Holiday weekend is looking great for lake getaways
It’s a rare Fourth of July weekend with this kind of symmetry: Full lakes, hot weather and three days off – and space available at the major recreation lakes in Northern California. Usually one of these is fouled up….
Read more on San Francisco Chronicle

More Northern California hotels earning LEED certification
Does anybody really know how green their hotel is? Does anybody really care?
Read more on The Sacramento Bee

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Medford Oregon – A Great Place for Entertainment in the Rogue River Valley

Medford Oregon is well known as being the professional, retail and touring center of southern Oregon and northern California. The many cultural, business and recreational opportunities make it one of the most popular places for visitors in the Northwest. In addition to its natural scenery and diverse landscape, there is a myriad of entertaining activities available.

Located in the heart of the Rogue River Valley, Medford has all the conveniences of any large metropolitan area in a setting that also allows access to vast natural landscapes. The wide diversity makes it a memorable destination for anyone who enjoys a blend of urban and outdoor activities.

Of course, the main attractions lie among the vast forests, mountain wilderness and natural beauty of this spectacular region. People flock from all around the world to take advantage of the parks, campgrounds and nature trails. Biking, hiking, hunting and fishing facilities are available in great abundance throughout the region.

The crowning glory of the landscape is the Rogue River. As the river winds gracefully through the valley, it is surrounded by some of the most magnificent and diverse terrain in the world. Known for its salmon runs, whitewater rafting, and rugged scenery, it was one of the original eight rivers named in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968.

There are spots where the waters are calm for boating and fishing enthusiasts. Canoes and kayaks are welcome and the river provides miles of pleasurable, leisurely paddling. Trout are plentiful and fishing is a major pastime for anglers who venture to the more secluded spots along the river.

For those who are a bit more adventurous, white water rapids here are a big attraction along the more rugged portions of the waterway. White water rafting tours are available most of the year, with equipment and experienced guides for a safe and fun experience. These trip packages range from a few hour day trip to four day adventures.

Northeast of Medford you can find the deepest lake in the United States, which is also the ninth deepest in the world, at the Crater Lake National Park. Most any outdoor activity imaginable is offered here. Backpacking, rock climbing and hiking draw many people, with plenty of room for everyone to enjoy the wide open spaces.

Crater Lake became a national park in 1902 and has all the modern amenities you might expect, while maintaining its pristine beauty. Accommodations are easy to reserve with a number of options to suit most any traveler. Hotels, motels and lodges can be found near the park, with camping available inside the park itself.

Just down the road from Medford, you’ll find the historic town of Jacksonville. Located in Jacksonville is the world famous, non-profit organization called the Britt Festivals. This is a premiere summer performing arts festival presenting lively summer concerts. It features many musical genres including blues, folk and pop, among others, in a naturally formed outdoor amphitheater.

Fine courses cater to golfers and networks of trails fulfill the needs of horseback riders. Music, shopping and a variety of entertainment are always readily accessible. Whatever your tastes, Medford Oregon has something around every corner.

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Great Reasons to Choose to Go to School on the West Coast

Lots of East Coasters go west for college, but they head back home once they have graduated. There is an excellent chance, however, if you get your university degree in California, Oregon or Washington, you will fall in love with the West Coast lifestyle and will want to stay there forever. Even if you have firm plans to go back east to start your career, be aware that you might meet your life partner while in school, and if they want to stay on the West Coast, you’ll end up staying too.

Lots of Schools

All along the Pacific seaboard you’ll find lots of state schools and private schools that offer medical assisting education. The state universities can be expensive for out-of-staters, so it’s a good idea to investigate how to establish residency in the state to cut your tuition costs.

Even if your ideal school is right on the beach, I would suggest also looking at schools an hour’s drive from the beach. You can always drive over to go surfing on the weekends. The upside is not having to live in a place where housing and other services are expensive because of their proximity to popular vacation areas. By choosing a college campus in a town that is not a major tourist destination you will cut your housing costs. You also will have better opportunities for quality part-time job opportunities that are not tied to the tourism business.

The Different Areas of California

Most Californians identify themselves as being Northern or Southern Californians. If you don’t mind traffic and smog and want surfworthy beaches pretty much all year around, look at schools in LA or San Diego. If you crave beaches but also want to hike in forests, go north to Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Sonoma or Humboldt. If you want the best of both the SoCal and NorCal worlds, look into schools around Santa Barbara or San Luis Obispo or a Fresno school.

Outside of Portland and Eugene, much of the state of Oregon is rural and has a more relaxed pace. Oregon is a good choice for people who are nature lovers and who don’t need all the bells and whistles that busy metropolitan areas offer. In Washington, there are a huge cluster of excellent schools around Seattle and if you can stand the winter damp, you might find it’s the best place for you.

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Mammoth Mountain A Great Ski Resort with Reasonable Lodging Options

Mammoth Mountain has been running since the 1930s. It is widely known to Californians to have some of the best snow in the Sierras each year. The first ski lifts were mere rope tows that could only bring one skier at a time up the mountain. From one lift in the 30s Mammoth Ski Resort has grown to over 30 high speed lifts with hundreds of runs. The resort each year caters to thousands of skiers wanting to play on this winter wonderland.

Mammoth Mountain is more popular with southern California skiers despite Mammoth being closer to northern California. The ski resort is located in the Inyo National Forest and sits upon a mountain that is in the 11,000 foot range. It reigns as one of the highest ski resort in California and is within a 30 minute drive to the eastern gate of Yosemite. Southern California lies 6 hours to the south. People from Los Angeles have to drive through the upper Mohave and Highway 395 through Bishop, California to get to Mammoth.

Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort opens in November for business and in good years stays open way past June because of the amount of snow it gets. On good years the resort gets over 300 inches of snow a year. When other resorts are skiing on man-made snow and hard pack ice flows, Mammoth usually has good powder skiing.

Mammoth Condos has many options to choose from that range from posh resort accommodations that pamper guests like 5 star hotels to simple privately owned vacation rentals. The great amount of variety insures that the thousands of skiers have a place to stay each winter. Most people wanting a good middle option opt for the reasonable Mammoth Condos.

Mammoth Condos can accommodate large groups and families. They are privately owned condos near the resort that can be rented by agents and there are condos owned right in the Mammoth Resort. Privately owned condos are well kept and are within 5 minutes of the ski lifts. Resort owned condos have hotel amenities and are within the resort. Either way you win.

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Porch Swings By Great American Woodies

Great American Woodies, a subdivision of Richey Industries, has been making porch swings for 20 years. They pride themselves in making some of the finest, outdoor casual furniture on the market today. Their porch swings, and other outdoor furniture, is represented by five distinct style collections. Lets take a look at these five lines of outdoor furniture and what sets them apart from the others.

Southern Cypress is one of the first lines of outdoor furniture that Great American Woodies started manufacturing. Cypress was originally chosen because it has a natural compound that helps stop decaying caused from the natural environment. The wood is quality crafted and kiln dried, making it extremely durable and rugged. Great American Woodies has a very broad collection. In just the porch swings they offer a variety of styles: horizontal planks, vertical planks, Adirondack, Savannah and Mission style, hanging porch swings and regular benches and free standing swinging benches.

Western Red Cedar was the other original line of porch swings. It is also kiln dried using a select grade of cedar. Each piece is dipped in an oil stain that gives it lasting beauty and durability. This stain gives the cedar a warmth and beauty that anyone is sure to love. I can easily picture any of the pieces from this collection in a wooded surrounding, whether it be a cabin or a lodge

Cottage Classics came along later, and with its classic colors and a natural distressed look. This line has a classic, hand finished cottage look. It is made of kiln dried cypress in which the wood is colored with stain, not painted. SInce the color is stain, the wood fibers actually absorb the color so it cannot peal like a paint. The stain colors available include white, sage, Newport blue, barn red, black and a creamy yellow. This line would be perfect in a small, English country cottage with your swing nestled among the flowers.

The Nantucket Collection brought rich and vibrant colors to Great American Woodies porch swings. It is made from the hardwood, alder, which is also a very durable wood. Each piece is finished in a multi-coat, high gloss, water based enamel. The Nantucket line comes in beautiful and bold decorator colors, such as earthbound green, surf white, barn red, black, Newport blue, sage and creamy yellow. Though designed for the outdoors, the Nantucket line is designed for covered areas only.

The Lifestyle collection was just recently introduced in 2007. Richey Industries brought their design experience to manufacturing poly-resin porch swings and other outdoor furniture pieces. The poly resin they use is High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) which lasts a really long time. This furniture is designed for comfort and comes in four popular colors: white, green, sand and black. This is a great alternative to wood, but still looks great. And Richey Industries offers one of the largest selections, both in depth and breadth, of poly-resin outdoor furniture on the market today.

The hardware used, in all five collections, is marine stainless hardware and fasteners which is designed to withstand adverse weather without rusting. Besides swings, Great American Woodies also offers a wide range of other outdoor furniture, including tables, chairs and loungers in different sizes and styles. Regardless of what collection catches your attention, any of these styles of porch swings will enhance your outdoor living space.

Trinidad
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6 Great San Diego Beaches

There are hundreds of miles of beach along the California coast, and some of the best beaches for surfing, swimming, sunbathing, family outings, and beauty are located in San Diego County. If you are new to the area, or merely visiting, here is a guide to some of the best beaches in the area.

Blacks Beach is known for it’s great surf break, and is often considered the best surf in the country. Located in the northern part of La Jolla, this short strip of land is a favorite among locals, and traveling surfers. Access isn’t easy though, which deters many tourists. A cliff separates the street from the shore, and makes for difficult traversing with typical beach-gear such as chairs and coolers. Additionally, if you head north too far, you will be greeted by nude-beachgoers, so be aware when traveling with children!

For college-aged kids, teens, and families, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, and Ocean Beach are very similar. These three areas have flatter, longer, beaches, and less surf breaks than the rest of the county. Without the reefs and rocks to catch the seaweed, much of it washes up on the shore, so you have to set up camp a little further back from the water. Each of these beaches has a typical touristy feel, and Mission Beach even has a Ferris Wheel with a few other park attractions. For directions and surf information, visit the city’s lifeguard services’ site.

If you are just looking for a day out with the family, you might want to check out Mission Bay. This beach area also has parks and playgrounds for children, picnic tables and barbeque pits for a Sunday afternoon get-together. There aren’t as many sand areas here as other beaches, but you can cross a short land bridge onto Fiesta Island for some relaxing fishing.

Another great beach for families is on Coronado Island. By crossing an amazing bridge, and passing through the small town of Coronado you will find b Municipal Beach. It is just 5-10 miles above the border to Mexico, and you can even see the Tijuana skyline from the shore. The famous and luxurious Hotel del Coronado resort abuts the sand, and is filled with shops and restaurants to keep the family entertained.

If you are staying at a vacation rental in California, make you visit a few of these great San Diego’s beaches!

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Great Winter Buys in Foreclosure Listings

Foreclosure listings expanding at record rates are becoming the real estate buyer’s winter landscape. As we enjoy the last days of the beauty of fall, the housing market is already in the doldrums. Even in much in demand real estate markets such as Silicon Valley, Northern California, inventories of unsold family homes are way up on a year ago. Many former hot markets have cooled, stalled or moved obviously in the buyer’s favor. Adding to the sellers’ challenge of longer days on the market is the unlikely competition from foreclosures; numbers of repossessed properties are double those of a year ago. As press coverage of the foreclosures crisis increases and national concern mounts, greater numbers of folks are learning about the potential of foreclosure property to accelerate their home ownership plans. People of all ages, and for many reasons, are eyeing the increasingly obvious chance to build a nest egg sooner, move to a more desirable neighborhood, buy a vacation home, retire without a mortgage, buy to hold for the cash inflow of rents, buy more space for a growing family or simply to move up by buying a carefully selected foreclosure at below current market value for the comparable traditional home.

In some States lenders are resorting to auction sales by the gross in order to relieve swollen stocks of foreclosed property, some of it rapidly depreciating, deteriorating or becoming a neighborhood eyesore, some of it vacant and a security risk. Regular auctions of larger number of homes of all dimensions are beginning to draw knowledgeable, or determined to become knowledgeable, crowds. Well established foreclosures Gurus stage coaching courses for increasing numbers of would-be successful investors. Eager students get hands-on training and learn the basic strategies of buying in any one of the three stages of foreclosure; learn how to value the target property, how to search title and calculate the equity in a particular pre foreclosure home, how to approach the seller in financial distress and where to look for finance or how to buy without much at all.

The ranks of dedicated online surfers of foreclosure listings are swelling as investor newbies learn the art of “weeding the best leads” or to “cherry-pick “ from among pre foreclosures, auction listings and REO or bank and lender owned property. They learn how to filter their searches, how to read the location demographics. They are learning the importance of taking advantage of many free extras of online foreclosure listings sites; educational articles, definitions, foreclosure law basics, discussion forums and articles. And some have already seen the potential for remarkable value that this winter’s crop of foreclosures listings has when the season favors the buyer.

Los Angels, Chicago, New York, Detroit, Miami and San Francisco are just some of the world renowned cities in USA. But there is a whole other America to explore, an America that is beautiful with a constant changing scenery. Cindy and I will explore more of America soon.
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Looking For A Great Beach Home, Buy A Home In Del Mar California

Just west of the I-5 and Carmel Valley is Del Mar, which happens to be the smallest beach city on the Pacific Ocean. Located just northwest of San Diego, it is home to the famous Del Mar Fairgrounds and racetrack. Many Holly wood celebrities have homes there. As a result, it is coined the city “where the surf meets the turf”.

With more than 4,500 residents, homes in Del Mar are spread out from the bluffs above the ocean and into the hillsides. Along with the ocean views are plenty of trees adding a very nature, rustic like feel to the city. Many of the homes were originally built in the 1940′s and into the 80′s. Most Del Mar homes have beautiful ocean views. Most homes don’t have to fear any buildings obstructing their views as it is illegal to do so. Residents are part of a town that wishes to maintain it’s small town village charm.

Every summer, residents of DelMar are able to enjoy the yearly fair held at the race tracks at the northern part of town. The fair lasts 3 weeks and brings over a million guests.

Residents can take pleasure in a laid-back and mellow atmosphere, while at the same time experiencing the elegant lifestyle of this town. One thing about Del Mar residents, they truly hold their privacy dearly and advocate the low-growth policy that still maintains and preserves this charismatic city. This is what keeps Del Mar homes in such high demand.

Great restaurants, fun boutique shops and unique personal services are located throughout the main street, Camino Del Mar. The Del Mar Plaza, with its elegant ocean-view patio and posh shopping and glamorous dining offers the perfect night out and daytime adventure. For casual sports games viewing, Pacifica Del Mar is a great meeting place.

Across from the Plaza, L’Auberge Hotel offers one of the most romantic settings for lounging or dining. This resort is luxury at its best.

Del Mar homes are priced high because of their high desirability factor. Those who own Del Mar homes know that it is a great investment. Only a few new homes are built each year. It’s much more common to see Del Mar homes get renovated than it is to see new homes built. Whether it’s your first home or second vacation home, a home in Del Mar present an amazing place to live, full of charm, luxury and fun!

Few foreclosures occurred in the 92014 zip code and most homeowners are longer term residences with stable assets and sources of income. It’s a great city to live in and known by the locals as the place to be for it’s small town coastal feel surrounded by numerous quality of life features.

Been at the computer too long? Need a little break? Take this 1-minute vacation. Look, listen and imagine yourself in the Delta of Northern California. Then you can get back to work.

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Travel Photography Tips – How To Take Great Pictures

Taking good pictures on your family vacation is pretty easy when you know some basic photography skills. Here you will find some really simple things you can do to take your travel photos from so-so to fabulous.

Add Some Drama
You can add interest and visual appeal to your pictures by adding some drama to your pictures. One way to add drama is to show scale. You can do this by adding people or natural features to your photographs of big things like monuments, landscapes or the world’s biggest Redwood.

Clean up the Clutter
In the excitement of seeing so much of interest, it’s easy to forget about the background. But before you press the shutter release, always take a look at the image you’re photographing. Simply by changing positions slightly or changing your angle, you may be able to eliminate background clutter like billboards or power lines.

Take Pictures of the Locals
No matter where you are traveling in the world, learn how to say some basic things like “May I please take your picture?” in the local language. Offer to send those you photograph a copy so make sure to have a small notebook or pencil to jot down names, addresses or emails.

Unique and Candid Photos
Candid pictures are great when traveling but don’t forget to take the occasional portrait of the the family in front of a special landmark or beautiful scenery. Don’t forget to get in the vacation pictures too by using the self timer or remote shutter.

Always take pictures of things that interest you instead of taking pictures of things “you have to take” like those shown on postcards in the gift store. You can always buy some postcards to add to your travel souvenirs and save the really unique subjects for your photographs. Unusual subjects always make great travel photos so always keep an eye out for these unique photo opportunities.

Every Photo Has a Story
You may want to tell your vacation story by using your photographs from the time you departed to your return home so make sure to capture these moments too. Include highlights like your campground neighbors,an unusual meal you had, activities, the look on a family member’s face when he or she saw something for the first time. After you get home and upload the pictures, select the best ones to tell the story of your trip and then proudly frame it on your wall.

Recruit Additional Picture Taking Help
If you are traveling with children, give each child a camera (use disposables for the young ones) and encourage them to take pictures too.

And when you get home, you’ll be sure to have a great selection of pictures to put in a collage frame and hang on the wall. Make sure to take notes while on your trip, so you’ll have everything you need to write photo captions after you get home.

Camera Care and Maintenance
If you have any plans for being around water, make sure to bring a one time use or waterproof camera.The salt water and sand from the beach can seriously damage or ruin your camera so be extra careful no matter what type of camera you’re using.

Remember that even for the most experienced pros, not every picture will be a keeper, so bring extra memory cards unless you have a way to upload your photos while your away.
Always remember to recharge the batteries and replace the memory card every day so you can be ready for whatever photo opportunity comes your way. By doing this, you’ll be ready to go in the morning!

As you can see, taking great travel and vacation pictures can be a lot of fun and relatively easy just by following these seven tips. And, by the time you return home you will have a lot of fantastic pictures to share with your friends and family.

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Fly Fishing is a Great Vacation Idea

When you think of a vacation, what do you see in your mind?  If you love fly fishing, the perfect vacation would include some prime fishing in some beautiful spots all over the world.  A fly fishing vacation doesn’t have to be just for the fisherman.  The entire family can have a great time on a fly fishing vacation.

What should you look for when planning a vacation that involves fly fishing?  Of course, it depends a lot on who is coming with you.  If you are just going with “the guys”, and they are all interested in little else on this vacation but fly fishing, you just need a place to stay.  But if you are bringing along the family, you will want to find a place that has things for everyone to do.

A fly fishing vacations can be both exciting and productive.  Choose a spot where you can easily get to within your budget.  Some fly fishing spots are located in remote wilderness country and you can only get there by plane or train.  This can be an added expense.

When you are planning a fly fishing vacation, you can often come across packages that will cover all necessary expenses – sort of like an all-inclusive resort.  However, many lodges don’t have restaurants so you’ll want to bring your own food.  Be sure that your package covers transportation to the fishing spots you’ll want to go to.  Some lodges even provide you with guides to show you where the best fishing is.

If the family is coming along, you may want to consider a location that is family friendly.  Northern California has some beautiful spots for fly fishing plus there are ample entertainment options nearby for your non-fishing family.  Many lodges have activities for children plus places for mom to relax as well.  Some lodges even have spas so she can get pampered while you are out catching the big one!

If you’re going on a fly fishing vacation, why not try and get the family interested in this great sport?  Children are always eager to learn about new things, and there are plenty of women who think the sport of fly fishing is a terrific challenge to master.  Share with them your own love of the sport and get them excited.  Then you can truly have a family vacation!

Whether you want to take a fly fishing vacation with your friends or with your family, careful planning can make all the difference in an enjoyable trip.  You can have a great time while you do what you love – fishing!

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