Walking Holidays in Spain - Walkers Paradise

Being a walker's paradise Spain offers endless possibilities to the walking enthusiast and independent holidaymakers. Spain offers stunning walks for short distances from various tourist centres for serious hikers as well as for people looking for a relaxing amble.

Spain is better known for its mass tourism because of its excellent tourist infrastructure with cheap flights and quality accommodation on the offer. One can take advantage of the same while enjoying the serenity of its mountains or inland countryside, away from its busy resorts.

Spain has an enormous background of landscapes ranging from snow covered Pico's de Europa to the oak and chestnut forests of the Serrania de Ronda, with each region offering its own vast and colourful history and cultural cities which tempt the walkers further to enjoy the wonder offered by Spain.

There are various options available for people looking for vacation in Spain. The varied countryside and beautiful beaches in Andalucia offer rich variety of scenery to the independent and guided walkers. One can also visit the Nature Parks in Andalucia which include huge National parks like Donano to small nature reserves.

One can also plan a vacation to Aragon in the north east corner of Spain which borders the Pyrenees Mountains offering wonderful walks through some of the most beautiful sub-Pyrenean countryside for all.

The southern part of the province turns into rolling hills and dry plains. One must check for the traditional bull fights in the month of September. There are five nature parks in Aragon with three in the Pyrenees which can be well accommodated in ones itinerary.

The northern coast of Spain comprises of some less known regions well known as the Asturias which lie between the chalk-stone peaks of the Cantabrian Mountains and the Atlantic cost offering sandy beaches with natural caves to the walkers.

Menorca, the Balearic island of Minorca, is another must visit place in Spain. It offers evidence of various civilizations like the Greeks, Turks and Arabs as well as the Romans, across the island.

By : Amit_Verma

Adventure Travel in Southern Arizona

Southern Arizona Travel

Travel to Southern Arizona if you seek adventure. This dry desolate area has been inhabited by humans for a long time. The climate has made it difficult if not impossible for the area to become over populated. Making the adventurer in all of us smile. There are tales of lost gold mines, cowboys and a desert that goes for miles and miles.

Southern Arizona hiking trails are really off the beaten path. Traveling on dirt road to get to The Superstition Mountains you will find an area that is mountain desert and seems to go on forever.

Hike around a bit and you may stumble upon the Lost Dutchman's Mine. The story goes that a miner brought millions of dollars of gold out of the mountain, never returned to the area and died before telling a living soul where the mine was located.

Located near Yuma, Madera Canyon rises to 8,000 feet and is a great way to hike from the desert to the trees. It can get really cold at this elevation and I would recommend hiking here in the summer months.

Ghost Towns in Southern Arizona can get the imagination running are full of history and fun for young and old. If you have kids tombstone will create a memory your family will not soon forget. Actors reenact the 1900 train robbery of the Wells Fargo Train. It is a little cheezy for adults but kids love it.

Fairbanks is a true ghost town people last lived here in 1970. Fairbanks was once a bustling mining, milling town located along the San Pedro river in Southern Arizona.

Bordered by mesquite forest and grasses this town and short hikes along the perimeter will give you a look back to the Spaniards. You can look at the remains of their settlements here as well. The Nature Conservancy considers this a great place and well worth the visit.

Southern Arizona Vineyards good wine can be found here with the grapes thriving at the 5,000 to 6,000 elevation in the Sonita-Elgin area. Producing a nice Petit Verdot local winemakers man there own tasting rooms.

There are 39 licensed wineries in Arizona. This area reminds me of the Napa Valley 35 years ago and is a wine lovers paradise. The busiest time of the year is during the Thanksgiving weekend.

By : Lanette_Higham

Tourism in Kenya

Kenya is an East African country surrounded by Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Sudan and Somalia. Tourism in Kenya is a major foreign earner after agriculture. The main tourism attraction sites include game reserves, national parks, the renowned Rift Valley as well as the Coast.

The national parks as well as the game reserves contain millions of animals as well as plant species which attract tourists from all over the world. Tourism in Kenya has solely been supported by beach-tourism, eco-tourism, cultural-tourism as well as the sport-tourism.

This is in contrast to the popular belief by many that the industry has grown hugely due to the conservation of nature.

Just like any other growing industry in the world, tourism in Kenya has been characterized by a number of ups and downs. In the early 1990s, this industry was faced with the challenge of decreased tourist numbers after publicized murders of several tourists.

This played a major role in the declining of foreign revenue in the country. However, this took a major turn when foreign revenue earned from the tourist was higher than that earned from the sale of coffee.

In the recent past, tourism in Kenya was faced by another blow when the country was faced by the ethnic clashes that hit the entire country after the 2007 national elections.

Tourism in Kenya won the Best Leisure destination in Shanghai, China in April 2008 even after the 2007/2008 post election clashes. This, according to Ministry was to verify that indeed Kenya has a unique world acclaimed tourism product.

There are a total of ten game reserves as well as nineteen national parks that the visitors have to choose from when they choose to tour Kenya. This country also has marine parks that a visitor can see once in the country.

There are also lakes in the country that are a major source of attraction some of these are in the Great Rift Valley which in itself is a tourist destination.

There are many factors that promote tourism in the country. These include the climate that is favorable to the different people that like to spend their time in country.

Another major reason as to where tourism in Kenya is favored is the fact that, this land, for a long time has enjoyed peace for the largest part of her history.

By : Jackline_Mwathe

The Botswana Wild Life Safaris Are the Most Famous in the World!

The African Safaris of Botswana make available a world of opportunities to the lovers of the wild. This place is haven for people who want to experience nature from close quarters.

Botswana is that region of Africa which has till now not been defiled by the ill effects of urbanization. It's a land that hasn't yet succumbed to the 'Development Bug', that most of the so called advanced countries are suffering from.

Botswana still remains green, untamed, and as fresh as a daisy.

What has actually made this land the most sort after tourist destination is its low density of population. It's because of the less population that this country has been able to keep it's virgin look intact.

The small cluster of people that live in this country are friendly and behave nicely with outsiders. If you happen to go there the natives of that place will not waste a second and flash you a smile upfront. This is the only way they know of 'How to greet a stranger'?.

Botswana boasts of a magnificent countryside.

It is adorned with vast salt pans and wild grasslands that makes the land the most enchanting place to cool off and have fun. The best way to meander into woodlands of Botswana is by becoming a part of a Wildlife Safari.

If you have a soft heart for wild life and want to get close to lions, leopards, elephants, giraffe, hippo, or want to feast your eyes on some rare bird species then a game drive is the way to go. The world's wildest, and most untouched game reserves can be found in Botswana.

For example, MOREMI is one of the leading wild life areas of Botswana which is considered as the most beautiful wild life reserves in Africa.

This wildlife area is rugged & unspoilt; it boasts of dense concentration of wild life which includes large herds of buffalo, elephants, giraffes, lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyena, Jackal and a range of other rare animal species.

Likewise, MASHATU is another exceptionally beautiful game reserve which is worth exploring.


By : Sharon_Cosgrove_Healey

The "Rat Temple," an Off-the-Beaten Path Exploration in India

Any Indian desert exploration should begin in the city of Bikaner. From ancient forts dating back from the 15th-century to Jain and Hindu temples, including that of the most peculiar 'rat temple,' no trip to India should go without.

Inbound U.S. and Canadian travelers will find it easiest to begin in New Delhi (279 miles from Bikaner). It can be accessed by road; however, to truly experience India, one must board a train and casually roll across India's vast country side alongside locals. Presently there are no commercial flights to the city.

Settled in the 15th-century, Bikaner is home to the 16th-century, moat-encircled Junagarh Fort and the mosaic palaces within. Lose yourself in elaborate quarters, each of which are the result of centuries of rulers, each carved out to be more stunning than the previous predecessors, making the palaces more marvelous to us visitors today.

Unlike most forts, surprisingly this fort was not built on a high perch, however, on the low lying desert plain. Despite its ground-level location it was never successfully invaded.

Marvel at its red sandstone exterior and walk within the exterior to appreciate the stunning marble courtyards, balconies, kiosks and passageways. Visitors are never disappointed, even when time is limited; direct your-self to the superbly painted walls, white-marble pools, and the red-and-gold motifs covering the Lal Niwas complex (the oldest portion of the fort).

Other Bikaner "must see" sights include the Bhanda Shaha Jain temple, the city's oldest Jain temple, built in 1468. It is said that 88,000 lbs of ghee or butter were used to mix the cement, replacing the traditional ingredient water. It was thought to add strength to the structure, and after nearly five-and-a-half centuries of holding strong, ancient wisdom may have been right.

Save time to casually weave your way through Bikaner's downtown streets, where multi-story, extraordinary carved, 18th-century red sandstone mansions (havelis) still stand. Many of these buildings are still occupied, some by descendants of the original merchant-owners, so interior viewings aren't likely to happen to the common traveler.

Save time to visit the area's camel-breeding farm, home to hundreds of the animals so critical to desert life and trade. The site houses and leases out the camels to farmers who cannot afford their own. The farm is also the site of extensive research into camel nutrition, toxicology and reproduction.

And the must see, much revered, Hindu site is the Karni Mata temple shrine or "rat temple" at Deshnok. The name in itself is the sole reason why many travelers are so curious. According to one legend, Karin Mata, a devout mystic whose youngest son had drown, begged and pleaded with the higher deities to bring him back to life.

But since the son had already undergone reincarnation, the deities were unable to do such a miracle. However, what the deities were able to do was bring the grieving woman's son back to life in the form of a rat. Since, this temple, built to honor these events, has been home to hundreds, if not thousands of scurrying rodents-all symbolizing the miraculous transformation.

Join the steady stream of pilgrims coming to pray at the "rat temple," and don't forget to bring along food and milk to give to the resident rodents! While most of the rats tend to hug the sidelines, peeking through holes, and balancing across ledges and beams, occasionally a few will venture out among the visitors and even scurry across your bare feet or across one's thighs while knelt in prayer.

For those whose toes were trodden on, consider yourself lucky. Legend has it that this will prove to be an omen of good fortune. The temple can be admired from the outside, but for those looking to explore the inside it is highly recommended to wear socks, as it is customary for you to remove your shoes when entering Hindu temples.

By : Jeremiah_Allen

Travel Destinations and Adventures Around the World

For many people travel is a life-altering experience that can revive your mind, body and soul. It opens up a whole world of learning and discovering new things. Traveling is something that cannot be taught in a classroom, it is something that has to be experienced.

A big part of the allure and adventure of travel is that it takes you away from your ordinary day-to-day existence and transports you to another part of the world that is new, exciting and some might even say magical. There is nothing like it and half the fun of taking a trip is in the planning. So pick a date and let the planning begin!

There are so many beautiful places to travel to all of which are distinctive and unique in their own right. You might find you have a dilemma on your hands if you cannot decide where it is that you want to go, but whatever you end up deciding it can be truly unforgettable not only to witness but also to actually experience other cultures.

Depending on where you go some cultures are entirely different from what life is like as you know it while others are very similar. Embrace it and become a part of it for the short time that you are there.

When you are traveling, take some time out of your schedule to try to experience your destination the way the locals do. This will give you some excellent insight into the way the people actually live.

After all the locals know which places are best for shopping to get the really good deals, the best restaurants to eat at where the food is authentic and is not way overpriced and the best places to see that only the locals would know about.

Just make sure that you know what areas of the city are not safe. Almost every city has at least one of these areas so be aware of your surroundings and avoid these areas.

All too soon, your trip will be over and many of the memories that have been made will start to fade. A good way to help you preserve those memories is to write them down in a travel diary. It will not take much of your time, just a few minutes a day and will be well worth it.

Also do not forget to take a ton of pictures, its true what they say; a picture is worth a thousand words. Then whenever you are feeling nostalgic about your trip you can just read through your diary and look at your pictures and the whole adventure will come flooding back to you.

By : Kathy_Hahn

Adventure Holidays - Why You Should Risk it All

We all have our own personal fantasies of "getting away from it all" or "breaking free of the rat race". Well, let me tell you, that fantasy is well worth it.

I really craved adventure all of my life. I have seen and spoken to many individuals who had at one time or another, dreamed similar dreams of going out and seeing what the world was made of.

But, I had also seen the majority of these people continue on in their current lives, too comfortable with how things were currently going to make any effort to travel. Or, maybe they were just too afraid of the risk.

Well, "heck!" I decided. I wanted adventure for the excitement and risk, yet I had procrastinated traveling because of the financial risk. Does that seem logical to you? I also factored in the point that if all went well, wasn't it all worth it?

Experiences only read about in books or seen in movies. The tales that you can tell to those hoity-toity non-believers who disparaged your dreams of travel. Nope staying at homes wasn't worth it, and that was my epiphany some months ago.

From that moment on I was in constant action. I had just decided to make it work to see the world. I began preparing by saving up funds through doing any sort of odd job I could find from gutter cleaning, to photography, to marketing for chiropractic clinics and everything in between. It took me approximately 3 months and somewhere in between I bought my ticket to the Land Down Under a.k.a. Australia.

I want to mention that those few weeks of doing anything I could to save up money were extremely enjoyable. I was heavily inclined to work as hard as I could, as often as I could and do all I could just to afford the trip. Such effort made the arrival in Australia that much more vivid and exciting.

Weeks after purchasing my ticket I was on a plane and after departing from San Francisco International Airport, as well as making a pit-stop in Auckland, New Zealand, I had landed in Sydney, Australia!

Sydney is full of beautiful parks ranging from the size of a residential property to acres upon acres grass and trees. The nightlife is like no other with hundreds of pubs and dance clubs to choose from.

The selection of restaurants is immense due to Australia being a melting pot of cultures especially Asian. I can go on and on and that would only cover Sydney what about other cities such as Canberra, Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne?

Well thanks for asking! I made my way to Melbourne, Australia and here is my calling! To me it has all of the benefits of Sydney with a much more relaxed atmosphere.The weather is very easily bearable and the people are great, there's nothing like Melbourne.

I've been here for 3 months and will soon be going to New Zealand. For what duration you ask? Well, that is irrelevant, I will stay as long as I like; legally of course.:) What will I do there? Well, whatever comes to mind and seems appropriate, from working on yachts to snowboarding the pristine mountains of the southern island I am the maker of my own fate.

If you have a desire to find out more about my travels, or maybe want some tips regarding visas or even if you have some advice for me please visit my blog listed below.

By : Daniel_Amsalem