Archive for September, 2010
Tips For Barcelona Vacation
Dear readers, today we give you a guide to what to do, what sights to see what to experience and choosing Barcelona holiday accommodation. As a first time visitor to Barcelona you will have lots of questions about how to have a successful Barcelona vacation. You’d want to know how to find good value for money accommodation, tips on transportation, what are the most interesting sights and what more to see of Catalonia beyond the city boarders.
Benvinguts a Barcelona!
Arriving in Barcelona by plane you’ll be landing at either Barcelona’s international airport El Prat, or if you have chosen a low-fare airline you’re likely to arrive in Girona. From El Prat you can take the train to the city center, ut it is quite a walk to the station (depending on your terminal) and it only runs every 30 min. Travelers are better off taking the airport bus just outside the terminals (every 10 min), or if carrying a lot of luggage take a cab that’ll take you to the city in 20 min. costing about 25-30 euros. From the Girona airport there is basically just one option, the bus which will take you to Estacio Nord. From here you’ll get anywhere in central Barcelona in a short ride in a taxi or by metro.
Holiday Accommodation in Barcelona
Now, deciding where to stay in Barcelona there are the usual three possibilities: hotels, hostels or Barcelona holiday apartments. When traveling in a group (three or more) the third option is the preferred one. This accommodation choice will provide you with a memorable stay in a central location with all the comforts of home. Renting Barcelona vacation apartments will also mean choosing the budget alternative, and even couples can find good deals for studios.
Top 10 Barcelona Tourist Attractions
1.La Sagrada Familia – Go to marvel at the unfinished vision of Catalan master architect Antoni Gaudi. It has been under construction for more than 125 years. There is nothing like it anywhere else in the world! Metro “La Sagrada Familia” 2.Camp Nou – The FC Barcelona football stadium, seating almost 100.000 spectators, it is the biggest in Europe and watching a match here is a thrill, even if you are not the biggest football (soccer) fan. Metro ” Les Corts” 3.Las Ramblas – The street that is the “heart of the city”, a stroll down this dry river bed is a must for all visitors. Metro “Plaza Catalunya” 4.Museu Picasso – The great painter genius of the 20th century Pablo Picasso spent many formative years in Barcelona and donated many of his early works to this intriguing museum.Metro “JaumeI” 5.Parc Güell – Another of Gaudi’s unique creations, a park like no other park, just like Sagrada Familia is like no other “church”. Great views of the city and the best picninc site in Barcelona!Metro: “Lesseps” (15 min walk) 6.Passeig de Grácia – One of the most amazing shopping avenues in the world. Filled with high-end designer shops and beautiful buildings including several “modernisme” classics from the late 19th century. Metro: “Passeig de Gracia” 7. “Modernisme” architecture – Casa Batllo, Casa Mila, Casa Amatller and Casa Fuster are all buildings by Gaudi and his compatriots of the famous Catalan “modernisme” style that can all be found along the Passeig de Gracia. The “Modernsim walk” is a route that’ll take you through all the buildings that gave Barcelona its standing in the history of architecture. Mainly in the Eixample area. 8. Magic Fountain – Colors and cascading water, what’s not to like? The fountain has been spreading water and joy at Plaza Espanya since 1929. Metro: “PLaza Espanya” 9. Miro Museum – One of many Catalan art legends, this museum is the best place to view the playful and original art of Catalan painter legend Joan Miro. At Montjuic. Metro: “Plaza Espanya” 10. Barcelona Aquarium – This one is a must for families, as kids love to” walk among the sharks” and exotic aquatic life here. Metro “Drassanes”
Trips around Catalonia
Tarragona – Where the Romans originally settled when Barcelona was a tiny village up the coast. Visit for the Roman village, and the amusement park Port Aventura close by is a treat for the kids. Distance: 95 km Girona – Worth visiting for the cathedral, the Jewish quarter, the old town.Distance: 102 km Montserrat – The sacred, ragged mountain in Catalonia interior is well worth a visit for its, unusual landscape, intriguing history and monastary. Distance: 65 km Sitges – Visit for : beaches, modernisme architcture, movie festival, carnival. Distance: 86 km Tossa de Mar – A beautiful village to the north in the Girona region. Visit for the clean water and the medieval town with a church and a lighthouse. Distance: 42 km.
Popularity: 66% [?]
Hiking And Sight Seeing In The Tarheel State
Mag park – Looking for a top-notch hiking adventure?? Look no further than the western Tarheel State, North Carolina. The Great Smoky Mountains, a part of the Appalachian range that runs from northern Georgia to Quebec, including an area that is abundant with beautiful beauty plus romance along with activities that include not only hiking, but fishing, camping, whitewater rafting and more. Look into one of the region’s cabin rentals, settle in for the short term then slide on a good pair of boots, grab a day pack along with a walking stick and start discovering!
North Carolina cabin rentals are also available in close proximity to several of the state’s national parks, like Chimney Rock, Great Smoky Mountains and the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is possible to learn more at http://www.nps.gov/applications/parksearch/state.cfm?st=NC , a government web page linking to Websites for all of North Carolina’s national parks.
The majority of North Carolina cabin rentals are rustic and secluded, and make for idyllic bases of operation during an outdoors hiking vacation in the state’s mountain country. There is certainly a wide variety from which to select, from comfy modest cabins for two complete with hot tubs to large facilities capable of sleeping six to ten people and are pet-friendly as well. Some of these are offered by large real estate companies, but for friendly, personalized service from real people, we suggest Vacation Rentals By Owner (http://www.VRBO.com), which is actually the preferred resource on the Internet for North Carolina cabin rentals; the website represents individual property owners who are prepared to rent out their properties to vacationers.
You may fancy being closer to the big city and its amenities however and larger cities do exist that are convenient to North Carolina’s picturesque mountain country. Romantic getaways in and around the city of Asheville are an excellent substitute to rustic mountain cabins for those who would rather be closer to urban nightlife and convenience. These people can find various awesome travel and accommodations offered through the city’s official Internet website, located on the World Wide Web at http://www.exploreasheville.com/. This website has an extensive listing of the city’s lodging facilities in addition to restaurants and a list of nightclubs, theaters and other events and you’re likely to come across valuable coupons as well.
Fans of Small Town America might need to visit the quaint hill town of Mount Airy, located in North Carolina’s northwest corner. Hometown of TV actor Andy Griffith, Mount Airy was the inspiration for the fictional Mayberry, location of Griffith’s television show between 1960 and 1968.
Once you’re settled in, it is time to explore the area and a two week vacation will probably not be nearly an adequate amount of time to see and do everything. But, it is easy to plan ahead by browsing North Carolina’s official tourist site at http://www.visitnc.com. VisitNC is a resource for everything related to the Tarheel State and is the top place online to begin mapping your hiking adventure in the Great Smoky Mountains or along North Carolina’s share of the Appalachian Trail.
Popularity: 21% [?]
Roaming The Butchart Garden In British Columbia
Mag park – Of the many things I love, nature ranks among the top. Flowers in particular, I hold dear to my heart. With the cooperation of Mother Nature’s cultivating care, and the gentle labor of a gardener’s hands, great miracles are created among us. And so, I decided to visit the Butchart Gardens in British Columbia.
I found the Butchart Gardens to be perfectly exquisite. Though smaller than I had expected, the landscaping exhibited laudable taste and the array of colors made me feel as though I were in some sort of paradise. The Rose Garden and the Japanese Garden were in particular worth seeing.
My personal favorites were the Rose Garden and the Japanese Garden. Swashed with every shade of red, and many of yellow and creamy whites, a visit to the Rose Garden was much like entering a perfume store. Was this what princesses and Alices (in Wonderland) had encountered in the long ago days of fairy tales?
The Japanese Garden gave off a wonderfully tranquil aura that made me want to suspend time forever. I especially loved the flow of the water and the lily pads sleeping peacefully on the pool. The little red bridge contrasted sharply with the greenery surrounding it and came as a great reminder of the brighter colors just beyond the muted emerald sweeping its way through the area.
Also, young children might be interested in the Rose Carousel, which costs only $2 plus tax. It features a whole zoo of animals including ostriches and bears and horses to ride on. In the summer, there are also fireworks that are a dazzling sight for any tourist. This too, would be great for the kids. With music playing in the background and a multitude of sparkle and glitter, any visitor who comes in the summer should not miss this. The flower-themed fireworks and look like roses and dahlias as they light up the night sky.
As I finished my visit to the Butchart Gardens, I went to the Seed and Gift Shop to buy some seeds to plant in my own garden. I would highly recommend this because they have a large variety to choose from so you may be able to take a piece of this paradise to your very own backyard.
Overall, I thought the trip to Butchart Gardens was really worth it. There was so much to enjoy as I walked around and so much to love as I took photo after photo. I would advise you to come in the summertime of course when the flowers are in full bloom. I hope you will be as enthralled as I was.
Popularity: 13% [?]
Visit Mountain Biking Capital USA At Winter Park, Colorado
Mag park – Dear readers, with 600 miles of trails, it’s no wonder why Winter Park has gained the title of “Mountain Bike Capital USA”. At the resort alone you will find 50 miles of single-track trails accessible via chair lifts and marked with signs identifying skill level. Once at the top of the lifts you may want to stop into the Sunspot for a quick bite to eat while enjoying the 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains. From there you can choose runs like the Upper Arapahoe, the resort’s downhill race course, or wind down The Long Trail for a 7-mile novice ride.
In the Fraser Valley you can enjoy the trails of the Rocky Mountain wilderness while cradled by spectacular mountain views all around. The trails follow babbling brooks, glide through wildflower meadows and trek up rugged mountains.
All throughout the summer, there are races that are open to public and are available to many different skill levels. A majority of the races either start or end at Winter Park Resort, including the finale… The King of the Rockies.
Repairs, rentals and shops are easy to find, whether you are at the resort, or downtown Winter Park. You can also find a wide variety of restaurants and bars, with food that is just as good as it is diverse.
Music sounds better with a backdrop like the Continental Divide, and you just may find out for yourself, as there are music festivals and concerts happening almost every weekend during the Summer. Events like the Jazz Festival and the Food, Wine & Beer Festival may require advance planning for stays in Winter Park.
You should know that it would be impossible to cover all of the mountain bike trails of Winter Park and the Fraser Valley in one short article. However, once you get to here, there are a number of free mountain bike trail guides that can be found at most establishments.
Popularity: 13% [?]
A Perfectly Natural Home Away From Home At New York State Park Campgrounds
Mag park – While New York City gets much of the press, it is New York state park campgrounds that have captured the hearts of many northeastern travelers. There is just something so incredibly comforting about spending time in these scenic playgrounds. Once you’ve visited one of the premiere New York state park campgrounds, chances are you’ll be hooked for life, given the variety of amenities they offer.
Undoubtedly, one of the most popular of the New York state park campgrounds is Allegany State Park. In fact, this campground was named in 2007 as a Top “Amazing Spot” in the nation. The park is vast, measuring some 65,000 acres. It is perhaps best known for its primitive forests, lovely fall foliage, and amazing wildlife. The park is divided into two developed areas—Red House and Quaker. Both locations boast sandy beaches, enchanting picnic grounds, fascinating museums, and challenging hiking trails. The park facility is a favorite for both dedicated walkers and bike riders, thanks to its miles of paved trails.
Meanwhile, the Art Roscoe Ski Touring Area offers both cross country skiing and mountain bike trails—perhaps some of the greatest trails in all of the Northeast. The park is also a favorite of snowmobilers, thanks to its 90 miles of snowmobile trails. In addition, at Allegany State Park you can enjoy fishing, hunting, snowshoeing, canoeing, and horseback riding.
Because Allegany State Park offers a variety of camping facilities, it is one of those New York state park campgrounds that is appropriate for both weekend warriors and extended stay vacationers. The park is home to some 424 campsites, 375 cabins, and three group camps. You can also rent one of the park’s comfortable vacation cottages.
Another one of the most popular New York state park campgrounds is Moreau Lake State Park, which has been listed as one of the top 100 campgrounds in the U.S. This incredible camping site is known for its hardwood forests and tranquil grounds, along with its pristine beachfront. At Moreau Lake, you can enjoy hiking, boating, cross country skiing, and even ice fishing. The site also features a wooden pavilion which can accommodate as many as 120 people. It’s also a user-friendly site, since vacationers can easily rent fishing gear, snowshoes, beach lounges, and beach umbrellas. Meanwhile, the famed Lake Shore Cottage boasts a refrigerator, stove, bathroom with shower, fireplace, and screened porch.
New York state park campgrounds are well-maintained and well-equipped to meet your vacation needs. They’re appropriate for both winter fun and summer sunbathing and can provide you with a lifetime of wonderful memories.
Popularity: 27% [?]