Discount Caribbean Travel

Even if your budget is tight, you need not spend it in a cheap hotel. You can still have a vacation that comes with romance in mind and luxury hotel amenities, such as 24-hour room service, designer bed linens and a concierge who will book dinner, concert, or theater reservation, even with a discount Caribbean travel plan. All you really need to know is where you can find the best discounted deals, specials, and packages.

Below are our top picks for discount Caribbean travel deals:

Quikbook.com

If you’re looking for drab $49.95 hotels, don’t visit here. This site is not for cheapies, but it does offer you great discount Caribbean travel packages from some top of the line hotels all around the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, and the rest of the world.

The quickest way to book a discount travel deal at this site is to use their online search tool where you can find the perfect deal by destination, arrival date, price range, neighborhood, and number of nights and rooms.

You can also find a specific hotel by simply choosing a destination and the site will automatically direct you to a page listing all the discount Caribbean travel accommodations that are affiliated with Quikbook.com.

Do you want to know where you can find discount Caribbean travel deals on hip hotels with premier collection and spa treats? The Quikbook.com site has all that as part of their Great Getaways collection, plus additional discount features like seaside favorites, family fun, golf getaways, casino hotels, and all-inclusive resorts.

AllLuxuryHotels.com

If you want guaranteed lower rates, then be sure to visit All Luxury Hotels. The site offers a triple guaranty of lower rates, payment security, and privacy for nearly 100 domestic destinations and close to 50 international cities, including Europe and resort cities in Mexico.

When you book a hotel reservation through All Luxury Hotels, you are guaranteed to get the best discount Caribbean travel package there is. What’s more, if you find out that there is another lower rate available for the same dates and the same hotel you’ve already booked, you can contact All Luxury Hotels within 24 hours of booking and they will either refund you the difference or cancel the reservations without penalty.

LuxRes.com

Calling itself as “definitive source of luxury travel”, you may find it surprising how much discount Caribbean travel packages you can find here. LuxRes.com offers hotel rooms at up to 40 percent discounts off typical rates. And to think that the hotels included in their roster of discount Caribbean travel accommodations include the very upscale Raffles, Relais & Chateaux, and The Leading Hotels of the World Brands.

Aside from that, LuxRes.com also offers vacation packages, spa stays, cruises, and car rentals, all at discount prices.

ClassicVacations.com

It’s not called “Classic Custom Vacations” for nothing. For great customized luxury vacations tailored to fit your vacationing needs and budget, ClassicVacations is exactly what you’re looking for. Here you can customize your own discount Caribbean travel by choosing any of their first-class airfare for less and list of discount hotel rates. When you’re done personalizing your Caribbean dream vacation, top off the whole process by calling the toll-free number provided at the site so you can speak to a Classic Custom Vacations travel agent who will help you finalize everything.

Debbies Caribbean Travel

If you want to know the best places to stay in the Caribbean, then Debbies Caribbean Travel page is where you should go. Debbies Caribbean Travel page is where you can find all the information you need about Caribbean travel and resorts.

Debbies Caribbean Travel page is a resource site containing reviews of islands and their resorts submitted by travelers from all over the world. It can’t get any more unbiased than that. It’s only here that you can get the real picture of the Caribbean destination you’ve been dreaming about. The site offers you nothing but honest reviews of hotels and all inclusive resorts and villas.

Debbies Caribbean Travel page also features some spectacular resort photos so you can have a better feel of the places. Decide which view you want to have of the Caribbean with Debbies Caribbean Travel page. Want your room to overlook the pristine blue waters? How about a wonderful view of the busy ports? Or do you want to feel tranquil by looking at the white sandy beaches? Take your pick through the Gallery at Debbies Caribbean Travel page.

But wait. What about some travel concerns you have, like beach safety and weather updates. Where can you get those? Debbies Caribbean Travel page contains comprehensive and up-to-date weather/temperature reports on the Caribbean. So throw away your worries and start packing. Before you go on vacation, visit Debbies Caribbean Travel page first and get first-hand information on the weather and beach safety tips you can take.

Want to know about accommodations on the island of your choosing? Log on to Debbies Caribbean Travel page and read what the hottest places to choose from are. In Debbies Caribbean Travel page, you read articles written by people who have been to the Caribbean. Get first-hand advice on the best and worst places to stay in the Caribbean with Debbies Caribbean Travel page.

Do you want to know what fun-filled activities you can do in the Caribbean? Read Debbies Caribbean Travel page on Caribbean Tours and Activities. In this portion of Debbies Caribbean Travel page, you can read excellent samplings on fascinating activities in each area of the Caribbean. Know what tours, activities, and things you can do in the Caribbean.

Have a chance to relax only at the best spas with Debbie’s site. Read your fellow traveler’s rants and raving about spas and vacation spots in the Caribbean by logging into Debbie’s Caribbean Travel page. If you visit that page in Debbie’s Caribbean Travel page site, you can even have the links for each spa’s website and know what special packages they have in store for you. So with Debbies Caribbean Travel page, you can even be sure to get only the best deals in the best resorts in the Caribbean.

Now, if you need further advice on Caribbean vacation, you need not look too far. Debbies Caribbean Travel page also offers a local travel agent to help you have the best vacation ever. Indeed, this is the only site that lets you experience the Caribbean like you never have before!

Cheap Caribbean Travel

When it comes to island destinations, the Caribbean and its islands are one of the most popular vacation spots in the world. Here you can have the best of everything from gorgeous beaches, wonderful surf, sailing, scuba diving and snorkeling, to great food, exciting gambling casinos, shopping, and a wide range of nature-related activities. And accommodations? No problem! With cheap Caribbean travel plan, you can get a whole range of affordable accommodations from basic to the most luxurious all inclusive-resorts and rental villas.

Scroll down below for a list of our cheap Caribbean travel accommodations picks.

Dover Beach Hotel

A place that epitomizes Barbadian hospitality, the Dover Beach Hotel offers you cheap Caribbean travel accommodations tucked away on a secluded white sand beach where island warmth, peace, and tranquility are in abundance.

Located a mere 15-minute drive from either airport or from Bridgetown, the Dover Beach Hotel is also right within walking distance of the St. Lawrence Gap, famous for its lively nightlife, duty-free shopping and many bars and restaurants as well as other activities.

All accommodations at this cheap Caribbean travel hotel are either seafront or garden views with air-conditioned bedrooms, kitchenette, telephone, and private patio or terrace. There are weekly cocktail parties and nightly events. Amenities and facilities available include the following:

• Children’s rates
• Restaurant
• Convenience store
• Laundry service
• Baby-sitting
• Nearby shopping
• Nearby tennis
• Nearby banking
• Air conditioning
• Ceiling fan
• In-room safe
• Beachfront
• Bar
• Children-friendly
• Cribs
• Daily maid service
• Pool
• Nearby water sports
• In-room kitchens
• TV available
• Telephone in a room
• Bath tub
• Private balcony
• Fax available

Morne Fendue Plantation House in Grenada

What’s old is new again as Grenada’s historic Morne Fendue Plantation House adds not, not two, but thirteen new guest rooms. Since 1974, the Morne Fendue has been welcoming visitors where they can enjoy overnight accommodations at this glorious estate. Each room offers cheap Caribbean travel accommodation for two guests with enough comfortable space to go around and a generous queen-size bed and modern bathroom facilities. What’s more, the rooms also offer access to the estate’s grand kitchen. But the highlight of each guest room is definitely the extensive balcony that overlooks scenic Mt. St. Catherine and the majestic sea where you can get excellent sunset views of the cheap Caribbean travel destination of Grenada.

Nevis and St. Kitts

For cheap Caribbean travel accommodations in the islands of Nevis and St. Kitts, try the following places:

Jonathan’s Villa Hotel at Mount Lily, Nevis offers seaside charm and great secluded spots.

Yamseed Inn at New Castle, Nevis is a quaint little inn, offering comfortable accommodations for a reasonable price.

For guest houses, try Al’s Cottage at Farm’s Estate in Charlestown, Nevis. You can also try Meadville Cottages, Cabindish Villa, Pinney’s Village Complex, and Central Cottage – all of which offer cheap Caribbean travel accommodations at convenient distances from the most happening places in the region.

Caribbean Travel Package

It’s not everyday when everything – from a good Caribbean travel package to the weather and your budget – just magically convenes into one single, perfect and fun Caribbean vacation. That stuff is for fairytale vacations, certainly not for simple, ordinary folks like you.

At the very best, you probably find a so-so Caribbean travel package that is slightly cheaper than the last one you checked out but has better options than that other cheap one you were considering. So you come home, work out a Caribbean travel plan and budget, and then log on to the site to book the package…only to find that the deal is already fully-booked. Just your luck.

One thing you should remember about Caribbean travel packages is that they are often offered only for very a limited period. So why wait? If you want to get that Caribbean travel package you want and get an edge over the competition, then do all that planning and budget analyzing BEFORE you search for deals.

And once you’re done with that, check out the list of Caribbean travel package resources we have compiled for you below:

TripAdvisor.com

TripAdvisor is a travel site that offers reviews of hotels and accommodations, food, activities, airfare, transportation, cruises, resorts, and many more from destinations worldwide. For the best deals, you can visit TripAdvisor’s SmartDeals page where you can find great Caribbean travel packages on the best hotels in the Caribbean.

AmericanExpress.com

For some people, last-minute bargains can be a great source of excellent travel deals. If you’re a haggler by nature, one who wants to haggle even when pressed for time, then American Express’ Last Minute Caribbean travel packages might just be what you’re looking for. The site offers current listings of their bargains and specials so check back often. If you don’t find what you’re looking for on the first page, there is also a search tool where you can search for bargains by destination, travel option or activity.

Travelocity.com

If cruises give you a different sort of high, then Travelocity may have the right Caribbean travel package cruise. Just check out their list of Cruise Deals, including their Biggest Sale of the Year cruises where you can book a qualified cruise and get up to $500 cash back.

Or maybe you’d like to receive a free digital camera, then go on and book one of Travelocity’s Caribbean travel packages on board any of the Celebrity or Royal Caribbean cruise ships. Other deals include:

• Free shore excursions
• $400 onboard credit and pre-paid tips
• Free oceanview upgrades
• Onboard amenities package worth $200 or more
• Free round-trip airfare

Cruises-n-More.com

Another great source of Caribbean travel package cruise tours is Cruises-n-More. Offerings are updated daily so be sure to check their inventory of Caribbean travel packages often to get the latest offerings from them. The site even allows you to choose a cruise that is close to your home or choose one by destination, month, cruise length, and cruise line. At Cruises-n-More, everything is right at your fingertips.

National Parks Offer Great Appeal for Nature Lovers

When visiting Seattle Washington, it is probably quite impossible not to notice the beautiful scenery that surrounds this great town. I can think of few cities in America that are so strategically located to take advantage of the best of nature. Not only are the surroundings lovely, but the climate is also very mild for most of the year. The drawback for some is the rain as it rains about 50 percent of the time in this city. I suppose that I could sacrifice humidity and stifling high temperatures in exchange for a few rain showers, but that's just me.

It would seem that I am not the only one that has noticed the beauty that seems to surround the Seattle area as there are several national parks in these areas that are a sure sign someone else has noticed. In fact, that is what I'll be discussing. The national parks that are within easy driving distance of Seattle Washington. If you love nature, any of these parks has a great deal to offer and if you are really adventurous, you can try visiting them all (though I really feel you would be hard pressed to get the most out of your experience in a national park after just one day).

The first national park on my list is the one that comes first to my mind when I think of Seattle even though it is a monument rather than a park. It is called the Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and was created for the purposes of research, education, and recreation. Within the 110,000-acre National Volcanic Monument the environment is left to its own devices in recovering from the disaster. The last time Mt. St. Helens erupted was in 1980.

The next national park on my list is indeed a national park it is called Mt. Rainier National Park and is only a short drive from Seattle. Mt. Rainier is an inactive volcano and the park was founded in 1899. This park receives visits from nearly two million people each year. There are many activities that can be enjoyed here from camping, hiking, horseback riding, mountain climbing, and fishing to taking simple nature walks in order to enjoy the beautiful scenery. This is one park that I really don't recommend trying to conquer in a day, there is simply too much ground to cover and you might miss something really cool if you rush through. I understand that time is limited and you may not have the time to properly explore all the park has to offer on one vacation. If that is the case, I seriously recommend finding one or two things to do and see while there and concentrating all of your efforts on those things.

Located about two hours outside of Seattle, Washington is the North Cascades National Park. Often referred to as the North American Alps, this mountain range is spectacularly beautiful. There are many activities available within the park such as camping, hiking, mountain climbing, fishing, and float trips along the Skagit and Stehekin rivers. For me, simply enjoying the stunning views of this national park would be enough without the benefit of the other activities that are available. This is a great way to spend a day, two days, or even an entire vacation. I especially recommend river floating if you have children. It is a great way to enjoy your time together and fairly enjoyable for everyone. You may even be able to get them to take the headphones off for a little while.

Everyone has certain things that appeal to him or her most about a prospective vacation location. For me, a great amount of appeal comes in the things I can see, touch, smell, and experience. Nature is one of the things that we can't always experience at home or if we can, we simply take it for granted. While on vacation, the ability to experience the best that nature has to offer is a wonderful thing. I hope you will visit at least one of these parks during your visit to Seattle.

Is home landscaping different than other landscaping?

home landscaping is no different than any other kind of landscaping. It is natural for people to want their home to look as fab as it possibly can, who does not want the kind of yard that the whole neighborhood is envious of?

And he beauty of home landscaping is that it does not have to be hard and much of it can be done by you. All it will take a it a little elbow grease and some time to spare and you can design your own home landscaping design quickly and easily.

There are even products on the market that will help you to find the best home landscaping idea out there. You can choose to use home landscaping software for one. These programs can be a great help to you as you are trying to figure out what will suit your home and yard the best. With these types of programs you will get to see a few different layouts and options are always good when trying to narrow down your choices.

If home landscaping software programs are not for you, then you can try doing a search online for some wonderful home landscaping ideas. The internet is full of great sites that you can use to get everything done the right way. It is important to do plenty of research before you start your own home landscaping so that you keep the number of mistakes made down to a minimum. If you do make a boo-boo, don’t worry about it, any thing can be fixed.

Before you start your home landscaping you will need to also look into any gas lines and electrical lines that may be running through your yard. This is very important if you are planning to be doing a lot of digging. You cannot afford to hit any of these things, not only can it cost you a bundle to fix, it can also be very dangerous. Hitting an electrical line with a metal shovel could put an end to all of your work, your life too.

You will also need to find out about zoning restrictions that could affect your home landscaping. In some places you cannot have trees too high and even some fences are not allowed. Find out these kinds of things before you start your home landscaping work and you could save a lot of time and money.

Caribbean Travel and Life

Wondering where to go? In the Caribbean travel and life, that is no big problem. Just scroll down below to find whatever it is you are looking for – balmy weather, clear blue skies, glorious seas, luxurious lodgings, fine food, sports, sights, entertainment, even lazy days for lovers, all under the warmth of the Caribbean sun.


Textual Map

Well, it’s a bit difficult to describe the Caribbean in geographic terms. Just know that the region is actually a group of islands, territories, and countries located just south and east of the Gulf of Mexico and right in the middle of the Caribbean Sea. The following are the islands that are favorite Caribbean travel and life destinations since time immemorial:

• Anguilla
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Aruba
• The Bahamas
• Belize
• Barbados
• Bermuda
• Bonaire
• British Virgin Islands
• Cancun
• Cayman Islands
• Cozumel
• Cuba
• Curacao
• Dominica
• Dominican Republic
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Guadeloupe
• Haiti
• Honduras
• Jamaica
• Martinique
• Montserrat
• Puerto Rico
• Saba and St. Eustatius
• St. Barthelemy
• St. Kitts-Nevis
• St. Lucia
• St. Maarten and St. Martin
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turks and Caicos Island
• U.S. Virgin Islands





Activities

There are many exciting activities available to you throughout the Caribbean. In fact, this is one of the reason why Caribbean travel and life is so popular among visiting tourists. Because when you are on the islands, it doesn’t matter who or what you are – the islands always have something to offer for everyone.

Caribbean travel and life offer all-inclusive resorts where you can enjoy everything for a single price. One of the popular places that offer all-inclusive Caribbean travel and life is Sandals, located in the Castries area of the Caribbean Island of St. Lucia.

The resort offers two properties – St. Lucia Regency Golf Resort and Spa, a couples-only resort of over 200 acres of rolling hills and a beautiful half-mile beach, and the Sandals Halcyon, another couples-only resort. Sandals Caribbean travel and life all-inclusive packages are geared towards awesome beaches, a great scuba-diving program, water sports, and fitness centers.

If you like casino gaming, Caribbean travel and life offers you that as well. Head on over to Belize, Puerto Rico, Jamaica where the groovy beats of the island makes for an excellent island-flavored nightlife. Play a game of chance and feel like you’re in Las Vegas as you pit fortunes with the house and maybe win a few chips here and there over a round of roulette. Then quench your thirst with a few glasses of sparklies as you laugh and talk and socialize to your heart’s content.

Besides fun and socializing, Caribbean travel and life also offers you a chance to get closer to nature. The Caribbean offers several eco-tourism where a guide takes you into the deepest rainforest reservoir where you can experience first hand some of the rarest and oldest species of flora and fauna found on earth.

Other activities you can enjoy in a Caribbean travel and life include:

• Children’s programs
• Cuisine
• Golf
• Health and fitness spas
• Meeting and conventions
• Participation sports
• Sailing and charter boats
• Scuba diving
• Spectator sports
• Water sports
• Weddings and honeymoons

Layering garden landscaping

Could your home do with a little more garden landscaping? Probably so, and that is a good thing. In fact you should be very excited about it because there is nothing more fun than garden landscaping, it will get your imagination working overtime and you will have a ball planting and rearranging your plants and flowers.

By layering your garden landscaping beds you will be able to add a whole other level of beauty to your landscaping design. Your yard is the first thing that people will see when they come to your house and giving a grand tour that includes a fabulous garden is always fun and exciting. You will be the talk of the neighborhood, and for all the right reasons this time, when you do some really good garden landscaping.

Layering your garden landscaping design is easy to do. You need to know the flowers that you are going to plant first however. The choices that you make as far as the flowers and other plants will affect just how your garden landscaping is laid out. For example you do not want to have the taller plants in front of the shorter ones. This is obvious but you should still make a rough sketch of where you want things laud out for your garden landscaping before you begin. This will help you to keep thins as simple as possible. Your garden landscaping will go a lot faster this way and you will run into fewer problems as you go.

When layering you should have about three layers. Your back row should face north, if it can, and the back row should have the tallest plants and as the rows descend so should the heights of the plants and flowers. The trick of this kind of garden landscaping is that oftentimes the plants we buy are baby plants. So you will need to talk to those working at your local gardening store about how large the plants will grow to be. This is key to successful garden landscaping. If the front or middle row of your garden landscaping design is going to grow much higher than the last row, then you will have to do some rearranging.

The layering affect of your garden landscaping design will add depth and make your garden much more interesting to look at. This is what will make your garden landscaping a success.

Easy front yard landscaping

Having a low maintenance front yard is the goal of many people. You can get easy to manage front yard landscaping done by any of the professional landscapers in your area or you can do it yourself. Either way you can have front yard landscaping done that will take minimal work to keep looking fantastic all year round. If you are going to get a professional in to do your front yard landscaping though, be sure to tell him that this is your over all goal, that you want to have a yard that will not take a lot of work to keep up.

If you have less grass in your front yard landscaping then you will cut out a lot of maintenance time right there. Mowing the lawn can take up a lot of time and energy so keeping the grass to a minimum is a great way to save on work. Talk to the front yard landscaping expert about alternative that you can use to keep your yard look good with little lawn area.

Some people choose to use clover instead of grass. Using a clover lawn in your front yard landscaping is a good idea because it will save you money and time. You will not have to mow it very often at all and a clover lawn is even good for front yard landscaping in area that is prone to droughts. They do well virtually everywhere. And best of all for those who want to get out there and enjoy their front yard landscaping, bugs hate clover.

Watering the yard can be a big hassle as well. That is why many people incorporate automatic irrigation systems into their front yard landscaping designs these days. This can save you tons of time and money. This is one of the easiest ways for you to keep your yard looking healthy and well watered during the hotter months of the year. No more hooking up the sprinkler or having to drag out the hose. You can get a professional to install one of these systems for your front yard landscaping design quickly and easily or you can get a kit and do it yourself. I would recommend getting in a professional however, unless you have experience with this kind of thing. If you were to cause a leak then you could face some flooding and rotting and neither of these is going to do anything for your front yard landscaping, do you know what I mean?

Ocean Beach San Diego

Located in the Ocean Beach Community, Ocean Beach is actually just south of the entrance to the Mission Bay channel. Located at 1950 Abbott Street, the beach is a very popular location in the summer. During the winter months, couples like to walk the beach and just bask in the presence.

The Ocean Beach is wide in structure, about a mile long. Along the north end of the beach, you'll find a volleyball court. During the summer, the court is always teeming with people playing volleyball while the sand around it is teeming with people watching.

At the south end of the beach you'll find the Ocean Beach Municipal Pier. The Pier is open to the public with plenty of walking and fishing available. Located on the pier is a bait and tackle shop along with a restaurant. Although you don't need a fishing license to fish off the dock, catch regulations are enforced.

If you walk to the south end of the beach you'll find many restaurants, surfing shops, and many other commercial shops and establishments. Although you can travel to the north end of Ocean Beach, it's mostly bordered by residents of the ocean area.

The unique part of Ocean Beach is the Dog Beach, located at the north end. This sandy area is where dogs can run and play without a leash - anytime - day or night. Although dog owners are responsible for their dogs and the clean up of them, Dog Beach is actually pretty nifty for anyone who owns dogs.

For your protection along the beach, lifeguards are out each and every day, year round. They are generally on duty from 9 AM until dark although you can check with them for their specific hours of operation. They are there for your protection and very willing to answer any question that you may have.

Keep in mind while on the beach, California beaches do experience powerful rip currents. It's because of these currents that beaches in California experience over 1,000 rescues by lifeguards every year. To be on the safe side while in San Diego at Ocean Beach, it's always a good idea to swim near a lifeguard.

For those who like surfing, surfing is permitted at Ocean Beach in designated areas. Scuba isn't recommended however, because of the lack of undersea life, heavy rip currents, and the surf.

For swimming or enjoying the California lifestyle, Ocean Beach is a great place to go. It is a very popular place in the summer, drawing hundreds of thousands of people. If you long for a taste of the California lifestyle, make sure you visit Ocean Beach in San Diego.

Planning for desert landscaping

If you live in a dry and arid climate then your desert landscaping is going to take a little more planning than some other parts of the country. desert landscaping will have to work with a plan that includes only plants and trees that can survive with much less water than some other plants. There is no point in planting something if it can not sustain itself afterwards. So take some time with your desert landscaping plan and make sure that you have done everything suited to the climate.

You could spend the money to get better irrigation put in but the money will be great and the time will be all consuming. It is much simpler for your desert landscaping plan to just include plants that will thrive even in the hot sun all day.

What makes using desert landscaping friendly plants so great is that not only will these plants do well even in the hot sun they will also be able to thrive in poor quality soil. This is a much needed quality because places that have so much sun tend to have poor soil as well. So in essence you are killing two birds with one stone as they say.

Here are some wonderful plants that you can use in your desert landscaping:

Longwood Blue bluebeard
This is a shrub, it is deciduous and it will grow back each and every spring. It will always come back healthy and happy and this makes it perfect for desert landscaping. It is not a tiny shrub, it will grow to be anywhere between 3 and 4 feet high with a width of about 2 feet. This is a lovely plant to use in your desert landscaping as it is not only beautiful with its pretty blue flower clusters and silver foliage, it is also very fragrant.

Autumn Joy
This is a wonderful perennial that you can plant for your desert landscaping. With this choice you will have great leaves in pretty whorls. These leaves can be any number of different colors and can be bought to go with any desert landscaping design. This plant is the ultimate for desert landscaping because it can grow in rock gardens with ease. This lovely desert landscaping plant also has a unique and interesting flower unlike any other I have ever seen. These small flowers grow in clusters and they can be a few different colors and shades. The most common are yellow, orange and red and pink. If you plant these in your garden you will have butterflies around all of the time and they make for lovely entertainment on their own.

Background to Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the capital city of the Netherlands. It is known throughout the world as one of the greatest small cities in the world. It lies on the banks of two rivers, the Amstel and IJ, and from its canals to the world famous museums and historical sights, Amsterdam has long been considered as one of the most romantic and wonderful cities in the whole continent of Europe.

Established in the later 12th century as a small fishing village on the banks of the Amstel River, Amsterdam has one of the largest historic city centers in Europe. One of the focal point of interest in this city is the Golden Age of Netherlands that dates largely from the 17th century. It was noted that at this time, a row of concentric, semi-circular canals were built around the older city center, but this establishment still defines the city’s layout and appearance today. Amsterdam now has fine houses and mansions that are situated along the canals. Most of these houses and mansions are lived in, while others are now offices and public buildings.

The City Government

Amsterdam, as all Dutch municipalities, is governed by a mayor, his wethouders (aldermen), and the municipal council. Nevertheless, the city is subdivided into fifteen stadsdelen (boroughs), which is a system implemented in the 1980s to improve local governance. The establishment of this system is what sets Amsterdam unique from other Dutch municipalities. The stadsdelen are said to be responsible for a number of activities that previously had been governed and managed by the central city. Fourteen of these have their respective council, which is chosen by a popular election. Westerpoort, the fifteenth, covers the harbour of the city and has very few inhabitants. It is also governed by the central municipal council.

The Language

When it comes to language, many of the people in Amsterdam are proud of the fact that just about everyone speaks English. Although many also speak German and French, it is worth noting that in this capital city of Netherlands, it is a tradition that if you are English speaking, then speak English, unless you speak Dutch too because you are more likely to offend than do anyone a favor by trying out your French or German.

There is a common misconception in the language of Amsterdam; one of those is that Dutch is very close to German. The truth is, they are not mutually intelligible: Dutch people have to learn German at school, and in general they speak better English than German. However, Dutch and German are similar in the same sort of way that French and Italian are similar.

The Weather

In Amsterdam, the typical weather ranges from a little around freezing in the depths of winter to typically pleasant sunny days of 20 to 25 degrees Celsius in the summer. There is also a little snow during the winter season. Furthermore, the spring and autumn are pleasant in Amsterdam; however these seasons can be wet, with 100+ mm of rain per month.

Safety and Health

Amsterdam is a safe city, thus there is nothing really to fear from walking in any part of the city. It has been noted that even in the red-light district around the Oude Kerk, tourists are always spotted wandering around. However, as in any large cities in other parts of the world, you should beware of pick pockets. And, don’t try to photograph the women in the red-light district for that would be risky. In terms of water, the water from taps is perfectly drinkable.

La Jolla San Diego

A sparkling jewel of San Diego, the La Jolla
area is a picture perfect post card with several
beaches along more than seven miles of coast
against an array of rolling hills known as Mount
Soledad.

Being a part of San Diego, La Jolla is only
15 minutes from the downtown district. Along with
beautiful scenery, the area also offers many fine
restaurants, art galleries, hotels and resorts,
and many other attractions such as the Scripps
Institution of Oceanography.

The Birch Aquarium is also a part of La Jolla, giving you the chance to enter the exciting world of sharks, living coral reefs, and many other undersea exhibits. This aquarium showcases the mysteries of the ocean and what actually lives there.

The shoreline of La Jolla consists of rocky headlands seperated by pristine coves and sandy beaches. All along the beach, you can find many different hotels and resorts, designed to make your stay a little bit better.

The North Pacific Beach extends to La Jolla, traveling from the Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach. If you travel north of this area, you'll find yourself on the beaches of La Jolla.

By going to the south end of the La Jolla shoreline, you'll find Windandsea Beach. Windandsea Beach has long had a reputation for surfers paradise, although the steep beaches and rocky cliffs can be very dangerous if you aren't aware of them.

Close to downtown La Jolla, there is an area called Casa, which used to be a children's pool. Now days, the area has been taken over by seals and sealions. Although children can't swim here anymore, it's a great pastime to lay on the beach and watch them play.

Traveling along the La Jolla shoreline, you'll find the tide pools. These pools are great to look at, although you shouldn't touch them. You should visit during low tide and be sure to wear rubber soled shoes, as they can get quite slippery.

The cove in La Jolla is very beautiful, although one of the smaller beaches in San Diego. On either side of the cove, there are sandstone cliffs. This helps to add an isolated feel to the cove.

Throughout La Jolla, the Shores Beach is the widest and longest beach. If you look off to the distance on the beach, you can see the Scripps Pier. Also on the beach, there are novice scuba classes held throughout the summer months.

With plenty to offer you and your family, the beaches of La Jolla are among the best in San Diego. There's plenty to do and see here, with dining and swimming. For a great visit to the beach, La Jolla seems to simplify the best of life in California.

Enjoying the Great Outdoors without Breaking the Bank

Visiting Seattle Washington can be an infinitely fun experience. This experience can be magnified greatly if you find entertainment that is inexpensive of free. The good news is that this type of entertainment can be easily found in and around the Seattle area. The even better news is that I'm going to share some of the many great things you can do for free while visiting Seattle.

Some people tend to scoff at the ideas of freebies, and that is all well and good. Those people are perfectly willing to pay over inflated prices for their entertainment while I hope you will be wise enough to choose entertainment that doesn't come with quite as much sting. Believe me when I say, you do not always get what you pay for and the clich閟 are correct. You will probably find that many of the best things you find in Seattle are absolutely free.

The first great place I'm going to tell you about is one of those absolutely free places to visit. Not only is it great fun but it is educational as well. I sincerely hope that you will not let the price tag prevent you from the knowledge and good old-fashioned fun you can have at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks. There is much to do during your trip to the locks. A few great suggestions would be to walk in the gardens, watch the boats, visit the fish ladder (little ones will find this completely fascinating), and exploring the many exhibits in the area. You can even go on a free guided tour between the months of March and November.

Next, there is The Center for Wooden Boats. What boy doesn't like toys? Or girl for that matter, I know I'm game when it comes to boats, particularly wooden boats. Not only can you go and explore the boats for free, on Sundays at 2:00 (weather permitting) you can go sailing on one of these magnificent watercrafts for absolutely no charge. You can call ahead of time at (206) 382-2628 in order to check water conditions. Because of the popularity of this program it is wise to arrive at least one hour ahead of time in order to participate in the 2:00 sail. There are some Sundays when other events conflict with the Sunday sail so call to be sure that the sail will be offered. Of course, even without the Sunday sail the Center for Wooden Boats is still an excellent way to spend an afternoon dreaming about these fantastic toys.

Finally, I want to mention Ebey's Landing National Historic Reserve. This reserve was created in order to preserve the natural history of the land. Coupeville is a 19th Century town that has been preserved in an attempt to portray an accurate picture of what life here was like. There is a museum, gift shop, several eateries, and an antique shop that line the once vibrant seaside town. Then visit the Admiralty Head Lighthouse and many of the other attractions that abound. You can take your car and drive the length of the reserve. The drive is approximately 43 miles long and your driving time will depend greatly on the amount of time you spend exploring along the way. If you want to make a day trip of it, you may want to pack a picnic lunch and plan your day accordingly.

Other activities that you may enjoy while visiting Ebey's Landing include: biking, boating, camping, fishing, hiking, kayaking, nature walks, scuba diving, wildlife viewing, and bird watching. Visiting this reserve is literally taking a step back in time. I hope you enjoy this place as much as I do.

With so many great things to do for free, who would ever want to leave Seattle Washington? The best news is that this is only a small glimpse of the great ways to have fun while visiting this unique and wonderful city.