Very old school.

If you’re traveling in Ontario, Canada with your kids anytime between May 1st and September 8^th and find yourself anywhere near Greater Sudbury, make some time, a day would be best, to detour to Dinosaur Valley Mini Golf for a unique experience in family entertainment. Open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week, this singular attraction offers service in both English and French.

The park began as a dream for owners Josee and Marcel Rainville, who, after five years of work, completed the first 9-hole course in 1998. Over the years five more courses were added as well as the amazing steel dinosaurs, all scaled to size. The park owners make all of the skeletal replicas.

Dinosaur Valley offers a variety of amusement options ranging from a total of 54 unique holes of miniature golf to labyrinths and over 20 mammoth dinosaur and insect exhibits, plus their new Raptor and Dragon exhibits, added in 2006.

It is fun with a purpose, too. The Rainvilles have dedicated the entire park to cancer families to honor of the memory of their son, Steven, who died of leukemia. Dinosaur Valley also hosted Canada’s first Pro Mini Golf Tournament in which 100% of the proceeds were donated to charity (the Canadian Cancer Society).

This family fun centre is reasonably priced, too, with labyrinth entry only C$2.50 per person and 18 holes of miniature golf starting at C$5.99 for children and C$7.00 for adults. While some of the exhibits may be a little extra, most of the extraordinary metal models are incorporated into the golf courses. The park accepts cash, debit, Visa, and American Express. For those of you who like to plan ahead, you can book your visit to Dinosaur Valley Mini Golf online via their website, www.dinosaursudbury.ca .

The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (CWHM) in New Hope, Ontario, is unique because it is home to world’s largest collection of flying vintage aircraft. The museum also houses an aviation art gallery, interactive displays, audio-visual presentations, and an assortment of aircraft photographs and memorabilia.

The Museum began as a labor of love for four friends, Dennis J. Bradley, Alan Ness, Peter Matthews, and John Weir. The men did not just set out to restore just any planes, they specifically wanted to preserve and maintain a collection of the aircraft flown by Canadians and the Canadian military services from World War II to the present.

In 1993, an inferno ripped through one of the hangars at the Hamilton International Airport that the Museum was using for storage and restoration and destroyed five of the restored planes. The museum reluctantly acknowledged the need to move to a single facility that could accommodate both the displays and the space needed to do restoration work. As a member of Canada’s royal family and the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum’s royal patron, Charles, the Prince of Wales officially opened the new building in April 1996.

The Museum has over forty aircraft from the 1940s warplanes to jets from the 60s and 80s. Most of the planes are military and many of them are rare. Nowhere else will you find such a large collection of flight-ready vintage airplanes. The Museum flies one of their operational planes once a day during, the summer season, and Thursdays through Sundays in the spring and autumn, weather permitting.

The Museum’s ride program, Legends Flight, gives people the opportunity to reserve a ride in either an open-cockpit bi-plane or the Harvard Trainer. They also offer two different flight paths, the Niagara Escarpment Tour over Hamilton and the Lake Ottawa shoreline or the Grand River Tour.

You cannot visit Southern California without stopping at one of its many wonderful beaches and dipping your toes in the Pacific Ocean. However, if you have a limited time on your visit and can only visit one beach, you may have a difficult time choosing. Which Southern California beach should top your list? Well, it depends on what you’re looking for:

Surfing:

Huntington Beach: With over 50 surfing competitions held each year in Huntington Beach, plus a Surfing Walk of Fame, Surfers’ Hall of Fame and International Surfing Museum, Huntington Beach, or “Surf City” as some call it, is the place you’ll want to visit to surf and watch surfers in action. Forget your surfboard or boogie board? No problem, you can also rent one in Huntington Beach. You’ll want to visit the pier at Huntington City Beach where you can watch the surfers as well as take in the views, which include Catalina Island, 22 miles away (check out the pay scopes for closer views).

Another reason to go to Huntington Beach is that all three of their beaches (Huntington City Beach, Huntington State Beach and Bolsa Chica State Beach) have concrete fire rings which allow you to have nightly bonfires and cookouts.

Swami’s Beach: Located in Encinitas below Seacliff Roadside Park, Swami’s Beach is also a great place to watch the surfers, as it is considered one of the best surfing spots along the San Diego County coastline.

Sitting in the Sand Relaxing:

Zuma/Point Dume: Of course, you can sit in the sand and relax at all the beaches in Southern California, but Point Dume and Zuma beaches, approximately 19 miles west of Malibu on Pacific Coast Highway, are the beaches to go to escape the crowded Los Angeles beaches. When driving west on PCH you’ll come to Point Dume first, then Zuma. Point Dume is a little quieter than Zuma, so if you want to lie in the sand and sleep, or read a good book, Point Dume is it. Of course, just because Point Dume and Zuma beaches are great for relaxing, that’s not all there is to do. Some consider Zuma beach one of the finest surfing beaches as well.

People Watching:

Venice City Beach: Want a quirky beach experience? Then you’ll have to visit Venice Beach, at the end of Washington Street in Venice. There you’ll find skaters, performers and those you’re not quite sure if they’re performing or not. On any given weekend you can be treated to musicians, acrobats, mimes, magicians and other assorted entertainers. You’ll also find restaurants and all sorts of shops along Ocean Front Walk, as well as Muscle Beach, where you can find bodybuilders pumping iron. If you like crowds, you’ll love Venice Beach on the weekend.

Fun Out of the Water:

Santa Monica State Beach: If you get tired of sunbathing or playing in the ocean, Santa Monica State Beach is great because you have Pacific Park at Santa Monica Pier with rides, games and restaurants. You have to really try hard to be bored at Santa Monica State Beach. Rides include a carousel, roller coaster, bumper cars, motion simulator and a nine-story Ferris wheel with spectacular views. You can also roller blade and ride bikes on the bike bath along the beach.

These are just a sampling of the great beach experiences you can have in Southern California. Just remember to bring and apply your sunscreen, drink plenty of water throughout the day, and enjoy your visit.

Family holidays can be fun and exciting for all ages. Here are some pointers for finding the best holiday for your family.

First you need to determine the common interests of the family. Ask your children what they would like to see and what they’re studying in school. If you have very young children then usually you will know better than them but try to get them involved. Think of you and your spouse as well; what may be great fun for the kids may be boring and annoying for the adults. Pick somewhere that all of you will enjoy or a destination that gives you the opportunity for quiet time. While kids tend to be unrealistic, you can usually accommodate their interest. For example, if they want to take an African safari you could visit the immense animal park in San Diego, California.

Theme parks are fun for the kids and offer entertainment for adults as well. Disneyworld in Orlando, Florida includes the Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center, Universal Studios and MGM Studios. There are luxury hotels located right inside the park and a monorail takes visitors to different parts of the park so there’s no need to drive. The park is not the only attraction; there are other nearby attractions including the Kennedy Space Center, Coco Beach and Sea World.

A trip through the historic east coast is another fun holiday that the kids and adults are sure to enjoy. The east coast has beautiful mountains and beaches and contains most of the United States’ history. Attractions are close to each other compared to the rest of the U.S. so a road trip is the best way to travel with the family to this part of the country. Historic sights include George Washington’s home in Virginia and the Arlington Cemetery. The Smithsonian Museums in Washington, D.C. are free and there is something to interest everyone. There is the Space and Aeronautics Museum that children really enjoy with life size replicas and actual aircraft showing the history of flight. Washington also contains the U.S. political buildings such as the White House and the Pentagon.

Southern California offers many sights and is especially warm and pleasant in the late fall and early spring when most of the country is cold. Los Angeles is the film industry capitol of the world. You can visit Universal Studios theme park and Disneyland. You may even be able to catch the taping of a television show. San Diego which is just about two hours south of Los Angeles is a beautiful mid size city and has many tourist options. The San Diego Zoo is world renowned and Sea World is a must see for wildlife enthusiast. If you have young children then be sure to visit Legoland which has rides and even replicas of famous sights made entirely out of Legos.

Family holidays can be fun for the entire family. It’s important to find a holiday that will interest the kids as well as the adults.

Nepal’s Himalaya is the largest and highest standing 800 km across with eight peaks that soar above 8000 meters including Mt. Everest(8848m), the highest peak in the world.

To the south of Nepal is the Terai- a flat tropical lowland.From the Terai, the Land rises highly to the Mahabharat mountain range with peaks of up to 3,050 m.This is followed by central Hills, an undulating mountain region which leads to the snow covered Great Himalaya Range whose awesome peaks form the northern boundary of Nepal in the east.Though only 193km across Nepal has a wide variety of geographical regions, ranging from tropical southern flat lands to the arctic Tibetan Plateau.

The Great Himalayan, since time immemorial have grasped the dreams, aspirations and imagination of men.They are majestic, so awesome,so mysterious and so it is called the book of the snow and home of God.The panorama of the Great Himalaya of Nepal is vivid spectrum of beauty and colour.the grandeur of Himalayan landscape, framed in mist cases by dazzling snow peaks creates an impression of serenity, calminess and idyllic repture. These great peaks have always symbolized the great ideal of human thoughts, deeds as well as consolation. As for the adventure, Nepal consists the scenic grandeur of the hills and valley with the everlasting great Himalaya forming out-of-the world wonders.

The Great Himalayan region of Nepal lies at the altitude of 4877m to 8848m above the sea level. It includes existing 14 peaks which exceeds in altitude of 8000m.The Great Himalayan of Nepal and their peaks are covered up with snow throughout the year. They are loftiest mountain in the world and include world’s highest and also most lovely peaks. They are of exceptional interest for the mountaineers and are undoubtedly attractive scenic spots in the world.

The Nepal Himalayas, stretching from 800 kilometers from the Kanchenjunga massif to the Mahakali River. Both the Kanchanjunga massif to the Mahakali river lie more than 1300 peaks with an altitude more than 6000m.These can be set apart as follows: Above 8000 meters-eight of the 14 highest peaks in the world About 7000 meters-one hundred and twenty seven peaks About 6000 meters-one thousand one hundred and sixty-six peaks

Nepal Himalaya consists many outstandingly beautiful mountain groups. The kanchenjunga Himal forms the eastern most precinct of the Nepal Himalaya.One of the most impressive of the Himalayan Giants, it is the third highest peak of the world having 8586 meters.

Khumbu Himal is another group of Nepal Himalaya which has greatest concentration of peaks. It has many 6000 meters peaks and four above 8000 meters peaks dominated by Mt. Everest, the highest peaks in the world.

There are many things to see and do in the Arenal area. But none of them would be there if not for the main attraction: the explosive lava flows of Arenal Vocano.

Arenal Volcano is currently celebrating 39 years of continuous eruptions after a very long 400 year sleep. Since that initial and deadly eruption on June 29, 1968 - the result of a massive earthquake - the volcano has been producing huge ash columns, explosions & glowing red lava almost every day. Unfortunately, you can’t see any of this from a safe distance during the day (a few people have died trying…).

But on a clear night, it’s a different story altogether. Lava and glowing hot boulders shoot into the air and then smash down onto the mountain, exploding and creating a fireworks show visible for miles around.

While the original 1968 eruption wiped out the entire populations of the villages of Tabacon and Pueblo Nuevo, there haven’t been any really dangerous eruptions since. But since the lava flows have been constant and visible ever since (although visibility is truly weather dependent), Geologists consider Arenal Volcano one of the ten most active volcanoes in the world and the single most active in Costa Rica.

Since the eruptions are only visible at night, a myriad of activities has cropped up to keep you entertained during the day.

Take a relaxing hot spring bath at the Tabacon or Baldi hotels (signs for both are all over the area). Take a heart pounding zip line tour over the rainforest canopy. Rent an ATV for a couple of hours and explore the areas many secluded trails. Or do the same on a bicycle.

If you like the outdoors, you won’t be bored in the Arenal area.

Things you should know about Arenal:

• The main attraction, the lava flows, are only visible on clear nights. You should plan to spend at least 2 nights in Arenal in case of cloud cover, which is frequent. Three nights is an even better idea.
• You don’t have to go to the park to see the “fireworks.” There are many places on the side of the road that offer and equally compelling view, and so do many of the hotels in the area.
• There are visible eruptions on just about every clear night. However, it can be difficult to predict exactly on which side of the mountain they will take place. It can be very frustrating to reserve a room with the expectation of seeing the show from your window, only to find that all the action is on the other side. Unfortunately, there’s nothing to do about this. But don’t get discouraged: the hotel staff will usually know where the best view is on a given night and how to get there.
• The closest town to the volcano is La Fortuna, a medium sized town by Costa Rica standards, whose primary industry is tourism. Prices are high here by Costa Rica standards (still quite cheap by U.S. standards), but there is plenty of shopping and several restaurants and bars to keep you busy on rainy days and cloudy nights.

Getting to La Fortuna:

• By Car: From the airport, take the Pan American highway North and follow signs for San Ramon (about 56 km). When you reach San Ramon, turn right into the town (there will be a shopping mall on your right). You will start seeing signs for Arenal and various Arenal hotels here. Continue on this road until you hit the city’s main avenue. Turn left and continue for two blocks to the San Ramon hospital. Turn right and continue on this road for about 44 km until you reach La Fortuna. From here, it is easy to find the areas hotels. The whole trip should take 3 - 3 1/2 hours.
• By Public Bus: Buses leave San Jose’s Terminal Atlantico Norte every day at 6:15, 8:40, and 11:30. The buses are slow and stop several times along the way, so the trip will take close to 5 hours.
• By Private Transport: Private and semi-private transport is available at the airport or can be booked ahead of time from a variety of companies. A google search for “Arenal Transport” will yield many of these.

Chicago offers many free attractions for the frugal traveler. These free sights offset more costly splurges like deep dish pizza, the entrance to the famed Shedd Aquarium, and a trip up the Sears Tower.

Free Trolleys
From Memorial Day weekend through the Labor Day weekend, between 10am and 6pm, free trolleys operate every 20-30 minutes to Chicago’s most popular tourist destinations. There are stops along Museum Campus, Michigan Avenue (The Magnificent Mile) and Navy Pier. Do a few of the loops to get a sense of the city. Drivers often give out bits of information about landmarks.

Street parking downtown is often free on Sundays.

Buckingham Fountain, Grant Park, and Millennium Park
Buckingham Fountain (seen in the opening credits of the tv show Married With Children) in Grant Park, close to the waterfront, was designed to emulate the great fountains in the palace of Versailles. It consists of three basins, surrounded by four bronze seahorses.

More modern art can be found in the adjoining Millennium Park. The Crown Fountain has two giant glass towers with projections of faces on them. Water squirts out of the faces’ mouths, much to wading children’s delight. Cloud Gate resembles a giant stainless steel jellybean, warping the reflection of onlookers.

Navy Pier
Navy Pier hosts a street carnival type of environment. There is a classic styled 148 ft Ferris Wheel, a musical carousel with painted animals, a children’s museum, a museum of stained glass, and a funhouse maze. Add seasonal street performers, food vendors, and face painters, and travelers can people watch for hours.

The Old Water Tower
The Old Water Tower, situated on the famed Michigan Avenue near the John Hancock Center, is one of the most famous survivors of the Great Fire. Designed to resemble a tiny European castle, the Old Water Tower is now a visitors center.

The Art Institute Of Chicago
With great American masterpieces like Grant Wood’s American Gothic, the Art Institute Of Chicago is a must see for art lovers and a freebie for the savvy traveler. From May 31st to August 31st, admission is free after 5pm on Thursday’s and Friday’s.

There are many other free or frugal attractions in the Windy City, window shopping on the Magnificent Mile, facades such as Dearborn Street Station and others.

If you’ve ever thought about taking a trip to Australia, there’s no time like the present! October is the southern hemisphere’s second month of Spring and with a climate similar to California and South Africa, it’s the perfect destination for sun lover everywhere.

There is so much to see and do in Australia’s most popular tourist destination - the east coast city of Sydney. Anything from beer festivals, night markets, whale watching and enjoying world-class cuisine at Australia’s top restaurants. The famous Sydney Opera House presents plays and theatre productions as well as ballet and famous operas. You can even climb to the top of Sydney’s magnificent Harbour Bridge.

And of course Sydney has a great variety of world class hotels such as the Ibis Hotels chain, the Novotel. The Quest Apartments have great rates for those who prefer a serviced apartment with a full kitchen - ideal for business travellers on longer stays. Te Radisnson is one of Sydney’s most popular hotels so take a look at their rates both in Sydney and other cities where prices start at just $131 per night.

Don’t be misled with the idea that surfing is the occupation only for the bravest, most daring and the strongest ones. If you think you’ve got no chances, visit one of European Atlantic surf clubs, where they teach anyone how to surf.

Those who are tired of beaches and excursions around the city, but still want to have fun on the sea coast, are ready for anything. For instance, diving and surfing are considered to be ordinary occupations. To catch a heavy and warm wave they often travel to Hawaii, California or Indonesia – but this refers to winter time. If you live in Europe, in summer you can find a closer site for surfing. For instance, water in Bay of Biscay and the Portuguese coast gets really warm in summer. In addition to this, Europe guarantees lots of other impressions.

France, Gironde.

A good opportunity to combine an acquaintance with one of the most famous French wine regions and surfing is to make a trip to Bordeaux suburbs. Beaches that stretch from Royan to Arcachon were the place where half a century ago European surfing culture was born. Having reached Bordeaux, you are recommended to hire a car and go to Lacanau resort town located 30 kilometres to the west. Lacanau is considered to be the best place for surfing: among its advantages are: a long sandy beach, medium waves and lots of hotels and apartments to suite any taste and purse. A week of studies in a surf school (five lessons, each lasting 4 hours) will cost approximately Eur 245. As for cultural attractions - half an hour ride from here there are famous Gironde wine yards and castles. But don’t overdo with wine tasting – don’t forget that you came here for surfing!

France, Cote d’Argent (The Silver Strand)

Cote d’Argent is always associated with active water sports – however, nowadays surfers subdue even the waves of Biarritz grand beaches, which changes the image of this aristocratic city, full of casinos and luxury hotels. A 15-kilometre stretch from Anglais to Saint Jean de Luz contains 17 popular surf spots. If you are not going to stay in a luxurious Hotel du Palais, you can go to Lagoondy Surf Camp on the Côte Basque: here a week of accommodation and surfing lessons will cost less than in other hotels. By the way, you can come here with children – 24-hour tending is guaranteed.

Spain. Basque Country.

In July and August, the southern coast of the Bay of Biscay turns into a real Mecca for surfers. And is it no wonder why: water here is really warm (you can surf without surf clothing), there are surf spots for the beginners as well as professionals, delicious food and rather a cheap living (if to compare local prices with the ones all over Europe). An interesting variant might be to go to San Sebastián and combine language studies with surf practices: a couple of weeks will cost approximately 800-900 Euros, including living in a family or in a hostel. Besides, the Basque Country boasts of its interesting culture, incomparable tapas, museums and a seething nightlife.

Spain. Galicia.

A real edge of the world with wildlife, severe winds and heavy waves. At the same time, in July and August water gets very warm. That is why surfers have long settled in this region, densely populated but still very beautiful. Before you start surfing, you should definitely visit Santiago de Compostela with its grand medieval attractions, and the cities of La Coruna, Pontevedra and Vigo with restaurants serving the best Galician seafood. The most popular surfing spot is Costa da Morte. Surfing studies here are rather cheap – one of the surf schools we can advise you is Surf & Rock 20 minutes from La Coruna.

Portugal. Estremadura.

Even though this is the south of the Atlantic, surfing in Estremadura is an occupation for the daring ones: even in summer water temperatures rise no higher than 20 degrees centigrade. But despite this, long desolate beaches and superb waves attract lots of surfers from all over Europe. You can go surfing just 10 kilometres from Lisbon, but local beaches are rather crowded and water is not that clear. So, another good variant is to go to a surf school about 70 kilometres from the capital - in the Peniche town. A famous Supertubos is found next to this city, but it is suitable for professionals only. As for local culture and nightlife, you will find them in Lisbon.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is part of a chain of beaches that stretch along the coastline of South Carolina – the Grand Strand. Myrtle Beach is known as a popular tourist destination and resport down and is the central focus of the Grand Strand. Over ten million visitors each season make their way to a Myrtle Beach resort not just for the beaches, but for the restaurants, festivals and especially the golf. There are accommodation options for all budgets and all travelers – from family style self-contained apartments to upscale, luxury hotels such as the Horizon at 77th. Opening in June this years, this property is likely to take the title of Myrtle Beach’s top hotel. It offers panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and features a full kitchen with granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.

pening June 2008, the Horizon at 77th is poised to become a Myrtle Beach vacation mecca. The stately ocean view property offers one, two and three-bedroom condos featuring full kitchens with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances; plus over-sized balconies offering the best panoramic northern Atlantic Ocean coastline views you’ll find! Call 1-866-413-8310 for reservations, availability and additional information..

Barefoot Resort in North Myrtle Beach SC The Barefoot Resort in North Myrtle Beach is a popular location for families and Myrtle Beach golf package vacationers. Enjoy outstanding golf course condo with luxury amenities, access to swimming, tennis and hiking trains.
Home to four of the top golf courses in Myrtle Beach , Barefoot Resort is located on the Intracoastal Waterway behind Barefoot Landing which offers many shopping and dining options