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Australia: Best Season to Visit

January 6th, 2009    Subscribe To Our Feed

Time your visit right to Australia and check out Australia’s holiday calendar. The biggest holiday of the year is generally from Christmas through to late January. Accommodation is often hard to find, especially at the beach. Some of Australia’s public holidays calendar vary by state

Ironically the most settled weather in southern Australian states Victoria and Tasmania is actually later in February. In contrast the peak holiday period for far northern Australia is the dry season which starts in May and runs through to October. Its worth checking out the 2009 Australia holiday calendar so that you are aware of local events which can make it hard to find a bed. Across Australia you will encounter a variety of school terms: either three or four a year. Unless if you have kids in school travelling outside the school holidays is always a good idea.

The Land Down Under is not only backwards in the seasons but also highly varied. Although most northern hemisphere residents see Australia as the land of hot long summers. The reality is more complex. Victoria and NSW both have decent skiing and seriously cold weather in the winter. In contrast in the far north there is no summer: just a wet and dry season. Once the rains come in the north travelling is restricted to boats and sealed roads as the country turns to mud.

Buy yourself a pocket Australia 2009 holiday calendar as soon as you arrive. That way you will be on top of the confusing holidays including Queen’s Birthday and Labour Day which vary right across the year depending on the state. Australia-wide there is consistently in a few national holidays including ANZAC Day and Australia Day but apart from these exceptions Australia is a mess of different holidays - and don’t even get me started on the timezones!

Falmouth Attractions: Things To Do When You Visit Falmouth

January 4th, 2009    Subscribe To Our Feed

The port and town of Falmouth is located on the River Fal and is on England’s south coast in the County of Cornwall.  It boasts the third deepest natural harbor in the world and because of this, it has been the start and end point for many voyages across the world’s oceans. Such people who have carried out such record breaking attempts are Sir Francis Chichester and Dame Ellen MacArthur. But it isn’t just the town that is interesting there are plenty of fascinating attractions when you visit Falmouth.

A baby seal, found on the beach at St Agnes, caused the National Seal Sanctuary to open here in 1958. The sanctuary was based in St Agnes until 1975 when the single pool used for keeping the seals and injured sea birds in was not large enough. It was at this time the sanctuary then moved to Gweek and its owner Ken increased the number of pools and their sizes so that they could care for more seals which were being rescued of the Cornish coast. 

As you wander around this attraction you have a chance to see firsthand the work carried out by those who are employed by it ensure that as many of the seals are returned to the wild as possible.  However, you will also find a number of these wonderful sea creatures have remained because they are simply too badly injured or will not be able to cope with being returned to the wild.

Just south east of Falmouth is Pendennis Castle which is situated across the harbor from its castle St Mawes. These are both castles built during Tudor times and were built to form a defensive chain along the south coast during the reign of Henry VIII. These castles were built to act as a deterrent against either the French or Spanish invading England. 

Since its construction it has been used over the centuries and remains in excellent condition to this day. During the reign of Elizabeth the First the castle was further strengthened and was again utilized during the Civil War by the Royalist’s and was their last stronghold to fall. The castle was also used during both World Wars and today the guardhouse and the underground tunnels and magazines from these wars remain. Plus you have a chance to visit the Tudor Keep which has been well maintained and which has seen the recreation of a gun deck.

Further on from Falmouth is Lizard Peninsula and which is actually the southernmost point in England and even though Land’s End is often thought to hold this position. When you visit Lizard Point there is plenty for one to do and see from the Goonhilly Earth Station with the satellite dishes that stand out. If you’re in luck, you may be able to see seals, dolphins or even a shark basking in the water.

In Falmouth itself there are plenty of attractions that visitors to this coastal town can enjoy. One such attraction is Trebah Gardens which are located on the outskirts of Falmouth near to the village of Mawnan Smith. The gardens are spread over 25 acres and throughout the year there are wide variety of plants to enjoy. But along with the plants there is a large pond, a waterfall and private beach area as well. 

You can spend quite some considerable time exploring all that these gardens have to offer and there is a cafe where light refreshments are provided. Plus if you find the children are getting a little bored just exploring the gardens then take them to the playground to let off some steam. The gardens are open throughout the year.  

Make sure to book your next Falmouth hotel from this list.

Saving Dollars on Your Travels

January 3rd, 2009    Subscribe To Our Feed

Taking a holiday once a year does not have to place great stress on your already stretched finances. Why not have a group of people to travel with. This is a more affordable option than travelling on your own because airlines and hotels give discounts when groups make a booking. You can book a full house and share the costs of the accommodations. In addition, you won’t be alone because you have friends on holiday with you

Booking late has its advantages as well. When an airline has unsold seats or a resort is not fully booked, they often offer deep discounts on their rates as last minute deals. When you want to take a holiday to some far off location or even a location close to home, search online for the available deals that will make your vacation more affordable

Swapping houses with a person in another city or country is an affordable way to see the sights and attractions of a location. There are many online sites you can use to find suitable house swapping partners. When you use this option, the only cost you will incur for your holiday is that of your travel to the vacation resort. If it is within driving distance, you can take your own car and not have to rely on taxis or public transportation when you arrive. You have to buy groceries when you are at home and by having a house to stay in you can cook your own meals and not have to pay for them at restaurants

Booking all-inclusive vacations can also make it easier for you to take a vacation. You can book your holiday early through a vacation loan or by paying for the cost with your credit card. You can make regular payments so that you have the full cost repaid before you take your vacation. Then you know that your travel, hotel room and meals are covered. You only have to take some spending dollars for taxis or for shopping, but since there are so many activities to engage in when you vacation at a resort, you probably won’t need to have much dollars with you

Booking flights that leave really early in the morning or late at night are also cheaper than those that depart during more socialable hours. You will also realize a deep discount in flights on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of each week. It is more costly to travel on weekends. The same thing applies to booking at popular resorts. The off-season rates are much cheaper than those charged during the busy tourist season.

Other options for saving money on a vacation include swapping houses with a person in another country or even in another city of your home country. Since everyone has to buy groceries, this won’t add to the cost of your meals. The only cost you will incur in this suggestion for saving dollars on a holiday is that of your travel. You do have to make sure that the person you choose to swap homes with for a week or two is trustworthy and will not destroy your home.

If you are short of finance for your next vacation a unsecured loan or even a new credit card can help to fix any short term cash flow problems that you have. That being said, any loan or credit card that is used will eventually be required to be paid back.

Planning a Girlfriend Getaway: Six Tips

January 2nd, 2009    Subscribe To Our Feed

Between the responsibilities of family and work, sometimes a woman just needs to get away! If you’ve been looking to book some vacation time with your favorite group of gal pals, you’re in luck. There are so many different ways to take part in a girlfriend getaway. With a little planning, you could be just weeks away from your next vacation with friends.

1. Before you start planning, figure out what kind of trip you want to take. Are these fellow moms who need some time to be pampered? Are you seeing old friends for the first time in years? Is someone celebrating a birthday? Each of these would call for a different kind of weekend.

2. Take a poll of your fellow travelers to figure out what each person wants out of the experience. Some may be looking for a weekend full of drinks, games and good times. Others may want a relaxing spa weekend. If you’re lucky, everyone will be looking for the same type of experience. But if that doesn’t happen, you can come up with some activities that will meet everyone’s needs. As long as you cover all of the bases, each of the members of your party will get what they are looking for.

3. If your friends aren’t sure what they are looking for, offer them some ideas. Enjoy a mountain retreat, a couple of days at the beach, a relaxing spa weekend or a scrapbooking trip. Send a formal poll out with these options or others to gauge interest for the weekend.

4. Figure out how far you want to travel and how much you want to spend. The price and distance are going to be a big factor in who can come and how far in advance you need to plan the trip. Don’t be discouraged if you all can’t take the cruise you’ve dreamed about. You can have just as much fun by visiting the next town over, or traveling by train to a tourist destination. If you’re meeting with a group of old friends, it might be better to stay local and visit all of the old places you used to go together.

5. Along with setting a location and a budget, figure out how the finances will be handled. Consider puchasing a package deal at a hotel or rental house. If you aren’t interested in sharing a room together, you can rent a house that has a common area and individual rooms. This way you can each have your own space but still keep costs low.

6. Check out online travel sites and resorts that specialize in girlfriend getaways, women’s weekends, and other similar packages. These often cover room, board and activities. These packages offer discounts on all of the parts of your trip so that you can save money. Browse through options from different travel agencies to see if something suits your needs. Two websites to try while you’re getting ideas:  Sandals Discount Coupons and SpaFinder.com .

Death Valley: ‘The Rebel’ National Park

December 30th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Death Valley is not your typical American National Park.  It’s a region of extremes… extreme temperatures… extreme geology… extreme history… extreme scenery. Death Valley National Park provides a stark contrast to many of Americas other national parks and appeals to those who are seeking a departure from their familiar surroundings, and a refuge from cold in winter.

Death Valley comes alive in autumn and winter months when the rest of the country is shivering under the icy chill of winter and a blanket of snow. Death Valley is a popular choice amongst ‘snow-birds’ throughout north America with her dry desert climate and her persuasively mild temperatures.

Death Valley National Park is a large park, covering more than 3 million acres, roughly 1 1/2 times the size of Delaware.  It is also a region of uncompromising beauty and scenic wonder all it’s own.

Death Valley is a popular destination throughout the year, but especially in the winter months, and activities such as hiking, biking and horseback riding are all popular sports within the area. 

Death Valley provides habitat to more than 56 kinds of mammal, 36 species of reptile, several sorts of amphibians and fish species, and more than 400 classifications of birds have been spotted within the park.

Mammals found inside the park include include bighorn sheep, foxes, coyotes, squirrels, rodents, jackrabbits, bats and more.  All kinds of beautiful and interesting reptiles can be found here  such as the Chuckwalla, the second largest lizard found inside the United States. This interesting creature likes to hang out near rocky areas and will squeeze into rocky crevices and inflate itself when it feels threatened.  Or the desert horned lizard a moderately sized lizard with pointed scales that protrude from it’s head and body in the shape of horns.  Only the ‘horns’ on it’s head are rigid, the rest of the horn-like scales are soft and feel more like normal reptile skin.  One interesting thing about the horned lizard is it’s ability to shoot a stream of blood from the corner of it’s eyes when it is threatened by a predator.  This creates a distraction and allows the lizard an opportunity to escape.

There are more than a half-dozen ghost towns in Death Valley.   These colorful relics from Death Valley’s past were mostly mining towns that sprung up in the late 1800’s to mid 1900 when gold, silver and copper ore was found in the area. The largest of the ghost towns in Death Valley is the town of Rhyolite.  During it’s heyday, this town had a population of 5,000 to 10,000 residents.  The town consisted of two churches, fifty saloons, eighteen stores, nineteen lodging houses, a stock exchange, an operahouse and more.  Today, several ruins exist in Rhyolite including a Bottle house, the Rhyolite train depot, remains of a 3-story bank building and the jail.  Rhyolite is located approximately 4 miles west of the town of Beatty on the eastern edge of Death Valley National Park.

More information can be found about Death Valley National Park and it’s many tourist attractions, lodging options and activities by visiting NationalParkReservations.com/deathvalley.htm  There you will find a complete listing of lodging options both inside the park as well as near the parks perimeter.  You can also learn more about Death Valley’s many ghost towns and other tourist attractions at the National Park Reservations site.

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Kendal: What To Do When You Visit Kendal

December 29th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

The town of Kendal is not only a short distance from the Lake District but also only a short distance from the coast as well. Not only are Lake Windermere and Keswick a short distance by car and can be reached in less than 30 minutes. In fact, the town of Kendal is an excellent base for exploring most of the Lake District. 

The Lake District is famous for its beautiful scenery the town is also well worth exploring. Here we’ll look at some attractions that you’ll want to consider when you visit Kendal.

Abbot Hall Art Gallery can be found in the centre of the town, in a converted Georgian villa and houses some wonderful works of art. As well as exhibitions taking place throughout the year there are plenty of lectures and events taking place also. So you can take your admiration of its art to new levels.

Another place that many visitors spend time at is Sizergh Castle and Gardens which is only a short drive from Kendal. The castle dates back to medieval times and was then extended during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. It boasts a number of oak panelled rooms leading on to the Inlaid Chamber there are many fine portraits and ceramics for you to view which have been collected over the years. Today the house is still home to Strickland family who first had the house built for them during the middle ages.

After you’ve toured the house you take a leisurely stroll around the gardens. Here there are two lakes to view along with an amazing rock garden also. There are also a number of viewpoints in the grounds which offer views across Morecambe Bay and to the Lake District’s fells. 

Right in the centre of Kendal you will find the Quaker Tapestry Exhibition Centre. This is housed in the Friends Meeting House built in 1816 and you can follow the history of the Quakers back to their foundation in 1652. 

However, if you’re looking to find out how life in the Lakes has changed over the years, then time should be spent at the Museum of Lakeland Life. Housed in a converted stable block opposite to the Abbot Hall Art Gallery visitors young and old will find plenty to keep them occupied. 

You can view a restored eighteenth century Victorian kitchen and walk down the Edwardian street where you will get a flavor of how life has been in the area for the last one hundred and fifty years or so. Certainly for those who want to get a real visit for what Kendal is like and what life has been like for those living here then a visit to this museum is a must.

Check this range of Kendal hotels and accommodation for your next visit to Kendal.

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