Sunday, 30 November 2008

Ideas for Beach Vacations

Ideas for Beach Vacations
By Rusty Humboldt

When you decide to vacation at the beach, there are many destinations to choose from. Beach vacations destinations are spread all over the world. Here are 9 different wonderful places that you might want to choose from.

1. Hawaii

This beach has sunny skies and warm weather all year long. The Hawaii resort has many ways to entertain you during your entire vacation. Go to Hawaii for your trip to dreamland.

2. Georgia Beach and Golf

A vacation in Georgia can be filled with many activities, but one of the most famous is the Cloister at Sea Island where the champions go to golf. If you try your hand at all 54 holes and still have energy left, you can take a walk on their sandy warm beaches.

3. Glorious Oahu Beach

Get lost in the vacation of your dreams. Whether you go for hula or spa, The Kahala Mandarin Oriental is unique and exciting. Best of all, Oahu Beach is a few short minutes from Waikiki Beach and Honolulu.

4. Vacation to the Virgin Islands

The luxurious Ritz Carlton and St. Thomas resorts sit next to the sandy beaches and blue waters of the Virgin Islands. Be wined and dined at either of these resorts.

5. Relax at Half Moon Bay

Visit San Francisco, and drive half an hour to Half Moon Bay for relaxation from the busy life. The Half Moon Bay is a Ritz Carlton resort, so quality is guaranteed.

6. Bermuda Luxury

Hop on a short flight from New York City to Bermuda. Take an ideal vacation to the Ariel Sand where you can stay in their small hotel with friendly staff, eat gourmet food, and admire the breathtaking views.

7. Jamaican Romance and Seclusion

Take a romantic vacation for two to Jamaica. Enjoy one another while sitting on the beach and listening to the waves. Then, dine together on the mouth watering food before you go back to your room at the unique Caves resort.

8. Georgia Lakeside Resort

Take the whole family to the Lake Lanier Islands near Atlanta Georgia for water attractions including water rides and slides. There is also a golf course, so Dad can go golfing.

9. Family Friendly Hawaii

With endless choices of activities, the Kona Village Resort in Hawaii is the perfect place to entertain everyone in the family, no matter their age.

Rusty Humboldt spends much of his time composing articles on a wide variety of topics. His curiosity has lead him to build both his library and workshop to overflowing. His family, friends and neighbors are always wondering what he'll come up with next. Go to Vacation for more of Rusty's writing about vacation.

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Thursday, 27 November 2008

Looking Good: South Beach Vacation Rentals

Looking Good: South Beach Vacation Rentals
By Caitlin Moore

Regular people and regular vacations are nice and everything, but sometimes the temptation to surround oneself with incredible, unbelievably good-looking people and scenery is just too much to bear. For these times, there is a place called South Beach that will sate the most demanding appetite not only for aesthetic beauty, but for fun and frivolity as well. A trip here is like visiting a movie/photo shoot/land of amusements, so if thats what youre after then send yourself south sometime soon.

Start with the basics; you know youll be spending plenty of time shopping, lounging on the beach, eating at great restaurants and seeing the sights (including lots of attractive people, yes), but first it is important to book a worthy place to stay. South Beach is filled with hotels in all price range but for this different kind of trip why not consider different kinds of accommodations?

Specifically, check out the prospect of a vacation rental. This broad term may or may not sound familiar, but if traveling is something you take seriously, it should be a well-used part of your vocabulary. A vacation rental could be a condo, a beach villa, an apartment or a cottage. It could be made for two people or twelve, and it could be located amidst the hustle of downtown or tucked a little farther back from the bustling nightlife and swarm of humanity. Just like South Beach itself, the rental offerings here are eclectic, colorful and most likely quite whimsical.

Pastel colors, swimming pools and green gardens characterize many typical homes around these parts, and staying in one will do wonders for a persons state of mind. After a few months (or years) of mind-numbing work in a less-than bright and cheery land, itll be like crossing over the rainbow to a place alive with brilliant hues. Waking up to the Florida sun beaming across your comfortable bed and knowing that a world of excitement lies just beyond your front door will mean each day begins on a positive note.

Before you even leave your home away from home to explore the amusements out there, theres a world of contentment to be taken advantage of right inside your front door. From your master bedroom to your spacious, modern bathroom, from the fully-equipped kitchen perfect for whipping up a healthy South Beach-style breakfast (or bacon and eggs, whatever) to the patio that faces the sea, itll be tough to tear yourself away. Penthouse or villa, itll take some time to properly appreciate your lodgings so do leave room in your schedule for the much-coveted down time your pleasing place will allow you.

Some properties are located within historic buildings in the Art Deco District and sit within two blocks of the beach. This would be the perfect set-up for just about anyone wanting to enjoy South Beachs best features. Art tours and charming sidewalk strolls are prim and proper things to do before eating a sinfully lavish dinner at one of the delectable restaurants or hitting the club scene later on. Dance and carouse to your hearts content and see if you can keep up with the crowd; its a formidable task, but youre only here for a few days so give it your best shot.

Hitting the hay back at your comfortable South Beach Vacation Rental could very well become the best part of your evening. Nothing is better than snuggling up in a comfy place after exerting yourself and having a blast, so remember, take care of this one detail to ensure that the rest fall into place. Your South Beach vacation awaits you, so start planning today.

HomeAway.com has all the information you need to make a smart vacation rental decision for your upcoming trip.

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Delray Beach Fun

Delray Beach Fun
By Mark Peoples

Delray Beach Florida is county of Palm Beach bordered by Boca Raton and Boynton Beach. Delray Beach has a population of over 60 thousand, composed of different people with diverse cultures. Primarily populated by Americans, the county is also home to a lot of Asians, Europeans, and other nationalities. Blessed with a beautiful coastline, the county is among the premier beach towns of America.

Staying indoors is unheard of among the residents of Delray Beach. Through the heat and the sun, the palm groves send refreshing breeze, creating a tranquil and comfortable atmosphere. Besides, nobody wants to stay indoors with the many activities one can have fun doing. The county's main attraction is their beaches. With a two mile stretch of sandy shores, the public beaches in Delray are perfect for beach activities. Sunbathing is possible without worrying about ogling eyes. Unlike the other beach towns, Delray is almost isolated, with few tourists coming to the beach. Beach volleyball, frisbee, and beachside jogging are typical in Delray. Water activities like swimming, scuba diving, and snorkeling are also offered by different beach stands. There is no need to worry about participating in these activities. The beaches in Delray are supervised by lifeguards daily. What's more, the owners and operators of the snorkeling and scuba diving facilities are trained and experienced locals. They know the waters of Delray and visitors are in safe hands.

It's not only the waters and the coast that give the county its character. The public recreational parks of Delray Beach Florida are worthy alternatives for splashing on the beach. A sports park called Miller Park offers different sports field that are open for public use. Locals and visitors alike can take advantage of playing in a baseball diamond and various soccer fields. For training or exercise, the Olympic size pool of Pompey Park is worth a try. Overlooking the majestic Intercostal Waterway is the Veteran's Park. Bicycle rentals and biking areas are found at the Cycle Center. Cleanliness is evident in the well-kept locker and shower rooms.

Aside from the parks and the beaches, Delray is also home to different museums and cultural presentations. Delray Beach's Crest Theater and Cornell Museum are only two of the most popular cultural haunts. Everything is within reach in Delray. There are shopping malls and department stores, different hotels, and an array of different restaurants. The Atlantic Avenue and the Levenger Outlet have merchandise that can satisfy even the pickiest shopper. Delray Beach Florida offers something for everybody.

For more valuable information on delray beach and delray beach florida, please visit http://www.delraybeachfloridas.com

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Places To Stay At Virginia Beach On Your Vacation

Places To Stay At Virginia Beach On Your Vacation
By Richard Rspad

Virginia Beach is a legendary summer vacation spot for kids and adults alike. Given the popularity, there are plenty of places to stay for all ages and interests.

Places To Stay At Virginia Beach On Your Vacation

Virginia Beach is a friendly beach community situated on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay in southeast Virginia. This vacation spot is home to many Spring Break college vacationers, and in the summer is a great place to take your family for a beach getaway. There are many different types of lodgings to choose from when staying in the Virginia Beach area. Picking the right one can make sure that your vacation turns out just the way you wanted.

One of the Virginia Beach vacation accommodations considered especially great is the Virginia Beach Resort Hotel and Conference Center. This hotel has 295 bay view suites with full-featured resort facilities. Also on the grounds is the Virginia Beach Tennis Club, which offers 30 outdoor and six indoor courts for those who enjoy playing the game of tennis. Water sports are encouraged at this beachfront resort, and there is also a complete fitness facility for use by the guests.

If your idea of Virginia Beach lodgings leans more towards luxury and relaxation, the Founders Inn will definitely fit the luxury vacation bill. This inn offers elegance; both in their well-appointed guest rooms and restaurants. They also offer accessibility to golf courses and other Virginia Beach attractions, and a brand-new spa (opened June 2006) caters to those who want to relax and rejuvenate while staying in Virginia Beach. The restaurants here are first rate, and the Wine Terrace restaurant, located within the inn, has earned an award from Wine Enthusiast magazine. Special dining events and wine dinners also take place at the Founders Inn.

A final look at the Virginia Beach lodgings brings us to the Ramada Plaza Resort Ocean Front. Located at the quiet northern end of the beach, this is the perfect place to come and relax with or without your family. There are 245 guest rooms at the hotel, and they all have private balconies or patios, so you can enjoy the beautiful ocean atmosphere of Virginia Beach. There are indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness center, Kid's Cove children's activity center, and even rentals of water equipment such as kayaks right on the property. Restaurants are also located in the facility, and a shuttle to the beach is complimentary.

Virginia Beach offers many different types of vacation accommodations to visitors and there is something for everyone at this seaside resort town. Whether you are into relaxation, water sports or even walking the Boardwalk, you can enjoy your time in this vacation spot and also enjoy your stay at one of the great Virginia Beach lodgings.

Richard Rspad is with ResortSpaDestinations.com - reviews and articles on resorts. Visit us to read spa articles as well.

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Monday, 24 November 2008

Certainly Seal Beach!

Certainly Seal Beach!
By Matthew Keegan

If you are visiting the Los Angeles, California area you need to travel a wee bit south to beautiful Seal Beach. Named for the seals which used to inhabit the area, the town has all the charm of a beach community. Lovely tree lined streets and well kept homes are the town's feature. When you want to have a little extra adventure and are lured by the salt air, take a walk on the pier which pushes out to the Pacific Ocean.

Once on the pier look to the north and see the mountain range seemingly rising up from the ocean's floor. Look straight out and you will see the majestic Pacific. Yes, those are oil rigs jutting up out of the ocean! A bit of an eyesore, but necessary especially in this day of over dependence on oil imports. Are you hungry? Stop in at the restaurant located half way down the pier and get a bite to eat. Or, stroll back in town and have your pick of seafood restaurants.

Nearby to Seal Beach is Long Beach, which is the home of McDonnell-Douglas, the airplane manufacturer. Now owned by Boeing, much of the area surrounding Long Beach International is dedicated to aviation. Stop by the airport and see what a circa 1920s airport still looks like! Yes, it is functioning and it is a good alternate airport to LAX.

Los Angeles is a 20 minute drive to the north while Orange County and Anaheim are within an hour's drive to the south. Of course, being that it is California, expect to be stuck in one of their wonderful traffic delays at some point. Hey, you could always return to bucolic Seal Beach and wait out the traffic!

Matt is a writer, web designer, and marketing expert who writes about business issues as well as places he has visited. Visit his chief site at http://www.corporateflyer.net and learn about the fantastic field of business aviation.

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Sunday, 23 November 2008

Great Attractions in West Palm Beach

Great Attractions in West Palm Beach
By Jon Tan

The city offers up to 47 miles of beaches, as well as a wide range of cultural and recreational activities. The top attractions include Clematis Street, Lake Place, Lion Country Safari, and some of the best beaches around.

Lion County Safari
Lion County Safari, it is open daily rain or shine from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30p.m. Since 1967 Lion Country Safari has offered its visitors an up-close and personal experience with some of the most fascinating creatures on our planet. Located eighteen miles west of Interstate 95 on Southern Boulevard in West Palm Beach, Lion Country Safari continues to offer the public an opportunity to see its resident animals in their natural environment while also actively participating in the rehabilitation and captive breeding of many of its species.

To take full advantage of all Lion Country Safari has to offer, plan on spending at least two hours exploring the drive-thru areas by vehicle and another two to three hours on foot enjoying the petting zoo and other included attractions.

City Place
Another tourist spot is City Place. City Place is part of a long term reclamation of the downtown area. The designers of City Place have combined an early 1900 style with modern concepts to create an environment that is relaxing and exciting at the same time. Once a depressed area, City Place left only one original building standing in process of building the new downtown area.

Rapids Water Park
If you family is looking to get wet then the place to go to is, The Rapids Water Park. The Rapids Water Park is South Florida's premiere family park.

The Rapids features a full day of fun for the entire family whether you make a splash in the cool blue waves, that a thrilling ride down any of there 16 water slides, or just float around the lazy river. Rapids Water Park has 22 acres of action packed attractions, with something fun for everyone.

Palm Beach County
You can also enjoy the great outdoors at one of the many parks and beaches in Palm Beach County. It offers everything from boating to horseback riding. Palm Beach County operates and maintains over 70 parks and provides organized recreation programs and services for people of all ages and abilities.Palm Beach County is home to 150 golf courses, 1,100 tennis courts, and 2,000 restaurants and more than 40 cultural venues.

Visitors may be content to stroll the beaches for shells, snorkel off-shore, or fish for bass in the calm waters of Lake Okeechobee. Palm Beach County's Ocean Rescue lifeguards and inflatable rescue boat operators protect swimmers at thirteen oceanfront and inlet parks from Tequesta to Boca Raton.

Swimming areas are guarded year-round from 7:30 am until 5:30 pm, seven days a week. After a relaxing swim you can visit Clematis Street and Flagler Drive in downtown West Palm Beach, which is also another tourist attraction.

The best way to get to Clematis Street is to take I-95 to Palm Beach Lakes Blvd. Head east on Palm Beach Lakes Blvd. to Dixie Highway, turn left and you're there. Clematis Street is known for its restaurants, shopping and nightclubs. But perhaps its best know attraction is the fountain in Centennial Square. Kids love to play and have fun in the fountain.

The water jets constantly move from place to place. The Fountain is located in Centennial Square on the extreme east end of Clematis Street near the Intercostals Waterway. Centennial Square is the most famous part of Clematis Street. Centennial Square is located on the extreme east end of Clematis Street. It's the site of the fountain and Clematis by Night (a major weekly event each Thursday night.) On Fridays' a band was playing at the lunch hour. Everyone enjoys it, including the kids.

For more travel-related information on West Palm Beach like restuarants to go and hotels to stay in, visit West Palm Beach Travel Guide at LAST-MINUTE-VACATION-GUIDE.COM

Copyright Statement
This article was written by Jonathan Tan and may be reproduced on any travel-related website provided this copyright statement is displayed unedited in its entirety at the foot of the article and you use the exact same HTML code to ensure a clickable link back to the author's site. Further articles are also available. Contact the author for more information. Copyright http://www.last-minute-vacation-guide.com

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Newport Beach: Exquisite Beaches

Newport Beach: Exquisite Beaches
By Michael Russell

Newport Beach, California has always owed much of its success to its proximity to the ocean. It is located in Orange County and has become part of a metro are that is also composed of Santa Ana, which is located about 10 miles north. Originally inhabited by Shoshone Indians who lived in part on the bounty of the sea as well as the fertile farmland, by the mid-1700s, the Spanish were beginning to explore further into what would become California. The areas of Santa Ana, Tunstin and Orange, which would later make up Newport Beach, evolved into farming communities with many new arrivals by covered wagon in the 1800s. In the late 1800s, the rather isolated settlement's population and trade exploded when a wharf was built that spanned the area from the shallow bay of the peninsula to the deeper waters where the larger steamships could dock. Within a few years of the wharf being built, the area of Newport Beach was a thriving shipping town.

With all of the new shipping activities, more investors became interested in the area. By 1905, the Pacific Electric Railroad had connected Newport Beach to Los Angeles. With the advent of the trains, many families began arriving in Newport Beach to camp and enjoy the area. As a result, soon small hotels and cottages were built to keep up with the need for visitor facilities. In 1906, the scattered areas of West Newport, Balboa Island, Lido Isle and the peninsula were incorporated into the city of Newport Beach. Soon parts of Newport Heights and Corona del Mar were annexed and the city increased its boundaries again.

During World War II, Newport Beach became an area for the Navy to build and repair its ships. With the influx of servicemen, the local business continued to prosper. By the end of the war, quite a few of the servicemen and servicewomen liked the area and decided to stay. Unfortunately this triggered a real estate boom and prices increased as a result. With the increased demand for housing, many of the local seasonal rentals changed into homes that were occupied year-round. This somewhat changed the area's focus from a seasonal destination to a place where people lived year-round.

With the Santa Ana Freeway finished in the 1950s, it was even easier to get to Newport Beach. Housing developments spread quickly and the areas around Newport Beach, including the hills and nearby mesas, soon became homes to thousands. Gradually the focus of the area changed again, away from the fishing industry. Today the area is home to manufacturing, but still owes a lot of its success to its beaches. That is primarily what still attracts visitors today.

Even today, the original reason people wanted to visit Newport Beach, namely the beaches surrounding it, still attract people today. There are national parks and many sites to see in the area. Today the city would be unrecognizable to the early settlers. Newport Beach is a thriving metropolis that continues to grow and attract visitors from around the world to its beaches and sights.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Newport Beach

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