The Real Australia

by: Cusion Delause

Australian vacations are great for extended holidays and summer fun particularly if you like the warmer weather. In fact, since Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere a hot summer in the United States will be a nice winter in the land down under. You might even think about taking an Australia cruise during this time of year. Take your swim suit, your sun cream and your spending money and you will bve all set for the trip of a lifetime.      When you first decide on taking an Australian holiday you will probably run into a challenge trying to decide where to go because the options are simply endless. There are so many great places to visit such as Sydney - the home of the Harbour Bridge, Melbourne - the home of AFL, Adelaide - teh City of Fine Wine and Alice Springs - the home of Ayers Rock. Don't get discouraged because you might be able to do more than you think since you will certainly be able to book cheap airline flights within Australia to get around the country while you are there.    Australian vacations offer something for everyone no matter where you end up traveling in the country. Sydney will enhance your sense of culture. Be sure and visit the Opera House. Melbourne is an extremely cosmopolitan city full of jumping clubs and great restaurants.      Other Australian vacations can take you into the outback where you can see the real Australia that you have only seen on television. The Aborigines live throughout the country too and have a culture well worth discovering. If you can take as much as a month in Australia then you will have the chance to really enjoy the experience. Nothing less than two weeks will do for your first trip to this diverse country.

 

Miami is the Hub of Florida’s Culture and Nightlife

by: Rose Lenk

When one thinks about Miami, Florida, the image that comes to mind is usually filled with hot night spots, sophisticated urban hospitality and warm, sandy beaches. It is all of these things and much more that make Miami one of the hottest vacation spots both in Florida and in the Eastern United States. While Miami has been a hot vacation destination for decades, the city has seen some major development during these infancy years of the new millennium. Most of this development has taken place in downtown Miami, but its effect can be felt throughout the region. But since the numerous new buildings and skyscrapers have been built in the city's center, the famous beaches of the area have remained pretty much unchanged. One of the main attractions of Miami is its temperate, subtropical weather which allows for year-round outdoor activities. The many beaches and waterfronts available offer varied water sports including windsurfing, sailing, kayaking and scuba diving. And if you prefer land to sea, there are just as many dry attractions to keep you occupied including golf, tennis, sunbathing, nightclubbing, fine dining and other area attractions. South Beach is perhaps one of the most famous neighborhoods in the Miami area. The South Beach Historical District, located on the peninsular southern tip of South Beach, consists of only one square mile, but is home to numerous 1930s to 1950s style Art Deco hotels. These hotels are only a short distance away from some of the major Miami attractions and offer comfortable, off-the-beaten-path lodging. The historic district is also home to numerous other attractions including the Holocaust Memorial, Wolfsonian Museum, The Jackie Gleason Theater of the Performing Arts and Lincoln Road Mall. Miami is also the shopping Mecca of Florida and boasts endless premier shopping malls and boutiques. For shoppers who want a taste of the local flavor, Bayside Marketplace and Biscayne Bay have a number of boutiques and specialty shops that sell everything from plastic fruit to high-tech electronics. The Mayfair Shops, located in the Grove, is a complex made up of boutiques and nightclubs. And Sawgrass Mills, with more than 300 shops and kiosks in a 2.4-million-square-foot facility makes even the most serious and dedicated shoppers feel like they've died and gone to the great big mall in the sky. To get to one of the many beaches in the Miami area, you will likely find yourself on Ocean Drive. This drive extends from 5th to 15th streets and features historic hotels, shops and open-air cafés, which face the Atlantic Ocean. Continuing on to 21st to 35th streets and again from 71st to 163rd Streets are where the most popular beaches can be found. Here visitors can enjoy a host of activities including deep-sea fishing, kite flying, sunbathing, surfing and a host of other water sports. Visitors looking for more natural surroundings should visit the Biscayne Bay islands, just south of Miami Beach. The islands give tourists a chance to see the natural wonders that Florida has to offer. Also in this area is the Miami Seaquarium, situated on Key Biscayne. This is a terrific place for the entire family to learn about the native sea life. Visitors will get to see Flipper the dolphin and Lolita the killer whale perform high-flying stunts. Another attraction that is a must-see for nature lovers is the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. This museum, constructed in 1916 by James Deering, is a palatial affair which reflects the Old World style of Florida's yesteryear. Here guests can appreciate the Italian Renaissance architecture of the building while they tour the mansion and the immaculate gardens of the estate. So, if you are looking for a hot spot with an endless array and variety of attractions, perhaps Miami, Florida is the perfect destination for your next vacation getaway. From hot night spots and fine restaurants to family attractions and endless beaches, Miami has more to offer you and your family than many other popular vacation spots.

10 Best Activities Hawaii Has To Offer

by: Stephanie Coburn

 You can read a hundred of the “10 Best Activities Hawaii has to Offer” and find as many lists with differing information. This is not because the lists are wrong, it is simply because there are so many amazing activities to do in Hawaii that each list maker can only include their top 10 favorites, which is why there are so many differences. Here are 10 more of the best activities in Hawaii, but they are generalizations that appeal to the general population and tourists heading to the islands for vacation. So, the best thing to do is read this list and rank the activities you like most and call and make reservations before your vacation begins. Then, when you reach the islands you can look around, check out other activities, and either choose more on this list or some of your own. Remember, there are several islands that make up Hawaii and all of them have special activities. The goal is for you to have the most fun possible and enjoy your Hawaiian vacation.

Hawaii Activity #1 Hanauma Bay

Hanauma Bay, on the island of Oahu, boasts an amazing coral reef that is simply out of this world. There are many fish species that call Hanauma Bay and the coral reef their home, which makes for incredible snorkeling. In fact, so many people snorkel at Hanauma Bay that it often gets quite crowded. So, if you want to snorkel at Hanauma Bay you should get there early or find out which days are the slowest in order to enjoy this fabulous experience.

Hawaii Activity #2 Hawaii Volcanoes

The Volcanoes National Park on the main island of Hawaii is out of this world. When you visit this park you will encounter 330,000 acres preserved for hiking and the like, as well as Mona Lau volcano that is dormant and the active, lava flowing Kilauea volcano. You will be impressed to see the red, hot glow of lava oozing out of this volcano. Spend a few hours or even a few days in The Volcanoes National Park.

Hawaii Activity #3 Maui Drive

Take the road from the Kahului Airport all the way to Hana and you will pass over countless bridges, enjoy the beautiful landscape where you will see pineapples growing and proceed through the tropical rainforest where other amazing fruits grow in addition to eucalyptus trees. It takes several hours to make this short drive, but near the end you will be blessed with the vision of black sand beaches that are simply astonishing in their beauty. When you finally end up in Hana you can enjoy excursions to waterfalls as well as great hikes.

Hawaii Activity #4 Waimea Canyon

On the island of Kauai is the Waimea Canyon which is simply a breathtaking experience. The canyon is so large and colorful that Mark Twain dubbed it the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific.” You will love the adventure and scenery at Waimea Canyon so you must include this on your vacation “to do” list.

Hawaii Activity # 5 Waikiki Beach

If you are looking for a luxurious resort and a relaxing beach, then Waikiki Beach is the place for you. In fact, the majority of the resorts are located on Waikiki which was made popular in the 1800s by Hawaiian royalty who frequented the area for its beautiful beaches. This area is certainly not economical, but every type of luxury you can imagine is available to you.

Hawaii Activity #6 Kona The Kona

coast is also a great resort location and its beaches are fabulous for sun bathing and other beach activities, as well as fishing and even snorkeling. As a result, many people vacation at Kona because there are so many activities available in one place. There are also coffee plantations that produce the natural and organic Kona coffee so you could always take a tour to see how coffee is grown, processed, and ultimately packaged and sold. Whatever you decide to do, Kona has a lot of options.

Hawaii Activity # 7 Na’Pali Coast

The island of Kauai boasts the Na’Pali Coast which is one of nature’s wonders. The towering cliffs originate on the ocean’s floor and ascend from the water to create amazing gorges created by waterfalls streaming down over centuries and eroding the stone. You can hike to the Na’Pali coast, but this might take all day. There are other options like boat tours and helicopter rides that will also allow you to reach Na’Pali without so much effort if you are not in the best physical condition to walk 11 miles or don’t have that much time to spare.

Hawaii Activity #8 Iao Valley

This cloud covered valley on the island of Maui provides a historical lesson for tourists because this flourishing valley was the home to the agricultural god, Lono, and during feast week the Hawaiians all joined together in the Iao Valley to honor Lono. You will be amazed at the shape of the valley and the general feeling you have of history when you visit this amazing place on Maui.

Hawaii Activity #9 Go Whale Watching

Whale watching can be a spectacular experience so you should definitely include this in your itinerary. There are whale watching tours that can be booked from Hawaii, Kauai, Oahu, or Maui. You should book in advance, however, because these tours can get filled up quickly and don’t happen year round!

Hawaii Activity #10 Luau

When people think of Hawaii the first thing that comes to their mind is the luau. As a result, when you visit the islands you absolutely must attend a Polynesian luau to top off your vacation. You will enjoy the food, music, dance, and sites of the luau and it will be an experience that will stay with you long after your vacation ends and you return to your real life. When you visit the islands you will not have enough time to do all the amazing activities waiting for you. However, you should pick the ones you find most interesting and save the rest for subsequent vacations. When you visit Hawaii, you are sure to be enchanted and engaged.