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Charms of the Blue Ridge
July 17, 2009
The Blue Ridge Mountains
Visiting the south can often be a baffling concept. With the major urban hubs spread out, and other sites far from each other, it can be difficult to know where to go. In this article, I will outline the best way to see the North Carolina mountains.
First things first - your trip will take place on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The Parkway is one of the top scenic rides in the United States and poises you atop a high ridge allowing for breathtaking vistas to the east and west. Allot plenty of time for your travels though, as a speeding ticket is a federal offense.
Following the Skyline Drive portion in the Shenandoah Mountains, you will find yourself in the Northwest corner of North Carolina.
Ashe County is known for Christmas Trees, Bluegrass Music, Charming Shops and Frescoes. Fortunately, all of these are available to the tourist eye by visiting Glendale Springs. On the surrounding hillsides, notice the endless lines of Frasier Fir trees as well as a wide array of pine trees. These will be cut down before the Christmas holidays, usually by the buyer himself. Glendale Springs is also home to the Holy Trinity Church. Inside, you will find one of North Carolina’s most glorious contributions to art: A fresco of The Last Supper by North Carolina artist Ben Long. Across the street from the church are a series of charming shops, mostly selling crafts produced by local artisans.
After Glendale Springs, continue south down the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Cascades.
This small hike, on the eastern side of the road, takes you down to a beautiful series of waterfalls and towering pines. The needles grace the path, providing an aroma of nature and earth. Further south from here are a number of majestic overlooks, both to the east and west. If you are able to peer a bit north from an easterly overlook, be sure to notice Stone Mountain.
The Linn Cove Viaduct was completed in 1987 at a cost of almost $10 million.
It is 1,243 feet long and contains 153 segments weighing 50 tons each. It took the North Carolina government many years to develop, and revise, a plan to finish the Viaduct primarily for environmental concerns. Ultimately, the road was worth the wait as it provides one of the most breathtaking half miles of driving in the world.
Linville Falls is next, and is worth a small detour. Also, be sure to visit some local shops in and near Linville and you should certainly go mining for gold and other treasures. Just south of Linville is Mount Mitchell which is the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi. Multiple overlooks will give you majestic views of this Blue Ridge peak.
Article courtesy of Sea Land Travel Club.
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort - Book a Family Vacation With Sealand Vacation Club Today
July 8, 2009
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point
Sealand Vacation Club always has great deals on travel, and if you are a family on the lookout for a fantastic deal, the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort is the place for you.
The Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort in Ft Meyers, Florida is the premier place to stay while vacationing with your family in Florida. Everything you could want is all there for you to enjoy. Great service, championship golf course, world class spa, pools, tennis courts, and great activities for the kids.
A living room, comfortable seating areas, wet bar, media center with dvd player, and separate sleeping quarters so you can go with the kids, but still get away. Restaurants include a high quality dining experience or kicking back at the pool at the poolside bar and grill. You may also choose in room luxury dining!
Of course the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort offers many other first class amenities for the perfect vacation with your family.
The Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort is located in Ft Meyers, known as the River District which stretches for miles along the Caloosahatchee River. This is a bustling metropolis with ecological, historical and cultural opportunities including The Thomas Edison and Henry Ford Museum, which you have never seen, is a wonderful family outing. This great site seeing adventure includes Edison’s winter home, and laboratories where Edison actually worked!
This vacation is the perfect family vacation for all Sealand Travel Club members but you must
book now to take advantage of this great deal as it will be replaced soon. If you are not already a member of Sealand Travel Club, now is the time to take advantage of this and many other wonderful travel ideas. If you and your family love to travel and do it often, Sealand Travel Club is a great way to get deals on all of your vacations.
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Getting Hip In Sydney
July 1, 2009
Sydney Opera House at Night..
Sydney, Australia is truly one of the most exciting cities in the world.
From the Opera House, to the stunning Harbor Bridge, Sydney has plenty of sites to appease the traveler for weeks. But, for many, Sydney beckons mostly at night. There are a number of places to go which combine Aussie atmosphere while charging your night with hipness and pleasure like no other.
First, you must check out the best lounge in the entire city, “Establishment”.
This 4-level club on George Street is one of the sexiest venues in the world. First, downstairs, be sure to check out the back end of the floor. There are a variety of seating areas, and a swanky bar to boot. In the front, the feeling is different. A large bar commands the center, with cool cocktail tables around it. Mostly, this venue attracts the young, professional and hip crowds every single night. It blends fun and sophistication like no other.
I also loved all the venues on Darling Harbor, Sydney’s downtown nightlife hub.
My favorite was “Bungalow 8”. The venue is towards the northern tip of Darling Harbor, thus reducing the size of the crowds walking to and fro. There are plenty of other bars too towards the middle of the harbor, but Bungalow 8 provides a feel like no other. The bamboo and rattan décor adds a polish that is unique and sophisticated. With plenty of outdoor seating, one finds there are plenty of opportunities to meet and mingle with Sydney’s cooler set. Let’s not forget the view though. One could easily chill outside, viewing the Harbor and the Harbor Bridge, without moving a muscle all night long. But, if you turn around to face the bar, you will see some rather intense nightlife inside. “Bungalow 8” gives you both sides of Sydney.
No trip to Sydney is complete without a trip to Bondi Beach.
On the southern end of the beach lies one of the finest beach hotels/clubs in the world – The Bondi Iceburgs Club. With large pools positioned directly above the incoming Pacific Ocean, The Iceburgs Club gives locals a superb swimming experience. For tourists, it’s a must for dinner and site-seeing. After spending a day on the beach, casually wander south and dine on some of Sydney’s finest foods. Following this, have a cocktail or two at the bar, and mingle with the very sophisticated crowd which gathers here at night. Plus, the view of the ocean is not to be missed. If you choose to talk with no one, the languidly powerful Pacific will ease your body and mind into a relaxing, dazzling night like no other.
Mexico - One Hot Destination for Travel
June 27, 2009
Mexico: The Hottest Vacation Destination for 2009
If you have been wondering where the hot vacation spot is this year, we have the answer, it’s Mexico.
Mexico has always been a top destination for travel of people from the United States for the simple reason that it is a foreign country without having to travel across the world. Our neighbor to the south, Mexico is a perfect destination for those wanting to travel outside the U.S. but not wanting to fly somewhere far away.
This year is a prime opportunity for those wishing to travel to Mexico to take advantage of the low exchange rate from Mexican to U.S. currency.
The value is always fluctuating, but right now the exchange rate is great. For example, right now $100.00 U.S. is about 1,300 pesos. In comparison to say Europe in which $100.00 dollars American is equal to only about 73 Euros. So if you are looking for bang for your buck, Mexico is definitely a great option.
Of course, money isn’t everything, what else is driving Americans to visit Mexico. It depends on what you are looking for, history, relaxation, archeology, white sand beaches, surfing, rainforests or fantastic food, Mexico has it all.
Some of the most traveled destinations in Mexico are Cancun, Cozumel, and Mexico City. This is what each has to offer.
Cancun is Mexico’s most popular resort location. Found on the Yucatan Peninsula, the traveler can find amazing white sand beaches, luxury hotels and resorts, fine dining and amazing Mayan ruins. For a perfect mix of fun and history, Cancun is the place to go.
Cozumel is for obvious reasons, a great place to visit for a wet and wild travel excursion. In Cozumel you will find hundreds of activities to do in and around the ocean. Dive with the sea turtles, swim with the dolphins, or investigate underwater ruins from thousands of years ago. If you prefer to just look at the water without actually being in it, you could try the Cozumel Lobster Dinner Cruise. This was an interesting find. Sail on an Old Spanish Galleon and have your fill of a delicious lobster meal. Food and an amazing experience all in one.
Mexico City is the undisputed hub of commerce, how about a trip to the largest city in the world?
Filled with thousands of years of culture and history, Mexico City is the place to go if you want to try out the city life. Full of Museums of Art focused on Aztec and Mayan cultures or the more recent Frida Kahlo, art abounds in Mexico City. With the great exchange rate you could hit the local shopping scene, or just walk around its wonderful scenery. There is always something going on in the city.
No matter what you are looking for in a great Mexican vacation, you are sure to find it. Now is the time to travel to this near, yet faraway place. As always, when travelling to a foreign country, don’t forget to check on what is required of you as a visitor and also, don’t forget your passport. If you prepare before you leave, you will be sure to have a wonderful trip to Mexico, a hot destination for travel.
Sealand - A little Nation with a Big Past
June 11, 2009
Yes, there really is a Sealand, and it is small. Sealand is considered a micro nation, and is located 6 miles off the coast of Suffolk, England.
I suppose you could call it an island as there is water all around, but unlike other islands, it is manmade. Not made of sand and stone like other lands, but steel and concrete, Sealand is definitely one of a kind.
The history of Sealand is quite interesting, beginning from its creation in 1942. Sealand is actually a floating pontoon base with two towers and a platform, which was floated out 6 miles and then sunk to the bottom leaving only the towers and the platform above the surface of the water.
Originally, Sealand was called HM Fort Roughs and was created by the UK as a form of defense from the Germans during World War II. Later, the fort was occupied by between 150 and 300 Royal Navy until 1956 when the last personnel were removed.
In September of 1967, the fort was occupied once again, but this time it was a civilian, a pirate radio broadcaster in fact. His name was Roy Bates and his plan was to broadcast from the platform. Not long after Mr. Bates set up at the platform, the Royal Navy cruised in the area to fix a buoy near the platform. Mr. Bates then informed the Royal Navy that it was in his territorial waters and the fight was on.
Guns were fired from the fort by the son of Roy Bates as a warning to the Royal Navy to leave the area and soon after that Mr. Bates was called to court to discuss the incident in England. The ruling was that the platform was outside the jurisdiction of Britain and was therefore dismissed, but the precedent had been sent. Mr. Bates was already referring to the fort as Sealand at this point and it seems was set to create his own utopia. In 1975 there was a constitution, national anthem, flag, currency and passports all for the independent nation of Sealand.
In 1978 a man named Alexander Achenbach believed himself to be the prime minister of Sealand and while the elder Bates was away, staged a takeover of the fort and held the younger Bates hostage, until finally releasing him days later. The battle was on with the enlisted the help of armed helicopters, the senior Bates took it back.
The history of Sealand is short, sordid and likely to continue as such. A fire in 2006 is and a notice to stay out of the area are basically the last things recorded on Sealand’s website, but the island was offered for sale on the internet in January of 2009 by the King of Marduk who claimed ownership. But according to Michael Bates in the Sealand News, the King of Marduk is an imposter, and the battle rages on still.
Image Source: http://www.sealandgov.com/images/sealand_main.gif Originally from http://en.wikipedia.org
