Posts Tagged ‘family’

Costa Adeje Apartments Provide The Perfect Getaway

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

Beautiful beaches are waiting for you on the southern coast of Spain. Costa Adeje, located in Tenerife, has something to offer anyone and everyone. It is the perfect resort community for relaxing, with great alternatives to hotels in the many Costa Adeje apartments.

Featuring crystal clear waters and gorgeous black sand beaches, Costa Adeje is the place to go whether you want to lay in the sun or if you have something more active in mind. Every water activity you can imagine is there including scuba diving, snorkeling and much much more.

And if you get tired of the ocean activities, you can still play in the water and check out one of the many water parks. Other sporting activities include golfing, windsurfing, mountain biking and horseback riding.

When you are tired of relaxing, and are ready to hit the nightlife, Playa de las Americas is right nearby. You can party all night and then retreat to the much quieter Costa Adeje when you have had enough.

Costa Adeje apartments are perfect for the person who wants to take a longer vacation. They are especially nice as you do not have to eat out all the time, despite there being such a wide range of tasty choices.

Costa Adeje apartments are available in a variety of price ranges and sizes, and there are villas and bungalows available as well. These are all generally in resorts so that you have access to amenities that are more like staying in a hotel. These may include pools, restaurants, bars, laundries and supermarkets. A reception area can help you with everything from reservations to tennis lessons.

It will not take much searching to find an apartment that has exactly what you are looking for, in terms of both amenities and atmosphere. Whether you are looking for a more active social scene or something more tranquil, you will find what you want in the variety of Costa Adeje apartments.

To book incredible accommodation for your superb costa adeje holiday, visit www.Travelsoon.com soon

You Too Can Have Creative Family Beach Vacations

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

Every year millions of families flock to the beach. They enjoy the sun and sand and surf, and all the other attractions that the beach has to offer. But why not kick it up a notch? Let that creative side of you and your family out of the box. With the help of this web site you will be able to formulate creative family beach vacations that your loved ones will cherish for the rest of their lives.

Categories will certainly help in breaking down this huge subject. Categories such as:

1. Vacation Planning. The first step in having a great family beach vacation jam-packed with creative activities is in the planning process. What do you need to do before you leave? What should you take? These topics are discussed in this section of the web site.

2. Beach Budget. Why does money always seem to come up when you want to have a good time? The reason is simply that if you don’t take this fact into consideration, you will end up turning your “good time” into a “nightmare”. This section of the web site will offer some ideas on how to budget for your family time at the beach.

3. Luxury at the Beach. There are some great exotic beaches out there for those who have the cash behind them. Being rich doesn’t mean you are creative, but if you are creative, having cash can provide you with many options. For the creative luxurious side of beach life, check out this section of the web site.

4. Last Minute Beach Vacations. We are all rushing here and there these days. Nobody seems to have enough time to plan and organize. Such is the case with vacations. If you would like some tips on how to organize a beach vacation for your family with that “creative” flare…check this area of the web site out.

5. Beach Romance. Ah, strolling along the beach with the one you love. No need for one of those “same old, same old” walks when you can add that creative flare. This section of the web site will help you generate those lovely romantic encounters that will keep your partner guessing…

6. Beach Reunions. Do you find that your family reunions have become the same old thing? Want to kick it up a notch? The combination of beach and creativity is a perfect catalyst to get your relatives talking to each other again. Some of the tips in this area of the web site will help you get started.

7. Photography at the Beach. Whether you are photographing people in the sand, or fish under the water, photography at the beach can be very challenging. This doesn’t mean that you can’t generate great creative photographs to immortalize those precious family memories. Check out this area of the web site for some tips and ideas to help you out.

8. Activities at the Beach. What in the world is a jellyfish kite? Visit this area of the web site to find out. Do you like crossword puzzles? These can be found here as well. Stop by for a visit…

9. American Beaches. What’s your favorite US beach? They each offer their own distinct flavor and list of attractions. This category of the web site will highlight some of the main US beaches.

10. Fantastic Beaches of the World. Do you have a desire to visit some of the best beaches in the world? What are they, and why do you want to go there? This section of the web site will mention some great beaches around the world that your whole family can enjoy.

Whether you are going across town, across the country, or across the world, this web site will help you formulate creative family beach vacations that will be remembered forever. Enjoy the journey!

Want to find out more about Creative Family Beach Vacations, then visit Bob Spider’s site on how to incorporate creative activities on your next beach vacation.

Private Communities in North Carolina - Bald Head Island

Friday, October 16th, 2009

Bald Head Island is private island living at it’s best. Located off the coast of North Carolina coast on the southern tip of the cape islands, this 12,000 acre private island community can only be reached by a ferry that runs from Southport, North Carolina every hour.

Beautiful luxury homes overlook thousands of acres of preserved lands and salt marshes. The only transportation on the island is electric golf carts and bicycles, which allow for a peaceful getaway from traffic with all the luxuries and amenities of other gated communities.

Graced by 14 miles of white sandy beaches, a championship 18-hole golf course, 2 club houses, state of the art fitness center, tennis courts, swimming pools, a full-service marina, an immense network of walking and cycling paths winding through the island, and a array of stores and restaurants.

George Cobb designed the marshes, dunes, and maritime forests of the natural landscape into the Bald Head Island 18-hole championship golf course. The result is some breath taking views. During the construction of the course most of the natural landscape was preserved.

Tennis lovers can enjoy four soft-surface tennis courts located next to the golf clubhouse. Private workout rooms with mens and womens locker rooms available in both clubhouses. A deluxe 25-meter swimming pool is located at the clubhouse. In addition, a second swimming complex with a lap pool, and shallow children’s pool is located at the Shoals Club.

The Bald Head Island marina provides boaters with access to the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean. The ten acre harbor is equipped with boat slips varying in size from 30 to 100 feet.

If you love food, you can enjoy the casual and formal dining or shop at the islands grocery store for all your supplies you’ll need on your stay.

Bald Head Island is an incorporated town with a paid fire and police department. All island firefighters are also paramedic certified. The main fire department has a medical treatment room is available if needed. If an emergency occurs, medical transportation to a local hospital on the mainland is available.

Bald Head Island has single family homes, townhouses, villas, and home sites for sale through the islands real estate office. Prices vary based on the size and amenities available There are also fractional ownership options available with prices ranging from $150,000 and up.

Hubert Miles is the founder of Gated Communities USA which features the best Gated Communities in the USA and Internationally. Find information on North Carolina Ocean Communities.

Western Maine Master Planned Communities - Great Brook Preserve

Sunday, October 11th, 2009

Situated in the beautiful Mahoosuc Mountains in Western Maine you will find a premier gated mountain community known as Great Brook Preserve. The award-winning Sunday River Golf Club and the Sunday River Ski Resort are just a few of the amenities located just a short drive from the Great Brook Preserve. As a great secondary home destination, Great Brook Preserve offers quiet, secluded land and homes with wonderful mountain views.

If skiing and snowboarding is your passion, then you will love the 131 world class ski trails that weave in and out of 8 interconnected mountains at that make up the Sunday River Ski Resort.

Created by award-winning designer Robert Trent Jones Jr, the Sunday River Golf Club was named the number one course in Maine by Golfweek Magazine and was named one of the top 10 best new golf courses in the world by Travel and Leisure Magazine.

If you have a love for the environment and want to see natural woodlands protected you’ll find the deep rooted compassion for the environment shown by Great Brook Preserve refreshing. Tall timbers dominate the mountain landscapes inside the community, with hundreds of acres donated to the Conservation Land Trust. The donated land has been set aside to remain undeveloped to preserve the communities environment and natural beauty.

Hikers and walkers will have a seemingly endless supply of options that will never leave you bored. Enjoy the 180 mile hut and trail system next to the community or the 40 miles of hiking on the Grafton Loop Trail in Grafton Notch. If you enjoy cross country skiing or snowmobiling, you’ll love the vast trails and paths through the Mahoosuc Mountains. Homeowners also enjoy large home sites from 3 to 566 acres with touring trees, steams and brooks, waterfalls, and beautiful mountains views.

The historic town of Bethel, commonly referred to as “The greatest ski town in the universe” by SKI Magazine offers residents access to many shopping and dining options. Bethel also provides many of outdoor adventures that are seasonally based and available all year long.

Closing Comments

So if you are looking to purchase a seasonal or secondary home in a mountain community in Maine, why not give Great Brook Preserve a try? You’ll likely find exactly what you’ve been looking for.

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Animals at a Nature Camp

Friday, October 9th, 2009

At a Summer Camp with Animals Kids find out about animals at summer camp, if you choose a camp that includes animals in the programs they offer. Science camps offer sophisticated learning programs, but there are summer camps that include animals as a part of more playful programs.

Connecting with animals in a natural setting can put a child at the beginning of a lifelong sense of relationship with nature. A deep respect for nature as an adult often starts with experience as a camper.

Swift Nature Camp best known as a Science Camp has pond aquarium that offers a unique way to see the world from the perspective of another animal: pond life from a frogs point of view. This Wisconsin camp also maintains a live animal collection they call Natures Neighbors. Campers can bring their own small animals to camp with them where the animals can live in the camps Nature Center and be available to all the children

Children at Swift Nature Camp have the opportunity to understand our environment from hands-on learning experiences. These include field trips to a fish hatchery, to watch goose banding projects and butterfly counts, and even a close encounter with a live wild owl.

Swift Nature Camp has a voluntary four-level program that rewards campers with a special patch of merit, and the categories include recognition of special skills with animals in categories like insects, pet care, bird watching, and horseback riding. Campers can choose just the right mix of play and learning to suit individual preference and need.

The summer camp you choose should facilitate a blend of play and challenge that is free of the stress of the school environment. The presence of animals in a natural environment can open the door to discovery, adding depth to the fun of going to a traditional summer camp.

To accomodate that range with a voluntary merit program that includes experience with animals. A camper’s interaction with animals can be refined into skills involving horseback riding, insects, pet care and bird watching. These opportunities never come at the expense of fun!

The joy of discovering nature is the joy of discovering the world we live in. Living in a natural environment with access to animals is a perfect invitation for expansive play. Camp is a place where children can learn about animals as a participant rather than just receiving information. Camp is more fun and less stressful than school, and the world becomes the classroom.

You can learn more about selecting a wonderful summer camp by visiting Summer Camp Advice Find a Summer Camp

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Peace of Mind is Priceless When You Can Enjoy Your Travel

Thursday, October 8th, 2009

Traveling is a great way to escape the daily routines of work and other daily responsibilities. You can enjoy great food, new locations, and meet new people. Although traveling is suppose to be relaxing and fun, you can reduce the chances of having a great travel experience if you do not make the necessary preparations prior to leaving for your trip.

The following is a list of tips to help ensure that you have an enjoyable travel experience:

1. When you travel, especially to another country, you have to make sure you are protected. Acquiring travel insurance can give you peace of mind while you are on your trip. Travel insurance is insurance that will protect you against any event that may result in medical expenses, loss of belongings, financial loss, and much more. There are different types of travel insurance for such travel situations as cruises, business travel, vacations, international travel, adventure travel, etc. You can also be covered for such situations as roadside assistance, theft, flight cancellations, flight delays, and baggage loss. Medical insurance is an essential part of traveling. It will cover such circumstances as your transportation to a hospital, hospital stay, treatment and medication costs, emergency medical evacuation, transportation home, and more.

2. Make sure that you provide a family member or neighbor with all of the appropriate contact information such as your cell phone number, email address, and phone number of the hotel.

3. As you are about to leave for your trip, make sure you have secured your home. This includes unplugging all of your appliances and electronic devices, and turning off the water. Turn the heat down and make sure the lamps are unplugged. Make sure your windows and doors are locked. If you have a security alarm system, make sure it is activated. You can give the pass code to a neighbor and change it when you return. Make sure your security lights and cameras are working properly. As well, have someone you trust check the house while you are away. Get rid of any perishables from the refrigerator. You should also take out the trash, water the plants, place lights on automatic timers, and close the curtains and blinds.

4. Proper packing is essential to having a relaxing travel experience. You should make a list of all items that you will need while you are traveling. This can include passports, travelers checks, appropriate clothing for the location and if you are going to be attending any formal activities, cell phone, camera, banking information and credit cards, medications and prescriptions, etc. Pack a day or two before the trip so you will not forget any important items. The really essential items should be kept in a carry bag and stay with you at all times.

5. Make sure that you take care of yourself physically. Be mindful of what you eat and take care that you are eating in quality restaurants that adhere to health regulations. You can keep headache medicines and antacids in your bag in case of a stomach ache. As well, proper sanitation practices such as using antibacterial hand gels are recommended.

Traveling is a terrific way to get a break from life’s stresses. In order to make the most out of your travel experience, it is important to make the proper preparations so that you can have peace of mind while enjoying your trip.

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The Endangered Olive Ridley Sea Turtle And The Costa Rica Arribadas

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

The fact that olive ridley marine turtles are seriously threatened is really difficult to believe because, after all, they have been on earth more than 100,000,000 years.

To put this into a bit of perspective, imagine the mighty T Rex. It roamed North America nearly seventy million years ago and, as surely as night follows day, it feasted on olive ridleys when they came ashore to lay their eggs.

These ancient reptiles of the 7 seas have flourished for unimaginable eons, despite being eaten by just about everything under the sun for tens of millions of generations. Incredibly, probably 30,000,000 or more generations of marine turtles were preyed upon by reptiles and other dinosaurs and fish before the first Tyrannosaurus Rex walked the earth and, since then, another seventy million generations have suffered the same fate. Still, they flourished.

They even survived the greatest extinction the earth has suffered. Indeed though all of the mighty dinosaurs perished—they lived and flourished.

These ancient mariners spread across the face of the planet, swimming all of the tropical and temperate seas. They thrived in incredible numbers from the east coast of the Americas to the Arabian Sea and from the Pacific coasts of the New World to India. There were tens upon tens of millions, maybe more.

When Americans began to watch “I Love Lucy” the seas were still full of these turtles. The Pacific coast of Mexico alone hosted ten million olive ridley nests when the first episode of that TV show aired, each with about 100 eggs per clutch. Maybe a billion eggs were laid along just one coast of Mexico in just one year–1951—and these animals were found virtually every place that the oceans were temperate or tropical. The number of eggs was limitless.

There were so many eggs that were easy pickings and so much profit to be made that, during the incredible arribadas, or nestings, massive pack trains of horses and mules were brought to the beaches. These animals carried out hundreds of millions of eggs each nesting season, year-after-year. And, so it was that within about 20 years or so, there was only one nest in one year on a beach where there had been several hundred thousand when we first laughed at Lucy and Desi. Unfortunately, this was being repeated across the world.

At the same time, many countries opened olive ridley fisheries.

The result? From limitless to endangered in a few short years. One generation of men nearly accomplished what seemed impossible: nearly destroying in the blink of an eye what had taken a hundred million generations to create.

However, as more and more countries finally realized the extent of depredation, some have begun taking steps to conserve and protect sea turtles. Little Costa Rica has created important wildlife reserves and worked with dedicated conservation groups and the local people of Costa Rica to rebuild stocks.

Today, Ostional Beach, on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, almost certainly has world’s largest arribadas of olive ridley sea turtles. Every month, often when the moon is in its last quarter, female turtles gather close to shore for several days and suddenly come to the beach in large groups, over the course of several days and nights. The greatest arribadas are often in October, November, and December and the biggest arribada in recent years was half a million females coming ashore in 1995. If you are interested in Costa Rica ecotourism, this is a must-see.

Costa Rica finally recognized that these ancient creatures are worth more than the sum total of their meat and eggs. But what about Mexico? Remember that pathetic single nest on the beach that had once been overflowing with olive ridley sea turtles? Well, the government finally decided to protect it. By 1988, it had recovered to 50,000 nests. Twelve years later there were a million nests.

From a billion eggs to a single nest and then from a single nest to a million turtles. Unbelievable. It is clear that if we just give these animals a chance, they can be on earth another 100,000,000 years.

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The Luxurious Arenal Costa Rica Hotel Kioro

Saturday, September 26th, 2009

On the North West side of La Fortuna nicely situated close to the Arenal Volcano and in 191 kilometers from San Jos , the Arenal Costa Rica Hotel Kioro is surrounded by the always scenic Costa Rican land and volcanic region, and the relaxing quietness and calmness of nature, offering an exceptional experience.

With an outside appearance of a typical hotel in Arenal, this simple yet luxurious hotel is a mixture traditional and modern life. While indulging in relaxing spirit and call of nature, in one of the 42 suites, offering best panoramic volcano and mountain view, everything is handy; the Arenal Costa Rica Hotel and its surroundings have to offer more than you can simply imagine.

The Arenal Costa Rica Hotel is something more than a luxury hotel; it is an Arenal resort and hotel, a settlement that boasts a great number of attractions and facilities, bringing to the Americas the luxury that is usually found in world famous resorts.

The Arenal Costa Rica Hotel promotes the conservation and preservation of the natural habitat, without any compromise in quality. Every room boasts local artefacts and colourful elements that reflect the traditional culture of Costa Rica.The hotel features rich and generous comfort, modern Costa Rican design and architecture, authentic flavours and style of this unique country and volcanic region.

The luxury hotel in Arenal, the Arenal Hotel Kioro features eight different pools with hydromassage, benefiting from the thermal waters of the region; staying in the pool is a perfect way to annihilate stress and unwind, away from bustling cities and rhythms.

The Thermal Waters of Arenal Kioro, mineral waters for the skin, we have 8 different pools all with excellent hydro-massages to annihilate the stress and to rest to the maximum opportunity.The Arenal Hotel Kioro allows the guests to enjoy the famous Costa Rican hospitality and accommodation, while feeling pampered and much cared of at this Arenal volcano hotel.

The hotel gives the guests the chance to experience in person the wildlife of the Arenal Volcano and the indigenous cultures that lay on the region, organizing small excursions in nearby areas, and all over Costa Rica. Whether you are going on a full day excursion to Venado CAves, or you want to go on a hike tour to the volcano, or just relax by the springs and pools, your stay at the Arenal Hotel Kioro is going to be a truly memorable experience.

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Costa Rica’s Incredible Olive Ridley Sea Turtle Arribada

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

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The teenage olive ridley sea turtle was just 15 years old as she waited 500 yards offshore in the warm, tropical eastern Pacific ocean off Ostional Beach in a small land that, more than 500 years earlier, Christopher Columbus had discovered and named “Costa Rica”, the “rich coast.”

The nearly daily afternoon tropical rains of November had slipped away as the marine turtle waited in anticipation. The moon was in its final quarter and, though she did not know why, it was having an effect on her.

As it has done for uncountable eons, the moon was gracing the earth with its timeless phases. Though she could not know it, it was drawing this olive ridley turtle ashore. She was not alone. At first, a few yards away, another Pacific sea turtle joined her, then a third, followed by a dozen, then hundreds, thousands, now tens of thousands of marine sea turtles. For more than 100,000,000 years it had been thus: vast migrations of ancient creatures, culminating when the moon was in this phase.

Life is always magical. Just a few months earlier, this turtle was foraging in the middle of the Pacific Ocean more than 2,500 miles away. And the tens of thousands now alongside her were scattered across several million square miles of ocean.

Although there was plenty of food far out in the Pacific, something had begun to stir within her. Hundreds of thousands of marine turtles felt the same timeless need to return to Costa Rica. They, and she, were all going back to where they had hatched.

Now, months later, she waited in the soft moonlight just a few hundred meters from her destination. She was ready. Over the thousands of miles she had traversed, she had encountered several different male olive ridley sea turtles in the clear tropical waters and bred with them in the deep ocean. Like her, they too were being affected by something unseen, a force nearly as old as life itself. It was something so compelling that her species had been going back to the same Costa Rica beach since the days of dinosaurs.

In the tropical night this olive ridley sea turtle was waiting. She had somehow returned to the very beach where she had hatched in 1995. We do not know how a Pacific marine turtle finds the exact beach where she started life. There are only a handful of nesting beaches on earth and they are not very big. In fact Ostional Beach is only a few hundred meters long. Now part of Costa Rica’s Ostional National Wildlife Refuge, it is almost certainly the most important olive ridley marine turtle nesting site on earth. Incredibly, in 1995, the year this turtle hatched, some half a million female olive pacific sea turtles had come ashore to nest here in huge waves. These massive invasions are called “arribadas.”

For fifteen years, the mother of this hundred pound marine turtle joined massive Costa Rica arribadas annually and she would have done so again except that she drowned in an illegal shrimping net just a few weeks before. Thousands more were killed by long line commercial fishermen. Even more died needlessly by swallowing plastic bags carelessly discarded. So many have been killed, the race is endangered.

Of course, the hundreds of thousands of olive ridleys just offshore know none of this. In the tropical pale moonlight, we can see them even though they are still half a mile away. There are now so many gathered that it almost seems one could walk on their backs for at least a mile and never get a wet foot. We can only gaze in wonder and awe as they gather silently. These ancient beings will never know that they were here long before there was a dinosaur walking the earth. They cannot appreciate our capacity for destruction or efforts at preservation. They only know that this little stretch of beach is where they’ve always come.

Then, though no one knows why, it happens. As quietly as they first appeared, as silently as they gathered, their patience has been rewarded and they begin to come ashore. A single olive ridley turtle followed by a second. Then there are hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands—even more than that—each intent on one task: bringing new life. All night they come. And all day, day after day. It is a wonder of magnificent Costa Rica and as timeless as the phases of the moon. It is the spectacular display of life called Arribada.

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Marine Turtle Tagging Expedition In Costa Rica

Sunday, September 6th, 2009

A Costa Rica scientific fin and satellite tagging project recently got underway at Cocos Island studying its green sea turtle and hawksbill visitors.

Conservation organizations and marine researchers spent about 30 hours going to the island in their pursuit for more knowledge about these ancient marine animals.

They are engaged in a kind of scientific working Costa Rica vacation that they anticipate will contribute to preserving these marvelous reptilian mariners now endangered in much of their range.

Cocos Island was described by the famous seaman, Jacque Cousteau, as the most beautiful island he had ever encountered. The small island, just nine square miles in area, lies some 340 miles off the Pacific shoreline of Costa Rica, almost halfway to the Galapagos Islands.

It was not the tropical sunsets and beaches that captured the imagination of Captain Cousteau. Its beauty is just off its shores, under water, in a place that Costa Ricans have voted as one of the Seven Wonders of Costa Rica. It is there that one finds priceless treasure: vast schools of fish, porpoises, whales and turtles.

Since the days of dinosaurs sea turtles have swum the Seven Seas of the world.

The mighty Tyrannosaurus fed on them more than 200 million years ago as they paddled ashore to lay their eggs on ancient beaches.

These ancient beings roam all the planet’s seas except the frozen Antarctic and Arctic.

Sadly , no more. Today, our indiscriminate development of beaches and plundering of their nests have put them at risk. Millions have been in South America to make expensive shoes for Europeans.

Jacque Yves Cousteau presciently remarked that: “If we go on the way we have, the fault is our greed and if we are not willing to change, we will disappear from the face of the globe, to be replaced by the insect.” A being visiting from another galaxy might conclude that such a result would be just.

But, conservation organizations have not given up and are working to restore at least some turtle populations. Scientists are now tagging pelagic turtles like the green sea turtle in far-away places like Cocos Island. Some turtles are fitted with flipper tags while others bear satellite transmitters to help track their movements and it has been discovered that some species roam across thousands and thousands of miles of oceans, from tropical waters to the deep waters off Canada.

We cannot undo the past but the men and women who tag sea turtles know that we do not have to be doomed to repeat it.

The writer, Victor Krumm, lives in tropical Costa Rica. Follow his fun site Costa Rica Vacations and for info about great beaches check out Costa Rica Beaches