My Travel Blog

Clearwater BeachClearwater is located in Pinellas County on the west coast of Florida in the US. We are on the Pinellas Peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico on the west and Tampa Bay on the east. This beach is popular with younger people and is the perfect base for day trips to Tampa, St Petersburg and Orlando.Clearwater boasts an average 361 days of sunshine per year.Sand Key ParkSand Key Park has a lovely, large beach which is popular with families. Sand Key Park was opened in August 1984. Ninety-five acres are located on Sand Key, which is a barrier island between the Gulf of Mexico and the Florida mainland. Clearwater Pass (which leads from the Gulf to the Intracoastal waterway) separates the park from the resort area of Clearwater Beach.Indian Rocks BeachThis beautiful beach offers a rare chance to surf on the gentle Gulf waves. Indian Rocks Beach is located on a barrier island on the West Coast of Florida, 30 minutes from Tampa International Airport.Madeira BeachMadeira Beach is located halfway between St. Pete Beach and Clearwater Beach offers a quieter alternative to these more populated beaches, making it an ideal vacation spot for the entire family.You can see fishing boats unload their catches at nearby Johns Pass.St. Pete BeachSt. Pete Beach is located directly on the Gulf of Mexico on the western edge of the Tampa Bay area, St. Pete Beach is only 45 minutes from Busch Gardens in Tampa and 90 minutes from Walt Disney World and Universal Studios in Orlando. This beach has excellent water sports facilitiesPass-a-GrillePass-a-Grille beach offer visitors a glimpse of 'Old Florida'. Visit for great views of sunsets and dolphins.Do not miss…- Biscayne Bay Boat TripsTake a relaxing cruise between downtown Miami and Miami Beach. Cruise along Biscayne Bay covering the downtown Miami skyline, the Port of Miami, Brickell Key, Fisher Island and the celebrity filled islands of Miami Beach known as 'Millionaire's Row'.- Cedar KeyThis remote island off Florida's northwest coast makes an enchanting getaway. Cedar Key is a quiet island community located among many tiny keys on the Gulf Coast of Florida. This area is admired for its natural beauty and abundant supply of seafood. It is a tranquil village, rich with the almost forgotten history of 'Old Florida'.- Snorkelling in Key Largo.Considered by locals to be the diving capital of the world, but the island is nearly as famous as a sport fishing destination.- Canaveral National Seashore and Merritt IslandThe area near the Canaveral launch site has an astonishing variety of fauna and a wide range of habitats - watch out for the alligators! Canaveral National Seashore: This national seashore boasts 24 miles of undeveloped beach on Barite Island off the coast of central Florida. The weather is semitropical with average year-round air temperature of 79 degrees and 295 days of sunshine. There are three beaches: Playalinda, Klondike (for hikers), and Apollo.- Jackson beachesThis beach is 12 miles east of downtown Jacksonville. There are around 6 beaches stretching 28 miles north and south along the Atlantic shore.

Why should you think about Costa Rica for your next vacation?

There is question that holds many answers, but here are just a few of the key points.

1. The large choice of things for you and your family to do in such a small area. Eco tours, fishing, swimming, surfing, mountain climbing, camping, hiking, volcanoes, scuba diving, snorkeling, cruises, wildlife, plant life, and the list just goes on.

2. Costa Rica is affordable if you plan ahead for your vacation.

3. The people in the country most always are very friendly to foreigners and tourists. They will do almost anything to win your friendship or help you out. Yes, Spanish is the main language spoken here but if you have a little translation dictionary, or one of those new electronic devices by Casio or Franklin you won't have a problem. There is usually always someone near by to help you with Spanish, and more than likely they will speak your language fluently also.

4. Car rental is reasonable, but for those that really want to get to know the country I recommend using a bus. Yes, I know it sounds wild, but it can be a lot of fun and you will meet some interesting people. You can travel for hours going through the mountains or along the Pacific Coast and only spend $2 or so for the fare.

5. Costa Rica is a very safe place for your family also.

How much can you expect to spend for a Costa Rica Fishing Vacation?

Obviously that depends on many things like the type place you wish to sleep, where you choose to eat, and the type of transportation you use while here. When it comes the cost of the actual fishing trip itself, well they can range from $200 for a half day, up to $6,000 for a week if you really want the best of everything including lodging, food, and transportation for your whole family.

Keep in mind that if you're a penny pincher, you could spend a week here fishing, surfing, and swimming with lodging food and all for less than $1,000. Now that is hard to find somewhere else. Costa Rica has what your looking for, now all you have to do is grab your sun screen, pack some bags, bring a camera, and plan to have a great time.

If you are in an area that is traditionally damp or it has recently rained in your area it may be a good idea to take some form of tinder with you on your camping trip. Most camping and outdoors stores sell small single use fire starting kits. These are generally good for any situation where you are going to have trouble finding enough dry brush to start a fire. Once you have your tinder you should find enough small twigs and tiny branches to surround the tinder. These should be small and as dry as possible. You will want to then find wood in ascending size to go above the twigs. Finally you are going to want to find logs, this is going to be the fuel for your fire for the bulk of the night so you should stock up most heavily on this type of wood. If you have ever chopped firewood it might not be a bad idea to pack an axe with your camping gear. Often times one large log can be split into firewood and will be enough to last the whole night and part of the next day. Be sure to build your wood pile a safe distance from the fire site.

In the very center of your fire pit you want to place your tinder material. Don't pack it to tightly or it won't burn fully. You want to place the dried brush in a small pile making sure to leave enough room for oxygen to pass through it and fuel the fire. Around the tinder you small twigs and sticks are going to be the first pieces of wood to catch fire. In a square build a small log cabin with its four walls surrounding the tinder. Lay two sticks on the right and left of the tinder.

Continued in Part 3

San Francisco's museums, arts and galleries are a great departure from commercial attractions and offer the visitors to discover the history and art of this amazing city. You will have a unique personal experience when you admire the works done

at the Asian Art Museum or take part in science experiment at the Exploratorium. You may choose any attraction, it is sure that it would inspire and provide you an understanding of great art and history of San Francisco.

Asian Art Museum in the Civic Center is one of the largest museum devoted to Asian artwork in Western world. Different mediums have been represented with sculptures, paintings, bronzes and jade objects by all hands. All areas of Asia symbolize and focus on works from China, Korea, and Japan. Discover 6,000 years of Asian history through works of art at this outstanding museum.

Visit the seas and learn everything about sailing, whaling and fishing at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Part Museum. This museum is located at the west end of Fisherman's Wharf. The best features are that the museum is shaped like an Art Deco shop and it offers the visitors interesting videos, storytelling, interactive displays and models. Visit some of the historic ships by moving two blocks east to Hyde Street Pier. Here you might look and learn about the museum's renovation progress of these historic boats.

Experience the Wild West at the extraordinary Wells Fargo History Museum. It is one of the California's largest bank houses, an old west history museum at the bank's head office. View the Concord Coach used by the bank during 1800's and displays featuring gold rush vestiges including; photographs, mining equipment with ore. The Wells Fargo History Museum has free entry and is open to the public.

If modern art interests you, do visit to the unbelievable San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) perhaps the perfect way to spend an afternoon. This South of Market area museum boasts for about 23,000 pieces with works from Matisse, Pollock and de Kooning. The museum further houses a wide set of photography from the likes of Ansel Adams and few other remarkable modern photographers. The museum is open to the public on a normal fee and Thursday night's entrance is half off.

For an exclusive and interestingly amusing day, visit the Exploratorium in the Marina District at the Palace of Fine Arts. Rated the best science museum in the world by Scientific American magazine, this museum is an interactive quest in the science. Children and parents would thrill at the original exhibits requiring participation. The Exploratorium makes science so amusing that it is hard to pull yourself away from this hands-on science fair setting.

Touring San Francisco's great museums and galleries can take up an actual whole vacation week, so it is fine idea to map out a couple of museums of your choice and make the most of the ones you are clever to visit. Also remember that museums are a great different activity if your previously planned activities are rained out.

Chicago was founded in the early 1800s and served as a connection between the developed East Coast and the enlarged Wild West. On the shores of Lake Michigan, the development of suburbia and skyscrapers was low but persistent. Though the devastating fire of 1871 grounded Chicago, it came back again and this time growth took pace every decade. By 1900, it crossed the mark of two million people.

Chicago is now the third largest city in the United States next to New York City and Los Angeles, California. Not only being the third largest city in the U.S, Chicago also ranks among the world's leading industrial and transportation centers

From what I have read, Chicago is nicknamed the windy city for different reasons. The first reason is that the Mayor of Chicago boasted so much about Chicago hosting the worlds fair, which implied the Mayor was windy. Another reason was that the politicians in the Chicago are full of hot air therefore implying the windy city. The last reason is that the editor of a newspaper was trying to promote Chicago as a summer resort and used Lake Michigan's summer breeze as a selling point. I do not know which of the reasons above gave Chicago its nickname the windy city but they all seem to make sense to me.

Chicago is also renowned for its excellent art institutions and museums, great food and great jazz music. If you have an appetite for sports, Chicago has the legendary Bulls, Bears, and Cubs, which are well known all over the world.

Chicago is a wonderful place to visit. The fever of Chicago will impress you.

It is getting nearer to Christmas day than ever. Well, the clock is ticking, there is no denying it. Very soon, your children will be dropping hints all over the place for their intended Christmas day gifts. So what are the most popular gifts nowadays?

It could be that newest Playstation, Xbox or the newest PC games. Looking at the list of popular toys, no matter what it is, it will probably burn a hole in your pocket. As parents, it is always difficult to keep up to the most desired Christmas gift for the year, unless your boss is Santa Claus.

Chances are most of us will delay gift buying until 24 of December. That is when the last minute shopping craze will start. If you are to be at a mall that day, you could watch all the insanity going around you. Everyone is on a buying spree. Shopping is enjoyable; it is hard to say it is not. Well, that is until the credit card bill comes along.

Most parents will teach their children that there is more to Christmas than just gift giving. There is an origin and how it all started. However it is also very delightful just to watch the children opening up the gifts under the Christmas tree on that morning. Just looking at their happy faces could make parents feel it is worth it. This is capitalism and consumerism working at its best.

However, have you ever wonder what happened to the toy that you gave as a Christmas gift last year? The child may have forgotten all about it. If it is still fortunate enough to be still at home, it could be chucked at some obscure corner in the storeroom. You see, the most popular and desired gift may not last that long enough.

According to some child experts, the most popular Christmas gift may not be the one you find online or in some popular magazines. It is something unique and special that no one else can have. What they secretly yearn for is your time, love and affection. It is something no toy or money can give them.

You may have given them all the provisions and education that they needed. But in doing so, you have to spend most of your time outside working hard for the money. The children also need to communicate with you. There are some very simple and easy ways to start spending time with them. Why not try working on projects with them like building a tree house together. The important thing is to spend time with them. You see, at the end of the day, it is about having balance in your life. you are the gift to your children.

The Swiss Alps are one of the many popular destinations in Switzerland, particularly for athletic persons like mountaineers and trekkers. The scenic view of the mountain ranges greets climbers and adventure seekers' sight. In this site, even beginners can enjoy the scenic view of the Alps by walking and mountain climbing.

Both the walking trails and nature trails in Switzerland allow walkers of different levels of capability, whether they are amateur walkers on their first tour or experienced walkers with trekking and climbing skills, to enjoy the Alpine scenery of Switzerland while on walking tours in the country. The Jura Mountains in the Northwestern region of Switzerland, has rolling meadows where walking tours are pleasant and enjoyable. Meanwhile, the Bernese Alps is known for its high peaks including the Finsteraarhorn, the Schreckhorn and the Eiger. Apart from these towering peaks, the Bernese Oberland has clearly laid out walking trails along gentler slopes and valleys so walkers can see views of the majestic mountains while traveling on their walking trails. Moreover, the Pennine Alps to the South of the Rhone Valley, has many glaciers and spectacular snow-capped peaks alongside walking trails. In complete contrast are the wooded mountains of the Canton Ticino because this region is not snowbound and has moderate weather conditions, allowing walkers to enjoy sunny walks along the lakes and tree-covered hills of the Canton Ticino along the border with Italy.

Facilities are available to tourist enjoying their walking tours in Switzerland. The vaialability of such services aim to help tourists cross rivers, streams, inaccessible mountains, and other natural barriers including gondolas, chair-lifts, and cable-cars. Also accommodations on the high Alps are available in various kinds of Alpine huts including H?, refuge, rifugio, cabane or capanna, which offer dormitory living and meals for weary, but nevertheless happy travelers after a long day's walk in Switzerland.

Walking trails are clearly marked and are maintained to ensure the safety of walkers, thus yellow markers or signposts placed at regular intervals indicate landmarks and scenic destinations and viewpoints. On these paths, most often than not, the time taken to walk to the destination is also mentioned and many of these signposts will have a white plate on which the altitude and name of the scenic viewpoint are written.

The two kinds of walking trails are as follows: The Wanderweg or chemin de randonn?p?stre, or sentiero escursionistico is a gentle path for a climber of the beginner's level. Meanwhile, the Bergweg, or chemin de montagne, or sentiero di montagna is a tougher climb and may include rough terrain. The latter trail may be a path that is not used very frequently, thus red and white pointers on the yellow signpost indicate this tougher path.

Mounds of stones often mark the way along higher slopes or Cairns to indicates the direction of the route across the hillside where there may not even be a path. However, the signposts marked with blue indicate high altitude Alpine trekking trails, which should only be attempted by experienced climbers with mountaineering gear and with the help of trained guides. With a little circumspection and enthusiasm for adventure, there is no doubt that you are certainly to have fun walking through the magnificent scenery of the Swiss Alpine region while engaging on walking tours in Switzerland.

The Pompano Beach economy is based on tourism, light manufacturing, retail, and high technology with 3,000 acres set aside for industrial and commercial development. Pompano Beach easily accesses the global marketplace and is home to over 50,000 individual business enterprises.

Pompano Beach provides many advantages to the tourist visitor. There are over 2,000 units for visitors' accommodation and over 200 restaurants in the local Pompano Beach area. Pompano Beach is a gateway now as it was a hundred years ago to the famous beaches of the Gold Coast. In Pompano Beach itself, there are over three miles of sandy white beach for your enjoyment.

The city of Pompano Beach, Florida started as a railroad town that opened the rest of Florida to the world. At one time, Pompano Beach was the end of the line so to speak, as the southernmost railroad station of the famous Florida East Coast Railway. One of the employees of that railroad gave Pompano Beach its name. He wrote down the name of the fish he had for dinner, hence, Pompano Beach. The Pompano runs abundantly in the warm waters of the Atlantic off Pompano Beach. The first train arrived in the small settlement of Pompano on February 22, 1896.

Pompano Beach is centrally located on the Gold Coast of Florida in Broward County. Pompano Beach is home to 100,000 permanent residents and an even larger number of part time residents. Pompano Beach is a thriving city midway between Miami and Palm Beach. Pompano Beach visitors and residents use the Ft. Lauderdale / Hollywood International Airport, which is about ten minutes away. Although in many ways a quiet seaside community, Pompano Beach is at center of Broward County business and recreational activities. Pompano Beach has all the benefits with less of the inconveniences of a major metropolitan community.

If golf is your sporting outlet, Pompano Beach offers some great local courses to challenge your skills. If boating is your idea of a great time, numerous marinas dot the Pompano Beach landscape. Pompano Beach also boasts of the only pristine coral reef system on the continental United States. And it is so close to home.

The Pompano Beach business and tourist community likes to say that, ?In the heart of everything, we have everything? and that is true. Accommodations and activities run the taste and budget gamut. What ever you need to make you vacation more enjoyable, Pompano Beach has it. In 2005, the city was designated as an ?All-American City?.

By: <a href=http://www.articledashboard.com/profile/Tavis-J.-Cooper–/15788>Tavis J. Cooper -</a>

Bansko is a great destination for year round travel. You can ski and snowboard in the winter. The spring and summer are a great time to enjoy hiking, picnicking, and other warm weather outdoor activities. Golf in Bansko, Bulgaria is also a great activity to do during the warmer months, especially since the course is located at the foot of the Pirin Mountains.

An Upcoming Sport

Golf is a new reality in Bansko, as in Bulgaria it is really at its beginning stages of growth and one of the most prominent golf courses is fairly new. The facility is world class and was designed by Ian Woosman, who has won a lot of golf tournaments and understands how to design great golfing complexes.

Golfing and Real Estate

Yes, the mountains are a big draw for the area. But with the addition of the golf course has really turned Bansko into a year round resort. As a result of this popularity, the real estate market in Bansko is also lucrative. If you are interested in golfing and love the mountains, perhaps a property investment in Bansko would be worth your while.

Enjoying the Course

Golf in Bansko, Bulgaria is a prime opportunity to spend the day outdoors in a mountainous area engaging in a sport that you love. Imagine spending the day with your friends and family enjoying both the mountain air and the game.

The 18 hole course is sprawled over plenty of land. There are almost 300 acres on the entire property. And the course diversity makes for an enjoyable outing. There are the standard challenges, such as water and rolling hills so even experienced golfers will find it challenging.

Planning your Golfing Vacation

Have you decided to spend your vacation playing golf in Bansko, Bulgaria? Summer is ideal. The weather is great and the mountains are clear and in view. You can experience the flora of the area while playing a sport you love.

The first thing you will need to do is find out what is needed to play on the golf course. Do you need a special membership? How many days would you like to play? How much does it cost?

Next, you'll need to outline exactly when you will go. Is it a last minute trip or will you have time to plan it properly? This will determine where you will stay and how you will get there.

In terms of lodging there are plenty of hotels, apartments, and vacation apartments throughout Bansko and the surrounding area. There are some apartment complexes that have recently been built. You may want to check if any of the owners are renting them out or not. Otherwise, the hotels vary from family owned to ones that are a lot larger.

Families coming from places throughout Europe can drive, take the train, or fly in. If you are coming from other destinations such as the United States, you will need to fly, unless you are taking an extended vacation in Europe and can drive or take the train.

Spending your vacation playing golf in Bansko, Bulgaria is an excellent choice if you are passionate about the sport and the mountains. The course provides a great challenge in a beautiful setting. When you aren't golfing you can also hike and do other mountain related activities. Or, visit one of the many taverns or restaurants.

Adding to the excitement or nervousness of moving is the dilemma of packing. Mankind, being pack rats, tends to gather a lot of clutter over the years –things of use, of sentimental value, gifts, brick-a brack, and family heirlooms. Some are treasured while others tolerated. When the time comes to move there are hard and heartrending decisions to make.

Determine how much you are allowed to take with you. Find out the floor space in your new home. Be practical and:

* Make a list of "must haves"

* Arrange to put all other things in storage or have an auction or garage sale.

* Put aside things you want to give to charity.

* Disconnect, clean, and repair appliances a week before packers arrive.

* Make arrangements to transport plants and pets or find new homes for them. Most packers will not transport plants and pets. You will need to take them by car, train, or plane to your new destination.

Here are a few guidelines:

* Hire professionals to pack fine china, breakable antiques, silverware, furniture, and heavy appliances. This will save breakage costs and the consignment can be insured.

* Undertaking to handle the bulk of packing yourself, it saves money. Start with non fragile things: books, clothes, linen, shoes, as well as inexpensive kitchen ware.

* Use small boxes

* no box should weigh more than say 15-20 kilos.

* Jewelry and other irreplaceable items should be handled and transported personally. Pack with bubble wrap and carry it yourself as luggage.

* Boxes must be of the ideal size and good strength. Wardrobe boxes are ideal for expensive clothing. Use padded dish boxes for packing chinaware. Use free boxes obtained from the supermarket for jeans, t-shirts, shoes, toys, and everyday non-fragile items like tea cups and coffee mugs.

* Use as buffer: old newspapers, bubble wrap, sheets, blankets, pillowcases, and towels. Every item should be wrapped individually. Fill empty paces between objects with torn paper bits so that things don?t rattle around when shifted.

* Pack plates and glass objects vertically instead of flat.

* Seal boxes using duct tape or plastic strapping used by movers.

* Mark each box clearly put a number or code that corresponds to your master list. Paste a label with name, address, destination, and contact number. Use pre-printed labels or an indelible marker.

* Boxes containing fragile items should be marked clearly as "fragile" with an arrow showing which the "top" side is.

* Make an inventory. Include a detailed list with corresponding box number and which room it is for in the new home.

* Pack a first day box. Mark it to be opened first. Load it last. It should contain: medicines, food, baby needs, and copies of house documents, emergency numbers, soap, towels, and insecticide. Include a few sleeping bags in case of emergency.

Move economically. Make a plan or timetable. Start weeks in advance. Try and locate a plan of your new home so that you can decide what to take with you and what to store.