Lodging in and Around Sheffield

Lodging in and Around Sheffield
By Susan Ashby

Sheffield has taken many steps over the past few decades to attract tourism from the UK and around the world. Many of the citys most popular attractions have been built or refurbished in the last 20 years following the decline of the steel market. The number of dining and lodging places in the city has had to grow at about the same rate as tourist attractions to keep pace in housing the citys guests.

People coming to see the various attractions, take in a sporting event, or doing business in town have a range of accommodation options, particularly in the city centre. Several four star hotels in the area, like the Macdonald St. Pauls hotel or the Sheffield Park Hotel contain everything you would need in luxury lodging. Multiple restaurants with fine cuisine, bars, spa and workout facilities, business centers and in room Jacuzzis are the norm. The Holiday Inn is also a four star hotel with 100 rooms in a grade II listed building constructed in 1862.

Three star hotels are more common in the city. Most have similar amenities to the four star hotels, but are slightly less luxurious, with restaurants not quite as renowned. Still, they are very comfortable places to relax or work from, and if youre in town to see the sites, you wont want to eat in the hotel anyway. Plenty of the trendiest pubs and restaurants are within a few minutes of these hotels so you may want to stay at the Novotel Sheffield for example. In the heart of the city centre, and close to the train station, shops, nightclubs, and theatres, these hotels will save you a little money that can be better spent eating and drinking. The Hotel Bristol or Grosvenor House Hotel are other good three star hotels in the area. The Cutlers Hotel is a two star hotel in the commercial center of the city. Theatres and shops are located nearby, and the bar and restaurant are quite comfortable.

The Leopold Hotel will be providing four star stays with a target opening date of May 1, 2007. The 50,000 square foot former boys school is undergoing the transformation to a boutique hotel in a Grade I listed building. The Leopold will not be accepting stag, hen, or same sex groups without prior arrangement. They do however claim to be gay friendly like many of the other hotels in the area. Other four star hotels around Sheffield are Hellaby Hall Hotel, Tankersley Manor, and the Sheffield Marriott.

If you are looking for something a little out of the ordinary, Houseboat Hotels has two floating apartments where you can stay for not much more than a hotel. The forty foot long Ruby, and the fifty foot long Lily-May are available for holiday or business travel. The owners have worked out a deal with the Hilton Hotel so their guests can use the health club and swimming pool. Special Occasion Stays cost a little more, but include Chilled Spanish Champagne, Hand Made Chocolates, fresh flowers, Port Aperitif and breakfast. The Houseboat Hotels Web site is flooded with rave reviews from people who were just thrilled to stay somewhere different.

If youre looking for something away from the city centre, The Aston Hall Hotel sits in 55 acres a minute from the M1 motorway, but has the look and feel of being in the country. The hotel is quite popular for weddings and conferences and banqueting facilities are available for between 10 and 320 people. They also do parties and corporate events. The Fountain Inn & Rooms near Penistone are also a back to nature destination. It is close to the Peak District National Park, and is outfitted luxuriously with four poster beds in the deluxe rooms. Two of the rooms are suites with the largest appointed with newly weds in mind. The staff likes to interact with the guests and the quiz night at 9pm on Sunday offers a first prize of a free nights stay. Other prizes include free drink vouchers. Other events are mystery nights, race nights, casino nights, and tribute nights.

If you want to really get back to nature, areas of the Peak District National Park have holiday cottages and bed and breakfasts. They will soon have their own unusual lodging as a barn conversion called Hall Farm Mews will be set to open in December 2006. The owners have converted a barn into luxury lodging for up to 10 guests in the three bed and three bath accommodation. Other Bunk Barns are available, without as much luxury, such as Bushey Heath in Derbyshire. Here you can choose your comfort level and price, from the bunk house to a campsite. The farm sells fresh free range eggs, and a few other products for your convenience.

The area in and around Sheffield is full of places to see and things to do if you do your homework you will be able to find exactly what you are looking for in lodging, food, drink, and entertainment venues.

Article by Susan Ashby of Sheffield Singles. To read more articles like this or for dating in Sheffield visit http://www.sheffield-singles.co.uk

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25 Lanzarote Attractions Teguise Golf

25 Lanzarote Attractions - Teguise Golf
By John Plumb

Before telling you about my particular day out at Teguise Golf, the more avid golfers amongst you will probably want to know what views they can expect to see and the technical stuff that goes with playing golf. For me it was simply a great opportunity to spend a morning with a former work colleague (Colin) and his son (David) as they were staying in a neighbouring villa on La Goleta, part of the wider Faro Park Development.

The course runs along the side of an old volcano (no surprise there given Lanzarotes landscape) and has inspirational views of volcanic lava, cacti and over includes over 3,000 palm trees and has superb views of the Atlantic Ocean throughout. A Golf course such as this one, is quite simply, in my opinion, nature at its best. Csar Manrique, the man who taught the people of Lanzarote to care for their natural habitat has clearly left his influence everywhere. If you are a Golf anorak, you might also want to read the next paragraph of technical data ? If youre not, simply skip over it.

The course measures 6041m (White) ; 5582m (Yellow) ; 5289m (Blue) ; and 4938m (Red). Generally, visitors play off the blue tees. The Slope Rating of the course is 127 (White) ; 127 (Yellow) ; 130 (Blue) ; and 124 (Red)

We played off Blue Tees. The course measures 5289 Metres (5791 Yards for the non converts) and is a Par 72 course.

Ive since found out that the course was designed by British landscape architect John Harris and built in 1978. It is a truly a fantastic course, not only because of its design but also thanks to the excellent condition in which it is kept all year round and at Easter (April 2006), it was in superb condition. Given its location, it benefits from a warm and pleasant climate all year round, tempered only by sea breezes from the islands almost constant trade winds. The course is designed to be smooth yet varied. It has more than your average number of doglegs, designed to test your ability (or lack of it) and allows you to bring all your clubs into play. It will test everyone from scratch players to those of us with more modest ability.

Address : Avenida del Golf, s/n. 35509 Costa Teguise (Lanzarote).
Telephone : (00 34) 928 59 05 12
Fax : (00 34) 928 59 23 37
Email info@lanzarote-golf.com
Webiste :www.lanzarote-golf.com

The Following services can be found at the Club - Club hire, trolleys, buggies, driving range, pro-shop and club storage. There are separate male and female changing rooms and you can hire lockers. There is a Bar and Restaurant. The restaurant offers a varied menu, based on Mediterranean cuisine. The prices vary according to season. In the Summer months (1st June to 30th September) it costs 53 Euros (for 18 Holes) and 36 Euros (for 9 Holes after 4pm). In the Winter (we played in Winter and it was scorching !), it costs 65 Euros (18 Holes) and 52 Euros (9 Holes after 3pm). The Course has discount agreements with most of the hotels on the island, so check at your hotel, or check out a nearby hotel if youre in private accommodation as you can often get a better deal than this by doing so.

And so, to our day out. We planned to set off at 7am from our home in Playa Blanca (the idea being not to spoil the day for others and Brownie Points for everyone !.

There was to be four of playing, but that quickly became three when Gary (The Rainman) decided he was on holiday and was not coming to Golf at 7am (given that he left the British Open on Faro Park at midnight the night before (to prepare for golf), I was very surprised to get the Dear John text first thing in the morning. Garys nickname is a long story, but basically when its cold he wants it hot and when its hot he prays for rain (and usually gets it, so Im not that keen on going on holiday with him !)The three of us (Colin, a work colleague, his son David and yours truly) set off around 7:30am and we drove along the LZ-2 and then headed towards San Bartholme and then into Costa Teguise (avoiding Arrecife !)

When we arrived we were told it was members day (Saturday !) and that they had no tee times for 3 hours. A quick bit of lateral thinking later, we asked if we could play 10-18 and then get a Tee time for 1-9 which they agreed to (something youd almost expect them to suggest in the UK, so ask if you need to).

We decided wed have a friendly game of singles (if there is such a thing) - Loser buys the beers at the 19th hole. We played stableford, off full handicaps (youll need them). To cut along story short (ish), Colin was flying, I was struggling to even stay in touch and David, well David was having a bad day (its just as well he hired his clubs !). Colin was five points in front with five to play before he decided to show us his impression of Devon Loch (hes the horse that collapsed of exhaustion 50 yards from the finishing line in the 1956 Grand National when leading by 20 lengths !) Going up the 18th Colin was one behind (but I did not rub it in, honest) !

Colin tells me his wife Jackie really enjoyed her first trip to the island and that they may return. Im sure if we ever go into combat again, David will have been the range beforehand to shake off the cobwebs and Colin will make sure that he does not sprint when its a marathon.

Me, well I had my day !

John Plumb, frequent visitor to Lanzarote, a place that is now my 'home from home' having taken the plunge into villa ownership on the island - See http://www.villa-rochelle.co.uk.John is also the administrator of the Lanzarote Villa Owners Club @ http://www.lanzvillaowners.com.

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A Great Shore Excursion Swimming With the Stingrays!

A Great Shore Excursion - Swimming With the Stingrays!
By Sherry Otto

The next time you go on a cruise to the Caribbean, a great shore excursion to take is one where you swim with the stingrays! Our boat took us out into the ocean about 45 minutes off the coast of Grand Cayman Island. Right out in the middle of the ocean is a shallow spot where the stingrays gather. We pulled into a spot among the ring of boats that already circled the stingrays playground, got into our snorkeling gear, got off the boat and away we went to swim with the stingrays.

When my friend Tom first told me he wanted to swim with the stingrays I was a little apprehensive because I didnt know what to expect. I imagined the floor of the ocean carpeted with them and I didnt know where I was going to step. My apprehension only increased when we were briefed on the boat about what our behavior should be like toward the stingrays, and were told not to step on their tails or we would get stung! I got off the boat a nervous wreck!

Once we were in the water my nervousness turned to delight as we watched the graceful creatures glide through the water! There were plenty of stingrays to see, but I didnt have to worry at all about where I was going to step since they didnt blanket the entire ocean floor in reality like they did in my imagination. They swam right past us; close enough so that we could reach out and touch them as they glided by.

The stingrays felt like wet mushrooms! It was such fun to gently chase them through the water to see how close to them you could get! Our guide caught a stingray and brought it up out of the water for us to see while he gave us some information about it. Then he let us take a picture with the stingray before he let it go in the water.

If you are looking for a fun experience while you are in the Caribbean, I highly recommend swimming with the stingrays!

Sherry Otto
http://www.great-caribbean-vacations.comSpecializing in fun Caribbean vacations and Caribbean travel! Also offering travel tips, hot spots, and information about romantic vacations, beach vacations, sailing vacations, golf vacations, shopping vacations, and Caribbean cruises.

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24 Hours in Fukuoka City Travel Journal

24 Hours in Fukuoka City - Travel Journal
By Anndrea Law

I visited a good friend, Keiko, in Fukuoka recently. It was my first long vacation since I started working.

Tenjin StationUpon arriving at Fukuoka City, we placed my luggage in a locker at Tenjin train station, and headed to a traditional garden called Yusentei. There, we had the view of the Japanese garden to ourselves while enjoying matcha (green tea). The path in the garden led you right up to the edge of the water, and was ornamented with a small waterfall. The name of the vila is indeed apt: friendship-fountain-restplace.

Yusentei Japanese Villa

After Yusentei, we walked to the city's popular public park with a big lake. There was another park that Keiko wanted to show me, but we could not find the place. So we decided to have lunch and stumbled into a street with a character that reminded me of my place in Barcelona's Sierra district: safe, upper class and good food.

Lunch at El Bacharro

As if in reminiscence of my memory, we settled for a restaurant that serves food from Valencia called El Bacharro. I had vegetable with cheese and anchovies 'fondue', a popular dish of the house. The place was small but everything was carefully placed. We were particularly intrigued by the carefully camouflaged toilet entrance, which was no more than a flat wooden plank that ran across the concrete wall.

Western Food in Japan

According to Keiko, western cuisine is expensive in Japan, as Japanese food would be in most other cities. So during my stay, I was reated to western delicacies a la Japanese style a few times, e.g. the cheesecake that Keiko's parents bought from their weekend trip to an onsen (hot spring), and citrus muffins at a flower garden.

Court House

After lunch, we visited the courthouse, where Keiko frequented when she was still an working as a legal assistant. She tried hard to find a hearing that I would attend, but there was none that was not already in session or has ended. Still, it was interesting to see how open the courthouse is to the public. Anyone could walk in and sit into a hearing and the place resembled more of a hospital than a courthouse.

Cultural District

From the courthouse, we headed to a cultural district lined with museums, shops and temples. It was interesting to see the traditional sweets that Keiko gave me as a gift when she visited my home last summer.

We played with the traditional toys. There was one called Pabo, or something that mimicked the sound it made. It was a magical wooden book that clapped continuously once you set it in motion. The toy still rings vividly as I think about it now. Perhaps I should have bought one like Keiko said. But then we agreed that she would buy it for my first-born.

The porcelain artiste was in the musuem today. He was affable and chatty. We asked him to recommend a place to visit. He checked the time and replied that there was a Buddhist temple nearby that was still open for another hour. There, we could go through a test to see if we would go to heaven.

Buddhist Temple

The test was a journey into a dark passage way behind the alter of a big Buddha carved out of cypress. If you groped along the walls and touched a metal ring, then you are going to heaven. Silly as it may sound, I felt a real sense of cleansing after the test. For in the pitch blackness, ironically, it was as if someone shone a bright light into my soul. There was no way I could hide from my deepest conscience. (Of course, if you are wondering, Keiko and I are going to heaven.)

Canal City

We headed next to the glittering material world of Canal City, a popular mall with canals not unlike the Venice wannabes in Las Vegas. Watching the sunset unfold on the panoramic window of the cafe, Sweet Museum, we knew it was time to go home.

The author is an avid traveller and amateur photographer.To view the above article with accompanying photographs and to see more photo-journals, please visit http://viewmesomefreejournals.blogspot.com

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23 Lanzarote Attractions Rancho Texas Western Theme Park

23 Lanzarote Attractions - Rancho Texas, Western Theme Park
By John Plumb

Rancho Texas is located on the outskirts of Puerto del Carmen and on one of our many trips recently, we decided to spend a day out their with the children. Rancho Texas features amongst its attractions, an Indian amphitheatre where we witnessed a stunning display in falconry, a Nature Park where our children watched and even played with some of the animals, a Goldmine Where the big water-wheel runs water to gold-bearing sands and where the children can try to find hidden treasure and an Indian Village where they took a ride in an Indian canoes and visited the Tepees.

If youre looking for somewhere for the adults, then why return when they host one of the now legendary Rancho Texas Country and Western Nights.

We started our visit in the Nature Park, host to a wide variety of Animals and Birds. This area includes The Opera- A round enclosure with a great variety of singing birds where you can experience amazing sounds, The Promenade of colour with its sensational variety of birds and colours, Liliput Farm, where the children held the worlds smallest farm animals and saw much larger ones in the form of Turtles, Iguanas, Armadillos and Prairie dogs.

Before we could finish, we were attracted to crowd gathering in the Indian Amphitheatre (one of three live shows we would witness on the day). Once we settled down, the guide entertained us with a fantastic falconry demonstration, part of which involves the falcons flapping people on the head with thweir huge wings as they swoop from high gantries to the central stage.

After this, we took the children to the Indian Village to calm them down a bit. Our youngest (4 at the time) played in the Tepees, paddled a Canoes and found Treasure having followed the water from the big water-wheel to the gold-bearing sands. Our eldest (9 at the time) thought it was too young for him but agreed to look after his brother and clearly enjoyed himself, although he denied it at the time.

Next we were attracted to the restaurant area as we were informed that a second show would start in 15 minutes time. Like everyone else, we decided this would be a good time to have something to eat and drink and were surprised to see our Falconry expert helping out behind the food counter (we assumed he had washed his hands !). This would not be our last meeting, as he hosted the Parrot show whilst we had lunch. Another good show and some great pictures for the family.Our two boys wanted to let off some steam, so we let them play for a short while in the adventure play area, before going back to complete out tour of the animals.

Our third show of the day, was to be the best. Our expert returned (clearly multi-talented) and decided hed jump into a pit with the Alligators. He then crept up behind one of them and played with it (in case youre wondering, he has very quick reflexes). Toward the end of the show he decided to jump on the Alligator and sis finale involved holding the Alligators mouth closed between his chin and his chest some show !

The children were as amazed as we were and it just about rounded off a great day out and fantastic value at 14 Euros per adult and 9 Euros for the children (under twos are free).One of the most modern of Lanzarotes attractions, Rancho Texas, still has an element of the Manrique influence, with 60,000 m of theme park, designed with the utmost respect to the ambience and everything built with natural materials such as stones and wood.

At night the place comes alive with the Rancho Texas Country and Western Night, legendary in these parts. A party night for the whole family and the entertainments team (yes he was back), kept everyone entertained with Live Music and Line Dancing and special entertainment for the Kids. You can eat as much of the American Food, BBQ and Desserts as you like and enjoy free-flowing Beer, Sangria and Soft Drinks.Adults: 44,00 Children 2-12 years : half price Children to 2 years: free

and finally, if you want to Discover Lanzarote on horseback, Rancho Texas also has riding stables. Why not plan your day to include a trek on this wonderful island (three hour trek to the beach, for experienced riders only @ 54 or a One hour trek, no experience needed @ 21).

John Plumb, frequent visitor to Lanzarote, a place that is now my 'home from home' having taken the plunge into villa ownership on the island - See http://www.villa-rochelle.co.ukJohn is also the administrator of the Lanzarote Villa Owners Club @ http://www.lanzvillaowners.com.

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Passport Regulations and Services Are You Fully Prepared

Passport Regulations and Services - Are You Fully Prepared
By Jawahn Thompson

Many things are changing when it comes to air travel. Some of the changes come from the government. We all know about the carry on luggage rules that have changed frequently over the past few months. The next big scheduled change will be a change in the passport requirements to re-enter the United States.

At the moment, if you are traveling to Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, Panama or the Caribbean, a passport is not necessary. But that will be changing soon. Due to The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, on January 8, 2007, all travelers coming from or returning from these destinations will need a passport to enter the United States.

This January 8, 2007 date is for travelers entering the United States by air or by sea. For travelers entering the United States across a land border, they will be required to start providing passports as identification on January 1, 2008. All of the new regulations are required for adults and children alike.

Currently, the regulation states that any traveler wishing to enter or re-enter the United States from these destinations needs to have a valid driver's license and a birth certificate. Those documents will not be enough once January hits. They will still be accepted if you are returning from a U.S. territory such as Guam, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands. Since they are U.S. territories, it is not considered leaving the United States when you visit there.

If you are planning to travel outside of the United States or its territories after the New Year and don't have a passport, now is the time to be applying for one. The average time for processing a passport is six weeks. The busy time for passport applications tends to be between January and July. You are likely to get your passport more quickly if you give in your application between August and December. So now is the time to do make your application. If you need your passport more quickly, there is an expedited service for an extra fee.

You may be wondering about the fees associated with a passport in general. Actually, they aren't so bad when you think about it. A passport is good for ten years, so when you divide the cost of the passport by the number of years it is valid, you're getting a pretty good bang for your buck. Much better than say the $50 or so you probably have to pay every year to register a car in most states - even if none of your personal information changes. So when you're thinking about the passport fees, try to put them in perspective. You get ten years of world wide travel as an American Citizen. It's not so bad when you think of it that way.

So, what are the fees exactly? For children under sixteen, a passport will cost $82. For those sixteen and older, a passport will cost $97. To get a passport renewed, the fees are $67. So for an adult with his first passport, the cost ends up being $9.70 a year. Pretty cost effective, huh? Of course, those fees don't include the price paid for getting your passport photo or for the added fees if you want your application expedited.

If you have never applied for a passport before, there are some things you will want to know before applying.

• You must apply in person. There are over 7,000 facilities in the United States that can issue passports. To find the one that is near you, you can go to www.iafdb.travel.state.gov and type in your zip code. The website will direct you to the facilities that are nearest to you.

• You will need proof that you are a United States citizen or proof of your nationality. For U.S. citizens born in the U.S. you will need a certified copy of your birth certificate issued by a government office (not a hospital). For U.S. citizens born outside the U.S., you will need a Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship. An expired U.S. passport can also be used as proof.

• Have your passport photos taken before applying. The type of photographs you need are very specific, but that is to ensure that no one else can use your passport. You must have two identical photographs that have been taken within the last six months. The size of the photographs must be 2x2 inches. Your picture within the photo must be between 1 and 1 3/8 inches. The photo must be on a white background. You must be facing forward, showing your full face and not wearing a hat or dark glasses.

• You will need a photo ID with your signature. This can be an expired U.S. passport, a Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship, a valid government ID card, a valid military ID card, or a valid driver's license.

• Once you have all of your documents and photos in order, you can fill out an application for a passport known as a DS-11. Do not sign the application unless you are in the presence of the person who will be executing your passport. If you do sign it without the executor, your application will become invalid.

• You can download an application and have it filled out before you visit the facility that will issue your passport. To download the application, go to www.travel.state.gov/passport/forms/forms847.html.

If you already have a passport, but it has expired you can renew your passport by mail if you meet the following requirements.

• Your passport must not be damaged.
• It must have been received within the past 15 years.
• You must have been at least 16 years old when it was issued.
• You still have the same name as the one in the passport (or a legal document proving your name change).

If you do not meet the above requirements, you must apply in person for a new passport.

This important message on passport services was brought to you by daily travel air.

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You Will Truly Experience Canada's Raw Beauty in the Heart of the Canadian Rockies

You Will Truly Experience Canada's Raw Beauty in the Heart of the Canadian Rockies
By Ken Bissonette

The Canadian Rockies are famous for their awe inspiring beauty and gigantic peaks. You will truly experience Canada's raw beauty in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. There are a few famous and amazing spots unsurpassable for their history and beauty. Banff is world famous for its Hotel, The Fairmont Banff Springs where celebrities and Royalty frequent.

With breathtaking views and Five Star hospitality this is a sure to please spot for the honeymooning couple. There are many hikes up the famous peaks in the area where many a mountain climber has ventured. The ?Bow River?, which runs through Banff is peaceful and awe-inspiring as it rushes beside the Banff Springs and through the world-famous town. Visit Lake Louise at the Chateau Lake Louise with its world class charm.

Breathtaking views once again grace this area. Crystal Lakes, towering peaks, and hikes to teahouses are a few of the wonders here. Rent a canoe on lake Louise as you glide peacefully with your sweetie on this world ?famous lake. Experience Jasper Park Lodge in Jasper, known for its top mountain experiences beside a beautiful private lake. Dine in beautiful dining rooms, as elk and moose overlook your table. Swim in an outdoor pool, and visit a soothing spa at the Jasper Park Lodge.

Deer, Elk, Mountain Goats and Bears all grace the Canadian Rockies. You won?t want to miss a glimpse of them. Waterfalls, canyons and world famous hikes are more of what you?ll see here in the Rockies. The Canadian Rockies will leave you homesick as this is an experience of a lifetime. Visit www.explorealberta.com for more information. Fairmont Banff Springs, Chateau Lake Louise, Canadian Rockies, and world class charm.

Ken and Deidre Bissonette are successful authors and publishers on Wedding information. Have a great honeymoon in the rookies. http://www.weddingdresses-gifts-flowers.com

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21 Exciting Maui Activities

21 Exciting Maui Activities
By Scott Grover

There are a multitude of reasons to choose Maui for your next vacation destination. It could be to enjoy its 30 plus world-class beaches, experience its breath-taking vistas including incredible sunrises and sunsets, discover a tropical paradise, or to just relax and get away from it all. Part of Mauis lure is that it offers such a wide variety of activities, many family-oriented. Below Ive summarized 21 exciting Maui activities available to its visitors in no particular order.

1. Sunrise at Haleakala Crater. There's only one way to see the sunrise and that's at Haleakala Crater in Maui. Its an experience that is truly difficult to describe because of its stunning beauty. You begin to sense the magnitude of it when you see a photograph, but its something that you have to experience to really appreciate.

2.Biking Down Haleakala. We have seen two wonderful sunrises at Haleakala on two separate trips to Maui. Both times we drove (up and) back in our rental vehicles. Unfortunately, biking down Haleakala has never made it into our agenda. So we have now officially added it to our Maui Activities Wish List.

3.The Road to Hana. The drive on the Road to Hana is an experience of a lifetime. Along the way on this 60 mile winding trek you will see some of the worlds most beautiful rain forests, water falls, and enjoy some of the most gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean.

4.The Seven Sacred Pools (formally called Ohea Gulch). Almost everyone who takes the Road to Hana ends up at the Seven Sacred Pools. Waterfalls connect each pool, and the last pools waterfall empties into the Pacific Ocean. Legend has it that swimming in each pool (in order from one to seven) will bring the swimmer good luck.

5.Snorkeling in Maui. Change your view of the island to an underwater perspective by snorkeling in Maui. There are countless places to snorkel here with amazing views of marine life of all kinds.

6.Sugar Cane Train. If you (or your kids) love trains this inexpensive Maui activity is a must! Circling from Lahaina to Puukolii and back, a ride on the Sugar Cane Train will show you all the beauty of Maui from the coach car of an unforgettable real working historic steam engine. The conductor is more than knowledgeable. He's practically a one man show complete with ukulele and musical repertoire!

7.Maui Ocean Center. This was a great day activity to do with your kids. The Maui Ocean Center offers many hands-on activities that our kids loved. The three-acre marine park hosts more than 60 interactive exhibits, an outdoor central courtyard, two restaurants and the Maui Ocean Center Store.

8.Sightseeing on Front Street. A shoppers paradise! Quaint shops, restaurants and historical spots line Front Street in Old Lahaina. Our favorite discovery was the Bubba Gump's Shrimp Shop and Restaurant.

9.Sandcastle Contest Day. An activity the whole family can participate in is a Sandcastle Contest Day on Kaanapali Beach. Our kids have a ball building tunnels and mountains and the adults take the challenge very seriously!

10.Horseback Riding. You don't have to be a cowboy to enjoy some of the best horseback riding you'll ever experience. You're in Maui - which means you are riding in the some of the most beautiful countryside that you can imagine. Our ride took us through pineapple fields and a rainforest.

11.Parasailing. If you can handle being a human kite and enjoy the silence and peacefulness of gliding 500 feet above the ocean (except for the whisper of a light breeze), parasailing is a must-do Maui activity for you.

12.Scuba Diving. If you are looking for an experience of a lifetime and you want to experience a side of Maui many people miss, Maui Scuba Diving is the way to go. It is not uncommon, on a Maui scuba diving experience, to have water visibility around 100 feet, and it is sometimes better than 150 feet!

13.Golfing. Whether you're the casual golfer that hits the links three or four times a year or the avid golfer that never misses a weekend, you simply will not be disappointed with your morning (or afternoon) of Maui golf. There are over 180 courses in Maui to choose from -- besides the fact that you'll be playing in arguably one of the most scenic places in the world.

14.Helicopter Tours. Several companies offer a variety of Maui helicopter tours that can include viewing some or all of the following: the West Maui Mountains, the island of Molokai (just west of Maui), waterfalls and beaches of East Maui including the Seven Sacred Pools and Haleakala Crater. A bird's eye view of Maui is nothing less than spectacular.

15.ATV/Quad Tours. Not only can you hike parts of Haleakala Crater, you can also now take an ATV/quad tour of this scenic place.

16.Submarine Adventures. If you don't like to scuba dive, you don't have to miss the beauty of Maui's oceanscape and marine life when you are in a submarine with a view.

17.Jet Skiing. If you have enjoyed jet skiing anywhere else, just add Mauis unsurpassed beauty to the thrill of the ride and you start to get an idea of how fun it would be to jet ski in Maui.

18.Kayaking. This is an activity that is not only environmentally friendly but will also give you a good cardio workout.

19.Jeep Tour. Rent a jeep or other four wheel drive vehicle for an enjoyable excursion around the southern and western end of Maui. Most visitors to Maui don't take advantage of this scenic tour. You will see two of the most recent Haleakala lava flows that reached the ocean, dating back less than 500 years to 800 years old.

20.Cave Exploration. Explore some of the worlds largest lava tubes.

21.Surfing on Mauis North Shore. Surf enthusiasts from all over come here to ride some of the biggest waves in the world.

This is by no means a complete list of Maui activities, but it should give you a good idea why Maui has become our number one vacation destination.

This article was written by Scott Grover who considers himself a Maui enthusiast with three vacations to Maui over the past 9 years (1997, 2000, and 2004), and another family vacation planned there for December 2006. You can read about him and his familys Maui adventures at his website http://www.Barefoot-In-Maui.com

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Adventure Camping and Horse Back Riding

Adventure - Camping and Horse Back Riding
By Linda Meckler

When my children were young my husband and I purchased a membership in a real live cattle ranch in the mountains which had been re-created into a camp ground.

When my husband and I first visited the ranch we both fell in love with it for different reasons. I felt this was a wonderful place for our family to be together in a safe, outdoor camping atmosphere. My husband fell in love with the horses that were housed in the barn.

Of course before we could go camping we must have the correct camping equipment. We needed to purchase, two tents, four sleeping bags and various other camping gear.

On our ranch there were three ways to camp. You could camp in a tent, or bunkhouse with eighteen rooms and two bathrooms with a complete kitchen, or if you owned a motor home you could leave it on the ranch.

We loaded up our car for the first time, we were all excited about our first trip to adventure. My husband and kids could not think of anything but horse back riding and fishing.

The ranch is vast and extends in every area. It consisted of a large playground for the kids, a pool, and tennis court. There were three man made lakes great for fishing. A few years later they added a three hole golf course.

I was raised in the city and had never ridden a horse. My kids had never ridden a horse either and they couldnt wait to hop on and take off.

After our tents were set up and we had eaten it was pitch black. I had never been outside in the mountains at night and the feeling was eerie. I was sitting down resting when my husband said, I want to show you something.

We walked out into an open field and suddenly I was surrounded by five huge horses that towered over me. I really could not see the horses but could feel their presence. I was over come with fear. After all I had never been near a horse before let alone five in the pitch black in the middle of the open field in the mountains.

He said, Open your hand. I did and he placed some small pieces of carrots in my open palm. He instructed me to keep my hand open and the horses would eat the carrots right out of my hand. It was totally amazing. I even was able to pet them before we turned and walked very carefully out of the open field.

The next morning our family of four was the first to the barn to sign up for horse back riding. My husband jumped right up on the horse he was assigned. My son managed to mount his horse. My daughter managed to mount her horse also but I had to use the mounting stairs.

We were riding along (not to fast) I was really beginning to enjoy my first horse back ride. Suddenly, my horse changed gait and picked up speed. Totally surprised, I lost my balance and the next moment I was hanging from the horse with my head almost hitting the dirt only attached by one stirrup. I yelled, HELP, loud and clear and my husband came to my rescue.

That first camping trip will always stand out in my memory and I hope my kids remember it also.

We continued to camp out on weekends and holidays for many years. These are the memories that cement family relationships.

I hope you enjoyed my article. Please feel free to check out my other articles. I love to hear from you.

Copyright 2006 Linda Meckler

Linda has wonderful memories of those wonderful years. Currently she is the author of Ghost Kids Trilogy, three books in one book. CHRISTY 12, AND HER BROTHER BRAD, 16 MOVE INTO AN OLD HOUSE ON TOP OF A MOUNTAIN AND MEET TWO GHOST KIDS. Meet a Magical Blue Vase. Join Christy and Brad on a Pirates' Treasure Hunt. ADVENTURE/MYSTERY Love, Family Values and Charity burst off the pages.

Visit my website at http://www.lmeckler.com my email lmecky@tns.net. Order my book at http://www.amazon.com or http://www.buybooksontheweb.com With an order of 5 books = 40% discount. An order of 20 books free shipping and handling. ISBN 0-7414-2273-5.

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