Archive for June, 2008

 

San Francisco For Romance: Winning Honeymoon Guide

Jun 30, 2008 in Vacation sites

If you’re looking honeymoon ideas, perhaps you should think about visiting San Francisco, California. This great city offers a little something for everyone in addition to some very romantic destinations. There have even been songs about how romantic San Francisco is. Tony Bennett left his heart there if memory serves me correctly and who could resist a view of the Golden Gate Bridge when there’s a full moon?

San Francisco has been designated one of the most romantic cities in America so don’t you think it’s time your found out why? It could have something to do with the climate, the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge, the many beaches around that are great for talking long walks at sunset or the many parks in the area where romantic couples can walk together, hike, bike, and simply enjoy being together. In addition to activities such as this, there are other ways in which to enjoy the great outdoors of San Francisco as a couple. You could take a sunset cruise in the San Francisco bay is you want to make a very romantic night of it.

If you want to have a truly romantic experience you could schedule a couples massage at one of the many day spas in the area. This is an experience that neither of you would be likely to forget anytime soon.

Another romantic thing to do while vacationing in San Francisco is to tour the various vineyards in the area. While San Francisco is not literally part of wine country, it is only a stone’s throw away from some of the most famous vineyards in America. Check with the wineries you want to visit ahead of time, as some require appointments for tours. Rest assured that visiting the beautiful countryside and enjoying the tasting of various wines will make for quite the romantic outing. Be sure to taste responsibly.

Still need some romantic activities? Try a picnic in Golden Gate Park. After your picnic, perhaps you can rent a rowboat and take a trip around the lake or bicycles. Use your imagination and let your sense of romance rule the day. Walk into a flower shop and buy every daisy in the store (that may be a little dramatic, but you get the picture). The most romantic things that have ever happened in my life, were not planned, they were spur of the moment gestures that touched me far more than any contrived venture ever could.

Take your loved one to the Equinox, which is a revolving restaurant and bar at the top of the Hyatt Regency Hotel. While the dining experience can be expensive, the spectacular view will take some of the sting out of the meal. Besides is there really a price that is too high to pay for romance?

If either of you have the slightest interest in art, San Francisco is full of museums and galleries that should appeal to your artistic nature and provide plenty of topics for discussion. Even if you aren’t a fan of traditional art, you may actually surprise yourself by liking the art you find in this diverse city.

Any trip to San Francisco would have to be determined to be a romantic dud if it didn’t include a trip to either Fisherman’s Wharf, China Town, or Little Italy. These areas provide great food, beautiful and interesting sites, as well as a taste of cultural diversity that is hard to find in this day and age. It would be like traveling to New Orleans and not visiting the French Quarter. I whole-heartedly recommend devoting one entire day of your trip to one of these places if not each of them. Fisherman’s Wharf is by far my favorite to visit for the sights and sounds, but both China Town and Little Italy have great things to offer as well. Plus, the food is too good to pass on without at least giving it serious thought.

Romance is a state of mind; it’s just much easier to get to that mental place in a city like San Francisco. Take a trip with your beloved and see what all the fuss is about.

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Peak District Holidays - Derby

Jun 30, 2008 in Vacation sites

Derby is known for its place and proximity to beautiful Peak District and gained city status in the year of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, 1977, and the city is ideally located for Peak District holidays.

The city has a population of close to a quarter of a million and is the eighteenth largest settlement in England and has existed since Roman times. People who are native to the city are generally known as Derbians.

Recent research tends to suggest that around the 10th Century the Saxons and Vikings coextisted on two areas of land that were separated by water and The Anglo Saxon Chronicle describes the city as divided by water. The two areas were known as the North Enclosure and the Irongate – the latter still being part of the City centre.

During the English Civil War the city was garrisoned by parliamentary troops and 1643 Sir John Gail was appointed the governor of Derby and in 1745 Bonnie Prince Charlie set up camp there on his way south in an attempt to seize the crown.

A replica of the room in which he stayed is on display in the city’s central library.

The attempted invasion was abandoned on the banks of the river Trent just a few miles south of the city and not far from the historical city of Nottingham.

If you visit Derby at the start of December then you may see the Charles Edward Stuart Society parade through the city centre to a battle that culminates on the Cathedral Green.

The Peak District is beautiful and far removed from the hive of industrial activity that the city became with its general engineering works and the establishment of the famous Rolls Royce company – makers of the feted cars and of aeroplanes.

The city centre is only a few miles from the beautiful rolling hills that make up the shire and there are plenty of Peak District holiday cottages available to choose from most of the year round. Visitors can stay at guesthouses or at some of the farms in the area or even at one of the Peak District luxury hotels in the area.

Nowadays the Peak district is great place for people to come and stay and see the rough stone walls and the stone buildings. If you come to Derbyshire and you are driving then you should take care around the peaks as sheep and cows can often be seen crossing the roads from one grazing field to another.

There are lots of walks around the area where visitors can join a group or go by themselves. People also like to climb some of the hills and small mountains that are part and parcel of the charm of the peaks of Derbyshire.

For The Best Of Utah Travel Guide - Check Out Zion National Park

Jun 30, 2008 in Vacation sites

Zion: Utah’s First National Park

Dixie National Forest, one of the most gorgeous places in the world, is a natural draw for travelers to the state of Utah. It opened to the public as a national park in 1909, and gathers millions of visitors to the gorgeous cliffs and trails every year. And a trip to Grand Canyon National Park is something that no individual or family will want to miss.

If you are short on time on your Utah Travel Guide, one of the best ways to see some of the rugged and stunning landscapes is to drive yourself through the federal park or take a guided tram tour to get a bit of extra knowledge about the area. If you decide to drive yourself, or take one of the walking tours, you might want to think about picking up one of the road guides at a visitor’s welcome center. You’ll want to remember to drive slowly on these roads since they are used for sightseeing. This means other cars will be going quite slowly and you will also encounter bicyclists.

Aside from driving through Dixie National Forest, you might want to take a bicycle. They are allowed on the established roads as well as the scenic but short Pa’rus Trail. You can’t take your bicycles off trail though – this means no mountain biking. Also, bikes are not allowed to go through the Zion – Mt. Carmel Tunnel. They need to be brought through the tunnel by a vehicle.

Hiking and camping are also very big parts of the attraction to Zion. Some of the hikes, however, require permits, which you can inquire about at the visitor’s centers. Hikes through the tributaries and narrows, for example, are not allowed without a permit, as does mountain camping. The permits are a mere $5.

If you are the rugged sort and you have the experience, you might want to try climbing along some of the cliffs in the park. Not all of the cliffs in Dixie National Forest allow climbing, however, so you should talk to the guides at the Backcountry Permit Desk for more guidance when you pick up your permits. As with the other permits, this is only $5.

Should you rather keep your feet rooted firmly on terra firma, you can have a nice family picnic at one of the various picnic areas in Zion. The Grotto has fire grates, tables, restrooms, and water. The Kolob has tables, fire grates and pit toilets.

Southern Utah vacation is an excellent opportunity to take a side trip to visit one of the national parks such as %keyword1%; an excellent family vacation.

To learn more about the Zion National Park visit nps.gov/zion.