Vacationing in Oahu Hawaii
Although only the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands, Oahu is the most populated and most visited due to its striking beauty and abundance of activities. Home to the capital city of Honolulu and a surfer’s paradise on the North Shore, Oahu has everything visitors could desire from a tropical, sand-filled vacation destination. Make your way to Oahu for the sights, swimming, and surfing, all while taking in a little history along the way, and you certainly will be pleased with your well-rounded trip on this popular island.
A vacation to the Hawaiian Islands means plenty of time spent at beautiful, white sand beaches and a trip to Oahu undoubtedly will be no different. While there are many gorgeous places to throw down a towel and listen to the sounds of the waves rolling in, two places stand out for their remarkable sights and crystal clear water. Hanauma Bay is the perfect place to view the numerous ocean life that thrive close to the shore, particularly sea turtles and colorful fish, either by snorkeling or scuba diving. However, it is a well-known tourist destination so expect large crowds and plenty of noise when venturing here on a warm sunny day.
Waikiki Beach fronts the shores of Waikiki, which is located on the southern shore of Oahu and houses the famous Diamond Head on its east side. This two mile stretch of sand is the picture perfect image of what visitors expect from a Hawaiian beach with its high-rise forests, numerous hotels and resorts, and masses of tourists spread out among the sand. Waikiki Beach is an ideal location for sunning, swimming, snorkeling, surfing, but most of all canoeing. For the ultimate Oahu and Waikiki Beach experience, plan a trip out to sea on an outrigger canoe and rid the waves next to the surfers while soaking in views of the city and Diamond Head.
Diamond Head is quite possibly the most famous volcanic crater in the world and is a worthwhile hike for vacationers who want to take in unparalleled views of the Island. The hike to the rim is considered easy to moderate and requires visitors to climb stairs, walk trails, and make their way through an unlit tunnel (don’t forget your flashlight!). Once the top is reached, however, visitors can enjoy views from Waikiki to Koki Head and of the Pacific Ocean.
Oahu’s North Shore is famous for its massive waves that draw world-class surfers here year after year. In the winter, the high surf’s waves can rise to over 25 feet before rolling over due to the swells coming out of the stormy North Pacific. While surfing is popular at places such as Sunset Beach and Waimea Bay Beach Park (where waves have been reaching over 50 feet in recent years), the North Shore also offers great swimming and snorkeling opportunities to summer visitors at Ali’i Beach Park.
No Oahu outdoor adventure is complete without a trip to Honolulu to view the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. Pearl Harbor holds a special place in our nation’s history and is an important tourist destination even for those who were not alive when the attacks occurred. Every visitor will find the tour of the Arizona Memorial thoughtful and informative, while the addition of the Battleship Missouri and USS Missouri Memorial further highlights the historical importance of this area.
On the spectacular island of Oahu, the right accommodations can make the difference between an ordinary Hawaiian adventure and an amazing Oahu experience. Oahu vacation rentals are located throughout the island, surrounded by its numerous breathtaking features such as the Pacific Ocean, Diamond Head, and lush green forests. The choice between a sterile hotel room that you want to escape every morning and a cozy vacation rental that invites you to soak in the beauty of the island is an easy one, so begin your search for the perfect vacation rental today and surround yourself with all that is stunning in Oahu.
HomeAway.com has the most comprehensive selection of vacation rental homes on the Internet. For an alternative lodging option, consider Oahu vacation rentals for your next trip to the Hawaiian Islands.
Vacationing in Florida
When beginning your search for the ideal place to spend a weeklong vacation, consider the veritable wonderland of attractions and amusements that populate the state of Florida. With its warm weather and 1,100 miles of coastline, Florida is perfect for a fishing adventure, a relaxing week on the beach, or an action-packed family vacation. Make your way to Florida for your next trip and experience all the fun and excitement the Sunshine State has to offer.
On Florida’s Panhandle, visitors will find cities such as Destin and Panama City that are a part of one of the most beautiful stretches of waterfront land found anywhere in the country. Perched along the Emerald Coast, the beaches here have sugar white sands that will roll over your feet as you stroll along the shore, soaking in the sight of emerald-green water. With such high-quality water at your disposal, you may find it difficult to pull yourself away from the numerous offshore activities that can easily fill the duration of trip, including snorkeling, scuba diving, canoeing, and kayaking.
If you are leaning towards an adventure on the Florida Gulf Coast, consider the Tampa Bay area for an always exciting excursion filled to the brim with diverse amusements. Although the beaches along Clearwater and St. Petersburg are an obvious way to fill your day, these areas are also teeming with natural beauty that is just begging to be explored. Here you will find underdeveloped barrier islands, nature parks, and botanical gardens so you can see a side of Florida that exists beyond the beaches all while getting a little exercise in, too.
As one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world, the Orlando/Disney area is a must-see for anyone with young children or anyone who cannot ignore the inner child inside of us all. With Walt Disney World’s four parks, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney MGM Studios, and Animal Kingdom, located here, you could spend the duration of your trip navigating these distinct and highly-entertaining attractions. However, before you leave the Orlando area with your family, be sure to check out the other great amusements outside of Disney World, including SeaWorld, Universal Studios, and the water parks of Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon.
For those who prefer the Atlantic side of Florida, West Palm Beach is ideal for kicking back and enjoying amazingly scenic golf courses. The PGA National Golf Club has five championship courses that will challenge even the most experienced and well-rounded golfers with their astounding length and difficult hazards. With designs by Arnold Palmer and Tom Fazio, you can expect the gorgeous Florida landscape to be framed by stunning water hazards and lush green fairways.
When searching for a multitude of cultural attractions and a lively nightlife, Miami is the place to head for entertainment that certainly will not be forgotten. With a Hispanic background prevalent in the area, you can sample some of the diverse Spanish offerings at the Latin American Art Museum and Little Havana. And at night, you can find a wide selection of night clubs, ranging from blues to jazz to even rumba rap, that will meet your needs and leave you dancing in the streets as you make your way home.
The Florida Keys are the perfect getaway no matter what kind of attractions you are searching for. The Upper Keys are known for their excellent diving since the continent’s only living barrier reef is easily accessed from the east side and with Key Largo located here, you can find the typical tourist recreation to keep you occupied for the duration of your trip. Popular in the Upper Keys and Middle Keys, sportfishing is an excellent way to get out onto the water and try for a variety of fish such as tarpon, tuna, and sailfish. While the Lower Keys are known for being the quieter area of the Keys, you can easily head to the lower tip and experience the spontaneous parties and excitement of Key West.
No matter which part of Florida you decide to visit, your adventure can be filled with whatever kind of recreation interests and relaxes you. For the perfect cap on a promising trip, choose accommodations that make it easy to enjoy your Florida destination with all the gusto you can possibly imagine. Florida vacation rentals are located in the all the areas that matter most to you, so experience the convenience and comfort of home by staying in a home or condo rental that makes it easy to enjoy the beauty and attractions of this amazing state.
HomeAway.com has the most comprehensive selection of vacation rental homes on the Internet. For an alternative lodging option, consider Florida vacation rentals for your next trip.
Vacationing in Las Vegas
As one of the most extreme, over the top vacation destinations in the country and possibly the whole world, Las Vegas has every kind of entertainment option visitors could possibly imagine. Sitting in the southern portion of Nevada within the dry Mojave Desert, most visitors come for the excessive amount of casinos that line the Strip and the Fremont Street Experience in the downtown area. While gambling may be the biggest attraction, there is much more to see and do in Las Vegas than you probably every imagined, but you will need to leave the ringing bells and flashing lights behind.
To get the most obvious attraction out of the way first, the casinos on the Strip are the flashiest, most excessive option available in the city. Not only do they offer gambling, most provide forms of entertainment through nightly shows or outdoor extravaganzas that are meant to lure tourists towards their slot machines and poker tables. The Bellagio shoots off a magnificent outdoor fountain display at least once an hour and offers a fine art gallery and spectacular flower garden within, while the Mirage attracts visitors with its white tiger enclosure and dolphin habitat that can be viewed for a small fee.
The night shows of Las Vegas are well-regarded and world-renowned for being spectacular and somewhat pricey. Possibly the most popular or well known, Cirque de Soleil takes off at a few of the hotels/casinos with each show offering a different visual experience. “O,” at the Bellagio, is an aquatic show that pays tribute to the magic of theater while “KÁ,” at the MGM Grand, combines acrobatics, martial arts, pyrotechnics, and puppetry to illuminate the nature of duality. Other popular shows include “Mamma Mia!” at Mandalay Bay, the Blue Man Group at the Venetian, and the Tournament of Kings at Excalibur.
The buffets in Las Vegas are legendary for having amazing food for a fairly reasonable price. Eat everything in sight at some of the best buffets around at the Bellagio, Paris, Aladdin, and Rio, but try to avoid dinner if you want to save some money for the craps table. While dinner can cost around 30 dollars per person, lunch is typically just as appetizing and costs about half the price.
Off of the Strip in downtown Las Vegas, visitors will find the Fremont Street Experience, a pedestrian mall that extends five blocks on the westernmost side of Fremont Street. The most distinctive features of this area are the massive canopy that covers four blocks and the Light and Sound show that occurs every night at dusk. The Light and Sound show puts out synchronized music, animations, live video feeds, and special effects to create a must-see visual extravaganza on the high-tech overhead canopy. Surrounding the canopy, visitors will find ten casinos, sixty restaurants, numerous bars and lounges, and thousands of slot machines should the urge for a quick game of chance ever strike.
After sitting in a casino for hours or taking in shows each night, you will need to get outside to rejuvenate yourself for more Las Vegas fun and excitement. The golf lovers in your group will want to head out to Bear’s Best Golf Course, located about 20 minutes off the Strip. This Jack Nicklaus designed course brings together eighteen of his best hole designs on one course, meaning golfers of any skill level are in for not only a challenge but a feast for the eyes with the lush greens and shimmering blues set against the desert backdrop.
If you can manage to spare a day out of your schedule for a day of outdoor adventure, venture to the Lake Mead National Recreation Area for an abundance of year-round activities. The huge lakes that sit within this massive park make it easy to participate in numerous outdoor pursuits such as swimming, fishing, boating, or simply soaking up some sun. In addition, the desert is the perfect place for hikers and photographers to catch sight of gorgeous desert plants and animals, which have adapted to the extreme climate of this area.
While most people believe the hotels on the Strip are the most convenient option, consider Las Vegas vacation rentals for your lodging needs. You can revel in the amenities and privacy of home while truly enjoying the beautiful desert surroundings away from the glitz and glamour of the towering casinos. There are homes and condos available near the Strip for easy access to the gambling and shows, while there are homes off the beaten path for those looking for a more well-rounded Las Vegas experience. Whatever kind of Las Vegas trip you have imagined, you can realize it beyond your wildest dreams in a vacation home or condo rental.
HomeAway.com has the most comprehensive selection of vacation rental homes on the Internet. For an alternative lodging option, consider Las Vegas vacation rentals for your next trip to Sin City.
Vacationing On the Big Island of Hawaii
Upon arrival on the Big Island of Hawaii, visitors may be surprised by the rich geographical diversity that can be overwhelming upon first glance. With a stunning coastline, sharp volcanic slopes, and breathtaking canyons, anyone with an affection for the great outdoors will be unable to resist the urge to explore all this spectacular island has to offer. Head to the Big Island for your next vacation and experience the majestic nature of this jewel in the Pacific Ocean.
With its prime position in the middle of the Pacific, there are bound to be a number of activities you simply cannot wait to participate in after arriving on the Big Island. Whether you are staying on the coast or further inland, you should consider heading out into the depths of the ocean to some of the most secluded and spectacular spots in Hawaii. You can swim with exotic fish, circle gorgeous reefs, and view ancient lava flows on a diving or snorkeling excursion or stay inside the boat for a cruise in search of dolphins, whales, and manta rays.
If you are looking for a more thrilling, heart-pumping adventure, hop aboard a deep sea fishing charter for a try at some of the big fish off of the Kona coast. There are numerous fishing boats that will take you in search of marlin, yellowfin tuna, wahoo, dorado, and spearfish so you can come back from your trip with a story about the catch of a lifetime. If you enjoy seeking out your own thrills, grab a kayak and explore coral gardens, sea caves, lava tubes, and the different nooks and crannies that line the coast of the island.
For those times when all you want to do is sit back and relax, head to one of the many beautiful beaches the Big Island has in store for you. Kua Bay at Kona Coast State Park has beautiful white sand surrounded by a lush green landscape that is perfect for catching some sun or springing into the clear water that is great for swimming. Kaunaoa Bay or Mauna Kea Beach is one of the more popular beaches on the island due to the long crescent of white sand and the pleasant water conditions that allow for swimming and snorkeling. Don’t be surprised, however, if a green turtle or two comes across your path while strolling these soft sands.
When you want to explore the Big Island’s stunning terrain, there are a few places to head to see some of the best aspects of the island. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park rests upon two of the most active volcanoes in the world, Kilauea and Mauna Loa, and visitors can view lava from the hiking trails or take one of the scenic drives around the park. The Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden allows visitors to traverse trails that will take them through the rainforest and past flowing waterfalls and streams. This tropical oasis offers an exceptional and protected look at a myriad of plants from all over the world, including palms, bromeliads, gingers, and heliconias, so generations to come can revel in their beauty.
Another popular tourist destination is the Mauna Loa Macadamia Visitor Center located along the slope of the Mauna Loa volcano in Hilo. Here, you can drive through the plantation, walk through the nut and chocolate processing plant to see how the end product is created, and receive chocolate demonstrations and free samples near the gift shop Also, during your time in Hilo, be sure to stop by the Pana’ewa Rainforest Zoo to see the only tropical rainforest zoo in the United States. With more than 80 animal species including the white Bengal Tiger, this free zoo is certainly worth a stroll.
The Big Island of Hawaii is a great place for anyone who wants to combine an abundance of water activities with a one-of-a-kind landscape that will simply take your breath away. When searching for the right accommodations for your trip, look into the numerous Big Island vacation rentals that are located throughout the island. Whether you want to stay along the shores in a luxurious condo that has the most amazing views or you prefer surrounding yourself with the vibrant colors and lush greens that make up a large part of the island, there is a vacation rental that will meet all your needs and make it easy to relax throughout your trip.
HomeAway.com has the most comprehensive selection of vacation rental homes on the Internet. For an alternative lodging option, consider Big Island vacation rentals for your next trip to this stunning Hawaiian Island.
Vacationing in the Caribbean
The name Caribbean is almost synonymous with Sea, Sun and Sand. Magnificent beaches abound ranging from dazzling white sand, to pink sand to rich golden brown sand through to beautiful black sand beaches. These beaches seem to call you to dive into the sparkling blue water and then relax on the beach soaking in the sun and admiring the beauty of the scene. For those who want more activity at the beach than reclining on a lounge chair sipping a cold drink, Caribbean vacations offer a range of beach activities. On almost every island you can find jet skis, ocean kayaks, parasailing, surfing, wind surfing, kite boarding, water skis and banana boat rides at the major beaches.
The opportunity to go surfing is a key element in deciding on a vacation locale for a growing number of people and Barbados is the surfing paradise of the Caribbean. The island’s location far out in the Atlantic Ocean allows waves to travel thousands of kilometers across the sea before finally unleashing their power over Barbados’ coral reefs. Barbados receives waves to surf from all directions thus providing for unlimited surfing conditions all over. The number one surfing location in Barbados is the internationally recognised Soup Bowl in Bathsheba. All over the island however there are beaches suited to surfing, from Brandons Beach near Bridgetown to Accra Beach. South Point Beach has a fairly powerful and clean wave while the shorebreak at Inchcape on Silver Sands Beach seems to break 365 days a year. For those who do not know how to surf but want to learn while on vacation, Barbados has many surfing shops to provide instruction.
The Dominican Republic is known as the kiteboarding capital of the world and for the past four years the Kiteboarding World Cup has been held in the Dominican Republic town of Cabarete. Along this region of the North Coast of the Dominican Republic, nature has created the perfect blend of wind, water and waves to generate incomparable kiteboarding and windsurfing conditions. In June of every year, Windsurfers also flock to Cabarete for the annual World Cup Windsurfing Competition.
As fun-filled as Caribbean beaches are, today there is much more to a Caribbean vacation than activities at the beach and these activities are both beyond and behind the beach. As you move beyond the beach there is a range of activities including Deep-sea Fishing, Dolphin/Whale Watching and Diving.
Fishing is a recreational pastime on every Caribbean island and throughout the Caribbean certain pelagic game fish can be found with some of the more sought after species being sailfish, marlin, tuna and wahoo. As these species are migratory fish they are more abundant at certain times of the year on each island but there are other species that can usually be found year round at different islands. The game fishing off the waters of Tobago is a sport angler´s dream with some of the world´s most exciting game fish, including blue marlin, white marlin, swordfish, wahoo, tuna, barracuda, dolphin (mahi-mahi) and shark. Jamaica’s northern waters are also well-known for deep-sea and sport fishing. Anglers can hook a large number of fish, including mahi mahi, wahoo, blue and white marlin, sailfish, tarpon, barracuda, and bonito.
Visitors can now go whale and dolphin watching in a number of Caribbean countries including: Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines. In fact, there are an amazing thirty species of whales and dolphins in the Caribbean. The most frequently spotted species include humpback and sperm whales, and bottlenose, spotted and spinner dolphins. Whale watching vessels are usually medium to small-sized vessels carrying less than 75 people, which offer an excellent opportunity to get a great view of the whales. While each of these islands offers whale watcing, the activity has developed in Dominica to the point where Dominica has become known as the “Whale Watching Capital of the Caribbean.” The island boasts a 90% success rate in spotting whales or dolphins during a whale watching excursion. The island offers excellent year round whale watching opportunities including spectacular sperm whale mother-calf pairs, whose spouts can sometimes even be seen from shore.
Those sparkling blue waters that provide so much enjoyment topside also provide a world of adventure below its surface. The Caribbean is one of the top regions for scuba diving and snorkeling with breathtaking marine life. The Cayman Islands are one of the premier areas in the world for diving with crystal clear turquoise waters that run deep with wondrous walls, shallow coral reefs, new and old wrecks and some of the most dynamic marine life. Tobago is another island that offers a myriad of diving opportunities for both the new and experienced diver plus the holiday snorkeler. Home of the elusive manta rays and the Caribbean’s largest brain coral, Tobago is a year round scuba diving destination.
Behind the beach on each Caribbean island there is also a range of vacation activities that can include hiking, bird watching, river tubing, visiting natural attractions, history tours and enjoying a vibrant nightlife.
The natural landscape with abundant rain forests makes hiking a popular vacation activity in the Caribbean and Trinidad has a range of hiking opportunities with hikes varying in difficulty from 1 to 8. There are tour guides for those who want guided tours and almost every weekend hiking groups visit various natural attractions. The 32-kilometer trail from Blanchisseuse to Matelot on Trinidad’s north coast is considered a jewel. Along the hike one alternates from unspoiled rainforest to untouched beaches. The trail rambles over a succession of small ridges, crossing several small streams and passing through abandoned estate lands with cocoa, coffee, tonka bean, nutmeg and papaya (pawpaw).
Dominica, lying in the Eastern Caribbean between Martinique and Guadeloupe, calls itself the Nature Island and rightfully so. Its landscape is covered with lush untouched natural rain forest. Within those forests are tall cascading waterfalls, hidden fern grottoes, mountain lakes, boiling lakes, hot springs and mysterious regions of volcanic activity. All these natural wonders within a 29 mile by 16 mile island that has almost 300 miles of footpaths, so that in almost every part of the country, trails weave their way into gorges and across valleys, climbing up to 4,000 foot mountains, creating a hiker´s paradise. In Dominica, there are trails for every level of hiker, varying from easy 30-minute walks to more moderate 45 minute to 2-hour hikes to strenuous 6-hour treks. All of these in a land that seems to bear fruit everywhere, so that all over you see oranges, grapefruits, lemons, limes, bananas, papayas, guavas, star fruit, breadfruit, passion fruit.
The natural landscape of the Caribbean also allows bird watching to be another popular year round vacation activity. Trinidad and Tobago has some of the most diverse bird species to be found in one location with over 460 species in a combined land area of 1,868 square miles. Asa Wright Nature Center, is Trinidad and Tobago´s premier birding location and it has been widely recognized as one of the most successful eco-tourism stories in the world. Asa Wright, with a listing of 159 bird species, is a 270-acre conservatory, located on a former cocoa-coffee-citrus plantation partly reclaimed by secondary forest and largely surrounded by impressive rainforest. The center has several cottages that are available for rent and one can choose to spend a night, a weekend or even longer. There are numerous trails throughout the property and very knowledgeable guides. Two of the highlights are the short walk to the manakin leks to see these beautiful little birds dance to attract a mate and to see and hear the Bearded Bellbird. Another special attraction of the Asa Wright Nature Centre, is a breeding colony of the nocturnal Oilbird, or Guacharo (Steatornis caripensis). Located in Dunston Cave, this is the only known easily accessible colony of this species. These visits must however generally be booked in advance as the number of visits and visitors is limited.
Wet, wild and wonderful are the words that describe yet another popular outdoor Caribbean vacation activity; River Tubing. On Grenada’s Balthazar River, Dominica´s Layou River, Jamaica´s White River or Great River you can spin and swirl in large modified tubes as the river currents take you on a thrilling ride down river. Along the way you can enjoy the scenery of natural untouched rain forest and at the end of your ride you can swim in the river´s natural pools.
Nature has blessed the Caribbean in innumerable ways and provided it with a host of natural attractions. On the island of Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands is a national park known as The Baths. Here giant granite boulders are scattered about a beach lapped by the blue Caribbean Sea. Standing almost 50 feet tall, these massive boulders form a series of grottoes in which to play and explore. Within this seaside labyrinth are many placid pools that create a truly romantic locale.
St. Lucia boasts of one of the most unique Caribbean natural attractions with what is probably the world´s only drive-in volcano. Located at La Soufriere you can drive your car to the semi-active volcano and then take a guided tour. The five acre wide hissing crater is a red, blue and green tinged landscape, which has 24 steaming vents that hint at deposits of iron, copper oxide, magnesium and others minerals bubbling to the surface. The entire area gives a fascinating picture of what the earth must have looked like 400,000 years ago when the dome of molten lava collapsed.
The bioluminescent bay found at Puerto Mosquito (Mosquito Bay) located on the southern shore of the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico has to be rated as one of the things you must see before you die. A trip into the bay on a balmy night is a magical experience because when the calm waters around the bay are disturbed, the microscopic organisms in the bay emit a blue-green light and so swimming or kayaking in the bay is like floating among the stars. The 2008 Guinness Book of World Records has officially declared this magical bioluminescent bay the brightest recorded in the world.
The Caribbean was considered desirable property in the 17th and 18th century, which led to numerous battles between France, England, Spain and Holland and many islands changing ownership several times. The need to protect these islands resulted in numerous fortifications, while the change of ownership led to varying architectural styles. Many of these historic sites are well preserved and provide interesting glimpses of the past. Two of these sites are Brimstone Hill in St Kitts and the Garrison Historic District in Barbados.
The Brimstone Hill Fortress has been converted to a National Park and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of historical, cultural and architectural significance. The fortress is considered one of the best preserved historical fortifications in the Americas. It has been described as “a monument to the ingenuity of the British military engineers who designed it and to the skill, strength and endurance of the African slaves who built and maintained it”. Tours of Brimstone Hill are conducted daily, and highlights include the hospital, ammunition stores, artillery officer’s quarters, the Prince of Wales Bastion, and the Citadel of Fort George. In addition to learning about the historical significance of the fort, a visit affords one the opportunity to enjoy attractive panoramic vistas of forested mountains, cultivated fields, the historical township of Sandy Point, and the neighboring islands of Nevis, Montserrat, Saba, St. Martin and St. Barts.
The Garrison Historic Area in Barbados surrounds the Garrison Savannah, which is the center of much of the sporting and recreational activity in Barbados. The Savannah however is a historic location for much more than sport. The historical significance of the Garrison Savannah goes back to 1650 when Charles Fort was erected in the area and then in 1705, St. Ann´s Fort was added. This area developed into a military complex and being the site of a military complex, numerous buildings were constructed from the 1660´s to the 1800´s. These buildings today give the Garrison area much of its historical and architectural interest. On any walk around the Garrison area you cannot miss seeing the numerous cannons that are located in the area. These form part of the Barbados National Cannon Collection, which constitutes the largest cluster of 17th Century English cannons in the world. One of the prominent buildings in this area is the Main Guard building facing the racetrack. This elegant Georgian building from 1802 with its handsome clock tower and wide verandah is now an information centre and houses exhibits about the West Indian Regiment. As you continue around the Savannah there are numerous 17th- to 19th-century military buildings constructed from brick brought as ballast on ships from England and also several memorials. Another significant building in this area is the Barbados Museum, which is housed in a compound that was formerly a military prison, and centered around a large airy courtyard with trees and flowering shrubs.
When night falls your activities do not end as the Caribbean has an array of bars, clubs and world class restaurants. For true local flavor however, the weekly street parties are unmatched. On the island of St Lucia the fishing village of Gros Islet transforms itself every Friday night into a colorful carnival scene, featuring soca and reggae music and a “jump up” (dancing in the streets). The Fish Fry on Friday´s in Grenada´s village of Gouyave provides you the opportunity to sample an array of freshly caught local seafood to the backdrop of calypso rhythms. Not to be outdone the Sunday School in Tobago´s Buccoo Village held every Sunday night allows you to dance to the music of the steelband while looking out on the fishing boats gently rocking in the bay.
With so much to do on a Caribbean Vacation, your only difficulty is to choose an island.
Brian Ramsey is the author of Discovering the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago, and operates the web site, Outdoors Trinidad. For more information on outdoor activities in the Caribbean visit his other web site site, Caribbean Outdoor Life. For beautiful tropical island pictures you can also visit his Images Caribbean web site.
Vacationing in Phuket – Finding Your Luxury Resort in Karon
Inside information
One of the things you’ll notice when you fly into the resort destination of Phuket, is the extent of the island’s lush vegetation and greenery. Sixty percent of the island is covered by forests, rubber and oil plantations. The popular resort beaches lie on the west coast, whilst its mountain range stretches north to south of which the highest point is Mai Thao Sip Song (Twelve Cains) at 529m above sea level.
Phuket is the largest island in Thailand with a population of around 320, 000 people and a land area of 543 square kilometres (about the same size as Singapore). It is located in the Andaman Sea off the coast of southern Thailand and boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
A brief check on the history of Phuket unravels a tin trade with the English, French and Dutch and skirmishes with the Burmese in the 17th and 18th century. Chinese workers and businessmen were employed in the tin mines during the 17th century, the influence of which still remains in Phuket today; notably with Phuket cuisine. In 1785 the Burmese attempted to attack Phuket. The siege which lasted two months ended after the Burmese were forced to retreat. Nowadays with the demise of the tin mining trade due to low tin prices, Phuket’s main industries are divided into two; one is rubber, the other tourism. Thailand is now the biggest rubber producer in the world. Whereas tourism has attracted millions of visitors to the resort region over the last 30 years.
Squeaky White on the Horizon
One of its main tourist attractions is, of course, the beautiful palm fringed beaches and golden or white sands that stretch for miles. Tiny palm coves and bays inundate the coastline where some of the most gorgeous and luxurious hotel resorts blend in with the natural beauty. When considering the quieter Phuket resorts, one particular beach comes to mind. That is Karon beach, a short distance south of the main Patong beach. Karon beach spans 6 km of coastline and is famous for its beautiful white sands which make that unique squeaking noise as you walk on it. Favored by couples and families, Karon beach can claim fame to the Horizon Karon Beach Resort and Spa located at the southern end of the beach and just a stone’s throw from the idyllic Kata beach. The resort itself is set on 16000 sqm of land and is surrounded by a forest vegetation of lush green. It’s slightly elevated position offers marvellous views which allows for guaranteed peace and tranquillity. Easy access to the area from Phuket town and the more lively Patong beach offers its visitors the chance to not only relax and enjoy Karon’s lush natural surroundings but also to participate in more vivacious activities such as exciting nightlife and shopping. The resort offers free scheduled transport to Patong Beach. Also available around Karon beach are marine activities such as diving and snorkelling, day trip excursions can also be arranged. Honeymooners who stay more than four nights may enjoy extra added on service at the Karon Beach Resort Hotels by receiving complimentary gifts on arrival. While families who reserve a second inter-connecting room for children can enjoy a 30% discount on the room-rate and a 20% discount on all beverages and food consumed at the hotel resort during their stay.
Horizon Karon Beach Resort and Spa is a Karon Luxury Resort located in Phuket. Select your favourite Karon Luxury Hotel and Resort before you go as Phuket is a very popular destination.
I’m Going To Green Bay, Wi On Business & Want To Spend A Few Days Vacationing There. What Is Door County Like?
and what is the best town/place to stay. What about other places near Green Bay? I’ll be there in mid-July.

