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Posts Tagged ‘destinations’

Best Beaches In Los Angeles

September 1st, 2010 No comments
Beach volleyball players; Huntington Beach, Ca...
Image via Wikipedia

Los Angeles is a city with an abundant number of beaches, each of which has its positives and negatives. Various beaches are famous for different reasons and attract crowds with specific interests. With the array of types of beaches to be found and the various activities that are enjoyed at each location, the best beaches actually fall into several different categories, largely determined by common use.

The Best Beaches for Sand and Water Sports

Manhattan Beach – A historic hangout for the Beach Boys in their early years, this urban beach is attracts a range of visitors with unique interests. It is a great place to spend a quiet afternoon and people watch.

It is also purported to be the birthplace of beach volleyball and the location of one of the world’s most cut-throat competitions in the sport, the Manhattan Beach Open Volleyball Championships held each August.

Many visitors and Los Angeles residents consider Manhattan Beach to be among the best surfing locations within the city limits as well. It is the site of an annual Surf Festival held each August.

There are many other activities to keep you busy at Manhattan Beach, including swimming, fishing from the pier, and walking or biking along developed paths. There is an aquarium on the pier and the beach is also home to a sandcastle building contest each August.

Zuma Beach – Located 20 miles south of Los Angeles, this beach is a huge spot for surfers and one that real enthusiasts find well worth the drive. The beach is also considered one of the best spots for body-surfing and boogie-boarding.

Fishing and swimming are common activities for visitors and Zuma Beach also has several beach volleyball courts and walking paths. The site is also a prime location for whale watching in the winter months.

The Best Beaches for Kids

Redondo Beach – With a variety of activities to keep the youngsters entertained, Redondo Beach is considered one of the best in the Los Angeles area for kids. This urban beach is the site of a seaside community by the same name and one of the many State Beaches in California. It is bustling with activity on the weekend due to is convenient location and especially busy in the summer months.

Even with the high number of visitors, Redondo Beach has a great deal to offer for families looking for fun in the sun. Poor surfing conditions make this an excellent beach for swimmers.

There are paved paths along the beach for roller skating, skateboarding and bike riding. The pier is full of various activities and vendors, and a weekly farmers’ market is held each Thursday in Veterans Park just above the beach.

Santa Monica Beach – One of the most famous beaches in the Los Angeles area. Just a short drive from L.A., it’s a perfect place to spend the entire day with the family. The beach runs north of the Santa Monica Pier which is home to the Pacific Park Amusement Park.

The Santa Monica Pier seen from an altitude of...
Image via Wikipedia

The beach itself includes bike baths, walking paths and seven volleyball courts. Swimming and surfing are also popular, as is fishing from the pier.

The Best Getaway Beaches

Paradise Cove – A smaller, more secluded beach a short drive south of L.A., Paradise Cove offers an old-time beach experience. While this traditional beach is privately owned and a small admittance fee is required, it’s a perfect place to spend a day away from the touristy crowds.

Swimming, tide pooling, bodysurfing and beach volleyball are available. The beach is home to a restaurant as well.

Dockweiler Beach – Rarely crowded in spite of its convenient location, Dockweiler Beach is a three-mile stretch of L.A. coastline not surrounded by houses or other buildings.

The beach is the only place in Los Angeles County where you can still have a bonfire. It offers bike and walking paths, bicycle and skate rental, surfing, swimming, beach volleyball and hand gliding lessons.

The Best Social Beach

Venice Beach – Both an oceanfront community and a beach, Venice is among the most famous of the area’s beaches and a quirky hot spot for local residents and tourists alike. This sandy beach offers all the usually trappings, including bike and walking paths, surfing, swimming and beach volleyball.

The beachfront is a bustling center for all sorts of activities. Artists, vendors, restaurants and musicians line the walkways and streets along the beachfront every day, with weekends being even busier, especially in the summer. It’s a great spot for people watching in addition to a fun afternoon in the sun.

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Turkey : Tourist Information

August 24th, 2010 No comments

Travel to Turkey for your next holiday abroad! Turkey is a country that is adept at blending the old with the new, natural wonders vie with the excitement of cosmopolitan cities for the attention of tourists from all over the world. Turkey is a Eurasian country: part of it is in western Asia and part in southeastern Europe. Turkey is a cradle of world civilization and a place of ancient history and archaeological sites. It is offers rocking nightlife, fabulous restaurants, all sorts of outdoor activities including paragliding, yachting, diving and ballooning and a coastline that spans almost 6,500 km. Turkey is surrounded by sea on three sides!

Turkey is at the crossroads of Europe and Asia and is a country of many cultural influences. It has been settled, since ancient times, by thirteen different civilizations. This makes for an interesting cultural mix and the contrast of modern life with all of the sites of antiquity. Turkey offers the world a unique mixture of Eastern and Western culture.

Although Turkey is beautiful all year, the best months to visit are April through October. If tourists on holiday can pull themselves away from the beautiful beaches they will find that the cuisine of this country is truly sumptuous. A meze style meal of tiny plates, served with some of Turkey’s distinctive red and white wines, must be followed by some of this country’s irresistible sweets. The food of Turkey is so diverse that one almost has to come to the country to try the culinary delights that it offers.

Any tourist who thinks that they will only find Muslim archaeological sites will be surprised to discover that Turkey is also well known for its Christian history. Visitors can follow in the steps of St. Paul, the early saint who was born in Tarsus. Turkey has many regions and each offers museums and historical sites for the visitor on holiday. For example, if you are in the area of the Aegean, you might want to visit the Archaeological Museum near Konak Square. Its most famous pieces are the statues of Poseidon and Demeter that stood in the Agora in ancient times. In southeastern Turkey you might want to visit the Archaeology Museum in Gaziantep. It houses important artifacts from Neolithic, Hittite and Roman times.

Any visitor to Turkey is sure to be entranced by the sights and sounds of this ancient and modern country straddling the continents of Asia and Europe!

More : Turkey Holidays

England’s South Coast – A Look At Some Of Its Sights And Attractions

August 22nd, 2010 No comments

There are many incredible places to visit and sights to see on England’s South Coast. But before we get to that, let’s discuss what England’s south coast is comprised of. England’s South Coast is part of Southern England which includes the southern counties of England. The UK considers Southern England to include South West England, South East England, Greater London and the East of England. So having established some geographical boundaries, here are some places to go on England’s South Coast:

The cliffs of Beachy Head and the Lighthouse b...Image via Wikipedia

- Beachy Head: 5km or 3 miles south of Eastbourne is a snowy white cliff at the end of the South Downs. It has popular views and is reached by a lovely footpath. It is known for its striped lighthouse. The cliff path that passes through Cuckmere, Haven and Seaford is 3.5 miles or 6km long and provides a great hiking opportunity.

- Bramber Castle: is a place to see the ruins of a gatehouse built by the Normans. It is an English heritage Property found on the west side of Bramber Village.

- The Kent Battle of Britain Museum: is in Hawkinge. It’s an old armory that contains the Luftwaffe Room, the Aircraft Armaments Room, the R.A.F. room and an art gallery.

- The Eurotunnel is England’s newest and fastest transport system. It crosses under the channel between Folkestone, Kent and Coquelles, France. It was completed im 1994. There is a visitor center in Folkestone and The Exhibition Centre in Cheriton, near Folkestone. The Exhibition Centre is dedicated to the construction of the Eurotunnel.

- Borde Hill Gardens in Haywards Heath: is set on 200 acres of Sussex woods and parkland. It is a renowned botanical garden and displays a fabulous variety of colour through all seasons.

- Romney Marsh: is 50,000 acres of flowers that extends along the coast from Hythe. Visit in the spring when the flowers are the most beautiful.

- Mermaid Street: offers enchanting strolls in Rye. You will see The Mermaid Inn, a 15th century pub notorious as a meeting place for smugglers. Henry James lived out his last years here in Lamb House, a 19th century Georgian building, while writing his beloved novels “The Wings of the Dove” and “The Golden Bowl”. Don’t miss the Old Hospital. It’s a triple-gabled, half timbered 15th to 16th century building.

This is just a small sampling of the many things to do and see on England’s South Coast. Be sure to learn about the many other attractions of this beautiful area of England.

Next : Cheap Hotels Brighton

Look Out For Special Vacations Package Tours To Europe Or The Caribbean

August 18th, 2010 No comments

If you want to getaway to the Caribbean, or travel to Europe, you can get great deals on all-inclusive special vacations package tours. The Caribbean, also known as the West Indies, comprises of a number of islands that separate the Atlantic Ocean from the Caribbean Sea. There are three main groups, namely The Bahamas, the Greater Antilles, and the Lesser Antilles.

This glorious part of the world is ranked as a top tourist destination. It has perfect weather throughout the year, beautiful beaches with crystal waters and soft sands, lots of activities, a vibrant nightlife, and historic attractions. A tailor-made package can be designed for you by a travel agent. It will include your transport, accommodation bookings, tours, and anything else that you want.

Taking a Caribbean cruise is the ultimate way to see the islands. There are always special offers available. To get good prices, it’s best to book several months in advance. The holiday season in the Caribbean is at its peak from December to April. If you are prepared to wait for this rush to wane off, you can get excellent discounts from August through to November.

You can save additional expenses by booking a cheaper cabin on the ship. Cabins with portholes are more expensive than those without. Likewise, the various deck levels have different prices. For example, a cabin on a lower deck is quite a lot cheaper than one on a higher deck. So, if you want to extra money, you may need to compromise on this.

This won’t make any difference to your use of the ship’s facilities. Just like all passengers, you can have free access to the swimming pools, games areas, the library, spas and saunas. Other facilities like the beauty and massage parlors will be for your account, as will alcoholic beverages from the bars. Meals are included in the package.

If a trip to Europe is more your style, this too can be tailored to suit your tastes. On this continent, you can cover a lot of ground in one or two weeks. Alternatively, you may prefer to concentrate on one particular country, e. G. France. Either way, you can book an all-inclusive package. These are known as multi-city or single-region excursions.

Europe is huge and consists of many countries, each of which has its own culture and language. It is this diversity that makes Europe so fascinating. Even the landscape of each region is different. Take the United Kingdom as an example; the thriving metropolis of London is nothing like the tranquility and remoteness of the northern parts of Scotland.

An example of a multi-city package deal is an 11 day tour of Rome, Paris and London. Included in the cost would be guided visits to some classic attractions. For example, in Rome you would see the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum, St Peter’s Basilica, and the Vatican Museum. In Paris, you will see the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Elysees, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Arc de Triomphe. Great attractions in London would be Buckingham Palace, St Paul’s Cathedral, and Westminster Abbey. During these special vacations package tours (you might even find deals for a vacation in Cuba!), you can also spend your own time exploring various places.

Organizing last minute vacations doesn’t have to be a costly challenge. Find everything from Europe tours to Cuba vacation pacakges and experience a luxury vacation in style!

Cuba Multi Centre.

July 26th, 2010 No comments

Cuba is such a big Island that it makes it ideal for multi centre holidays. There is so much to do and see that sometimes – depending on the itinerary – 2 weeks are not enough.

The Cuban Archipelago offers a variety of tourism modalities that separates it from the rest of the islands in the Caribbean. Cuba is unique in terms of its tourist attractions. Not only you can find astonishing beach locations but also charming colonial villages and towns full of character.

Among the best beach locations in Cuba -Varadero and Guardalavaca – stand out from the crowd for its pristine white sands and turquoise waters. The Cayo islands around main land are famous for its virginity and quietness. Cayo Largo, Cayo Coco, Cayo Santa Maria and Cayo Levisa are just some of the best beach destinations in Cuba.

There is much more other than just beaches. Cuba was for many centuries the “Key to The Americas” and as a result its cultural and historic heritage is immeasurable. Its architecture is very striking. A mingle of Colonial and modern styles can be appreciated in most of the main cities in Cuba.

Its landscapes have inspired plastic artists all around the World. The beyond belief Vinales Valley – located in Pinar del Rio province in the west of Cuba – is one of the gems of the Cuban geography that today can be admired by millions of tourists.

Havana – The Capital – is a must if you go on holidays to Cuba. It certainly has the best vibe. There is music in every Caf and a Caf in every corner of the Old Quarter. Beautiful squares to rest and watch the people going bye.

Other provinces and towns worth visiting are Trinidad and Baracoa (these two are the oldest villages in Cuba that still preserve an entirely colonial architecture). Santiago de Cuba is another important location mainly from the historic point of view. It was from Santiago de Cuba where all the uprisings, independent movements and revolutions started in Cuba.

If you are thinking of visiting Cuba the best advice is to contact a tailor made specialist with in-depth knowledge about Cuba. You will be guided through the process of deciding what is best for you taking into consideration many factors such as duration, interests and budget for your holidays.

Mr JM Maurette is a reservation consultant employed by Quest World Travel Ltd . He has a great deal of experience and expertise arranging tailor made holidays to Cuba . If you need to arrange a tailor made Cuban Holiday please follow the links above.