We are looking to move across country from new york to california and humboldt county looks nice. We’re thinking of Arcata, Eureka or McKinleyville. Which area do you like best? Any other towns in humboldt that we should also look into?

Saunas and Infrared Saunas

Introduction to Infrared Saunas and Traditional Finnish Saunas

When I think of a sauna, I think of luxury resorts, hotels, gyms and holidays abroad. Now, with the help of new technology, you can have an infrared sauna in your very own home, bringing this luxury pastime into your dwelling abode. The Finns have long made saunas a tradition and continue to uphold this culture where there is one sauna to every 2.6 people: that’s 2,000,000 saunas for a population of 5,255,580 (2005). Considering the number of televisions the Finns have is 1.92 million (1995 est.) and the number of telephones is 2.5 million (1995 est.), saunas certainly have their place in the Finnish culture. Saunas are extremely relaxing, they’re good for the health and they are a place for families, that’s why they have become such a big part in Finnish culture.

Pre-cut or Pre-assembled Infrared Sauna

Infrared saunas are manufactured in all shapes and sizes for the tastes and styles of all customers. The infrared sauna can arrive at your house pre-built in the form of sauna kits and they can also come in panel form, bespoke for your room requirements. The ease of installation of the infrared sauna kits has made it a popular choice amongst sauna buyers. Installation of an infrared sauna from a kit is just a matter of slotting the sides together, putting the roof on and plugging it in. One can go from infrared sauna parts in a box to a fully built infrared sauna in 20 minutes!

Indoor or Outdoor Infrared Sauna

After you have decided what type of infrared sauna you want, the next step is to decide the location. First it is important to use a shower to rinse off after using the infrared sauna therefore it is useful to have one near the infrared sauna. You also have the option of having the infrared sauna inside or outside. Outside infrared saunas are constructed and treated differently to indoor infrared saunas.

Infrared Sauna Woods

Another choice you may have to face, depending on the infrared sauna company you use is the type of wood you want for your infrared sauna. Infrared sauna wood can come in many varieties including hemlock, spruce, cedar, redwood and aspen. Each of these woods are available in different varieties and colours, leaving the sauna buyer with a healthy selection to choose from. These woods absorb the steam from the evaporated water in the sauna and the temperature of the sauna wood remains relatively cool, giving the bather a relaxing experience, not getting burnt in the infrared sauna. Cedar wood is hardy, resistant to decay, good in harsh weather conditions, aromatic and is pleasing to the eye. Traditional Finnish saunas are made from Nordic white spruce which has a white tone and small knots. Pine and domestic spruce are not of the same quality as Nordic white spruce as the woods have knots which are larger and more susceptible to drying and fall out over time.

Summary

Infrared saunas are a long term addition to your home. When making a purchasing decision, take into consideration all the factors previously mentioned. The worst thing that could happen is to buy an infrared sauna which you are not pleased with. Make sure what you’re buying is what you want; after all, infrared saunas are for relaxing.

Discover A Whole New World With A Southern California Winery Tour

Most people know of the northern California wine growing regions like Sonoma, Napa Valley and the rest. What is still not truly appreciated are the great wines that come from the southern part of the state. Anyone who has not tried these southern Californian wines is missing something. One way to rectify this situation is to go on a southern California winery tour. Look upon it as the American version of the Tuscany wine tour.

What You Should Cover On A Southern California Winery Tour

Tourists come to southern California to sample the glittering white beaches, Hollywood and the Beverly Hills lifestyle, among other attractions. Or at least that is what they used to come for. A new attraction that is vying for the attention of visitors is the southern California winery tour. It offers a great opportunity to visit and explore one of the newer and most highly regarded wine growing regions of the country. You may not have heard of the wines and the vineyards before you undertake your southern California winery tour, but once you try the wines, you will not forget them.

About 45 miles to the east of LA is the Cucamonga Valley. This area is now part of greater LA, but previously it was larger that Napa Valley and Sonoma. It was once the home of over 60 wineries. Today only 3 remain working about 1000 acres of vines. Don’t let this drop in numbers fool you into thinking that this is not an area worth visiting on your southern California winery tour. The drop in numbers was not because of the wine quality. If your southern California winery tour includes this region, the wines you will be tasting will give you ample proof that the wines from here are second to none.

Another area that must be part of a southern California winery tour is the Temecula Valley, to the south east of LA. There are about 25 wineries here and you will find that the hot dry conditions are modified by the higher altitudes. This allows for the growing of many grape types like Bordeaux and Cabernet Sauvignon. Recently planted German and Italian grapes are also showing huge promise. This region is a must for any southern California winery tour.

Even if you are not a fan of wines, including a southern California winery tour in your vacation plans is a good idea. It is a fun experience and a great way to relax. These tours can be as long or as short as you want and are designed to fit every budget. And you never know, all the wine tasting you do on you southern California winery tours may convert you into a wine drinker after all! And those whoa re wine fans will find a whole new world of great wines waiting for them on a southern California winery tour.

Does anyone know a fairly inexpensive place, but still classy (ie: resort, b&b, hotel, etc.) that can host an intimate wedding (about 30 people, including children and bride/groom), as well as accomodate the guests…would need about 7 rooms, not including the honeymoon suite.

We, as the couple, would like to pay for the entire thing, since his family is travelling from Australia, but have a fairly limited budget as we are both 21 and still have the expense of an apartment, rings, etc. I would estimate that our budget would be about ,000-5,000. This would include lodging, ceremony (no reception), decorations, etc. It would be preferable if the place had kind of a European look to it (Tuscany, etc.). Also, we don’t drink so alcohol, etc. is not a necessity

Just wanted to see if others have done the same thing and/or been to a wedding like this, or perhaps know of cute locations that could accomodate what we’re wanting

Would it be better to fly or rent a car and drive? Trying to plan a suprise vacation…

Seaside Vacation Homes – Save Money South of the Border

If you are looking for the best seaside vacation homes at the most affordable prices, Mexico has the lot to offer when it comes to ocean views, sunsets, water sports, activities, and amenities in their vacation home rentals.

It wasn’t that long ago when foreigners of Mexico were not allowed to own or invest in beachfront real estate, which left a lot of “would be” buyers frustrated, knowing there was cheap oceanfront property available in a prime location but the opportunity to own or invest in beachfront real estate in Mexico was nil.

In 2005 the government of Mexico enacted fideicomiso, which is roughly translated to mean real estate trust, making it possible for US and other foreign investors to purchase the cheap oceanfront property available, making Mexico a popular spot for exclusive luxury style residences and a haven for beachfront real estate investments

What Makes Mexico a More Affordable Vacation Home Choice?

One of the biggest reasons that vacation homes are more affordable in Mexico is the fact that the value of Mexican currency has historically been consistently lower than US or other foreign currency.

Foreign investors having the opportunity to buy property and the need for economic stimulus in Mexico, has brought back the long forgotten idea of finding cheap oceanfront property and has made it a reality again.

Not only is the property less expensive to buy but the cost of building, staffing, and everything else that comes with developing vacation home rentals is far less expensive too. Some of the savings seen by developers is being passed down to the vacation home renters, keeping the cost of vacation home rentals at a very modest rate.

Naturally the lower cost of vacation home rentals in turn is bringing an increase in visitors. This makes it a win-win situation for both investor and consumer. Just as an example of the savings you can expect, consider this…luxury beach villas in Florida, with the same amenities and features will sometimes cost you two or more times the rent of a vacation home south of the border. The dollar doesn’t go near as far stateside as is does in neighboring Mexico.

The Trend in New Beachfront Real Estate Development is Luxury

Luxury beach villas with on-site golf course, tennis court, spa, and personal chef are just examples of the amenities you’ll get to choose when searching a vacation home in Mexico. The trend in the development of beachfront real estate has been to provide exclusive, luxurious residences and vacation homes with more amenities than thought imaginable. You’ll also find that you’ll have a unique choice in architectural features in many of the seaside vacation homes available. Luxury beach villas, with walls that seem to disappear, expanding your living area to the beautifully landscaped stone deck and allowing you the full enjoyment of beautiful views and seaside breezes.

It’s Not Just The Price That Makes Mexico a Great Vacation Home Area…

Mexico offers a vacationer a wide variety of lifestyle settings. A tranquil way of life, where clear skies over serene deserts engulf you or a busy tourist filled beach with amusements and lot of fun for the family. Some of the most popular spots are just minutes from the California border. And include Northern Baja, Cancun, Puerto Penasco, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta and San Miguel. Northern Baja is the major center of ecotourism, with whale sanctuaries, coral reefs, surf destinations, and desert areas with exotic animals and plants. Visitors come to enjoy the cactus covered mountains year-round, the soft beige sandy beaches, and the sparkling waters of the Pacific or the Gulf of Mexico. Baja boasts every type of available activity, including hiking a desert wash, kayaking, walking the miles of uninhabited beaches, boating, shopping or bird-watching.

four or five big bulls in your yard is bad, a whole herd of Roosevelt elk is dangerous.
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Theory, Fossils, and a Two-sided Puzzle

Do fossils support evolution? Or do they undermine the theory? Scientists have now scrutinized over 100,000 specimen from around the world covering fauna from the past 3,500,000,000 years. What have they learned? Let’s check it out.

Glimpses from the Past

The fossil record has troubles of its own. See if you can follow this logic: Paleontologists start with the premise that evolution progresses from simple to complex life forms. Thus the simpler the fossil, the older it is. As a result, the fossil is roughly dated according to its complexity.

Paleontologists use the “dated” fossils to establish the age of rock segments in which they are found. Then they turn right around and say, “Look, evolution is a fact. We have a series of increasingly complex forms taken from chronologically dated rock segments to prove it.”

The assumption of evolution is used as proof of evolution! The whole thing reminds you of a dog chasing its tail. Just the same, rock layers occasionally play tricks on the experts. More advanced specimen are found in levels lower than expected, while simpler types show up where they shouldn’t be. These contradictions are dismissed as irregularities or nonconformities.

But if rock layers are sometimes uncooperative, so are the fossils. Geologists, as well as paleontologists, frequently rely on “index fossils” to provide a rough date for rock segments. That procedure gives us ballpark figures as long as the origin and the extinction dates of the index fossils are known. But what happens when the fossil, which has been officially declared dead millions of years ago, suddenly turns up alive?

All the rock segments dated by that fossil have to be reevaluated. This embarrassment has happened all too often. The tuatara lizard, the small mollusk Neopilina galatea, the maidenhair tree, the dawn redwood, and the coelacanth were all thought to be extinct. Now we know better.

Have we ironed out all the knotty little dating problems? Probably not, especially when you consider that most index fossils are small marine organisms, and the ocean depths are still largely unexplored.

Charles Darwin left us with a pretty good metaphor. He compared the fossil record to a book in which only a few scattered pages were preserved; on those pages only a few lines are found; of those few lines, just a few words remain; and of those few words, only a few letters are legible.

That was a very apt description of the fossil record in Darwin’s day. Our picture of the past is somewhat better than it was in the mid 19th century, but it is still limited. Bear in mind when we find anything at all, it is usually a tooth, bone, or shell – or more likely, just part of a tooth, bone, or shell. Most animals, past and present, have no hard parts. Consequently, we are not likely to find any evidence at all for most species.

Occasionally, paleontologists get lucky and find whole specimens preserved intact – soft parts and all. They discover insects in amber or entire communities of creatures encased in a mud slide. Outside of those rather unusual circumstances, we have little or no evidence of most animals’ soft anatomy.

You would think that such a scanty fossil record with all of its limitations and imperfections would be enough to make a paleontologist humble. The fossil record, spotty as it is, still tells us a story we cannot get from any other source. Fossils are our only real evidence of prehistoric life on earth.

Over 100,000 specimen from around the world now provide us with a series of glimpses from the past. An imperfect record to be sure, but it’s the best we have. Here is what the fossil record shows:

Early Fossils: A Two-Sided Puzzle

Precambrian Eon – 3,500,000,000 years ago – Blue-green algae and Bacteria found in 24 locations in western Australia, Africa, and Canada.

These were completely soft-bodied, single-celled organisms, known as prokaryotes. This is a relatively simple type of cell having no organelles, no nucleus, no paired chromosomes, no mitochondria, and no chloroplasts. They reproduce by simple cell division. The cell divides into two identical “daughter” cells. Since the daughter cells are identical to its “parent,” the only way change can come about is if an accident (mutation) affects the genetic material itself.

The difference between prokaryotic cells (blue-green algae, bacteria, and fungi) and eukaryotic cells (all other life forms) is so profound that prokaryotics are classified as a separate kingdom, the kingdom Monera.

Precambrian Eon – 1,500,000,000 years ago – Protistans found worldwide.

These were completely soft-bodied, single-celled organisms, known as eukaryotes. They too have a separate kingdom, called Protista. Some lived by photosynthesis like plants; others fed on food particles like animals; still others did both.

Eukaryotes are larger and much more sophisticated cells than the prokaryotes. Outside of bacteria, blue-green algae, and fungi, every other form of life – protistans, plants, and animals – are composed of eukaryote cells. The difference between the two types of cells is striking. Eukaryote have distinct nucleus with chromosomes containing genetic instructions and a nucleus membrane isolating the genetic material from the rest of the cell.

Moreover, eukaryotic cells include a nucleolus which synthesizes ribosomes: endoplasmic reticulum which transports materials and synthesizes lipids and certain proteins; golgi complex which stores materials and transports them out of the cell and synthesizes carbohydrates; lysomes which break down unwanted molecules; and mitochondri which performs cellular respiration.

What does all of this mean? It means after two billion years of nothing but prokaryotes, we run into an entirely different form of life. Cell by cell you, I, and an oak tree have more in common with a single-celled protistan than the protistan has in common with a bacteria or blue-green algae.

It’s a big leap from a prokaryote to an eukaryote. And there is nothing between. Think of two billion years of seeing nothing but three-piece jazz bands. Suddenly, you encounter a full symphony orchestra. If your theory was that jazz bands evolved into symphony orchestras, you would expect to find a few intermediate-sized bands between the two.

The puzzle remains. If prokaryotes evolved into eukaryotes, why don’t we see a progression of forms? Some reason that since the intermediate forms would be soft bodied, we shouldn’t expect to find any fossilized remains. The obvious reply to this argument is: All the prokaryotes and the protistans were soft bodied too. Yet we have discovered a good number of each intact, whole, and clearly distinguishable from each other. However, we find no transitional cells between the two.

Life in the fossil record is 3.5 billion years old. For 2.8 billion years – 80 percent of life’s fossil history – life apparently did not evolve at all. It stayed on the same level of single-celled organisms, each one carrying on all life’s functions independently. Then around 700 million years ago, multicellular animals began showing up in the fossil record.

Precambrian Eon – 700,000,000 years ago – Ediacara fauna found worldwide.

Ediacara fauna are the first known multicellular animals. These large pancake-flat soft bodied creatures were originally discovered in Australia but the fauna has since been found world wide. They may have been an experiment in multicellular life that failed. Their design matches no modern anatomical plan. By the Cambrian period, all traces of these animals had perished.

Cambrian Period – 525,000,000 years ago – Anemones, Clams, Crustaceans, Jelly Fish, Octopuses, Sea Lilies, Snails, Sponges, Starfish, Trilobites, and Worms. By the end: Corals and Chordates – found worldwide.

Paleontologists call it the Cambrian explosion. In a geological moment just before the beginning of the Cambrian, nearly all modern invertebrate phyla appear suddenly and simultaneously along with an even greater number of anatomical curiosities which did not survive.

Phylum already show their distinct characteristics. Transitional forms are conspicuously absent. Even classes, the taxonomic level below phylum are found in place and very similar to what they are today. At the lowest classification level, more than five thousand species have been discovered in the Cambrian layers.

Surprising? Yes, it is. Evolution is not suppose to work that way. In a geological blink of an eye, we go from single-celled organisms to a vast array of complete, multi-celled animals found worldwide. These animals are fully equipped with intestines, hearts, stomachs, bristles, eyes, and feelers.

The eyes and feelers tell us that complex nervous systems were already intact. Trilobites show a distinctive head and tail, numerous thoracia parts, joint legs, a complex respiratory system, and fully developed compound eyes.

The relatively simple single-celled prokaryote dates back 3.5 billion years; 2,975,000 years later we find the highly complex, multi-celled, multi-organed trilobite. For all practical purposes, everything between the two is a missing link. Did a prokaryote cell evolve into an eukaryote cell? Did an eukaryote cell in turn evolve into the trilobite, sponge, jellyfish etc., of the Cambrian period? The fossil record is completely silent on these subjects.

What we find is a two-sided puzzle. We have explored the first half of that puzzle. Life didn’t evolve. It stayed at the same level of single cells for 2,800 million years. Then after one or possibly two false starts, life exploded into a multitude of radically different, complex creatures.

Equally inexplicable is the flip side of the coin. Over five hundred million years have passed since the end of the Cambrian period, and not a single new animal phylum or basic design has shown up in the fossil record. Something opened the flood gates 525 million years ago, and out poured phyla and classes. The gates remained open for five to ten million years. Then abruptly, they were closed again.

Few new classes and no new phylum have appeared since that time. The last 500 million years have added nothing but variations to the well-established Cambrian designs. Most curious.

One explanation for the Cambrian explosion is that the period merely marks the appearance of shells in the fossil record. Before developing shells, multicellular life may have undergone a long history of gradually increasing complexity, leaving no record in the rocks.

If you will recall, that’s the pretext offered for not finding intermediate stages between prokaryote and eukaryote cells. That line of reasoning ignores all of the soft-bodies fauna gathered from rock segments dated before, during, and after this period.

In fact, soft bodies were the rule – not the exception in the early years of life. Bacteria, blue-green algae, the protistans, and the Ediacara fauna were all soft-bodied types. Even the creatures in the Burgess Shale were partially soft. Yet we find a number of them preserved intact. All of these soft forms defied the odds and found their way into the fossil record.

Bearing all of that in mind, let’s assume for a moment that the theory of evolution is correct. If single-celled eukaryotes took million and millions of years to evolve into jellyfish, trilobites, octopuses, and all of the other five thousand species of the Cambrian period, why haven’t any of those intermediate fossils turned up?

And another question: Why did all the Cambrian fossils, diverse as they are, choose the same geological moment for developing shells?

Here is one possible explanation. No Cambrian fauna predecessors have been found because — there weren’t any. And those shelled fossils all appeared at the same time because that is when those animals came into existence. This interpretation accounts for all the known facts. Moreover, it does not resort to any slight of hand, claiming that all the important evidence is for one reason or another “off the record.”

Feeding the pigs at Redwood Beach Resort in Nicaragua

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Surf’s Up in Santa Cruz

The city of Santa Cruz, originally named San Lorenzo, was discovered in 1769 by the Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portolà. The city continued to expand and eventually became known as Santa Cruz, meaning “Holy Cross”, in honour of the local mission. By the 1820s Mexico had assumed control of the area and Americans began to arrive in great numbers over the next thirty years. California became a state in 1850, and Santa Cruz County was created as one of the twenty-seven original counties.

By the turn of the century, the agricultural, logging, lime processing, and commercial fishing industries all prospered in the area. Santa Cruz also became a prominent resort community, due to its scenic beauty and mild climate, and today it is well-known for water-sports such as surfing, paddling, sailing, diving and swimming. It is reputedly the site of the first surfing in California, when, in 1885, three Hawaiian princes – Prince David, Prince Edward and Prince Jonah Kalaniana’ole – surfed on locally milled redwood boards at the mouth of the San Lorenzo River. Santa Cruz has 11 world-class surf breaks, including the point breaks over rock bottoms near Steamer Lane and Pleasure Point, which create some of the best surfing waves in the world.

Santa Cruz also has a Surfing Museum at Steamer Lane, which continues to be staffed by early surfing pioneers such as Harry Mayo and others who have surfed Santa Cruz waves since the 1930s. It hosts several surf contests drawing international participants each year, including the International Longboard Association contest and the O’Neill Cold Water Classic.

Santa Cruz is also famous for the Derby skate park, the first public skate park in the USA as well as the brand new Mike Fox Skate Park, containing both shallow and deep skating pools and ramps, located along the San Lorenzo rover levee.

For those looking for an alternative to surfing or skating, other outdoor sports such as cycling, camping, hiking, and rock climbing are also popular in the area. The Santa Cruz Wharf is known for fishing, viewing marine mammals and other recreation. The city provides many great opportunities for butterfly watching and ornithology. Santa Cruz also has the Historic Downtown Retail District, which features numerous theatres, galleries, shops and boutiques.

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is California’s oldest amusement park and a designated State Historic Landmark. It features one of the oldest wooden rollercoasters still in use in the US as well as numerous modern attractions. It has been owned and operated by the Santa Cruz Seaside Company since 1915. Entrance to the Beach Boardwalk is free, but rides cost between -.

Winemaking is an important part of the economic and cultural life of Santa Cruz County, from the growing of the grapes to their venting. The Santa Cruz Mountains are home to some of the oldest and well-renowned wineries in California, producing fine Zinfandels, Chardonnays, Cabernet Sauvignons, as well as Ports, Pinot Noirs and other varietals and blends. The wines of the Ridge Vineyards and David Bruce Winery were selected for tasting in the Paris Wine Tasting of 1976.

To get to Santa Cruz, visitors can take advantage of cheap flights to the San Jose, San Francisco or Oakland international airports and from there arrange private transfer or take scheduled airport shuttles to their final destination. Booking a hotel in Santa Cruz can be done easily online and from there visitors can experience all Santa Cruz has to offer.

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My future fiance and I do not want a big lavish wedding. We want something no larger than 50 people. We don’t want my folks spending a lot of money. Do the grooms parents have to pay for the honeymoon or can the bride and groom pay for it, or her parents??

Family Travel Ideas In California

California is a perfect place to go for family, there are many destinations that the whole family would enjoy.

Family Travel in Monterey Bay Aquarium

Monterey Bay Aquarium is an ideal family travel vacation with its wide array of sea creatures to amuse visitors of any age. Their exhibits have gotten numerous awards, including animals such as giant octopus, various sharks, otters, and jellyfish, among others. The place is known for its many aquariums, which your family can explore through their aquarium map. One whole day is good enough to enjoy many interesting sea animals on display, and your family can learn at the same time enjoy. There are daily programs and activities for first time visitors, check out to make sure you get the best of the Bay Aquarium have to offer. Their programs include Aquarium Adventures where your family travels and immerse in field observations and studies of various sea animals. There are also Guided Tours for groups of 6 to 10 people that will allow you in-depth and behind-the-scenes tours and destinations in the aquarium.

First time visitors in Lake Tahoe

In Northern California, Lake Tahoe has much more destinations to offer for first time visitors than just a lake. It has a rich history in its making, since it was formed as a result of geological faults shifting. The destinations consist of various accommodations for a perfect weekend getaway with the family, such as amusement parks, picnics, bowling, golf, and even movies. You can choose to stay at one of the many destinations in Lake Tahoe, or if your family travel is more of adventurous type, you can go camping. Explore the beautiful outdoors by foot or by bike. Experience the 10th deepest lake in the world and all its beauty together with your family for a wonderful bonding destinations and experiences that will allow you to appreciate nature at the same time.

Hollywood

Hollywood has city passes for the whole family travel, consisting of day tours in museums like Behind-the-Scenes, Hollywood Entertainment Museum, the Hollywood Wax Museum, among many others. Hollywood Studios is the location of many film classics, such as Jaws, with rides and various souvenir stores. You can also take bus tours and view homes of the stars in the Los Angeles area for your destinations, and check out the world famous Walk of Fame and find the footprint of your favorite stars.

San Francisco City destinations

The heart of downtown San Francisco offers much more than shopping, with its numerous restaurants, lively culture, and many things to see. Ideal for a long weekend family travel, first time visitors like you can book yourself at the many destinations in the city and spend the days exploring various landmarks such as Pier 39, or treat your family to world class chocolate at Ghirardelli Square. San Francisco is known for its Golden Gate, world renowned destinations. There is also the San Francisco Zoo, for a nature trip within the city. Also check out the Alcatraz Island boat tours, Napa Valley Wine, the famed Lombard Street, Cable Car Rides, and the vintage Haight Street.

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