Blue Ocean Holidays

Wintergreen Resort Ski Vacation

Known as the single best ski resort in the South, Wintergreen Resort in Virginia has quite a bit to offer skiers. Featuring 11,000 acres with 19 trails, Wintergreen has a top elevation of 3516 feet, with a 1003 foot vertical drop. Beginners, intermediates, and experts will all find suitable trails at Wintergreen esort.

To accommodate skiers, there are six lifts, including five chair lifts and one surface lift. There is also a dedicated terrain park for snowboarding. The resort is located near Charlottesville, Virginia, and you will experience breathtaking views of the Appalachian Mountains, and be surrounded by luxury that most people only dream of. There is also a world class golf course located near the resort.

Other activities include tubing, snowmobiling, tennis, hiking, and horseback riding. The Out of Bounds
Adventure Center is a very popular attraction at the resort with rock climbing and bungee trampolines. The Outdoor Wilderness Leadership school offers corporate retreats, real rock climbing, rappelling, and mountain biking.

This is an ideal spot for a family vacation. You and your children can participate in a variety of craft workshops, enjoy campfires and storytelling, go on hay rides, and enjoy many more community events that are scheduled throughout the year. There are many planned activities for families, including winter hiking, skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and swimming in a cozy indoor pool.

While vacationing at Wintergreen Resort, make time to see the civil war history attractions, and visit the local wineries as well. Also take time to enjoy the Wintergreen Spa. At the spa, you can be pampered with massages, body wraps, skin treatments, and nail care. You can also visit the Mountaintop Aquatic and Fitness Center which features the latest in cardiovascular equipment, strength equipment, heated pools, hot tubs, steam rooms, and saunas.

The Wintergreen Performing Arts has many musical performances throughout the year that are sure to delight you and your family. If you are less interested in culture, and more interested in nature, the Wintergreen Nature Foundation is for you. This foundation promotes the understanding and conservation of natural resources that the Blue Ridge Mountains are famous for.

No matter what your interests are, if getting away from the hustle and bustle of city life is what you want, this is the number one spot in the South for fun, relaxation, and rejuvenation. The Wintergreen Resort is open all year long, with activities that are suitable for every season.

Caribbean Cruises offer you the chance to visit many of the world’s most beautiful locations. Sail in luxury from one destination to the next, enjoy the trips ashore to sample the delightful local cuisine and culture - and return to your own luxury cabin on your luxury cruise liner.

* Book by 7/4/08 for travel from 7/3/08 to 7/7/08.

Albuquerque

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Anaheim

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Atlanta

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Austin

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Beijing

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Cancun

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Dallas

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Destin

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Florida Keys

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Fort Worth

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Big Island

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Washington DC

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Park City

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Williamsburg

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London

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Paris

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Destinations on Sale!

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Hotels.com Road Trips - Getaway this Summer Without Breaking the Bank!

Get in the car and hit the road this summer! With the hotels.com Road Trips search tool, you can find great destinations and fantastic deals just a short drive from wherever you are.

Driving allows travelers to select scenic destinations that are nearby, reducing time spent in transit and fuel costs. In fact, the RV Industry Association says that a family of four can save up to 65% on a road trip, compared to other vacations, such as taking a cruise or traveling by plane.

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The Best Golfing Holiday Destinations in Spain

Golf has become one of the fastest growing sports for non- professionals and many golfers will want to continue playing golf when they are on vacation.

Even though there are plenty golf courses in Spain, you will want to know the best golfing holiday destinations.

Some cities that have great golf courses are Cadiz, Girona, Valencia, Murcia, Madrid, Almeria and Alicante.

Le Manga Club in Murcia has three golf courses and it has been named the best golfing destination in Europe. They have other sporting facilities to keep the rest of the family occupied while you enjoy a round of golf. Here you will find a putting green and a driving range; as well as bars, restaurant, and many other facilities. You can rent your golf clubs and also arrange for some lessons from a professional golfer.

San Rogue Club has both an old and a new course. The old course opened in 1989 and the new course opened in 2003. Both courses are very well designed and they are just a couple of the many courses found in Cadiz.

Montecastillo golf resort is also in Cadiz and it has 18 holes and is around 160 hectares.

Real Club de Sotogrande Golf Course again is in Cadiz, and it was built around 1964. This golf course is seen as a difficult course and a good challenge to any golfer. The course was designed by an American. They have won an award for being 7th on the Golf World list.

PGA Gold de Cataluna is in the Northern Spain in Girona. This course was designed with 18 holes and each hole has 5 different tees so that people with different handicaps can play together.

El Saler Golf Course, Valencia is a spectacular golf course. Many people believe they could be on the Scottish coast because of the surroundings and how close it is to the sea.

Real Club de la Puerta de Hierro is in Madrid and this course has a beautiful oak forest in the course. This course was built at the start of the 20th Century.
Desert Springs Golf Course in America has won various awards since it opened in 2000. It is one of the most prestigious golf courses in Spain and is also in one of the driest areas which allows for golfing all year around. Bonalba Golf Course in Alicante offers classes for children who would like to take up golfing. Many professional golfers use this course because of the views and climate.

These are some of the best golfing holiday destinations where you will be able to enjoy a great golfing vacation while in Spain.

Valencia is the home of the paella and you should try it at least once at a restaurant where the locals eat. The original recipe will have rabbit and snails in it. The locals like to eat rice at lunch and then head for the Las Arenas area of the city. If you go to the Old City you will find many Tapas Bars. There are also cafés and restaurants all charging different prices. Another advantage of finding the places the locals like to eat is that you will be charged local prices and not tourist prices. If you like to enjoy a nice lunch, you will be disappointed because most restaurants don’t start to serve food until 2 pm.

Ribera 17 is a very cheap taverna but the food is excellent and it is definitely worth having a meal there.

Los Toneles is opposite the bullring and it has been serving food for 60 years. The locals love the calamari that is served there.

La Utielana packs in the local crowd because the food is wholesome and it is a good value for the money. To ensure you get a table you need to arrive early, before the locals, because there are no reservations accepted here.

La Tastaolletes serves vegetable tapas. The salads are excellent and the cheesecake with fruit is something you shouldn’t even consider missing.

La Pepica was a favorite restaurant for Ernest Hemingway. All your food is cooked right out in the open so you can see everything that happens in the kitchen.

La Rosa is a place where the locals flock to. Lunch starts at 2pm but you should get there around 1.30pm if you want a table overlooking the sea.

Raco del Turia is a place to learn about local foods. The food served here is very traditional and you will find a mixture of local people and foreigners eating here.

Casa Montana is one of the five classic Tapas bars in Valencia. It is not one of the easiest places to find but it is worth taking the time to find it.

Café & Te is a chain where you will find many locals having their coffee and breakfast. They serve meals during the day and you can also get snacks as well.

Many of the restaurants in Valencia are tourist restaurants and you should ask the locals to recommend some of the hidden secret places. They will know where they get those great meals and, by asking, you will learn about them yourself.

When the crowds head for Spain for their vacation, they tend to opt for all the well known places. But these well known beaches are also full of people; especially when children are out of school during vacation time. The way to avoid the crowds is to find out about the little known Spanish Beaches and Coves. These are places where you can feel like you are on a desert island and you don’t want to share your discoveries with other people.

If you go to the South of the country you will find 90 km of coastline. Since it is on the Atlantic Ocean rather than the Mediterranean Sea, it will be slightly cooler. In summer, that means it will still be hot and it will be an ideal place to get away from it all. Here you will find Costa De La Luz where the coastline is unspoiled and it is not a destination that many people have discovered. Spaniards come here and, in July and August, you will find the people celebrating the fiestas. Apart from that, very few people seem to visit here.

There is a wonderful little village which is on a hidden beach called Bolonia. It is a fine white sand beach and the population of this little village is only 125 people. There are a few restaurants in this village, but it is perfect for your vacation hideaway. You are able to walk along the coastline and you will arrive at different beaches along this coastline which are less known to tourists.

You might decide you want to visit an area which is well-known, like Costa Brava. Northeast and southwest of Tossa are many rocky coves some of which have very quiet beaches. If you go north from Llafranc you will find Tamariu which has a small cove. It is said that the water here is some of the most translucent on the Mediterranean coastline. If you head to Begur, you will find a series of small beaches. If you go from there to Fornells, you will find a hamlet on a beautiful beach in the Costa Brava, which includes a marina, beach and clear blue water.

As you search your favorite destination in Spain you will find lots of hidden places to explore. You will find lots of little known Spanish beaches and coves for you to get away from the tourists and be alone with your friends and family. There are many beautiful beaches and coves waiting to be discovered. Take some time to get away from the crowds and see what is waiting for you in some of the different destinations.

Learn More About Finding More Affordable Cruises So That You Do Not Miss Out On Taking That Vacation You Deserve

Every family out there deserves to have the ability to get out of the house sometimes and just kick back for some relaxation and fun. If you and your family tend to just work, go to school, do things around the house, etc, then perhaps something such as going away on cruises might sound quite appealing to you right now. I would hope so anyway, because I do not know too many people that would ever turn down the opportunity to escape on a fabulous cruise to enjoy creating memories that will last a lifetime with some of the closest people to you in your life. It is truly an unforgettable experience and I really hope that after reading over this article you will be more convinced at the fact that this is really something feasible that you and your family could begin making plans for in the near future.

There are places on the internet or in different travel agencies, where you will have the opportunity to find some awesome and very affordable offers on different types of cruises. Not too many of us could say that we do not like to come across the chance to save ourselves some money, so if that sounds like something you are interested in doing then hopefully you will continue reading this article. Researching vacation destinations such as cruises is really easiest done by just hopping on your own home personal computer system and checking out the many different websites that are available to you. You will really be shocked once you do run across some of the most incredible deals that are offered to you, for vacations such as exotic cruises. Finding out that you and your family really could afford such a trip will really be thrilling and so exciting for you all and will give you something to look forward to in the near future.

You all do deserve to get away for awhile and enjoy yourselves anyway that you possibly can, so if you could find some different available discounted prices on different types of cruises, you should begin making all necessary preparations for this kind of trip today or just as soon as you possibly can. I know that it is very exciting to just imagine being on board such an enormous vessel and whenever you and your family does return home, you can bet that there will be plenty of exciting and unforgettable stories to share with all of your friends and family members. They will all be extremely jealous that you were able to have such an amazing vacation and you do not even have to tell them that you hardly paid anything at all in order to be able to go. If you choose to tell them, maybe some of them could also begin making plans for going on cruises of all types because there is definitely one type that will be just right for you and your family.

You’re sitting at your desk at work and you just need to get away. You and your family have not had a holiday in over a year and it is about time that you treated yourselves to something that can help you recharge those batteries and face the work week again.

There are some great last minute holidays that you can take with your family or some last minute holidays that are just for you and your significant other. Either way you will always find something that appeals to your needs and that can make everyone happy.

The whole point to a holiday is to forget about the real world for a little while so why not plan a last minute holiday that can help you and yours forget about the day to day rat race and put your heads back into a good place. Whether you go tropical or some other destination you can always find something to enjoy.

If you are thinking about last minute holidays during the autumn then you might want to consider New England. The foliage in New England is beautiful in the autumn and some hotels and lodges in New England even offer holiday packages that center around the change in the foliage.

The colors of the leaves and the crisp autumn air can really do a body good. When you add in the old age charm and feel of New England then you can really see what people mean when they say that everyone should get to New England at least once in their lives.

Make A Change And Feel Better For It

When people plan last minute holidays everyone considers Florida or California. Some last minute holidays are even designed to maximize Vegas as much as possible. But there is a lot to see in other states and you can certainly find peace and fun in other parts of the country. New Mexico is known for its ranches and beautiful scenery and would make a wonderful last minute holiday destination.

Arizona can be beautiful in the desert and the big open skies of Montana can be just the change that you may need. Wyoming is known for its skiing and other snow sports as well as Colorado. So there are a lot of other places you can go for a last minute holiday that will not empty your wallet and will still leave you with memories for the rest of your life.

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The tropical climate, cooled by ocean breezes, of Jamaica assures the growth of many fragrant and beautiful flowers. Jamaica is full of gardens, open to the public, in which to relax and smell the flowers, watch the birds flitting here and there, and enjoy the surrounding views of open sky and lush, tropical vegetation. There are also professional flower nurseries that can be toured, as Jamaica exports a large number of flowers.

Cranbrook Flower Forest is a wonderful example of what Jamaica has to offer those who choose to take the time to smell the flowers while on their Jamaican holiday. It is found at Llandovery, which is near Saint Anne’s Bay and located on what was once, during the colonial area, a water mill. It is open every day from 9am to 5pm, and does charge an admission fee, which includes a guided tour conducted by its knowledgeable staff. The fee is $6 for those 12 years of age and older and $3 for those under 12.

It is a professional nursery, growing an incredible variety of flowers on 130 acres. Many of these flowers are exported to the United States. There are greenhouses to be toured, with orchids and anthuriums, as well as beautiful outside gardens for wandering and relaxing. In addition to the gardens, there are numerous other sights to be seen, including waterfalls, natural rain forest growth, fountains and peaceful bodies of water. There are trails that can be explored, and for those who’d like to do so by horseback, the charge is $30 for a 2-hour excursion.

In the hills of Saint Andrew, Jamaica, visitors can enjoy a unique botanical experience at the Cinchona Botanical Gardens. This place is of historical relevance as well, as it has been in operation since 1868. In addition to a wide diversity of plant life, its altitude – which starts at 4,500 feet and extends to about 5,500 feet above sea level – offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.

Castleton Gardens is another remarkable, historic botanical garden site in Jamaica. It has been serving as a botanical garden site since 1862, and many of the plants species that were brought to the island, such as the tangerine, navel orange and Bombay Mango, were tried out first in this site to see if they would be able to survive in and adapt to the local climate.  In addition to many, and often unusual, species of plants able to be seen at this 30-acre site, visitors will also see a wide variety of birds and other creatures. There are plenty of places for relaxing and swimming is also available.

Hope Botanical Gardens and Zoo offers both beautiful floral and tropical plants, as well as a small zoo. Located in Saint Andrew parish, on Old hope Road, these gardens were once a part of the Hope Estate. In 1881, a segment was bought by the Jamaican government to serve as an experimental garden, to try out new varieties of export crops, particularly new strains of sugar cane and coffee. Today, it is an attractive and quiet place, wonderful for spending a relaxing afternoon.

The gardens Jamaica are a spectacular visual experience. They are also, however, an important part of the history of Jamaica. A trip to Jamaica should definitely include some time among the flowers.

A guest article by Rebecca Robbins

This is a cruise ship strictly for the discriminating traveler who is accustomed to fine living and accommodations. The attention that you will receive while on board will be unbeatable. You see it’s an all suite ship which is what makes the Silver Shadow the ship to sail a golden voyage on. An all - inclusive cruise includes round trip air fare, premium deluxe hotel stay, all on board beverages including wines and spirits, all port charges, transfers a shore side event and yes even gratuities.

When boarding you will be given the White Glove Greeting with White Glove service. Beginning with cold Moet Chandon Champagne. This is the official champagne of the Silver Seas Cruise line. After adjourning to your suite with walk-in closet space you can relax in a white marbled bathroom lavished with bvlgari soaps, lotions and shampoos, wrap yourself in a thick plush robe and enjoy a cocktail or two from your in-suite bar that is constantly stocked with your favorites to be drunk from cut crystal glasses.

If you have the time for a nap before dinner, then you can sink into a queen sized bed with crisp linens. Then it’s on to the open seating dining room and cordon bleu signature dishes served on signature Silver Seas China and Christofle Silverware on top of Frette Table Linens. The Silver Shadow and her sister ships are smaller than the new age millennium mega ships. The Shadow only accommodates 384 passengers. All suites have an ocean view and all service is six star, for instance if you booked a Grand Suite.

Accommodations:

Grand Suite: This suite has floor to ceiling glass doors which lead onto 1 of 2 teak wood verandas with patio furniture. It has 2 bedrooms with twin beds or a queen size, a sitting area which has remote controlled Plasma T.V. a T.V. with DVD player a 3 changer CD player VCR, in suite movie channels, Direct Dial Telephone, beverage cabinet (stocked daily with your selections) at your request, a writing desk with personalized stationary, newspaper of your choice, large walk - in closet, with dressing table and a safe.

Daily replenishing of fresh flowers and fruit, ice, afternoon canapés, espresso maker, chocolates, butler services and complimentary laundry service throughout your voyage. There will be nights that you will be seated and dinner at the Officers Table. The suite has 2 marbled bathrooms with double vanities one has a Jacuzzi tub and separate shower, the other has a tub with shower, separate water closet (toilet) with a bidet, a powder room and European amenities.

Fine linens, plush robes, choice pillows, twice daily suite service with nightly turn down and complimentary concierge service round out the services of the suites. With an 80% view of the ocean from any suite the only difference in the Grand Suite and the others is the square footage size, the amenities are the same in the Owners, Royal, medallion, Silver, Veranda, and Vista Suites with the Vista being the smallest it has a large picture window. Dining

Le Champagne: intimate atmosphere with excellent wines selections with every culinary creation and for a true culinary experience, order from the Epicureans List. Reservations suggested

La Terroza: alternative dining from around the world with casual surroundings for breakfast, lunch and dinner

Poole Grille: poolside grill with all American favorites cooked and served the way you like them

Cruiselite: delectable low carb low fat meals for the health consciences and the vegetarian

In Suite Dining: order 24 hours a day from the Restaurant Menu and have your meal Served course by course if you like

Special Diet Needed : If you need a special diet, every effort will be made to accommodate you, Please notify us at least 75 days in advance.

Nightlife:

The Bar: Complimentary cocktails canapés and Live Music

Show Lounge: Classical musical concerts, variety shows and feature films

Moonlight Movies: Latest feature films shown poolside

Panorama Lounge: Live music with Ballroom, Dinner and Rock & Roll Dancing along with the latest Club Mixes, Complimentary drinks

Amenities:

Spa: Hot Lava Rocks, Massages, Elemis Japanese Silk Booster Facials, Elemis Aroma spa Ocean Wraps

Boutique: loaded with Designer jewelry, fashions, perfumes and Silver Sea Logo items

About the Author

Rebecca Robbins offers travel tips on Luxury Cruise Ships on her blog at http://wwwmyluxurycruise.info