Ultimate Vacation Spots

posted by Travel Cat on Jul 10

Welcome back for the summer holidays - and if you are running out of ways to entertain the kids - then we have some help for you here!

There are always plenty of ideas of kids entertainment.  Some parents prefer to pay for a theme park or other activities like rides and zoos, whereas other tend to take them in a more creative direction with making things, playing close to home, wildlife skills and family time.  So we really get a wide range or articles here - and hopefully you will enjoy those given below in this summer carnival.

Lets start with the best thing a mother or father could have when it comes to traveling with kids: A planner. Here, Bill Tyler helps you decide which type would be best for you with: How to Pick the Right Mom Organizer - obviously they work just as well for dads!

And filling the Summer Holidays with just such a plan is Alejandra Halvorssen with Summer Plans, Again for this school break!

Next a lovely little photojournal of the next step in a regular: where Theodora and her 9 year old bring us: Round Halong Bay by Junk with yet more great photos.

And why not take a leaf out of Phillip Lopez book, and plan to take your kids on one of these 10 Amazing Religious Pilgrimages. Not only will they be away from all the regular holiday-makers, rides and cotton candy - they will be experiencing a different culture and learning the respect of the old ways - they don’t need to be religious to follow a pilgrimage, but it is certainly a great experience for anyone.

Now, we come to the creative things for the kids to pass the time. Lets start with these 2 quickies from Joleen Parker; first up is Festive Flip-Flops « Jobie’s Crafts, then have some fun decorating your Summer Fun Tote « Jobie’s Crafts - just try not to get confused by all the ad’s in the posts……

Then finally - feast your eyes upon Olivia Davis seemingly endless list of things for the kids to do: Kids Summer Activity List: 100 Creative and Cheap Summer Activities For Your Kids. Maybe even getting the kids to spend time talking abut the list in the first place could kill another 3 hours!

Enjoy yourselves as much as the kids!

posted by Travel Cat on Jun 25

Forget the back yard fireworks and head to somewhere that really sums up America!

Why not make this Forth of July one with a difference - and go see something amazing that makes you proud to be American and to celebrate Independence Day and the creation of the nation we know and love today!

Although it would be great to support your local town, county or state in their arrangements - by attending a carnival, music festivals and firework displays - you could also take a while away from it all and go back to the roots of the nation this year - and avoid some of the mess and noise that we now create!

1) Visit The Declaration Of Independence Itself!
What is it all about anyway?  Do your kids (or you yourself) even know the full story of how the country evolved, and how some of the great names like Samuel Adams and Thomas Jefferson were associated with this historic day were actually involved?

Taking a full day to explore the National Archives in Washington DC, and read through all the build up and the after effects of it’s historic signing in 1776.  The Archives also holds the Constitution and the Bill of Rights - so you will certainly be an American history buff by the time you leave!

Admission is always free and there are no separate lines to view the documents - you can wander around as you please - although there is no photography of filming allowed for obvious security reasons.  But do watch National Treasure before you go to give you a little taster of what it’s all about!

2) Go See Mount Vernon, Virginia - The Home Of George Washington.
Known affectionately as ‘the father of our country’ it would be wrong not to take time to learn about his life and achievements and appreciate his life and his actions.  He was of course the first president of the United States and sat for 2 terms before retiring to Mount Vernon.

He achieved many things during his busy life including winning many battles during the Battle for Independence during the American Revolution, implementing laws that still stand today and working on his farm!

There are many myth and ‘true’ stories about him and his life, including skipping a coin across the Potomac, having wooden false teeth and wearing a wig!  Other actual facts include being infertile, having ginger hair, serving no political party, making a law to make sure that future presidents can only serve 2 terms in office after he got ‘forced into his second term and actually being born British!

3) Be Amazed At Mount Rushmore - and hang around in the Black Hills after……
You wouldn’t be American if you hadn’t seen Mount Rushmore in South Dakota!  So make sure you go visit here if you haven’t already - and why not make a long weekend out of it with a visit to the Rockies!

The giant faces of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson (writer of the Declaration of Independence and the 3rd US President) stare off into the distance on this massive edifice to American History.

Alongside these 2 hugely influential characters are Abraham Lincoln - 16th US President; and Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt - 26th US President.  All 4 men have greatly influenced the United States today!

Taking 14 years to complete (well, it ran out of funds at the shoulders) these 18 meter tall heads cover an area of over 1000 square meters!  They are now in the hands of the US National Park Service, and around 2 million people a year visit the site.  And it has a chamber behind the faces containing plaques with the Declaration of Independence text inscribed!

Happy Holidays!

posted by Travel Cat on Jun 5

Easter Island is a must see for anyone with a taste for something unique!

Stranded out in the Pacific Ocean just south of the Tropic of Capricorn - and around 3700km’s west of it’s mainland ‘owners’ Chile - Easter Island: Rapa Nui - sits proudly atop 3 joined volcano cones (all extinct).

This delightful island was home to an amazing but mysterious Polynesian culture who carved and mounted huge statues between 1300 to 1890 years ago according to current research, but have since died out.  Polynesian people have since repopulated the island and still live there today.

Easter Island Facts:
Technically the most remote inhabited island in the world, this tiny land mass is no longer than 25km long and around 12km wide at it’s extremities - perfect for exploring on foot, bike or horse.  The whole island is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The island has moderate weather all year although July and August are the coldest months and January to March the warmest - and hence their busiest season.  Throughout the rest of the year, you could virtually have the place to yourself!

There is only really 1 town on the whole island - and this is where everything is - so if you are planning treks, hikes and overnight camping - you had better take all your supplies with you!  And as there is only 1 town - you can be sure that that is where everyone will be for the islands’ main Tapita Rapa Nui festival through February - so book ahead to be involved in this amazing festival - or make sure you visit at another time if you want a room!

As there is virtually no large scale development here, you will experience a real feeling of community, with everyone knowing everyone else and family run businesses on every corner.  Great for getting things done out there - just ask your landlady and she will know someone who can help!

The Easter Island Statues:
These huge rock structures are the main draw of Easter Island - and when you come face to face with them you will see why.  Hand-carved and dragged across the island these massive monuments are made of solid lumps of volcanic ash and can weigh as much as 82 tonnes!

Often referred to as the ‘Easter Island Heads’, these hand-carved monuments are mostly whole bodies and torsos - very few are ‘just heads’ and some of the ‘just heads you might see are actually buried whole statues - just swallowed up by the soil moving down hill over the centuries!

The statues are called Moai, and they can be found all over the island in groups or alone, facing the sea or facing inland, with or without brightly painted eyes and clothes.  But never-the-less majestic!

Some are not even complete - they are still laying on the ground half-carved beside the very rock face they were chipped from all those years ago.  It does however give us a valuable insight into their construction.

There are 887 Moai on the island or in museums - all completely unique faces and body size - so a few days on the island will allow you to find and admire several hundred of them - and many of them are found in groups on top of platforms called Ahu and are very symbolic to the local people (so please don’t walk on them!).

What Else Is On The Island?
Well, as with any ancient culture, there are traces of the past and here that involves much stone work including caves and a variety of petrographs - images etched into the surface of important stones.

There are many other stone structures and with possible astronomical significance (although not widely accepted as such) as well as wall, graves and other archaeology.

There is hardly any wildlife mind you - with no large or even small native mammals.  Infact nearly all the animals on the island have been brought in by local people either for farming or a stowaways on boats! 

And due to the nature of the islands history (very turbulent and very tree chopping) there are no remaining endemic trees or other large vegetation - most of the trees currently on the island were only recently planted.  It is a very barren place - with no permanent streams or rivers either!

There is plenty of open space though - and some amazing and isolated sandy beaches to enjoy - with some great surf too!  But is island life for you? 

Well - you should go there for a week or 2 and find out!

posted by Travel Cat on Jan 22

Every Year there is a massive influx of millions of Monarch butterflies to certain towns in Mexico - and you could see it for yourself.

By visiting the Mexican state of Michoacan to the west of Mexico City towards the end of February, you could witness around 120 million Monarch butterflies take to the skies as they start to become active after the colder winter months.

The sky around you literally turns orange with millions of tiny wings fluttering past you in search of a tasty breakfast!

Why Here?
Every year in North America, the Monarchs react to the wetter colder climates by moving south with the sun from about August onwards, they stop over in California and Florida around October before flying to Mexico for the winter.  After a few months of inactivity in the cooler weather, they start to head back north around February/March, through the southern states for late spring, then reaching their destination in summer.

However, this migration is amazing as no one butterfly will ever make the whole round trip - only it’s offspring or even the generation after that which returns to the northern states and Canada the following summer!

Butterflies need warmth to grow and fly as they are not warm-blooded like ourselves, so if these Monarchs are going to be adults throughout the year they need to follow the sunshine to stay active - hence the migration south towards the tropics.  After all - we travel there for warmth too!

Why Visit?
Apart from the amazing sight of all these animals in the same place - their awakening coincides with the calving of Grey whales in Baja California just a bit further west again.

There are many stories of the mothers bringing their calves over to small boat so they can be petted and scratched by humans!  Strange really considering that we humans virtually wiped them out over 100 years ago!

There are hundreds of Grey whales around at this time including wandering males too!  San Ignacio Lagoon is fast becoming the best site to find ‘friendly’ whales, and offers many boat trips throughout the season specifically for this phenomenon!

Further events in Mexico include:

1st - Constitution Day - A celebration of past events - Nationwide
2nd - Candlemas - To celebrate the end of Christmas - Nationwide
10th to the 16th - Carnival - Not quite as grand as Brazil - but a great event none-the-less - Nationwide

posted by Travel Cat on Dec 5

Need a vacation right now - but can’t decide where to go?

How about choosing from one of the following destinations in North, Central and South America that are ready for you right now?  Why visit a country when it’s just being itself - why not make a trip to a country when it is at it’s best!

Angel Falls, Venezuela - All Month:
If you want to see the worlds highest waterfall at it’s best, then a trip to Canaima National Park should certainly be on your list!  Especially after the rainy season when the rivers are running at capacity!

Surrounded by massive rocky outcrops and a huge number of fabulous lower (but no less impressive) waterfalls - this will certainly turn out to be one of the most unforgettable trips you take!  Believe me, I’ve been there!

Telluride, Colorado - In The Snow:
This amazing and adventure filled winter sports resort is a great hit with the outdoor types.    Travel to the top of the Rockies to experience virtually every winter sport there is available - or just enjoy the endless views - and don’t forget your camera and woolly hat!

Caymen Islands, Caribbean - Anytime:
If you want to forget that it is winter - then head for these idyllic sandy islands - virtually all to yourself!  Whether it is diving with Stingrays, watching giant iguanas or deep sea fishing - you won’t have a care in the world once you step foot in the sand!

Williamsburg, Virginia - During Advent:
Visit this old colonial town and travel back in time- with a high street filled with history and traditional gifts.  The spirit of Christmas past is here in these streets, so be prepared to get involved in the merriment and festivities surrounded by traditional folk in costume to take you back to the past!

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - New Year:
Bigger than the Carnival in Brazil is the Reveillon - the New Year celebrations!  With a crowded Copacabana Beach and fireworks and music all night - this is certainly one of the best destinations to see in the new year if you like to party!