Which one is better? I’m planning a road trip!

Also what is cheaper?

I want to know what the rooms look like inside. Especially the King size bed with whirlpool.

Let’s Go Fly Fishing In California

There’s no doubt about it that some of the best fly fishing in California is located in the northern part of the state. The Sierra Mountains provide some great scenery as well as some great rivers and streams where the fish are plentiful and the weather is great. Because the California weather is quite static, year-round fly fishing is available to the fisherman.

Located above Crowley Lake, the Owens River is one of the best places to fish for trout in California. The river is one of a kind with a gentle current that flows through a glacial valley between mountains that are 9,000 feet tall or more. At one time, the Owens River provided water and power to Los Angeles. When they converted the gorge, much of the fish died out. With a restoration of the river back to a fly fishing destination, you can now find some beautiful brown or rainbow trout at any time of the year.

The McCloud River is one of California’s premier trout fisheries. This River feeds Lake Shasta and was the breeding ground for rainbow trout that was shipped all over the country to stock other rivers and streams. You can find big brown trout as well as rainbow trout in plentiful supply on the McCloud.

In Northern California, the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River provides some great fly fishing for some excellent trout. This river is one of the few places designated as wild trout waters by the state. This area receives a lot of fishing, so it’s a good idea to get there early in the morning to stake out your spot. Besides the normal species of trout, this river also boasts a hybrid variety of rainbow and golden trout with bright orange sides.

Hat Creek is another great place to fly fish in California. These, too, have been designated trophy wild trout waters, and you will find plenty here. This creek is very well-suited to both beginning as well as experienced fly fishers. The banks are laden with heavy brush that provides some great hiding places for brown and rainbow trout. Much of the creek is heavily stocked, but there is some natural reproduction that takes place making Hat Creek a very easy place to fish.

If you are looking to go fly fishing in California, you have a lot of options available to you. Much of the best fly fishing would be in the northern part of the state, but you can also find many other places where fish are plentiful and challenges about. You can’t go wrong with a fly fishing vacation in California.

Clear Lake is Beacon for California Recreation

Just a couple of miles north of San Francisco is one of California’s prettiest vacation lakes — Clear Lake.

A friend visited Clear Lake not too long ago and came back raving about the area’s unexpected scenic and natural beauty – so we had to investigate. On a recent swing through Northern California, we dropped in on Clear Lake, staying at a small, unpretentious waterfront resort that brought back childhood memories of vacationing at lakefront resorts in Central Washington state. It was like vacationing in a simpler place at a simpler time.

At 43,000 acres, Clear Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake in California, and some say it may be the oldest lake in North America. The lake is the centerpiece for several communities in the Lake County area, including Lakeport, Clearlake, Kelseyville, Glenhaven and several others. Taken together, these communities and several parks in the area offer a wide range of family vacation activities.

Chief among those are boating, fishing and swimming, three main reasons people stay at the Seabreeze Resort in Glenhaven, headquarters for our brief stay in the Clear Lake area. Owner Steve Nash happened on the resort many years ago as he was looking to buy a waterfront house. His accountant advised him that the income from the resort would go a long way toward helping to pay for his new waterfront home, and so Nash – who had never operated any sort of lodging facility – took the plunge.

Today, Nash divides his time between Clear Lake and San Diego, where he lives during winter months. But every year, April through October, it’s back to Clear Lake and the round-the-clock chores of managing the resort. With only one housekeeper for help, Nash is up at dawn each day, working to well past sundown. But, as we discovered, he always finds time to chat and joke around with his guests – many of whom have been returning to the small resort for many years.

Since we were traveling with a four-year-old, we were booked into the “family wing” of the resort – some housekeeping units a little further from the water and from the guests in the waterfront adult wing. Our cottage was like a small apartment, maybe 1950s vintage, but nicely remodeled and cheerfully decorated. A full kitchen was included, as well as a living room, bath and a bedroom with two queen beds. Thankfully, on this summer visit, the unit was air conditioned.

Our cottage had a grassy area, lunge chairs and several individuals just outside the door. Nearby was Steve’s fragrant flower garden – which he obviously takes great care in maintaining – and then a few steps further was the boat launch, dock and swimming area. In short, the Seabreeze offered everything you need for a restful lakefront stay or a base of operations for your boating holiday.

But we were visiting Clear Lake to explore. Just why was everyone raving about this lake?

The first thing we discovered was that, as advertised, the lake and its surroundings are beautiful. The blue-water lake is in the middle of a hilly, mostly treed landscape that is especially interesting when approaching from the east. We also noticed that this lake is big. On the map it looked like it would be fairly easy to circumnavigate since there were highways, roadways and towns and villages on almost every part of the lake. Once we were driving, however, it soon became apparent our trip around the lake was going to take us at least a half day.

Along the way we stopped in several little lakeside towns, including the largest city, Clearlake, which is the largest population center in a region that only has about 12,000 year-round residents. Each town is different, but all share the beauty of Clear Lake and recreation opportunities are never far away.

Along most shores of the lake you’ll find a combination of private residences and small motels and inns like the Seabreeze. We did note, however, there is a large timeshare resort on the northwest shore, as well as the famous Konocti Harbor Resort and Spa, known for bringing headline musical acts in for performances in the Outdoor Konocti Field Amphitheater as well as the resort’s indoor showroom. Altogether, the resort puts on about 100 shows per year.

We noticed that parks are abundant throughout the region. Many are located on the more than 100 miles of shoreline but, in addition to camping and watersports, several parks offer other features. For example, the Anderson Marsh State Park is known for nature walks and birdwatching, while the Middletown Trailside Nature Preserve offers the “EcoArts Lake County Scupture Walk” conducted on 107 acres of natural park. The area’s history is highlighted at the Anderson Marsh State Historic Park.

There are plenty of other opportunities to learn about the history of Clear Lake, including two county museums, the Lake County Museum in Lakeport and the Lower Lake Historical Schoolhouse Museum in Lower Lake. Learn about the stars at the Taylor Planetarium and Observatory in Kelseyville.

For those who enjoy visiting wineries, this region has several that are all within easy driving distance of the lake.

No matter which shoreline, there seemed to be plenty of anglers taking advantage of what the locals say is the best bass fishing in the West. The bass fishing is so good that several professional bass fishing organizations have designated Clear Lake as the best bass lake in the country. But it’s not just bass — catfish, blackfish, Sacramento perch, hitch, crappie and bluegill are all caught at Clear Lake.

There was no fishing for us this trip, but we did enjoy the great swimming area right at the dock in front of the Seabreeze. Our midweek visit was quiet and restful – and like a step back into the days of Ward and June Cleaver when family vacations just seemed a lot simpler.
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AT A GLANCE

WHERE: You can reach Clear Lake by driving north on 101 and then east on Highway 175. From inland cities, you can drive north on I-5 and west on Highway 20.

WHAT: Clear Lake is known as one of the best recreation lakes in California, partly because of its size and services, and partly because it is easily accessible from Northern California population centers.

WHEN: Any time of the year, but the typical lake recreation “season” runs from April through October.

WHY: Clear Lake offers a throwback to a simpler time with fewer crowds and quiet little beach resorts dotting its shoreline. Lake County offers a tremendous number and variety of parks and recreation, so there are many choices.

HOW: More information on Clear Lake and Lake County are available at Lake County Visitor Information Center, 1-800-525-3743 or visit www.lakecounty.com. Email: info@lakecounty.com. More information on the Seabreeze Resort is at 707-998-3327, or visit www.seabreezeresort.net. Email: info@Seabreezeresort.net.

Driving from Santa Cruz to Portola Redwoods State Park on a Wed evening during rush hour traffic. I think Hwy 17 is pretty bad during this time?
What about Hwy 1?

Thanks.

Main Tourist Attractions In Dunoon, Scotland

Dunoon sits on the Firth of Clyde in the Cowall Peninsula and bordered to the north by the villages of Kirn, Hunter’s Quay and Sandbank, and by the Holy Loch.

The town has a connecting ferry with Gourroch that for a hundred years has been transporting tourists to the picturesque town, today tourists can still get aboard the last seagoing paddle steamer in the world, The Waverley, which still calls in regularly at Dunoon through the summer months.

Interestingly the Holy Loch during the Second World War was used as a submarine base, and it played host to an American Naval Base during the Cold War. It has now been transformed into a sophisticate marina, with facilities for boat and yachts that is enjoyed by sailing enthusiasts from across Scotland.

One of the main tourist attractions in Dunoon is the Cowal Highland Gathering, the largest Highland games in the world held on the last Friday and Saturday of August.

The tournament includes the World Highland Dancing Championships, piping and shinty competitions; attracting participants and spectators from around the world. Also of interest is Castle Toward originally dating back to the 15th century but since renovated several times in different decades.

Ownership of the castle passed to the council in the 1990’s and it has since turned into an outward bound activity centre, and recently the grounds of the castle have been used in the BBC’s children’s TV series Raven.

If you are interested in botany or enjoy strolling through parks and gardens then Dunoon and Cowal host some of the best flora and fauna in the West of Scotland. Situated seven miles north of Dunoon is the Benmore Botanic Gardens, 150 acres of garden featuring some of the tallest trees in Britain including a great avenue of Giant Redwoods.

Them comes the Morag’s Fairy Glen beside Innellan a woodland walk area that has a wide range of trees specimen including beech, birch, oak and ash lining the paths that run alongside the Berry Burn which follows into waterfalls and picturesque pools.

Ardkinglas Woodland Gardens, at the North of Loch Fyne holds one of the finest collections of rhododendrons and conifers within the British Isles; a visit during summer is highly recommended to take advantage of the beautiful blooms.

Dunoon sits on the Firth of Clyde in the Cowall Peninsula and bordered to the north by the villages of Kirn, Hunter’s Quay and Sandbank, and by the Holy Loch.

The town has a connecting ferry with Gourroch that for a hundred years has been transporting tourists to the picturesque town, today tourists can still get aboard the last seagoing paddle steamer in the world, The Waverley, which still calls in regularly at Dunoon through the summer months.

Interestingly the Holy Loch during the Second World War was used as a submarine base, and it played host to an American Naval Base during the Cold War. It has now been transformed into a sophisticate marina, with facilities for boat and yachts that is enjoyed by sailing enthusiasts from across Scotland.

One of the main tourist attractions in Dunoon is the Cowal Highland Gathering, the largest Highland games in the world held on the last Friday and Saturday of August.

The tournament includes the World Highland Dancing Championships, piping and shinty competitions; attracting participants and spectators from around the world. Also of interest is Castle Toward originally dating back to the 15th century but since renovated several times in different decades.

Ownership of the castle passed to the council in the 1990’s and it has since turned into an outward bound activity centre, and recently the grounds of the castle have been used in the BBC’s children’s TV series Raven.

If you are interested in botany or enjoy strolling through parks and gardens then Dunoon and Cowal host some of the best flora and fauna in the West of Scotland. Situated seven miles north of Dunoon is the Benmore Botanic Gardens, 150 acres of garden featuring some of the tallest trees in Britain including a great avenue of Giant Redwoods.

Them comes the Morag’s Fairy Glen beside Innellan a woodland walk area that has a wide range of trees specimen including beech, birch, oak and ash lining the paths that run alongside the Berry Burn which follows into waterfalls and picturesque pools.

Ardkinglas Woodland Gardens, at the North of Loch Fyne holds one of the finest collections of rhododendrons and conifers within the British Isles; a visit during summer is highly recommended to take advantage of the beautiful blooms.

Dunoon sits on the Firth of Clyde in the Cowall Peninsula and bordered to the north by the villages of Kirn, Hunter’s Quay and Sandbank, and by the Holy Loch.

The town has a connecting ferry with Gourroch that for a hundred years has been transporting tourists to the picturesque town, today tourists can still get aboard the last seagoing paddle steamer in the world, The Waverley, which still calls in regularly at Dunoon through the summer months.

Interestingly the Holy Loch during the Second World War was used as a submarine base, and it played host to an American Naval Base during the Cold War. It has now been transformed into a sophisticate marina, with facilities for boat and yachts that is enjoyed by sailing enthusiasts from across Scotland.

One of the main tourist attractions in Dunoon is the Cowal Highland Gathering, the largest Highland games in the world held on the last Friday and Saturday of August.

The tournament includes the World Highland Dancing Championships, piping and shinty competitions; attracting participants and spectators from around the world. Also of interest is Castle Toward originally dating back to the 15th century but since renovated several times in different decades.

Ownership of the castle passed to the council in the 1990’s and it has since turned into an outward bound activity centre, and recently the grounds of the castle have been used in the BBC’s children’s TV series Raven.

If you are interested in botany or enjoy strolling through parks and gardens then Dunoon and Cowal host some of the best flora and fauna in the West of Scotland. Situated seven miles north of Dunoon is the Benmore Botanic Gardens, 150 acres of garden featuring some of the tallest trees in Britain including a great avenue of Giant Redwoods.

Them comes the Morag’s Fairy Glen beside Innellan a woodland walk area that has a wide range of trees specimen including beech, birch, oak and ash lining the paths that run alongside the Berry Burn which follows into waterfalls and picturesque pools.

Ardkinglas Woodland Gardens, at the North of Loch Fyne holds one of the finest collections of rhododendrons and conifers within the British Isles; a visit during summer is highly recommended to take advantage of the beautiful blooms.

hayhom
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Disneyland/World Baby Center Vacations With A Toddler – By Best Hotel Deals

Having a Disney Family trip is truly something that can shape your family’s memories. This is most especially true if your kids are old enough to remember that they’re in Disneyland/World.

Years after you may hear them talk about how magical your trip was and how they want to go back there again. Nevertheless, fun should not only be for your kids and teens. You should also ensure that your toddlers have their own dose of fun.

Aurora Lillo Editor of the “Best Hotel Deals” website — http://www.BestHotelDeals.biz — pointed out;

“…The good thing about Disney management is that they make sure the whole family gets their own share of magic, whether toddlers or seniors. They have services that cater to any kind of population. If you think bringing along your toddler would only mean endless tantrum sessions, think again…”

Here are some ways that you can make your Disneyland vacation a toddler friendly one!

Magical Beginnings

Magical Beginnings is an official program from Disney for toddlers. It is specially designed to answer your little kids needs. This includes entertainment and other activities that your small one can safely and enjoyably do.

If you’re thinking why a program like this is important, just imagine your baby riding Space Mountain. You really can’t expect him/her to enjoy a ride this ride? Of course, your toddler wouldn’t even be allowed to get on those kinds of rides. This is why they have special programs just for toddlers to enjoy.

The program offers live shows that star their favorite Disney Characters. They cater recreational activities tailored for a young child’s pace.  You will be informed of the different fun dining choices available that little ones will definitely love!

Attractions

To make your vacation more enjoyable, you can visit a number of attractions that are considered to be toddler friendly. One of which would is The First 50 Magical Years, where you could learn about the history of Disneyland. Here you could see a preview of different sights and attractions that were never built.

You can go to Disney’s Railroad and visit Mickey’s Toon Town. Mickey’s Toon Town is where you can  find all the characters that your kids want to see. Chip and Dale’s Tree house is also situated here. This is another toddler must see attraction. Your kids can enter and play in the big redwood tree house for as long as he/she wants!

Entertainment

For some entertainment, you can visit the very home of Mickey Mouse! This is situated in Mickey’s Toon Town. You will get a full tour of his home. You can see how he lives, his appliances and artifacts. The best thing is, your child may also get to meet Mickey Mouse in person after the tour!

You can watch playhouse Disney Live On Stage. This would definitely keep your child entertained as they sing along and dance while watching the show. You can see appearances from the Mickey Mouse Club, Disney Little Einstein’s, Handy Manny and other Playhouse Disney stars.

If you have a little princess in hand, then it is a must that you visit the Disney Princess Fantasy Faire. Let her fairytale dreams come true as she enters the world of happily ever after. Storytelling, arts and crafts, making sparkling crowns and regal ceremonies are just some of the activities that will make your child feel like a real Disney princess.

Dining

If you want a fun place to eat, Goofy’s Kitchen is just the place! Here you get to meet Goofy and have a fun  filled meal with the whole family. Kids can enjoy Mickey Mouse shaped waffles, Goofy’s Hot Chocolate Cake, Peanut butter & Jelly Pizzas and a lot more!

For some ice cream treats, Bur-r-r Bank Ice Cream would be the right place. Here your child can choose from an array of scrumptious ice cream flavors and confections that make ice cream eating truly special.

Shopping

“…Specialize shopping for toddlers can be done at Engine Ear Toys. This toy shop has the coolest toys around along with other Disney merchandise. Another store to visit is It’s A Small World Toy Shop, where dolls are the highlight of the shop. If your kids love Pooh then it’s a must that you visit Pooh’s Corner and shop amongst the numerous Pooh merchandise…” added A. Lillo.

Further information about the cheapest rates on hotels all around the world by visiting; http://www.BestHotelRates.me

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Santa Barbara Hotels for the Business Travelers

Santa Barbara has numerous sites, attractions and hotels. There are hotels that can provide the best accommodations and packages for business travelers.

Santa Barbara not only offers several cultural attractions, it also provides historical sites that tourists of all ages will enjoy. The downtown area has a mixture of outdoor courtyards and historic abodes with rich Mediterranean architecture, reminding us about the colorful past of Santa Barbara. In fact, no less than 50 galleries and museums joined with world-class symphony and opera performances, as well as dance and performing arts, to promote the region’s tourism industry.

Aside from this, Santa Barbara’s magnificent Santa Ynez Valley has more than sixty wineries in its 20,000 acre planted vineyards. In fact, Santa Ynez is recognized for its wine tasting and touring tradition.

Santa Barbara is noted for its topnotch golf courses, breathtaking coastlines, unique local boutiques and shops, as well as palm-lined paseos and open-air malls. Shops here offer gift items, clothing, antiques, furnishings, as well as handmade crafts, travel supplies, garden and home items.

Hotel Santa Barbara
This hotel features a hoist of amenities and facilities for business travelers. It features an effective working environment with wireless Internet access in their meeting rooms and lobbies. There are 2 versatile meeting rooms that can cater to groups of 2 to 30 guests. It comes with unrestricted, static IP addresses that can be connected to your company’s Extranet/Intranet.

There are also in-room work desks, voice mail and laundry services. You can even loan a laptop at no additional charge. Plus, they offer special corporate rates during mid-weeks.

Outside nearby are fine restaurants, department stores, cafes, shops and various cultural attractions. Its location within downtown State Street makes it the perfect place for tourists and business travels who also want to be in the heart of Santa Barbara.

Moreover, the hotel can assist you with catering and dining options, provide directions;, arrange transportation, and recommend group activities.

The Upham Hotel and Country House
This hotel situated at 1404 De la Vina St. Santa Barbara, CA 93101 is considered as the oldest continually operational hotel in the region. Located in the heart of Santa Barbara, it is constructed with redwood, having a Victoria setting and sweeping verandas. It has a total of 50 rooms with a building surrounded by landscaped gardens.

The hotel has been trusted since 1871. It caters bed & breakfast accommodation, along with a conference facility and full-service hotel. They have 3 Executive Board Rooms as well as an open-air Garden Room that can accommodate up to sixty persons each.

Hotel Oceana Santa Barbara
This hotel situated at 202 West Cabrillo Boulevard Santa Barbara, CA 93101 features executive meeting rooms that can cater to 50 persons. Their conference rooms provide stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are also catered either inside the conference room or outdoors, in an adjacent patio with ocean views. Their resort rooms, on the other hand, are designed with colorful, classy and “beach chic” style.

Hotel Oceana’s rooms have the best imported type of Egyptian down comforters, cotton linens and pillows. They also provide iPod docking areas or CD players, along with Aveda bathing toiletries, sun-drenched outdoor sitting areas, whirlpool, 2 outdoor pools and poolside cabanas for private use. They also offer a full fitness center and outdoor gardens.

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Hotel California Chords Acoustic

Whether you are a California resident headed to the beach to soak up the sun for a day, or you are planning a family vacation that your kids will remember for a long time to come, you’ll find some beaches to add to your itinerary here.

Hotel California Chords AcousticHere are six of the top beaches in California, including nice, quiet beaches as well as a few beaches that are particularly nice for visiting families.

1. Santa Monica Beach. The West Coast’s answer to Coney Island, this magnificent stretch of wide, sandy beach located in the seat of Los Angeles County features the famous Santa Monica Pier which houses its own amusement park atop one of the oldest wooden piers on the west coast. The site has also appeared in dozens of movies and television shows. Take a ride at sunset on the Ferris wheel for a spectacular ocean view. Enjoy lunch or dinner at the many different eateries in the area and be sure to check out the nearby attractions, which include Venice Beach and Palisades Park. This is one place that’s sure to make a splash with the entire family.

2. Newport Beach. A fascinating and trendy bit of real estate located in Orange County, Newport Beach offers locals and tourists a variety of activities. Stroll on a scenic walkway, embark on a refreshing harbor cruise, or go boating, scuba diving, or bodysurfing Dining at most restaurants includes panoramic views of the harbors. Make sure to check out the Fun Zone and Balboa Pavilion.

3. Cardiff State Beach. Located in San Diego County, this recreational facility features lifeguards, restrooms and a smoothly sloping beach for sunbathing, fishing, swimming, surfing and kayaking. People love Cardiff State Beach for its quiet beach, casual atmosphere, fewer crowds and excellent restaurants. Nearby points of interest include Restaurant Row, which features savory seafood and Mexican fare; San Elijo Lagoon, which boasts great bird watching; and the Seaside Market where you can purchase a wide variety of healthy foods and snacks.

4. La Jolla. If your preference is sheltered coves and unique landscapes, then visiting these beaches in San Diego County should definitely be listed on your itinerary. The versatility of La Jolla’s beaches makes for intriguing and enchanting getaways or they can be loads of fun for the entire family. Investigate the underwater marine life while snorkeling or simply walk the shoreline barefoot. Nearby attractions include The Scripps Institute of Oceanography and The Stephen Birch Aquarium Museum.

5. Oceanside City Beach. Tropical palm trees stretch along the shores of this tranquil and eloquent beach located in northern San Diego County. Take a leisurely walk, ride your bicycle or roller-blade down what is called “The Strand” (the main street alongside the beach) or spend some time fishing off the pier at Oceanside. Nearby Cape Cod Village offers lots of great restaurants and the beach has lifeguards and restrooms.

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6. Coronado Beach. If you’re in San Diego, you’ll love the wide expanse of Coronado Beach with plenty of room for the family to spread out. While the kids are playing volleyball, soccer or tag, or tossing Frisbees, flying kites or building sand castles, you and your spouse can kick back and enjoy the surf, the sand and the seagulls.

This enchanting locale is home to the famous Hotel Del Coronado and is just a short ferry ride away from San Diego Bay. Or you can opt to pack everything you’ll need for a day at the beach and drive across the Bay Bridge. No food is sold at the beach so be sure to bring along sandwiches, soft drinks and other snacks. There is free parking on Ocean Avenue but it gets crowded quickly so try to get there early.

It’s interesting to note that the entire California coastline is constantly changing due to tides, currents and weather conditions. Beaches erode and new ones form when sediment washes in from the Pacific Ocean.

With all its coves, cliffs and inlets, islands and harbors, jetties and piers, it would take eons to fully explore this magnificent geographical location. That’s why many people return year after year to experience its magic and appreciate its treasures.

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