Posts Tagged ‘travel’

Duncan Totem Poles, Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

Just a whistle stop at William Duncan’s farm in the 1880’s, the coastal town of Duncan (population 5,000) has evolved itself into the City of Totems - hand carved cedar poles carved by community First Nations artisans overlook recreational areas & downtown streets. It’s a walkable, people-friendly town. Downtown Duncan features a quantity of heritage and vintage buildings and a sizeable assortment of small shops as well as restaurants. The community is located in the beautiful Cowichan Region on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. This region lies just north of Washington States San Juan Islands.

Arts and Cultures:

Presently there are lots of attractions to take a look at, however , you might want to start by looking at quite a few of Duncan’s 70-odd totems. You will be able to take a self-guided tour in the downtown region as many of the totems are in close distance. In summer, totally free well guided tours are available commencing at the classic train station.

Definitely do not miss the Quw’utsun’ Cultural & Conference Center in order to take pleasure in displays, traditional foods, storytelling, and Cowichan Valley artists and elders at work. The centre’s objective is to share as well as develop the pride of First Peoples via education and learning, art work, and traditional weaving, beading and spinning.

Chances are you’ll also wish to visit the British Columbia Forest Discovery Centre, which teaches the history of BC’s forest industry using indoor & outdoor exhibits. Board the train that rides a railway trestle over gorgeous Somenos Lake - a superb experience for kids and the youthful in spirit. Additionally visit the Freshwater Eco-Centre, next to the Vancouver Island Trout Hatchery, which has over 30 displays depicting wild fish preservation, fisheries environment protection & management methods.

There’s a large amount of extra activity in the summer season, so keep an eye out for special seasonal tours of heritage homes, home gardens, as well as artists’ studios. On Saturdays from April until the end of October, Duncan hosts a market in the City Square where you can enjoy an eclectic mix of vendors, merchants, entertainers as well as alternative & complimentary health practitioners. In July, Duncan also hosts an annual summer celebration with two days of live entertainment, free rides, street entertainers, contests, parades and a lot more.

Outdoor Adventure:

You are able to try sea kayaking, hiking, fishing and much more in the area! Do not overlook the Cowichan River Provincial Park, a 750-hectare park that protects substantial stretches of the Cowichan River, a Provincial Heritage River, globally renowned for its wild salmon & steelhead fishery. You can walk along the river on the park’s historic 20km-long footpath and explore the restored 66-Mile and Holt Creek Trestles on the Trans-Canada Trail. If you enjoy watching birds pay a visit to close by Somenos Marsh, a nature refuge in the Pacific Flyway that offers wintertime habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds and songbirds.

Villa Rental Abroad…The Advantages

Monday, August 16th, 2010

Compared to staying in a hotel, staying in a villa has far more benefits, there is the aspect of cost (you save a lot more if you are out in numbers) whereas a hotel usually charges per room which for a party of 8 could essentially mean you are being charged for 4-8 different hotel rooms. Basically a holiday Villa Moraira is just like living at home, all the facilities are there; a kitchen for cooking, lounge area for relaxing, as well as being able to park outside your own doorstep.

 

You can appreciate your own privacy when renting a holiday villa, unlike a hotel room, so after a long day on the slopes, down the beach or out discovering the town you can talk amongst family and friends about your experience all under one roof..

 

By renting a Villa in Moraira you don’t have to worry about what time you arrive back at night or being locked out, as well as waking up to the cleaning attendant in your room first thing in the morning!

 

With so many holiday villa rental sites on the internet, such as Holiday Villas Moraira this provides each potential customer the opportunity to view each rental property and what facilities it has to offer, location and ask any questions on the property before checking availability. Also view previous visitor reviews.

 

With the money you can save by renting a villa you can afford those extra small luxuries the that come with a holiday. During my time in Spain I took back many great Spanish Villa images. Spanish villa images of my trips to Spain that have provided me with some great memories.

All in all, the main thing to remember is that you are going on vacation to have a good time, this is the whole point of the trip.

 

Private Villa And Apartment Holidays In Lanzarote

Saturday, August 7th, 2010

Lanzarote’s oldest holiday resort, Puerto del Carmen, was chosen for its exceptional weather and location. It is tucked into the eastern coastline, where a range of volcanoes at its back prevents the wind that comes off the Atlantic from cooling the temperature too much.

As a result, the numerous sandy beaches along its seven kilometre seafront offer ideal conditions for sunbathing, snorkeling and swimming. Whilst the recent improvements to the promenade make it a much more enjoyable place for pedestrians.

Over the last forty years, the town has developed from its humble beginnings as a small fishing village to become the resort it is today. So it is now home to some of the best self-catering Lanzarote accommodation to be found on the island. Travellers on a tight budget are well  catered for as there are plenty of Lanzarote accommodation to pick from.

With no shortage of holiday apartments in Lanzarote, Puerto del Carmen consists of numerous complexes that follow a low rise architectural model, with plenty of planting to soften the exteriors. The quiet streets of the town form a tranquil backdrop for holidaymakers.

Aside from the wide choice of Lanzarote accommodation available in Puerto del Carmen, the town itself has numerous attractions and activities to while away the time, including several sea based trips. In the immediate vicinity of the town there is also a new golf course and a tropical park that children love.

There is no shortage of restaurants throughout the town, with almost every type of cuisine represented from Thai to Irish. Perhaps the most atmospheric area for dining is the old harbour, where numerous establishments look out over the sea towards the southern tip of the island.

The central area of the town is the place to head for nightlife, with a good selection of bars and clubs, many of which do not open until the early hours of the morning. This is especially true of the music venues, which younger visitors may want to sample.

More Lanzarote accommodation.

London - The UK’s Premier City

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

London is a city that never seems to sleep. No matter the time of day or night, all of life’s experiences can be had somewhere in the city and it has been this way since it was founded. It would be nearly impossible to fully take in all that the city has to offer in one quick trip, but with a few days’ time you can soak in several sides of this historic city. London is rife with history, and anyone who visits must drink in the past. Appreciate London’s shadowy, medieval past alongside the majesty of the crown jewels. With so much history to offer, everyone from a history buff to a novice is sure to find something that makes them take pause and appreciate its richness. Say hello to the lifelike wax statues in Madame Tussauds museum on your way to the London Dungeon. Here, you can become acquainted with some of Britain’s most infamous past criminals while you experience the horrors of medieval London. The Tower of London is home to the crown jewels, and has been the scene for countless mysterious and fantastic tales. Bringing together art and history, you can see portraits of Britain’s most famous people throughout the centuries at the National Portrait Gallery. Then there is the British Museum, which houses one of the best archaeological collections of artifacts that you will find anywhere in the world. There are numerous small museums and art galleries sprinkled around the city center too, so be sure to leave some time spare in your schedule as you will undoubtedly come across some places that you will not be able to resist popping into. Oxford Street is the ideal place for the experienced shopper. If shopping is too strenuous, Hyde Park is found nearby to bring the peace and quiet of the country right into the city. Portobello Market is one of many outdoor markets and is located northeast of the park. Nestled inside all of the hustle and bustle are quiet, charming side streets full of London’s past. Here you can find gems such as Covent Gardens. For a bird’s eye view of all that the city center has to offer, you can head over to the London eye. From above, you can see an overview of the wonders of the city. As day turns to night, it is time to catch up with some friends at the local pub. You are sure to find at least one beer on tap that will hit the spot. Once your thirst is slaked and you are properly hydrated, it is time to dance. An international city like London is brimming with clubs filled with all kinds of dancing; everything from techno, to trance, to hip hop can be found. You are sure to find a rave and some Latin and ethnic dancing too. You can also attend a rugby or football contest if one of London’s countless teams is playing.

Next : Budget Hyde Park Hotels London

Cruising On Your Own

Saturday, July 24th, 2010

A lot of people go on a holiday once or twice a year or even more. Many go on holiday with their relatives and many go with their good friends. Either it’s a luxury cruises holiday or a normal bag packing tour to Asia and Europe. There are others who enjoy going on holiday by themselves.

 

I like to enjoy things in my own time and I won’t have too many responsibilities travelling alone than travelling with my family. When travelling with family you have certain regulations that you will need to follow and won’t be able open yourself up and just be free. There are certain things you won’t be able to do because of this restriction but when you are single you are free with no responsibilities to do what you want to on a holiday. That doesn’t mean doing something stupid or anything illegal.

 

What I mean by free is you don’t have to worry about booking a hotel if you are bag packing, you can easily camp out or live in a hotel. Whereas if you have a family you will have to pre plan your stay before you head out. Last year I went on a silversea cruises to Caribbean and I didn’t have to worry about the hotels because I just went with the flow and camped out with the Jamaicans. It was a great experience.

 

My next plan is to travel South East Asia before I settle down. I will be travelling alone as this is will be a great opportunity for me to learn about different cultures and also learn a lot about myself and others. I am also planning to do some volunteer work in India and Nepal for a children’s charity. After that I can go back to my royal Caribbean cruises and rest for few months in the lovely Bahamas.