Ultimate Vacation Spots

posted by Travel Cat on Oct 10

Paying for parking can really make a difference to a day out if you don’t plan ahead, but sometimes paying up is just the easiest thing to do!

When you need to get a particular place, or you have a family – parking as close to your destination as possible can make all the difference when planning a day out.  Otherwise, you know there will be tears!

So lets have a look at the options available to you – so you can plan your day out in advance for the best set-up for you!

Included Parking:
Many Theme Parks have parking included in the price for visitors – and these are the best ones for a simple family day out.

Yes, you are still ‘paying’ for the carpark in the sense that you ticket price will have taken this into account – but you can turn up at Theme Park A in the car – with all your family and accoutrement’s – with no worry about having the right change, queueing at a booth behind someone who hasn’t got the right change, or feeling really annoyed at the extra cost added on to your day!

However, sometimes the benefit outweigh the cost as many larger car parks include transfer buses, refreshments and quite importantly; security features!

Nearby Parking:
If the place you are visiting doesn’t include it’s own parking – then you have a choice or 2 to consider before setting out on your journey.

1) Park in their car park anyway for ease of entry – and pay whatever they ask.
2) Park offsite at the next cheapest place – but close enough to walk there.
3) Park at the closest free/cheap carpark – and pay for public transport.

It is worth considering each one not only on price – but also on ease of getting to your destination.

I would imagine if you had elderly relatives or very young children with your party – or lots of things to bring along with you like prams, lunches, extra clothes, nappies, toys, scooters, etc – then the 10 minutes walk across a freeway and past some stores might not sound too appealing – and don’t forget that there is the walk back to the car afterwards when you are all tired to consider as well!

Public Transport:
This is the perfect option for couples, or families with older children, as you have less to fuss about, and can usually arrive right on site without too much effort.  And some events offer discounted entry for those arriving by train, bus or bike!

However, the cost of this ‘easy’ option can sometimes be far more than paying for the car park anyway.  I mean each person is charged for getting on the bus – but you only pay 1 fee for the car park.  Yes, you will be crammed in with another 1000 cars and maybe have to queue up to get in and out – but you can bring more stuff with you if you want – and come back to the car to get lunch or different clothing if the weather changes.

Coming by train or bus means you have to wear all your clothes and carry all your food – something that will not appeal too much to larger families for sure!

Eco Friendly Or Just Easy!
Unfortunately, the answer to that is not as easy as you might think!

Yes, of course everyone driving to a theme park in the middle of nowhere can’t be that good for the environment – but if you only get a few days off in the year where all the family can get together – then do you want to waste it walking miles to save money, while carrying a huge amount of ‘stuff’ to make the day fun!

I mean, on your only weekend off with the folks, do you want to carry your raincoat around all day (incase it rains) along with a huge rucksack or holdall filled with food and drink as well as all the extras and take 3 times as long to get there by public transport?

I didn’t think so!  But I suppose that the more people you take with you in each car as well as making your own lunch and bringing extra stuff – the more eco friendly you become!  You won’t be driving with empty seats; buying take-out over-packaged food or buying over-priced and individually wrapped novelty rain macs or medicines and band-aids!

posted by Travel Cat on Sep 17

Watch Water Come Crashing Down All Around You!

Here is a little article for you to think about if you want to clock up a visit to the top 5 tallest permanent waterfalls in the world!

Everyone chases something around the world, whether it’s countries, football stadiums or hunting for wild animals!

So why not clock up some great water features on your holidays.  Travelling to the 4 countries that host these magnificent natural features will be an adventure in itself – and the landscapes that host these wetland wonders!

So, lets get started with some details about each of them!

1) Angel Falls – Venezuela.
Currently undergoing a name change back to it’s original name of Kerepakupai vena (meaning waterfall of the deepest place), this is currently the worlds tallest waterfall!

It really is beautiful and in the most strangest of environments!  Basically, there is a group of protruding land-masses rising out of the ground and this waterfall sprouts off the top of one of them. 

Even in the dry season there is still plenty to see as this landscape is filled with strange rock formations, many other waterfalls and its own weather patterns.  I’ve been there – I know!

And if you get the right pilot – you can fly right off the edge of the falls and down over the side!  Not for the faint hearted!

2) Tugela – South Africa
This second-place water feature plummets over rock formations in Natal National Park over Dragons Mountains!

You can follow 1 of 2 trails in the mountains around the falls to get a view from all angles – but this can take you around 8 hours round-trip and although not too difficult, will not be suitable for everyone.

This feature is best viewed in or after heavy rain due to the impressive width at that point.  In the dry season (much like Angel) the water can sometimes be so limited that it all evaporates in the air before reaching the bottom.

3) Utigord – Norway
Travel to the Nesdale region of this colder climate to view number 3 here – however its local name (Ramnefjellsfossen) isn’t so easy flowing!

This falls is fed by a local glacier and heads down into a beautiful lake – and can be seen from quite some distance (unlike Angel Falls which is quite enclosed and shrouded in clouds!)  You can approach it by boat, road or on foot for a great day to remember!

4) Mongefossen – Norway
Staying in the same country – the Monge Falls are apparently the tallest falls to be seen from a train station – which is certainly a weird thing to imagine!

However, this waterway has been harnessed for hydro-electric power (unlike Utigord) so the flow in peak rainfall is not as impressive as it used to be as the water is diverted off into channels way up high!

5) Mutarazi – Zimbabwe
And finally on our list is the 50 feet wide flow of this African waterfall in Nyanga National Park.

February to April is the best time to see this flow – but don’t forget that this one is only the 17th tallest waterfall if you count the falls that only have water in them for part of the year.  There are plenty in North America, South America and even 1 one New Zealand to visit if you want to really get addicted!

Don’t forget to take a picture of each one!

posted by Travel Cat on Sep 10

It has started raining here in the UK – so it must be the end of Summer!

We still have some great articles though – as it’s still warm and sunny almost everywhere else in the world I suppose!

Lets open up with a nice one that is great at any time of year – but especially when you don’t really want to go outside: so take a peak at Erin Lenderts 50+ Beautiful & Inspiring Books that Teachers Should Read This Summer to kick off!

If you still have the summer parties or birthdays/Halloween to consider, then maybe take some advice from Debra Jacobson who has strung together some great tips on How To Be Frugal: Saving on Child Entertainment.  And if saving money is your thing, then you may also find MoneyedUp’s article on Things to do on Vacation for Cheap if you have a trip already booked.

Then there are these 4 great articles about real trips that you have been on with your kids – as always with some great shots along the way! 

First up is Pamela with her interesting take on a trip to a Disney theme park with California Adventure, followed by Charla Pearen’s article with a ‘more pictures than words’ theme in High Park Home Daycare: Taking a Toddler to Paris.

And then One Family offers a short story on a day out hiking at a tourist spot in One Family’s Blog: Hiking in Oahu – A Trip Report and ending with a regular poster here with a though provoking article on overseas ‘petting’ zoo’s: A Tiger Petting Zoo « Travels with a Nine Year Old from Theodora.

See you in October!

posted by Travel Cat on Aug 10

Take a visit to the historic, sun-blessed and beautiful sandy-beached Hilton Head Island!

If you fancy a vacation with difference – then consider this pretty little island in the very south of South Carolina on the Atlantic coast.  Whether you want to explore the extensive sand dunes and wetlands, play on some of the internationally famous golf courses (the PGA stop of Verizon Heritage) - or to just relax in a great rental and watch the sun set over the waters – try out this location for size!

And with a nickname of ‘Sun City’ you couldn’t want for a better location to spend your well earned vacation!

The Destination:
On the Eastern Seaboard – this historic location has over 19 kms of beach and tribes on indigenous peoples and their culture.  It is also a popular tourist location and so has all the modern trappings that a vacationer needs – but still in relative peace and quiet!

This location has very ‘eco friendly’ design plans where buildings have to be built around existing trees rather than bulldozing them down!  More than 70% of the housing here is in gated communities – including the many Hilton Head vacation rentals that you may be tempted into hiring for your vacation!

With pools, security, delightful tree cover and access to beaches in all directions – this place has it all!

And there is more would you believe it?  There is a full size choral society, a symphony orchestra and a Broadway-Quality plays throughout the year!  Add this to the famous golf courses and tennis championships and the huge wine-tasting events – and what more could you ask for?

Making Plans:
This island getaway is certainly a popular location – so make sure that you plan in advance if you want a certain rental.  Some are on the beach, some facing inland and others surrounded by trees – so depending on what you want from your vacation – it wouldn’t be a bad idea to do some research into what is out there.

Also, it’s worth knowing whether you are within walking distance of certain activities or locations that you know you want to visit – like shopping centers, theatres or fishing harbours – thus helping to save on travel costs once you arrive!

It’s also worth knowing a bit about the history of the island before setting off as well – as Hilton Head certainly has a long a varied history, from it’s first discovery, through to its uses over the past few hundred years and all it’s remaining historical buildings and trees that line the streets across the city.

I found a great site that details all the information you are going to need for planning your trip here – including details about vacation rentals.  It’s easy to use and is packed full of information about costs, dates, activites, golf courses and some perfect beach front properties – you just need to filter your searches and they could help you find the ideal location for you and your family at the right price!

So, just click on one of the links in this post to take you to the best place to start in your vacation search in Hilton Head.

Hope you enjoy yourself there!

posted by Travel Cat on Aug 5

If you want to visit the ultimate waterfall in the Americas – it has to be Niagara Falls!

For sheer scale – this falls is some place you need to visit – like the other 28 million visitors that travel to this amazing site!  It has size, it has width - and it has some of the greatest tourist facilities out there!

Unlike Angel Falls and Iguazu Falls – where you have to trek for hours to get there and then only stay for about 60 minutes – you can get a hotel room right on top of Niagara Falls! 

If you choose the right Niagara Falls hotel – and there are many out there - you can see the whole promenade area lit up with viewpoints, restaurants and bars and other tourist attractions – all from your balcony!

Although you might not want to tumble over the top in a barrel and fall around 50 meters to it’s base – you can certainly catch a boat ride into the mist that shrouds the base of the falls – and hear close up the thundering water travelling from Lake Erie to the Atlantic Ocean!

Facts About Niagara Falls:
Niagara is actually the name of the river that runs here – not the waterfall.  The actual waterfalls (there are 3 of them) have different names:  The largest is the Horseshoe Falls, and the smaller part the other side of Goat Island is called American Falls.  A much smaller waterfall the other side of Luna Island on the American side, is the Bridal Veil Falls!

Over 6 million cubic feet of water fall over the crest of the falls EVERY MINUTE during wet weather – on an average day it is still around 4 million!

Due to this power, the falls have actually retreated just under 7 miles in documented history, and have even changed shape along the way!  It was much straighter to begin, then curved and is now a strong ’horseshoe’ shape (hence the name of that larger part).  Engineering works have slowed the rate of retreat today and have managed to prevent it’s erosion from altering the falls – or the site itself!

The Niagara Falls Area:
When you take a trip here, there is plenty to see and do.  Whether you just soak up the atmosphere in a first class hotel overlooking the crashing falls, take a boat ride, wander the streets at night with the falls lit up in amazing colors, eat out in style, or even pop into the Fallsview Casino for a great night out – there is a whole town set up here to cater for your every need!

The Niagara falls area is now so popular with guests that a whole economy has sprung up to cater for it’s visitors demands.  There are top quality golf courses, helicopter rides, shows, entertainment, casinos, day trips and horseback riding all within a few minutes of the center.

There are also natural beauties to go see including the Cave of Winds, where you take an elevator down to beneath Bridal Falls and go on a walk around passages that create hurricane force winds beneath the falls.  There are view points all over both sides and on the islands between the falls too – as well as behind the falls through rock openings!

Viewing Niagara Falls is perfect in any weather – maybe you catch it shrouded in a rising mist in the early hours, or reflecting moonlight on a full moon – or even surrounded by blankets of snow in the winter!

So, get online and book yourself some great Niagara Falls deals for your weekend vacation this year – and next! 

You won’t regret it!