Vacation Packages

Discovering Things to Do in Valencia, California

Familiarity with one’s resources is important in many respects. It can help people find a good job, perform well in their career and help them obtain information vital to completing a project. Knowing one’s resources is also important in traveling and making a vacation a memorable experience. When traveling to Valencia, California finding an informative resource that offers information about things to do in Valencia and the surrounding area is a good start to making the trip a success. People often discover that a resource guide is a great way to either plan a trip, or get information along the way.

Valencia is located a bit more inland than cities like Los Angeles and San Diego, but is still not too far away from the coast. Valencia is located northwest of L.A. and is part of Los Angeles County. It is a planned community in the northwest corner of the Santa Clarita Valley.

Keeping with California’s most famous industry, Valencia has been the filming site of some popular television series and movies. The television series Weeds was filmed in Valencia, as is NCIS. Six Flags Magic Mountain is a popular theme park in Valencia, and was the site of the fictional ‘Wally World’ in National Lampoon’s Vacation.
Speaking of Six Flags Magic Mountain, it is home to many roller coasters and has become a popular destination for many families and theme park enthusiasts. Hurricane Harbor is a water park that sits adjacent to the amusement park and is another popular destination in the Six Flags chain of amusement parks.

Finding informative websites and resources on the internet is a great way to find fun things to do in Valencia, California and around the state. Los Angeles and Hollywood are not too far away and visitors going to Valencia often find time to head to L.A. to check out the sites and attractions that the city has to offer. Still, many visitors to Valencia and Los Angeles find hotel concierge services to be helpful in pointing them in the right direction.

Southern California is home to many big cities, popular attractions, things to do and beautiful weather. While the weather may vary from city to city, many visitors and residents find time to explore and enjoy the outdoors while in California, and many people find taking advantage of this opportunity to be very rewarding.…

Barbados Naked

Barbados Naked

Welcome to my Barbados naked series. Here I will provide you with details of things to see and do on the island and recommend restaurants, bars and excursions that I have either experienced myself or had guests tell me just how good they really are. I hope that you find the information useful for your trip or research of the island and would be very pleased if you feel you could add anything to my information. If you do please do drop me a line at [email protected] and we’ll look to add it to our ‘Barbados Naked’ feature for future readers. Please enjoy reading the articles which I will be posting weekly. The series starts this week with an introduction to Barbados, the main tourist knowledge points, some history and facts and figures.

Next week we’ll find out about restaurants and food on the island. I’ll be supplying details of the best restaurants in each town and district and giving you a flavour (if you’ll pardon the pun!) of what they offer. I’ll also detail some of the local dishes that you should try and while there.

Then comes activites. Barbados really does make the most of it’s weather. There are lots of activities to get engaged in from relaxing on the beach to the more energetic pursuits such as diving, watersports and or course golf.

Excursions follows that with a guide on what to do and when. This guide gives you all you need to know to actually ‘do it yourself’, so standby for a full breakdown of the island with contact details for excursion providers and tour operators.

You really can’t go all the way to Barbados and not sample the nightlife now can you!! Well click through during week 5 of my Naked Barbados series to find out which are hot and which are not. From beach bars to the high life of the West Coast this instalment has it all. Barbados naked it most certainly is!!

I have previously completed the top ten beaches in Barbados. Tune in to week six for an indepth look at the best beaches. I’ll be reviewing nearly all of them on the island so you can feast your eyes on those that the tourists don’t know about.

Week seven provides a calendar of events for 2009. Make sure you don’t miss a thning with an indepth study of all that there is going on in 2009.

And we finish in week eight. A whistlestop tour of all that is Naked Barbados!! I’ll round off my series for those specialist trips, getting married? Then tune in, fancy a nature trail? Then click through… it’s all here in this last ‘round up’ week.

So with no time to waste here is my opening piece. Please enjoy!!

FLIGHTS/GETTING THERE

Barbados is well connected to Britain and North America, and currently has a limited service from Continental Europe. With so many incoming flights it acts as a hub to other islands within …

Get Cheap Plane Tickets To Florida

Planning a trip or a vacation and need to book last minute plane tickets to Florida?

Don’t hesitate to get your last minute air plane tickets to Florida.  Even with vacation season on it’s way and seats filling fast, there are always plenty of airlines with seats that need to be filled.

A great feature of this type of plane ticket is that the first area of an airplane plane to fill up is the coach class.  This means you may get cheap plane tickets to Florida in the business or first class section at the same price as the coach ticket.

This is great especially for long trips so definitely take advantage of last minute tickets.  Why not enjoy the perks of upper class flight and still get the cheapest discount tickets to Florida you can.

Most international and regional airlines offer their last minute plane tickets until just hours before take off.  If you’re bags are packed and you don’t have any more time to waste, get your last minute airline tickets today, fly tomorrow.

How can I get last minute plane tickets?

Anyone can get a cheap last minute ticket for a flight to Florida.  Cheap tickets for airline flights are available now.  Just check with your local airlines and view their offers!

Get cheap plane tickets to Florida by combing them with a hotel stay.

Are you going to be staying at a hotel after your flight to Florida?

If you answered yes to this question then you can get discount plane tickets to Florida when you make it a package!

Start your exciting trip with the cheapest airfare ticket for your money.  No matter which class you prefer to fly.

Take advantage of flight and vacation packages to save big money on your Florida trip or vacation.

What would a plane ticket to Florida and hotel cost as a package deal?

This is only an example of a current price example from PA to Orlando, FL.  Does not include hotel price.

  • Round Trip airline tickets for 2 adults–$528
  • With Flight and hotel package–$450

There are hotel and air plane ticket packages available now for your trip to Florida.  Save money during your trip by booking a discount plane ticket to Florida today.…

Los Angeles Car Rentals – Need To Rent A Car In Los Angeles?

Driving is a way of life in LA. Thanks to fewer cabs in this city, people are actually more relaxed when driving. The only obvious problem would be the amount of traffic on the roads throughout the city. Compare the amount of traffic to other cities in the US, and you will find that LA has it good. Los Angeles car rentals are a great option for you if you are thinking of taking a vacation in this city. If you want an overview of rental cars, then here are the basics:

Basics

Los Angeles is pretty much like any other city in America, except that taxis are rare. The road rules that California has are considered “standard”. But you are not here to read about that, are you? You are here to learn how to get rental cars. Well, the first thing is your record. If you have bad marks in your driving record, then you can expect rejections from car rental companies – lots of them. If you are clean, then it will be easier. Also, LA rental companies will never rent out a car to a person who’s below 21 years of age. Some even require you to be at least 25 years old to drive their Los Angeles car rentals. Also, make sure that you always bring your credit card with you, too.

Rental Rates

Most Los Angeles car rental companies charge a daily rate. Other rate options are also available for your own choosing such as unlimited mileage, charge-per-mile or per-mile over certain limits, etc. Some companies offer lower rates for weekend renting, while some offer week-long rentals. The standard that most rental companies love to offer, though, is the three-day rental period. However, with this rate option, if you exceed for more than 3 days, they charge you with additional fees. If you happen to be a member of an automobile organization (such as the AAA), then you’ll usually get a discount.

Fees or Charges

Before you sign that rental agreement, it’s important that you are notified by the company of their policies and penalty charges. Los Angeles car rentals may offer the best prices, but they certainly don’t come cheap with additional fees. Some of the most common fees that you’ll most likely encounter are the ones for renting at the airport. Most airports (or local governments) add additional taxes and surcharges to the rates of the rental cars. Some additional fees are also tacked on if you let another person drive the car. There are also child safety-seat fees. You’re supposed to rent a safety-seat for your kid if you forgot to bring one. Extra charges are also added to the bill if you don’t return the car to the specific branch of the company you rented it from (these are called drop-off fees). You’re also required to refuel the gas tank every time you return the car.

As a final tip for Los Angeles car rentals; if you have your own …

The Three Most Visited Cities in America

America is undoubtedly one of the prime countries in the world. It has fifty five states that tourists can visit. But the top three most visited cities have rightly earned their ranks.

The whole of America is widely occupied with many tourists all throughout the year. Yet there are notable three cities garnering the highest rates of visitors. And these cities have all the good reasons to be in the top three positions. They are Las Vegas in Nevada, Los Angeles in California, and Orlando in Florida.

Las Vegas, Nevada

Have a taste of the city’s legendary neon nights, fantastic color of sunsets and sunrises in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the beautiful Alan Bible Botanical Garden, the historical Hoover Dam and the natural beauty of the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Of course, the most famous is the Strip in Las Vegas.

You can reserve a room in one of the cheapest hotels here called Palace Station Hotel and Casino. This way, you can save some extra penny for your casino deals. The rooms are sprawled in their 21-storey tower. Each air conditioned room is equipped with cable or satellite TV, a hair dryer, desk, iron with board, pay movies, climate control, Internet and blackout drapes They also have a refrigerator (upon request) and an alarm clock.

The hotel also offers pools, tubs, a sundeck, fitness room, bars, and casinos. There are recreational areas available for rental near the hotel as well. Outdoor activities include golf, tennis, horse riding, biking, hiking, and helicopter sightseeing.

Los Angeles, California

Feel like a star and visit the movie capital of the world, Los Angeles, California. The city offers not only the famous “Hollywood” escapade but also a number of fun and recreational places. These include scenic drives, skate parks, dog parks and salons as well as urban adventures and extreme sports areas. They also have beaches, “picture perfect” views, great hiking trails and they offer outdoor sports activities like ocean kayaking, golfing, sailing, horseback riding and many more.

The city offers a number of arts and culture venues as well as a lot of museums showcasing Science, Maritime, History, Hollywood stars and even fossil excavations. Aside from this, Los Angeles is also known for its night life activities ranging from parties, comedy shows, music, and dinner cruises.

Stay overnight in one of the cheapest hotels in the city, the Clarion Hotel. Although a night stay in this hotel is quite low, starting from $66, the hotel has a 3 star rating. This means that you still get a good deal, comfort and cost combined.

This hotel is located in West Olympic Blvd. It features an outdoor pool, sundeck, business center, pool, handicap facilities and a banquet hall. Each guest room has an air conditioning unit, a refrigerator, coffee maker and hair dryer along with iron with boards, spacious work places and a personal electronic safe (additional fees apply) .

The hotel is located near downtown L.A. It is very near the city’s …

Vacation Getaways for Kids and Dads

During vacation time, it is important that you get down to planning things together so that each family member can voice his choice of destination. A few time-tested vacation ideas or must-see places for dads and kids are suggested below. Whether it is skiing on a snow-capped mountainside that draws you or the safari, which delights your kids, you will find it all here. So pack your bags and gift your children a vacation and a memory to stay with them all their lives!

National Park Vacations

Life in the city – daily routine, commuting to and back from work, etc. may get to you at times. If you are looking for an outlet, an outdoor family vacation is an answer to it. National Parks like Yellowstone (Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana), Yosemite (California), the Grand Canyon (Arizona), Crater Lake, Death Valley, Glacier Bay, etc. provide countless opportunities to revel in the abundance of nature. The Rocky Mountain National Park is one such destination worth considering. It provides adventure opportunities with all sorts of climbing, fly-fishing, snowshoeing, skiing, backpacking, hiking, wildlife viewing, and bird watching, all in the backdrop of breathtaking scenery.

Beach Wonders

Building sand castles on the beach with your kids may give you an insight into the fantasy world of your child and help you bond better as a dad. If you are the adventurous type, water sports at the beach with your kids is an exciting option. America is blessed with beautiful beaches which are well maintained, making them ideal family vacation spots. Clearwater Beach, Cumberland Island, East Hampton, Laguna, Little Palm Island, Naples, Newport Beach, Ofu Beach, Poipu Beach, and beaches in Hawaii are the top beaches suited for a family vacation. Whether you are attracted by pristine and calm waters, rocky beaches, sandy beaches or all types of snorkeling and diving sports, you have it all here. One of the most suitable beaches for kids is the Kauai Beach—a natural wonder in itself, it offers the opportunity to ride horses and indulge in kayaking, biking, and fishing, apart from water sports.

Cities

If you haven’t taken your kids to the famous cities of America, you haven’t added value to their education. It is important that your kids learn about the seat of American politics, economic growth and strength, cultural resources and influence, academic institutions, etc., and the impact of all these on the world. The cities of maximum importance are New York, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, Philadelphia, Houston, Atlanta, and Seattle. In addition, places like Orlando, Las Vegas, and Miami can prove to be one of the most memorable family vacations with entertainment opportunities galore for all age groups.…

Most Traveled Cities in the United States

Masters rowers are a dynamic group who lead busy lives, and careers that take them all over the country. With the opportunity to travel comes the opportunity to see what rowing is like in a different city, and take in some sites, time willing. Boathouse Finder (www.BHFinder.com) provides a very useful geographic search of rowing clubs and boathouse around the country and throughout the world.

If you have any rowing travel-related stories, we’d love to hear about them. You can email us at [email protected]

AUSTIN

Austin’s Town Lake is arguably the perfect spot to row. The 6 miles of water is dammed at both ends, so there is no strong current. The weather is mild throughout the year, so rowing never stops; in fact the winter is the preferred time to row among local rowers, and spring breakers. There are no motorboats or jet skis allowed (except for coaches’ launches), so no need to worry about getting waked.

Rowing Dock is a privately owned, privately managed rowing club and boat rental facility located on the west end of Town Lake. Here the water is calm and the lush banks create a serene atmosphere. It is easy to get to from MoPac or downtown, and it offers a large parking lot. Rowing Dock is open a dock attendant is on duty all year during busy hours to help patrons with boats. With proof of skill and current membership in any recognized club, out of town rowers can rent the recreational single sculling boat. Other patrons may rent from a selection of single, double or triple kayaks or quad water cycles. Check the website or call for hours.

Austin Rowing Club is a non-profit run by an elected board. It hosts the two major regattas in Austin each year. They offer sweep rowing and sculling. ARC is located in downtown Austin near the Four Season Hotel; if you get the timing of your row right, you could enjoy the nightly bat flight from Congress Bridge, which can be seen from ARC.

CLUBS ALLOWING GUEST ROWING

• Austin Rowing Club

• Rowing Dock

• Texas-Rowing-Center

SITES OF INTEREST

•World’s largest urban bat population under Congress Bridge; nightly flights spring, summer, early fall

•4 miles of Waterfront hike and bike trails around Town Lake

•Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum & IMAX Theatre

•Shopping SOCO and the Drag

•SOCO first Thursday

•(evening shopping, festival-feel)

•LBJ Library

•State Capitol and grounds

MAJOR REGATTAS

•Fall: Pumpkin Head Regatta; October

•Spring: Heart of Texas Regatta; March

BOSTON

Boston and Cambridge are rife with rowing history. Nine boathouses line the Charles River. Four belong to clubs: Union, Riverside, Cambridge, and Community Rowing. Five belong to colleges: MIT, Boston University, Harvard, Radcliffe, and Northeastern. Guest rowing can be difficult depending upon which club you contact as some clubs require sponsorship from a member. Cygnet Rowing Club, with two boathouse locations, offers hourly rentals of single sculls.

Dividing Boston and Cambridge, the Charles River is an elegantly serpentine aquatic ribbon …

Most Popular Vacations for Active Seniors

Where is the active senior heading for vacation? The choices have never been more numerous. While there are many vacation destinations that only a few years ago were unheard of, other vacation spots have updated in order to become more attractive to seniors.

Overall, seniors today are healthier and more active than ever before. Visiting new places and experiencing new activities is possible for many of today’s seniors. Of course, relaxation is still of prime importance, which is why all-inclusive vacations are still popular.

All-inclusive vacations are great for active seniors for a variety of reasons. Because everything is included in the price, including airfare and meals, it is easy for the senior to plan and budget for the trip. Many all-inclusive vacations allow the vacationer to choose from a variety of activities as well. This means that the active senior can choose to play tennis or golf, ride bicycles or scuba dive, while other participants partake in spa activities or shopping. In the past, choices in all-inclusive vacations could be restrictive, but today, it is unlikely that the senior will be forced to participate in an activity that does not interest them.

All-inclusive vacations are available on resorts or cruises, in all areas of the world. If you are interested in a particular area, it is very likely that there is an all-inclusive vacation to that spot. What to know before scheduling an all-inclusive vacation? Be sure that you understand what all is included in the vacation. While it may be necessary for you to pay airfare from a smaller city where you live to a travel hub in a large city, if there are a variety of “extras” or optional expenses, it should raise a red flag that perhaps this particular all-inclusive vacation is perhaps not the best vacation for you.

Another popular choice for active seniors is a volunteer vacation. A volunteer vacation allows you to visit a different part of the world, learn about the culture, and help others, while still reserving time for relaxation and recreation. Activities for volunteer vacations run the gamut from counting bird eggs to helping children learn to read. There are options in the United States as well as many foreign countries. Don’t think that you don’t have skills that are needed. While some volunteers find opportunities to work in the field they were in prior to retirement, there are many opportunities for volunteers with no specialized training.

How to choose the right volunteer vacation for you? It is important to do volunteer work that you are interested in. If you aren’t an animal lover, counting turtle eggs probably will not interest you that much, even if it is on a beautiful beach. Of course, this does not mean that you should only volunteer for a charity that you are already familiar with. If the work piques your curiosity, and sounds intriguing to you, it will probably be a good vacation. The volunteer work is only one part of the vacation.…

RV Destinations In Northern California

Having your own RV is a great way for you or your family to get away from it all and enjoy some vacation time away from our hectic and stressful daily lives. Finding the right RV destination is important but with some many to choose from it can really be difficult to find the right one that has everything you need. While there are many great RV destinations around the country, some of the best ones are found only in California. California is an ideal RV destination thanks to its size and excellent facilities that camps and recreation areas provide just for RV goers. The majority of RV tourists who visit California head to Southern California, but some of the best RV spots are actually found in Northern California. If you feel like being a little adventurous, try Northern California instead as you’ll be pleasantly surprised. There are plenty of California RV parks available which makes getting to these scenic spots even easier.

Lassen National Forest is just one of the many great places you can stop at to take in the beautiful sights and scenery that Northern California has to offer. This national park is famous for its volcanic activity and you’ll be able to get firsthand experience at the might and power volcanoes can have in shaping the planet we live on. This is the home of the world famous Lassen Peak, which is the largest plug dome volcano in the world and has to be seen to be believed. If volcanoes aren’t your thing, don’t worry as there is plenty to do and see for everyone. A wide range of outdoor activities can be enjoyed and include fishing, hunting, hiking, bicycling, boating, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and much, much more. No matter who you are or what you enjoy, Lassen National Forest is a place that anyone can enjoy.

Another great spot that shouldn’t be missed is Lake Davis. Lake Davis was designed with recreation in mind, literally. Why is this? The lake was actually built specifically for recreation purposes, so the motto is recreation and having fun. There are plenty of summer activities to be enjoyed by everyone that include camping, picnicking, fishing, hunting, boating and mountain biking just to name a few. RV goers will find that the camping grounds were designed with RVs in mind and space is provided for up to a whopping 40 self contained RVs. If hiking is your thing then you might find that Plumas National Forest is the place for you. This national forest is a heaven for hikers and there are a wide variety of streams, lakes, deep canyons, lofty peaks and much, much more. The park is well known for its pleasant climate and not being crowded.

Next time you go RVing, why not be a little different and head to North California and take the road less traveled. California is well known for its scenic beauty and wide variety of outdoor activities that RV goers enjoy, but …

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, …