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Cliff Chapman
www.traveljunkies.com
Great travel deals around the world
FRASER ISLAND, 200km north of Brisbane along Queensland’s east coast, is the world’s largest sand island at 122km long and up to 25km wide.
The mangrove, wallum, and banksia forests of the west, the subtropical rainforest of the interior, freshwater lakes and and the coastal dunes and great beaches to the east, this is a trip through time.
Courtesy of Cody Forest Doucette
The desolation and stark beauty of Fraser’s eastern dunes exist only a short walk from subtropical rainforest that is teeming with life of every shade of green. One of the reasons such disparate environments exist so close to one another is the vast amount of fresh water hidden beneath the sands. Estimates vary, but it’s believed that the aquifer beneath Fraser contains around 15 million megalitres of fresh water…to put that number in perspective, the iconic Sydney Harbor, in its entirety, contains only 500,000 megalitres.
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Cliff Chapman
www.traveljunkies.com
Great travel deals around the world
Representatives of the local tourism industry said a new law in China that bans travel agencies from arranging shopping trips for tourist groups will have a short-term impact on the tourism market in Taiwan but will bring positive developments in the long run.
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Cliff Chapman
www.traveljunkies.com
Great travel deals around the world
Approximately 12 million visitors every year visit the falls to wonder at its sheer size and beauty, but what fun things can you do afterwards? While the natural wonder of Niagara Falls may be Ontario’s top tourist hotspot, there are many top attractions to explore whilst in the area which are suitable for all ages. If you are planning a trip to Ontario’s waterways this year, get the most from your stay with this quick child-focused guide to the region.
Rather than going home after your tour of the falls, you can stick around at the Niagara Falls Discovery Centre to learn more about the falls and the Niagara Gorge. Your kids will love the centre’s interactive experiences, 180 degree theatre presentation and a simulating elevator trip. Alongside a tour of the area’s natural geology, visitors can also get to grips with its hiking, walking and cycling trails at the Niagara Gorge Trail and Hike Centre. Trails include the Gorge Rim Trail and the Scenic Overlook Trail alongside four guided summer hikes which range in difficulty for ages 8 and over.
Expect more water-based, fun-filled action at the theme park and animal park, Marineland on Portage Road. In May 2013, the park opened its large gates once again to begin its 52nd year of business in Ontario. Marineland’s long list of attractions includes dolphin shows, beluga whales and Sky Screamer: the world’s highest triple tower ride. The park’s regular admission rate for ages 10 upwards is $42.96 while children under four go free. There are also campsites located nearby if you fancy a night away from Niagara Falls hotels.
While many parts of the world seem to close shop for the winter, Canadians carry on the fun throughout the season with festivals right across the country. From November 9 to January 31, 2014, the Winter Festival of Lights illuminates the Niagara Falls’ skyline with more than 3 million lights along the five kilometre route. Alongside a variety of firework shows and light displays, including Enchantment of Disney displays and World Religions displays, an outdoor ice skating rink can also be enjoyed at the TD Rink. Better still; all this can be enjoyed for a free entry price!
As the name suggests, Bird Kingdom on River Road is a young nature-lovers paradise with the world’s largest free flying aviary and more than 400 exotic birds. Reptiles, amphibians and insects can also be discovered at Bird Kingdom as well as a 40-foot waterfall and stunning tropical plants – all for a reasonable $11.95 child admission fee.
Explore Niagara and its top attractions from a new and exciting viewpoint from your very own helicopter. The highly popular Niagara Helicopters tours are the only year-round aerial attraction of its kind in the region so start booking now! The 12 minute tour, which follows the Niagara River, includes audio commentary of all the sites below in 12 different languages.
Guest post by Susan Varano
A lot of travelers and tourists put places like San Francisco or New York City on your vacation itinerary. However, few realize that some of the greatest cities are sometimes lesser-known. Take a look at these four amazing cities in North America, and perhaps consider visiting one or two of them during your next vacation.
Photo via Flickr by matt.h.wade
Sunny St. Petersburg has a lot to offer visitors. It is located on the west coast of Florida. It’s located near the famous Caladesi Beach, voted the number one beach to visit in 2008, and is one of many homes to the iconic white sand Florida beaches are known for. Fishermen will also enjoy the easy access to the Gulf of Mexico as well. After some beach and fishing fun, enjoy the museums, galleries and parks. The city is split into several cultural communities where you can visit different heritages and museums. St. Pete has great nightlife too; stop by one of the bars or clubs in the area and see what it’s all about.
Virginia is for lovers, but it’s also a great city for a quiet, relaxed getaway. Most visitors to Richmond are interested in history. Take a walk down the cobblestone streets, check out The Hanover Tavern, a popular pub during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, or visit a number of battlefields. There are many U.S. history sites within a short drive from Richmond. Don’t pass up a chance to see Monument Avenue, which is the only street on the National Register of Historic Places. The region’s largest amusement park, Kings Dominion, is also nearby. Accommodations in Richmond are budget-friendly than those in neighboring cities, and the same applies to flights. So check United Airlines for prices and enjoy all that this vibrant city has to offer.
Many people often overlook Phoenix because of its extreme temperatures during the summer months. However, visiting in the Fall or Spring might help you experience why Phoenix is such a great city to visit. There are four major sports teams, public golf courses, and colorful, ecologically diverse deserts. There are also big-name museums to visit during the day and delicious restaurants for the foodies. The Heard Museum, featuring Native American art, is in the heart of Phoenix and displays beautiful artifacts from the cities earliest residents. If you love dessert, try Sweet Republic, one of the best ice creams shops in the United States.
Ottawa is near the Quebec border and is often overlooked by tourists. However, Ottawa shouldn’t be ignored. The city is young, vibrant, clean, and friendly. Two attractions that shouldn’t be missed: take a tour of Parliament Hill and walk along the Rideau Canal. Neither of these activities will cost you a penny. You can see first-rate exhibits at the National Gallery of Canada and the Canadian Museum of Civilization. You’ll also want to shop at the lively ByWard Market.
What cities are on your next travel itinerary?
Guest post from Jennifer Gilligan
Costa Rica’s theme is “Pura Vida” or “The Pure Life” because local Costa Ricans or “Ticos” are known for their love of life and are considered to be the “Happiest” people in the world.
Costa Rica is a natural paradise with lush rain forests, active volcanoes, pristine rivers, tropical waterfalls, white sandy beaches, amazing sunsets, 20 national parks, eight biological reserves, scenic mountains and truly breathtaking beauty. Covering a land and water area of about 51,000 square kilometers, it is approximately the size of West Virginia in the United States.
Costa Rica is considered the Epicenter of Adventure of the Americas and offers unlimited opportunities to enjoy its natural playgrounds. It’s the perfect location for adventure-seekers and adrenaline Junkies to surf world-class breaks, go kayaking to deserted islands and mangroves, go whitewater rafting on raging, tropical rivers, rappel deep into the rainforest and hike to waterfalls and volcanoes and much more.
Unlike some areas of Central America, Costa Rica is a country that enjoys political and economic tranquility and has been military-free since 1948. It borders Nicaragua and Panama, and the Caribbean Sea lines the eastern coast and the Pacific Ocean forms the western edge. Over one million visitors visit each year, according to the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT).
Its tropical forests have 1500 tree species with a reported 854 species of birds, plus monkies, sloths, armadillos, wild cats like jaguars, tapirs and hundreds of beautiful butterflies.
San Jose, which sits in the Central Valley, is the bustling economic, geographical and political center of Costa Rica. It has a very pleasant climate year-round and although the city itself doesn’t offer much in terms of tourism appeal,it is in the process of vast redevelopment.
Most travelers spend very little time in the Capital and choose to explore the many unique areas and different climate zones of the country including the Northern Zone, Central Valley, North Caribbean, South Caribbean, North Pacific, Central Pacific and the South Pacific, each of which are distinct and present a variety of local micro-climates from the rain forests near the Arenal Voclano to the cloud forests of Monteverde to the gorgeous beaches on both coasts. Let us show you our favorite parts of Costa Rica!
Article from www.desafiocostarica.com
See more about the Desafio Costa Rica Adventure Company http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vC9aDy9mno
Here’s where we used to launch our jet skis for the tours around Dunk Island until Cyclone Larry wiped out the Resort in March 2006 and forced us to close our business.
South Mission Beach
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Cliff Chapman
www.traveljunkies.com
Great travel deals around the world
http://www.facebook.com/Travelzoo.UK/app_119901394861473
Cliff Chapman
www.traveljunkies.com
Great travel deals around the world
Worst holidays ever … you shouldn’t go there 🙂
Cliff Chapman
www.traveljunkies.com
Great travel deals around the world
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