The Clever Apprentice

The spectacular location of Africa known as South Luangwa has been voted the finest place to safari in Africa. The area has been celebrated in many years by the worlds most influential animal experts. British tourists might be able to observe large groups of lions as well as beautiful boars. Try a safari in Zambia with Kaingo Safaris.

The region is well known for its brilliant driving safaris and is a crowd pleaser with all UK people. The changing weather makes the area irrestible with a dry season during winter and a green beautiful jungle feel over June and July. During the changes in season the exotic animals will change giving tourists a different aspect.

Uncover the charm of Africa with a walking safari vacation and be at one with the gorgeous nature. The breathtaking rivers and tigers and lions can make folk feel alive with energy. Couples will be able to take huge amounts of photographs and take home the very best memories.

South Africa has lots of animals in its regions and British tourists might well easily find the perfect photo of a giraffe. If you are not used to a walking safari you will often go on a driving safari and admire large amounts of the country all within a short amount of time. Once you have finished your safari by day you could then go back to your apartment to have dinner. Innumerable apartments are 3 star and tremendous.

I’m not sure why on scenic train rides you can have a beer, but you can’t on a bus. In any case, this is one of the reasons to take a train ride. Another reason is that they go where the roads don’t, so you’ll see scenery you miss when driving. Trains don’t have to stop at traffic lights, and you can get up and walk around. Finally, trains are relaxing for all the reasons above AND the rythym of the rails.

Amtrak has scenic sections, and there are also numerous dinner trains operating around the United States now. However, the most scenic train rides are the classics. Below are a few to whet your appetite.

The Silverton-Durango Narrow Gage

I first caught this train far from any road. I was in the Weminuche Wilderness Area, next to a footbridge over the Animas river, where they stop if backpackers there flag them down. More recently, my wife and I took the train from Silverton to Durango. Wherever you catch this train, it will be an experience you won’t forget.

It is a classic steam locomotive that goes through Colorado’s San Juan Mountains, along the Animas river. At times you’ll look out the window, over the edge, to the water hundreds of feet below. In Silverton you can eat good food, buy souvenirs, and see an old-west mining town that hasn’t much with time.

La Nariz Del Diablo

Train rides on this line, which goes from Riobamba to Alausi, Ecuador, are scenic and adventurous. On our recent trip, my wife stayed inside, but I rode on the roof for the first half of the ride. Despite the occasional rain, there were twenty other travelers up there. I highly recommend you pay the dollar to rent a pillow to sit on. Your final destination is a valley with a view of a rock formation high above, called “La Nariz Del Diablo,” or “The Devil’s Nose.”

Be careful of tree branches if you’re on the roof, and be prepared for a five-hour ride. It starts in downtown Riobamba, in the highlands of the central Andes Mountains. You’ll travel through “cloud forests” and finally down to a much warmer climate. Interestingly, the train descends some streches of track caboose-first. There’s a lunch stop in one of the small mountain towns. When we took the train (May 2004), it was limited to 40 passengers, and tickets sold out quickly.

Agawa Canyon Railroad

One of the more scenic train rides in the north, starts and ends in Sault Saint Marie, Ontario, Canada, just over the border from Sault Saint Marie, Michigan. It’s an all-day trip that goes through a rocky and heavily-wooded wilderness, along the Agawa River, to Agawa Canyon. At the canyon, you can have a picnic in a beautiful meadow, or just relax and enjoy the scenery, before reboarding for the return trip.

Autumn, when the maples have all changed color, is the most beautiful time to take the train. It’s also the most difficult time to get tickets, so plan far ahead. The route is also run as the scenic “Snow Train,” in winter.

The Thunder Mountain Line

Thunder Mountain Line has scenic train rides that take several routes in Idaho, starting from Horseshoe Bend and Cascade. Depending on the route you choose, you’ll travel through dramatic narrow canyons, sagebrush-covered hills, mountain meadows, or pristine evergreen forests. The tracks follow the mountain trails settlers used a hundred years before. You may see deer, fox, elk, blue herons, osprey, and bald eagles. Rides vary from three to five hours, depending on the route.

Amtrak’s Scenic Train Rides

The California Zephyr, Amtrak’s train from Chicago to San Francisco, passes through the Rocky Mountains and the more beautiful (in my opinion) Sierra Nevadas. The Coast Starlight goes from Seattle to Los Angeles, with views of snow-covered mountains, thick forests, and long stretches of Pacific Ocean shoreline. Amtrak’s Auto Train is a unique scenic train ride that allows you to take your car with you from Lorton, Viginia, to Florida.

Steve Gillman hit the road at sixteen, and traveled the U.S. and Mexico alone at 17. Now 40, he travels with his wife Ana, whom he met in Ecuador. To read their stories, tips and travel information, visit: http://www.EverythingAboutTravel.com

Windsor Castle is one of the largest occupied castles around at this moment in time and the eldest in nonstop inhabitation (about nine hundred years). It is 1 of Queen Elizabeth’s 3 authorised homes, & is over and over again said to be the Queens most treasured home. The Royal flag soars above the Round Tower of Windsor Castle whilst Queen Elizabeth is in residence - at alternative occasions, the Union Jack flag flies as normal. Whilst on holiday in England why not visit Windsor Castle one of Queen Elizabeth?s Royal residences.

Samuel Pepys mentioned Windsor Castle to be “the single most loving castle in the world.” That was stated in sixteen sixty six & the comparable can be said today.

Windsor Castle Thrilling History:

The opening of Windsor can be found lying in the early seventh century Saxon hamlet of Windlesora, where the modern day dwellings of Old Windsor can be located. The town of Windsor is more commonly identified as “New Windsor” - the actual phrase “new” being taken in a strictly loose sense!

Windsor Castle at the outset was put together by the famed William the Conqueror, on account of his attack of England in ten-sixty-six. The original construction was put together from timber with mud defences. Palace held an obvious strategic location on a steep hill above the River Thames, & was a division of a set of fortresses in the region London, with the Tower of London, one whole days march away, at its core.

The Castle was then later remade in stone, & rose in importance during the centuries. Henry the 2nd built the Round Tower & the original stone outer wall. After the English Civil War, the structure’s prime role became that of a royal residence. The Castle has remained essentially unbothered ever since the beginning of the 19th century, apart from the refurbishment job right after the tragic fire in 1992.

London has several of the finest museums on the whole planet in reality it has tens of hundreds of museums and exhibitions equally huge & little. There are bags to elect from nonetheless for obvious reasons particular are more popular than others. A number of the best London museums to visit are the British Museum, Natural History and Science Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, Imperial War Museum & the National Maritime Museum.

The British Museum has in recent times opened yet again, but with an extensive fix up and is normally seen as being the best museum in the world where three-thousand year old Egyptian emperors have a more action packed spirit world than they had ever expected. To be found in Central London this is without a doubt one of the major museums in London to take your children to. There are numerous of colourful collections and corridors to view, some that comprises the reading room and the new African collection, which has been said to be the planet’s largest & most excellent in terms of choice and quality with more than 200,000 objects. Check out Time Out today for the latest information on London’s Museums and Attractions.

The Natural History and Science Museums are right for both teenagers & grown ups. The Natural History Museum structure is great and any dinosaur admirer will just want to get lost in the total history that goes with this fantastic museum.

The Science Museum is astounding, very fast in regards of when historic breakthroughs are made. There are a selection of scientists on hand preparing genuine research in which you can take part in if you fancy. There are various thrilling hands on things to do for either youth & adults.

The Victoria & Albert museum also more generally identified as the V&A is a huge museum filled with culture. It is worth a trip just for the cast quarters alone. The museum itself is free to go in & is the world’s leading decorative & arts and design museum. The Imperial War Museum looks a lot at the experience of the imperial world war rather than its prosecution. Some specific displays like that of the “The Blitz” & “The Holocaust” are very poignant.

For several years now, we have had a Christmas Eve/Christmas Morning tradition that we all get a kick out of.

The Christmas Eve part

Once the kids are in bed, and forbidden from leaving their rooms, we haul out all the stuff we have been hiding all year. We are one of those strange families that shop for Christmas all year long and avoid the last minute craziness. After all, Christmas is the same day every year.

We do not wrap stuff. Once we haul out all the stuff, we take out what needs to be taken out of boxes, and I put together what needs to be put together.

We then set up a display of all the gifts for each kid. We really get into how to set everything up for the best Christmas morning presentation.

This usually takes about half an hour to 45 minutes on a good night. On a bad night, it can take much longer. One year it took us about an hour and a half to correctly put together a miniature replica of the Genosian Arena from the second Star Wars movie. Give me a bike to put together any day!

The Christmas morning part

Another strict rule is you cannot leave your room to wake us up until 7 AM. Then we make sure it is all set, cameras ready and video rolling, and we invite the kids into the great room.

The cheers and smiles and hugs are worth all the late night set up, ad then some!

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Just what possessed inn- keepers Tom and Marcey White to move from Texas to Bethel, Maine in order to open a most unique inn, A Prodigal Inn & Gallery, is the question I had recently posed to this charming couple.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Bethel, this tiny village is located in the western mountains of Maine 70 miles from Portland. Since its settlement in 1768, its population at approximately 2360, including the surrounding school district communities, has remained quite stable. However, during the peak seasons it swells to about 6000.

What is noteworthy about this scenic area in the heart of Western Maine is its convenient location to the popular Sunday River Ski Resort, as well as snowmobiling, hunting, tubing, snowboarding, fishing, hiking, antiquing, kayaking, canoeing, golfing, historical research, and not to forget the brilliance of the fall foliage.

Marcey indicated to me that when she and Tom moved to Maine, they were trying to find a way whereby Tom could leave the construction/carpentry field and concentrate solely on his art career. Apparently, about ten years ago Tom discovered that he had an innate artistic talent for sculpting and painting. Quite amazing is that Tom is a self taught artist- hardly having taken a lesson! Their objective was to find a property that would permit them to have an inn and at the same time a place to display Tom’s art- work.

The result was the purchasing of an 1813 historic property that Tom unbelievably single- handed renovated into a magnificent inn with an adjacent art studio. Previous to running the inn, Marcey had experience in the food and service industries and thus she was able to easily transfer her skills.

The inn’s most unusual name is patterned after the parable of the Prodigal Son and Tom’s exquisite bronze sculpture reflects its message. It is the hope of the innkeepers that guests will experience the same welcome as depicted in the sculpture and story.

Initially, the property had been owned by one of the founding fathers of Bethel, the Twitchell family, who had been proprietors for about 150 years. For twenty years previous to Marcey and Tom’s ownership, the inn had been billed as the first Bed and Breakfast in Western Maine. However, it had only consisted of six rooms with one shared bath and kitchen privileges. Today, the inn’s six rooms deserve top marks for their spaciousness and tasteful decor, each having their own private bathrooms, and some even with Jacuzzis tubs. Rooms are named after the innkeepers’ children and a grandchild. According to Marcey, she adopted the personalities of each of them to reflect their favorite colors.

Prevalent throughout the inn is its peace and calmness. We also found the rooms devoid of uniformity and exuding a great deal of warmth and elegance.

Entering the inn’s living room, we were immediately taken in by Tom’s original one-of-a kind bronze sculptures. Marcey indicated to us that guests are invited to watch this “world- class sculptor” as he goes about creating his magnificent works of art. It did not take us very long to take her up on the offer and we visited the adjacent studio that is set up in an adjacent renovated barn.

No doubt, Tom’s artistic inspiration has been enhanced by the spectacular scenery surrounding the inn with its meadows, nearby rivers and ponds, (the inn is across from the Androscoggin River), and mountains. It is also little wonder why this inn has proven to be popular for couples celebrating intimate weddings in the gazebo located within the inn’s stunning perennial gardens.

Incidentally, leading to the inn’s front door are private hiking trails and there is access to cross-country and snowmobile systems.

During the fall foliage and winter seasons, when the weather becomes a little nippy, there is nothing that can beat sitting in front of the inn’s wood- burning fireplace enjoying afternoon tea and delicious cookies that Marcey prepares and sets out for her guests. When the weather permits, you can sit out in the garden Gazebo after an exhilarating walk in the woods and perhaps spot a deer or pick berries.

Marcey serves a scrumptious breakfast in the dining room with a wide assortment of goodies from juices, cereals, breads, eggs, to practically anything you palette may desire.

ROMANTIC DINING

Through our travels, my wife and I have noticed that every town has one restaurant that is considered by the town’s people to be “a cut above” the others. Such is the case of one of Bethel’s choice dining establishments, The Sudbury Inn. The restaurant is housed in an inn dating back to around 1873.

You know you are in for a real treat when you look at the menu with its myriad of choices from Veal Picatta, Sole Florentine, Chicken Sicilian, Maine Boiled Lobster, Red Snapper al Pomodro to Beef Tournedos.

Owners Bill and Nancy White have built their reputations by providing the best personal service possible combined with a creative menu.

Another choice of Bethel’s residents is The Bethel Inn & Country Club where after a round of golf you can indulge yourself in lunch or dinner served in the club’s dining room.

Norm and Lily Goldman are a unique husband and wife team, writer and water colorist, who write and paint about romantic destinations. Basically, they meld art and words to create an unusual travel story, which generates interest, particularly because of the fact that each painting appears to have been ‘custom made’ for the story - original story and original art.

About the author:

Norm and Lily Goldman are a unique husband and wife team, writer and water colorist, who write and paint about romantic destinations. Basically, they meld art and words to create an unusual travel story, which generates interest, particularly because of the fact that each painting appears to have been ‘custom made’ for the story - original story and original art. Norm and Lily have collaborated with several Convention Bureaus and Public Relations Companies visiting many romantic travel destinations, resorts and inns throughout the New England States and Florida. You can view all of their articles and art work at http://www.sketchandtravel.com

Please click here for more bed & breakfast information.

When you choose to travel, you take the risk of lost luggage,
flight cancellations, reservation cancellations, theft and many
other situations which may cause anxiety. Planning a vacation is
stressful enough without having to worry about something going
horribly wrong. Purchasing travel
insurance will ensure that you are compensated if anything
goes wrong on your trip. When trying to determine whether or not
to purchase travel insurance, keep in mind the points listed
below which may make your decision much easier.

Many forms of travel insurance will cover you in the following
areas:

1.Medical Emergencies - Travel insurance will provide you with
financial help should you encounter a medical emergency while
traveling. If you become ill or are injured while on vacation,
your travel insurance will provide you coverage in both
situations.

2.Cancellations or Delays - If for any reason (beyond your
control) your trip is cancelled or delayed your travel insurance
will provide you with financial coverage. This includes coverage
if your airline goes bankrupt or out of service. Your travel
insurance will either compensate you for the money you lost or
provide you with new means of transportation.

3.Theft - If anything belonging to you is stolen while you are
on vacation, your travel insurance will provide you with
financial assistance to replace the items which were stolen.

4.Damage or Loss of Personal Property - This is likely to happen
while on vacation. If your luggage is lost or damaged while on
vacation, your travel insurance will definitely cover at least
some percentage of the property that is missing. Depending on
the insurance plan, it may financially cover all the items that
are missing.

5.Lost Passport - If you lose your passport or it is stolen
while you are on vacation, travel insurance will provide you
with the means to get a temporary one. Your travel insurance
company will inform you on how to get in contact with your
country embassy so that you can arrange to receive a temporary
passport.

Depending on the insurance plan you choose, you may be fully or
partially covered in the areas listed above. Choose your policy
according to what you think the possibility will be that you
will require the assistance on your trip.

For many vacationers, travel
insurance eliminates any worry that an unforeseen
circumstance may arise in which you do not have the money or
means to take care of.

Travel insurance helps you relax and enjoy your trip without
agonizing over things that may or may not go wrong. Relaxing and
enjoying? Isn’t that why you planned the vacation in the first
place?

Everybody knows how dull life would be without all the fun, games, food and decorations of holiday celebrations. Holidays are also the only time when old friends and families can get together for dinner or a day out. Take for example, if you had been away from home for a long time, you’d surely want to go home for Thanksgiving Day or Christmas. Holiday celebrations are also a way of recognizing and celebrating our culture and heritage. For instance, people around the world celebrate their independence days to remind themselves of the glorious day when they became a free people. Therefore, Holiday celebrations bring joy, rest and comfort to many people.

Holiday parties can be fun but planning and organizing, and ordering supplies can be a headache if you are not organized. This is because a holiday party requires a lot of food, drinks and decorations that require advanced planning. Make a list of all the supplies you will need for the occasion and make sure everything’s in order before the party. For example, if you’re planning to throw a Halloween party, make sure you have all the necessary props like tombstones, cobwebs, pumpkin heads etc. For a Holiday party, order food that are not too expensive but make it tasty with a variety. As for music, get CDs that go well along with the spirit of the holiday.

Holiday party games are a fun way to keep the guests entertained. Lots of free party games are available online. Take traditional party games and convert them into the holiday theme. For example, musical chairs can be played to Hanukkah music. And, Pin the Tail on the donkey can be altered to pin the red nose on Rudolph.

Holiday party decorations should follow a theme and match from beginning to end. The party invitations set the tone of the event as to whether it is fancy or casual. The colors used in the invitation should match the party decorations, party supplies centerpieces and party favors. Carefully thought should be taken when purchasing the party favors. Personalized party favors create a lasting memento of the festivities.

The Holiday’s history is an educational way to celebrate at the party. The history gives more meaning to the event and reminds us of why we celebrate. Fun interesting activities can easily be incorporated into the celebration. For example, a Thanksgiving coloring placemat with an interesting fact would help to keep the kids busy. So think outside of the box and be creative!

Mrs. Party… Gail Leino is the internet’s leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies, using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. Check out a nice selection of free party games.