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Archive for May, 2011

Best Beach Vacations In Florida

Florida offers some of the best beach vacation opportunities in the United States. There are over 220 beaches on Florida’s Atlantic Coast not to mention all of the beautiful beaches on Florida’s Gulf Coast and the Florida Keys. Many of the best beaches in America can be found in Florida. In fact Florida beaches consistently rank in the top 10 out of all the beaches in the United States. Just thinking about Florida conjures up images of beautiful beaches palm trees and walking barefoot in the sand. While no two people can probably agree on the best Florida beach vacation here are some Florida beaches that you should definitely consider for your next trip.

Amelia Island State Park
Located on Florida’s Atlantic Coast Amelia Island State Park is a short drive from Jacksonville and occupies the southern tip of Amelia Island. This beach offers tremendous scenery great surf fishing beautiful beaches and maritime forests. It is the only state park in Florida to offer horseback riding on the beach.

Anastasia State Park
Anastasia State Park has four miles of pristine white sandy beach. Popular activities at Anastasia include camping fishing swimming beachcombing hiking canoeing and kayaking. If your family enjoys camping a fullfacility campground is located in a wooded area close to the beach. A convenient camp store and rental shop is also available onsite. Located on Florida’s Atlantic Coast near St. Augustine Florida.

Canaveral National Seashore
Situated on a barrier island along Florida’s Atlantic Coast Canaveral National Seashore offers 24 miles of beautiful beaches. Recreational activities include fishing sunbathing swimming surfing boating camping and hiking. Located between New Smyrna Beach and Titusville Florida.

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
Located on Florida’s Atlantic Coast near Key Biscayne this beach has been voted one of the top 10 beaches in America. Enjoy swimming sunbathing or relax and enjoy a picnic. Fishing biking and kayaking are other popular activities at Cape Florida. The park is home to a historic lighthouse. Tours are available and the view from the lighthouse is spectacular.

Caladesi Island State Park
Caladesi is clearly one of the best beaches in Florida. Made up of natural islands along Florida’s Gulf Coast it offers beautiful white sandy beaches a nature trail a marina picnic pavilions bathhouses a playground and park concessions. Located near Dunedin Florida the park is accessible only by private boat or ferry from Honeymoon Island State Park.

St. Andrews State Park
St. Andrews is known for its clean white sands and emerald green waters. It has over one and a half miles of beaches and those interested in fishing will appreciate the two fishing piers. Enjoy kayaking swimming snorkeling and scuba diving along with hiking and other activities. A concession stand offers snacks and fishing amenities and camping is available. Located on Florida’s Gulf Coast near Panama City.

Grayton Beach State Park
Grayton Beach has consistently ranked among the most beautiful beaches in America. It offers sugar white beaches cabins fullfacility campgrounds and most of the park is ADA accessible. Activities include swimming sunbathing surf fishing canoeing and kayaking. Over 4 miles of trails are available for hikers and bicyclists to enjoy. Located on Florida’s Gulf Coast near Santa Rosa Beach.

Hopefully this list has provided some good ideas for your next vacation. Your best beach vacation is ready and waiting for you all you need to do is start making plans. Whether its one of the beaches mentioned here or some other fine beach in Florida there is nothing more relaxing than spending some time at the beach. Swim build a sand castle fish or just relax in the sun. Have a safe and wonderful trip!

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About the writer:  Rich Herman loves traveling with his family and regularly shares family vacation ideas on his website: http://www.FavoriteFamilyVacations.com

Airport Parking Niggles: Valuing A Smooth Ride

I’m one of these people who are disproportionally unsettled by circumstances I’m not familiar with. I’m comforted by routines and knowing what’s going to happen next so when I find myself confronted with something a bit different I tend to buzz with irritation. Something as small as driving somewhere unknown has been known to fluster me and propel my mood downwards.

My occupation means I am regularly in contact with customer complaints about airport parking and as I recently flew from Stansted for a week’s holiday I decided I should scrutinise the parking I had prebooked. I thought it would be interesting to put myself in place of all the people I had read comments from and see if I could relate to the seemingly tedious complaints that inspire people to put pen to paper.

I thought I was perfectly suited to the task because of my own inclination for unnecessary irritability; which I was. I wasn’t even driving usually cause for a little vain popping and teeth knashing yet I still found plenty of things that made the process pricklier than it could have been.

Firstly my eticket said I should insert my card into the machine at the barrier on entrance. It would then spit out my parking ticket. But it didn’t work. Instead I had to just press the button for a ticket making me wonder wether I might be charged later despite already having paid to get a cheaper deal.

Such minor things but it”s the uncertainty you see it concerns me! Then I was looking for zone T as stated on my ticket. Which was easy enough to find but it was closed off. So I kept driving around eventually ending up in zone Z. Obviously another insignificant thing but my brow was furrowed already.

The next little pothole in my parking experience was the fact that the bus shelter was only large enough to house about 10 people which it already was when I reached it so I had to wait for the bus in the rain. The rain wasn’t heavy but enough to dampen my furrows. The bus arrived after only a couple of minutes though so they get a big tick there. The transfer was short; only about 5 minutes until I was at Stansted terminal.

Then the holiday happened…giant sausages illegal road crossings maneating flies etc…. and a week later I was back at Stansted sounds like a more interesting story doesn’t it…oh well.

The collection point was easy to find. Another tick. I just missed a bus by seconds but only had to wait about 5/10 minutes for the next one. The driver tried to be funny; I didn’t really have the humour for it after my flight but maybe some people appreciated it. Then he asked over the intercom thing if anyone wanted zone B. Of course nobody answered so he said “ok onto Zone R then..”. Fortunately I didn’t want zone B otherwise that would have been somewhat annoying! Later he asked if anybody wanted zone Z1 I didn’t realise zone Z was broken into numbers !? So a few uncertain people including myself called “yes please” and he pulled over. By some happy coincidence I was actually parked in zone Z1 and so didn’t have to amble about looking for other areas. Phew.

I didn’t have to pay again with the ticket I got from the machine. I presented my email confirmation and there were no questions asked so I suppose that was ok. Perhaps I’m being pernickety and just generally cranky and objectionable but I’m obviously not alone: I’ve seen the customer feedback and can now relate to it a bit better.

It goes to show how easily it is to upset people in the stages getting to and from a holiday. We just want to get to our destination with a smooth transition and as little indecision or confusion as possible. In conclusion I’ve decided the value of a good airport parking service should not be underestimated. Do your research and make sure you pick a provider with a good track record and book through a reliable professional company. Saving money is always a top priority but getting a quality service and knowing what to expect can also make a big difference to your holiday experience especially if you are as flapable as myself.

About the writer:  Patrick is an expert Research and Travel consultant. His current interest is in Stansted Airport Parking Stansted Hotels.

The Delights And Sounds Of Jinja

The route to Jinja from Kampala is attempting tourist corridor. It offers all that has for mankind and it reminds one of the abundant choices that lie ahead.

Curious to know more about legendary treasures of Jinja town as indicated I various books. A cruise to Kampala Nairobi highway to discover for ourselves what makes life on the Nile special.

Before entering the greenery tunnel of Mabira forest tourists may turn right to take a glimpse at the famous Sezibwa falls.

Fifteen minutes to the legendry stream of fertility gives relief to the hundreds of fortune seekers.

A twenty four hour guide and culture custodian keeps watch of the scenic spot and recite the tales of Twin who gave birth to this stream that pauses of sparkling falls and rock caves where the mother lived.

Triggered off by life here we dash to the mouth of the yet another living future Mabira forest.

At the mouth is Najembe highway market where travellers make their last shopping stop. Visitors may decide to refresh there with some pieces of rosted bananas fruits and chicken barbeques.

There are clear views of the woundering spreading sugarcane and tea plantations of Lugazi sugar factory which form little contours on the apex of the hills and makes the area topography admirable to travellers.

Next to the sugarcane alatataions is the sleepless high way town booming business lively people and like any other high way transborder town else where life is full. Bars and kiosks are open all day through. Beneath on the East of the hustling town lie Jinja the source of the Nile.

There is a whole world of choice here and choice may spoil one. Jinja may be a shadow of its former self but the residents see the proverbial silver lining in the cloud in the town s new identity.

The town offers all that a tourist would like to enjoy; the culture of the people and the natural endowments. One wonders where to go in Jinja. After a decade of economic wane Jinja is rising with a new identity as it stands out as Ugandas upcoming tourist destination.

Where to go when in Jinja

Bujagali falls: this tourist site changed its face and package to attract more visitors on the Nile. The mixture of tourism activities with the cultural aspect spices up life and brings all people in the community on the new development trend. It is no longer an isolated place on the Nile but a new tourist destination or hot spot attracting thousands of foreign and local tourists monthly.

The place that was contested for by environmentalists and investors over construction of a power dam at the scenic falls 8 years ago is now basking with tourists keeping a tight grip of the great potential. This experiences and excites participant.

Loud vices ate heard all over the site at the end of the valley through the high rhythmic roaring noise of the rapid falls. There is quad biking racing and village walks. These offer opportunities for community visits and cultural interactions. Canoeing is vibrant here and provides a lot for bird watching photography spot fishing and swimming. The traditional rituals practices and cultural activities at Bujagali falls that doubles as a tourist and cultural site crowns it all.

Source of the Nile: There are two sources of the Nile gardens one of the Eastern and another on the western bank. All the same a visitor loses nothing as both sides are just 3 minutes boat ride and with a pair of binoculars one might not need a cross.

Standing at the concrete monument raised in memory of the European explore John Hannington Speke who first saw the source of the Nile; and named the falls Ripon in 1862 visitors wonder what the scenery was like before the construction of the Owen falls dam stream that submerged the falls in 1954.

The source of the Nile offers a variety which if improved upon would turn the town into a Jewel in the East.

About the writer:  Kiiza Calah is a great Author in East Africa and her other articles can be viewed at www.touruganda.com