Test Your Golf Skills at Pirate’s Cove and Congo River in Orlando

The Orlando area abounds in great golf courses, and is also the home of imaginative theme parks. The two activities come together at Pirates Cove Adventure Golf where you can take the whole family for a round of mini golf and putt-putt golf in the midst of gushing waterfalls and lush vegetation and at the Congo River where you can play golf in an African jungle themed environment.

Pirate’s Cove is located on the International Drive, which is also home to many restaurants and other vacation attractions. It features two courses, one is for beginners and the other is for more advanced golfers who have their own Stuart Weitzman shoes.

Pirate’s golf is not an ordinary mini golf course. The beautiful landscaping makes it unique as does the wildlife. You can feed baby alligators. These critters are quite cute when they are young! And you can also feed some friendly ducks while you are on the course.

In addition, the pirate theme is nicely utilized to address one of the major problems at busy mini-golf course, the boredom of waiting for the previous group to finish up on the hole. At Pirate’s Cove they give you a treasure map, and while you are waiting for the people in front you of you, you can try to find the hidden items listed on the treasure map. If you find all of them you win a free game!

A lot of the attractions in Orlando are pricey, but Pirate’s Cove will not make much of a dent in your budget. Children under 12 enter with a reduced price and adults pay $10.95 for 18 holes. If you are really in the mood for a lot of golf you can play 36 holes and pay only $16.50. Orlando Magazine named this course the “best in Florida” for miniature golf and the hours are: 9 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. Pirate’s Cove is located at 8501 International Drive, Orlando FL 32819, 407-352-7378

Congo River is an African themed mini-golf course with locations in East Orlando, Orlando and Kissimmee. Here the main idea is to follow in the footsteps of the famous 19th Century explorers of the Congo, Henry Stanley and David Livingston.

The course is challenging with caves and hills and you get your choice of two different courses. The Livingston course is the most challenging. The decorations along the course include rock formations, waterfalls, abandoned river boats and a cargo plane that “crashed” in the jungle.

In addition to the golf, there is an arcade area with games for kids as well as a place where you can safely feed alligators. Similar to the game at Pirate’s Cove, the back of each score card has a treasure hunt game. If you discover the treasures then you can turn in the card at the end of the game and win a prize.

You can also book Congo River for a birthday party. The party includes a round of golf, a free novelty golf ball for the birthday child and use of party space – either picnic tables or party room, and arcade game tokens. You have to supply your own food, either bringing it in or ordering from a number of nearby pizza places.

So if you want to test your putting skills in a fun environment, then be sure to visit Pirate’s Cove or Congo River while visiting Orlando.

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Mark Whichard is an Orlando tourism expert and writes frequently about attractions in and around Orlando. He is the proprietor of DisneyRents.com You can get great deals on Orlando Vacation Home Rentals at this website http://www.disneyrents.com

What To Do In North Carolina

In the earlier times half the eastern side of this state used to be under-water. Many sea creatures used to inhabit it. The British established two colonies here in 1580, but were unsuccessful. Later many people immigrated from Virginia to this land naming it “Carolina.” It sometimes joined the union and some times the confederates, ultimately joining the US in 1868.

It has seen lots of progress in 20th century, giving it it’s a modern look. Historic Bath that is located between two creeks and in an ancient village. It boasts of preserving a 1705 made Church, 1751’s Palmer-Marsh house and 1830’s Bonner house.

With the tallest brick lighthouse in North America Cape Hatteras National Seashore and Lighthouse protects 75 miles of Carolina’s outer banks. The lighthouse opens seasonally for visitors.

Made in 1902, Charlotte Hawkins Brown Memorial, as an educational center for African-Americans, it continues doing this work setting a unique educational example. The owner of the land of James K. Polk Memorial was the 11th President of USA. All his life’s journey is depicted here.

Named after the Royal governor, of Fort Dobbs, which was built, by the natives, as a protection during Indian and French wars. Archeologists believe that they were later pushed westwards and their remains (military and civilian) are still found in this museum.

Wright Brothers National Memorial is located on Kill Devil Hills on North Carolina’s outer banks. It boasts everything about the Wright brothers, the hangar and daily presentations about their first historic flight.

Established in 1895, Biltmore Estate is a 250-room mansion built in the 8000 acres of mountain land in North Carolina. Many gardens, hiking trails and an award winning winery are available here.

Six centuries back Native Americans settled at a spot on Little River, called Town Creek Indian Mound. For the last fifty years archeologists have been excavating its history. It used to be a temple and later a mortuary.

Located in the heart of Carolina at Asheboro, North Carolina Zoo has variety of plants in thousands and around 1100 animals. This zoo covers an area of 300 acres along the creeks of Carolina making it a suitable area for picnics too.

Considered to be the Mecca of motor sports Charlotte Motor Speedway plays host to two major, Winston Cup races and Busch Series races each year. The gift shop here provides guided tours on the speedway.

A breathtaking view of Blue Ridge Mountains is accessible from Mount Mitchell State Park. It is the highest peak to the east of Mississippi. Also, visit a museum and a cultural center to explore the history of Carolina. Other amenities are also available here.

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Devinder Patel says why not visit North Carolina soon – book accommodation through www.carolinadesigns.com or http://www.london-airport-shuttle.co.uk/faq.html

Cool off in Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park in Orlando

It can get hot in Orlando during the summer, but it is easy to refresh yourself and get some thrills in the process if you go to Disney’s Typhoon Lake Water Park. This is one of two water parks at the Walt Disney Resort located near Orlando, Florida.

Typhoon Lake is home to many attractions such as the fast moving water slides and a children’s area with child-sized rafts. As it is a Disney creation, the whole layout of the park is very imaginative. In fact there is even a bit of “legend” behind the park’s layout.

The creators of the park say that “once upon a time” there was a typhoon that wrecked havoc with surfboards, houses and even an old shrimp boat that now sits precariously perched on a volcano at the Typhoon Lake Park.

Continuing in this way, the park’s creators say that the “typhoon” also helped to create the water slides and rivers and rapids that fill this park.

You may or may not believe in legends, but if you like getting wet and whirling about on exciting rides then you will enjoy your visit to Typhoon Lake. You can choose from nine watersides, and if you are thrill-seeker then try the one with vertical drops or the Surf Pool with six foot waves. Snorkeling with real sharks at the Shark Reef and colorful tropical fish should also give you something to talk about when you get home.

Here are few of the most popular rides at the park: Castaway Creek: Would you like to ride on inner tubes on an almost-half mile river ride? This ride will take you through rainforests, waterfalls and other exotic locales. Children cannot travel alone on this ride and must be accompanied by an adult.

Gangplank Falls: Inner tubes are the vehicles in this ride. But these are not your ordinary inner tubes, but giant four person family sized rafts that will take you down three hundred feet of rapids, rocks and water.

Humunga Kowabunga: Speed is the main feature of this ride. Your vehicle will be going at up to 30 miles per hour when you go through this slide that winds its way through more than 200 feet of caves. Youngsters below 4 feet tall are not permitted on the ride.

You are going to get wet at this park so there are special arrangements for that. This includes dressing rooms with lockers and showers. You can get a locker for five dollars per day and you also have to pay an additional $2 as a key deposit. Life jackets are given free of charge, but a driver’s license or credit card must be left as a deposit. You are not allowed to bring your own life jackets, tubes or other floating devices, on advice from the OKC lawyer.

If you like the water and if you like thrills and if you want to cool off and have a lot of fun, then Typhoon Lagoon Water Park is a must-visit destination when you make your Orlando vacation.

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Mark Whichard is an Orlando tourism expert and writes frequently about attractions in and around Orlando. He is the proprietor of DisneyRents.com You can get great deals on Orlando Vacation Home Rentals at this website http://www.disneyrents.com

On the Beach is CA lodging that lives up to its name

Everyone at some point in their relationship searches for that special romantic getaway – a place that has all the special touches, is easy to get to, and that will make just the right impression on the partner who will join you for this retreat from every day living.

Problem is, it can be a bit of a crapshoot making your selection. Everybody advertises with words like “romantic” and “special,” but not all getaways will measure up to your standards. What to do?

Sometimes, as with our recent trip to the Central California Coast, it’s just the luck of the draw. We happened on a place that, on the outside, looks a bit ordinary. But its location was perfect so we took a chance. We’re glad we did.

We found our little diamond in the rough in the coastal village of Cayucos, a burg of a couple thousand people – most of whom seemed to be out of town during our spring visit. It’s just north of Morro Bay and is located on Estero Bay, where you’ll find top grade packing sand stretched out before you on a long, wide beach with waves that seemed to be created especially for mid-level surfers. The town is situated against a backdrop of the greenest hills you’ll find in California.

On the Beach Bed and Breakfast is situated on precisely the best property in town – just footsteps from the pier, as you might have guessed. Everything is within walking distance – several restaurants, a grocery store, shops of all persuasions and, of course, the beach.

On the Beach is a relatively new inn and the owners obviously have put a lot of thought into how to make the rooms memorable. Each room is about 50% larger than a standard hotel room, and the high ceilings add to the spacious feel. Balconies open to a wide view of the beach and the pier. With our second story unit, we felt secure enough to open the balcony door for the night and let the sounds of the ocean waves lull us into a very restful sleep.

Our first clue that this was a special place was the guestbook We started reading through two years’ worth of entries and began to blush. Not that it was X-rated, but let’s just say if those walls could talk, they’d have a few stories to tell. One couple shared with future guests their experience of spending an entire 24 hours in the room, where they said they had plenty to keep them occupied.

It’s a bathrobes-in-the-closet, chocolates-on-the-pillow kind of place, replete with the oversized whirlpool tub that, on high speed, pounds every one of your aching muscles back into shape. Special touches include plush pillow-top mattresses with elegant duvet style bedspreads and matching decorator pillows and shams. There is a hand-painted side table and two fabric-covered side chairs as well as a Queen Anne armchair with matching ottoman. Primp yourself in the freestanding full-length mirror. If you need a fireplace, you have one. Even the walls are unique – no ordinary wallpaper here, but Fortuni paper that helps to give the accommodations the look you would find in an exclusive boutique hotel.

Also under the heading of “extras you don’t always get with your romantic getaway,” we would put the three mini-meals offered free daily. Not only is there a continental breakfast each morning down in the lobby bar, but there is a mid-afternoon wine-tasting, and an early evening dessert buffet.

We didn’t feel we necessarily had to spend 24 straight hours in our room, so we were rather quick, really, to hop down to the beach and pier. The pier’s a little like being on a boat – it’s just rickety enough that the end of it sways while you are rethinking your decision to walk to the end of the pier. But the pier does offer a birds-eye view of the surfers below (which, I swear, spend 20 minutes paddling for every one minute they are riding), and it really gets exciting when they jump OFF the pier into frothy water so far below it was scary.

The requisite seagulls were out in force, helping to validate our seaside adventure and add to the overall ambience. The town is just two or three blocks long, depending on how you define a block. A couple doors up is Schooner’s Wharf – highly recommended to us for dinner but closed for spring cleaning during the short time we were in Cayucos. The Pier Café was a good substitute though – superb clam chowder and great fish combinations served in rather unpretentious surroundings just footsteps from – you guessed it – the pier.

Note to husbands and boyfriends: The shops in Cayucos open kind of late so tell your significant other that you want to be sure and allow time for shopping and have scheduled shopping for very first thing in the morning so as not to miss it. Plan lunch in San Luis Obispo and, when the shops are – surprise – not open, just tell your honey that, of course you’re deeply disappointed, but you’ll need to hit the road to have time to explore nearby San Luis Obispo.

There is plenty to do in Cayucos, so it’s not mandatory to leave. The California Coastal Trail is a nine-mile round-trip hike through the bluffs and beaches of Cayucos. You’ll find that nearby Cayucos State Beach has lots of beach access. There’s a fresh water pool at Hardie Park, which is a short walk from On the Beach. About 25 miles north you’ll find Hearst Castle.

From the looks of On the Beach guestbook, not many folks made it as far as Hearst Castle. A lot of the past guests seemed fairly content to limit their exploration to the inside of their room. At least it would seem that most people found this to be a very special romantic getaway indeed.

AT A GLANCE

WHERE: Cayucos is about 20 miles north of San Luis Obispo and just four miles from Morro Bay, where you will find many additional restaurants and tourist services. On the Beach in is easy to find in Cayucos. Just go to the pier.

WHAT: On the Beach is a rare find: great accommodations in a perfect place with friendly innkeepers. Rooms are surprisingly luxurious and well-appointed with mini-kitchen facilities.A whirlpool is in the room, and a hot tub is on the inn’s roof top. The beach is out your door and window.

WHEN: Reasonably good year-round weather means this destination is good anytime. It’s nippier in the winter and much cooler than beach temperatures in Southern California. But in spring and summer it warms up nicely, no need for Medicare supplement. Midweek, you can pretty much have the place to yourself in the spring.

WHY: It’s a great getaway from either Los Angeles or San Francisco and is almost equi-distant. A wonderful place to restore your spirit and forget about work.

HOW: Call the inn directly at 877-995-0800 or visit www.californiaonthebeach.com.

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Cary Ordway is a syndicated travel writer and president of Getaway Media Corp, which publishes websites focused on regional getaway travel. Among the sites currently offered by GMC are http://www.californiaweekend.com , covering California spa vacations and other Golden State destinations, and http://www.northwesttraveladvisor.com , covering Washington vacation ideas as well as other Pacific Northwest travel destinations.

Dining Out in Orlando: From Budget to Fine Dining

One of the pleasures of any vacation is trying out the cuisine of a particular locality. If Orlando is your vacation destination then you will have a wide choice of restaurants to choose from. It would never be possible to give a complete survey of the dining possibilities in Orlando or any city in only one article but here is a sampling of low budget and high budget restaurants that have proven popular with visitors to Orlando.

Since I am writing this during a time of economic recession let me start with the low budget restaurants. These are places where you can get a good meal but not dent your wallet too much.

Bubbalou’s Bodacious Bar-B-Cue Ribs

Bubbalou’s Bodacious Bar-B-Cue Ribs are the main dish here, and this restaurant has been voted as Central Florida’s best barbecue restaurant by readers of the Orlando Sentinel. The food is cooked on an open pit and there is more than just spare ribs on the menu. You can also get barbecued chicken, lamb and smoked turkey. Beware of the special hot sauce that is served here, it is really hot! You can find this barbecue restaurant at: 5818 Conroy Rd., Orlando, FL 32819

Thai Thani

The food here is not native to Central Florida, but it is authentic Thai food served up in an atmosphere that will transport you to Thailand. If you are already a fan of Thai food then you will want to dine at this restaurant, and if you would like to try out Thai food to see what it is all about, then this is a great place to do it.

Hard Rock Cafe Orlando

If you have been to the other Hard Rock Cafes around the world then you will know what to expect here, reasonably priced food in a rock ‘n’ roll themed environment. Orlando’s Hard Rock Café is located in the Universal Studios CityWalk area and it is the biggest café of this worldwide chain and also has the largest collection of rock memorabilia in the entire chain. If you like munching on a hamburger and gazing at an original guitar from one of your rock heroes, then be sure to visit Orlando’s Hard Rock Café.

Now let’s look at some of the higher-end restaurants that are popular with local residents and visitors alike.

Hemingways

As long as you are in Florida then you might as well get into the magic of one of Key West’s most famous residents, the writer Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway’s is decorated with the rods and reels, stuffed trophy fish and nautical trinkets of the writer who gave us the classic “The Old Man and the Sea.” The cuisine is regional and includes coconut shrimp and paella. A typical meal will cost you about $40. The restaurant is located at Lake Buena Vista 1 Grand Cypress Blvd. The disability appeal of this venue is the fact that it is fully accessible.

California Grill

If you want to go to a restaurant voted as Orlando’s most popular, then this is the place for you. You can find it on the 15th floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort. The cuisine is supervised by a famous chef, Cliffor Pleau, who is constantly at work creating new dishes. In addition to fine dining you also get a bird’s eye view of the entire Disney theme park. The attire is strictly informal and you can dine in your shorts and Disney tee shirts. The price of a typical meal is $40.

Christini’s

As long as we are talking about high-end dining let’s finish with a restaurant where the prices are high even by expense-account standards. This restaurant is known for elaborate meals and its huge wine list. The dining takes place in an extremely romantic setting with musicians strolling about. You will think that you having a night out in Italy. If you want to impress someone and can afford to spend around $50 for a meal, then head on out to South Orlando 7600 Dr. Phillips Blvd.

Take note of these restaurants and give them a try when you visit Orlando, choosing according to the ones that best fit your taste and your budget

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Mark Whichard is an Orlando tourism expert and writes frequently about attractions in and around Orlando. He is the proprietor of Quality Villa Rentals and you can get great deals on Orlando Vacation Homes at this website http://www.qualityvillarentals.com

Vacation Villas in Orlando for Families and Large Groups

There are no arguments that vacation villas in Orlando are preferred to hotels for families with two or more children because of the difference in cost between two hotel rooms and the shared price of a vacation villa or town house. These benefits become greater the larger your family, and they also apply to large parties of people.

Looking at families first, unless you want to feel squashed in on your holiday, a hotel room is suitable only for two people at the most. A vacation should be designed to help you get rid of the stress of everyday life, not be even more stressful than it is at home. You don’t all live in one room at home, so why do so on vacation?

You should enjoy your vacation and be able to relax, recharging your batteries for the working year to come. You shouldn’t have to worry about your family, and neither should money be a concern since you should know the entire costs of your accommodation when you set off on your vacation, and not be presented with a bill by a hotel for unexpected expenses, such as children unwittingly watching the expensive movie on that night – and every night!

A vacation villa in Orlando, on the other hand, allows you the freedom and space that you could never get in a hotel. The children can have their own rooms without you worrying about where they are, or what the cost will be once their hotel movie bill comes to light. Are these adult movies really barred to them? You will always be worrying about them, but they won’t have that in your villa.

Not in a vacation villa, where they have their own rooms, just like at home. Not only that, but what applies to families also applies to any other groups of people. Eight people sharing the cost of an 8 bedroom Orlando vacation villa at $575 mid-season costs $72 each more or less, for a lot more amenities such a private pool and spa, 55 inch cinema screen, games room with full sized billiard and pool table, air hockey and darts, and many, many other amenities such as Bose surround sound, 8 bathrooms and TV and VCR in every room plus all the rest.

If needed, you can find these wonderful vacation villas in Orlando set in complexes, where you can organize much larger groups to be housed beside each other and party together every night. What hotel could even begin to offer anything like that? Just imagine the cost of you all meeting in the hotel bar for drinks, compared with sitting round your own poolside, sipping cocktails made in your own bar from drinks purchased at supermarket prices, cooking steaks, chicken and cheeseburgers with the kids right there with you playing in the pool.

You can’t beat that for a great group vacation, and you are only ten minutes from Disney. Perhaps you are all on a golfing holiday. Not only are there are some great courses in and around Orlando, but also some famous golf schools where you can get your swing sorted out and twenty yards added to your length. A vacation villa in Orlando is ideal for you and your golfing buddies.

Even the food is cheaper. Sure, you can eat out just as you have to do in a hotel every day and night, but in your villa you also have the opportunity to purchase your food and cook it ‘at home’. Some have barbecues by the pool that can make you feel really at home. You can save a great deal of money by cooking your own meals now and again, especially if you would otherwise be in a hotel miles from the nearest restaurant, and have to pay hotel restaurant prices.

Orlando is a base for several resorts that consist of vacation villas with common amenities, many of these run by same company. If you have a particularly large party it is frequently possible for one of these to share your party between two or more of these resorts, so that no party is too large for them to accommodate. It is not possible for individual hotels to offer similar arrangements, and even where hotels belong to the same group they tend to be run autonomously and such cooperation does not happen.

With vacation villas in Orlando, however, resorts can cooperate with each other in this way. However, it would take a very large party for this to be necessary, and most villa resorts will have sufficient accommodation to meet the majority of needs.

Whether you are a group of friends, and extended family, a sports group or just a bunch of people wanting to share good time, you will find vacation villas in Orlando to meet your needs, and provide you with the facilities, independence and privacy that no hotel, with spa filters, could ever offer

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Mark Whichard is an Orlando tourism expert and writes frequently about attractions in and around Orlando. He is the proprietor of DisneyRents.com You can get great deals on Orlando Vacation Home Rentals at this website http://www.disneyrents.com

How to Avoid Altitude Sickness in Breckenridge Colorado

If you’re traveling to a high altitude ski destination, such as Breckenridge, Colorado this winter, it’s important that you bring along a thorough understanding of how higher elevations can affect your travels. With a base elevation perched at 9,600 feet above sea level, Breckenridge is one of the highest ski towns in the American West.

Most travelers will find that the altitude of Breckenridge has a relatively mild effect on them. It is not uncommon to notice a slight headache or have a bit of trouble sleeping for the first two to three days after arrival. Unfortunately, some visitors will experience more severe symptoms including nausea, vomiting, significant headaches and shortness of breath. The good news is that by following a few simple precautions, most travelers can mitigate the effect of altitude to the point that they are barely noticeable at all.

Visitors who believe they may be prone to the effects of altitude should consult their family physician before heading to Breckenridge. He or she may prescribe a drug known as Diamox. This prescription is taken for two days prior to your arrival in Breckenridge and for the first three to four days of your stay. It can help to mitigate the most noticeable symptoms of high altitude. Children may also receive a prescription for Diamox in smaller doses than those given to adults. You should also inquire as to whether Breckenridge’s altitude may exacerbate any health conditions that you already have.

Prior to arriving in Breckenridge, visitors should increase their water intake and be sure to remain well hydrated during the course of their stay. The body’s adjustment to higher elevations is accompanied by fluid loss. This is the result of an increased respiration rate, and with it, greater amounts of water vapor are exhaled. Try to consume a minimum of one hundred ounces of fluids each day to retain the level of hydration needed by your body. A diet that is high in carbohydrates will also help with acclimatization, as these simple sugars are more easily digested by your body, allowing it to focus more energy on adjusting to altitude. Avoiding caffeine and alcohol will also help, as they can contribute to dehydration.

Spending a night in Denver before traveling to Breckenridge can also be an effective method of acclimating. At an elevation of 5,280 feet, Denver offers an ideal median altitude to adjust to before moving on to higher elevations.

After arriving in Breckenridge, it’s a good idea to take things easy for your first day or two in town. Exhausting yourself by skiing from the time the mountain opens to the time it closes can bring on the symptoms of altitude sickness, even days after your arrival. Light activity is better for acclimating than bed rest, even if you do not feel well. Lying in bed or sleeping decreases the body’s rate of respiration which can actually amplify the effects of altitude sickness. Even if you’re not feeling one hundred percent, a short walk around town will help your body adjust to its new surroundings much faster than trying to sleep off symptoms. You may even want to visit a local “oxygen bar,” where for a few dollars, you can breathe an oxygen concentration resembling that of a much lower elevation.

Although altitude sickness has the capacity to put a damper on your ski vacation, understanding the simple steps that can be taken to avoid it ought to make your adjustment to Breckenridge’s elevation a much easier one. It is important that guests remember not to “overdo it” when it comes to activity, alcohol and caffeine, while increasing their consumption of hydrating fluids. By following a few simple precautions, you can ensure that your next ski or snowboard vacation in Breckenridge is a spectacular one. Most importantly, if symptoms of mountain sickness do not improve within a few days of your arrival or worsen, consult a local physician, as this may be a sign of a more dangerous condition known as High Altitude Pulmonary Edema.

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Ben Kelly is a resident of Breckenridge Colorado and enjoys snowboarding, hiking, mountain biking and fly fishing in the Colorado Rockies. He is the owner of Summit Vacation Concierge and can provide expert local advice on Breckenridge Lodging, Ski Vacation Packages and Activities.
http://www.summitconcierge.com

Where Do Hurricanes Occur in Mexico?

When planning a trip or vacation in a tropical climate such as Mexico it would be a good idea to know when and where hurricanes occur. Hurricanes and more generally, tropical cyclones occur in seven distinct areas around the globe. Several hurricane formation basins are much livelier than others and manufacture many more tropical storms and hurricanes.

How Hurricanes Form

When comparing formation zones, some tropical cyclone basins have a greater duration and time frame in which tropical cyclones may occur during the year. How hurricanes form; most tropical cyclones form from a disturbance in the monsoon trough. However the north Atlantic basin is significantly different though, due mainly because most of these hurricanes form from easterly waves of which originate from Africa

Hurricane Season Forecast

The North Atlantic Ocean, hurricane season begins: June 1 through to November 30; and becoming more active in mid August through the latter part of October. Locations included in this region are the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.

Hurricanes may also affect the southern and eastern U.S., the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Bermuda, eastern Mexico, and eastern Canada.

The Eastern North Pacific Ocean, hurricane season begins: May 15 through to November 30. The Eastern North Pacific Ocean is known as the second most active region for tropical cyclones in the world. Included in this basin are the popular tourist destinations and resorts of western Mexico and Cabo San Lucas.

Pacific Hurricane Season

The Northwest Pacific Ocean, Typhoon season: Year round, and is the most active basin in the world. Most typhoons form July through November. Guam, the Philippines, southeast China, and Japan are all within this zone.

The Bay of Bengal or, Arabian Sea, harsh Cyclonic storm season: Early April through the end of December. This basin has a double maximum because of the monsoon through moving through at two different times of the year. Maximums occur from mid April through May and from mid September through mid December. India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar are all affected by these tropical cyclones.

The Southwest Pacific Ocean, mid October through May 1 is considered Severe Tropical Cyclone Season. These tropical cyclones may affect eastern Australia.

The Southeast Indian Ocean, mid October through May is also considered Severe Tropical Cyclone Season. These tropical cyclones may affect northern and western Australia. Mid January, and mid February through early March, this basin has a double maximum.

The Southwest Indian Ocean, October 15 through May 15, is Tropical Cyclone Season. These tropical cyclones may affect Madagascar and southeastern Africa. Mid January and mid February through early March has a double maximum.

Prior to your travel plans it would be wise to learn more on Where do hurricanes occur and hurricane preparedness by visiting Hurricane Preparation webite.

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Anita McKenzie is an experienced internet marketing expert; Anita’s focal point is the promotion of travel, tourism and credit card machines business to Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Visit Virtual La Paz – virtual-la-paz.com

La Quinta is luxurious Palm Springs alternative

The chicken-and-egg question guests often ask at La Quinta Resort & Club is which came first: the city of La Quinta or the resort? The answer is neither. The Spaniards came first when they created a base in La Quinta along their route to the San Gabriel Mission.

Several centuries later, along came big shot Bay-area businessman Walter Morgan, who chose to build La Quinta resort pretty much where the Spaniards had their base. It was much later that the city of La Quinta was named for the resort — one of only two cities in the country to be named this way. The other is Beverly Hills, named after the famous Beverly Hills Resort.

The area Morgan chose for his resort is in the foothills of the Santa Rosa Mountains near Palm Springs and, today, La Quinta Resort & Club has become a massive 42-acre collection of casitas, golf courses, swimming pools and tennis courts that, for the first-timer, requires a roadmap to navigate. Charming Spanish architecture and abundant vegetation weave a colorful tapestry against the mountain backdrop, making La Quinta Resort & Club one of the prettiest spa resorts you’ll ever see. It’s the perfect choice for a California vacation of any length.

Our trip from San Diego to La Quinta was quick and easy using the back route through the parched landscape near Anza, culminating in a 10-mile winding, downgrade taking vehicles about 5,000 feet down to the desert floor where temperatures were nearly 20 degrees hotter than on top of the grade. Any trip to Palm Springs during the spring and summer requires a little pre-planning to manage the heat. You don’t just show up and stay on the golf course all day in triple-digit temperatures.

The locals in the Palm Springs area have learned to time outdoor activities so that they’re accomplished in the relatively cool mornings. In some cases, afternoon activities will work if you know, for example, your golf course will have shade. One of the La Quinta courses always gets covered in shade from the Santa Rosa Mountains at 3 p.m. each day.

“Managing the weather here is just a matter of keeping hydrated and wearing sunscreen,” explained Sara Harper, La Quinta’s Director of Marketing Communications. “And the nights here are so unbelievably pleasant.”

We hit an unusually hot weekend for spring — it got as high as 108 degrees — but we noticed that the heat really didn’t get uncomfortable until early to mid-afternoon. As they say, it’s a dry heat in the Palm Springs area, and the 90-degree temps in the morning hours felt downright refreshing.

But there is no question that your time at La Quinta Resort & Club — whatever the time of the year — is bound to involve some serious submerging in one of the resort’s 42 swimming pools. No, that’s not a typo — La Quinta not only has 42 pools, but 53 hot tub spas. Many of the resort’s casitas have their own swimming pools, but other casitas are grouped around one or more mid-size pools where there seemed to be plenty of room to swim and ample deck chairs to accommodate anyone who wanted to lay out in the desert sun.

Our “starlight” casita was a spacious upstairs unit in a two-story building overlooking one of the swimming pools. Floor plans at La Quinta offer more than the usual amount of space — 450 square feet or more — and that, along with the high ceilings, gives a feeling of openness. An incredibly comfortable king bed, hide-a-bed, desk and audio/video entertainment area were in the main room; the bath area was equally comfortable with an over-sized bathtub, walk-in shower stall, double vanities and a separate room for the commode.

Casitas each are decorated with a Southwestern flair. Mexican influenced pottery designs, wrought iron mirror frames and bed treatments with browns, reds and yellows created a fiesta of color in our casita’s main room. Outside on the deck were lounge chairs, a table and umbrella to enjoy the outdoors in total privacy.

The casita buildings are connected by a maze of walkways that will keep you reaching for your hotel map. These sidewalks also are a primary thoroughfare for the golf carts and bicycles driven and ridden by resort employees as they spread out all over the vast complex that totals 800 casitas altogether.

Back when Walter Morgan first built the resort in 1926, the resort plan was a bit more modest — only 20 casitas, although he did build the valley’s first golf course. La Quinta Resort was created to lure Hollywood stars to the Coachella Valley where they could get away from the studio and relax in privacy — which of course was one reason the whole Palm Springs area eventually turned into a playground for the Hollywood elite.

At La Quinta, the list of Hollywood stars was impressive — such lminaries as Clark Gable, Bette Davis, Errol Flynn, Katherine Hepburn, Eddie Cantor and Shirley Temple were regulars. Greta Garbo had a house on the property, and Frank Capra wrote many of his movie scripts in the same La Quinta casita that today has his typewriter and one of his scripts awaiting the lucky guest renting that particular casita.

Hollywood stars still come to La Quinta today because, like many KSL Resorts properties, this resort is laid out in a campus style that allows a celebrity to avoid entering through a main entrance or elevator — the stars just drive right to their casitas, parking a few steps away and then get lost in the resort during their entire stay. This layout also is beneficial for everyday vacationers who don’t want to be bothered by convention and other group activities; when conventions are held at La Quinta they are held in areas where regular guests aren’t likely to even know they are there.

Sports celebrities, too, are in abundance — especially tennis players. La Quinta tennis pro Mike Casey has relationships with many world-class players who periodically will train at La Quinta. With 23 courts — clay, grass and hard surface — the resort has become popular also for ordinary people who just want to improve their tennis game. Many of the courts are lighted, which means the players can manage the Palm Springs heat by playing at night.

For golfers, La Quinta offers five courses, including three designated as PGA West.

For those of us who just want to relax and enjoy great food, La Quinta — as near as we could tell — fills the bill there, too. We only had time to sample the Adobe Grill — which served scrumptious and authentic Mexican cuisine — but the resort also boasts Morgan’s, a premium steakhouse, Azur by Le Bernadin seafood restaurant and the Spa Bistro, offering spa cuisine to make your stay as healthy as it was fun. Actually, including the golf courses, there are seven restaurants at La Quinta.

Another major draw at La Quinta is Spa La Quinta, where guests are offered many treatments borrowed from the area’s Native ancestors. One of the top spa resorts in Southern California, this resort puts emphasis on outdoor spa treatments under the desert sky to add to the serenity and relaxation of the experience. Inside the spa facility, you’ll also find the Yamaguchi Salon, which is internationally known for cutting and coloring techniques that integrate Asian Feng Shui philosophy into these services. Those who enjoy spa vacations will enjoy La Quinta.

La Quinta Resort & Club has come a long way from the time in the 1500’s when it was the “fifth stop” on the way to San Gabriel Mission. Today it’s the first and only stop for many discriminating guests from around the world.

AT A GLANCE

WHERE: La Quinta Resort & Club is about a half-hour drive southeast of Palm Springs or about 128 miles from Los Angeles. It is one of several fine spa resorts in the Palm Springs area.

WHAT: La Quinta is renowned as a vacation and getaway destination for California residents as well as those seeking relief from mesothelioma. The combination of activities—and the new popularity of spa vacations—makes La Quinta a popular choice.

WHEN: Year-round, but check for special travel deals and vacation packages during certain times of the year. If you have last minute travel plans, be sure to ask for any special rates. The best deals in the Palm Springs area are during summer months.

WHY: So many activities and so much luxury and quality all in one location — a California vacation spot that appeals to the entire family.

HOW: For more information on La Quinta Resort and Club, phone 1-800-598-3828 or visit laquintaresort.com.

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Cary Ordway is a syndicated travel writer and president of Getaway Media Corp, which publishes websites focused on regional getaway travel. Among the sites currently offered by GMC are californiaweekend.com , covering California travel destinations, and northwesttraveladvisor.com , covering Pacific Northwest travel destinations.

Florida family vacations by the beach

Could there be a more exciting and pleasure filled family holiday destination in the world than Florida?

Located in the South Eastern part of the United States, Florida, also known as the “Sunshine State” has developed a reputation over the last 40 years or so as the number one tourist destination on the planet.

Without doubt, the best way to see this fabled state is by basing yourself in one of the many holiday homes, villas or holiday vacation rental properties, which can be found all over the state.

One of the main reasons behind Florida’s popularity is of course due to the fact that during the late 1950’s, Walt Disney chose to build the now iconic Disney World entertainment theme park complex in Orlando and the surrounding areas.

This has given Orlando the well earned tag of “entertainment capital” of the world and as anyone who has been there will tell you, there is simply no other place like it for the sheer scale and variety of entertainment and things to do for people of all ages, size and background, for children, teenagers, young couples and, of course, families.

Whilst Orlando may be the “epicentre” of the entertainment action, there are now several areas where you can find superbly appointed luxury holiday homes to rent including holiday villas and holiday apartments to rent as well as all manner of self catering accommodation and vaction rental properties in new and fast growing communities such as Kissimmee, Lake Buena Vista and International Drive.

These vacation rental properties are an ideal place from which you can go out and see all of what this area has to offer. There are holiday villas to rent with their own private pools set in beautifully manicured and gated communities as well as holiday homes and vacation rental properties which back onto superb championship quality golf courses. Did I mention that there are more golf courses in Florida than there are days in the year?

But Florida is not only about Disney World and its numerous theme parks, water parks, movie studios, designer and themed hotels,far from it. Florida covers a land mass of over 58,000 square miles and offers an amazing range of attractions to explore and enjoy.

Drive west down one of the many Interstates and you will arrive at the Gulf coast resorts of St Petersburg, Tampa and Clearwater. There are literally hundreds of beautiful holiday villas, holiday condominiums, and all manner of self catering accommodation to rent in these resorts.

Continue a little further South and you will happen upon Naples with its pristine beaches and warm seas and the Everglades National Park which is where you will find the natural habitat of the oldest of Florida residents -the manatee, alligator and crocodile.

At the very bottom of the state, just 50 miles off the coast of Cuba, are the fabled Florida Keys. Adopted home of the author Ernest Hemmingway, the Keys are more reminiscent of the Caribbean in style, culture and feel as the atmosphere is very relaxing and laid back.

Compare this with the largest city in the State, Miami, where Spanish is spoken almost as widely as English. Miami is full of art deco tradition and heavily influenced by the Spanish and Latin American cultures.As a party town and place to let your hair down and experience “la vida loca”,then Miami is a city with no equal.

If you should ever tire of the central belt of Florida which is Orlando, take a day out to visit the Atlantic coast on the East side of the State. The waves here are great for body surfing and you can also visit the NASA Kenedy Space Centre. For a taste of real,down to earth coastal America, head for Coco Beach where you can drink Budweiser eat delicious key lime pie on the pier which juts out into the tempestuous Atlantic surf!

Truly, Florida is an amazing “must ‘go-to” place. But avoid staying in hotels and motels if you can. Renting a new and well appointed spacious holiday home or villa or vacation rental property or for that matter any other form of self -catering accommodation will give you and the family the freedom to come and go as you please which will allow you to make the most of what the “Sunshine State” has to offer.

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The Author, Paul Mitchell, is an independent consultant to the travel industry . He is co-owner of the holiday property rental website – letsbookaholiday.com
To see a fantastic range of holiday homes, holiday villas and vacation rentals throughout Florida, or if you own a holiday villa or vacation rental property and would like to advertise your property, please take a look at his website- letsbookaholiday.com