Posts Tagged ‘Five’

Five strategies for finding cheap airfares in 2009

Five strategies for finding cheap airfares in 2009
Airfare can be expensive, but there are ways to get good deals if you know how.

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Five Places to Spend Quality Time for Free in Florida

Thinking of taking a vacation in Florida? If so, it is a good thing to know that it does not just offer you expensive accommodations, parks or places to stay with your family and friends. It also has a lot of best places you can enjoy for free.

#1. Sunset Celebrations are FREE

One thing you should remember is that, Florida always has beautiful sunsets and people there always think it is worth-celebrating. Well, it is! Not just because it is free, but because people are used to it; everyday, before sunset, people from Key West and Clearwater Beach gather to celebrate. Live bands play, entertainers give joy to the crowd, painters starts to sketch, etc

#2. FREE Top Beaches

You wouldn’t believe if I told you that you can enjoy along the beach of Florida for free. Well, I tell what; Fort DeSoto Park in Pinellas County offers free public recreation. It is not just because it’s free, but because it is one of America’s top beaches and is known for its “Paw Playground” and being a pet-friendly. There’s nothing else you need to do; just take a picnic or pack lunch and there for the whole day until you can see the spectacular views of the setting sun!

#3. National Naval Aviation Museum has FREE Admission

You don’t have to worry much when you are at the museum because it offers free parking space and admission; although, you just have to look for a space to park your car within the compound as there are lots of spectators everyday. Additionally, from March ’til November, every Tuesday and Wednesday, you can witness the practices of Blue Angels. After which, there will be an autograph session for the pilots. So, you can meet the people who fly the birds worth more than a billion dollar a piece.

#4. Wine Tasting for FREE

Lakeridge Winery & Vineyard is open all day long for the whole week, whole year ’round. While having a vacation in Florida, you can join the people who tastes first class wine, watch videos about the growth of the grapes. In short, you will be able to witness or have a peek on the process of making wine. Now, if it is your hobby to taste first class and most expensive wines, Lakeridge Winery & Vineyard is the best place for you to make your dream come true.

#5. FREE Day in Lake Mirror

Lake Mirror is one of the best places you can go in Orlando without spending a dime. You can have two beautiful options, too; the Barnett Family Park and the Hollis Garden. Barnett Family Park is a unique and beautifully-themed playground and water play with lots of large pavilions for parties and gatherings. On the other hand, Hollis Garden is a 1.2-acre botanical garden overlooking the beautiful Lake Mirror Promenade. In here, you will be able to witness thousands of plants and ornamentals.

The Bottom Line

Not because Florida is one of the best destinations that you will have to pay every time you go from one place to another. The truth is, there are a lot of places in Florida which you can spend your precious time for free when you are having a vacation. Sometimes, you just have to dig deeper to find these places. I have presented you five places only. You have to find out the rest for yourself.

Top Five Theme Parks

5 Thorpe Park

Our top five theme parks start with Thorpe Park situated right here in the UK. The Nemesis is the star attraction here; you will have probably seen the television adverts of the decent into the dark volcano. Experience the rollercoaster’s intense, extreme ride that will have you pumping full of adrenaline, huge drops and fast turns will leave you disorientated and exhilarated at the same time. This is the main attraction but there is plenty to cater for the younger people too.

This park is best for thrill seekers.

4 Chessington

At number four we have Chessington which is a great place for the younger kids and teenagers. They have many new attractions including Beanoland and the Bubbleworks ride which is a water ride for the family filled with foam. Then there is Dragon’s Fury, a rollercoaster all the family will enjoy and Vampire which is one not too miss, great fun but not too fast.

Chessington theme park is for families with younger kids or teenagers.

3 Disneyland Resort California

California is the home of two Disney theme parks, the Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. There are also three resort hotels plus a shopping district to keep you entertained.

There you can find new attractions and themed experiences that coincide with new Disney films. In these resorts you can meet all the Disney cast members which the kids will surely love. The resorts will keep the whole family entertained in this magical place.

These parks are best for kids as well as adults of any age.

2 Disneyland Paris

In at number 2 is the world of Disney in Paris. There is Disney Village which is full of entertainment day and night. There are seven Disney hotels, seven! Stay there to have the full Disney world experience. No one does theme parks as well as Walt Disney and Paris is no exception. There are fun filled rides for the whole family, opportunities to meet the kids favourites characters, parades, shows all finished off the amazing Disney service.

Disneyland Resort Paris is for the whole family.

1 Walt Disney World Florida

The best theme park in the world is Walt Disney World in Florida. This is the daddy of all the Disney resorts with four theme parks to discover. There are water parks here as well as other entertainment such as dining and shopping districts, health spas and golf resorts.

Disney World has to be experienced at least once in your lifetime. You can find all the normal experiences that Disney World has to offer and more. Go check out  flights to Florida now!

Florida Train Service: Five Tips to Travel to Florida by Amtrak

Florida is an ideal vacation location.  It has many major metropolitan areas and thousands of miles of oceanfront beauty.  Of course, Disney World, Universal Studios and Busch Gardens provide fun and adventure for the whole family.

Fortunately, you can travel to most of the major Florida vacation areas by Amtrak.  Three daily trains travel to and through the state from the east coast.  As a relaxing and affordable method for travel to Florida, the train is preeminent.  Given the rising cost and hassle of air travel, a land alternative may be the most enjoyable way to get to the Sunshine State.

Here are five tips/hints for effectively traveling to/from Florida by Amtrak:

One:  You must decide which long-distance train you wish to take to Florida.  If you wish to stay in the Jacksonville-Orlando-Miami corridor, the Silver Meteor that originates in New York (with great connections from Boston) will be your train of choice.  You can leave New York or Washington in the afternoon and arrive in Orlando or Miami the next afternoon.  If you wish to go Florida’s Gulf Coast, you will be best served on the Silver Star.  At Tampa, there is connecting Thruway Motorcoach service to Sarasota and Fort Myers.  Finally, if you wish to bring your car along for the ride, the Auto Train runs from Lorton, Virginia (outside of Washington, DC) to Sanford, FL (45 minutes from Orlando.)

Two:  Most Florida Amtrak cities have connecting local transportation from Amtrak stations.  Miami International Airport can be reached from the Miami train station by Miami Metrobus and the Hollywood train station by the Tri-Rail commuter trains.  Connecting taxi service from DeLand to Daytona Beach can be reserved with your Amtrak ticket.  If you are going to Walt Disney World, you may wish to miss the crowds at the Orlando station and go on to the next stop, which is Kissimmee.  At Kissimmee, there is complete baggage service, taxi cabs and pre-arranged van service available.  Although there is no good public transportation options at either Orlando or Kissimmee, you are actually closer to the park (and thus you will incur lower transportation costs) from Kissimmee. 

Three:  For many people, having the flexibility of a rental car allows them to easily take advantage of all that their Florida destination offers.  At Jacksonville, you can pick up your Hertz car right at the train station daily except Sundays.  At most other stations, you can pre-arrange for Enterprise or other major car rental company to pick you up or reimburse you for taxi fare to their offices.  Before you leave home, talk to the local rental office (not the toll-free reservation agents) and confirm their hours of operation and the best method to reach the office.

Four:  The Auto Train is one of the most unique experiences Amtrak offers.  You and your vehicle (it can be a car, motorcycle or trailer camper of limited size) board the train at Lorton, Virginia or Sanford, Florida in the afternoon and travel nonstop 800 miles to the other location, arriving the next morning.  Your vehicle travels in specially-made carriers in the back of the train.  You can either stretch out in a reclining coach seat or reserve private Superliner sleeping accommodations.  All passengers receive a complimentary sit-down dinner with wine and continental breakfast.  There is also a lounge car that features movies for family entertainment.

Five:  It is extremely important to make advanced reservations for transportation to and within Florida.  By buying your tickets in advance for both Amtrak and local transportation services, you may be able to receive discounted advance purchase fares or special fares for students and seniors.

The Top Five Family Vacation Spots

Traveling with your whole family can be a difficult thing to plan. There are a lot of factors to take into consideration if you want everyone to have a good time. But choosing the right destination is undoubtedly the most important decision of all. Here are some of the best family vacation spots to choose from.

1. When you talk about family vacations, you pretty much have to talk about Disney World in central Florida. If your family hasn’t been there yet, then you really need to go soon. Disney World offers so much entertainment value for a family that it’s hard to almost know where to start. There are four giant theme parks including the Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center, MGM studios, and Animal Kingdom. Besides that, there are also two large water parks, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. All of this fun family entertainment is open year-round too.

2. If a tropical vacation is what you had in mind, consider the Atlantis Resort located on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. There is plenty here to keep everyone in the family involved and having fun. For instance, it has 11 swimming pools with water slides including the Mayan Drop that plunges six stories down into the water. Children under 12 will enjoy the Discovery Channel Camp that teaches about sea life, arts and crafts, and provides guided expeditions. Adults can enjoy golfing, snorkeling, and other outdoor activities.

3. If you would rather enjoy the snow, then be sure to visit Snowbird Resort in Snowbird Utah. Of course, the whole family can enjoy great skiing, and kids under 12 can even ski free. But there is a whole range of other snow related activities including snowshoeing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, ice skating, and snow tubing. And for adults the resort also offers a spa and fitness club.

4. For a family vacation that is a little out of the ordinary try the Treesort in Takilna, Oregon. The Treesort features a Swiss Family Robinson themed vacation that includes swinging bridges, forts, wooden swings, and plenty of climbing fun. And then there the 160 ft. long zip-line that is also a popular attraction. And of course you can always enjoy the swimming pool, and the campsite area as well.

5. If you want to combine both fun activities and education in the same vacation consider Williamsburg, Virginia. At the Kingsmill resort you are well within driving distance of both Busch Gardens and historic Colonial Williamsburg. In addition, you are also close to both Richmond and Norfolk, Virginia. With all of that entertainment and historical value close at hand, there is plenty to keep everyone in the family active and having fun. And the resort itself offers both golf and tennis courses as well as a marina.

Any of these five family vacation spots would be a great choice for your next getaway. Why not start making your plans right away?

Five Kid Friendly Vacations

Traveling with your kids can be tough to plan. When searching for the perfect vacation spot for your family there are many things to take into consideration. Finding a family-friendly vacation destination can be the difference between a fabulous vacation for everyone to remember and a total nightmare.

The top family vacation in the world is located in central Florida. Walt Disney World is filled with fun for everyone from toddlers to grandparents. Staying in a Disney Resort gives you and your family a chance to feel as if you are in another world during your stay. Watch the faces of your children light up as they meet Mickey Mouse for the first time or laugh with them as they enjoy their favorite ride in the theme park. Walt Disney World in Florida offers guests four theme parks (the Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center, MGM Studios, and Animal Kingdom) and two water parks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon) that are open year-round.

If you are want a more tropical destination, the Atlantis Resort located on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. Offering tons of attractions to keep everyone in the family having fun, the resort features eleven pools and a number of water slides and rides from kiddie pools to the Mayan Drop which plunges riders down a six-story slide into the water. Children under twelve years of age can visit the Discovery Channel Camp, which includes lessons about indigenous sea life, arts and crafts, aquarium visits. It is guaranteed to be a favorite of any child visiting the resort. Everyone is sure to find something to do at Atlantis.

If your family likes the snow rather than sandy beaches, then be sure to plan a visit to Snowbird Resort in Snowbird, Utah. Children under twelve ski free, but the amenities do not stop at the slopes. Families will enjoy a range of activities during winter months such as snowshoeing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, ice skating and snow tubing. Ski schools and camps are offered for children and child care services are offered for children under twelve. For adults, the resort offers a spa and fitness club.

For the even more adventurous family, the Treesort in Takilma, Oregon is the perfect family vacation spot. The Treesort offers a unique type of vacation high above the ground in the trees. The resort offers 18 different tree houses for your family to discover. The resort also includes swinging bridges, wooden swings, forts and platforms for climbing and fun. Families can enjoy the fresh water swimming pool, one of few attractions located on the ground, and the campsite area as well.

For a vacation that offers both activities and educational value, families may want to consider visiting Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. The Kingsmill Resort offers family vacation packages that can be put together to suit any family. The resort offers both golf and tennis courses, as well as a marina. At the resort’s Kids Camp children will enjoy activities like swimming and yoga, as well as time in the resort’s game room.The city of Williamsburg and the Kingsmill Resort offer a family vacation full of relaxation, activity, excitement and education.