On Weekends

Iceland is a country roughly the size of Kentucky but with a lot fewer people.  It is located a little below the Arctic Circle roughly between Greenland and the United Kingdom and about a 5-hour flight from the East coast of the US.  It has a population of just over three hundred thousand people which means that the population density is very low.

Population numbers and geography aside, Iceland is an amazing country for many reasons though, I don’t think that it’s a country that is top of mind when it comes to vacation planning.  Maybe that’s what I liked about it.  I live in a very crowded, southern California city where traffic is always a problem and getting away from the crush of humanity, ironically, requires a lot of driving.

As many of you already know, many of the world’s top tourist locations are being loved to death by the millions of visitors who come every year to see the sites, walk up the same staircase in an old church, or get a photo holding up the Leaning tower of Pisa.  If you go to Paris or Rome, or some of the other top European destinations, you wait in lines, you sit in traffic; hell, if I wanted that I could just stay in California.  I am not saying that visiting these famous cities is not worth it.  I am saying that it is getting harder and harder to enjoy these cities and landmarks because everyone is visiting these cities and landmarks.

Of course, everyone’s idea of fun is different.  But, for me going to a place where I could almost literally leave civilization behind sounded pretty good.  I have read about Iceland and was taken by the exotic and unspoiled nature scenes.  I wanted to be there, in those pictures, camping, hiking, exploring glaciers and high mountain meadows.  Sound like a set up for disappointment?  Turns out it wasn’t.

Certainly there is always a difference between your imagination (perception) and reality.  But I have to say that my experiences weren’t that far off from my perceptions.  I traveled there in the late summer when the temperatures are decent (mid 50s to low 60s F) and the days are long – real long.  I did all the usual tourist stuff while I was in Reykjavik and then I booked a 5 day backpacking and trekking tour into the highlands of Iceland, from Thorsmork to Landmannalaugur.  Each day we hiked for 5-7 hours stopping along the way to learn about the history and geography of the various locations, at nigh we slept in tents, ate good food, and played music or just talked about our days till sleep overcame us.

When I got back to Reykjavik, I booked a jeep tour that took us right up onto a glacier, called Langjokul (the long glacier).  This too was a real experience.  Once we got to the top of the glacier, we all got out of the jeep to look around and experience the surroundings.  The two things that stuck with me about this were the silence and the amazing view from atop this glacier.  I could see so far that I think I was seeing the curvature of the earth. Read the rest of this entry »

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Manchester has a population of 452 000 and has been a city since 1853. in a 2006 poll of british business leaders, the city was found to be the finest place in britain to establish a business. in addition to this, Manchester hosted the 2002 commonwealth games, and has several other connections to sport, which include the city being home to man u.

Manchester gained attention in the 19th century, when it was at the heart of the industrial revolution. The city was perfect for the textile trade as it was humid, as well as a capable supply of soft water. The city’s rivers also generated water power that ran the machinery in the mills. the ready supply of coal and the transport system of roads & railways also helped it to become an industrial centre. because of this, countless mills started springing up throughout the city.

Manchester’s mills still exist today, although a number of them have been changed into flats & offices. thank you to the 1996 ira bomb that destroyed a lotof the city centre, Manchester also boasts plenty modern structures, too.

There are loads of stuff to do in Manchester. From gorgeous green spaces to insightful museums, you can’t be bored in this city.

One of the best museums in manchester is URBIS, which is the museum of urban life. The museum has countless permanent collections, in addition to frequent touring exhibits. recent exhibitions have been on gardening and the fashion designer matthew williamson.

Manchester is a famous location for shopping lovers, because it has a wide range of shops to suit any budget. From designer outlets for instance harvey nicks & dkny, to high-street outlets for instance new look, you will find everything you need in this city.

For more outlets, you will be pleased to know that the huge trafford centre is just a short bus ride or drive away. This huge mall has 280 outlets & is one of the biggest shopping centres in the uk.

Manchester boasts famed history, so it’s a famed location to visit for a night out. From famed restaurants to trendy wine bars and cool clubs, there is something for everyone in this city.

You could begin your night with a pint of cider in one of the city’s quirky pubs. alternatively, you can enjoy a glass of red wine or a delicious cocktail in one of Manchester’s more stylish wine bars. afterwards, you could go on to another bar or even to a night club, where you will be able to dance away the evening. it goes without saying that Manchester boasts a wide variety of night clubs, so you’re sure to find one that plays the songs you like.

Manchester boasts branches of much major hotel chains, so you’ll find some wonderful places to stay. you will be able to choose from the likes of the Hilton, the ramada & the Radisson, so you are guaranteed to have a great stay in the city.

On the other hand, the city also has many b & bs & backpacker hostels, which are well suited to budget travellers.

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Unfortunately, when people visit the US, they always go to the most cliche places like New York or Los Angeles. It’s a real shame because many of you are not aware not of the Wild Adventures available across the States but also plenty of other great places you can visit. My favorite destination remains Atlanta. Atlanta has more attractions and unforgettable places than you can imagine yourself. While I visited a few other places in Georgia, nothing can be compared to Atlanta at night, especially if you look from a high view point of any of the buildings. It does not matter if you live in the States or if you are a tourist coming from abroad and looking for an interactive destination to see in the Georgia state, you can simply book Atlanta tours online and pamper yourself and your family with a beautiful vacation.

Be sure to visit the midtown of Atlanta, this is a fantastic place to spend time at, which is exactly what I did when I was there last time and still didn’t know the city well nor could orientate in the streets structure. You will see the tallest building the WORLD - Bank of America Plaza, this building is over 1000m tall and you can stand right near it, taking photos of the world’s highest built house.You sure will enjoy yourself and have plenty to see in Atlanta. Remember, even the legendary Scarlet from “Gone with the Wind” been there!

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Now that it’s summer time and many of you think about going on an affordable yet unforgettable vacation, I thought I will make a post about Hotels in Calgary. The reason why I brought Calgary, is because you can book very cheap accommodation there and enjoy spectacular vacation in one of the most visited places. Visit the site above to check which hotels you can chose from and book directly online, no need to make calls, send faxes, let alone drive to the travel agency. Sit back and compare various options, choose the one that suits you best and… it’s yours! Even if you live in Canada, you might enjoy traveling to Calgary, which is famous for its recreation and sport facilities. Have a look and pamper yourself with affordable weekend in a fancy hotel in one of Canadian’s pearls!

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Yorkshire is a historic county in the north of the uk & its the biggest county in the uk. in actual fact, the massive county covered around 6,000 sq. miles in 1831 & these days, it has got a population of about 5 million.

Yorkshire is widely known as the greenest place in the uk thanks to the friendly amount rural countryside in the Yorkshire Dales & the North Yorkshire Moors. These gorgeous places have led to Yorkshire being given the nickname God’s Own County.

Yorkshire is a extremely historical county, especially in york, it’s county town. Indeed, York is a beautiful roman city, but its also has some wonderful viking historical, which can still be seen in the city today. During the first millennium, the rest of the county of Yorkshire was also occupied by vikings & romans.

Later on, Yorkshire became renowned for its traditional coal, wool, steel & shipping industries, especially throughout the industrial revolution. There’s lots of stuff to do in Yorkshire, including a handful of great museums & art galleries. One of the finest art galleries is the ruskin gallery in sheffield, which houses a great collection of drawings, medieval manuscripts & books that belonged to john ruskin.

Whether you’d rather have enormous brand stores or kooky independent shops, Yorkshire boasts a handful of great shops.  If you like designer brands, you should head to leeds. often named the ‘knightsbridge of the north’, it boasts a harvey nicholls, as well as branches of louis vuitton and other designer stores. However, Leeds also offers a number of high-street stores, including new look and Top Shop, which means that it suits any budget.

Yorkshire is such a big location that it boasts everything you need for any kind of night out. The smaller towns have some fabulous inns, although party animals should visit the cities including Leeds, York and Sheffield for excellent clubs and vip bars.

Sheffield and leeds have some fabulous night clubs, so you will be able to spend a fabulous night there. in addition to this, these cities also have a handful of fabulous live music venues, so you can go to see a touring act or even a local band.

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With tropical islands all over the world, you have a great choice when it comes to choosing an island as your vacation destination. How does spending a week on a private exclusive island in the Caribbean sound? Nekker Island is such a place that you can rent daily or weekly when the owner is not using it. However, you should be prepared to pay a steep price for this exclusivity.

However when most people go to the Caribbean they choose one of the islands where there are resorts offering all kinds of packages and sightseeing tours. There are many different cruise lines that stop in at various ports in the Caribbean Islands so that you can get to experience the beauty of several of them in one vacation.

Spend some time on Wilson Island, which is part of the Great Barrier Reef. In a vacation package that is not really all that expensive, you an enjoy staying in a tent and the views of the reef and the ocean. Some resorts, like this one, are for adults only, while others have many activities for families with children. The Hawaiian Islands are another popular tropical destination with resorts right on the sandy beaches. Of course, there are secluded locations as well that are just perfect for a honeymoon or a romantic getaway. Read the rest of this entry »

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The oldest city of Ireland, Waterford, has change for good as it maintained the small-town Irish feeling in every traveler. Waterford overwhelm tourist of its relaxing vibe compared to other bigger busy cities of Ireland but the old city have a lot of pubs too.

Located in the River Suir or south east of Ireland, Waterford was formerly known before as “the most important European ports”.

With known medieval history, the city became mature on its own and retained its scenic value to the tourist who continued to travel and explore the treasure hidden in the old city.

In Waterford and other parts of Ireland, their season is mostly rainy and windy. However, do not think that it wouldn’t be a good place to discover because despite it’s whether, the scenery remained on its top shape. Remember to bring your umbrella with you because it will be a wet adventure for you.

If you have plans to use a car rental Ireland or your own vehicle in going to Waterford, it is important for you to know the information about its destination. Actually, Waterford can be reached from any point in Ireland. The old city is residing 65km west of Wexboard or 126km east of Cork. It can also be 53km west of Rosslare Harbour or 153km south east of the busy Shannon airport.

However, the easiest would be to travel by air which most tourist do. The airport in Waterford is 6km south of the old city. The airport can be reached by specific areas in United kingdom, Europe when its summer, and other international airports in Ireland.

As you arrive, if you haven’t booked any car hire Waterford airport yet, you can contact them from your hotel.

When you cannot book any flight straight to Waterford airport, you can use Dublin and Cork’s airports.

Unlike other county and cities, you can use a boat to get in Waterford. The nearest stations of boats for Waterford are Rosslare then ride a bus to head straight to the old city.
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Who would not want to spend money on a high quality vacation rentals in Rome? This is the ultimate destination for for any traveler who wants to spend unforgettable time away from home yet enjoy normal life standards without searching for a place to sleep at or suffer in bad conditions instead of concentrating on your new experiences.

Now, where to get a good vacation rental? Vacationrentalrome.Com is the source to find vacation rentals in Rome, Italy. You can search for apartments, bed and breakfast arrangements and hotel rooms or huge villas rentals if you are going with family or a wild company of friends.. So, are you coming to Rome? I am dreaming about it!

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America’s second oldest national park, the Sequoia National Park is a unique and unspoiled ecosystem having some of the most amazing views in the world. Towering sequoia trees, lofty mountain peaks, magnificent meadows and tumbling water falls make this park one of nature’s most brilliant artworks.

The Sequoia is California’s first national park and receives more than a million visitors every year. It is most famous for its namesake, the giant redwood sequoias that grow thick and huge. These awe-inspiring trees are over 30 feet wide, 310 feet tall and may live for almost 3,000 years. With their near impossible breadth, going around one of them can literally take your breath away!

However, in spite of its name, sequoia groves in the Sequoia National Park are limited to small pockets. The rest of the area is covered by huge mountains, canyons, lakes and waterfalls.

The Sequoia offers a number of year-round fun activities for visitors and is seldom overcrowded. The park is famous for its hiking trails and picnic spots. The best time to enjoy sensational hiking is during the summer and spring.

You can’t make a visit to the Sequoia and miss out on Mount Whitney, can you? Agreed, the trail is overcrowded and you’re going to brush shoulders with more people than you like. But an alternative does exist, provided you have the time. The High Sierra Trail which starts at the Crescent Meadow and ends in the John Muir Trail is lengthier by 62 miles. You may take between 8 and 10 days to cover the trail, but if you want to avoid the press of humanity, this is your best bet. At an elevation of approximately 7,800 ft, the subalpine valley of the Mineral King is another rare treat for hikers.

Some of the other adventure activities you can enjoy here are cave tours, fishing and horseback riding.

If your idea of fun in the great parks is wildlife gazing, the Sequoia won’t disappoint. Keep your eyes peeled for mountain lions, marmots, bears, coyotes, raccoons, bobcats and ringtails. In the Rae Lakes area, you can sight bighorn sheep. Rattlesnakes are also abundant in the hills nearby; though this is one species you don’t want to run into. Read the rest of this entry »

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Playa del Carmen is a peaceful city found right on the edge of the Caribbean Sea. There are several hotels there that are meant to help the guests enjoy their time in the sand and the surf.

On the border of the Caribbean Sea is a city called Playa del Carmen. Found at the north east side of Mexico, part of the state of Quintana Roo, the city is a haven of clean water, fine sand and picturesque shores. It has become known as a small and quaint city where travelers can frolic in the sea. Because of this, there are a number of hotels in the city for travelers who want to remain close to the sea.

Less than two miles from Playa del Carmen, the Iberostar Quetzal hotel stands on the fine sand of Playacar. Travelers coming in from a flight will take 50 minutes to get to the hotel from the International Airport of Cancun. The 700 rooms and suites of the Iberostar are split evenly between the Hotel Iberostar Tucan and the Hotel Iberostar Quetzal. The hotel is designed to merge with the lush surroundings of verdant green trees and the blue of the sky and ocean.

The grounds of the Iberostar Quetzal are filled with amenities and facilities that were designed to keep tourists busy and happy. The hotel is surrounded with lush gardens filled with tropical foliage. A lobby with a bar dominates the reception area, while a lounge bar, main restaurant and specialty restaurants are also found in the vicinity. Within the pool area, there is a separate kiddie pool, a pool for adults with a swim-up bar, a lagoon and an activities pool. Lounge chairs, beach towels and umbrellas surround the pool area. The hotel also features a nightclub and entertainment center, various shops and a beach club with a restaurant. Guests can also avail of Internet access and room service from 11am to 11pm.

Guests can engage in several sporting activities within the Iberostar Quetzal like billiards, aerobics, catamaran-sailing, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, windsurfing and group exercise classes. They can also use the steam bath and Jacuzzi that are adjacent to the fitness room. Trained instructors also offer scuba tutorials.

Seven minutes from downtown Playa del Carmen, one can find the all-inclusive resort called The Royal Hideaway Playacar. Situated right in the heart of Playacar, and about 45 minutes from the Cancun International Airport, the hotel has a prime spot due to it proximity to Quinta Avenida, or Fifth Avenue, the hub of Playa del Carmen’s social life.

Built in 1998, the hotel has 200 rooms and suites and 3 floors. The Royal Hideaway Playacar offers free wireless Internet connection, 24 hour room service and nightly entertainment. Guests who want to play water sports will surely love the resorts various options like kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, water polo, snorkeling, boogie board and aqua aerobics. There are also facilities that can accommodate other sports, the compound is equipped with a tennis court a basketball court and a fitness center. Board games, card games, beach soccer and bicycling are also allowed and encouraged within the premises.

The Royal Hideaway Playacar offers and all-inclusive program that includes all the major amenities offered by the hotel such as champagne, all meals and snacks, tennis lessons, daily activities programs by the beach, unlimited natural juices, soft drinks and premium alcoholic beverages and three swimming pools and three relaxation pools.

Other hotels found on the beach of Playa del Carmen are the All Riviera Resort, Costa del Mar, Grand Coco Bay All Inclusive Resort, Occidental allegro Playacar, Playa Palms, Riu Palace Mexico, Viva Wyndham Maya and the Blue Parrot Suites.

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