Places to Visit Italy

Italy, that is a place I want to visit someday. Besides being of Italian heritage, I love the food, the beautiful landscapes and the history of Italy. My grandfather sailed the President Wilson and arrived in New York on January 6, 1924. The ship sailed from Naples, Italy. He was 28 years old. There would be a few more trips back to his homeland, one to bring back a bride to the states. He was very proud to become an American citizen and prospered here. I do not remember my grandparents taking many trips back to Italy but I do remember the stories told to me. I have relatives I have never met and hope to see someday.

All I can do now is look through a few catalogs and books to know that I definitely want to visit Italy. Some of the places I want to visit are of course the birthplaces of my grandparents and relatives unknown to me. My grandmother was born in the Marche region which is considered a central region on the side of the Adriatic Sea. She was born in Ancona, a seaport, which has become a quite wealthy, touristy region. My grandfather was born in the L'Aquila region just a little south of the Marches.

Places to visit in Italy would be of course it's capital, Rome. Modern Italy, with Rome as its capital, only came into existence in 1870. The area had been made up of many independent city states. These states still exist in the 20 regions that make up Italy. The two states that remain independent today are the Vatican City in Rome and the Republic of San Marino in northeastern Italy. Modern Italy is an important industrial nation, with large steel, chemical, textile and car manufacturing industries. Even so, many Italians still make their living from farming. Their main crops are corn, rice, wheat, grapes and olives plus the fishing industry because of the many fishing ports around Italy's coasts.

I just have to take a look at some of the photos I have on Italy and my heart longs to be there. Rome is located in the Lazio region on the Tyrrhenian Sea side. The Vatican City is a walled state within the city of Rome. It was formed in 1929 and is just a little over 100 acres in size. You can enter the Vatican City through the famous St. Peter's Square with its Baroque architecture dating back to the 1600's. St. Peter's Basilica seats 60,000 people. The largest museum is located in the Vatican City and also there is the Sistine Chapel. Don't forget about visiting The Colosseum!

I would also love to visit the Toscana region and explore Tuscany and Florence. It is said that Tuscany has some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world where artists had used the Tuscan landscape during the Italian renaissance as their backdrop. The capital of this region is Florence where the Cathedral of Pisa - that famous leaning tower still stands. Another beautiful cathedral to visit in Florence is the Santa Maria del Flore which also has great architecture. Florence is where Leonardo da Vinci was born and spent his youth. A little south of Florence is Siena. You can go to another cathedral called the Florence Cathedral.

A honeymoon in Italy sounds very romantic. If I had to do it over again, undoubtedly that is where I would want to go. At this point, my first visit would be in the central regions of Italy that I mentioned above. On another trip, I would love to go further up north to visit Venice and Milan, one of the largest and most developed cities in Italy. Da Vinci's famous painting "The Last Supper" is in Milan as well as The Duomo Cathedral where the Archbishop of Milan resides. It features gothic architecture and the only cathedral bigger than The Duomo is St. Peter's Basilica. Another site to visit is the Sforza Castle which took 10 years to build in the 1300's. This castle was built to be a fortress and now holds Michelangelo's final work of art, a marble sculpture known as the Rondanini Pieta. Last but not least, don't forget about the shopping in Milan. I hear it is to die for!

read more "Places to Visit Italy"

Wonderful Tourist Places India

India is a beautiful country located in the South Asia and is blessed with its natural resources. India's beauty consists of its large mountains, seashores, valleys, plateaus and many more wonderful things. All these things make the country look like paradise. There are different tradition and modern cultures located in India. This country is usually referred to as the melting pot of most races. Visiting India can really turn your vacation a memorable lifetime experience. Indians provide love, concern and hospitality to their visitors.

Several hill stations like Mount Abu in Rajasthan, Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra, Shimla, Dalhousie, Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh, Nainital in Uttaranchal, Kasauni, and Srinagar in Kashmir are situated in India. Mountaineering and trekking are very much enjoyable and if you have never done before, you should try it at least once, or else you are going to miss a vital adventurous experience. In the Indian's seashore, you can see beautiful tourist's destinations. The Goa, Mumbai, Vishakhapatnam, Chennai and Pondicherry consists of its amazing beaches, fish, water sports and recipes of seafood and many more things that will make your day fully complete.

There are also highly interesting monuments which will force you to admire their architectural beauty. These are the Char Minar at Hyderabad, Taj Mahal at Agra, the caves of Ajanta, the Golden Temple at Amritsar, the palaces and forts of Udaipur, the Buddhist temples of Bodhgaya, Jaipur, Chittorgarh, Jaisalmer and more other wonderful monuments that you will see.

India also consists of its awesome wildlife reserves like Sariska, Dachigam, Bharatpur, Kanha Kisli and many more. You can experience the tranquility of its wilderness along with its wild animals in their natural habitat. The major attraction of these places is the Elephant and Jeep Safaris.

Special and delicious recipes are being served in almost all hotels as well as in restaurants in India that will surely make you lick your fingers. They present non-vegetarian as well as vegetarian dishes which you will never forget for the rest of your life.

read more "Wonderful Tourist Places India"

Best Period to Go on Vacation-Indian Summer

Those that like adventures and that haven't been on holiday this summer should take into consideration going on an adventure vacation during the Indian Summer. There are some adventure sports that can be great ways to spend your much longed for holiday.

One of the most peaceful sports would be trout fishing. All you have to do is get your fishing permit and find out where are the best places for this sport. You should bring your friends and family with you so that you have a great time all together.

Something else that you could try is water sports. You can spend your vacation near a river or a sea and you can try rafting or kayaking. If you haven't done this before but you are eager to try it out then you can hire someone to teach you. There are specialized trainers that can show you everything there is to know. Also, there are agencies which you can hire in order to give you all the equipment that you might need.

Water skiing is another option that you might find interesting. But if this seems a bit too much for you, then you can just take a boat and admire the beautiful landscapes. Other ways to beat the heat are to just go swimming, snorkeling, parasail or sea dive.

Another fun way to spend your holiday could be to go trekking. The mountains are the best destination for those that can't stand the heat or simply want to get out of the city. All you have to make sure is that you have all the right equipment. For this you can hire an agency to prepare everything that you need.

Whatever you decide to do and wherever you decide to go, all you have to make sure of is that you have a good time with your family and friends.

read more "Best Period to Go on Vacation-Indian Summer"

Kenya Vacations - Mombasa Beaches island features

Mombasa, a coastal city of Kenya holds the magic for a perfect Kenya vacation package. Among some of its attractions is the south coast. Here, Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park stands out located in the Kwale District, 120km Southwest of Mombasa near Kenya Tanzania border. It was established to perfect the scenic islands and special habitats of a wide range of marine animals and breading migratory birds.

The area encompasses four small, arid coral islands each with considerable zone of fringing rec. Kisite island features an exposed sand bar with the surrounding waters offering the most rewarding of the snorkeling sites, and other water sports.

The second attraction is the Wasini Island which features a picture squarely sculptured rocky coastline, low ray coral reef forest cover, numerous renewable baobab trees and small Muslim villages.

The villagers are friendly inhabiting a settlement believed to have been founded by the Chinese and Arab traders 400 years ago. Places to visit hear include; Shimoni slave caves, a vast, cavernous, bat-filled and reputed to extend five kilometre island. It served for centuries as Kaya or sacred worship and sanctuary sites for local community. Believed to have been used in 18th and 19th century as holding areas for thousand of slaves captured from the African interior and on transit to Zanzibar's infamous slave markets.

A boat ride to Wasini Island after visiting the slave caves will do you good. For deep-sea divers, a plunge into the ocean will reveal the Mombasa marine beauty. You could be lucky to see some wild goats at the Island and also meet the local community members.

read more "Kenya Vacations - Mombasa Beaches island features"

Kenyan Safaris the Whole Family Can Enjoy

Sights and Sounds - The Call of the Wildebeest

Going on a safari in Kenya is the best way to witness the breathtaking landscape and its magnificent wildlife. A typical 3 or 5 day safari routine includes drives to watch wildlife in reserves such as the Maasai Mara and Lake Nakuru National Park.

One of the most spectacular and dramatic wildlife phenomena is the Great Maasai Mara Migration- an annual uncoordinated mass movement of over two million wildebeests, antelopes, zebras on a 3500km route from the Serengeti plains in Tanzania, across the Mara River into Kenya's Maasai Mara Game Reserve. These animals, in search of food and water, give birth to the young and fall prey to predators as they travel across the plains, reenacting nature's cycle of life and death.

Doing it affordably

Although a safari holiday in Africa is not cheap, it can be done affordably for the whole family.

For a start, consider staying in government accommodation or in tents at National Parks- these could be cheaper by 2-3 times than those in private game reserves and lodges. Also consider a self-driving safari but take along a qualified guide to provide advice on the best places to visit.

Going during the low season helps. Alternatively, choose a less-famous reserve - there are good but less well-known game reserves in Kenya which are priced affordably.

One-day safaris are more affordable as they come without the cost of accommodation. However, these quickies do not do justice to the majesty of the wildlife and landscape that is, after all, the reason for embarking on a safari.

A 3-day safari package that includes game drives in the reserves, tent accommodation, meals, guide and transport could be had for USD340 per person.

Game for Food, anyone?

Nairobi has its fair share of cosmopolitan cuisine offerings. However, for local food, try Kenya's unofficial national dish nyama choma, comprising barbecued meat served with vegetables and greens. Or have a go at the ugali - a thick, starchy food made from the porridge of boiled maize.

The Carnivore restaurant used to serve game like zebra and crocodile, but has stopped doing so due to government restrictions. It now serves beef, chicken and lamb roasted on traditional Maasai sword-like skewers over a huge roasting charcoal pit.

Getting there

There are numerous international flights to Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. From there, transfer to Nairobi Wilson Airport by car, where most travelers are picked up for their safari holiday

read more "Kenyan Safaris the Whole Family Can Enjoy"

Mistakes People Make Before & During a Trip

1. They Wait to the last minute to book their vacation travel.

2. They do not purchase any travel insurance.

3. While in a city, during their travels they do not keep an eye open for possible muggers who pick pockets.

4. They flaunt their valuables such as, rings, necklaces, watches, cameras, etc.

5. They take photographs around the military areas and at airports. In some countries, this could be considered espionage.

6. They do not make copies of their important travel papers such as their passport, information about their flight, any hotel reservations, and insurance policies.

7. If they happen to make copies of their important documents above, they end up keeping them all together in the same place.

8. They only take 1 charge card.

9. They carry all their money in one place instead of using a "dummy wallet" that has very little money in it and no cards.

10. They neglect to carry both cash and travellers cheques.

11. They do not take advantage of the hotel safe where they can store any valuables or irreplaceable items.

12. They wait to the last minute to get immunized.

All the above are extremely critical. The most critical of all is #12. Learn about immunization before going on vacations abroad. It is a matter of life or death. Be an informed traveler. It is essential to your health.

One of the best places to do this is at a travel medicine clinic that specializes in immunizations. You can meet with them to have a travel consultation with trained, registered nurses. The clinic keeps up to date information customized to your specified destination's culture along with your medical history. Check to see if your immunizations will be covered by your health insurance.

Keep an up-to-date immunization record. Do not procrastinate scheduling an appointment. With hepatitis shots, there is a waiting period of 30 days between injections. It then takes another 30 days before it begins to take effect. To search using keywords, type the keyword then the city or state -- such us travel vaccines pa, travel medicine Pittsburgh or any city or state of your choice.

Choose a travel medicine clinic who gives personalized attention and the latest health alerts. Passport Health is a travel medicine clinic that just doesn't vaccinate, they educate. Their clinics are located in Pittsburgh, Carnegie, Cranberry, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Latrobe, and Monroeville, Pennsylvania. They even have on-site flu clinics for corporations, churches and schools. Their immunizations include: yellow fever, hepatitis, anthrax, gardasil, hepatitis, immune globulin, influenza, encephalitis, measles, mumps, rubella, meninggococcal, pneumococcal, polio, PPD, rabies, tetanus, typhoid.

read more "Mistakes People Make Before & During a Trip"

Best Deals of Travel and Leisure Magazine

Constant travelers who want to score the best deals in every continent that they step into should never do without a copy of travel and leisure magazine. This magazine which is well known as travel + leisure magazine provides the A lists of the best hotels, restaurants, wellness clubs, cruise ships, events and festivals, resorts and beaches, food and drinks, and other significant facts that are essential to the well-being of one's travel itinerary. The travel and leisure magazine is a top rated, professional travel companion that would make sure you do not lose your way in every travel decision that you make.

The travel and leisure magazine used to be a compiled journal of travel photographs which placed emphasis on leisure travel and often features contributions from novelists, poets, travel columnists, artists, and avid travelers who are eager to share their acquired wisdom and serve as a helpful guide especially for those who are still neophyte in the realm of travel. The magazine publishes in a monthly basis and has several international editions such as China, Mexico, Russia, Turkey, and South East Asia though most of them were already defunct.

The magazine is famous for their World's Best Awards which is announced every August and has been practiced since 1995. This is an award body created on a basis of an annual survey from magazine readers who gave out their quantitative rating of world's best travel destination and accommodation. For the 2010's survey of the World's Best Awards, the travel and leisure magazine offers a chance to those who will take the survey of winning a $10,000 dream trip. This award has various categories namely hotels, islands, cities, airlines and cruises, wellness and spas and business hotels. These categories are featured on all continents that the travel and leisure magazine encompass such as US and Canada, Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East, Europe, Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, and South Pacific. Last 2009, the Bushman's Kloof atop the Cedarberg Mountains in Western Cape, South Africa emerged as the record holder of the number one spot in the survey with an overall score of 98.67.

Aside from the World's Best Awards, the travel and leisure magazine also has what they call T+L 500 Best Hotels and America's Favorite Cities where subscribers and magazine readers rank cities in the U.S. based on several categories. The categories are very informative because it covers almost all the things that one needs to know in famous cities such as their culture, hotels, nightlife, shopping malls, food and dining places, and airports.

The travel and leisure magazine also provides educational articles that are full of ideas not just about traveling but also informative discussions such as books and movies, charity programs, sports and fitness, gadgets, arts and culture, and basic photography lessons.

For those who are interested in subscribing to the travel and leisure magazine, the publication is giving out two risk-free issues of the magazine.

read more "Best Deals of Travel and Leisure Magazine"

Burj Khalifa-building was recently changed to the Burj Khalifa

The name of this building was recently changed to the Burj Khalifa right at the time of its launch last month.

The country of Abu Dhabi, basically next door to Dubai, really offered a lot of help last year when the world economy had gone down to a crisis level, and Dubai made the decision to change the name as a way of letting them know just how much they appreciated all the financial help they received.

Continuing on, there is no other landmark in the whole world that can compare to this spectacular building. You might have seen mention of it on the news, but here we are going to talk about some of the features that are part of the reason why this building is the most beautiful one that the world has ever seen.

What's incredible about this landmark is the fact that over 160 floors of space occupy it, all with the ability to be lived in. As I'm sure you could imagine, this would cost a lot of money and the price tag of $2,000 per square foot is no laughing matter.

No, you did not read that wrong, the price that a 2,000 square foot apartment would have been sold for was almost 4 million dollars! Prices have come down to earth to some extent, but the utter thought of levels like these is absurd.

There are also a handful of offices and other commercial businesses occupying the rest of the building.

For tourists, they'll be glad to know that a top of the line hotel will also be featured here, thanks to the architecture of Giorgio Armani. A swimming pool will adorn this building near the top, in addition to a mosque, both of which will be at the highest altitudes in the world for their kind.

Everything is extremely safe here, as safety should be a foremost concern in any worldwide monument. The actual security of this building is another awesome feature because it is different than anything that has ever been seen in a building before. Special floors are at every 25 to 30 levels, having special compositions which cause them to be fire-resistant and their own air supplies.

This is truly a next generation building and should easily set the precedent for the buildings of the future as the bar has now been raised. This new era in architecture does make our world a better place.

read more "Burj Khalifa-building was recently changed to the Burj Khalifa"

How to Wear Jesus Sandals-most comfortable shoes you will ever walk

Simple looking sandals are some of the most comfortable shoes you will ever walk in, but sometimes they unfairly get a bad reputation. Some people immediately think of hippies when the term "jesus sandals" is mentioned, and this particular type of footwear is sometimes even described as "shoes or sandals that only tourists will wear".

When you sum up hippie and touristy outfits, they are not exactly at the forefront of the fashion movement or even considered to be within fashion's mainstream consciousness. However, in defense of tourists, they really do a lot of walking. They have to see as much as they can within a short period of time, so their feet and legs take a beating with all the sightseeing that they have to do. Therefore, being fashionably usually is not your foremost priority as a tourist.

Tourists need to wear shoes with proper arch support, shoes that will match with most of the clothes they have packed, and shoes that are not bulky so they will fit in a suitcase.

Now here lies the problem: how is a tourist supposed to wear shoes when traveling without looking like, well, a tourist?

The solution is to pick a pair of athletic and hip looking sandals. Forget plastic, woven, and leather sandals. In contrast to the latter footwear variations, athletic sandals give your feet all the support they need and do not attract the same negative attention. The general public will actually understand why you are wearing athletic sandals, especially if you will be visiting crowded tourist spots and popular tourist magnets. In other words, spend some time picking a pair of athletic sandals that will make you look good when you are out traveling, but a pair that will also take care of your feet.

Now that takes care of your footwear, if you are going to be a tourist any time soon. May we also suggest staying away from t-shirts in loud prints?

read more "How to Wear Jesus Sandals-most comfortable shoes you will ever walk"

Reach Edinburgh City From Edinburgh Airport

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and has numerous tourists attractions which attracts a large number of visitors each year to the city. On average around nine million passengers travel through the airport on a yearly basis. There are a number of options for passengers to carry on their journey once they arrive.

Bus
Travelling into Edinburgh Airport can be accomplished by simply boarding the express bus named the Air Link 100 and the night service bus N22. Both bus services can drop passengers off close to Haymarket Station and in the city centre on Princess Street close to Waverley. There are number of local bus services which operates around Edinburgh's Suburbs, including Broxburn, Livingstone, Calder. The journey time is around 20 minutes and tickets can be purchased on board from the driver.

Train
Edinburgh Airport does not have a train station located at the terminal building. Travellers can hop on the airport bus which will drop passengers off at Haymarket or Waverley railway stations for onward journeys to Glasgow or the East coast of Scotland.

Taxis
Outside the airport, passengers can jump in a black cab and carry on to their final destination. A journey into the city centre will take on average around twenty or twenty five minutes depending on traffic.

Car
The city centre can be reached by taking the M8 from Edinburgh Airport. Journey time is around 25 minutes by travelling eight miles. Drivers wishing to drop passengers off at the airport or collect relatives from a flight can use the areas designated to them. The roads are marked assisting drivers to the correct zone. You can also park in the ground floor of the main multistory car park for a short stay of two hours and walk across to the main terminal building.

Car Hire
The car hire firms located at Edinburgh Airport have a new car rental building. Passengers can find the firms by walking through the closed in walk way which can be found outside the door of the UK arrivals part of the airport.

read more "Reach Edinburgh City From Edinburgh Airport"

Security Situation in Northern Mali-West Africa

One of the biggest stories in West Africa at the moment is the declining security situation in the Sahara region. Over the past 12 months the region has suffered increased terrorism and kidnapping threats by members of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and sadly these threats have also led to several high profile cases of kidnapping in Niger, Mali and Mauritania. Although several countries have been affected by the actions of this group it is Mali I will focus on and hopefully allay some fears but also drive home the need for caution when travelling in the northern regions of Mali. Mali has long been seen, and justifiably so, as one of the safest countries in West Africa to travel. The foreign offices of all the 'big' countries still deem southern Mali as a place that people can visit safely as long as the usual precautions are taken that any sensible traveller would undertake.

The real issue lies north of an imaginary line between the town of Mopti and Dogon country in the East. North of this line has effectively been deemed a no go area by most governments in the Western world. The problem with this part of Mali is no matter what anyone tells you, you will visit some incredibly isolated areas and outside of major towns, infrastructure is limited. One of the highlights of any travel undertaken in Mali is a boat (pinasse or pirogue) trip on the Niger River from Mopti towards Lac Debo, Niafounké, Timbuktu and Gao. The reason for its brilliance is not only the amazing scenery you will witness on the journey but also the extreme isolation one can feel. Even though you pass countless fishing villages and some rather large towns on this route you are still on a journey to some of the most remote settlements on the planet.

The bottom line is this, in Mali you will be told that the situation is under control and that the problem areas are far away from the tourist circuit and mainly in the desert regions near the Algerian and Niger borders. The governments of the western world however deem the situation to be otherwise and none of us are in a position to question this because the common man does not have access to their intelligence resources. These have of course been proven faulty on numerous occasions but this is not the forum for this to be judged.

Those who take the opportunity to visit Mali will find it to be a beautiful country with generous and welcoming citizens who pride themselves on their hospitable and peaceful nature. Unfortunately, due to the actions of an isolated few, this image has been tarnished in the west and although this deeply saddens anyone with associations in Mali and more importantly, the overwhelming majority of Mali citizens, the best advice I can offer is the following. Read the travel advice, consult your local guides and make your decision to travel in the north an educated one.

read more "Security Situation in Northern Mali-West Africa"

Travel Advice - Makes Your Trip

Traveling is considered as a fun and an exciting experience. If you are moving to the tropical north Queensland or to the Bermuda region, the experience that you get from traveling will be supreme when compared to your other leisure activities. However, getting travel advice from experts can be of great help for the first time travelers.

Going out for a vacation with your family can improve the bonding between your family members. This is the major reason why the concept of family vacation is still considered strong in the society. However, there is a drastic difference in the options for family trips these days when compared with the past.

Most of the people desire to travel abroad along with their family. Even if you plan to go alone or with your family, there are certain things that you should keep in mind before fixing your tour to any destination. There are immeasurable numbers of travel agencies that offer different tour packages these days. Even if you are booking your tour through a travel agency, you must be well aware about the complete details of that trip. This will help you to analyze the cost of the trip, thereby allowing you to select the best tour according to your requirements.

This is the major reason why it is always recommended to get a travel advice from an expert before you plan your tour. Getting a travel advice will be beneficial for you to plan you tour more perfectly. Traveling individually can be simple when compared to a family tour. There are different safety issues that you must consider while planning for a family tour. Most of the people find problems with proper packing before they leave for the trip. You must ensure that you have the sufficient bags to fill your necessary items in advance in order to avoid the last minute hurry burry.

Most of the people do not notice the safety feature of the flight they have booked for their tour. Most of the first time travelers do not know the safety features provided in the flight. Therefore, it will be better to get the travel advice from an experienced flight traveler regarding the do's and don'ts during a flight travel. This will help the first time traveler to cope up with the strange atmosphere inside a plane.

The prime idea behind selecting the air travels by most of the people is to reach their destination within the shortest period possible. Traveling through flights will reduce the intensity of tiredness. Therefore, you must always prefer those modes of transport that will not tire you much. It is better to get the travel advice from those people who have visited the destination, which you are planning to go. Selecting the improper or lengthier mode of transport can even bring down your mood to enjoy the tour. Therefore, these are some of the major facts that you should always keep in mind while planning a tour in order to make it more enjoyable as well as safe.

read more "Travel Advice - Makes Your Trip"

Lake Cumberland - The Ideal Place For Houseboat

If you're bored of visiting museums, galleries, and historic monuments during holidays, you have been going only to cities. If you live in an urban location, then going from one city to another city is not going to rejuvenate you. For a change try the houseboat vacations on Lake Cumberland in Kentucky.

The range of activities that you can enjoy at Lake Cumberland is quite wide. The lake has a 1,225 mile shoreline. Though constructed for flood control and hydroelectric power generation, it has become the ideal holiday destination for tourists looking for outdoor adventure. Spread over 250 square kilometers, the lake is home to the Lake Cumberland State Resort Park and the General Burnside State Park. The deep forests, interesting waterfalls, intimate coves, and picturesque rolling hills around the lake will transport you to an entirely different world.

If you are interested in fishing, you will be surprised with what this place has to offer. Several annual fishing tournaments are organized here because of the abundance of bass and trout. Stripers, spotted, largemouth, and smallmouth bass are easy to catch here. If you go to the Cumberland River, you will get the chance of catching brown trout, rainbow trout, and even the rare brook trout. You may also be lucky enough to catch saugers if you come in winter. When it is really cold, saugers can be found below the dam on Cumberland River. The biggest sauger that was caught in Kentucky weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces and came from Lake Cumberland. The interesting thing about these fishes is that they are said to interbreed with fish of the walleye species! The offspring formed because of the interbreeding are known as saugeye.

Those interested in hiking have much to choose from. Some of the famous trails include the Rockcastle Narrows Trail, the Bee Rock Recreation Area, the Beaver Creek Wilderness Trails, and the Yahoo Falls Scenic Area. If you are in the mood for some adrenalin pumping adventure, you may try rafting, canoeing, or kayaking at Big South Fork or Cumberland below the falls.

The best way to explore this area is to go on a houseboat vacation. The advantage of a houseboat vacation is that the boat takes care of your transportation and accommodation needs. So after a day of hectic fun, you do not have to hunt for a place to sleep.

read more "Lake Cumberland - The Ideal Place For Houseboat"

Tips to Keep Your Valuables Safe While You Travel

Travelling the world and enjoying holidays is a lot of fun. We tend to feel thrilled in the process of choosing the right destination, the preparations - shopping, packing, the journey by plane or car and finally, reaching our holiday resort. To be able to make the most of our holiday and enjoy our time abroad to the full, we need to bear in mind certain rules about our personal safety and safety of our valuables.

Losing our valuables whilst travelling can be a very unpleasant and stressful event, which can be avoided. First of all, if you do not need them, do not bring them with you. By valuables we mean expensive jewellery, watches, cameras, laptops, excessive amounts of cash, travel documents, traveler's cheques etc. If you must bring them, then always take good care of them by packing them carefully in your hand luggage or somewhere where they can be constantly supervised. Do not leave your luggage unattended whilst at the airports, do not accept any offers to carry any items from third parties. And if you are travelling by car, always make sure the car is empty and the doors are locked before you leave it. When you reach your hotel, it is always a good idea to hire a safe either at the reception or pay for one in your room if it is not provided free of charge. When in your room, store your passport and your valuables in the safe. Try not to wear too much expensive jewellery when you are out and about. This way you would only become an obvious target for thieves. And it is also advisable not to bring your valuables to the beach. However, if you decide to bring your wallet with you, carry only a minimum amount of cash in it and do not leave it lying in the sand unsupervised. Do not fall for any scams and do not lend any money to anyone who approaches you or you do not know them. Do not trust third parties with your valuables either.

Photocopy your passport before you travel and bring the copy with you. It will make things a lot easier in case it gets lost and if you need to arrange for a new one. Always report any losses to the local authorities or the police and in a case of any emergency, don't forget to carry the telephone number of the nearest British Embassy with you. Your insurance company will also be of assistance if you need it. However, if you want to report a loss or make a claim, always make sure you have taken all the reasonable steps to protect your valuables. Insurance companies are usually intolerant of any reckless attitude or unreasonable behaviour when it comes to compensating for your losses.

Travelling provides us with lots of new cultural experiences and unforgettable memories. Why not enhance our experience by being cautious and careful with our valuables in order to avoid any unnecessary stress during our precious time abroad?

read more "Tips to Keep Your Valuables Safe While You Travel"

Missed Tourism Opportunity For South Africa

The FIFA World Cup in South Africa will soon be upon us and as with any worldwide event like this, there is immense public debate of how well the preparations are going. For South Africa, this is the first time they have hosted the FIFA World Cup and the eyes of the world will be upon them, perhaps with even more scrutiny than previous hosts. This is a magnificent opportunity to sell this wonderful country and all it has to offer international visitors. The latest reports are that ticket sales are not going as well as hoped and some qualifying nations are reporting public concerns over safety for their teams and supporters. South Africa has invested a huge sum of money in preparing the stadia and putting in place transport infrastructure to ensure the games are enjoyed by all the fans. Perhaps the most concerning areas for potential fans, looking to attend the World Cup, are the costs for accommodation and internal flights.

I am aware of prices for internal flights being offered at 4 to 5 times their normal price for the time of year. This doesn't just impact fans but also those living in South Africa. In their wisdom, the government has decided that their will be a national school holiday throughout the World Cup period. For working parents this presents enough problems, but if you were to contemplate going away on holiday during this time then you will come up against the same problem that fans are having - extortionate prices! There is currently an investigation underway involving a number of the key airline carriers in South Africa around price fixing - this is further exacerbated by the complete lack of flights during this time. Hopefully the government will get on top of this and sort out this situation, as it will undoubtedly put many fans off.

The second area of concern is accommodation prices. At this point it is worth pointing out that after Sydney hosted the last Olympics, instead of seeing an upturn in visitors after the event, there was a dramatic decrease in tourists for the next three years! Much of this decrease in tourism was put down to the prices being charged during the Olympics. The same thing is happening in South Africa. Many accommodation owners are charging 5, 6 7+ times more than their normal rates. This short term profiteering, known as 'gouging', is ridiculous. Fans are being "ripped off" and this is leaving many football supporters with the only decision not to come to South Africa. This is such a shame as the quality of the accommodation offered by guest houses, B&B's and self catering owners is generally far higher than that in many other countries. Of course, there will always be corporate packages that will take up these high prices to entertain their clients but for the average football fan this will be a World Cup that is an expense too far. What a shame when the country has so much to offer fans during their breaks between games. I really feel this is going to be a "lost opportunity" for the South Africa tourism industry and that venue owners are going to regret the high prices they are charging. Hopefully they will come to their senses, along with the airlines, and lower their prices. Otherwise how else will the numbers coming to the World Cup reach anywhere near the expected 1 million.

read more "Missed Tourism Opportunity For South Africa"

Best of North and South India Travel Experiences

A beauteous kaleidoscope, India dazzles with its shades of breathtaking natural bounty, harmonious blend of multitude of cultures, smells of delicious curries, and undulated ways to its historic lineage. For India tours, one can meticulously pick from the abundance of the highlights of the land. On a tour to India, the country welcomes its guests with enchanting biodiversity. Ranging from the crowning beauty of sky-high Himalayas, to the splendour of Thar Desert, the healing effects of Ayurveda amidst tranquilizing environs of backwaters and sea-shores. The country is blessed with stunning backdrops.

Such diversity can be a bit beguiling as well, thus while planning India tour packages one must first speculate a theme for the travel or should make a pick from the renowned places of travel in the country.
Let's discuss the popular highlights of North and South India here:

Pristine Himalayas: Crowning the northern region of India, the great Himalayan ranges give birth to numerous vitalizing ravines and encircles various hill stations and also houses holy shrines of various faiths. Commence exhilarating adventure expeditions, indulge in spirited rituals, and rejuvenate your senses with the healing properties of stunning panorama surrounding while on North India tours.

Majestic Rajasthan: The desert state, Rajasthan is known for its princely ardour, colourful bazaars, vivacious displays of folk performing art forms and charming hospitality. Most striking emblems of the regal era of the region are its century old heritage of gorgeous forts and palaces. Dotted with beauteous architectural creations of Mughal and Rajputana rulers Rajasthan is a state not to be missed on India tours.

Eternal Emblem of Love, Taj Mahal: A world heritage, a world wonder, emblem of love, none of the adjectives describe the celestial quality of the Taj Mahal. The construction of world's most incredible white marble mausoleum was ordered by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to commemorate his wife Mumtaz Mahal. The story of Taj is like a fairy tale; it is a legend of our times and its timeless beauty continues to rule over millions.

Serene Backwaters: If the Northern region of India is blessed with some of the world's highest peaks, the southern tip oozes out natural splendour with its pristine backwaters. The Indian state of Kerala is brimming with numerous water-bodies, giving it a lush and soothing ambiance. The region looks stunning with pictorial foliage of rice and spice plantations. Traversing through breathtaking backwaters on the traditional houseboats is one of the best experiences of South India tours.

Sun-Kissed Beaches and Rejuvenating Ayurveda: The Southern region of India is surrounded by three oceans on all its sides embroidering its shores with pristine beaches. Ideal for a laid-back holiday experience, these beaches of South India looks heavenly with long stretches of white sand and coconut palms. An Ayurvedic massage done with natural oils and herbs under the Mediterranean sun is a must for all those on tour to South India. The healing effect of Ayurveda has been adopted by millions for it works on balancing the entire metabolism of the body while curing the ailment and has absolutely no side-effects. The ancient science of medicine, Ayurveda is also involves various spa and beautification therapies for the detoxifying and relaxing those jaded muscles.

read more "Best of North and South India Travel Experiences"

Road Trip With the Children-Children often like to see the country side and all its amazing sites

Taking children on the road can prove to be a very adventurous trip for them. Children often like to see the country side and all its amazing sites. But the trip will prove to be fun if the right conditions are to be met. Certain things will need to be carried in order to avoid frustrations and disappointments along the way. The best time to leave is very early in the morning when the children are still feeling very sleepy and will not bother you as they will be asleep.

It is advisable to have breakfast during the road soon after the children have just woken up. If you had bought them new toys, it is best to reveal it to them once on the road trip. The toys however should not be too noisy or irritating to the driver as it may lead to an accident. This will keep them very excited and in a joyful mood. In addition to the toys, a portable DVD player will also come in handy with at least three DVDs to watch along the way.

Kids love to eat snacks and thus the cooler in your vehicle should have their favorite snacks as well as sandwiches which you can give them as soon as they become hungry. This is also cost effective as highway motels are often relatively expensive in there meal prices. But if the urge to eat gets to you, then a crowed hotel will not be the best thing for your children. An open quite park will be best for you and your kids especially one that offers rest room facilities. This might just be the rest you had been craving for as it is advisable to stop after every three to four hours when traveling with children.

Playing games within the vehicle is also a noble move. Children will become more alert and cooperative as the journey continuous. If the urge to sleep gets to your kids, then the extra pillows and blankets which you carried from home will also proof to be very handy as children are most likely sleep in vehicle if they are comfortable.

Sometimes the journey might really be a long one. It is always a good idea at this point to know which hotels are available if they are suitable for your kids. Some hotels often have adult themes which may not be good for your children. Some hotels are even known to offer free breakfast and in some cases free dinner for the children after a certain period of time. Some hotels even have play grounds and swimming pools which will make the trip for your children even more memorable. All of this will eventually save you that extra money. Clothes for the children must also be available and probably bets be put in separate bag. You would never want a scenario where you have to off load the entire car. This is where a small bag comes in handy with your immediate accessories.

read more "Road Trip With the Children-Children often like to see the country side and all its amazing sites"

Switzerland Cycling Routes

When you consider a bicycle tour destination in Europe, Switzerland most likely does not come top of mind. Yet you may be amazed to learn the Swiss are great cyclists. The country is crossed by a network of 8,300 km (5,157 miles) of bicycle paths on 9 national and 55 regional routes. Does it not have mountains? Well yes, but there are also valleys where many of the bicycle paths are located.

The top 5 routes for cycling in Switzerland:

Rhone Route - this is the most popular of the Swiss cycling routes. Starting in Geneva with a combination of bicycle paths and dedicated lanes along the roads you cycle along the north shore of Lake Geneva (Lac Leman). Along the way you pass through Lausanne and the Olympic Museum and numerous vineyards before reaching Montreux.

Montreux is home to the lakeside Castle de Chillon, the number one historical attraction in Switzerland. Take the excellent tour (in English) and find out why Lord Bryon and others found it so fascinating. The bicycle path continues the banks of the Rhone River passing the International Cycling Association velodrome and wine center of Sion before ending in Andermatt. This route is gently rolling and can be handled by any level of cyclist.

Rhine Route - this route starts near Andermatt and heads over to the Austrian border before turning north to the Bodensee (Lake Constance) and Basel. You may decide to continue along the Rhine through Germany and the Netherlands if you wish. The Swiss cycling is over gently rolling terrain.

Lakes Route - if you are looking for a hilly and scenic Swiss cycling experience across the entire country this is the route for you. Starting in Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva (Lac Leman) you have a very steep climb at first taking you into the cheese making town of Guyere. The route continues over hilly terrain passing through scenic Lucerne.

Mittelland Route - This route also starts on the shores of Lake Geneva and heads across northern Switzerland and along the shores of Lake Neuchatel, the watch making town of Biel and eastward into the Zurich area and finally Lake Constance. A few hills at the start although most of the route would be considered gently rolling terrain.

Bodensee (Lake Constance) Route - offers an easy cycling experience around the lake with the benefit of visiting three countries - Switzerland, Austria and Germany.

The best time bicycle tour in Europe including Switzerland is in late May, June or September. Avoid the heat and crowds you will find in the summer. Any of these Swiss cycling adventures will provide you with a great 2 - 3 week vacation.

read more "Switzerland Cycling Routes"

New Milestones of Mount Everest

We all know that Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary were the first mountaineers to conquer Mount Everest (8,848 m), and many of us will have heard that Sir Ranulph Fiennes was the first British pensioner to make the summit in 2009. But there are always new records being set and new challenges being launched from Everest Base Camp. It seems everything about this historic staging area is dramatic: the determination and the accomplishments of the people that pass through Base Camp, and Everest's spectacular form towering above.

Everest Milestones

There's an unusual long-distance traveller on the move right now that has a close association with Mount Everest. Curiously, the traveller is not a person but a moon rock. The lunar sample, collected from the Sea of Tranquillity during the historic Apollo 11 landing, will be a passenger on a journey back out of the earth's atmosphere as part of a 2010 NASA launch to the International Space Station.

The long-travelling rock will be partnered with one collected from Mount Everest and made part of a display in the ISS, so that both the Moon and the Earth will be represented in the space station that floats between the two celestial bodies. It is a simple gesture that demonstrates our ingenuity and determination to overcome great distances and difficulty in the name of exploration. The moon rock was with the astronaut Scott Parazynski when he climbed from Everest Base Camp to the mountain's summit in May 2009 and will be united in orbit with the Everest rock early in February 2010.

Records set in Stone

The following month, Everest Base Camp will become home for a young man with big ambitions. At the age of just thirteen, Jordan Romero from California aims to become the youngest person to climb the highest peaks in seven continents. Everest will be the last mountain on his list to climb to complete the prestigious Seven Peaks Challenge.

Jordan will be following in the youthful footsteps of the current record holder, Johnny Strange, who began his series of seven mighty climbs at the age of twelve, and completed the Seven Peaks five years later in June 2009, setting a world record in the process. If all goes well for Jordan Romero, he will better Johnny's record by a full three years, which he says will make him feel "super stoked".

The Seven Peaks Challenge is no mean feat, and it has taken the teenager all over the world. Jordan has climbed the highest mountains in the Andes and Australia; he has travelled to the hard to reach Vinson Massif (4,892 m) in Antarctica, and has conquered Mt Kilimanjaro (5,892 m), Elbrus (5,642 m) in Russia, and McKinley (6,194 m) in Alaska. Jordan's seventh expedition in the series will begin with a gradual acclimatisation along Everest Base Camp trek, following on from a number of preparatory climbs he has already made to get his body used to the high altitude. Then Everest is waiting.

Jordan has estimated that he will have to make a number of training runs up the mountain from Everest Base Camp before he will be ready for a summit bid, a process which could take as long as two months to complete, weather permitting.

read more "New Milestones of Mount Everest"

Corbett National Park-itinerary of wildlife lovers

Occupying a treasured place on the itinerary of wildlife lovers, Corbett National Park is a great holiday destination. The Park boosts of a good population of tigers and a variety of other wildlife. It is ideally set in a picturesque location in the Himalayan foothills in the wondrous state of Uttaranchal. To capture the wilderness of this destination tourists come here from across the globe.

The most enchanting residents of the Park are tigers, leopards and crocodiles. The Park was establishing in the year 1936 and was named after the famous author and wildlife conservationist Jim Corbett who played an important role in laying its foundation. Covering an area of 520 sq km, the park is endowed with diverse topography consisting of wet and dry, plain and mountainous, gentle and rugged, forests and grasslands.

It is one of the oldest national parks of India which can be best visited from October to March. The arresting rivers, streams and ridges criss-crossing its terrain are the other attractive features of the park.

The park is dotted with more than 600 tree species including shrubs, herbs, bamboos, grasses, ferns and climbers. Visitors can enjoy the sights of a variety of wildlife inside the Park. Tigers, leopard, sambar, deer, langur monkeys, wild boars, peacocks, spotted deer, crocodiles, Sloth and Himalayan Black bears, Indian Grey Mongoose, otters, yellow-throated martens,and wild elephants are a few to name. Around 580 bird species inhabit the park making it alive with their melodious voice. Some migratory birds can also be sighted here.

To add more adventure to your visit you can indulge in fishing near the Park at Pancheshwar, Ramgarh and Binsar. But for that you need to take special permission from forest officials.

read more "Corbett National Park-itinerary of wildlife lovers"