Ultimate Vacation Spots

posted by Travel Cat on Mar 24

Travel to the Capital of Scotland to see the secret side of the city - and some of it is underground!

 If you are looking to visit a great city but without all the hassle of getting around London or New York, then why not try Edinburgh (pronounced Ed-in-bra) in the south-east of Scotland.

You must have heard of Edinburgh Castle and the Military Tattoo - but what about some of the less visited sites there too? Many of them are free and you can stay as long or as little as you like!

Be aware though, that this city is the most hilly place I have been to since visiting the Monte Verde mountains or Costa Rica!  If you don’t like walking up and down steep hills or skipping up and down endless flights of stairs, then maybe stay home!

1) The Leith River Footpath.
This delightful stroll will take you along the short river that winds around the western edge of the city.  In the summer it is bursting with wild flowers and trees in bloom - and you may even see a kingfisher along the way!  The path is interrupted at many points by alternative cycleways and footpaths, as well as museums, houses and great architecture.

2) The Royal Botanical Gardens.
A short walk north from the city (and along the top part of the Leith river if you want) is the well proportioned botanical gardens - an oasis of peace.  The rock gardens are delightful and seemingly endless, and you are allowed to climbs all over the rockeries!  You can also visit one of the oldest palm houses in the UK, see a heron eating a frog (!) from the Chinese pagoda as well as visit a small aquarium!

3) Step Back In Time.
There are plenty of houses open to the public in Charlotte Square to the very west of the New Town.  They have been restored to how they would have looked when the area was first built, and how society has changed since then.  Step down into the servant quarters and see how dingy their lives were, or read the magnified newspaper of the past centuries when dentists offer to come to your home and ‘painlessly’ extract your teeth!

4) Sit In The ‘CessPit’ Park.
I know it doesn’t sound that nice, but these days the quiet park directly below the Castle to the north is a haven for tourists.  Sitting here, you can look up towards the bastions of the great castle and admire the local church - but in Edinburgh’s hey-day, this was a marshy wetland where all the city’s waste (including toilet waste) was flushed down into.  It’s no wonder it is so fertile and green these days!

5) Museum Of Childhood.
Definitely have a peak in here - and it’s free! It’s got little to do with the history of the city, but it’s great fun to have a look around for your own sake! Just be warned that there is a room completely filled with (scary) dolls and clowns!

See you soon for Part II

posted by Travel Cat on Mar 10

Spring has finally arrived - with birds, plants and insects all over the place!

I have seen some peacock butterflies bathing in the sunshine, crocuses bursting open all over the place and even daffodils peeking out!  What a great time to get your kids outside and help them explore their surroundings!

Although this is nature of a different sort, this is a lovely story of bringing history to life. Read Dee Andrews enjoyable story of a day out in history with Pompeii Through the Eyes of a Child.

Following this, here is another great story about kids on vacation with MummyT as she cross South-east Asia with here 9-year-old Virachey National Park.

And someone else already out there with the family - this time they are enjoying New York - so join Jennifer Miner for a personal run down of her Best NYC Things to Do with Kids

And finally, here is a really disgruntled blogger who had terrible trouble while traveling with her kids - check out Sierra Black article advising: Flying with Kids? Beware! and get active yourself when problems arise!

So, if you are heading off beware, and be prepared - and make sure you avoid problems by careful planning.

posted by Travel Cat on Feb 24

Before rushing off to book that equine adventure - make your checks!

It’s not so simple to just book yourself onto a week long horse adventure without a care in the world - it’s not like a normal all inclusive, although your food will normally be included here too.

So, here’s a few things to consider before making that booking:

Are You Insured?
Check you holiday insurance details before you make a booking just incase your full trip or part of your intended journey isn’t covered.

A short ride along a beach is probably ok for most; but 4 days trekking through the Andes or wandering across the Sahara for a week might not be a sure thing!

Are They Insured?
And, are you liable for any injuries to the horse or pony while you are riding it? 

And what if the horse you are given for the ride becomes unsuitable for riding - do they have to supply another one for you?  Make sure you know before you go!

The last thing you need is an extra bill at the end of the trip - or a few days riding missed as they have no backup plan!

Are You Ready?
Just because you love horses and riding, is that enough to think that you can sit on one for several hours a day, and for several days in a row?

Sitting in the saddle for a 2 hr trek seems fine - but what about 6 hours at a time - day after day?

And 6 hours of riding can be very tiring for someone who isn’t used to it - and what about all that cantering across huge fields and along beaches.  Can you keep up?

Are You Dressed?
You need to find out what equine equipment is available to you, or whether you should bring your own - or whether you are allowed to bring your own.

For example, it is always advised that you bring your own hat as you cannot guarantee that those supplied (if any) are up to your own countries safety standards, and that they even fit you!  A riding center can’t supply several of every sized riding hat in case you turn up with your very small head!  And a wrong sized hat will not do the best job in terms of your safety.

Some centres might like you to bring your own gloves and boots, but can you use a crop, spurs or other preferred equipment?  You need to find out the stables policy on anything you like to use when riding to see if it all adds up.

Are You Hungry?
Most all inclusive and full board vacation packages supply vegetarian options or have buffet meals to give you the freedom of choice - but vegans, celiacs and any other allergy sufferers might have trouble unless they plan for this in advance.

By making your food preferences known before booking or as soon as possible afterwards you will find that you will be eating without any problems.  I mean the last thing you need on an active holiday is to go hungry!

Are You Alone?
Many activity holidays share accommodation, rather than give single rooms to everyone.  Some times they are 2-shares but sometimes depending on the age of the group, you may all share bunks in the same room!

If you want your own space in the evenings check that there is the opportunity for this on your trip.  If it is in a remote location this might not be possible - so do this before you book anything!

Are You Still Up For It?  Then get that vacation booked!
 

posted by Travel Cat on Feb 10

Well, it has certainly been a very cold month here and across many countries - so what can we offer to numb the cold!

And as if the cold wasn’t enough to worry about - what if you have a small baby too?  So, if you are planning a trip with your young baby but aren’t sure if you could cope, then take a look at Emily’s short introduction on Traveling With a Baby, and see if you feel better about travel after reading it.

Next we have some light-hearted list of ideas to fill those short vacations, staycations, bank holidays, weekends and every other afternoon if you and your family are bored! So here’s Emily Moser with her list of 100 Painless Resolutions for a Healthier, Happier, Fitter New Year!

And if you want an unhealthy money-wasting but possibly fun day out - then have a look at Carl’s article discussing World’s Largest Entertainment McDonald’s and PlayPlace! wit some great pictures!

Maybe after a complete spring clean and de-junk you are looking to have a yard sale or a car-boot sale to boost funds and entertain the kids for the day - so take a look at some tips for getting out there for the day with Top Tips For Your Car Boot Sale.

And finally, an article filled with things kids do that make us laugh - although the first picture isn’t suitable for kids to look at really!  So, have a look at what witty jester has to offer in Kids Will Be Kids - I bet you read them all like I just did!

Enjoy……

posted by Travel Cat on Feb 4

Regardless of whether you have breakdown recovery - you need to check your own car!

Yes, they will come and help you out of a sticky spot if you break down or get a flat tire, but they can’t help you see that car behind you, or make your seat-belt save your life in an accident!

This means that there are certain things that you should check yourself before heading off on your vacation in your car, van, or RV.

Obviously, making sure that you have enough ’spares’ can go a long way to keeping you on the road as well - so a set of spare bulbs, a roadworthy spare tire and the jack to help change it, a warning triangle, spare gas, spare oil and water all in suitable containers and blankets and waterproof clothes just in case!

But the list below is for those little things that only take a second to check for yourself, giving you time to put them right before heading off:

Tires:
Make sure that they all have a decent depth of tread on all used and spare tires and that they are fully inflated to the recommended pressure.

Lights:
Check that they are all working as they should when it’s not sunny - whether this means getting a friend to stand outside and watch them all be checked, or reversing up to a window in the evening and checking them yourself: front and back!

Windscreen:
Any cracks or chips in the front windscreen should be treated by an expert to make srue that they stay the same size!  Untreated cracks and chips can easily spread at any time into something that makes seeing out of the front window impossible and/or dangerous.

Getting a chip fixed is usually free with your insurance - but a new windscreen isn’t!

Your window-washing liquid and wipers should be checked too as they can make driving impossible under some conditions.  My windscreen got totally covered in road grit during a cold spell, and it didn’t seen a problem until I turned a corner into bright sunshine - I couldn’t see a thing - not a thing: then I found out that my windscreen water was empty and I literally had to put on my hazard lights and stop there and then, right in the middle of the road!

Seat Belts:
Make sure that all your seat-belts work properly even if you are not intending to use them, as you never know when you will need them - and you could be very far from a garage!  And of course, seat-belts are a way of saving lives - so your friends and family will be a lot safer with them working correctly.

Doors & Windows:
For your own safety and comfort, you should make sure that all doors and windows work correctly as you never know when you need to get out of the car quickly and when you might need to open your windows.

Both have happened to me, as my drivers door was being fixed over a period of a few days as the electric windows had stopped working.  Then I pulled up at a busy motorway toll booth!  I had to get out of the car using the passenger door (!) and walk all the way around front of the car to pay the cashier, then walk all the way back around with more than 5 cars I could see watching me!

I will certainly make sure that never happens again!