Top Adventure Sports in County Clare

Stand tall and take in the breathtaking beauty of the Cliffs of Moher overlooking the spectacular Atlantic Ocean, trek through The Burren with its amazing limestone plateau, stone-age forts and dolmens, or discover the beauty beneath and deep in the Aillwee Caves.

Whatever adventure you choose, County Clare offers a fantastic platform to conduct many adventure and sporting activities. Listed is just a selection of adventure sports County Clare has to offer:

WATERSPORTS

County Clare offers an array of superb watersport venues suitable for angling, sailing, surfing, boating, kayaking, canoeing, windsurfing, skiing, boardsailing, sub-aqua diving and cruising on the River Shannon. No matter where you are in County Clare you are never far from watersports.

The purpose built University of Limerick Activity Centre is sure to please and offers most of the above activities and even more! Located just two miles from the picturesque town of Killaloe, this is a very popular activity centre that sits on the spectacular shore of Lough Derg.

Oceanlife Dive and Watersports Centre is another great activity centre with something for everyone. Offering PADI dive course and sailing courses in the beautiful and sheltered Kilkee bay. A visit to Oceanlife Dive and Watersports Centre is sure to get your adrenaline pumping when you discover the waters beneath.

GOLFING

Lahinch Golf Course is one of many golf courses to be found in County Clare. With breathtaking scenery, and overlooking the dramatic Atlantic Ocean, it is easy to see why Lahinch Golf Course is such a world-renowned golf course. Located close to the pretty village of Lahinch, this golf course is often referred to as 'The Saint Andrew's of Ireland'.

Founded in 1892, Lahinch Golf Course is said to be one of the oldest golf courses in Ireland and provides a tough challenge for even the most skilled golfer!

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES

The Burren Outdoor Activity Centre offers a wide range of adventure and outdoor activities which include: Team challenges, caving, canoeing, snorkelling, orienteering, sailing, rock climbing and hill walking to name a few! Not only will you get to experience the trill of such activities you will also get to explore the diverse and rich landscape of The Burren.

EQUESTRIAN
With a wide range of Equine based services available Clare Equestrian Centre is well worth a visit. Located just 3 miles from Ennis, Clare Equestrian Centre offers a great location for your equestrian experience. Activities available include: Hunt hire, student training, lessons and pony camps, trekking and cross-country.

SURFING

Located in the heart of the Burren in Fanore, on the coast road between Ballyvaughan and Doolin in County Clare, Aloha Surf School offers the highest quality and professional surfing instruction for people of all ages and abilities. No experience is necessary and all surfing equipment is provided. The beautiful beach of Fanore provides an excellent location for those wishing to learn how to surf.

There really is so much to do when you visit County Clare and when you tire yourself out, why not dine like kings in Bunratty Castle to the music of a piper or sink a pint in a cosy Irish Bar and soak up the friendly atmosphere and reputation the Irish are renowned for.

Breda Quirke writes for GoIreland.com - Ireland's leading travel and accommodation website.

Check out GoIreland.com for everything you need to know before you visit Ireland. GoIreland.com has low prices for quality approved hotel, B&B, guesthouse and self catering accommodation all over the country.

By : Breda Quirke

Traveling in My Younger Days

When I was a teenager I drove to Central America with a couple that made the trip every year to a few churches where they had met some of the local people. This couple were missionaries. And being a teenager I loved the idea of getting to drive them around down there.

We started out in my home state Florida and drove to the Border of Mexico at the El Paso crossing. It was exciting. This was my first drive down and we went all the way to the Honduras Border.

Over a period of 3 months we traveled through much of Honduras. We stopped and had church with different ones along the way.

We stopped in one town where the people were very familiar with the couple I was traveling with. They had been to this town several years in a row and were known by many of the locals. It was a special day for one of the locals as they were having a party out in the bush at their home place.

They asked if I wanted to come and spend the day with them. So I did and it was an experience that I still remember today.

They had a game where they raced up coconut trees. I was a teenager from the US out in the bush with people I did not know nor speak their language. I was alone because the couple I was traveling with did not want to spend the day at a party.

I did not feel scared or in danger at any time. It came time to eat a coconut still in the shell. I grew up in South Florida and we had always opened the shell by cracking it into small enough pieces where we could peel out the coconut flesh to eat.

But they cracked the shell, gave me a large piece and handed me the only spoon in their possession. I tried so hard to pry the coconut flesh out with this spoon that it broke!

Then, I was scared because I was an hour away out in the bush and had broken their only spoon. I had also managed to slice my thumb on the broken spoon. I still have the scar on my thumb to remind me.

We also traveled in the mountains of Guatemala and along the coast. We went swimming in Mexico City while staying at the Hotel Caliente. It was exciting and the people were all so nice and friendly.

Once when I was driving to a local market, one of the local buses met me on the road.

When they realized that I was a girl driver they went completely off the road in order to miss me. But then, this was many years ago when I traveled as a teenager. Things have changed some.

By : Marty_Townsend

Halifax, Nova Scotia - Adventures at Sea

Halifax, Nova Scotia is a wonderful city to visit and offers much to do for the tourist. Many come for a variety of outdoor pursuits, including the opportunity to head out on the ocean in a lobster boat.

The experience of pulling up a lobster trap while aboard the boat and then later enjoying a meal of your catch is available when you visit Halifax during the summer months and the lobster season is open.

On some trips, you'll get a guided tour of Halifax Harbour and some education about the life-cycle of the lobster. There may even be naturalists aboard that can answer most of the questions you might have.

If lobster is not your thing but you'd still love to get out on the ocean, you could book one of the deep sea fishing excursions available that sail out of the port of Halifax. Species of fish that are targeted include cod, haddock, mackerel and blue fish.

If you're looking for something that the whole family will enjoy, consider whale watching. You can head out of Halifax Harbour to the open sea while the ship captain guides the craft toward pods of whales as well as seals and dolphins.

You will definitely want to have your camera available! Other day trips include visiting islands off the coast of Nova Scotia where you may be able to view wildlife such as puffins on Bird Island.

If you enjoy fly fishing, consider casting some flies to shark that are cruising the Atlantic Ocean. Saltwater fly fishing is one of the fastest growing sports and going for shark could be the thrill of a lifetime.

If you are planning to venture out to see, be sure to bring a long a warm sweater and rain jacket even in the summer as the weather can change quickly. You'll want to be comfortable no matter the weather to really enjoy your trip.

By : Ian_Hugh_Scott

African Safari Travel Adventures

When you are looking to enjoy a wonderful African safari, know that you have many different options to choose from so you should not feel pressurized to make a choice.

Some of the main choices you have to choose from are Family Safaris, Classic Safaris, Luxury Safaris, Trek Safaris, Historical Safaris, Extension Safaris and more.

You can choose your ideal safari according to just how many days you would like to spend away, what exactly you would like to do while you are away, where you would enjoy staying, and how many people you want to take along.

These are all the factors you will take into consideration when you are looking for the best African safari travel adventure.

A safari is a trip taken in natural environments, and the reason for these trips is usually for the viewing of the different hunting animals. With most of the safaris that are available, some of them are sure to involve activities like photography, viewing, and most importantly, experiencing the animals in their own habitat (which can be rather interesting).

Going on a safari is all about seeing different animals and getting up close and personal with them. There is no better source of adventure than going on a safari as there is so much for you to see and do.

If it is the Classic Safaris you are interested in, a few of them that you can choose from are the 12 Day of Kenya's Finest, Kenya Explorer, Kenya Wildlife & beach Safari, Jambo Safari, Kenya & Tanzania Treasures, Monumental Egypt, Egypt & Kenya Voyage and many more.

These are the typical safaris that you could also choose from, so be sure to check them out to see if it is any one of these that catch your interest.

The shortest safari you can go on in this category would be the Best of Tanzania tour or the Monumental Egypt, where as the longest one if you want to be away for at least two weeks is the Egypt & Kenya Voyage.

If you want to go away and really be taken aback by your experience, you would more than likely be interested in the Luxury safari tours that are available in the African safari travel route.

These are the Kichwa Tented Safari, the Wings Over Kenya, Jambo Safari, Classic Tanzania, Monumental Egypt, Old-World Cape Safari, South Africa Rails, Trails and Falls and the Red Earth Safari.

These tours offer you the greatest when it comes to luxury and living in style when you are away from home. When you leave home, you want to experience something new but you also want to be in the center of the most luxurious camp there is.

When you are looking for an African safari travel route for you to be a part of, there are many different ones for you to choose from, so be sure to pick the one that appeals to you. You could even choose a different one each year. That way you will get to experience them all eventually.

By : Peter_Kimani

Andaman and Nicobar Islands Adventure Tour

Fast Facts:

Location: In the Indian Ocean and a part of Southeast Asia

Best Time to Visit: October- May

Famous Attractions: Beaches of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Little Andaman, Collinpur, Tribal Village

Adventure Activities: Snorkeling, Scuba Diving, Island Camping, Trekking

Staying Options: Fortune Resort Bay, Hotel Sinclairs Bay View, Andaman Residency, Palm Grove Eco Resort, this is the union territory that is located in the Indian Ocean and is considered as the part of Southeast Asia.

It comprises of two island groups Andaman and Nicobar Islands with Andaman in the north and and Nicobar in the south. The Andaman Sea lies in the east and the Bay of Bengal to the west.

The territorial capital of Andamanese town of Port Blair. Its an an archipelago of 572 emerald island, islets which stretches up to 700 km from north to south with 36 inhabited islands.

Adventure Water Sports: Andaman Water Sports Complex is the unique complex that offers almost all types of aqua sports like water skiing, sail boats, windsurfing, speed boats etc.

and there are also many options for the safe water sports like paddle boats, row boats etc. There is also an amusement park with Rollercoaster, and pleasure rides and a children park is located just adjacent to it.

Snorkeling: To experience the adventure in the under water marine life and wanted to see the variety of corals one can always try out Snorkeling through the Gandhi Marine National Park, Carbyn's Cove Tourism Complex, Havelock Sports Complex which works under Andaman and Nicobar Tourism.

Island Camping: For the nature lovers the best and the ideal choice for the adventure is the Island Camping. The people who love to enjoy the sunshine, and a quite holidays on the beech side can always opt for the island camping. One can always hire the tents that are available on the beech side at moderate rates.

Scuba Diving: One can also explore the fascinating world of under water through scuba diving where colorful fishes, the rarest view of corals are also viewed in the world of under water. The beauty and the mystery of under water can be experienced through Scuba Diving in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Trekking: Trekking is also an adventurous activity that can be enjoyed in the Island through Mount Harriet to Madhuban to enjoy the rich flora and fauna of the island. On the trekking routes of the trekking equipments are easily available from Andaman Teal House.

Sports Fishing: Fishing is the also counted in the adventure in the Andaman Islands. In the last decade the sports fishing is proved to be the biggest game for the tourists. Sea Fishing India Pvt Ltd. offers the sports fishing from from Port Blair. There is a special fishing program that is conducted in the in Port Blair and Havelock Islands which is named as 'Experience Fishing'.

By : Sanjeev_Verma

Nagaland Tour - The Adventure Begins!

The sheer natural beauty will surely capture your heart while travelling through the land of Nagaland.

This mesmerizing land teems with a host of attractions such as arresting mountains, picturesque landscapes, breathtaking sunrise and sunset, gorgeous green flora, bewitching monoliths, rare species of birds and beautiful waterfalls.

Located in North East India, Nagaland has unmatched cultural heritage. Rich in flora and fauna, around one-sixth of this wondrous land is covered with forests.

One of the striking features about Nagaland is its fascinating tribes. The different tribes are marked by the colourful costumes and jewellery they wear. There are around 16 tribes in the state and each tribe has its own unique traditions and culture. These tribes have long perfected the art of making beautiful carpets, shawls, cane and bamboo products, jewellery, pottery, masks, wooden objects, musical instruments etc.

Music is an important part of the lives of Nagaland people. And if we say that 'music equals daily life' in this state, it would not be wrong as they go about their daily chores singing melodious songs.

Nagaland is also a great place for adventure lovers. Its challenging trekking routes offer an enthralling experience to tourists. The best trekking routes in the state are

Dzukou Valley, Mokokchung, Pungro, Mount Tiyi and Satoi Range.

One of the must-see destinations of Nagaland is the Khonoma Green Valley. Enveloped in scenic beauty this place greets you with breathtaking views of the mountains, forests and waterfalls. It is dotted with beautiful orchids and bracken ferns. Here you can see paddy terraces where 20 types of rice are grown. There is also an ancient bastion in the valley.

By : Sanjog_KR