Cornwall: The English Riveira

During the 18th and 19th century, Cornwall was transformed by the growth of copper and tin mining. The region was mined extensively and became a major contributor to the Industrial Revolution. The technology used in the Cornish engine houses and foundries was exported all over the world and was of great benefit to mining as a whole. Today the remains of this once, vast industry are protected by ten World Heritage sites, that preserve this proud heritage. These include the Wendron Mining District, the St Agnes Mining District and the Port of Hayle.

The word 'Riviera' has often been applied to these parts due to the agreeable weather conditions. The mild climate encourages the growth of a large number of sub-tropical plants and flowers such as The Slender Mullein – a type of flower that only grows wild in Devon and Cornwall. The deep blue seas and sweeping, golden beaches are also reminiscent of far-off Mediterranean shores. Despite the evidence of these similarities with continental Europe, Cornwall still manages to maintain a distinct character and charm, exemplified by the secluded, seemingly untouched towns of Antony, Bodinnick and Fowey.

North Cornwall is more remote than the southerly reaches. The wild and seldom-visited Bodmin Moor is crossed by just one road, the A30. Thankfully most of the moors are only accessible by foot or horseback with little or no accommodation for vehicles. The large southern resort towns are contrasted by tiny hamlets that pepper the wind-swept landscape of Bodmin. Bolventor is a fine example and was used by Daphne De Maurier as the setting for one of her famous smuggling novels.

Cornwall's beaches offer some of the best surfing in Europe with a variety of reef breaks scattered on both the North and South coasts. Other water-sports such as Kite surfing are also popular and take advantage of the powerful winds that sweep along the waterfront. The 270 miles of coastal paths, which twist in and out of valleys and coves, attract hikers and ramblers who come from far and wide to enjoy the spectacular seascapes afforded by these trails.

The variety of activities and attractions in Cornwall ensure a steady influx of visitors every year. For thrill seekers the beaches and cliffs offer an abundance of possibilities, while others can take pleasure in the World Heritage sites and dramatic, varied landscapes. The English Riviera, surely one of the most desirable holiday destinations in Europe.

Self Catering Cottages In Scotland

Self catering cottages were seen in the 80's and early 90's as a cheap holiday, especially as cheap holiday packages did not really exist. Over the last decade this has certainly changed. As more and more people got involved in time share, this made people aware of how pleasant it is to stay in a self catering property while on holiday.

Self catering is ideal for families especially with young children as there is no timetable to keep to, and you can eat when the kids want to eat and not when the hotel restaurant is open.

With cheap mortgages and people wanting to have more control of their investment many more self catering properties have become available on the market. Many of these new properties are aiming at the more luxury market.

If you are looking for a holiday cottage, here are a few helpful tips:

Try and book direct with the property owners, if you go through an agent you will tend to pay more as the owner can pay in excess of 30% commission to the agent. Cottages with high standards, good views tend to get booked up early, so try and plan as far ahead as possible to get the best properties.

Make sure there is no hidden costs, most good property owners will include, fuel, electricity, towels and linen in their rates. Many properties will also have their own private ground which is great if you have children or looking to take a pet with you. Most places will charge a little more for pets due to the extra cleaning involved.

Self catering can be a real interesting way to see Scotland. Sometimes on holiday you want to curl up in front of a fire and read a book, other times you want to got out for a meal, with a holiday property you can to either.

Bed and Breakfast in the Napa Valley

The Napa Valley is a wine lover's paradise. Some of the best wines in the world get their starts as baby grapes in the Napa Valley. Wine tasting abounds and the beauty and romance of the area were made for bed and breakfasts.

Napa Valley bed and breakfasts are popular because of their intimacy and closeness to the people and wine growers of the region. Most are traditional homes and the owners are the hosts. Some are larger, having 20 rooms or more. Big or small, you're guaranteed the personal touch at a Napa Valley bed and breakfast.

Some specialize in romance. They may provide such amenities as canopied beds, in-room fireplaces, beautiful scenery, English gardens and whirlpools in your room. Others provide a historical perspective by providing their bed and breakfasts with a theme, such as a specific period in this region's history. You'll find Victorian bed and breakfasts and Colonial era bed and breakfasts in the Napa Valley. These eras are recaptured via decoration, architecture and even food!

The rooms in Napa Valley bed and breakfasts are sumptuously comfortable. Each has a queen or king-sized bed, fireplace, whirlpool, plush luxurious robes and a private bath. Most offer spectacular views and provide transportation to near by vineyards for wine tasting or other local activities.

Great gourmet food is another reason to head to Napa Valley. Your bed and breakfast may even provide wonderful lunch and dinners, especially if it's one of the bigger ones. Even if they don't, never fear. People come from near and far to sample the wonderful restaurants serving delicious meals, desserts, liqueurs and of course, wonderful wines, every evening.

Here are some of the popular bed and breakfasts in the Napa Valley:

Stahlecker House Bed and Breakfast was featured in Bride Magazine "Places to Honeymoon" and in "Gourmet Magazine. Go for a hot air balloon ride, treat yourself to a day at the spa or visit the nearby Candle Factory.

Christopher's Inn is an intimate, ultra-luxurious European style bed and breakfast. Dream-soft feather beds, Jacuzzis and cozy fireplaces highlight the rooms. Breakfast is served in bed in a charming country basket. Calistoga restaurants, spas and shops are a short walk away.

If you want to escape the busier towns and tourism, try Bartels Ranch and Bed and Breakfast near St. Helena, CA. This beautiful 60-acre estate overlooks the valley. The lake and bird sanctuary are perfect places to bring a picnic lunch. They even have their own special delicious and aromatic coffee blends. Travel writers have selected Bartels' as the best place to stay in California.

Calistoga, CA boasts another wonderful Bed and Breakfast called the Cottage Grove Inn. Sixteen separate cottages make up the guest accommodations. Each has a small yard of its own and a porch with rocking chairs. Take a glass of wine and some cheese to your private Jacuzzi and enjoy the lush greenery and colorful flowers.

The Calistoga Inn features a mini brewery. They feature live jazz on their patio every evening. Plus on weekends there's live music and dancing. Wednesdays is open mike night.

The Chelsea Garden Inn has spacious suites that include living room, bedroom and bath. All are secluded with garden walkways and a swimming pool. Each suite has the modern conveniences associated with the big hotel chains, like a fireplace, air-conditioning, cable TV, DVD/VCR, refrigerator, microwave oven and high speed Internet access. A full gourmet breakfast is included and this bed and breakfast is located just two blocks from Calistoga's main street full of restaurants, spas, hot springs, shop, music and galleries.

No matter which of these wonderful bed and breakfasts you choose, you're sure to have a wonderful, romantic and relaxing trip to the Napa Valley.

Save Money At Disney - Stay In A Luxury Vacation Home

Over the past few years many people have discovered that a great way to save money on a family vacation is to rent an Orlando vacation home. There are now many homes to choose from to suit everyone, whatever they are looking for - from a 1 bed condo to an 8 bedroom luxury home. Here are some of the advantages of a Florida vacation rental home compared to staying in a hotel room:

1.It can be significantly cheaper than a hotel room. A large family would book more than one hotel room, so the savings are very significant.

2.There is much more space. A typical 5 bed Orlando vacation home would average around 2200 square feet – many times the size of a hotel room. Often homes have at least 2 master suites. Sharing a hotel room can be very stressful with children. With a rental home you can all have your own room, and often your own bathroom too!

3.You may have your own private swimming pool and perhaps a spa. There is nothing that can compare with this in a hotel room. Hotel pools can be fun, but just imagine stepping outside your door to your private pool.

4.You save a lot of money and time on meals. This is often overlooked when thinking about comparing costs of hotels and vacation homes. Even an inexpensive breakfast for a family of 4 can run to $30. All you need in your vacation home is a box of cereal, some juice and coffee! Multiply this saving over 7 days and you have saved potentially hundreds of dollars. It is also much easier to prepare and save snacks for the parks adding to your savings. By eating breakfast at your vacation home you can arrive at the parks earlier and will find it much easier to see more of the attractions.

5.Many vacation homes have excellent resort facilities which are comparable to expensive hotels. Some, have community pools, cyber cafes, clubhouses, movie theaters, children's pools and playgrounds, convenience stores, tennis and fully equipped gyms.

6.You have a washer and dryer in your home. Laundry fees can add up – so this can be a significant cost saving. Also of course it is much more convenient to do your laundry in your home than have to use the hotel facility.

7.Parking is free and outside your door!

8.Many homes have free internet access and free international phone calls. Many hotels now charge a resort fee, and the bill for internet access and calls can add up to a huge amount.

Wherever you decide to stay - enjoy your visit!

Is An All-Inclusive Vacation Right For You?

For fun and total relaxation, all-inclusive resort vacations can offer a complete escape from all things required at home. If you haven't had a chance to learn about this type of vacation, here are some basics.

All-inclusive vacations include the price of your room, your meals, your drinks (including alcoholic beverages) and unlimited activities in one up-front price. These packages are usually offered at resort locations. Resorts either focus on adult-only visitors or a stay for the entire family. All-inclusive vacation locations tend to be in the Caribbean or Mexico.

So for one up-front price, food is included and is offered via scrumptious buffets, poolside grills or the resort's restaurant where you can order a la carte. The array of free activities (based on resort) include: kayaking, sailing, an introductory diving lesson, snorkeling, windsurfing or water aerobics. Other entertainment can include complimentary Kids' Club activities for younger family members (ages 4-12) where they can spend time with their peers, enjoying games, nature walks or arts and crafts. If that were not enough, tipping and gratuities are not required and not expected by staff. Motorized water sports, like jet skiing and parasailing, are available for additional fees. Spa services and babysitting require additional fees.

If you haven't guessed, the theory is to provide world-class pampering, first-rate luxury and exceptional service to all their guests. Sandals and Beaches Resorts have made this concept famous even including Butler Services, where the butler will offer to unpack your luggage, draw your bath scented with rose petals, tidy your wardrobe, and cater to your every whim.

Linda Syme recently traveled by exchanging her timeshare week to find out that the "all-inclusive" fees were mandatory at the resort and was charged $300/day for her and her husband. She commented, "We won't do the all-inclusive again because my husband and I just don't eat or drink enough for the all-inclusive fees. I'd rather just go to restaurants on our own." She added, "Owners of the resort could choose the all-inclusive for just even one day of their stay, at their choice and at a much lower cost of $59 daily per person, that would have been worth it to me."

Vacationers do not need to be timeshare owners to find an all-inclusive vacation though.
Eric Woodroof enjoyed his all-inclusive stay at the Omni Cancun Hotel stating, "It was great to sit on the beach with the family, order an unlimited number of refreshments and cocktails, while not having to worry about dinner planning or money at all. The service of relaxation was unsurpassed."

Bird Identification, Remember Bird Names And Details

Bird identification isn't easy. The best bird books may look wonderful at home, but it is often very difficult to work out what the bird you have been looking at really is. There is no real alternative to time and experience, as long as you have a good memory. The most important ingredient of a good memory is a genuine interest, and then acute observation. If you have a genuine interest in any subject, however abstruse, you will remember a remarkable amount, but if you don't - you won't.

The better-memory-course is designed to develop your powers of observation and interest. The author is a retired general medical practitioner who has trained senior executives in major international companies, the civil service and the armed forces. He has produced a course which will help you to identify and remember all the details you need for better bird identification, as well as for a better and more interesting life in general. Students in a London Medical School used to be sent on the Circle line of the underground and not allowed off until they had identified twenty diseases. This was the start of learning observation skills.

Bird identification consists of a whole range of different details which you will learn to file in the back of your mind so that they come out automatically when you see a bird. These are a combination of size, season, shape, attitude, posture, plumage, flight, habits and many other little details which you will sub-consciously learn and store in your mind. These can't be fully described in a book because they tend to be subjective as well as objective. There is no real alternative to your own mental computer.

The Better-Memory-Course will train and develop this mental computer for you. Every child keeps asking the question "Why?". They have a natural interest and their minds soak up information like sponges. You can learn to go back to a second childhood.

You will learn a whole range of skills but the two most important are better observation and lateral thinking. With better observation and an eye for detail you will start noticing things all around you. You will be amazed at what you have failed to see previously. You will remember the names and details of people you meet so that you will recognise them the next time you meet them. People like to be remembered and they show their appreciation by responding to you. This will open great opportunities in all sorts of fields, and will also bring you new friends and new ideas.

The changing face of Chamonix - Is It a Good Time to Buy Accommodation in a Ski Resort?

I've been coming to Chamonix Mont Blanc in the French Alps for over 10 years now. During that time I have witnessed a complete change in direction in the ethos of the Town. Chamonix was once labelled the Ibiza of the slopes in a report in the Times magazine. It was quite spooky, this report was almost as if one of our gang was a secret reporter for the Times as it narrated our exact night. The ChamJam was in full effect, based around the old age Bosse de Bosse mogul competition between the local valleys that escalated into an epic completion to include a big air competition, Boarder Cross and Half Pipe exhibition. That coupled with a huge sound system reverberating Hip-Hop tunes throughout the valley, a BBQ and excessive booze, made for truly good times on the slopes.

So as the report read, the night started in a wild apres ski part in a crazy South African bar (I think you might find it was Australian, Mr Times reporter!) with the bar staff on top of the bar pouring neat shots straight from the bottle into the upturned heads of thirsty punters. A brief stop in the Choucas bar for some nasty looking green shots then found us in a seedy underground club, that without knowledge, you wouldn't know existed. This club excretes coolness. A nice balance of French and other nationalities, workers and punters, low ceiling, banging tunes and just a real vibe about it and if you ain't sweating, you ain't having fun!

The wide eyed and beer fuelled revellers were not content with lights on at 2am, not enough fun yet, so travelled across town, to the neon lit and mirror clad Garage (locally named the GayRage) to swing their hips some more. A cheesy club but where some of the best nights are had!

Those times are changing. Bars are closing and bistros are opening up. The Arbate is no more – no letting off steam twice monthly in outrageous fancy dress and dancing the podiums. The Wallabies, now an "exclusive" and ridiculously priced bar. Goofy's is no more, now a swanky Indian bar/restaurant (though very good). L'Expedition is no more. Dicks T-bar, Cybar, Bar de Moulins, Queen Vic – have gone up in smoke – literally!)

So with what one would think as a massive gap in the market for bars, Chamonix has only seen more up-market bistros opening. The ski-bum is being ousted for the money spenders. That said Grands Montets hosted a snow-park for the first time in many years. Maybe we will see the half pipe "cutter" finally come out of it's wrapping where it has been left to rust at the base of Le Tour.

My biggest bugbear is not having bought a property at the time. A one bed apartment would have set me back maybe €60,000. I have just bought one for over treble that! I still think this is a good investment however. Chamonix is shifting it's ethos to a more exclusive resort and there is the obvious attraction of Mont Blanc – the highest peak in Western Europe. Furthermore, with a particularly warm winter all eyes are pointing towards Global Warming and with Chamonix offering some of the highest routes in Europe, it becomes an even more attractive location to buy.

Pilanesberg National Park - North West - South Africa

The crater of a long extinct volcano is the setting of Pilanesberg National Park - a fascinating alkaline complex produced by volcanic eruptions some 1300 million years ago.

Pilanesberg is one of the largest volcanic complexes of its kind in the world. Its rare rock types and structure make it a unique geological feature.

The early presence of man can be seen in the numerous Stone and Iron Age sites that are scattered throughout the park.

The park exists within the transition zone between the dry Kalahari and wetter Lowveld vegetation, commonly referred to as "Bushveld". Unlike any other large park, unique overlaps of mammals, birds and vegetation occur because of this transition zone.

The colourful hues, varied habitats and panoramas will delight and entertain photographers and visitors. Off the centre of the park is Thabayadiotso, "the Proud Mountain" and the beauty of Pilanesberg is reflected in a large central lake, the Mankwe Dam.

Wildlife:

An abundance of wild life proliferate in 580 km of diverse and arresting bushveld terrain. The park is home to healthy populations of lion, leopard, black and white rhino, elephant and buffalo - Africa's "Big Five".

A wide variety of rare and common species exist with endemic species like the nocturnal brown hyaena, the fleet-footed cheetah, the majestic sable, as well as giraffe, zebra, hippo and crocodile, to mention but a few.

Birdlife:

Bird watching is excellent with over 300 species recorded. Some are migrants, others permanent inhabitants; some eat carrion or live prey, others eat seeds, fruit or tiny water organisms.

There is a self-guided trail in the Walking Area at Manyane Complex in the east, which offers environmental education whilst enjoying game viewing and bird watching on foot. Also at Manyane is a walk-in aviary with over 80 species of indigenous birds.

Activities:

Visitors are offered many opportunities to experience the wonders of Pilanesberg. There are nearly 200 kilometres of excellent quality roads for either self-drives or guided drives, and professional guides operate within the park.

Numerous hides and scenic picnic sites enable the tourist to experience "out-of-car" experiences as well.

Guests staying in the Pilanesberg Game Reserve or Day-Visitors are invited to join any of these unique and extraordinary African Adventures.

In the middle of the park is the Pilanesberg Centre, a lovely old building that once served as the local magistrate's court.

How to get there:

By road the Pilanesberg is situated 60 kms from Rustenburg on the Thabazimbi road R510.

From Johannesburg or Pretoria follow the signs to Sun City.

Health & Climate:

Pilanesberg National Park is situated in a in the malaria-free area.

Background and Information on the Florida Keys

Many believe that Key West was built on the exaggerated Florida Keys fishing tales of Papa Ernest Hemingway. The Florida Keys are one of the country's best vacationing spots, and it is home to the nation's only living coral reef. No matter which Key you visit, the Florida Keys is a great choice to spend your hard earned vacation time. The Florida Keys consist of a group of islands that stretch out 106 miles into the Gulf of Mexico. The Florida Keys have a lot of history behind them.

Deer

Approximately the size of a golden retriever but having the deer's distinctively graceful shape, the Florida Key deer is found only on the Florida Keys. "They're a bit smaller, their faces are a bit wider and their noses are a bit shorter, which makes them look like a toy deer -- sort of like a little fawn, even when they're adults. More than 30 years ago, Florida's Key Deer was named an endangered species -- as few as 250 of the animals remained.

Virtually all of the Key Deer herd is found on two islands in the Florida Keys. From stalking bonefish in the flats, to fighting giant Blue Marlin in the Gulf Stream, Key West offers an abundance of Florida Keys fishing options for both the novice fisherman and the experienced angler.

The weather in the Florida Keys remains almost predictably pleasant. Located in Big Pine Key is the National Key Deer Refuge, where you can catch glimpses of the protected Key Deer, which is a native to the Florida Keys.