoyable place to hook-up with friends and enjoy many of Baja Mexico's traditional foods, grab a taco, a special coffee or take in the various choices of vibrant night life.
La Paz also is host to some spectacular fishing; especially during the warmer months when the migrating Dorado, Rooster fish, Tuna, and Bill fish travel up the channel between the Baja mainland and Isla Cerralvo in order to blend with the inhabitant leopard grouper, Pargo, and various reef species. Isla Cerralvo is situated directly over top of one of the globe's best rooster fish holes. Espiritu Santo Island is an island near La Paz and has incredible big-game fishing and reef fishing. Espiritu Santo can be available by means of fast safe boats placing you right where the action is. Tuna, marlin fish, Wahoo, and the giant Travelly are just a few of the species caught in these amazing crystal clear blue waters.
Million Dollar Point is known as a focal point for snorkeling. This is where the Americans discarded massive amounts of war surplus in 1945. You can see everything from vibrant corals, shipwrecks, bulldozers and forklifts; that are populated with various species of resident fish life. If you're not a scuba diver....try the snorkeling. There is so much to see when you visit these unspoiled reefs.
Although La Paz Baja's fishing is a major attraction, La Paz has so much more to offer; La Pa has a traditional Mexico charm, distinguished yet energetic Mexican lifestyle not found elsewhere in Baja. Cobblestone streets provide an old world appeal as well as fun and interesting places to walk. Take a moment to sit on one of the many beach front benches and gaze and enjoy the lovely bay of La Paz, or go in search of great bargains, explore the fascinating history and culture as you stroll through the many narrow alleys that open to a whole host of shops specifically catering to the tourists.
Cabo San Lucas Fishing
The Cabo San Lucas fishing areas include the Cabo Corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. These areas in particular have undergone the largest and most rapid amounts of growth above and beyond any location in Baja California. Over the course of the last decade these communities have exploded with multi-story hotels, condos and new golf courses. As a result of this rapidly changing community it is easy to find yourself turned around and unable to find the street you're looking for; because it may buried within a new large development neighborhood.
One thing that hasn't changed is the Cabo Baja fishing, the fishing is always fantastic! San Jose del Cabo host to the world famous double Gordo Banks; is also known to be Baja's most consistent all year round off-shore fishing hole. The Gordo Banks hole can be easily accessible within a panga boats range of approximately six miles off-shore. This hot fishing hole is filled primarily with resident bottom fish; of which are attractive to hordes of migratory tuna, wahoo, dorado, and marlin fish ranging in the 1,000 lb range. The winter months are exceptionally good fishing at Gordo Banks, mainly because it is situated within the wind shadow of the range that forms the tip of Baja known as "The Sierra de la Laguna Mountain". Cabo San Lucas is situated at the very tip of Baja California also where a nice sized marina exists. Many who visit Los Cabos enjoy the energetic night life as well as the variety of beach front hotels, exquisite and fine restaurants; and or sunning on the beaches while watching the cruise ships come and go daily.
Cabo San Lucas sits right on the meeting place of the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean. From the geographical perspective this is the reason for the consistency of terrific fishing on either side, or often both; for wahoo, tuna, dorado, and various types of bill fish. Cabo's sport fishing industry is famous for its Striped Marlin Core Zone; the striped marlin makes its home just off the southern tip of Baja California Sur. Many who experience an exhilarating sport fishing extravaganza claim the thrill and excitement of it all to be unparalleled.
A Baja sport fishing adventure is not limited to fishing; it can include snorkeling in the revitalizing crystal azure waters, or perhaps a visit amongst the assortment of sea life and coral reefs off the Baja coasts, or explore any of the many remote white sand beaches and islands near La Paz or Los Cabos Baja.
You can learn more about Baja sport fishing and sport fishing charter packages that can be tailored to suite your needs available in the Baja.
More information on Baja Sport Fishing and Luxury Yacht Services is available at... Baja Sport Fishing Luxury Yacht Charter! Virtual-La-Paz.com
Friday, August 29, 2008
Ecuador Life at its Purest -in English
Video about Ecuador, a fantastic place on Earth.
Right on the Equator line, latitud 0deg 0' 0".
Visit Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca, Galapagos Islands.
Get to know the warmth of its people in a great journey you'll never forget.
Quito, first cultural patrimony of humankind by UNESCO.
Cuenca is also cultural patrimony of humankind.
Galapagos is natural patrimony of humankind.
Quitenos call themselves "chullas" which means "resident spirit" or "inhabitant of this land" in the ancient quitu (tsafiqui) language.
The Valdivia culture is the oldest civilization in America. We are proud descendents of that culture.
Only in Ecuador one says "me voy a volver" because one always comes back.
The most accesible part of the Amazon rain forest is in Ecuador!
Panama hats are originally from Ecuador. They are handcrafted in Ecuador. They were brought to Panama in one of the journeys of Eloy Alfaro to that country where they fell in love with them.
Native Ecuadorians speak Kichwa or Runa Shimi, which means the language of the human beings.
Quito is considered "luz de America" because it was its people who first spoke up and died for independece in 1809.
August 10, 1809, Ecuadorian Independence Day. The day it all began for this Republic.
Right on the Equator line, latitud 0deg 0' 0".
Visit Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca, Galapagos Islands.
Get to know the warmth of its people in a great journey you'll never forget.
Quito, first cultural patrimony of humankind by UNESCO.
Cuenca is also cultural patrimony of humankind.
Galapagos is natural patrimony of humankind.
Quitenos call themselves "chullas" which means "resident spirit" or "inhabitant of this land" in the ancient quitu (tsafiqui) language.
The Valdivia culture is the oldest civilization in America. We are proud descendents of that culture.
Only in Ecuador one says "me voy a volver" because one always comes back.
The most accesible part of the Amazon rain forest is in Ecuador!
Panama hats are originally from Ecuador. They are handcrafted in Ecuador. They were brought to Panama in one of the journeys of Eloy Alfaro to that country where they fell in love with them.
Native Ecuadorians speak Kichwa or Runa Shimi, which means the language of the human beings.
Quito is considered "luz de America" because it was its people who first spoke up and died for independece in 1809.
August 10, 1809, Ecuadorian Independence Day. The day it all began for this Republic.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Eating out in Venice
Eating out in Venice
Eating out in Venice can be a very unsatisfying experience for the casual traveler. With a local population of only 60.000 people and several millions tourists to feed each year, most restaurant owners in Venice couldn't care less if you feel ripped-off when it comes the time to pay the bill. Fortunately this attitude, while not uncommon, is not generalized. There are still some 'local' places to eat, and it is possible to eat a good meal while paying prices that are only slightly higher than elsewhere in Italy.
To get a truly Italian experience it is always best to eat where locals eat. This means that the menu will be written only in Italian and you are expected to know what all of the items on the menu are. You should also keep in mind that Venice is a popular destination for Italians as well as foreigners. If you see a crowd of Italian speaking people seating outside of a restaurant, do not assume they are 'locals'. Chances are they are tourists just like you.
As a quick rule of thumb: you should avoid all the places where a 'tourist menu' is advertised as well as those with pictures of the food on the outside. Waiters in bow ties or who tout for customers outside the door are also warning signs. Wine prices are another useful indicator. In an average restaurant you'd expect to find house wine (vino della casa) listed by the quarter and half-liter. A half-liter should only cost around 5 Euros. Watch out if they only serve bottles of wine at 20 Euros and above.
Although Venice is not considered to be one of the capitals of the Italian cuisine, it is nearly impossible for a traveler to miss one of the most rewarding holiday experiences: enjoying a good meal in a truly unique surrounding. At the very least, an evening meal represents an opportunity to refuel after a day full of activities. Being in Venice, the key is doing your homework. Search the Internet for advice from people that has already been in Venice or ask a trusted local contact if you can. Booking ahead is always a good idea, especially for evening meals, at busy times like summer weekends, and if you want a special table.
As for the various kind of food establishments, Venice is no different from the rest of Italy. A 'ristorante' generally indicates an upscale establishment, while a 'trattoria' is a more humble, traditional eatery, serving simple filling dishes. A pizzeria is a place where you can eat pizza; not really a specialty in Venice although there are a couple of decent pizza places. An 'osteria' (or ostaria) is similar to a trattoria, but with a slant towards drinking: instead of a full meal, you might have some wine along with a plate of food or a lighter snack. Like the osteria, a Venetian 'bacaro' offers a chance to eat some food in a less formal context. The busy Venetians frequently eat quickly and lightly, selecting snacks called 'cicchetti' from a display at the counter, then eating them standing or seated on stools.
In Venice restaurants (but this is true for the rest of Italy as well) you should expect to pay as much as 2 Euros per person on top of the price of what you have ordered. This is called 'coperto' and it accounts for the table dressing and the small basket of bread you will be provided. A few restaurants also add on up to 12% as an additional service charge although this is unusual and should be stated in the price list. Italians tend to tip a few euros rather than the 10% or more which is common elsewhere: However, there is no strict rule about tipping and in family-run restaurants where you are served by the proprietors it is common not to tip at all.
As you may expect, in Venice you will find a lot of seafood and lagoon fish on offer. 'Polenta', a coarse ground cornmeal generally made into a mush-like porridge, is a regional specialty, often served with fish, meat, mushrooms or 'gorgonzola' cheese. Seasonal specialties include peas and 'radicchio', both of which used in the preparation of rice based dishes ('risotto'). Pasta is not as widely used as it is in other Italian regions but there are a few typical recipes like 'bigoli in salsa' (thick homemade spaghetti in anchovy sauce). Other local dishes you might see on a menu include 'sarde in saor' (marinated sweet and sour sardines), 'castraure' (baby artichokes), 'seppie in nero' (cuttlefish in its ink), 'granseola' (spider-crab), 'fegato alla veneziana' (calf's liver with onions) and 'carpaccio' (thin-sliced raw beef). Desserts are not usually terribly good in Venice - typically the choice is something like dry local Burano cookies, panna cotta or tiramisù.
The area around Rialto is chock full of eating places and the most popular food shops and bars are here as well. This is also the area where 90% of the tourists use to gather. If you are adventurous enough to wander around, you will be not disappointed. Venice lies on an a small island so you really can't get lost and chances are you will bump into the thriving little 'baccaro' where you can get a plate of assorted appetizers for less than 10 euros. Quite often you won't find tables in there and no waiter service as well, so simply go to the counter, have some snacks and a glass of wine, and enjoy the taste of the hidden Venice.
This article is part of a series covering the most important Italian travel destinations and regional cuisines. You can find similar articles about eating out in Florence, Naples, Milan and Rome.
Born in the USA, but happily ensconced in the Tuscan Archipelago, Bob McCormack is a freelance writer with a very special passion for food and wine. His travel articles and Elba Island hotels and restaurants reviews have appeared in numerous national and international publications.
Eating out in Venice can be a very unsatisfying experience for the casual traveler. With a local population of only 60.000 people and several millions tourists to feed each year, most restaurant owners in Venice couldn't care less if you feel ripped-off when it comes the time to pay the bill. Fortunately this attitude, while not uncommon, is not generalized. There are still some 'local' places to eat, and it is possible to eat a good meal while paying prices that are only slightly higher than elsewhere in Italy.
To get a truly Italian experience it is always best to eat where locals eat. This means that the menu will be written only in Italian and you are expected to know what all of the items on the menu are. You should also keep in mind that Venice is a popular destination for Italians as well as foreigners. If you see a crowd of Italian speaking people seating outside of a restaurant, do not assume they are 'locals'. Chances are they are tourists just like you.
As a quick rule of thumb: you should avoid all the places where a 'tourist menu' is advertised as well as those with pictures of the food on the outside. Waiters in bow ties or who tout for customers outside the door are also warning signs. Wine prices are another useful indicator. In an average restaurant you'd expect to find house wine (vino della casa) listed by the quarter and half-liter. A half-liter should only cost around 5 Euros. Watch out if they only serve bottles of wine at 20 Euros and above.
Although Venice is not considered to be one of the capitals of the Italian cuisine, it is nearly impossible for a traveler to miss one of the most rewarding holiday experiences: enjoying a good meal in a truly unique surrounding. At the very least, an evening meal represents an opportunity to refuel after a day full of activities. Being in Venice, the key is doing your homework. Search the Internet for advice from people that has already been in Venice or ask a trusted local contact if you can. Booking ahead is always a good idea, especially for evening meals, at busy times like summer weekends, and if you want a special table.
As for the various kind of food establishments, Venice is no different from the rest of Italy. A 'ristorante' generally indicates an upscale establishment, while a 'trattoria' is a more humble, traditional eatery, serving simple filling dishes. A pizzeria is a place where you can eat pizza; not really a specialty in Venice although there are a couple of decent pizza places. An 'osteria' (or ostaria) is similar to a trattoria, but with a slant towards drinking: instead of a full meal, you might have some wine along with a plate of food or a lighter snack. Like the osteria, a Venetian 'bacaro' offers a chance to eat some food in a less formal context. The busy Venetians frequently eat quickly and lightly, selecting snacks called 'cicchetti' from a display at the counter, then eating them standing or seated on stools.
In Venice restaurants (but this is true for the rest of Italy as well) you should expect to pay as much as 2 Euros per person on top of the price of what you have ordered. This is called 'coperto' and it accounts for the table dressing and the small basket of bread you will be provided. A few restaurants also add on up to 12% as an additional service charge although this is unusual and should be stated in the price list. Italians tend to tip a few euros rather than the 10% or more which is common elsewhere: However, there is no strict rule about tipping and in family-run restaurants where you are served by the proprietors it is common not to tip at all.
As you may expect, in Venice you will find a lot of seafood and lagoon fish on offer. 'Polenta', a coarse ground cornmeal generally made into a mush-like porridge, is a regional specialty, often served with fish, meat, mushrooms or 'gorgonzola' cheese. Seasonal specialties include peas and 'radicchio', both of which used in the preparation of rice based dishes ('risotto'). Pasta is not as widely used as it is in other Italian regions but there are a few typical recipes like 'bigoli in salsa' (thick homemade spaghetti in anchovy sauce). Other local dishes you might see on a menu include 'sarde in saor' (marinated sweet and sour sardines), 'castraure' (baby artichokes), 'seppie in nero' (cuttlefish in its ink), 'granseola' (spider-crab), 'fegato alla veneziana' (calf's liver with onions) and 'carpaccio' (thin-sliced raw beef). Desserts are not usually terribly good in Venice - typically the choice is something like dry local Burano cookies, panna cotta or tiramisù.
The area around Rialto is chock full of eating places and the most popular food shops and bars are here as well. This is also the area where 90% of the tourists use to gather. If you are adventurous enough to wander around, you will be not disappointed. Venice lies on an a small island so you really can't get lost and chances are you will bump into the thriving little 'baccaro' where you can get a plate of assorted appetizers for less than 10 euros. Quite often you won't find tables in there and no waiter service as well, so simply go to the counter, have some snacks and a glass of wine, and enjoy the taste of the hidden Venice.
This article is part of a series covering the most important Italian travel destinations and regional cuisines. You can find similar articles about eating out in Florence, Naples, Milan and Rome.
Born in the USA, but happily ensconced in the Tuscan Archipelago, Bob McCormack is a freelance writer with a very special passion for food and wine. His travel articles and Elba Island hotels and restaurants reviews have appeared in numerous national and international publications.
Generations return to vacation at Warner Springs
Generations return to vacation at Warner Springs
Judging from the history of Warner Springs Ranch, there was once a time when the current situation was reversed - Americans went to Mexico to seek their fortune and were sometimes rewarded handsomely for their efforts. Ranch founder John Warner must have thought it was a particularly good day when the Mexican government awarded him a 48,000-square-acre land grant just for becoming a naturalized Mexican citizen.
Of course, Warner had a little pull: he had married Anita Gale, who was raised as a ward of the soon-to-be governor of California. For a 37-year-old Connecticut native, Warner had done well for himself.
Warner's little piece of Mexico - dubbed Valle de San Jose - was renamed Warner's Ranch and, by the late 1840's, this idyllic stretch of property became the only inhabited stopping place for wagon trains and Butterfield stagecoaches between New Mexico and Los Angeles. Located near the eastern border of today's San Diego County, Warner's Ranch was visited by such stagecoach travelers as Kit Carson, Presidents Teddy Roosevelt and Ulysses S. Grant, and many other notables.
One of the main attractions in those days was the hot mineral springs that were included in Warner's little gift from the Mexican government. One can only imagine how good this early-day hot tub felt for those tired stagecoach travelers after a hard day of fighting Indians or just riding in a rickety wagon on washboard roads. The California Spa experience had been born.
Somewhere along the way, Warner's oasis became known as Warner Springs Ranch and its proximity to Los Angeles - just a hundred miles or so - made it popular with Hollywood stars such as Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Gary Cooper, Jean Harlow, Clark Gable, John Wayne and Bing Crosby. Clearly, Warner Springs Ranch had passed the test of time, and that has since led to several generations of California families who have grown up enjoying their vacations in Warner Springs.
Whether coming from San Diego or points north, the drive to Warner Springs Ranch takes you through and around 6000-foot mountain ranges, across high-desert plateaus and along winding rivers and streams - which, thanks to this winter's rains, actually have water in them. It's a pleasant drive far away from the bustle of the city and light-years apart from the Southern California beach experience that is, as the crow flies, about 40 miles away.
At the end of your journey is the ranch, nestled in the foothills of Palomar Mountain. For a resort offering 240 cottages, we noticed on a recent visit that it doesn't seem nearly that expansive from the road. Warner Springs Ranch really is like a small town by the side of the road that doesn't offer much of a hint about what's inside this gated community. Once inside, however, we could see that there was much to explore and do without even leaving the ranch.
First stop was our adobe cottage. Obviously built many decades ago, this house included a spacious living room area with cathedral ceilings and a couch that folded out into a double bed. The thick adobe walls - about two feet wide measuring the window insets - keep these units cool year around, but a stone fireplace was at the ready. Adjacent to the living room area was a bedroom and bath area. Nothing in our unit was particularly fancy and many might consider the accommodations and furnishings rather rustic. But that's part of the charm of visiting a historic ranch.
The centerpiece of the resort grounds is the hot springs area, where stone walls surround the springs and add still more historic flavor. The water is piped down to a 100-by-48-foot pool where the temperature is kept at a steady 104 degrees. Within minutes of our arrival we were joining another few dozen guests relaxing and luxuriating in the soothing waters. For us, this was truly a highlight of visiting Warner Springs and, compared with many hot springs we've visited out in wilderness areas, this pool just seemed more civilized. Private changing rooms were at pool's edge and there was none of the nudity you often find in mineral springs that are more remote.
Next to the mineral pool is a standard pool of about the same size, and heated to between 75 and 85 degrees year-round. But there is much more to do at Warner Springs Ranch than soak or swim - for the active vacationer, there are many more attractions including a 6,892-yard, par 72 golf course, several tennis courts - a pro is on duty to give lessons - and another major part of the ranch, horseback riding.
While we didn't get a chance to saddle up during our brief visit, there are regular rides along an extensive system of trails, each offering different views of the valley and neighboring mountains. One of those trails is the Pacific Crest Trail, where we did set out on foot for an afternoon, envisioning what it must be like to hike this trail from the Canadian border all the way to Mexico. As Arnold would say, our little hike was more the girlie-man version of the PCT, but none the less scenic and seemingly just as remote. The advantage, of course, was we would sleep in our cozy cottage and dine in style at the resort's Anza Dining Room.
The Anza seems to be the social center of the resort. As mentioned previously, generations of Californians have been coming to Warner Springs Ranch and many of the cottages are privately owned, encouraging frequent trips back to the ranch. Sit down for dinner in the Anza and you get the feeling that most people in the room are friends or vacation acquaintances. On a given Saturday night it's not a quiet, romantic dinner spot - the room is more like a dining hall - but the food is expertly prepared, and the buffet option loads you up with several gourmet entries for under $18.
Near the Anza is the Cantina, a colorful bar located in the actual adobe where John Warner lived when he took possession of the ranch. The only nightlife in the area, the Cantina comes alive with bands and entertainers on any given Saturday night.
If you are able to stay any length of time, there are many attractions in the area that are either adjacent to the ranch or within easy driving distance. Just a couple of miles from the ranch is the Warner Springs Airport where you can go up in a glider. The thermals over the ranch area provide a significant lift for the gliders operating out of the Warner Springs airport and, on weekends, it's not uncommon to see flight-after-flight of sailplanes taking tourists up for a quick look at the valley from an engine-less aircraft. The gliders can seat two guests side-by-side.
Julian is a historic gold mining town that is less than an hour's drive from Warner Springs. A frequent getaway for San Diego area residents, Julian offers an Old West main street with colorful shops, restaurants and old-time bars. In summer, western gunfights are sometimes staged on Main Street.
In fact, Warner Springs and Julian are great bookends for California's history - a visit to this part of San Diego County will make you wish you'd gotten your own little 48,000-acre piece of this gorgeous California countryside.
AT A GLANCE
WHERE: Warner Springs is located about a 90-minute drive northeast from San Diego, or about two and a half hours southeast from Los Angeles.
WHAT: Warner Springs Ranch is a historic resort that, over the years, has provided many vacation memories for many Californians. Today it has evolved into a complete resort with lodging, three restaurants, a spa, golf, horseback riding, tennis, and many more activities.
WHEN: Year-round. While the area can get a little warm in summer, the climate is generally temperate because of its 3,000-foot elevation. It gets its share of San Diego County sunshine.
WHY: It's a family resort - nothing too fancy, although you're apt to find lots of luxury cars parked by the adobe cottages. Numerous activities on the ranch and nearby will keep you busy for even long vacation periods.
HOW: For more information on Warner Springs Ranch, phone 760-782-4200 or visit www.warnersprings.com. Accommodations start at $160 for a weekend night for two people including breakfast. Sailplane adventures start at $120 for a 20 minute ride for two people.
Cary Ordway is president of Getaway Media Corp, publisher of websites focusing on Northwest travel and California travel.
Judging from the history of Warner Springs Ranch, there was once a time when the current situation was reversed - Americans went to Mexico to seek their fortune and were sometimes rewarded handsomely for their efforts. Ranch founder John Warner must have thought it was a particularly good day when the Mexican government awarded him a 48,000-square-acre land grant just for becoming a naturalized Mexican citizen.
Of course, Warner had a little pull: he had married Anita Gale, who was raised as a ward of the soon-to-be governor of California. For a 37-year-old Connecticut native, Warner had done well for himself.
Warner's little piece of Mexico - dubbed Valle de San Jose - was renamed Warner's Ranch and, by the late 1840's, this idyllic stretch of property became the only inhabited stopping place for wagon trains and Butterfield stagecoaches between New Mexico and Los Angeles. Located near the eastern border of today's San Diego County, Warner's Ranch was visited by such stagecoach travelers as Kit Carson, Presidents Teddy Roosevelt and Ulysses S. Grant, and many other notables.
One of the main attractions in those days was the hot mineral springs that were included in Warner's little gift from the Mexican government. One can only imagine how good this early-day hot tub felt for those tired stagecoach travelers after a hard day of fighting Indians or just riding in a rickety wagon on washboard roads. The California Spa experience had been born.
Somewhere along the way, Warner's oasis became known as Warner Springs Ranch and its proximity to Los Angeles - just a hundred miles or so - made it popular with Hollywood stars such as Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Gary Cooper, Jean Harlow, Clark Gable, John Wayne and Bing Crosby. Clearly, Warner Springs Ranch had passed the test of time, and that has since led to several generations of California families who have grown up enjoying their vacations in Warner Springs.
Whether coming from San Diego or points north, the drive to Warner Springs Ranch takes you through and around 6000-foot mountain ranges, across high-desert plateaus and along winding rivers and streams - which, thanks to this winter's rains, actually have water in them. It's a pleasant drive far away from the bustle of the city and light-years apart from the Southern California beach experience that is, as the crow flies, about 40 miles away.
At the end of your journey is the ranch, nestled in the foothills of Palomar Mountain. For a resort offering 240 cottages, we noticed on a recent visit that it doesn't seem nearly that expansive from the road. Warner Springs Ranch really is like a small town by the side of the road that doesn't offer much of a hint about what's inside this gated community. Once inside, however, we could see that there was much to explore and do without even leaving the ranch.
First stop was our adobe cottage. Obviously built many decades ago, this house included a spacious living room area with cathedral ceilings and a couch that folded out into a double bed. The thick adobe walls - about two feet wide measuring the window insets - keep these units cool year around, but a stone fireplace was at the ready. Adjacent to the living room area was a bedroom and bath area. Nothing in our unit was particularly fancy and many might consider the accommodations and furnishings rather rustic. But that's part of the charm of visiting a historic ranch.
The centerpiece of the resort grounds is the hot springs area, where stone walls surround the springs and add still more historic flavor. The water is piped down to a 100-by-48-foot pool where the temperature is kept at a steady 104 degrees. Within minutes of our arrival we were joining another few dozen guests relaxing and luxuriating in the soothing waters. For us, this was truly a highlight of visiting Warner Springs and, compared with many hot springs we've visited out in wilderness areas, this pool just seemed more civilized. Private changing rooms were at pool's edge and there was none of the nudity you often find in mineral springs that are more remote.
Next to the mineral pool is a standard pool of about the same size, and heated to between 75 and 85 degrees year-round. But there is much more to do at Warner Springs Ranch than soak or swim - for the active vacationer, there are many more attractions including a 6,892-yard, par 72 golf course, several tennis courts - a pro is on duty to give lessons - and another major part of the ranch, horseback riding.
While we didn't get a chance to saddle up during our brief visit, there are regular rides along an extensive system of trails, each offering different views of the valley and neighboring mountains. One of those trails is the Pacific Crest Trail, where we did set out on foot for an afternoon, envisioning what it must be like to hike this trail from the Canadian border all the way to Mexico. As Arnold would say, our little hike was more the girlie-man version of the PCT, but none the less scenic and seemingly just as remote. The advantage, of course, was we would sleep in our cozy cottage and dine in style at the resort's Anza Dining Room.
The Anza seems to be the social center of the resort. As mentioned previously, generations of Californians have been coming to Warner Springs Ranch and many of the cottages are privately owned, encouraging frequent trips back to the ranch. Sit down for dinner in the Anza and you get the feeling that most people in the room are friends or vacation acquaintances. On a given Saturday night it's not a quiet, romantic dinner spot - the room is more like a dining hall - but the food is expertly prepared, and the buffet option loads you up with several gourmet entries for under $18.
Near the Anza is the Cantina, a colorful bar located in the actual adobe where John Warner lived when he took possession of the ranch. The only nightlife in the area, the Cantina comes alive with bands and entertainers on any given Saturday night.
If you are able to stay any length of time, there are many attractions in the area that are either adjacent to the ranch or within easy driving distance. Just a couple of miles from the ranch is the Warner Springs Airport where you can go up in a glider. The thermals over the ranch area provide a significant lift for the gliders operating out of the Warner Springs airport and, on weekends, it's not uncommon to see flight-after-flight of sailplanes taking tourists up for a quick look at the valley from an engine-less aircraft. The gliders can seat two guests side-by-side.
Julian is a historic gold mining town that is less than an hour's drive from Warner Springs. A frequent getaway for San Diego area residents, Julian offers an Old West main street with colorful shops, restaurants and old-time bars. In summer, western gunfights are sometimes staged on Main Street.
In fact, Warner Springs and Julian are great bookends for California's history - a visit to this part of San Diego County will make you wish you'd gotten your own little 48,000-acre piece of this gorgeous California countryside.
AT A GLANCE
WHERE: Warner Springs is located about a 90-minute drive northeast from San Diego, or about two and a half hours southeast from Los Angeles.
WHAT: Warner Springs Ranch is a historic resort that, over the years, has provided many vacation memories for many Californians. Today it has evolved into a complete resort with lodging, three restaurants, a spa, golf, horseback riding, tennis, and many more activities.
WHEN: Year-round. While the area can get a little warm in summer, the climate is generally temperate because of its 3,000-foot elevation. It gets its share of San Diego County sunshine.
WHY: It's a family resort - nothing too fancy, although you're apt to find lots of luxury cars parked by the adobe cottages. Numerous activities on the ranch and nearby will keep you busy for even long vacation periods.
HOW: For more information on Warner Springs Ranch, phone 760-782-4200 or visit www.warnersprings.com. Accommodations start at $160 for a weekend night for two people including breakfast. Sailplane adventures start at $120 for a 20 minute ride for two people.
Cary Ordway is president of Getaway Media Corp, publisher of websites focusing on Northwest travel and California travel.
The History Of The East Devon Coast
The History Of The East Devon Coast
World Heritage Sites are locations of "outstanding universal value"' chosen by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation). The Dorset and East Devon Coast forms one of England's World Heritage Sites. Called The Jurassic Coast, this area comprises 95 miles of truly beautiful coastline from East Devon to Dorset. The time span of the rocks along this coast covers a period of 185 million years of the Earth's history.
World Heritage status was granted because the coast offers a unique insight into a geological "time line" spanning the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods of the Earth's history. Very distinct and different sections of coast formed over millions of years through geological events and later by coastal processes unfold before your eyes as you walk through this beautiful area.
Orcombe Point marks the west edge of the World Heritage Site, and you can start your journey by seeing the Geoneedle, unveiled by the Prince of Wales in 2002 to commemorate granting of World Heritage Status to the Devon and East Dorset coast. The Geoneedle is built from stones taken from the coast in the sequence in which the rocks were deposited along the coast during its development.
The rocks of the Dorset and East Devon Coast record the period known as the Mesozoic era - the Middle Ages of Earth's history - which is broken down into the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods of geological time. These cover the period from around 250 million years ago to around 65 million years ago. All along the coast, this amazing geology is clearly exposed and easily accessible.
In Triassic times, which were between 250 and 200 million years ago, the World Heritage Site was an element of the super-continent called Pangaea, a landmass which later divided into the continents of our current world. Dorset and East Devon was somewhere in the arid centre of this historical super-continent. The Triassic was a crucial period of the evolution of life on Earth. Those animals which survived a mass extinction at the end of the previous period evolved and diversified; for example, the dinosaurs evolved around this time and later became dominant during the Mesozoic Era. By the end of the Triassic, most of the groups of four legged animals which we know today had evolved, including the first true mammals.
Pangaea started to split up during the Jurassic Period between 200 and 140 million years ago. The Atlantic Ocean formed to the west of Britain and the Americas moved away from Europe. The Earth was warm and sea levels were high, with almost no polar ice caps. The Jurassic rocks of East Devon and Dorset record these marine conditions - although the depth of the oceans varied from relatively deep seas to coastal swamps. The geology of this area indicates that sea levels rose and fell in cycles, with the deposition of deep water clays, then sandstones and last of all shallow water limestones. The oceans were relatively shallow in the middle of the Jurassic, which created a series of islands raised slightly above the shallow shoals, rather like the Caribbean of today. The seas deepened as the Jurassic period progressed, before finally becoming more shallow at the end of this period, which created a tropical swamp environment. This may be hard to imagine in the weather of our current climate!
Jurassic animals included Ammonites, a type of mollusc related to the squid, but with hard spiral shells. These are one of the most common fossils you can find on the Dorset and East Devon Coast; indeed, Portland is the home of the giant ammonite. As the shallow seas expanded, there was an explosion of life during which many animals evolved rapidly. Dinosaurs were abundant on Earth and the dominant animals in the oceans included ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs and crocodiles.
During the Cretaceous Period, which extended from 140 to 65 million years ago, America continued to drift away from Europe, and the Atlantic became more like it is today in form. The landscape on our current World Heritage Site was rather like the Gulf of Arabia today, with lagoons and salt flats. As the rocks under what is now south-west England tilted to the East, the warm waters of the Atlantic expanded, and sea conditions became more hospitable, allowing billions of microscopic algae to bloom in the clear waters. As their exo-skeletons sank to the sea floor, they gradually formed the pure, white chalk we see in the area today.
Right across the World Heritage Site you can see the "Great Unconformity", a time gap between rocks of different ages. In the mid-Cretaceous the rocks tilted eastwards, and were then gradually eroded by seas and rivers, especially in the west of the area. As a result, all the Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous rocks are absent from the timeline in this "fault", and the Upper Cretaceous rocks lie upon on the eroded rock surfaces of the Triassic. As you walk along the coast, this makes interpretation of the time line more difficult, because the oldest and the youngest rocks on the coast are found near each other in East Devon.
The Cretaceous saw the largest and most fearsome dinosaurs on the Earth, but it was also the period when the first flowering plants evolved. A mass extinction took place at the end of the Cretaceous period which was critical to the form and animal population of the modern world (although this is not explicitly recorded in the World Heritage Site). Certainly it was around this time that the reign of the reptiles - including dinosaurs - as the predominant life on Earth came to an end; dinosaurs, marine reptiles and ammonites were some of the species which became extinct. After their time, the present style of life on Earth evolved, dominated by mammals, flowering plants and grasses. The earliest Cretaceous rocks in the World Heritage time line are the Purbeck Beds, which form one of the most complex rock sequences along the entire coast. They have given us many fossils including dinosaur footprints and the microscopic animal teeth. Chalk is the youngest Cretaceous rock in the Devon and Dorset World Heritage Site - it is found all through the area, containing fossils of animals such as the sea urchin. All in all, the varied geology of this beautiful coast has formed an amazing laboratory for geomorphology - the study of the land and the geological processes that created it. Coastal land is never stable; it changes as the sea and frost mould it, as rain and human activity subtly alters it. But geomorphology is looking at longer time periods than that which represents the hand of man, even though small changes, repeated often enough over long periods of time, can be powerful agents for change as well. In our time, landslides or storms have not only created the shape of the coast but have revealed the fossils in this natural laboratory of geomorphology!
Read more about the attractions of Devon and the World Heritage site of the Jurassic coast of East Devon and Dorset at the Devon Visitor Guide Devon Visitor Guide
World Heritage Sites are locations of "outstanding universal value"' chosen by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation). The Dorset and East Devon Coast forms one of England's World Heritage Sites. Called The Jurassic Coast, this area comprises 95 miles of truly beautiful coastline from East Devon to Dorset. The time span of the rocks along this coast covers a period of 185 million years of the Earth's history.
World Heritage status was granted because the coast offers a unique insight into a geological "time line" spanning the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods of the Earth's history. Very distinct and different sections of coast formed over millions of years through geological events and later by coastal processes unfold before your eyes as you walk through this beautiful area.
Orcombe Point marks the west edge of the World Heritage Site, and you can start your journey by seeing the Geoneedle, unveiled by the Prince of Wales in 2002 to commemorate granting of World Heritage Status to the Devon and East Dorset coast. The Geoneedle is built from stones taken from the coast in the sequence in which the rocks were deposited along the coast during its development.
The rocks of the Dorset and East Devon Coast record the period known as the Mesozoic era - the Middle Ages of Earth's history - which is broken down into the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods of geological time. These cover the period from around 250 million years ago to around 65 million years ago. All along the coast, this amazing geology is clearly exposed and easily accessible.
In Triassic times, which were between 250 and 200 million years ago, the World Heritage Site was an element of the super-continent called Pangaea, a landmass which later divided into the continents of our current world. Dorset and East Devon was somewhere in the arid centre of this historical super-continent. The Triassic was a crucial period of the evolution of life on Earth. Those animals which survived a mass extinction at the end of the previous period evolved and diversified; for example, the dinosaurs evolved around this time and later became dominant during the Mesozoic Era. By the end of the Triassic, most of the groups of four legged animals which we know today had evolved, including the first true mammals.
Pangaea started to split up during the Jurassic Period between 200 and 140 million years ago. The Atlantic Ocean formed to the west of Britain and the Americas moved away from Europe. The Earth was warm and sea levels were high, with almost no polar ice caps. The Jurassic rocks of East Devon and Dorset record these marine conditions - although the depth of the oceans varied from relatively deep seas to coastal swamps. The geology of this area indicates that sea levels rose and fell in cycles, with the deposition of deep water clays, then sandstones and last of all shallow water limestones. The oceans were relatively shallow in the middle of the Jurassic, which created a series of islands raised slightly above the shallow shoals, rather like the Caribbean of today. The seas deepened as the Jurassic period progressed, before finally becoming more shallow at the end of this period, which created a tropical swamp environment. This may be hard to imagine in the weather of our current climate!
Jurassic animals included Ammonites, a type of mollusc related to the squid, but with hard spiral shells. These are one of the most common fossils you can find on the Dorset and East Devon Coast; indeed, Portland is the home of the giant ammonite. As the shallow seas expanded, there was an explosion of life during which many animals evolved rapidly. Dinosaurs were abundant on Earth and the dominant animals in the oceans included ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs and crocodiles.
During the Cretaceous Period, which extended from 140 to 65 million years ago, America continued to drift away from Europe, and the Atlantic became more like it is today in form. The landscape on our current World Heritage Site was rather like the Gulf of Arabia today, with lagoons and salt flats. As the rocks under what is now south-west England tilted to the East, the warm waters of the Atlantic expanded, and sea conditions became more hospitable, allowing billions of microscopic algae to bloom in the clear waters. As their exo-skeletons sank to the sea floor, they gradually formed the pure, white chalk we see in the area today.
Right across the World Heritage Site you can see the "Great Unconformity", a time gap between rocks of different ages. In the mid-Cretaceous the rocks tilted eastwards, and were then gradually eroded by seas and rivers, especially in the west of the area. As a result, all the Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous rocks are absent from the timeline in this "fault", and the Upper Cretaceous rocks lie upon on the eroded rock surfaces of the Triassic. As you walk along the coast, this makes interpretation of the time line more difficult, because the oldest and the youngest rocks on the coast are found near each other in East Devon.
The Cretaceous saw the largest and most fearsome dinosaurs on the Earth, but it was also the period when the first flowering plants evolved. A mass extinction took place at the end of the Cretaceous period which was critical to the form and animal population of the modern world (although this is not explicitly recorded in the World Heritage Site). Certainly it was around this time that the reign of the reptiles - including dinosaurs - as the predominant life on Earth came to an end; dinosaurs, marine reptiles and ammonites were some of the species which became extinct. After their time, the present style of life on Earth evolved, dominated by mammals, flowering plants and grasses. The earliest Cretaceous rocks in the World Heritage time line are the Purbeck Beds, which form one of the most complex rock sequences along the entire coast. They have given us many fossils including dinosaur footprints and the microscopic animal teeth. Chalk is the youngest Cretaceous rock in the Devon and Dorset World Heritage Site - it is found all through the area, containing fossils of animals such as the sea urchin. All in all, the varied geology of this beautiful coast has formed an amazing laboratory for geomorphology - the study of the land and the geological processes that created it. Coastal land is never stable; it changes as the sea and frost mould it, as rain and human activity subtly alters it. But geomorphology is looking at longer time periods than that which represents the hand of man, even though small changes, repeated often enough over long periods of time, can be powerful agents for change as well. In our time, landslides or storms have not only created the shape of the coast but have revealed the fossils in this natural laboratory of geomorphology!
Read more about the attractions of Devon and the World Heritage site of the Jurassic coast of East Devon and Dorset at the Devon Visitor Guide Devon Visitor Guide
A Quick Tour Of Italy - Latium East Of Rome
A Quick Tour Of Italy - Latium East Of Rome
If you are looking for a European tourist destination, consider the Latium region of central western Italy on the Tyrrhenian Sea. Latium, also known as Laszio, is the region that includes Italy's capital Rome, the Eternal City. Because it is so easy to find articles describing the multiple pleasures of Rome, we are going to write about the lesser-known attractions of Latium. This article focuses on Latium east of Rome. A companion article describes Latium west of Rome.
Tivoli is the famous site of Hadrian's Villa, a getaway retreat for that famous Roman emperor. He ran the empire from this villa during the latter years of his rule. The site exceeds a square kilometer (over 250 acres) and contains more than thirty buildings. The Vatican Museums contain much of this UNESCO World Heritage Site's decorations and statues.
Villa d'Este is another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Tivoli. It is a beautiful water garden, reminiscent of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. This villa was founded in the mid-Sixteenth Century by a son of Lucrezia Borgia. One 'pathway' is called the Avenue of One Hundred Fountains. Be sure to see the Fontana di Rome, a scale model of Ancient Roman, demolished but partially rebuilt.
The town of Ninfa was destroyed during the Fourteenth Century. For six hundred years it lay in ruins, in part because of the malarial mosquitoes in the nearby marshes. And then in 1920 an aristocratic English artist, Ada Wilbraham, married into the Caetani family that had been given the city way back in 1297 by a Caetani Pope. Wilbraham started the restoration that has continued to this day. The site includes a bridge and seven churches from Roman times, a castle, and the city wall.
Anzio, a resort city of some 45,000 people, was the birthplace of the Roman Emperors Caligula and Nero. In 1944 it was the site of a major World War II battle, Operation Shingle. Visit the Anzio Beachhead British Military Cemetery, the Beachhead Museum, and the American Military Cemetery in nearby Nettuno.
Latium cuisine is abundant. The best cuts of meat were reserved for the rich and the poor had to make do with the rest, including feet, heart, and the like. See our companion article I Love Touring Italy - Eastern Latium for a sample menu and more information on Latium wines plus an in-depth examination of its tourist attractions. While today Latium is not known for its wine in the distant past Falernum, a Latium red was the hit of Ancient Rome.
Levi Reiss has authored alone or with a co-author ten computer and Internet books, but to tell the truth, he would really rather just drink fine French, German, or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He knows what dieting is, and is glad that for the time being he can eat and drink what he wants, in moderation. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. Visit his Italian travel, wine, and food website http://www.travelitalytravel.com/ and his global wine website http://www.theworldwidewine.com/.
If you are looking for a European tourist destination, consider the Latium region of central western Italy on the Tyrrhenian Sea. Latium, also known as Laszio, is the region that includes Italy's capital Rome, the Eternal City. Because it is so easy to find articles describing the multiple pleasures of Rome, we are going to write about the lesser-known attractions of Latium. This article focuses on Latium east of Rome. A companion article describes Latium west of Rome.
Tivoli is the famous site of Hadrian's Villa, a getaway retreat for that famous Roman emperor. He ran the empire from this villa during the latter years of his rule. The site exceeds a square kilometer (over 250 acres) and contains more than thirty buildings. The Vatican Museums contain much of this UNESCO World Heritage Site's decorations and statues.
Villa d'Este is another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Tivoli. It is a beautiful water garden, reminiscent of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. This villa was founded in the mid-Sixteenth Century by a son of Lucrezia Borgia. One 'pathway' is called the Avenue of One Hundred Fountains. Be sure to see the Fontana di Rome, a scale model of Ancient Roman, demolished but partially rebuilt.
The town of Ninfa was destroyed during the Fourteenth Century. For six hundred years it lay in ruins, in part because of the malarial mosquitoes in the nearby marshes. And then in 1920 an aristocratic English artist, Ada Wilbraham, married into the Caetani family that had been given the city way back in 1297 by a Caetani Pope. Wilbraham started the restoration that has continued to this day. The site includes a bridge and seven churches from Roman times, a castle, and the city wall.
Anzio, a resort city of some 45,000 people, was the birthplace of the Roman Emperors Caligula and Nero. In 1944 it was the site of a major World War II battle, Operation Shingle. Visit the Anzio Beachhead British Military Cemetery, the Beachhead Museum, and the American Military Cemetery in nearby Nettuno.
Latium cuisine is abundant. The best cuts of meat were reserved for the rich and the poor had to make do with the rest, including feet, heart, and the like. See our companion article I Love Touring Italy - Eastern Latium for a sample menu and more information on Latium wines plus an in-depth examination of its tourist attractions. While today Latium is not known for its wine in the distant past Falernum, a Latium red was the hit of Ancient Rome.
Levi Reiss has authored alone or with a co-author ten computer and Internet books, but to tell the truth, he would really rather just drink fine French, German, or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He knows what dieting is, and is glad that for the time being he can eat and drink what he wants, in moderation. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. Visit his Italian travel, wine, and food website http://www.travelitalytravel.com/ and his global wine website http://www.theworldwidewine.com/.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
What to expect from Thailand hotels
What to expect from Thailand hotels
Looking for a relaxing yet adventure-filled vacation? Even before the Leonardo DiCaprio starrer, The Beach, brought controversy - and media mileage to this mystical yet modern country in the east, Thailand has long been a favorite among tourists - especially backpackers who want to experience a holiday to remember.
For first-timers in Thailand, it is highly recommended to stay in the country's capital, Bangkok for at least three days. In spite of the many high-rise buildings and posh malls, Bangkok has certainly not lost its Eastern charm as you are reminded of the Thais rich culture every place you go - through the many temples, the delectable food, and the people's warm hospitality. It is also good to note that holidaying in Thailand - no matter which Thai city you choose to stay in, is actually very cheap.
So let's start with the basics of planning the ultimate Thailand holiday. First things first, you will need to find a clean, reputable - and affordable Thailand hotel. If you're a first timer at this country, you will be surprised by how many Thailand hotels there are. From the super posh to the dirt cheap hotels frequented by backpackers, there certainly are a lot of choices when it comes to a suitable Thailand hotel for all your needs and preferences.
For those who want budget-friendly Thailand hotels that are right smack in the center of Bangkok city, the Pratunam or the Pathumwan area is the place to go. A lot of vacationing families and Asian tourists abound in this area so expect everything to be very touristy. The good thing about the Thailand hotels available in this area though is that majority of the major shopping destinations are easily within reach here. Some of the must-sees are: the popular MBK mall, the uber posh Siam Paragon and the trendy Platinum mall, which is just a few steps away from the very crowded, Pratunam market. The Platinum mall and the Pratunam market are both highly recommended by those who frequent Bangkok, you can get trendy and fashionable items for a much cheaper price compared to tourist traps like the Suan Lum Market. Just don't forget to haggle and if you can, buy in bulk.
But back to the hotels, if you have a budget for just a 3-star hotel, expect most of Thailand hotels under this category to be fairly decent. Usually with outdated furnishings and fairly clean rooms, 3-star Thailand hotels are still able to make up for these through the great prices that they are offering as well as for the free hotel breakfast for each day of your stay. So load up on the yummy treats that will be on offer and you will surely be able to save a bit since you won't be go around Thailand on an empty stomach.
Of course, as an added service - and a great way to earn extra, Thailand hotels also offer great sightseeing tours for their guests. If you're not that stingy, you will find the prices for these tours to be fairly decent. Expect these tour packages to include a visit to the Grand Palace; the nearby Wat Pho where you will find the world famous, Temple of Reclining Buddha; a tour of the Floating Market where you can sample cheap and yummy Thai delicacies; and a chance to ride an elephant at the nature trek.
Other things that are pretty common services and facilities with Thailand hotels are a decent internet connection - usually available at the hotel lobby, a laundry service, and hotel pick up service. If you are interested to find out more about places to stay whether in Bangkok or other cities in Thailand, just check out the Internet for more.
http://www.bestthailandhotels.com For All Activity in Thailand Information Guide. Destination Review, Hotels Promotion, Golf Courses, Festivals & Events, Travel Videos And More Attraction Of Thailand.
Looking for a relaxing yet adventure-filled vacation? Even before the Leonardo DiCaprio starrer, The Beach, brought controversy - and media mileage to this mystical yet modern country in the east, Thailand has long been a favorite among tourists - especially backpackers who want to experience a holiday to remember.
For first-timers in Thailand, it is highly recommended to stay in the country's capital, Bangkok for at least three days. In spite of the many high-rise buildings and posh malls, Bangkok has certainly not lost its Eastern charm as you are reminded of the Thais rich culture every place you go - through the many temples, the delectable food, and the people's warm hospitality. It is also good to note that holidaying in Thailand - no matter which Thai city you choose to stay in, is actually very cheap.
So let's start with the basics of planning the ultimate Thailand holiday. First things first, you will need to find a clean, reputable - and affordable Thailand hotel. If you're a first timer at this country, you will be surprised by how many Thailand hotels there are. From the super posh to the dirt cheap hotels frequented by backpackers, there certainly are a lot of choices when it comes to a suitable Thailand hotel for all your needs and preferences.
For those who want budget-friendly Thailand hotels that are right smack in the center of Bangkok city, the Pratunam or the Pathumwan area is the place to go. A lot of vacationing families and Asian tourists abound in this area so expect everything to be very touristy. The good thing about the Thailand hotels available in this area though is that majority of the major shopping destinations are easily within reach here. Some of the must-sees are: the popular MBK mall, the uber posh Siam Paragon and the trendy Platinum mall, which is just a few steps away from the very crowded, Pratunam market. The Platinum mall and the Pratunam market are both highly recommended by those who frequent Bangkok, you can get trendy and fashionable items for a much cheaper price compared to tourist traps like the Suan Lum Market. Just don't forget to haggle and if you can, buy in bulk.
But back to the hotels, if you have a budget for just a 3-star hotel, expect most of Thailand hotels under this category to be fairly decent. Usually with outdated furnishings and fairly clean rooms, 3-star Thailand hotels are still able to make up for these through the great prices that they are offering as well as for the free hotel breakfast for each day of your stay. So load up on the yummy treats that will be on offer and you will surely be able to save a bit since you won't be go around Thailand on an empty stomach.
Of course, as an added service - and a great way to earn extra, Thailand hotels also offer great sightseeing tours for their guests. If you're not that stingy, you will find the prices for these tours to be fairly decent. Expect these tour packages to include a visit to the Grand Palace; the nearby Wat Pho where you will find the world famous, Temple of Reclining Buddha; a tour of the Floating Market where you can sample cheap and yummy Thai delicacies; and a chance to ride an elephant at the nature trek.
Other things that are pretty common services and facilities with Thailand hotels are a decent internet connection - usually available at the hotel lobby, a laundry service, and hotel pick up service. If you are interested to find out more about places to stay whether in Bangkok or other cities in Thailand, just check out the Internet for more.
http://www.bestthailandhotels.com For All Activity in Thailand Information Guide. Destination Review, Hotels Promotion, Golf Courses, Festivals & Events, Travel Videos And More Attraction Of Thailand.
The Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are one of the most sought-after travel & vacation destinations in the world. Hawaii has 6 major islands consisting of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui and the largest island of them all, Hawaii... more commonly called the Big Island. The big Island of Hawaii is about the size of Connecticut and is also the youngest of the islands, approximately 800,000 years old.
Planning a Hawaii Vacation
When planning a Hawaii vacation, more and more travelers are choosing to stay in a privately-owned vacation rental home for both comfort and price effectiveness. However, whether you choose an ocean view hotel, oceanfront vacation home, or a cozy villa tucked away in the countryside, you'll find your Hawaii vacation totally refreshing with a myriad of opportunities for adventure, sightseeing, discovery and relaxing. You'll also find that each of Hawaii's Islands has its own distinct personality. Three of Hawaii's beaches made the top 10 list of TripAdvisor in the U.S.: Oahu (#3) Kailua Beach Park for powder white sand beach. Kauai (#6) Tunnels Beach for outstanding snorkeling and views. Oahu (#10) Waimea Bay Beach Park for its clear and calm water in the summertime. With that said, let these award-winning locations be a guide when planning your Hawaii vacation.
Hawaiian History
To fully appreciate Hawaii and its heritage, travelers are encouraged to learn a little about Hawaii's history prior to (or during) their Hawaii vacation.
In 1778, Captain James Cook landed on the island called Kauai at Waimea Bay. He named the archipelago the "Sandwich Islands" in honor of the Earl of Sandwich. Captain Cook was the man responsible for opening the doors to the west. Sadly, he was killed only a year later in Kealakekua Bay on Hawaii's Big Island.
The state of Hawaii was admitted to the Union on August 21, 1959, making Hawaii the 50th state of the United States of America. This group of islands was formed from past and current volcanic activity. Current volcanic activity can be found on the Big Island of Hawaii, while all volcanic activity on all the other Hawaiian Islands has been dormant for thousands of years.
At about 1,860 miles (3,000 km) from the nearest continent, the Hawaiian Island archipelago is the most isolated grouping of islands on the planet. The entire Hawaiian archipelago chain is 1,500 miles long with the oldest of the Hawaiian Islands disappearing beneath the ocean's surface due to millions of years of erosion.
Hawaii Vacation Activities
The Hawaiian Islands are a scenic paradise with a rich colorful history and a vast variety of activities and sightseeing for travelers & vacationers. As many already know, Hawaii is the birthplace of surfing and the infamous Hula dance. Vacationers can take a helicopter ride over steep cliffs and canyons, visit Pearl Harbor to view the USS Missouri and Arizona Memorial, take surfing lessons, outrigger or scuba lessons, or simply bask in the warm sun on the infamous Waikiki Beach. Hawaii abounds with water sports, golf, museums, art galleries, shopping, a zoo, aquarium and downtown nightlife. One hot spot in particular for vacationers is the active volcano Kīlauea on the big Island of Hawaii, which offers a memorable helicopter adventure your family never forget.
Weather in The Hawaiian Islands
The warmer, dryer months in Hawaii are April through October, during which Hawaii has temperature ranges of 75-88 degrees Fahrenheit. A Hawaii vacation during the winter months is a pleasant 68-80 degrees. Some islands, such as Maui, are dryer than others, whereas Kauai is the wettest of all. Year-round trade winds make for an entire year of great vacation months.
Don Guy is a travel writer and co-founder of http://www.MrVacation.com, a vacation rental directory offering vacation rentals and vacation homes for sale. When planning a Hawaii vacation, consider searching MrVacation.com for the perfect Hawaii vacation rental home, condo, or villa your entire family will enjoy.
The Hawaiian Islands are one of the most sought-after travel & vacation destinations in the world. Hawaii has 6 major islands consisting of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui and the largest island of them all, Hawaii... more commonly called the Big Island. The big Island of Hawaii is about the size of Connecticut and is also the youngest of the islands, approximately 800,000 years old.
Planning a Hawaii Vacation
When planning a Hawaii vacation, more and more travelers are choosing to stay in a privately-owned vacation rental home for both comfort and price effectiveness. However, whether you choose an ocean view hotel, oceanfront vacation home, or a cozy villa tucked away in the countryside, you'll find your Hawaii vacation totally refreshing with a myriad of opportunities for adventure, sightseeing, discovery and relaxing. You'll also find that each of Hawaii's Islands has its own distinct personality. Three of Hawaii's beaches made the top 10 list of TripAdvisor in the U.S.: Oahu (#3) Kailua Beach Park for powder white sand beach. Kauai (#6) Tunnels Beach for outstanding snorkeling and views. Oahu (#10) Waimea Bay Beach Park for its clear and calm water in the summertime. With that said, let these award-winning locations be a guide when planning your Hawaii vacation.
Hawaiian History
To fully appreciate Hawaii and its heritage, travelers are encouraged to learn a little about Hawaii's history prior to (or during) their Hawaii vacation.
In 1778, Captain James Cook landed on the island called Kauai at Waimea Bay. He named the archipelago the "Sandwich Islands" in honor of the Earl of Sandwich. Captain Cook was the man responsible for opening the doors to the west. Sadly, he was killed only a year later in Kealakekua Bay on Hawaii's Big Island.
The state of Hawaii was admitted to the Union on August 21, 1959, making Hawaii the 50th state of the United States of America. This group of islands was formed from past and current volcanic activity. Current volcanic activity can be found on the Big Island of Hawaii, while all volcanic activity on all the other Hawaiian Islands has been dormant for thousands of years.
At about 1,860 miles (3,000 km) from the nearest continent, the Hawaiian Island archipelago is the most isolated grouping of islands on the planet. The entire Hawaiian archipelago chain is 1,500 miles long with the oldest of the Hawaiian Islands disappearing beneath the ocean's surface due to millions of years of erosion.
Hawaii Vacation Activities
The Hawaiian Islands are a scenic paradise with a rich colorful history and a vast variety of activities and sightseeing for travelers & vacationers. As many already know, Hawaii is the birthplace of surfing and the infamous Hula dance. Vacationers can take a helicopter ride over steep cliffs and canyons, visit Pearl Harbor to view the USS Missouri and Arizona Memorial, take surfing lessons, outrigger or scuba lessons, or simply bask in the warm sun on the infamous Waikiki Beach. Hawaii abounds with water sports, golf, museums, art galleries, shopping, a zoo, aquarium and downtown nightlife. One hot spot in particular for vacationers is the active volcano Kīlauea on the big Island of Hawaii, which offers a memorable helicopter adventure your family never forget.
Weather in The Hawaiian Islands
The warmer, dryer months in Hawaii are April through October, during which Hawaii has temperature ranges of 75-88 degrees Fahrenheit. A Hawaii vacation during the winter months is a pleasant 68-80 degrees. Some islands, such as Maui, are dryer than others, whereas Kauai is the wettest of all. Year-round trade winds make for an entire year of great vacation months.
Don Guy is a travel writer and co-founder of http://www.MrVacation.com, a vacation rental directory offering vacation rentals and vacation homes for sale. When planning a Hawaii vacation, consider searching MrVacation.com for the perfect Hawaii vacation rental home, condo, or villa your entire family will enjoy.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Nature In Costa Rica
Nature In Costa Rica
Nature in Costa Rica is everywhere. I visited primarily to see the nature of this Central American country and was not disappointed. Pleasantly, because the wildlife leads to so much ecotourism in Costa Rica, the local people are generally very supportive of the nature there and work fiercely to protect it.
Currently, scientists calculate that around 25% of Costa Rica is now protected in the form of National Parks or privately-owned nature reserves. Conservationists from around the world flock to Costa Rica and have been of great help to the Costa Rican people in protecting the habitats and animals of Costa Rica.
There are currently 35 National Parks covering every habitat in Costa Rica and animals and plants can be seen almost countrywide. Without exception you have to pay a small fee to enter any of the parks - $10 seems like an average sum though some can be considerably higher or lower and of course taking a guide for the day will likely add an additional $20-30 onto the cost of your day out.
However, this money is spent in the right places and helps to support the environment and local communities.
Due to differences in altitudes and rainfall (plus having two coasts - the wetter Caribbean coast plus the drier Pacific coast) there are huge differences in the habitats present for nature in Costa Rica which not surprisingly affects the animals and plants you may see there.
Whilst wildlife can be seen anywhere there will always be certain areas that are better than others. So the first question really to consider when it comes to nature in Costa Rica is what it is that you'd actually like to see in particular? Or would you like to just generally see some animals?
If you make a "hotlist" of the animals you'd like to see, the next aspect is grabbing some of the wildlife guide books available (Field Guide To The Wildlife Of Costa Rica by C. Henderson is my personal favourite) so you can work out the best places to actually see the animals you're after.
To give you some ideas of what you may see, here is just a sampling of what I saw in Costa Rica last time: mexican spiny porcupine, anteater, monkeys, macaws, iguana, caimen, tarantulas, quetzals, coatis and agoutis. As I say, this is just a tiny sampling of all the amazing creatures there.
Top wildlife spotting areas if you are in need of some inspiration are Monte Verde, Manual Antonio and Corcovado, though be aware this last option is to remote that it can be difficult and expensive to get to, and facilities once you get there are likely to be basic at best. Even an Internet connection or reliable electricity may be too much to ask for in the far south of Costa Rica where jaguar and tapirs roam free.
Monte Verde and Manuel Antonio make a far more civilized start to seeing Costa Rican natural history where you can spend your daytime sweating in the rainforest, and your evenings relaxing in a bar, restaurant or, if you're lucky, by a resfreshing pool.
If you'd like to see plenty of photographs and videos of nature in Costa Rica then visit our Costa Rica Travel site at http://www.CostaRicaTravelRevealed.com
Nature in Costa Rica is everywhere. I visited primarily to see the nature of this Central American country and was not disappointed. Pleasantly, because the wildlife leads to so much ecotourism in Costa Rica, the local people are generally very supportive of the nature there and work fiercely to protect it.
Currently, scientists calculate that around 25% of Costa Rica is now protected in the form of National Parks or privately-owned nature reserves. Conservationists from around the world flock to Costa Rica and have been of great help to the Costa Rican people in protecting the habitats and animals of Costa Rica.
There are currently 35 National Parks covering every habitat in Costa Rica and animals and plants can be seen almost countrywide. Without exception you have to pay a small fee to enter any of the parks - $10 seems like an average sum though some can be considerably higher or lower and of course taking a guide for the day will likely add an additional $20-30 onto the cost of your day out.
However, this money is spent in the right places and helps to support the environment and local communities.
Due to differences in altitudes and rainfall (plus having two coasts - the wetter Caribbean coast plus the drier Pacific coast) there are huge differences in the habitats present for nature in Costa Rica which not surprisingly affects the animals and plants you may see there.
Whilst wildlife can be seen anywhere there will always be certain areas that are better than others. So the first question really to consider when it comes to nature in Costa Rica is what it is that you'd actually like to see in particular? Or would you like to just generally see some animals?
If you make a "hotlist" of the animals you'd like to see, the next aspect is grabbing some of the wildlife guide books available (Field Guide To The Wildlife Of Costa Rica by C. Henderson is my personal favourite) so you can work out the best places to actually see the animals you're after.
To give you some ideas of what you may see, here is just a sampling of what I saw in Costa Rica last time: mexican spiny porcupine, anteater, monkeys, macaws, iguana, caimen, tarantulas, quetzals, coatis and agoutis. As I say, this is just a tiny sampling of all the amazing creatures there.
Top wildlife spotting areas if you are in need of some inspiration are Monte Verde, Manual Antonio and Corcovado, though be aware this last option is to remote that it can be difficult and expensive to get to, and facilities once you get there are likely to be basic at best. Even an Internet connection or reliable electricity may be too much to ask for in the far south of Costa Rica where jaguar and tapirs roam free.
Monte Verde and Manuel Antonio make a far more civilized start to seeing Costa Rican natural history where you can spend your daytime sweating in the rainforest, and your evenings relaxing in a bar, restaurant or, if you're lucky, by a resfreshing pool.
If you'd like to see plenty of photographs and videos of nature in Costa Rica then visit our Costa Rica Travel site at http://www.CostaRicaTravelRevealed.com
London's Cultural Landscape
London's Cultural Landscape
London is one of the landmark cities of the world:rich in its Dickensian setting of market squares, cobbled lanes and culturally diverse landscape.
Among its strengths are the open markets, ethnic food, fabulous theatre and the best art museums anywhere.
Although London gets a bit pricey - especially if you are coming from outside the UK - there are ways to get around on a budget.
The best food that will not break the bank is found at open markets like the well-known Borough Market, and the smaller Exmouth market. Borough market has vendors from all over Europe and the UK selling cheeses, fresh meat, seafood, wine, pasties and pesto.
The food is great to pick up and take to sit in the park, or take home and cook. You can peruse the market with a glass of prosecco before deciding on what to eat. The prepared foods there are excellent, but the lines are quite long on the weekends.
Instead, getting some of the excellent cheese and some fresh bread might make for an easier meal. Exmouth market at Rosebury Avenue and Farringdon Road, has prepared foods, which should set you back approximately £5 for a generous plate. If you can avoid the local office crowd by getting there at noon or so, you'll happily avoid the long lines.
Drinks in pubs are also quite cheap in most areas, and for anyone coming from the states it is also a treat to not have to tip. The beers are also notably better than domestic macro-brews that Americans may be accustomed to.
There are a number of old-fashioned style pubs dotted around London selling equally old-fashioned ale. However, many of these pubs have now had cosmopolitan makeovers, with menus to rival some restaurants, so expect a gastro-pub mix-up of old and new influences. Accommodations are so often the rub when trying to travel cheaply.
There are deals to be had in London; however they just have to be sought out. The Crestfield Hotel in the King's Cross area, can be £20 per person per night and puts you in an interesting and newly resurgent area. King's Cross station is a hub for transit, making all of London easily accessible by tube and greater Europe as well, by Eurostar. If sightseeing and convenience are of utmost importance to you on your journey, the Holiday Inn Southwark is probably the most bang-for-your-buck. It is close to the Globe, the Tate Modern, and many other important sites in the south bank region.
If you are looking for accommodations in Hyde Park, try the Hyde Park Paddington, where rooms can run as low as 30 quid per person per night.
The last key to affordable London is that museums are free. The Tate Modern, the Tate Britain, the British Museum, the National Portrait Gallery are all free to enter and you are welcome to visit as often as you'd like. Specific exhibitions have to be paid for, but if you want to take in some art from the Italian Renaissance; it doesn't cost a penny. The museums can become a daytime refuge from pricey food and sometime aggressive shopping.
To stay in London on the cheap,. try having a look at Last Minute.com's website, for cheap hotels in London.
London is one of the landmark cities of the world:rich in its Dickensian setting of market squares, cobbled lanes and culturally diverse landscape.
Among its strengths are the open markets, ethnic food, fabulous theatre and the best art museums anywhere.
Although London gets a bit pricey - especially if you are coming from outside the UK - there are ways to get around on a budget.
The best food that will not break the bank is found at open markets like the well-known Borough Market, and the smaller Exmouth market. Borough market has vendors from all over Europe and the UK selling cheeses, fresh meat, seafood, wine, pasties and pesto.
The food is great to pick up and take to sit in the park, or take home and cook. You can peruse the market with a glass of prosecco before deciding on what to eat. The prepared foods there are excellent, but the lines are quite long on the weekends.
Instead, getting some of the excellent cheese and some fresh bread might make for an easier meal. Exmouth market at Rosebury Avenue and Farringdon Road, has prepared foods, which should set you back approximately £5 for a generous plate. If you can avoid the local office crowd by getting there at noon or so, you'll happily avoid the long lines.
Drinks in pubs are also quite cheap in most areas, and for anyone coming from the states it is also a treat to not have to tip. The beers are also notably better than domestic macro-brews that Americans may be accustomed to.
There are a number of old-fashioned style pubs dotted around London selling equally old-fashioned ale. However, many of these pubs have now had cosmopolitan makeovers, with menus to rival some restaurants, so expect a gastro-pub mix-up of old and new influences. Accommodations are so often the rub when trying to travel cheaply.
There are deals to be had in London; however they just have to be sought out. The Crestfield Hotel in the King's Cross area, can be £20 per person per night and puts you in an interesting and newly resurgent area. King's Cross station is a hub for transit, making all of London easily accessible by tube and greater Europe as well, by Eurostar. If sightseeing and convenience are of utmost importance to you on your journey, the Holiday Inn Southwark is probably the most bang-for-your-buck. It is close to the Globe, the Tate Modern, and many other important sites in the south bank region.
If you are looking for accommodations in Hyde Park, try the Hyde Park Paddington, where rooms can run as low as 30 quid per person per night.
The last key to affordable London is that museums are free. The Tate Modern, the Tate Britain, the British Museum, the National Portrait Gallery are all free to enter and you are welcome to visit as often as you'd like. Specific exhibitions have to be paid for, but if you want to take in some art from the Italian Renaissance; it doesn't cost a penny. The museums can become a daytime refuge from pricey food and sometime aggressive shopping.
To stay in London on the cheap,. try having a look at Last Minute.com's website, for cheap hotels in London.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Eating out in Rome
Eating out in Rome
As you might expect, when it comes to eating out, in Rome you will be faced by a large range of options: from the exclusive cuisine of some of the most famous international chefs to the traditional, hearty 'Romanesca' fare in all its manifold variations. Needless to say, the only way to really understand the heart and soul of Rome is by tasting its culinary splendors in a popular restaurant.
Eating out is part of life in Rome. It used to be said that in Rome it was cheaper to eat out than to purchase the same ingredients in a store and cook them at home. That may no longer be true, but you can still find cheap places to eat if you know where to look.
Testaccio is one of the areas in which to find traditional restaurants serving the local specialities, especially in the area surrounding the disused abattoir The district of Trastevere is also a great place to find good restaurants, and inside the Ghetto you'll find several places offering Jewish cuisine as well as unique variations on traditional themes.
Surprisingly enough, some restaurants in the heart of the tourist centres, where red-checked table clothes swing from tables and waiters try to lure you in with their version of charm, are extremely good value. Via del Latore beside the Trevi Fountain has a number of such eateries.
If you like exotic and oriental cuisine, be advised that restaurants in Rome are pretty much confined to those of the native variety and, while you will find establishments serving Chinese, Indian, Mexican and Thai food, the standard is not as high as other major world cities. Honestly, this is not going to be a bit of a problem, as, once you have eaten in any of the traditional Italian restaurants, you simply won't even consider trying anything else.
Pizzerias and trattorias are definitely the most popular places to dine in Rome: informal, economical and with speedy service, they are home to 'pizza alla romana', which has a thin crust and a crispy edge, as opposed to the soft raised crusts of the Neapolitan variety. You'll find pizzerias in every corner of the city, but Trastevere offers an especially wide choice of pizza places with wood fueled ovens (these give the pizza a more intense flavor).
If you go the pizza route, in addition to the pizza, don't miss other delicious Roman offerings easily found at any reputable pizzeria, such as 'supplì al telefono' (fried rice balls with mozzarella filling), potato croquettes, fried cod fillets, fried pumpkin flowers, and 'bruschetta' (slices of toasted bread topped with tomato, garlic and olive oil).
Traditional Roman cuisine stems from a time when people cannot afford a meal made with meat, and therefore had to use offal, which at that time was definitely more affordable. Over the centuries, traditional dishes like - coda alla vaccinara' (oxtail cooked with wine, tomatoes and peppers), 'pajata' (veal's offal cooked in a tomato sauce), 'abbacchio alla scottadito' (grilled lamb chop) and 'trippa alla romana' (Roman style tripe), have come to be considered as delicacies and are eaten by even the most refined palates.
Roman cuisine has a great tradition of pasta dishes often made with 'guanciale' (cured pork cheek) and 'pecorino romano' cheese. The 'amatriciana' adds onion and tomato to the mix and is classically served with 'bucatini' (a thick, hollow spaghetti). while 'carbonara' tosses the pork and cheese with egg yolk and black pepper. 'Gricia' is similar to 'amatriciana' but without tomatoes and 'gnocchi' (little round squishy pasta balls made out of potato with a tomato sauce and Parmesan or pecorino) is a favorite for Thursday dinner.
Seasonal vegetables may not appear on the menu but are usually available. Romans love their greens: 'spinaci ripassati' (sautéed spinach) are perennial favorites and many restaurants specialize in vegetable 'fritto misto' (deep fried mixed vegetables). Rome is famous for a local variety of artichokes, available from November to April, prepared 'alla romana' (stuffed with garlic and mint) or 'alla giudia' (fried whole, making each petal crisp). 'Puntarelle' is another side dish sure to be found at any Roman restaurant. Puntarelle is a type of chicory (also known as Catalonia) whose long, green spiked leaves are sliced very thinly and set into cold water so that they becomes curly and then served raw, dressed with olive oil, vinegar, garlic and minced anchovies.
If you really want to go the extra mile, Rome is also notable for lenten raisin buns called 'maritozzi', cream-filled pastries called 'bignè', rum-soaked fruit and nut cake called 'pan giallo', and a custard cake drenched with syrupy liqueurs known as 'zuppa inglese' (thoug's neither soup nor English). Meals often end with a cup of 'espresso' coffee or a glass of 'sambuca', a sweet liqueur sipped with three coffee beans to munch on.
This article is part of a series covering the most important Italian travel destinations and regional cuisines. You can find similar articles about eating out in Florence, Naples, Milan and Venice.
Born in the USA, but happily ensconced in Elba Island, Bob McCormack is a freelance writer with a very special passion for food and wine. His travel articles and Elba hotels reviews have appeared in numerous national and international publications.
As you might expect, when it comes to eating out, in Rome you will be faced by a large range of options: from the exclusive cuisine of some of the most famous international chefs to the traditional, hearty 'Romanesca' fare in all its manifold variations. Needless to say, the only way to really understand the heart and soul of Rome is by tasting its culinary splendors in a popular restaurant.
Eating out is part of life in Rome. It used to be said that in Rome it was cheaper to eat out than to purchase the same ingredients in a store and cook them at home. That may no longer be true, but you can still find cheap places to eat if you know where to look.
Testaccio is one of the areas in which to find traditional restaurants serving the local specialities, especially in the area surrounding the disused abattoir The district of Trastevere is also a great place to find good restaurants, and inside the Ghetto you'll find several places offering Jewish cuisine as well as unique variations on traditional themes.
Surprisingly enough, some restaurants in the heart of the tourist centres, where red-checked table clothes swing from tables and waiters try to lure you in with their version of charm, are extremely good value. Via del Latore beside the Trevi Fountain has a number of such eateries.
If you like exotic and oriental cuisine, be advised that restaurants in Rome are pretty much confined to those of the native variety and, while you will find establishments serving Chinese, Indian, Mexican and Thai food, the standard is not as high as other major world cities. Honestly, this is not going to be a bit of a problem, as, once you have eaten in any of the traditional Italian restaurants, you simply won't even consider trying anything else.
Pizzerias and trattorias are definitely the most popular places to dine in Rome: informal, economical and with speedy service, they are home to 'pizza alla romana', which has a thin crust and a crispy edge, as opposed to the soft raised crusts of the Neapolitan variety. You'll find pizzerias in every corner of the city, but Trastevere offers an especially wide choice of pizza places with wood fueled ovens (these give the pizza a more intense flavor).
If you go the pizza route, in addition to the pizza, don't miss other delicious Roman offerings easily found at any reputable pizzeria, such as 'supplì al telefono' (fried rice balls with mozzarella filling), potato croquettes, fried cod fillets, fried pumpkin flowers, and 'bruschetta' (slices of toasted bread topped with tomato, garlic and olive oil).
Traditional Roman cuisine stems from a time when people cannot afford a meal made with meat, and therefore had to use offal, which at that time was definitely more affordable. Over the centuries, traditional dishes like - coda alla vaccinara' (oxtail cooked with wine, tomatoes and peppers), 'pajata' (veal's offal cooked in a tomato sauce), 'abbacchio alla scottadito' (grilled lamb chop) and 'trippa alla romana' (Roman style tripe), have come to be considered as delicacies and are eaten by even the most refined palates.
Roman cuisine has a great tradition of pasta dishes often made with 'guanciale' (cured pork cheek) and 'pecorino romano' cheese. The 'amatriciana' adds onion and tomato to the mix and is classically served with 'bucatini' (a thick, hollow spaghetti). while 'carbonara' tosses the pork and cheese with egg yolk and black pepper. 'Gricia' is similar to 'amatriciana' but without tomatoes and 'gnocchi' (little round squishy pasta balls made out of potato with a tomato sauce and Parmesan or pecorino) is a favorite for Thursday dinner.
Seasonal vegetables may not appear on the menu but are usually available. Romans love their greens: 'spinaci ripassati' (sautéed spinach) are perennial favorites and many restaurants specialize in vegetable 'fritto misto' (deep fried mixed vegetables). Rome is famous for a local variety of artichokes, available from November to April, prepared 'alla romana' (stuffed with garlic and mint) or 'alla giudia' (fried whole, making each petal crisp). 'Puntarelle' is another side dish sure to be found at any Roman restaurant. Puntarelle is a type of chicory (also known as Catalonia) whose long, green spiked leaves are sliced very thinly and set into cold water so that they becomes curly and then served raw, dressed with olive oil, vinegar, garlic and minced anchovies.
If you really want to go the extra mile, Rome is also notable for lenten raisin buns called 'maritozzi', cream-filled pastries called 'bignè', rum-soaked fruit and nut cake called 'pan giallo', and a custard cake drenched with syrupy liqueurs known as 'zuppa inglese' (thoug's neither soup nor English). Meals often end with a cup of 'espresso' coffee or a glass of 'sambuca', a sweet liqueur sipped with three coffee beans to munch on.
This article is part of a series covering the most important Italian travel destinations and regional cuisines. You can find similar articles about eating out in Florence, Naples, Milan and Venice.
Born in the USA, but happily ensconced in Elba Island, Bob McCormack is a freelance writer with a very special passion for food and wine. His travel articles and Elba hotels reviews have appeared in numerous national and international publications.
Discovering San Miguel de Allende
Discovering San Miguel de Allende
Have you ever been to a place and said to yourself, this is it! This is where I want to be! This is where I want to live? Well that is what happened to us when we spent a week, in San Miguel de Allende.
We had explored Mexico, extensively. We had traveled through Baja, Durango, Sonora, spent time on the northern beaches, lived for 7 years outside of Colima, traveled to Cancun, Chiapas, Oaxaca, Michoacan, you name it and we had been there. We had even been to Guanajuato a few times but never to San Miguel de Allende.
Then we decided to spend a week in San Miguel. After just three days, we knew, this was THE place we had been searching for.
San Miguel de Allende has culture, beauty, great restaurants, friendly people, lots of history, beautiful colonial architecture, temperate climate and we could be at the beach within a day's drive or a short flight from the nearby Leon or Quertero airports. Plus the cost of living is very reasonable. What more could you ask for? (Did I mention cobble stone streets?)
No wonder it is called the jewel of colonial Mexico and was declared a National Monument in 1926.
So we did what any crazy person would do, we found a place to rent, and within the week, we went back to our house in Colima, packed everything and moved to San Miguel de Allende.
My favorite thing to do in San Miguel de Allende is to spend the day riding ATV's or laying by the pools at La Gruta or Taboada Hot Springs. At night, we love to have a great dinner and a glass of wine with friends at one of the numerous restaurants in San Miguel. Afterwards we enjoy a stroll through the Jardin Principal, and listen to the Mariachis, while gazing upwards at the beautiful and wondrous Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel. At night, I never tire of looking at La Parroquia with the lights shining on the pink sandstone and its looming gothic towers. Iglesia San Rafael, otherwise known as Santa Esquela- sits to the left of the Parroquia. It is beautiful as well. It reminds me of the Tower of London.
Many people come to San Miguel for the art galleries and art schools such as Instituto Allende but don't forget about the wonderful cooking schools as well.
San Miguel has a lot to offer. Come and discover why we and many others have chosen San Miguel de Allende as a vacation destination or as a place to call home.
To learn more about San Miguel de Allende, go to: www.whatshotinsanmiguel.com
Javier Olivera lives and works in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. He has created the most complete internet city guide for San Miguel de Allende. For more information about San Miguel de Allende go to
http://www.whatshotinsanmiguel.com
Have you ever been to a place and said to yourself, this is it! This is where I want to be! This is where I want to live? Well that is what happened to us when we spent a week, in San Miguel de Allende.
We had explored Mexico, extensively. We had traveled through Baja, Durango, Sonora, spent time on the northern beaches, lived for 7 years outside of Colima, traveled to Cancun, Chiapas, Oaxaca, Michoacan, you name it and we had been there. We had even been to Guanajuato a few times but never to San Miguel de Allende.
Then we decided to spend a week in San Miguel. After just three days, we knew, this was THE place we had been searching for.
San Miguel de Allende has culture, beauty, great restaurants, friendly people, lots of history, beautiful colonial architecture, temperate climate and we could be at the beach within a day's drive or a short flight from the nearby Leon or Quertero airports. Plus the cost of living is very reasonable. What more could you ask for? (Did I mention cobble stone streets?)
No wonder it is called the jewel of colonial Mexico and was declared a National Monument in 1926.
So we did what any crazy person would do, we found a place to rent, and within the week, we went back to our house in Colima, packed everything and moved to San Miguel de Allende.
My favorite thing to do in San Miguel de Allende is to spend the day riding ATV's or laying by the pools at La Gruta or Taboada Hot Springs. At night, we love to have a great dinner and a glass of wine with friends at one of the numerous restaurants in San Miguel. Afterwards we enjoy a stroll through the Jardin Principal, and listen to the Mariachis, while gazing upwards at the beautiful and wondrous Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel. At night, I never tire of looking at La Parroquia with the lights shining on the pink sandstone and its looming gothic towers. Iglesia San Rafael, otherwise known as Santa Esquela- sits to the left of the Parroquia. It is beautiful as well. It reminds me of the Tower of London.
Many people come to San Miguel for the art galleries and art schools such as Instituto Allende but don't forget about the wonderful cooking schools as well.
San Miguel has a lot to offer. Come and discover why we and many others have chosen San Miguel de Allende as a vacation destination or as a place to call home.
To learn more about San Miguel de Allende, go to: www.whatshotinsanmiguel.com
Javier Olivera lives and works in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. He has created the most complete internet city guide for San Miguel de Allende. For more information about San Miguel de Allende go to
http://www.whatshotinsanmiguel.com
Tourism and Poetry in the Lake District
Tourism and Poetry in the Lake District
The Lake District is an area of outstanding natural beauty located in the north west of England. The area is world famous for its astonishing beauty and tranquil landscapes. Its popularity has been enhanced further thanks to its rich cultural past involving William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey.
The Lake District is also home to England's highest mountain, Scafell Pike, and deepest lake at Wasdale. All of these qualities have made the Lake District one of the most popular tourist destinations in the UK.
Back in the late 17th century, walking and hiking breaks in the Lake Districts were mostly enjoyed by people who lived near or in the local area, since they could easily reach the beautiful valleys and mountains the area has to offer.
But in 1778, Father Thomas West wrote the first guide to the Lake District, and this brought many more visitors to the area. The popularity of the region grew so much that in the late 18th century the local authority responded by erecting viewpoints and "station houses", which allowed visitors to see and experience some of the Lake District's most stunning views and landscapes.
William Wordsworth wrote his first guide to the Lakes in 1810, a guide that eventually expanded into five volumes and gave people both insight into the area and a valuable tool to travel with. Of course Wordsworth also drew poetical inspiration from the Lake District - more on this in a moment!
In the early 19th century, tourism in the Lake District started booming thanks to the establishment of railway links in areas such as Kendal and Windermere. These railway links made the Lake District much more accessible to working people. To accommodate the greater volume of visitors, new attractions were introduced; for example, the steamer boats which allowed people to experience the various lakes by boat made the Lake District an exciting and interesting place for holidays and brought economic growth to the local area.
In 1951 the Lake District was granted national park status in order to preserve its natural beauty and protect it from unhealthy commercial and industrial influences. The new motorway - the M6 - which was built along the east side of the area made the Lake District even more accessible by car; perhaps a mixed blessing, now that around 14 million people visit the Lake District every year!
Interestingly, the Lake District is Britain's second largest tourist attraction, with people coming from all over the world. Even to this day, the steamer boats on Windermere are one of the most successful visitor attractions in the UK!
Tourism is a very important industry which adds millions of pounds to the local area and economy every year. And even though many people now enjoy going abroad on their holidays, the enduring appeal of the Lakes will ensure millions of people continue to visit in the years ahead.
As we mentioned, the Lake Poets - especially Wordsworth - were instrumental in promoting Lake District tourism through their depiction of the glorious scenery. The "Lake Poets" is the collective name for a group of iconic poets who all lived in the Lake District during the late 18th and the early 19th century: William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey.
All three poets drew inspiration from the spectacular landscapes in the Lake District to create some of their most famous works. And all three men were major influences in establishing the Romantic Movement.
Wordsworth was born in Cockermouth, in the Lake District, in April 1770. The house where he was born and lived for his early life has now been renamed Wordsworth House. From 1779 until 1787 he attended Hawkshead Grammar School; there he had his first experience of writing and reading poetry which he practiced extensively thanks to encouragement from his teachers. He often spent time in the countryside where he drew inspiration from the beautiful scenery which surrounded him. After his years at Hawkshead grammar school, he attended St John's College in Cambridge.
In 1795 while Wordsworth was staying in Dorset, he met Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey. This was the beginning of a stimulating and creative relationship. Wordsworth travelled extensively throughout his life, especially in Europe and the Alps, but always returned to the Lake District; indeed, he died at Grasmere in 1850.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge was born in Devonshire in October, 1772, and Robert Southey in Bristol in 1774. They became great friends at Cambridge, and in 1795 they met Wordsworth, who joined them as the third member of the group known as the Lake Poets - the poetical pioneers of the Romantic Movement.
Between the three of them, they helped revolutionize this period in English poetry, and the Lake District was the perfect backdrop for their inspiration - as it has continued to be to this day, for artists as diverse as William Heaton-Cooper and Beatrix Potter.
The Lake District Guide features much more information on the attractions and history of the English Lake District.
The Lake District is an area of outstanding natural beauty located in the north west of England. The area is world famous for its astonishing beauty and tranquil landscapes. Its popularity has been enhanced further thanks to its rich cultural past involving William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey.
The Lake District is also home to England's highest mountain, Scafell Pike, and deepest lake at Wasdale. All of these qualities have made the Lake District one of the most popular tourist destinations in the UK.
Back in the late 17th century, walking and hiking breaks in the Lake Districts were mostly enjoyed by people who lived near or in the local area, since they could easily reach the beautiful valleys and mountains the area has to offer.
But in 1778, Father Thomas West wrote the first guide to the Lake District, and this brought many more visitors to the area. The popularity of the region grew so much that in the late 18th century the local authority responded by erecting viewpoints and "station houses", which allowed visitors to see and experience some of the Lake District's most stunning views and landscapes.
William Wordsworth wrote his first guide to the Lakes in 1810, a guide that eventually expanded into five volumes and gave people both insight into the area and a valuable tool to travel with. Of course Wordsworth also drew poetical inspiration from the Lake District - more on this in a moment!
In the early 19th century, tourism in the Lake District started booming thanks to the establishment of railway links in areas such as Kendal and Windermere. These railway links made the Lake District much more accessible to working people. To accommodate the greater volume of visitors, new attractions were introduced; for example, the steamer boats which allowed people to experience the various lakes by boat made the Lake District an exciting and interesting place for holidays and brought economic growth to the local area.
In 1951 the Lake District was granted national park status in order to preserve its natural beauty and protect it from unhealthy commercial and industrial influences. The new motorway - the M6 - which was built along the east side of the area made the Lake District even more accessible by car; perhaps a mixed blessing, now that around 14 million people visit the Lake District every year!
Interestingly, the Lake District is Britain's second largest tourist attraction, with people coming from all over the world. Even to this day, the steamer boats on Windermere are one of the most successful visitor attractions in the UK!
Tourism is a very important industry which adds millions of pounds to the local area and economy every year. And even though many people now enjoy going abroad on their holidays, the enduring appeal of the Lakes will ensure millions of people continue to visit in the years ahead.
As we mentioned, the Lake Poets - especially Wordsworth - were instrumental in promoting Lake District tourism through their depiction of the glorious scenery. The "Lake Poets" is the collective name for a group of iconic poets who all lived in the Lake District during the late 18th and the early 19th century: William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey.
All three poets drew inspiration from the spectacular landscapes in the Lake District to create some of their most famous works. And all three men were major influences in establishing the Romantic Movement.
Wordsworth was born in Cockermouth, in the Lake District, in April 1770. The house where he was born and lived for his early life has now been renamed Wordsworth House. From 1779 until 1787 he attended Hawkshead Grammar School; there he had his first experience of writing and reading poetry which he practiced extensively thanks to encouragement from his teachers. He often spent time in the countryside where he drew inspiration from the beautiful scenery which surrounded him. After his years at Hawkshead grammar school, he attended St John's College in Cambridge.
In 1795 while Wordsworth was staying in Dorset, he met Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey. This was the beginning of a stimulating and creative relationship. Wordsworth travelled extensively throughout his life, especially in Europe and the Alps, but always returned to the Lake District; indeed, he died at Grasmere in 1850.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge was born in Devonshire in October, 1772, and Robert Southey in Bristol in 1774. They became great friends at Cambridge, and in 1795 they met Wordsworth, who joined them as the third member of the group known as the Lake Poets - the poetical pioneers of the Romantic Movement.
Between the three of them, they helped revolutionize this period in English poetry, and the Lake District was the perfect backdrop for their inspiration - as it has continued to be to this day, for artists as diverse as William Heaton-Cooper and Beatrix Potter.
The Lake District Guide features much more information on the attractions and history of the English Lake District.
A Holiday Of France Bicycle Tours
A Holiday Of France Bicycle Tours
by Alison Addy
This article is about France and what cities are the best as well as things to do while in France.
Wonderful Holidays in France
There are so many wonderful places to travel to get away for the holidays. If you can't make up your mind, you may want to check out France. France is know for its beauty and classic culture and style. Its breath-taking beauty is a reason why it's the background setting in so many television shows and movies. Just the scenery alone is enough to keep you busy sightseeing for days. They are even more beautiful than on TV.
Holidays in France offer so much to do, you'll have a great time and will be planning your return before you even leave the area. France bicycle tours are a sport that many tourists enjoy. It gives them the opportunity to see the city, meet other people as well as get in some exercise. With all the great cuisine you'll be eating in France, you'll need the exercise! Shopping is also a fun way to spend the day. There's no fashion quite like what you'll see in France.
Planning Your Holiday In France
To have the best possible France holiday requires lots of planning far in advance. The first thing you need to decide is what city in France you'll want to visit. Then you need to decide what you'll want to do there.
Some of the sites in France will only take an hour or two while others may take up an entire day such as the French Riviera. This is one France's top attractions and you'll want at least a full day to spend here. There's a lot to see here. While traveling from the Mediterranean to the Alps may only take two hours, the many things to do there will take much longer so plan your time accordingly. There are many fascinating cities in that region and you'll want to spend some time there.
When you're going to France, you can't forget about the ever-popular Paris. This is a must-see when you're spending your holiday in France. Imagine years from now being able to tell your grandkids that you spent a holiday in Paris, France. Paris is probably the most stimulating and beautiful cities in the world. Whether it's the gorgeous architecture or the busy boulevards, you'll want to get as many pictures as possible.
Things To Do To Get Ready
Once you've made the decisions on what city you're traveling to and what attractions you'll see, you're still not ready. You may want to familiarize yourself with the French language. You don't need to take a course in French, although that can't hurt, but try to learn a few basics. A simple request for a bathroom or ordering off a menu will be a lot easier if you have a basic understanding of the language.
More available info about france bicycle tours here.
About the Author:
Did you like the article on holidays in france??, Alison Addy is the author of more resources published at http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com . More articles on france bicycle tours and provence bike tour at his web.
by Alison Addy
This article is about France and what cities are the best as well as things to do while in France.
Wonderful Holidays in France
There are so many wonderful places to travel to get away for the holidays. If you can't make up your mind, you may want to check out France. France is know for its beauty and classic culture and style. Its breath-taking beauty is a reason why it's the background setting in so many television shows and movies. Just the scenery alone is enough to keep you busy sightseeing for days. They are even more beautiful than on TV.
Holidays in France offer so much to do, you'll have a great time and will be planning your return before you even leave the area. France bicycle tours are a sport that many tourists enjoy. It gives them the opportunity to see the city, meet other people as well as get in some exercise. With all the great cuisine you'll be eating in France, you'll need the exercise! Shopping is also a fun way to spend the day. There's no fashion quite like what you'll see in France.
Planning Your Holiday In France
To have the best possible France holiday requires lots of planning far in advance. The first thing you need to decide is what city in France you'll want to visit. Then you need to decide what you'll want to do there.
Some of the sites in France will only take an hour or two while others may take up an entire day such as the French Riviera. This is one France's top attractions and you'll want at least a full day to spend here. There's a lot to see here. While traveling from the Mediterranean to the Alps may only take two hours, the many things to do there will take much longer so plan your time accordingly. There are many fascinating cities in that region and you'll want to spend some time there.
When you're going to France, you can't forget about the ever-popular Paris. This is a must-see when you're spending your holiday in France. Imagine years from now being able to tell your grandkids that you spent a holiday in Paris, France. Paris is probably the most stimulating and beautiful cities in the world. Whether it's the gorgeous architecture or the busy boulevards, you'll want to get as many pictures as possible.
Things To Do To Get Ready
Once you've made the decisions on what city you're traveling to and what attractions you'll see, you're still not ready. You may want to familiarize yourself with the French language. You don't need to take a course in French, although that can't hurt, but try to learn a few basics. A simple request for a bathroom or ordering off a menu will be a lot easier if you have a basic understanding of the language.
More available info about france bicycle tours here.
About the Author:
Did you like the article on holidays in france??, Alison Addy is the author of more resources published at http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com . More articles on france bicycle tours and provence bike tour at his web.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
A Quick Tour Of Italy - The Aosta Valley
A Quick Tour Of Italy - The Aosta Valley
If you are looking for a European tourist destination, consider the Aosta Valley region of northern Italy bordering France and Switzerland. Depending on your interests, this beautiful area might be an ideal vacation spot. You can get classic Italian food, and wash it down with fine local wine. Although it is by far the smallest Italian region, the Aosta Valley boasts about 150 historic castles, forts, and towers. Its Alpine skiing is some of the best in Europe.
The medieval village of Bard is fairly close to the northern border of Piedmont. In addition to its historic homes perched on a mountain overlooking a gorgeous gorge you can visit the Twelfth Century Forte di Bard that held up Napoleon's military progress for almost two weeks. He had it destroyed. The fort was reconstructed in the Nineteenth Century.
St. Vincent, a spa resort for well over one hundred years, is home to the Casino de la Vallée. It is one of the largest casinos in all Europe and a favorite of jet setters.
Breuil-Cervina is a skiing village at the base of the Matterhorn founded in the 1930s during Mussolini's rule. There are about 200 kilometers (120 miles) of ski runs on the Italian side of the mountain, said to be best for intermediate-level skiers. Experts will prefer the Swiss side of the mountain.
The city of Aosta has about thirty five thousand residents, more than one quarter of the region's total population. It was a Roman garrison two thousand years ago. The Arch of Augustus commemorates Rome's victory over a Celtic tribe. Be sure to see the Eleventh Century Gothic Collegiate Church of Saint Orso. The Porta Praetoria (Pretorial Gate) is still in good shape, some two thousand years after construction.
We end our tour of the Aosta Valley at Courmayeur on the sunny side of Mont Blanc. Yes both easy and difficult ski slopes are lacking and it is sometimes overcrowded. But it's beautiful, and nightlife abounds. In the summer take the Telepherique de l'Aiguille du Midi and enjoy the spectacular view of a French glacier.
Aosta Valley cuisine is strongly influenced by five hundred years of French rule. The real Fontina cheese comes only from the Aosta Valley. See our companion article I Love Touring Italy - The Aosta Valley for a sample menu and more information on Aosta Valley wines as well as an in-depth examination of the area's tourist attractions. Very little Aosta Valley wine is sold in North America. So that gives you another reason to visit this beautiful region.
Levi Reiss has authored alone or with a co-author ten computer and Internet books, but to tell the truth, he would really rather just drink fine French, German, or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He knows what dieting is, and is glad that for the time being he can eat and drink what he wants, in moderation. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. Visit his Italian travel, wine, and food website http://www.travelitalytravel.com/ and his global wine website http://www.theworldwidewine.com/.
If you are looking for a European tourist destination, consider the Aosta Valley region of northern Italy bordering France and Switzerland. Depending on your interests, this beautiful area might be an ideal vacation spot. You can get classic Italian food, and wash it down with fine local wine. Although it is by far the smallest Italian region, the Aosta Valley boasts about 150 historic castles, forts, and towers. Its Alpine skiing is some of the best in Europe.
The medieval village of Bard is fairly close to the northern border of Piedmont. In addition to its historic homes perched on a mountain overlooking a gorgeous gorge you can visit the Twelfth Century Forte di Bard that held up Napoleon's military progress for almost two weeks. He had it destroyed. The fort was reconstructed in the Nineteenth Century.
St. Vincent, a spa resort for well over one hundred years, is home to the Casino de la Vallée. It is one of the largest casinos in all Europe and a favorite of jet setters.
Breuil-Cervina is a skiing village at the base of the Matterhorn founded in the 1930s during Mussolini's rule. There are about 200 kilometers (120 miles) of ski runs on the Italian side of the mountain, said to be best for intermediate-level skiers. Experts will prefer the Swiss side of the mountain.
The city of Aosta has about thirty five thousand residents, more than one quarter of the region's total population. It was a Roman garrison two thousand years ago. The Arch of Augustus commemorates Rome's victory over a Celtic tribe. Be sure to see the Eleventh Century Gothic Collegiate Church of Saint Orso. The Porta Praetoria (Pretorial Gate) is still in good shape, some two thousand years after construction.
We end our tour of the Aosta Valley at Courmayeur on the sunny side of Mont Blanc. Yes both easy and difficult ski slopes are lacking and it is sometimes overcrowded. But it's beautiful, and nightlife abounds. In the summer take the Telepherique de l'Aiguille du Midi and enjoy the spectacular view of a French glacier.
Aosta Valley cuisine is strongly influenced by five hundred years of French rule. The real Fontina cheese comes only from the Aosta Valley. See our companion article I Love Touring Italy - The Aosta Valley for a sample menu and more information on Aosta Valley wines as well as an in-depth examination of the area's tourist attractions. Very little Aosta Valley wine is sold in North America. So that gives you another reason to visit this beautiful region.
Levi Reiss has authored alone or with a co-author ten computer and Internet books, but to tell the truth, he would really rather just drink fine French, German, or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He knows what dieting is, and is glad that for the time being he can eat and drink what he wants, in moderation. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. Visit his Italian travel, wine, and food website http://www.travelitalytravel.com/ and his global wine website http://www.theworldwidewine.com/.
Cheap Flights to LA
Cheap Flights to LA
When visiting Los Angeles there are a number of destinations about which your average foreign traveller would not know. Some of these less traveled spots are among the most exciting and enjoyable parts of Los Angeles, and defy the well-coiffed and over-bleached sheen that the city is often given in the eyes of non-natives.
While Rodeo Drive and the Sunset strip can be fun, there are other aspects of this sprawling metropolis by the sea. Among these is the budding art gallery scene in the Chinatown district northwest of Downtown. Here, each Friday small clubs operate slightly under-the radar, serving drinks to a young, hip crowd that can't be bothered to make it to the Westside. As the eastside has gotten cooler, the art scene has re-centered itself, allowing a distinct and legitimate encampment on Chinatown's Chungking Road. The gallery openings are every two weeks or so, and allow a rare display of public drinking in this puritanical country. Check the web for exact dates, but they are usually Thursdays or Saturdays during the summer.
Another fun thing to do in Los Angeles that is easy to miss is hiking. You can hike through lovely wildlife but see a view of a vast urban space at the top. A wonderful view of the city is available from Griffith Park, and the pay off is much higher if you simply park in the neighboring Los Feliz hills and climb to a peak, avoiding the delays, bother and polluting of following the line of cars to park at the observatory. Other fun hikes include Will Rogers State Park in Pacific Palisades, Runyon Canyon in the Hollywood Hills and Fryman Canyon in Studio City. For more intriguing culinary fare, Los Angeles offers distinct ethnic food at quite low prices in less touristy areas. The Thai cuisine in East Hollywood is legendary, and competes for space only with the Middle Eastern food, centered there and in Westwood, which includes some of the best and most authentic Persian food in the world. Westwood is also home to excellent Lebanese food. Los Angeles' Mexican food does not need to be spoken for, but for family type restaurants, mainly in the tradition of the Jalisco region, try East Los Angeles proper. Less formal cuisine is available throughout the city, but for fresh, Mexico City-style cuisine, try Allegria, on Sunset Blvd. in the Silverlake region. The line is formidable, but well worth it.
The final aspect of less-seen Los Angeles is the beach. For the best beach one must venture where others are effectively dissuaded from going, the final frontier: Malibu. Though residents are hostile to tourists, California law guarantees public access to the 27 miles of beautiful coastline that are part of this wealthy and insular city. Signs saying "coastal access" highlight spots of entrance, which may look like nothing, but, after descending many stairs, you will generally come upon a beautiful and nearly abandoned beach. To find these beaches, simply drive up the coast highway past the Cross Creek mall, where you can stop for a coffee and likely see a celebrity, but persevere until it seems you must be part way to San Francisco. Until the signs say "Entering Camarillo," you are still in Malibu and near discovering some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
Flymonarch.com run cheap flights to the USA, check the website for schedules.
When visiting Los Angeles there are a number of destinations about which your average foreign traveller would not know. Some of these less traveled spots are among the most exciting and enjoyable parts of Los Angeles, and defy the well-coiffed and over-bleached sheen that the city is often given in the eyes of non-natives.
While Rodeo Drive and the Sunset strip can be fun, there are other aspects of this sprawling metropolis by the sea. Among these is the budding art gallery scene in the Chinatown district northwest of Downtown. Here, each Friday small clubs operate slightly under-the radar, serving drinks to a young, hip crowd that can't be bothered to make it to the Westside. As the eastside has gotten cooler, the art scene has re-centered itself, allowing a distinct and legitimate encampment on Chinatown's Chungking Road. The gallery openings are every two weeks or so, and allow a rare display of public drinking in this puritanical country. Check the web for exact dates, but they are usually Thursdays or Saturdays during the summer.
Another fun thing to do in Los Angeles that is easy to miss is hiking. You can hike through lovely wildlife but see a view of a vast urban space at the top. A wonderful view of the city is available from Griffith Park, and the pay off is much higher if you simply park in the neighboring Los Feliz hills and climb to a peak, avoiding the delays, bother and polluting of following the line of cars to park at the observatory. Other fun hikes include Will Rogers State Park in Pacific Palisades, Runyon Canyon in the Hollywood Hills and Fryman Canyon in Studio City. For more intriguing culinary fare, Los Angeles offers distinct ethnic food at quite low prices in less touristy areas. The Thai cuisine in East Hollywood is legendary, and competes for space only with the Middle Eastern food, centered there and in Westwood, which includes some of the best and most authentic Persian food in the world. Westwood is also home to excellent Lebanese food. Los Angeles' Mexican food does not need to be spoken for, but for family type restaurants, mainly in the tradition of the Jalisco region, try East Los Angeles proper. Less formal cuisine is available throughout the city, but for fresh, Mexico City-style cuisine, try Allegria, on Sunset Blvd. in the Silverlake region. The line is formidable, but well worth it.
The final aspect of less-seen Los Angeles is the beach. For the best beach one must venture where others are effectively dissuaded from going, the final frontier: Malibu. Though residents are hostile to tourists, California law guarantees public access to the 27 miles of beautiful coastline that are part of this wealthy and insular city. Signs saying "coastal access" highlight spots of entrance, which may look like nothing, but, after descending many stairs, you will generally come upon a beautiful and nearly abandoned beach. To find these beaches, simply drive up the coast highway past the Cross Creek mall, where you can stop for a coffee and likely see a celebrity, but persevere until it seems you must be part way to San Francisco. Until the signs say "Entering Camarillo," you are still in Malibu and near discovering some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
Flymonarch.com run cheap flights to the USA, check the website for schedules.
What Everybody Ought To Know About Finding Cheap Airfares
What Everybody Ought To Know About Finding Cheap Airfares
Finding cheap airfares in this day in age with ever increasing fuel costs is a carefully perfected art. There is no doubt that each of us know of a friend who has a knack for always getting the best deals. The trick is to find airfares that are cheap. Finding cheap airfares however is very very simple if you know where to look. Using the web is an airfare hunter's most valuable tool in addition to knowing which airlines are notorious for flying cheap.
This article will put you and your family on the way to flying inexpensively around the world with a minimal amount of research and effort. We want airfare cheap deals to jump out at us and the most valuable website that any airfare hunter uses is kayak dot com. Although the name might make you think of rafting down river rapids, I assure you that kayak will always find most of the best deals on the internet. Simply put, you search at kayak.com for the date, time and type (first class or coach) of flight that you want to take. Kayak then pools all the deal sites and also all the airline's price listings to provide relevant results. The listings are grouped by price and airline so if you have a favorite company to travel with you can easily choose that airline.
Many times my cheap airfare searches have consisted of simply going to kayak and then ordering a ticket. If you are not initially satisfied with kayak then you can save your data and kayak will perform the searches over and over for you so you can monitor the price status over the coming weeks. The bottom line is to save on airfare and usually kayak delivers.
For flights going west I have a special affinity towards Southwest Airlines. In addition to having a full refund on all of their flights in case you have to cancel they also have an excellent piece of software that alerts flyers of deals. When Southwest is offering cheap seats on select flights this piece of software, called "Ding" will pop up and make a sound to alert you of the deal. Although you generally can't use "Ding" for extensively planned trips because the deals usually happen at a spur of the moment, you can flight spontaneously for very low prices. Many times I have traveled to San Francisco for less than $150 to visit family.
Lastly, the most important point to remember when searching for cheap flights is never become impatient. Often if you wait longer than you normally would to book a flight a less expensive deal will emerge. Although searching for a cheap flight can be time consuming and sometimes uncertain, the end result of saving significant amounts of money traveling will allow you to feel good about spending money at your destination. Also, you will great bragging rights when you one-up fellow travelers.
You can read more about how to get Cheap Airline Tickets on Southwest Airlines or cheap airfares in general at http://www.southwestairline.biz
Finding cheap airfares in this day in age with ever increasing fuel costs is a carefully perfected art. There is no doubt that each of us know of a friend who has a knack for always getting the best deals. The trick is to find airfares that are cheap. Finding cheap airfares however is very very simple if you know where to look. Using the web is an airfare hunter's most valuable tool in addition to knowing which airlines are notorious for flying cheap.
This article will put you and your family on the way to flying inexpensively around the world with a minimal amount of research and effort. We want airfare cheap deals to jump out at us and the most valuable website that any airfare hunter uses is kayak dot com. Although the name might make you think of rafting down river rapids, I assure you that kayak will always find most of the best deals on the internet. Simply put, you search at kayak.com for the date, time and type (first class or coach) of flight that you want to take. Kayak then pools all the deal sites and also all the airline's price listings to provide relevant results. The listings are grouped by price and airline so if you have a favorite company to travel with you can easily choose that airline.
Many times my cheap airfare searches have consisted of simply going to kayak and then ordering a ticket. If you are not initially satisfied with kayak then you can save your data and kayak will perform the searches over and over for you so you can monitor the price status over the coming weeks. The bottom line is to save on airfare and usually kayak delivers.
For flights going west I have a special affinity towards Southwest Airlines. In addition to having a full refund on all of their flights in case you have to cancel they also have an excellent piece of software that alerts flyers of deals. When Southwest is offering cheap seats on select flights this piece of software, called "Ding" will pop up and make a sound to alert you of the deal. Although you generally can't use "Ding" for extensively planned trips because the deals usually happen at a spur of the moment, you can flight spontaneously for very low prices. Many times I have traveled to San Francisco for less than $150 to visit family.
Lastly, the most important point to remember when searching for cheap flights is never become impatient. Often if you wait longer than you normally would to book a flight a less expensive deal will emerge. Although searching for a cheap flight can be time consuming and sometimes uncertain, the end result of saving significant amounts of money traveling will allow you to feel good about spending money at your destination. Also, you will great bragging rights when you one-up fellow travelers.
You can read more about how to get Cheap Airline Tickets on Southwest Airlines or cheap airfares in general at http://www.southwestairline.biz
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Trendy Santa Monica is cool CA vacation
Trendy Santa Monica is cool CA vacation
If you're looking for cool factor on your next California getaway, it would be hard to beat Santa Monica, a playground for L.A. TV and movie people that is all neatly compressed into 8.3 miles strategically bordered by the Santa Monica Mountains on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other.
The words "trendy" and "hip" seem to pop up a lot in the descriptions of the some 400 restaurants packed into this little piece of real estate. Throw in a few art galleries, some luxury hotels and - oh yes - celebrities, and you have the makings of an eye-popping diversion from your everyday hometown.
Our recent visit to Santa Monica reminded us of why we moved to California. The weather was one of those clear-as-a-bell L.A. days that do come around more often than you might think, the haze having been efficiently removed by some winds and moisture the day before we arrived. It was reminiscent of a trip years ago we took from the soggy Pacific Northwest to Los Angeles that introduced us to what bright sunshine was all about. We couldn't wait to return and eventually relocated to Southern California to get our regular dose of California sun.
Such weather shows off Santa Monica as it was meant to be. The views from Palisades Park are breathtaking and take in not only the expansive beaches but such distant features as Malibu on the north and even Catalina Island to the southwest. It's no wonder that half of L.A. seems to be down here jogging or walking. Wide, tree-lined and well-landscaped Ocean Avenue stretches along the coastline offering about as pretty a downtown street as you'll see considering this is all modern office buildings and not historic mansions.
The Santa Monica Pier is the dominant feature on the water's edge - and also over the water -- and is a favorite for families. We lingered with our five-year-old in Kids Cove, the part of the pier's Pacific Park that has kiddie amusement rides and, when all was said and done, our daughter declared her time on the pier "the best day ever!"
But the Santa Monica Pier can also be very adult. During our visit a local anti-war organization had put up more than 2,000 white crosses on the beach to help people visualize the number of casualties from the war in Iraq. While most crosses didn't have names, many of them did and it was obvious that grieving families had brought flowers and photos to create makeshift memorials on the beach.
Just up from the pier are blocks and blocks of shopping in the popular Downtown Third Street Promenade, an area where city fathers have taken a street and turned it into a pedestrian mall. There are fascinating shops and an unusual number of movie theaters along this walkway that seems to attract people from all walks of life - young and old, wealthy on down to the homeless. On weekends there is always an assortment of street musicians and entertainers willing to do just about anything to get a tip and a warm round of applause.
Many of the city's restaurants are located in Third Street downtown area, although many others are spread about in various parts of the city. Our dinner choice, Thai Dishes, actually is about 20 blocks off the beach in the mid-city area and turned out to be a surprisingly affordable spot to enjoy a wide selection of expertly prepared Thai entrees. It's not formal, but it's good.
If you're looking for trendy - oh, there's that word again - the place in Santa Monica to look is Montana Avenue. There is a 10-block section of this street that has become the center of the universe for celebrity-watchers because this is where we are told the famous like to come out and be semi-real people. The businesses along here are kind of an eclectic collection of specialty stores and quiet little sidewalk cafes and more nail salons per square mile than anyplace west of New York City.
It's impossible to walk up and down Montana without wondering if that young 30-something "dressed down" with jeans and a pullover sweatshirt is really some starlet taking a break in between movie shoots. Writer Irene Ricasio listed several local celebrity haunts in a recent article for the New York Post. "If it takes you more than 24 hours to see a star in Santa Monica" says the article, "you're not looking." The closest we came was seeing an obvious paparazzi stalking Montana with his camera and two-foot-long telephoto lens. No doubt someone had tipped him about a "sighting."
The cool factor also comes from Santa Monica's art world where the rich and famous buy while average working stiffs look and wish they could buy. According to the Santa Monica Visitors Bureau, the area is "exploding" with avant-garde galleries, museums and public art. In fact, the city averages more than 10 galleries per square mile and has a total of 38 public works of art.
The words "trendy" and "hip" can also be used to describe many of the lodgings in Santa Monica - especially the small out-of-the-way boutique hotel where we stayed most recently. The newest hotel in Santa Monica, the Ambrose is just 77 rooms and is located about a mile and a half from the beach in a quiet residential area of Santa Monica. The hotel is the brainchild of Deirdre Wallace, a 31-year-old who designed a hotel like she would have wanted during the years she was traveling and working in the film industry. The result is an impeccably decorated, thoroughly updated hotel that pays special attention to detail.
For example, the continental breakfast - included with your room - is catered by Rockenwagner, one of the local celebrity chef eateries. The rooms are done in dark brown and soft gray-green tones and furnished with stylish cabinetry, tables and chairs. The beds have just enough firmness and are decorated with Custom created Matteo Italian bed linens and duvets. Feng shui has been incorporated into each room's design which, in our case, included a spacious lanai with a scenic fourth-floor view of Santa Monica and the ocean.
The Ambrose could just as well be a health retreat. While the honor bar in most hotels is loaded up with candy and chips, the Ambrose offers unique blends of fruits and nuts, vegetable chips and yogurt pretzels. Instead of soda water, it's vitamin water. Another product on hand in your room is the Organic Honey Sugar Glow for your skin, or perhaps you'll want to try the Power Plant Elixer Tonic.
There is also a gym on property that includes a Stairmaster, elliptical machines, pilates mats, balance balls, a ballet bar and a fitness library. If you want to read about something other than fitness, the Ambrose also has a cozy fireplace library with a variety of reading material.
The Ambrose is just the right choice for "trendy" Santa Monica - an experience far and apart from the everyday life most of us lead and a great topic of conversation Monday morning when you're back in the office.
AT A GLANCE
WHERE: Santa Monica is just west of Los Angeles and on the coast south of Malibu. It's easy to reach by taking Interstate 405 or Interestate 5 to Interstate 10 and driving west.
WHAT: Santa Monica's spectacular setting on the ocean has made it one of the most popular beach getaways for people from the Los Angeles area and well beyond. A combination of trendy shops, galleries and restaurants make this a favorite for the famous as well as everyday people. Interestingly, the beach city of Santa Monica actually is close to the mountains as well. The Santa Monica Mountains are just a few-minute drive from the glamour and glitz of the city and offer a wide selection of trails and nature hikes in the 150,000-acre Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
WHEN: The weather in Santa Monica is sunny most of the year - about 343 annual days of sunshine to be exact - so there's no bad time to visit.
WHY: The scenery's great, but there's also an electricity that comes with a getaway so close to celebrities and the entertainment business.
HOW: For more information on Santa Monica, phone the Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-544-5319 or visit www.santamonica.com. For more information on the Ambrose Hotel, phone 877-AMBROSE or visit www.ambrosehotel.com.
Cary Ordway is president of Getaway Media Corp, publisher of websites focusing on Northwest travel and California travel.
If you're looking for cool factor on your next California getaway, it would be hard to beat Santa Monica, a playground for L.A. TV and movie people that is all neatly compressed into 8.3 miles strategically bordered by the Santa Monica Mountains on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other.
The words "trendy" and "hip" seem to pop up a lot in the descriptions of the some 400 restaurants packed into this little piece of real estate. Throw in a few art galleries, some luxury hotels and - oh yes - celebrities, and you have the makings of an eye-popping diversion from your everyday hometown.
Our recent visit to Santa Monica reminded us of why we moved to California. The weather was one of those clear-as-a-bell L.A. days that do come around more often than you might think, the haze having been efficiently removed by some winds and moisture the day before we arrived. It was reminiscent of a trip years ago we took from the soggy Pacific Northwest to Los Angeles that introduced us to what bright sunshine was all about. We couldn't wait to return and eventually relocated to Southern California to get our regular dose of California sun.
Such weather shows off Santa Monica as it was meant to be. The views from Palisades Park are breathtaking and take in not only the expansive beaches but such distant features as Malibu on the north and even Catalina Island to the southwest. It's no wonder that half of L.A. seems to be down here jogging or walking. Wide, tree-lined and well-landscaped Ocean Avenue stretches along the coastline offering about as pretty a downtown street as you'll see considering this is all modern office buildings and not historic mansions.
The Santa Monica Pier is the dominant feature on the water's edge - and also over the water -- and is a favorite for families. We lingered with our five-year-old in Kids Cove, the part of the pier's Pacific Park that has kiddie amusement rides and, when all was said and done, our daughter declared her time on the pier "the best day ever!"
But the Santa Monica Pier can also be very adult. During our visit a local anti-war organization had put up more than 2,000 white crosses on the beach to help people visualize the number of casualties from the war in Iraq. While most crosses didn't have names, many of them did and it was obvious that grieving families had brought flowers and photos to create makeshift memorials on the beach.
Just up from the pier are blocks and blocks of shopping in the popular Downtown Third Street Promenade, an area where city fathers have taken a street and turned it into a pedestrian mall. There are fascinating shops and an unusual number of movie theaters along this walkway that seems to attract people from all walks of life - young and old, wealthy on down to the homeless. On weekends there is always an assortment of street musicians and entertainers willing to do just about anything to get a tip and a warm round of applause.
Many of the city's restaurants are located in Third Street downtown area, although many others are spread about in various parts of the city. Our dinner choice, Thai Dishes, actually is about 20 blocks off the beach in the mid-city area and turned out to be a surprisingly affordable spot to enjoy a wide selection of expertly prepared Thai entrees. It's not formal, but it's good.
If you're looking for trendy - oh, there's that word again - the place in Santa Monica to look is Montana Avenue. There is a 10-block section of this street that has become the center of the universe for celebrity-watchers because this is where we are told the famous like to come out and be semi-real people. The businesses along here are kind of an eclectic collection of specialty stores and quiet little sidewalk cafes and more nail salons per square mile than anyplace west of New York City.
It's impossible to walk up and down Montana without wondering if that young 30-something "dressed down" with jeans and a pullover sweatshirt is really some starlet taking a break in between movie shoots. Writer Irene Ricasio listed several local celebrity haunts in a recent article for the New York Post. "If it takes you more than 24 hours to see a star in Santa Monica" says the article, "you're not looking." The closest we came was seeing an obvious paparazzi stalking Montana with his camera and two-foot-long telephoto lens. No doubt someone had tipped him about a "sighting."
The cool factor also comes from Santa Monica's art world where the rich and famous buy while average working stiffs look and wish they could buy. According to the Santa Monica Visitors Bureau, the area is "exploding" with avant-garde galleries, museums and public art. In fact, the city averages more than 10 galleries per square mile and has a total of 38 public works of art.
The words "trendy" and "hip" can also be used to describe many of the lodgings in Santa Monica - especially the small out-of-the-way boutique hotel where we stayed most recently. The newest hotel in Santa Monica, the Ambrose is just 77 rooms and is located about a mile and a half from the beach in a quiet residential area of Santa Monica. The hotel is the brainchild of Deirdre Wallace, a 31-year-old who designed a hotel like she would have wanted during the years she was traveling and working in the film industry. The result is an impeccably decorated, thoroughly updated hotel that pays special attention to detail.
For example, the continental breakfast - included with your room - is catered by Rockenwagner, one of the local celebrity chef eateries. The rooms are done in dark brown and soft gray-green tones and furnished with stylish cabinetry, tables and chairs. The beds have just enough firmness and are decorated with Custom created Matteo Italian bed linens and duvets. Feng shui has been incorporated into each room's design which, in our case, included a spacious lanai with a scenic fourth-floor view of Santa Monica and the ocean.
The Ambrose could just as well be a health retreat. While the honor bar in most hotels is loaded up with candy and chips, the Ambrose offers unique blends of fruits and nuts, vegetable chips and yogurt pretzels. Instead of soda water, it's vitamin water. Another product on hand in your room is the Organic Honey Sugar Glow for your skin, or perhaps you'll want to try the Power Plant Elixer Tonic.
There is also a gym on property that includes a Stairmaster, elliptical machines, pilates mats, balance balls, a ballet bar and a fitness library. If you want to read about something other than fitness, the Ambrose also has a cozy fireplace library with a variety of reading material.
The Ambrose is just the right choice for "trendy" Santa Monica - an experience far and apart from the everyday life most of us lead and a great topic of conversation Monday morning when you're back in the office.
AT A GLANCE
WHERE: Santa Monica is just west of Los Angeles and on the coast south of Malibu. It's easy to reach by taking Interstate 405 or Interestate 5 to Interstate 10 and driving west.
WHAT: Santa Monica's spectacular setting on the ocean has made it one of the most popular beach getaways for people from the Los Angeles area and well beyond. A combination of trendy shops, galleries and restaurants make this a favorite for the famous as well as everyday people. Interestingly, the beach city of Santa Monica actually is close to the mountains as well. The Santa Monica Mountains are just a few-minute drive from the glamour and glitz of the city and offer a wide selection of trails and nature hikes in the 150,000-acre Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
WHEN: The weather in Santa Monica is sunny most of the year - about 343 annual days of sunshine to be exact - so there's no bad time to visit.
WHY: The scenery's great, but there's also an electricity that comes with a getaway so close to celebrities and the entertainment business.
HOW: For more information on Santa Monica, phone the Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-544-5319 or visit www.santamonica.com. For more information on the Ambrose Hotel, phone 877-AMBROSE or visit www.ambrosehotel.com.
Cary Ordway is president of Getaway Media Corp, publisher of websites focusing on Northwest travel and California travel.
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