Mexico: Truly a Holiday to Delight Your Senses

Mexico is located in the northern region of the American continent between the Gulf of Mexico to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

Mexico is bordered by the USA to the north and by Guatemala and Belize on the south.  Mexico’s land area extends 1,964,375 sq km, which is broadly divided into six tourist regions.

Northern Mexico is known for its extreme weather conditions and is characterised by its deserts, nature reserves and rugged mountain ranges. Some cities in the region are key industrial and business centres.

In Central Mexico or the Mexican heartland, you’ll find plenty of natural surroundings, picturesque towns full of life and color, and beautiful colonial cities, some of which have been declared World Heritage sites.

Southern Mexico is lined with the shores of the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean.  The region offers an abundance of marshes, mangrove swamps and forests, all of which are ideal for ecotourism outings and exciting outdoor adventures.

The Yucatan Peninsula is the gateway to the Mayan world, where you can enjoy the white-sand beach resorts and the blue waters of the Caribbean Sea.  Here you can scuba dive along the world’s second largest coral reef. You can also swim in fresh water pools in submerged caverns, known as cenotes.

In the Pacific Coast region, you’ll find cities and towns with rich cultural and culinary traditions, as well as some of the best beaches for water sports like surfing and fishing.

The Baja California Peninsula territory has been inhabited from time immemorial, in this region you can play golf on world-class courses, discover the underwater treasures of the Sea of Cortez, and witness the amazing migration of the Gray Whale.

Mexico’s 32 states are truly diverse, as each one has countless tourist destinations offering a wide array of activities.

Probably one of Mexico’s most important and famous beach resorts is Acapulco, which is located on the Pacific coast, 395 kilometers (245 miles) from Mexico City and 133 kilometers (83 miles) from Chilpancingo, the state capital of Guerrero. It has a warm, humid climate with temperatures ranging from 22º C (72º F) to 33º C (91º F) with sunny days throughout the year.

Among the port city’s many enticing qualities are: its beautiful bay, one of the best in the world; the calm waters of its beaches; the amenities offered by its well established hotel industry, which in recent years has undergone a major revamping, especially in the Punta Diamante neighborhood; and finally, the city’s unbeatable nightlife, which offers one of the hottest playgrounds among Mexican vacation destinations.

For those who have never visited Acapulco, we recommend that you visit la Isla de la Roqueta (Roqueta Island), an ideal island setting where you can either relax or enjoy some scuba diving. You’ll also want to check out the infamous   La Quebrada, where fearless cliff divers plunge into the ocean below. If you’re looking for a little excitement of your own, Acapulco offers bungee jumping and parasailing, where from high above you can admire the stunning panoramic views of the bay, the hotel zone and the surrounding mountains, in their utmost splendor.

Nearby Acapulco, you can visit the beach of Pie de la Cuesta, known for its spectacular sunsets, or Puerto Marques, with it beautiful bay and calm waters. Finally, don’t miss out on Barra Vieja, where you are sure to enjoy delicious seafood dishes prepared in traditional Mexican restaurants.

The capital of Mexico is Mexico City, the oldest metropolis on the American continent.   The city is perched atop a highland valley at about 2,240 meters (7,392 feet) above sea level.  Towering high above the city’s southeast side are two volcanoes: Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl.  The nation’s capital has some of the best weather in the world with an average temperature of 22º C (72º F).

Once known as the City of Palaces, Mexico City has two areas that were declared World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO. The first, the Centro Historico (Historic Center), has beautiful historic and religious buildings, such as the Catedral Metropolitano (Metropolitan Cathedral), one of the most important architectural structures in the Western Hemisphere.

The Palacio Nacional (National Palace) has spectacular Diego Rivera murals that chronicle Mexico’s history. And Palacio de Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts), which hosts the city’s most important cultural events, is a beautiful construction that blends art nouveau and art deco styles. The other World Heritage Site, Xochimilco Ecological Park, is often called the Venice of Mexico due to its beautiful canals. Flower-painted boats offer tours of the canals and floating gardens.

If you’re interested in cultural events, Mexico City offers a wide variety of museums, such as the Museo Nacional de Antropologia (a world-class anthropology museum), the Museo Nacional de Arte (The National Art Museum) and the Museo Nacional de Historia (a history museum in Chapultepec Castle where you can see an amazing exhibit that chronicles the nation’s history and art, from the pre-Hispanic era to present day).

In north Mexico City, you can visit the Basilica de Guadalupe, one of the most visited basilicas in the world; in fact, it is second only to Saint Peter’s Basilica, in Vatican City, in the number of visitors it receives each year. This is a must-see for those who want to learn more about the city’s customs and traditions.

What’s more, Mexico City is a cosmopolitan metropolis, where new and old traditions coexist side by side. Here you can go shopping at bazaars and crafts markets in the Coyoacan and San Angel neighborhoods. Or you can go to exclusive boutiques and shopping centers in the posh communities of Santa Fe and Polanco, where you’ll be surrounded by the comfort of top-notch hotels and restaurants.

Mexico is well recognized in the world for its rich gastronomic tradition which offers a great variety of dishes and beverages prepared with innumerable ingredients. The taste, aroma and texture of these ingredients can charm even the most demanding palate and thus turn Mexico into one of the most important destinations in the sphere of international cuisines.

Mexico is becoming a more popular tourist destination, especially for wedding parties and honeymooners, touring, its world heritage sites and its gastronomy.

More information about Mexico, how to get there and where to stay can be found at http://www.travel-tastic.net.

Been at the computer too long? Need a little break? Take this 1-minute vacation. Look, listen and imagine yourself in Northern California, meandering down the Feather River towards Lake Almanor. Then you can get back to work.

Villa Clara Keys: a natural luxury

Described by Christopher Columbus more than 500 years ago as “the most beautiful land which human eyes have ever seen”, Cuba has never ceased to fascinate visitors due to its exuberant natural beauty, warm and affectionate people, rich culture and beautiful colonial cities. Because of its location, Cuba is one of the most privileged islands in the Caribbean regarding its biodiversity, state of conservation and high number of endemic species.

There are more than 300 fine sand beaches in the country, with warm placid waters free from pollutants and covering approximately 600 km of the national territory. Many are found in the more than 4000 neighboring pristine keys which offer an exceptional product.

Villa Clara Keys are a capricious cluster of some 500 islands, strewn along a sea of varying shades of blues and greens off the northern coast of the central province of Villa Clara and close to the second largest coral barrier reef in the world. It’s a tropical paradise with more than 17 km of fine-white sand beaches.

Villa Clara Keys, covering more than 77 844 hectares, are a veritable wildlife refuge and provide a habitat for some 248 species of plans. The most precious jewels are Cayo Las Brujas, Cayo Ensenachos and Cayo Santa Maria, renowned for their immaculate landscape of incredible beauty, with sugary-white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters, fringed by autochthonous vegetation and connected to Caibarien, a small fishing town on the Cuban mainland, by a 48 km causeway stretching over the sea -accorded an international prize for its harmonious combination of nature and engineering in an area declared a World Biosphere Reserve- thus enabling visitors to access the keys directly from Santa Clara City, site of the international airport. The causeway has a total of 46 bridges especially designed to allow the flow of sea water, therefore protecting both the biodiversity and sustainability of the area.

There is a small air terminal in Cayo Las Brujas for the operation of small and medium size aircrafts.

Villa Clara Keys, located approximately 300 km from Havana, are part of the Jardines del Rey archipelago, the largest archipelago surrounding Cuba which extends 465 km along the northern coast of the country.

A site of legends, it is said that this island, maze of singular biodiversity, was once a haven for pirates and buccaneers ready to pounce on ship passing along Cuba’s shores.

Cayo Las Brujas takes its name from an old legend about a young couple whose love was thwarted by a jealous uncle, who in turn is the namesake of another islet: Cayo Borracho, which means drunkard. The remains of the San Paulo, a ship that ran aground many years ago, can be observed a mile away from the key. Built in San Francisco, California and launched in 1919, the ship evokes the presence of American writer Ernest Hemingway in the area. From its deck, Cuban painter Leopold Romañach found inspiration for some of his famous marine landscapes.

Cayo Ensenachos is the smallest of the three keys but it’s a refuge for 22 endemic plants and 39 wildlife species. Shaped like a horseshoe, the islet was originally an aboriginal settlement. The beach is always calm due to the position of the key which prevents the large waves from hitting the shore with force.

Cay Santa Maria is also known as the White Rose of Jardines del Rey. The key was named after the flagship of Christopher Columbus’s fleet on his maiden voyage to the New World. Legend has it that this strip of land-some 13 km long and 2 km in width- is haunted by the spirit of Rosa Maria Coraje, a woman who hid aboard a ship in a desperate attempt to find both paradise and her beloved. She landed on the key and managed to survive hiding in the marshes, among the mangroves and feeding on fish, until she finally discovered her dearly-loved in a neighboring key.

Villa Clara Keys are a challenge to fantasy, as one is quickly captivated by this pristine paradise by simply breathing its cool sea breeze. If this Cuba destination has captivated you, make sure to read our next article concerning Villa Clara Keys hotel accommodations, so you can ensure that your vacation in Cuba will truly be a memorable experience.

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Aquatic Wildlife in Puerto Penasco, Mexico

More sea turtles and nests found in area Stressing importance of species for region ever since the legacy of “Peñasquita”, the first hawksbill turtle adorned with a satellite transmitter to track information concerning her migratory route and nesting grounds, released into the Eastern Pacific on October 24 th, more turtles and nests have been found in Puerto Penasco, Mexico.

This stresses the regional importance of this group of very charismatic organisms.

Paloma Valdivia Jimenez, education coordinator of the Intercultural Center of Desert and Oceans (CEDO) reported via press release that last month staff from Playa Encanto came across a young Pacific Ridley turtle with a shell measuring just 30 centimeters in length. Unfortunately, this turtle was quite sick and later died.

Valdivia Jimenez indicated that shortly thereafter a tourist came across a young Black Sea Turtle near Playa de Oro.

Furthermore, she added, just recently a Hawksbill Turtle was found at Playa Miramar, which also just a young sample! This turtle is currently recuperating from a slight illness at the CETMAR Aquarium and will be released around the same place where it was found.

The CEDO official added that generally, the Northern Gulf of California is feeding grounds for sea turtles, although it is known that some species occasionally nest in Puerto Peñasco.

“In fact, although no nest had been fully completed given the extreme climate conditions of the region, during the last 3 years there have been reports of nesting along different beaches,” she explained.

Nevertheless, this year the sea turtle nests have been in luck! Two nests of the Pacific Ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), and one of the Black sea turtle (Chelonia mydas agassizii), reported at Playa Encanto and Playa Miramar, respectively, hatched young ones successfully. Coincidentally, the young turtles were born on precisely the same day of Peñasquita’s release.

Paloma Valdivia indicated that up to now, the importance of the Northern Gulf of California for young sea turtles had not received much reporting, which is a very important point within conservation efforts of organizations on a global level.

She stressed that while in Rocky Point Mexico it is necessary to take care of the beaches where nests have been detected, it is much more important to protect the feeding grounds at sea, as turtles spend many years there and their reproductive success does not only depend on the environmental health of the site where they are born, but rather the sites where they grow.

“Remember that we all can contribute to the conservation of turtles! If you want to help, pick up trash found on the beach, report any fishing or consumption of the sea turtles to PROFEPA, and inform CEDO if you come across a nest or a turtle on the beach. Only together can we help prevent their extinction,” stressed the press release.

Author: RealtyExecutives Mexico

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Go West For The Best Ski Resorts

As the fall months quickly lead into the months of winter, avid skiers and snowboarders are eager to catch a glimpse of the first snowfall. At the same time, many of the best ski resorts in the West are preparing to welcome their guests who come to revel in the winter activities around their facilities.

When people think of California, they often the sand and surf of the coastline, the vineyards of the Napa Valley, the glitz and glamor of Hollywood or the exhilaration of the well known amusement parks. However, there are some pleasing California ski resorts and numerous places to pursue your much loved winter sports and activities.

Many avid skiers consider the Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort in Central California to be one of the best ski resorts in the state. Mammoth boasts an average snowfall of over one hundred and fifty inches and some years, up to two hundred and fifty inches. That’s enough snow to fulfill the dreams of the heartiest of snow lovers. This top ski resort sits on the eastern side of the Nevada Mountain range.

One of the reasons that Mammoth is among the top ski resorts is that it boasts of the Hangman’s Hollow. This is identified as the siren-of-the-steeps for experts skiers from around the world. In addition, Mammoth also has a full terrain that offers cross-country skiing and also, an Olympic-size half pipe.

The Mt. Shasta Resort is in the heart of another California ski area that is both well-known and really popular, making it well known on the list of top ski resorts in the West. The Mt. Shasta resort is located in the Siskiyou mountain range, which is close the northern border or California. Within the Mt. Shasta national recreational area there are many activities available such as hiking, snowmobiling and a skiing area that even includes a bunny flat. After a long day on the slopes, the Black Bear Restaurant is popular and highly recommended for delicious meal and in addition, they also offer delightful homemade pies for a well-earned dessert.

A bit farther north from Mt. Shasta is Oregon, which is filled with numerous slopes and top ski resorts as well. Timberline Lodge is an historic chalet that sits right at the timber line of the majestic Mt. Hood in the Cascade Range and which has long been hailed as one of the top resorts. Because Timberline Lodge sits higher than many mountain ski resorts, you will often find that you can ski all year round on the nearby Palmer Snowfield, which is close this great snowy retreat.

Continuing on the northward track, the mountain ski resorts of British Columbia are painless to add to the list of top ski resorts in the West. Whistler is another famed ski area where you are also able to ski any time of the year with few rare exceptions. In addition to the Whistler-Blackcomb area, the fabulous skiing and other winter sports, there is also incredible scenery. After dark, there is a lively night life in the area which you can enjoy after a long day of shredding the slopes.

This is just a short list of the many best ski resorts that are located in the mountainous areas of Western US and Western Canada. The various ski vacations that you can take in the West are a nice way to escape from the stress and the demands of work. For those who live in the west, many top ski resorts are nearby and even a quick weekend ski package can be enough to provide rejuvenation to make it through another work week.

The Best Orlando Has to Offer

So you’re headed to Orlando… but where to start? You’ll find such a wealth of fantastic resorts and restaurants it can be difficult to choose exactly what you wish to indulge in. How best can you plan a visit in which each day comes with the finest this marvelous vacation spot has to offer? In order to help you in making the overwhelming decisions of where to stay and what places to dine, here are what I believe to be Orlando’s best offerings:

Best Deluxe Resort

On Disney property it’s the Grand Floridian with its upscale Victorian atmosphere and lagoonside setting facing the Magic Kingdom. Off-property, hands-down, it’s the Ritz Carlton Grande Lakes where you may never even feel the need to leave the property. At Universal, go for the Portofino Bay Hotel with its unsurpassed ambience of an Italian seaside resort.

Best Resort Pool

* Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club’s Stormalong Bay, a 3-acre mini water park

* The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin’s lush grotto-style lagoon pool

* The Volcano Pool at Disney’s Polynesian Resort with its luxuriant waterfall, smoking peak, and perfect view of Cinderella’s Castle

* The boulder-strewn wonderland at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge with its very own erupting geyser

* The lush fantasyland pool at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress cooled by twelve waterfalls

* The JW Marriott’s Lazy River, 24,000 square feet of winding delight

Best Home-Away-From-Home Property

The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge with its Bay Lake frontage and national park character or Disney’s Beach Club Villas conveniently located next door to Epcot. But look for the new Animal Kingdom Villas, now under construction, to boot both of these off the list.

Best Resort Atmosphere

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge where hundreds of animals roam the savanna and the air is pulsating to the beat of African drums. Running a close second is Universal’s Portofino Bay Hotel where guests are transported to a romantic, seaside Italian village.

Best Resort Lobby

How to choose? Three of Disney’s resorts make the cut: the Wilderness Lodge, the Grand Floridian, and the Animal Kingdom Lodge, all eye-popping in their grandeur.

Best Access To The Parks

The Contemporary, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian with monorail access to the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and the Ticket and Transportation Center. At Universal, the Hard Rock Hotel is just a 5-minute walk or boat ride away to Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and CityWalk.

Best Resort For Romance

Disney’s Polynesian Resort whose lush tiki torch-lit grounds and white-sand beaches with views of Cinderella’s Castle are simply dreamy or Universal’s Portofino Bay Hotel where an evening stroll along the bay with Italian arias playing in the distance can’t be beat.

Best Resort For Nature-Lovers

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, a nature-lover’s dream of rushing waterfalls, spouting geysers, and bubbly creeks, all surrounded by stately pine trees and beautiful Bay Lake.

Best Resort Lounges

* California Grill Lounge found on the 15th floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort with unrivaled views of the Magic Kingdom and the Seven Seas Lagoon, great for cocktails, sushi, and a view of the Wishes fireworks display. NOTE: If you’re only coming for drinks it can be difficult to get a seat around fireworks time. You’ll need to check in first at the second-floor podium.

* Disney’s Grand Floridian’s lobby. Pick up a cocktail at Mizner’s, and then head down to this magnificent oasis to relax while listening to the sounds of a big band or live piano music.

* Normans Salon. This sophisticated cocktail lounge is nested within Normans restaurant at the luxurious Ritz-Carlton.

* Territory Lounge, a rustic retreat in Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.

* Bluezoo’s bar at the Walt Disney World Dolphin, the coolest place around.

* Velvet, the ultra-hip cocktail lounge at Universal’s Hard Rock Hotel.

* Bar America, Portofino Bay Hotel’s sophisticated lounge overlooking the romantic piazza.

Best Italian

Il Mulino at the Walt Disney World Swan, with amazing tuna carpaccio and perfect gnocchi bolognese, or Bice at Portofino Bay Hotel for rich braised veal shank accompanied by creamy saffron risotto.

Best Seafood

Flying Fish at Disney’s Boardwalk for sautéed grouper sitting atop a fricasseee of white beans, chorizo, arugula, confit piquillo pepper, and sauce beurre blanc, or Todd English’s Bluezoo at the Walt Disney World Dolphin, where seafood is taken to new heights. Off Disney property it’s got to be Roy’s on Sand Lake Road near Universal for Roy Yamaguchi’s remarkable Hawaiian fusion cuisine.

Best Steaks

Shula’s at the Walt Disney World Dolphin, a standout for sensational Angus beef steaks cooked to perfection, or Vito’s Chop House on International Drive for the filet mignon stuffed with gorgonzola.

Best Restaurant For Romance

Victoria and Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, where you’ll savor a sumptuous six-course meal served on elegant fine china to the accompaniment of enchanting harp music. Or Normans at the Ritz-Carlton for fine dining in plush surroundings all enveloped in the grandeur of an amazing resort.

Best Restaurant For Kids

Children love the Rainforest Café at the Animal Kingdom or Downtown Disney where they’re bombarded with thunderstorms and noisy audio-animatronic wildlife. A close runner up is Whispering Canyon Café at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge; come prepared for plenty of hoopin’ and hollerin’ and please, whatever you do, don’t ask for the ketchup unless, that is, you like a lot of attention.

Best Character Meal

Cinderella’s Royal Table at the Magic Kingdom, a chance to breakfast in a fairytale castle with Cinderella, Jasmine, Aladdin, Belle, and Snow White. Or try the Crystal Palace at the Magic Kingdom for a tasty, bountiful buffet hosted by Winnie the Pooh and his friends.

Best Hip Atmosphere

Todd English’s Bluezoo at the Dolphin, the coolest spot this side of South Beach, or Tchoup Chop at Universal’s Royal Pacific Resort, a knock-’em-dead, Asian-inspired beauty.

Best Disney View

California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, with its picture-perfect views of the Magic Kingdom, the Seven Seas Lagoon, and the Wishes fireworks presentation.

Best Disney Resort Restaurant

Tough call. My favorites are the California Grill at the Contemporary Resort (just about anything on their exceptional menu is fantastic), or Victoria and Albert’s at the Grand Floridian Resort (particularly the Chef’s Table, where Chef Scott Hunnel oversees an eleven-course meal designed especially for you).

Best Universal Resort Restaurant

Tchoup Chop at the Royal Pacific Resort for wonderful Asian and Polynesian-influenced cuisine in a stunning setting, or Bice at Portofino Bay Hotel, where superb Northern Italian food is served in a sophisticated dining room.

Best Downtown Disney Restaurant

Wolfgang Puck’s upstairs Dining Room for dishes such as “Chinois” rack of lamb served with a spicy cilantro-mint sauce.

Best Epcot Illuminations View

Rose and Crown in World Showcase’s United Kingdom. Set your priority seating for about one hour prior to show time and pray for a table with a good view.

Best Milkshake

Beaches and Cream at Disney’s Beach Club Resort serves oh-so-delicious thick shakes and malts in a frosty fountain glass with the extras on the side in the stainless steel shaker.

Best Pizza

You can’t beat the pizzas at Downtown Disney’s Wolfgang Puck Café (choose the house-made fennel sausage pizza), the Pizza Bianca at Tony’s Town Square at the Magic Kingdom, or Mama Melrose’s at Disney–MGM Studios (don’t miss the grilled chicken pizza with sun-dried tomato pesto, pancetta, and Asiago cheese).

Cruise Travel Close to Home From the West Coast

Cruise travel from ports close to home is what passengers want now. In almost all of the cruise reviews, cruise travelers have expressed concern with long airline trips to distant lands. Now they want to cruise from ports that are close to home to enjoy a less stressful cruise vacation. The cruise lines have caught on to this trend and are now positioning their ships up and down the United States East and West Coasts and along the Gulf of Mexico. Let’s explore the ports of embarkation on the West Coast starting in Southern California at the port of San Diego and go northward.

If you can take the time before or after your cruise travel, spend some extra time in San Diego. The city of San Diego is blessed with year round warm weather and seventy miles of Pacific Coastline. There are many activities to enjoy while in the city. They have a first class, world famous zoo in Balboa Park. At Old Town State Historic Park learn about the History of California. Near the downtown area there are 15 excellent museums and gorgeous gardens.

A little further up north is Long Beach just 20 miles south of Los Angeles. Here is where the Queen Mary retired to in 1967 and is permanently docked serving as a Hotel. With more 12,000 sea creatures the aquarium is a delightful spot to spend a couple of hours.

If you plan to take your cruise vacation out of Los Angeles there are plenty of sights to see. A pre or post cruise package from the cruise lines will allow you to see the many cultural centers or drive by the star studded neighborhoods of Malibu, Bel Air and Hollywood. Be sure to see Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, Chinatown and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Visit funky Venice Beach and dine in the many excellent restaurants. And don’t forget to at least window shop on Rodeo Drive.

The dazzling Golden Gate Bridge will be what you sail under on you cruise vacation from San Francisco. Many cruise reviews have mentioned this city as one of the favorites from which to start a cruise. You may opt to take a side trip to the vineyards of Napa and Sonoma Valleys for a day. While in San Francisco check out Fisherman’s Wharf, or take a cable car ride through the city. In this city there are numerous excellent restaurants. There is a ferry that will take you over to Alcatraz Island for a glimpse into the life of the prisoners.

Perhaps you have chosen Seattle, Washington as your embarkation port. The lovely Puget Sound area is rich with history of the maritime industries. The Olympic Mountains will leave you feeling awed when viewed from the Space Needle that is 607 feet high. For fun don’t miss the Pike Street Market for fresh seafood and produce. There are many fleets of sport fishing boats for fishing or for whale watching.

Even further up the coast you are now in Alaskan territory. Fairbanks, which was once a booming mining town, is the entrance to Alaska’s interior. If you stay here for a day or two try a really Alaskan adventure and go dog sledding. Maybe you would like to pan for gold, another part of Alaska’s history. If you want to see the Northern Lights plan your cruise vacation for late August or early September.

Choosing a cruise vacation out of Whitter, Alaska will allow you to go whale watching, and look for sea lions and bald eagles. This is a small quaint town that really lets you feel what Alaska is all about.

You will fly into Anchorage for departure from Seward, Alaska. Try to stay a few days to explore the riches Anchorage has to offer. There is the beautiful Denali National Park, where Mt. McKinney offers spectacular scenery. In Seward you can take a cruise to the Kenai Fjords as a day trip.

Any of these cruise ports will make a great start for your cruise vacation. So when planning any cruise travel pick a port that’s close to home and leave some time for exploring the town of embarkation.

Happy Cruising

Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.

Mary Hanna has traveled the world by Air and Ship while writing eBooks, Software Reviews and Practical Articles on Internet Marketing, Cruising, Gardening and Cooking. Visit her websites at: http://www.CruiseGold.com http://www.CruiseTravelDirectory.com and http://www.CruisingTips.com

Head North on World Famous Redwood Highway in 1956. Stop at Trees of Mystery, Richardson’s Grove, see the Giant Tree House from Ripley’s Believe It or Not. Chandelier Drive-Thru Tree. Leave California on Highway 101 & enter Coastal Oregon.

Top Five Cheap Flight Destinations

At the moment, it’s easy to see how some people would be worried about vacation costs this year. Travel is too expensive for many people because of the economy and threats of layoffs. However, there are still cheap travel destinations if you are willing to do your homework. The bulk of your vacation cost will probably go towards your flight and your hotel stay. So, finding a cheap flight and taking advantage of other options can greatly reduce the cost of your vacation. Here are the top five cheap flight destinations that you should consider:

New York City and Other Big Cities

You can often find cheap flights to New York City and other big cities because they are home to large airports. When you fly into a large airport, you have more airline options, which can lower the price. Big cities can be a lot of fun, but are not usually high on the list for tourist destinations, since people are more likely to want to head to the beach or mountains for vacation. As an added bonus, that means that other activities in the cities are also less expensive. Most big cities even have government-sponsored museums, parks, and zoos which are free or under for admission.

Florida or Southern California

The price of your flight often depends on your point of origin. One thing that is almost always a sure bet, though, is that it will typically be cheaper to stay in the United States than to travel abroad. If you live in the eastern half of the country, Florida is a natural choice. You can find flights into Orlando and Miami for just 0 to 0 if you are leaving from a larger northern airport. In the west, southern California is a great destination for the same reason. If you live in the center of the United States, check both Florida and California prices. Also, don’t forget that visiting the gulf of Texas is also an option.

Canada

If you absolutely just want to experience a different country, Canada is a great option. Staying near the United States and not having to cross an ocean helps keep the price of the flight down as low as possible. Canada is also not a huge tourism center, so prices for flights are naturally lower than, for example, Hawaii. Keep in mind that travelling can still get pricey once you arrive at your destination with the current exchange rate, so budget accordingly. However, with the money you’ll save on a flight, it could be worth it. You won’t find warm, sunny beaches in Canada, but you will find some great wilderness resorts, and there are a number of cities that are fun to visit, such as Toronto.

The Caribbean

Believe it or not, the prices for plane tickets to the Caribbean are actually fairly affordable. Although this is a tourist hotspot, the sheer number of flights going into and out of these airports drives the price down. When you work with your travel agent, you can also often get a lower price because they get discounts for selling a certain number of flights on one airline – and flights are easy to book to the Caribbean. There aren’t as many tourists flying to, for example, Italy on the other hand, so they aren’t likely to get a discount on that airline. You can save even more money in general by choosing to fly to Puerto Rico, since it is still a territory of the United States.

Mexico

Some vacationers have been shying away from Mexico recently. However, if you stick to tourist hot spots and use a little discretion, you can be very safe in this country. Flights into Mexico are inexpensive for the same reasons that flights into Canada are inexpensive, you are staying near the United States and you don’t have to cross an ocean. You’ll still pay more for a flight to Mexico than most domestic flights, but if you shop around for good deals, you should be able to travel fairly inexpensively.

Flying will always be expensive, no matter how much price comparison you do to different destinations. There are a few things you can do to keep the price as low as possible, wherever your destination may be. First, be flexible with your dates. Flights are usually more expensive on weekend and near holidays. You can also add more layovers to your flight or take nighttime flights to save money. Finally, when you book your flight, try not to plan activities that you have to rush to as soon as you land. That way, if there is an overbooking problem, you can volunteer to take a later flight. If you do that, most airlines will refund your ticket and give you an additional free flight to use in the future.

Adventure Tours Throughout the United States and Canada

Some vacations just do not cut it with a certain type of traveler; they seek more from their vacation plans. They want to be able to live on the edge, seeing the sights while breaking away from the same types of vacation tours that everyone else is taking. It is for people such as these that adventure tours were created. They combine the tour packages of the past with the thrill-seeking mentality of the modern generation. There are a number of adventure tour destinations available in North America and they are currently rising in popularity. If you think you may be interested in taking one of these tours, then here are some of the most popular options available.

One destination that has always been popular is the Grand Canyon. Unlike the tours that provide you with a view of the beauty and majesty of the canyon from above, however, an adventure tour of the Grand Canyon takes you through the rapids of the Colorado River along the entire length of the canyon. Though the lengths of these tours may vary, a rafting tour of the entire canyon is generally an 8 to 10 day excursion.

Another popular adventure tour destination is Alaska. From ice fishing in northern Alaska to sea kayaking along the coast, there are a number of different adventure options available. Visitors on an adventure tour can view wild bears, take hikes through the Alaskan wilderness, raft a variety of rivers, and camp in some of the most rugged wilderness locations in North America. The length of Alaskan adventure tours can vary greatly depending on the activities involved, with some tours lasting for as few as 3 days to as many as 12.

Given the adventurous history of the American west, it should come as no surprise that there are a number of western-themed adventure tours to choose. Some of these involve visiting a number of historical Wild West locations while others focus on the western deserts and hiking through some of the amazing national parks in Arizona and Nevada. Other western tours actually manage to incorporate adventure locations in several states, letting you visit some of the most majestic locations in the west to see their beauty firsthand. The length of the western adventure tours depend largely on the area that they cover, with some lasting only 2 or 3 days while others can last for 1 to 2 weeks.

For those who are seeking a more modern adventure, there are adventure tours which can allow you to explore cities Las Vegas, Reno, and other similar hotspots. The focus of these adventure tours is not only on the sights and sounds of the main cities themselves, but also on the history and majesty of the surrounding land. Most adventure tours to Las Vegas and Reno last from 3 to 7 days and generally include trips to the most popular casinos and shows in addition to hiking in the surrounding desert. This allows one to gain a better appreciation for the cities, which appear as jewels upon the desert.

A number of different California adventures are available as well, helping visitors to see exactly how diverse the state really is. Adventures in the major cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco allow the opportunity to explore the forests and vineyards in the northern portion of the state. Most visitors are amazed at exactly what California has to offer in the way of adventure opportunities. A number of hiking tours can be found that allow you to visit some of the most majestic California locations on foot, letting you camp under the open sky while on your way to your final destination. California adventure tours can last for as few as 3 days to as many as 14 depending on the area being covered by the tour.

Of course, not all adventure tours involve hiking, rafting, or spending time traversing the natural lands of North America; a number of adventure tour companies also offer RV rental so that you can take a driving tour of some of the classic roadways in America and Canada. This allows you to travel in comfort while taking in some amazing sights and visiting places that you otherwise may not have known existed. RV adventure tours generally last for as long as you want to rent the RV. The average length of an RV tour is typically between 5 to 14 days.

There are many benefits to planning an adventure vacation. If you enjoy the thrill of adventure, this vacation may be right for you. Available activities range from hiking and kayaking to exploring cities such as Las Vegas and California, but this type of trip may require renting an RV. If you are interested in extreme sports, you may enjoy a vacation, which consists of hiking and kayaking. Those adventures provide the opportunity to experience a once in a lifetime moment, that can be remembered for many years.

A Pacific Gem

When one thinks of California, the metropolitan centers that immediately spring to mind are that pair of cities that so effectively illustrate the differences between Northern and Southern California: Los Angeles and San Francisco. The former a vast, sun-bleached monument to unchecked urban expansion, the latter a foggy, compact bastion of social progress. But there is more to California than these two extremes. Among those many cities that must seemingly always sit in the shadows of the two titans, sitting also along a stretch of coastline overlooking the incomparable Pacific Ocean, is San Diego.

Named for a Franciscan friar canonized for his miraculous healing, the city is the second largest in its state after Los Angeles and enjoys a similar climate dominated by warmth and sun for most of the year. And as a destination for the out-of-towner, the weather is only the tip of the locally unheard-of iceberg.

San Diego finds itself naturally riven into segments by canyons and hills, with pockets of urban splendor broken up by natural formations, woodland and hills. This segmentation results in the city’s having a wide diversity of neighborhoods, areas, and regions each with its own attractions. The following is but a tiny slice of the great variety to be found there.

If you enjoy getting a feel for a city’s architecture to begin your sojourn, one notable place to stop is the Gaslamp Quarter, a downtown district home to dozens of buildings dating from the Victorian era with whom the district’s namesake is so iconically associated. The density of historic edifices in the Gaslamp Quarter is remarkable and very pleasing to the eye as well as the historically curious mind.

For those who enjoy perusing a city’s cultural riches, the Balboa Park area is an ideal destination. The splendor of this park stretches on in a wide variety of beautiful fauna framed in Spanish Revival architecture. The park hosts a wide variety of museums, such as the San Diego Museum of Art, the San Diego Museum of Man, and the Natural History Museum. For theatergoers, Balboa Park also features The Old Globe Theater, a replica of Shakespeare’s immortal Globe where the groundling in us all can see a number of productions over the course of the year.

Of course, one cannot talk about San Diego without mentioning its beaches. Notable destinations to enjoy the sea are the Mission Beach and Pacific Beach areas, although the coastline stretches along much of the city. The two mentioned are both known for their wide, beautiful beaches where countless people go to swim, surf, and bask. There is also considerable nightlife along these coastal areas, with many bars and clubs to flock to and frolic away the night hours after the beaches go dark.

There are many special events to be found in the city, such as the famous San Diego Comic Con, and to enumerate them would be a lengthy and exhausting process. Go and see for yourself why this city is adored by so many. Go and take a look. LA and SF won’t miss you, or you them.

For more information on San Diego Vacations, visit http://vacationssandiego.com

This video is part 2 of a trip to northern California 13, 14, and 15 November 2009. My original goal on this trip was to visit Lassen Volcanic National Park, but, due to recent snowfall, the road through the park was closed. I will return someday. In addition to views of Lassen Peak, this video includes footage of Sutter Buttes, the Sacramento River, Mount Shasta (a stratovolcano located north of Lassen Peak), and the Hat Creek Valley, including the fault scarp of Hat Creek Rim, Bidwell Ranch and Bidwell Pond. The Hat Creek Valley is a graben that is filled with Quaternary basaltic lava flows. I take a short walk on one of these lava flows toward the end of the video (7:03 to 8:50). Lassen Peak erupted last in 1915. Similar to the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens (though not quite as catastrophic), Lassen’s eruption produced a lateral blast, mudflows and pyroclastic flows, and a devastated area with acres of trees felled and a landscape rearranged on its northeast flank. Today, in addition to the devastated area, there are a number of hot springs, mud pots, fumaroles and geysers within the park boundary. Also within the park boundary are numerous cinder cones and other volcanic peaks of varying age. After the 1915 eruption, Lassen Volcanic National Park was created using lands previously within Lassen National Forest. Therefore Lassen Volcanic National Park is surrounded by Lassen National Forest, lands that also contain numerous volcanic features such as cinder cones …

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San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge of Sonoma County

It is true that San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge does not limit its boundaries to Sonoma County alone, but it would be gravely negligent of me to remain silent about its majestic existence along the north shore of San Pablo Bay just because it is shared with two other neighboring counties in northern California; Solano and Napa.

In the not-so-distant past, less than 150 years ago, San Pablo Bay was enveloped by extensive and intricate marshlands perpetually permeated by surging and ebbing tidal waves of the Pacific Ocean and was regarded as one of the largest systems on the western coast of North America. These rich and sprawling swamps provided an ideal environment for aquatic plants which in turn offered safe havens and wealthy feeding grounds for migratory wintering waterfowl such as canvasback ducks, native shore and water birds as well as an abounding assortment of other land and water species.

Spanning over approximately twenty thousand acres, San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge is just one of sixty-seven wildlife refuges in the San Francisco Bay area, that was established in 1974 to restore the delicate equilibrium of the wetlands, to secure threatened wildlife habitats and to protect millions of vulnerable and endangered indigenous species of flora and fauna as well as the countless migratory birds. To accomplish this gargantuan task by attempting to reverse the damage inflicted to the local tidal marshes by expending agricultural, commercial and industrial activities such as hydraulic gold mining in the 1850s at the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas, salt harvesting, rerouting and bleeding its waters and constructing dams, the management of the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge had formed a partnership with the Department of the Interior, the United .States Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Sadly, only fifteen percent of this natural treasure remains unblemished but there is great hope for the future. Presently, San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge is a protected sanctuary for a thriving year-round local population of the California Clapper and Black Rails, the Salt Marsh Harvest Mice, the Song Sparrows of San Pablo and the Suisun Shrews. Furthermore, San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge is a welcoming winter resort for various species of birds especially the diving ducks, as well as eleven kinds of fish that annually cross the San Pablo Bay to their fresh water spawning grounds.

Now that we have seen what San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge does for wildlife, let us examine what it can do for you and me and I am please to inform you that it can do plenty with a capital “P.” Being open to the public every day of the year from sun up to sun down it offers: hands-on educational programs for elementary school classes; off-water fishing in the open bay and sloughs accessible by boats; hunting grounds which are subject to State and Federal regulations and seasonal restriction; hiking and walking trails; and wildlife viewing and capturing on film.

And if you wish to turn your visit to San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge into a true vacation, you will find plenty of charming, rustic and beautifully maintained local accommodations such as B&Bs and inns.