http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/society/weddings/sedona-honeymoon-expect-the-unexpected.html http://www.articletrader.com/society/weddings/sedona-honeymoon-expect-the-unexpected.html Fri, 27 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0500
There are of course the usual suspects: Hawaii, Belize, Fiji. But, what about a place in America’s own backyard? When you think romance – think Sedona.

If you’ve never been to Sedona, then you’re in for a real treat. The most spectacular red rock scenery awaits you, in addition to world-class resorts and close proximity to one of nature’s greatest wonders – the Grand Canyon.

Known for its stunning red buttes, Sedona is located in northern Arizona only 130 miles from Phoenix, 40 miles from Flagstaff, and approximately 125 miles from the Grand Canyon. Of course, you never have to leave Sedona to have a fabulous honeymoon, but making a day trip to the Grand Canyon would make for a great outing.

Sedona is home to many incredible resorts, including L'Auberge de Sedona, which has been named one of the "50 Romantic Retreats in the World" by Travel + Leisure magazine. What can a honeymooning couple expect at L’Auberge de Sedona? Guests have their choice of several different spa packages from which to choose, including the Red Rock Renaissance Package, which includes two 1-hour massages in the privacy of your own cottage, breakfast each morning for two delivered to your cottage’s porch, and two L’Auberge signature bathrobes to take with you. You can also choose the Amore package, which includes a tasting menu at L’Auberge Restaurant for two, breakfast each morning at L’Auberge Restaurant for two, and champagne and strawberries delivered to your room upon arrival. For more information call 1-800-272-6777.

Another award-winning place to stay in Sedona is Casa Sedona, a 16-room bed and breakfast inn which has received the AAA 4-Diamond award for 9 consecutive years. Casa Sedona offers a special Honeymoon Package which includes 3 nights in a king or queen room complete with a balcony or terrace, and fireplace, as well as a full two-course breakfast served to you either in the garden or by the fireplace, and a complimentary dinner for two at Savannah’s, one of Sedona’s finest restaurants. Of course, your honeymoon wouldn’t be complete without a tour of Sedona, so your honeymoon package includes a two-hour jeep tour so you can view the red rock backcountry close up. For more information call toll free 1-800-525-3756.

There are numerous outdoor activities to choose from in Sedona, including the many jeep tours to view the red rocks, as well as hot air ballooning and visiting Slide Rock State Park. Slide Rock is just plain fun. No matter what wonderful amenities your first-class resort may have, this natural waterslide in Oak Creek is a must-visit in the hotter summer months. Fees are $8-$10 per vehicle, $2 per person to walk or bicycle in.

What time is the best time to visit Sedona? If you’re squeamish about the heat, you might want to avoid July through August, as temperatures can get up to the high 90s and low 100s. This is also the monsoon season, so you can expect some thundershowers. But, for those of us who enjoy a good summer rain, this can be an exhilarating time of year. Fall and Spring will find lovely weather, while the winter months can dip into the 30s.

Whether it’s for the red rocks, the resorts or the outdoor adventures, Sedona will certainly not disappoint.



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Diane McCalley is an avid traveler and creator of Honeymoon Vacations, where you can also learn about Rome honeymoon ideas.



Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/society/weddings/honeymooning-in-jamaica.html http://www.articletrader.com/society/weddings/honeymooning-in-jamaica.html Fri, 27 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0500
Well, if you want a mundane honeymoon destination, I can't help you. But, if you want to honeymoon in of the most gorgeous and romantic spots on earth, then let me suggest Jamaica, an island nation in the Caribbean, known for its scenery and amazing weather. The popular Jamaican poem sums up the tropical climate pretty accurately: “We have neither summer nor winter/Neither autumn nor spring….”

Okay, so it's pretty and the weather's great. Anything else? Consider this: Jamaica is a very popular romantic getaway, chosen by honeymooners the world over, which means that you will have a great choice of resorts that have age restrictions. What does that mean for you? Well, while you two are getting to one another better in your room, you won't hear the endless stream of "Marco" "Polo", "Marco" "Polo" being shouted by children at the pool. In addition, an age-restricted resort usually provides a more romantic atmosphere than one which caters to families. Now, there's nothing wrong with children. You may end up having a few yourselves. But, you don't want to have to hear them on your honeymoon, right?

A couple all-inclusive, adult-only resorts you might look into include:

Hedonism III in Runaway Bay
877-467-8737

Set in Jamaica's North Coast, you'll find swim-up rooms, a Roman tub in every room, and a see-through slide that snakes through the disco. That's right - they don't call it "Hedonism" for nothing.

This all-inclusive resort includes such things as: Three meals daily (two restaurants), all drinks (premium brands included), 24-hour snacks, nude beach, scuba diving, water-skiing, windsurfing, sailing, snorkeling, swimming pool, Jacuzzis, kayaks, tennis courts, volleyball, basketball, air conditioned squash courts, fitness center, aerobics, bicycles, ping pong, daily and nightly entertainment, trapeze, disco and piano bar.

Couples Negril
800-268-7537

One of the four Couples all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica.

This all-inclusive resort offers such things as: All meals (three restaurants), all drinks (four bars), swim-up bar, two Jacuzzis, clothing-optional beach, sailing, scuba diving equipment and instruction, water skiing, snorkeling, canoeing, water tricycles, water aerobics, tennis, weight room, unlimited golf at Negril Hills Golf Club (cart/caddy extra), nightly entertainment.

While on your honeymoon you may also want to venture out of your room, get away from the resort and experience all that Jamaica has to offer. On Jamaica you have so many choices of activities and interesting places to see that you certainly won't be able to experience them all :

*Beaches
*Biking
*Equestrian Activities
*Fishing Parks
*Gardens
*Golf
*Hiking
*Plantation Tours
*Rafting
*Safaris
*Tubing
*Water Activities
*Waterfalls

Jamaica offers all "the three Rs" a honeymoon is meant for: rest, rejuvenation and romance.




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Diane McCalley is an avid traveler and creator of Honeymoon Vacations, where you can also learn about Hawaii Honeymoon destinations.


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/destinations/tawas-bay-cape-cod-of-the-midwest.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/destinations/tawas-bay-cape-cod-of-the-midwest.html Thu, 07 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0500
If you’re not familiar with Tawas Bay, you’re certainly missing out on one of America’s treasures, one that will certainly make the perfect family vacation. Tawas Bay (considered by many to be the “Cape cod of the Midwest”) is located on Lake Huron in Northeast Michigan, just a three-hour drive from the Detroit area.

The winds and protected waters are what make Tawas Bay so good for sailing. A limestone reef was built in Tawas Bay in 1987, which helped make it one of the finest fishing areas as well. I went for the sailing, but, oddly enough, ended up having a great time fishing. It was my first time and I have to admit, I wasn’t half bad. I actually caught something. Well, to be honest, my pole caught something. When I felt a fish on the line I quickly gave it to my friend to take over. I’m told I caught a perch.

Fish are quite plentiful in Tawas Bay. You’ll find perch, walleye (a really mean-looking fish if you ask me), brown trout, lake trout, northern pike, bass, coho and Chinook salmon.

Tawas Bay is also home to Tawas Point State Park, which features campsites with electric hookups, modern toilets and showers. In short, my kind of camping. There’s a playground for the kids, and areas where metal detecting is allowed.

While planning a vacation to Tawas, make sure you make time for the Tawas Point Lighthouse, built in 1876. The Tawas Point Lighthouse is open for tours on the weekends, Memorial Day through Labor Day. If you visit the lighthouse, do make sure you take the tour, which allows you to walk to the top of the tower for an incredible view of Tawas Point. Standing 70 feet above Lake Huron, the view from the lighthouse tower will take your breath away.

If you have kids, you might want to plan your vacation to Tawas Bay for the second weekend of June, during the Tawas Point Celebration Days. Many children’s activities are planned during this time, as well as demonstrations of black-smithing, wood carving and weaving, as well as guided hikes and a fishing derby.

My vacation to Tawas Bay is certainly one I’ll take again. Before planning your next Lake Huron family vacation, take a look at Tawas Bay, the “Cape Cod of the Midwest.”


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Diane McCalley is an accountant, avid traveler and creator of a Pet Travel website, where you can learn all about such things as Timeshare Vacations.




Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/destinations/grand-canyon-a-trip-you-have-to-take.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/destinations/grand-canyon-a-trip-you-have-to-take.html Wed, 24 May 2006 00:00:00 -0500
You can approach your trip to the Grand Canyon in a couple different ways. One way is to stay within the park at one of the lodges on the South Rim and take time to experience all the different things the park has to offer. The other way is to stay in one of the surrounding Arizona towns and take a day trip to the Grand Canyon for a “hit and run” view of the Canyon. Both have their plusses.

The part of the Grand Canyon The South Rim is the part of the Grand Canyon most people are familiar with. It sits on the Arizona side and can be accessed all year round. The North Rim is closed from mid-October to mid-May, and is not as visited as the South Rim.

The benefit of staying within the park is the ability to take your time to view the magnificent Canyon from different viewing points, which you can access by walking the rim trail or taking a shuttle from point to point. For those of you staying for several days, a trip to the Northern Rim of the Grand Canyon would be a lovely addition, though the drive is about 4 - 5 hours long. For those not wanting to drive, there is a shuttle which provides rim to rim service from mid-May to Mid-October.

For those staying on the South Rim, there are numerous trails down the canyon, as well as a trail along the top of the Canyon called the “Rim Trail.” If you're staying in one of the lodges and are planning a day hike into the inner Canyon, just be aware that you probably cannot make it down and back in one day. As a matter of fact, each year around 250 people are rescued from the inner Canyon, the majority of whom are able-bodied young men between the ages of 18 to 40 who attempted to hike down and back in one ay. Don’t be one of them. A good day hike would be a couple hours down and then back up. The hike up will take longer than the hike down. Also, be sure to wear good hiking shoes as some trails can be very rocky.

Some people choose to hike down one day and either camp at the bottom or stay in the Phantom Ranch. Be aware, however, that you have to make arrangements well in advance of your trip if you choose to stay at the bottom. Campers require a backcountry permit, and Phantom Ranch is usually booked months ahead. Permits are sometimes available on that day, but why risk it? For reservations at the Phantom Ranch, you can call 888-297-2757.

Some people prefer to stay outside the park and visit the Canyon for a few hours and move on. There are numerous areas in Northern Arizona where one can stay and take a side trip to the Grand Canyon, such as Sedona and Flagstaff. While such locations are still lengthy drives (an hour from Flagstaff, two from Sedona), it's still close enough for a day trip. Both Sedona and Flagstaff are lovely places to stay, with Sedona being the most 'touristy" of the two towns. Flagstaff, to me, is the quirkier of the two, perhaps because it is a "university town," home to Northern Arizona University.

Sedona and Flagstaff are also visually different. Flagstaff is surrounded by a pine forest, while Sedona is in "red rock" country. Sedona abounds with numerous high-end resorts, galleries and expensive eateries. Flagstaff is cheaper all-around, with inexpensive lodging and restaurants. Both are close enough for a day trip to the Grand Canyon.

Of course, you can always opt for an even quicker bus tour, hopping from one tourist stop to the next. But, why not take a cue from that little trickle of water which started it all? Take your time and enjoy the view.


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Diane McCalley is an avid traveler and creator of www.thetravelerscompanion.com and a Road Trip blog

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/destinations/celebration-of-fire.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/destinations/celebration-of-fire.html Wed, 29 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0600
Beginning on March 15 and culminating with huge bonfires on March 19, Las Fallas, or “the fires” is exactly what the name implies - a celebration of fire. For six months leading up to Las Fallas, “ninots,” huge cardboard wood and plaster statues, are constructed by community organizations. They depict people and scenes from current events (sometimes resembling local politicians), and can stand several stories high.

Hundreds of these ninots are constructed and placed around the city until March 19, which is the day called “La Crema.” On this day holes are made in the ninots, which are then stuffed with fireworks. Crowds gathered around then begin to chant, streetlights are turned off and at exactly midnight all the ninots are set ablaze. All the ninots, that is, except one, which has been chosen popular vote to be taken to the local Museum of the Ninot to be exhibited along with winners from previous Las Fallas celebrations

No one’s really sure how it got started, but most believe it harkens back to the days of the Pagans, who celebrated the end of winter and the beginning of Spring and the planting season. It is known that that in sixteenth century Valencia streetlights were used only during the long winter nights. The street lamps then were hung on wooden posts, called parots, and as the days became longer and the streetlights were no longer lit, the parots were rendered useless and ceremoniously burned on St. Joseph's Day.

Some believe the huge bonfires thus started as a bit of housecleaning, or, village cleaning as it were. Back then the carpenter’s guild used tall sticks with various rags soaked in tar to make candelabra, if you will. They then became the streetlights. And, when they became no longer needed and were burned, the townspeople began adding unnecessary items from their own households (apparently they weren’t into recycling back then).

So, how did the burning sticks, rags and people’s discards take on the current-day Las Fallas celebration of the ninots resembling people and scenes?

Quite simply, many of the discards were people’s clothing, so the creative among them began dressing the sticks with the clothing, assigning them characteristics of politicians and other characters in the community (many of them corrupt). And so…a festival was born.

What’s it like to attend Las Fallas? I admit, the first one I attended was a little frightening. I mean, everything’s on fire. But, the firefighters there make sure the festival fires don’t get out of hand. So, after my third Las Fallas (yes, I’ve been back a couple of times), I actually find it an exhilarating experience, a cleansing so to speak. I sometimes just imagine it as an “out with the old, in with the new” sort of thing, much like firecrackers on New Years. Only bigger. Much, much bigger. With a lot more oomph.

If you’re looking for an experience like no other, I truly recommend Las Fallas in Valencia, Spain. You won’t regret it, I’m sure of that.

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Diane McCalley is an accountant, frequent traveler and owner of the Travel Planning website, www.thetravelerscompanion.com, where you can find all you need to travel well.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/destinations/beaches-of-andalusia.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/destinations/beaches-of-andalusia.html Wed, 29 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0600
Starting from the west is the area of Costa de la Luz. Translated it means “Coast of Light.” If a place is called “coast of light” there’s a good reason to believe you can soak up the sun to your heart’s content. And, indeed, you can.

One “must see” beach is Bolonia Beach, which brags beautiful, soft white sand and clear water, perfect for sunbathing or swimming.

Other beaches of note in Costa de la Luz include the beaches of Isla Cristina. Facilities include showers and toilets, and you can rent Parasols and sun loungers. What makes this beach breathtaking is that it is backed by sand dunes and pine woods.

If you must stray from the beaches of Costa de la Luz, then a drive on the Calle Facinas or Facinas Road is in order. This road, created as a Roman highway, goes through the Parque Natural de los Alcornocales, a beautiful national park. Aside from the beauty of the park, visitors have the opportunity to stop at Roman ruins along their drive.

Moving along the coast to the east is Costa del Sol, the most developed coastal area in Andalusia. Again, the word “sol” (meaning “sun”) is another clue that sunbathing is a popular pastime here. If you’re the type who relishes getting those last rays of the day, try heading to Playa Del Cristo, Estepona, one of the only beaches on this coast to face west, which will ensure the sun worshiper the maximum amount of sunshine.

Playa Del Cristo is also an area known for its family atmosphere. Of particular note for those with children, El Cristo Beach provides a sheltered cove, ideal for the young ones.

Another beach in the Costa del Sol area not is Mistral Beach, which is situated between San Pedro de Alcantara and Puerto Banus. Mistral Beach boasts panoramic views of much of Costa del Sol, and also offers fabulous restaurants.

Moving along toward Granada Province is Costa Tropical, probably the least known of all the coastal areas of Granada. But don’t let this stop you, for this area boasts a rocky coastline of isolated sandy coves. Key word here is isolated. That means you don’t have to fight all the other tourists for your own piece of Heaven. And while you’re there, treat yourself to the great diving opportunities Costa Tropical provides.

Now we come to the most eastern coastal area of Andalusia. If you can’t decide whether you want isolation or popular tourist spots, then Costa de Almeria is for you. There are seven golf courses, with more on the way. And since Costa de Almeria offers the best climate in all of Spain, there’s a great chance your stay will be picture perfect. And there are plenty of recreational activities to choose from, including scubadiving, windsurfing, mountain biking and caving.

For those seeking isolation, head on over to Playa de los Muertos, where you will find expansive, isolated beaches. For the more “adventurous” among you, try Vera Playa, famous for its large naturist beach. What is a naturist beach, you ask? You might know it by another name - nudist beach. Vera Playa is known as the center of nudism in Andalusia, and there are a number of nudist hotels, apartments and camping facilities to choose from.

Whether it’s sunbathing (nude or clothed), a round of golf (clothed), a good swim, or just exploring the wonders of nature, Andalusia is a destination you can’t miss.


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Diane McCalley is an accountant, frequent traveler and owner of the Travel Planning website, www.thetravelerscompanion.com, where you can find all you need to travel well.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>