Devon Activities to Try Out With the Whole Family

When you say Devon holidays, you know that you will be having some fun time especially when you are staying at the Devon holiday cottages. There are so many sights to see, activities to participate in, festivals to watch or join and restaurants, pubs and cafes to dine in. You can also go nature tripping or laze in the beautiful beaches of Devon. When you are staying at the Devon holiday cottages, you know that your family will have a comfortable and luxurious place to stay in. The Devon holiday cottages are also within reach of many attractions that are family friendly so be sure to book ahead and get one of the cottages. Here are some things that your family must try out during your holidays.

Clay Pigeon Shooting

If you are looking for something new to try with your family, you must do some clay pigeon shooting at the shooting range in Henley Hillbillies. This range is one of the accessible shooting ranges that are popular for this activity that will make your holidays really complete. Excellent eye and body coordination, outstanding focus and concentration plus fast reflexes are essential in order to do this sport activity. Here at the range, you can choose from different types of weapons such as 12 bore, 20 bore or 4/10 shotguns that you can use during the shooting practice. The range provides the cartridges and the guns which you will be using during your clay pigeon shooting. When you are ready to start shooting, just shout "pull" and the clay pigeon will begin to whizz past you. These are the targets that you must shoot. Be patient and relaxed so you can shoot as many targets as possible. If you really enjoyed this activity, it is easy for you to come back anytime as this place is accessible from your Devon cottages.

Visit Water Park and Beaches

If you love the water, Devon holidays are the perfect vacation times for you. There are a lot of water activities that await you in Devon that will add so much enjoyment to your Devon holidays. Whether you are alone or with your friends and family, you can choose to indulge in different water sports alternatives that Devon has to offer. You may stay at the nearby Devon holiday cottages which will bring you close to the many beaches and water parks. For instance, the Blackpool Sands and the Torbay area beaches are places you must go to for surfing, sailing, swimming or strolling at the beach. Try out also the exhilarating rides at the water parks. You must list down as many water-based activities as you want to indulge in during your Devon holidays, especially if you are a water lover.

Gives you loads of information on spending the best of your holiday cottages and accommodations at Cornawall, Dorset, Isle of Wight, Devon, Newquay and Brixham.

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Great Outdoor Activities For Everyone

Outdoor activities are great for your mind, body, and all around well being. Being outside and getting fresh air is good for your mental health. The rays of the sun provide you with needed vitamins to help increase a positive mood. Sunshine is also good for your skin and bones. The rays of the sun provide you with vitamin D that is rich in calcium.

There is a lot of things you can do outside. One thing that is really fun is hiking and camping. Spending this time in nature relieves stress and gets you some good exercise. It takes you out of the comfort of your own home and can help clear your head. Putting civilization far from you can help sort things out in your life.

Another great way to get some sunshine is by riding a bike. Bikes are a lot of fun to ride by yourself or with others. Bike riding is also a great activity for the whole family to do. If you have a toddler they can go too. Special bike seats that are similar to a car seat can attach onto the back of your bicycle. This is a great way to get exercise and have fun as a family doing it.

Swimming is a wonderful activity. Swimming is good for your body and skin. The water will help hydrate your skin and will make it soft. It will also promote healing of scrapes and cuts and keep them clean. By swimming you are using muscles that you normally do not. It is a great way to get your body tone. Swimming is also great for older people who have a hard time exercising. Moving your body around in the water is easier than moving around out of it.

Going to the local park is always fun. You can go by yourself or with friends and family. Sometimes it is good to get out into public, it is socially healthy. Even if spending time at a park is not your thing, it is fun to watch kids run around and play. Watching children be children will bring a smile to your face and make you remember what being a kid is like. If you go with friends, bring a football or soccer ball with you. Hours of fun and exercise can easily be created by either one.

Basketball is a good outdoor activity as well. It is fun to just shoot some hoops by yourself or get a game going with others. Basketball is great for developing hand eye coordination and is good exercise. It is fun and challenging getting the ball into the net.

Going for walks is very relaxing. Walking relieves stress and gets you out into that sunshine and fresh air. All you have to do is step out your front door and head around your block. This is also a good way to take a look at who is living in your neighborhood. Walking around your neighborhood can give you ideas on things to landscape your own yard with by seeing how other people have done theirs.

There are so many fantastic outdoor activities. It is very important for everyone to get out of the house and do something often. Your health and mental state of being will improve guaranteed.

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Karwar Beach Resorts - A Blend of Adventure and Inspiration

Karwar is a tourist destination located in the western coast of India, 15 km away from the Karnataka-Goa border and 519 km away from Bangalore. The tranquillity and picturesque ambience of the place has been mentioned in poems by the poet Ibn Batutta.

Karwar Beaches - Unadulterated Nature's Beauty

Karwar beaches and its other clean areas attract many tourists from around the world all year long. Karwar beach resorts are considered to be a perfect family holiday destination and pride themselves for having the finest seafood as well as exquisite vegetarian cuisine. Some of the most highly rated resorts in this location are Hidden Valley Club and Resort, Majali Beach Resort and Devbagh Beach Resort.

Karwar Hotels - Value For Money

The Hidden Valley Club and Resort, located in the Bangarappa Nagar this resort is 100 km away from Dabolim Airport and 11.5 km away from the nearest railway station. The resort has eight A/C and eight Non-A/C rooms that follow a different colour theme on each floor. The guests at Hidden Valley Resort are provided with many modern luxuries such as ayurvedic massage, sauna bath, steam bath and in-house restaurant and bar. Sporting facilities like Jogging Track, Multi Gym, Tennis, Badminton, Table Tennis, and Snooker are provided.

The Majali Beach Resort is yet another fine residence in Karwar and is located amidst the beauty of nature on Majali Beach. Individual cottages can be booked at the resort for accommodation. The resort provides an option for staying in row cottages, ethnic wood houses, tree houses and mini-tree houses.

The Devbagh Beach Resort is situated on an island off Karwar and is one of the most alluring abodes amongst all the Karwar hotels. This luxury resort is located on a shallow private beach and allows complete indulgence to beach lovers and adventure sports enthusiasts. Once at Karwar, a ferry from Devbagh Beach Resort takes its tourists about three kilometres out in the Arabian Sea from Karwar to bring them to the Island Resort. The resort has four normal cottages, six cottages that are tented and log cabins that stand on stilts. Four cottages are equipped with modern amenities and with an attached bath. All cabins and cottages provide a serene view of the casuarina grove. Non-vegetarian and vegetarian food items are served at the resort's gazebo. Fresh seafood is offered during fishing season. All resorts provide travel desk facilities and special sightseeing packages to the nearest islands for their guests.

The best time to visit Karwar is closer to the rainy season as the surroundings here turn green and pleasant. A visit to the beach during the rains may not be a good idea.

For more information about Karwar hotels Online Booking Services, Please visit our website for booking Hotels in Karwar

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8 Easy To Follow Tips On How To Pan For Gold

If you have ever washed a pan, then you also can learn how to pan for gold. Even if you have never gone panning for gold before, it is really very simple to figure out. There is a large amount of people who are resorting to gold mining prospecting, due to the state of our economy, and the need to increace their cash flow. I have put together a list of tips to help people that would like to pan for gold, but do not have any idea where to begin.

1. You may start by purchasing a prospecting pan. You can locate a prospecting pan at a local store close to a gold mining town, or you can go on the web and google prospecting pans. Prospecting pans come in a lot of shapes and sizes. They can almost always be found for around $19 or less. Do not try to use a pie pan, because they are definitely different from a gold mining pan. Doing so will be a waste of time.

2. Find the Gold Sweet Spot. Look in a creek close to where you live that has a bend in it, or very large rocks lying on the river bed. These spots will trap the gold a lot more. As the current recedes, it forces the gold nuggets to settle on the bottom. You may need to go wading, to get to the bilge, but these are the most opportunistic spots to discover your gold.

3. It is best to go panning for gold not long after it rains. The rapid currents will often stir things up, and force the gold to travel.

4. Fill your prospecting pan with concentrate collected from the stream bed, up to the top of the gold mining pan. Then, hold the pan slightly below the surface of the water, somewhere that the water is moving. begin moving the pan back and forth, but keep the pan close to level and moving the entire time. This forces the gold nuggets to settle on the bottom, and washes the dirt away. You can then lightly scrape off the rocks from the surface, being careful so you don't loose any flakes.

5. Continue the previous step until only a a little bit of dark sand is left in your prospecting pan, then remove the pan from the water.

6. Sort through the remaining concentrate keeping a watchful eye out for a shiny flake. These are your gold flakes.

7. Use tweezers to grab the gold flakes and store them in a small glass container.

8. Celebrate! You struck it rich!

Now that is How To Pan For Gold!

Carol Vance is a Webmaster and an Author. She enjoys helping others, spending time with her boyfriend, and the great outdoors. If you would like to see a video on How To Pan For Gold, or take a look at some Gold Prospecting Pans, then click on one of the links to see her newest site.

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Rare Wildlife You Can See in The Smoky Mountains

When traveling to the Smoky Mountains, one can pretty much expect to see some wildlife. The sites and attractions do not keep the wildlife from making this special area home. It is commonplace for visitors to be able to see many of these creatures up close in their natural habitat. Thankfully, this state park is filled with forest and mountains that cannot be cleared and the indigenous animals are protected.

American naturalists are used to seeing certain forest creatures wherever they go. These include various species of deer (especially the White-tailed deer), rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons and opossums. Birds such as quail, pheasants, ducks, Canada geese and common songbirds also are commonly seen. Of course, there are myriads of different fish, reptiles and amphibians around forest ponds, streams and lakes. Countless varieties of crawling and flying insects and arachnids do not even try to be inconspicuous to human invaders. These can readily be observed in the Great Smoky Mountain State Park and its surrounding areas; however, there are some indigenous fauna that are rarely seen and offer the patient and quiet naturalist a treat when spotted.

Among these are one of North America's largest land mammals, the black bear. Regardless of the size of these massive and strong beasts, they are actually quite shy. Black bears are usually loners unless they are mating or one is a sow with a litter of cubs. They prefer dense woods where they can forage for roots, berries, leaves and insects or small animals. Bears may also be spotted around remote streams, trying their paw at fishing for trout. Naturalists and photographers are urged to use extreme caution while close enough to a black bear to watch it. Even though they are shy, they have volatile tempers and are easily enraged with the strange scent of humans. This is especially true of mother bears and their babies. There have been numerous sitings of bears on the sides of the road. Several cubs have been spotted playing freely near major highways. Beware because anywhere a cub is, the mama is not far behind.

Perhaps a hiker may come across a red fox sneaking from his hole. These small, wild canines do a lot of hunting at night and are not usually seen. Since elk were introduced to the park, visitors may catch a glimpse of one dashing through the meadows or sipping from a placid pond at twilight. People who are observing at night may see a colony of bats swoop overhead or see an owl nosediving to catch a field mouse. Even though most people in the Southeast are used to hearing Whip-poor-Wills on warm summer evenings, the luckiest person may actually see one. Such a sighting is extremely rare. Different species of hawks and eagles are also a random sight. Beaver may also be seen on the odd occasion gnawing on a tree for its dam or underwater lodge. Its aquatic cousin, the otter, may make an appearance, too.

Visiting the Smoky Mountains is an experience that will inspire naturalists and other hobbyists alike. Whatever the reason to enjoy one of America's top national forests, visitors are asked to respect the land and its wild inhabitants for posterity. The forests and the wildlife may thank us with rare glimpse of themselves. It is a rare opportunity to see nature in their full glory and in all places a highly traveled tourist area.

Consider staying in a Smoky Mountain cabin rental to enhance your wildlife viewing experience. We have Smoky Mountain cabin rentals near both Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

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Catching Crabs In The Weekapaug Breachway - From Edible To Illegal

Catching crabs in the Weekapaug Breachway is the ultimate experience in touching, feeling, and coexisting with ancient sea life. But before you begin your excursion it is wise to know not only which crabs are edible or not, but also which are illegal to harvest.

The Weekapaug Breachway is teaming with several varieties of crabs, the most common of which is the green crab. This creature has either a green or dark brown shell. It's legs are thin and it is readily apparent this crab contains little or no meat. The green crab is essentially a scavenger that will latch onto anything dead on the ocean floor. It is also a menace to the soft-shelled clam population. Higher up on the food chain are rock crabs whose light, cream-colored shell stands in stark contrast to its green crab brothers and sisters. Rock crabs are seen as a delicacy and are harvested in Rhode Island not only recreationally, but commercially as well. Blue crabs are even more desirable. Years ago, blue crabs were an endangered species and off limits to crabbers either commercial or recreational. But their numbers have sufficiently returned and while they are most associated with Chesapeake Bay, they are common in the waters from Weekapaug to Narragansett Bay. Out-of-staters are to be forewarned - harvesting of blue crabs is by residents only. Making blue crabs unique is that they may be cooked and eaten whole, shell and all. There is also a strict size limit of five inches and a harvest limit of 25. It is also noteworthy that blue crabs cannot be harvested between sunset and sunrise.

Finally, there is the horseshoe crab, a creature noteworthy on many fronts. First, it's scary-looking! If you can imagine a German soldier's helmet walking across the ocean floor, you have a pretty good picture of what a horseshoe crab looks like. One added feature is that the horseshoe crab has an 8-inch, hard, spiked tail. The horseshoe crab normally buries itself in the mud. Pity the person who comes walking by. The horseshoe crab shoots its tail upward as a defense mechanism, and to step on it would surely mean a trip to the hospital! A further unique quality of the horseshoe crab is evidenced by a quote from the regulations of the Rhode Island Department of Fisheries and Wildlife - "No person shall harvest horseshoe crabs from waters or shoreline of the state during the 48-hour period preceding and the 48-hour period following the new and full moons during the months of May, June and July annually.

Crabbing in the Weekapaug Breach is different things to different people. To a child it's a bucket full of green crabs to be enjoyed and tossed back into the ocean at the end of the day. To the seafood lover, there is the satisfaction of the catch-your-own dinner consisting of rock and blue crabs. And to the lover of nature, there is the majesty and mystery of the ancient horseshoe crab.

Tom Zalaski's book, 'The View From The Blanket - Vacation Memories From A Place Called Weekapaug' is the cure for the thousands of vacationers who can't get enough of Weekapaug, Westerly, Misquamicut and Watch Hill. As you read the essays of Tom's experiences, you'll find yourself saying, "Hey, that's what we do! It's like he went on our vacation!" Learn more about the book and enjoy a FREE chapter in The Bookstore at http://www.tomzalaski.com/

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Beijing Travel - The Hutongs

Hutongs are small alley ways or lanes surrounding the Forbidden City in the old section of Beijing that are hundreds of years old. These hutongs provide a tantalizing insight into life in ancient Beijing and a glimpse of modern Beijing's traditional life. A typical residence in ancient Beijing was a walled compound with a courtyard yard in the center that was surrounded by living quarters that were built against the north east and west walls of the compound. The southern wall of the compound was the gateway and entrance to the residence. Typically one family of at least three generations lived in a residence and the courtyard was the focus point of the family.

A hutong is formed by a row of these traditional residences the same way a suburban street is formed by a row of houses and yards. The residences faced south for better light and heat so hutongs normally run on an east to west axis.

The size of the hutongs varies depending on when (which dynasty) they were constructed and they can vary in width from over 9 meters to just 40 centimeters. Many of Beijing's hutongs form winding networks of interlocking lanes like mazes that even locals can get lost in. Wandering through these hutongs is a great way to see a unique part of Beijing.

History

After the defeat of the Yuan Dynasty in 1368, Zhu Yuanzhang (the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty) burnt the Yuan palaces to the ground. Later in 1403 the third Ming Emperor Yongle renamed the city Beijing, made Beijing a co-capital of China and started the construction of the Forbidden City that was completed 14 years later. The Forbidden City became the center of Beijing and was surrounded by residential areas crisscrossed with hutongs.

The hutongs created a strict hierarchy in the old city of Beijing. The rich or influential people lived in hutongs to the east and west of the Forbidden City and poor and less influential people lived in hutongs to the north and south of the Forbidden City. A person's status was measured by how close their hutong was to the Forbidden City.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949 many of Beijing's ancient hutongs were destroyed to create modern highways and housing developments. Fortunately many of Beijing's hutongs still remain and a number of those hutongs are now protected.

Visiting the Hutongs

Beijing has many incredible sites such as the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace and the nearby Great Wall of China. Visiting these sites provides an insight into the greatness and splendour of ancient China but they are not about the daily lives of normal people. Visiting the hutongs of Beijing will show you where ancient Beijing's residents lived and provide you with an insight into the kind of lives they led. Visiting the hutongs will also show how many of Beijing's current residents live and how life in the hutongs remains unchanged in many ways.

There are groups of hutongs scattered all over the inner part of Beijing inside the second ring road that circles Beijing. Some hutongs are developed and now hutongs in name only while other hutongs have changed very little in the last 600 years. There are hutongs that are commercialized for tourism that have very little character and there are hutongs where residents go about their daily lives and foreign tourists are rarely seen.

Which hutongs to visit?

This is a hard question to answer because there are literally hundreds of hutongs you can visit and every hutong expert will give you a different opinion. I have suggested three hutong areas below that are great to visit. have minimal commercialization and that most of the residences are still used as homes.

Drum Tower and Bell Tower hutongs (my favourite) - The Drum Tower and the Bell Tower that are to the north of the Forbidden City and surrounded by many original hutongs that are hundreds of years old, well maintained and the residences are almost entirely used as homes. There are rickshaw tours of these hutongs that start in Culture Square that is in between the two towers. The rickshaw drivers will have little photo books where they show you the high lights of the local hutongs and you can pick out the places you want to visit.

The best way to reach Culture Square is to catch the subway on line 2 to Gulaodajie station. Take the B exit and walk south down Jinggulou Street. After around 10 minutes walking you will see the towers to your left. The towers are the tallest structures in the area so you will have no trouble finding the square and surrounding hutongs

Anping Alley - This alley is actually a very nice hutong that leads into a network of smaller hutongs in excellent condition where you can find locals living in the residences going about their day to day lives. These hutongs also contain a number of great restaurants that cater for locals, have delicious dishes and excellent prices.

I found these hutong late one night when I got lost trying to find my hostel that was on Anping Alley. Foreigners rarely venture down these hutongs so you will often find yourself the center of attention.

Catch the subway to Xisi station on line four. Once you exit the subway go west on Fuchengmeng Inner Street until you hit Zhaodengyu road. Head north on Zhaodengyu road and Anping Alley will be the second road on your left.

Forbidden City - On the east side of the Forbidden City is a street called Chizi street. There are a number of very nice hutongs that lead of from Chizi street that are great to visit. Many of the residences here have been converted to commercial or government buildings but still retain much of their original character. You can also find some very nice small restaurants once you enter some of the smaller hutongs in that area. Chizi Street is the first street to the east of the Forbidden City and right next tot the moat so you can't miss it.

Rickshaw Drivers

I prefer to walk the hutongs not take rickshaws so I never gave much thought to the rickshaw drivers. During my last trip to the Culture Square hutongs, I had a very interesting conversation with a rickshaw driver who was waiting outside a Daoist Temple for his German customer.

This driver was a local Beijing resident who had lived in Beijing his whole live and was extremely familiar with Beijing's hutong and rickshaw scene. He explained that basically all rickshaw drivers worked for companies like the one in Culture Square and that they did not receive any wage. The company bosses who the driver used very unflattering terms to describe, kept all of the money they received. The companies lend them the drivers thier rickshaws in lieu of wages. The only income the drivers have is tips from their customers.

The driver said that they are also subject to police extortion and harassment and likely to have their rickshaws confiscated. My conversation was cut short at that point when the German tourist exited the temple and the driver pedalled off to pick him up. So if you are riding a rickshaw and the driver does a good job of showing you Beijing's fantastic hutongs, tip generously. Those guys work hard and a just a few dollars from you will mean a lot to them.

This article is Written by Brendon Lang from China Travel Go, an expert blog on travel and life in China.

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Face to Face With a Deadly Tiger

Off the coast of Tasmania, an island state in the south of Australia, are several small islands and rocky outcrops. These islands are the home of the famous mutton birds, the birds that have one of the longest migration trips every year. They travel up the edge of the Pacific past Japan to the tip of the ocean and back down every year and generally end up in the same burrow in the sand dunes of the islands. There they lay one egg and hatch out one youngster which they feed by regurgitation of seafood every evening when the parent birds return from a day of feeding.

These young birds have been a popular treat in Tasmania for generations and have spawned an annual industry in the harvest of these young tasty birds. The season is only short so as not to deplete the stocks and starts every year at Easter time and only goes for a couple of weeks. In the old days the young birds would be plucked and packed in wooden barrels in brine but now they are skinned as this is quicker and creates a less fatty bird. Camps have been set up on these islands for workers to live along with processing and packing sheds. The trend now however is for birders to be delivered each morning and their catches to be ferried back to the mainland for processing by light plane.

I made the trip by boat one off season to check on things and was taking a walk along the shoreline of the small island. I happened to glance seaward and then froze. On the other side of a small rock pool was a deadly Tasmanian tiger snake and I was between him and the safety of the scrub. He was already up about a meter in the air, head flattened and swaying slightly as he prepared to strike. I was several hours from the mainland by my small put put boat so a bite would have probably been fatal.

I eyeballed him. I fixed my gaze on his beady eyes and held his stare. I dared not break that eye contact because I knew that as soon as I did I was dead. Without breaking eye contact I ever so slowly lowered my right hand to the rocky foreshore and found a long lump of drift wood. Slowly I raised myself upright again not even blinking as I held his gaze. I knew I only had one shot as I slowly stretched the driftwood behind me and swung with all my might. Luckily, my aim was perfect and the blow severed his head completely and I dropped the driftwood and breathed a big sigh of relief.

I hurried off to catch up with my mate who must have passed the big snake without even seeing him. I count myself as being very lucky and did not even mention my encounter. I think I was still in shock.

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Outdoor Activities on Mt Hood

Mt. Hood, located about 50 miles east of Portland, offers residents from around the area the opportunity to explore the beauty of the untouched outdoors. Just about everything you could dream of is possible in the this area: horseback riding, kayaking, hiking, mountain biking, and so many more activities. With such a plethora of options, this area is an outdoor enthusiast's dream, particularly during the peak summer months. Similarly, families can experience the great outdoors together with manageable hikes and easy kayaking adventures thus making Mt. Hood one of the prime adventure destinations within the Pacific Northwest.

On a hot summer day, nothing sounds much better than a trip up into the mountains to go for a leisurely kayak or canoe adventure. Fortunately, the area offers a number of options when it comes to kayaking and/or canoeing. Within close distance to the mountain are Timothy Lake, Frog Lake, Clear Lake, and beautiful Trillium Lake. Rent kayaks or canoes in nearby Government Camp, OR, and start to enjoy your beautiful day on the water. Guided tours are additionally available for the inexperienced or for those who simply want to enjoy a care-free journey.

Another popular summer attraction to do on Mt. Hood is horseback riding. Enjoy a leisurely ride through miles of the famed Mt. Hood National Forest all on horseback. Guided tours are available that include well-trained horses, saddles, stirrups, and the necessary equipment.

For those who like the move their feet, the Mt. Hood National Forest offers a wide array of hiking, with options from the easy to the extremely difficult. No matter what trail you choose, you will be guaranteed a breathtaking view of the surrounding Cascade Mountain Range and, of course, Mt. Hood. There are hikes that run past mountain lakes, through open fields with flowers blooming in every direction, and past gorgeous waterfalls.

If its something a bit more adventurous you crave, then one can try their hand at the miles of mountain bike trails or the various opportunities for rock climbing. Guided tours are available for rock climbing which should lessen the worry of some novices. Likewise, there are guided mountain bike tours available for host of difficulty levels in addition to mountain bike rentals. Of course, if you're experienced and just want to hit the trail, the whole Mt. Hood area is your playground.

Of course, one doesn't have to seek out extreme adventure to enjoy a day on the mountain. Fishing is a popular recreation for the mountain lakes and streams whereas the area offers a number of golfing options. The beauty of nature is in full-force on the mountain so bird-watching is also a popular activity. Additionally, photographers from the professional to the amateur alike, find the entire area a wonderful opportunity to snatch some pictures.

So whatever the activity you desire, Mt. Hood has it. Shake off those boots and go enjoy the vast wilderness that is the outdoors in the Cascades.

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Peru Treks to Machu Picchu

Seat of the glorious Inca Empire that ruled over most of South America over several centuries, Peru is filled with extraordinary archeological treasures, an extremely rich culture, and wonderful landscapes. Of course, the main attraction of this beautiful country is without a doubt Machu Picchu, a grandiose Inca citadel hidden on top of a mountaintop in the Andes, and one of the 7 New World Wonders. Many travelers to Peru are eager to discover its magical history and follow the path of the Incas by trekking through the Andes to reach the magical ruins.

The most famous way to hike to Machu Picchu is known as the Inca Trail, which can be hiked in 2 or 4 days depending on your level of experience and preference. However, there are many more treks available that will lead all adventurers to the famous archeological site while taking them through lesser known, but equally beautiful sites and landscapes. These include the Salkantay trek, Lares trek, or Choquequirao trek.

Lasting 4 days, just as the Inca Trail, the Lares trek offers the opportunity to discover the wonders of the Peruvian Andes, finishing at Machu Picchu for an extraordinary visit. Off the beaten path, this adventure takes travelers to remote villages where the way of life has changed very little over the past 500 years. You will hike through the magnificent Lares Valley, populated by native people and exotic species, including llamas and alpacas. The difficulty level is very similar to that of the Inca Trail.

Another fascinating and a bit more challenging trekking adventure is the 5-day Salkantay trek. Taking hikers through the beautiful Salkantay Valley dominated by the majestic Salkantay Mount, meaning Savage Mountain. It is one of the highest peaks of Peru, and among the most awe-inspiring sites in the country. Following this remote trail through the Vilcabamba range, you'll pass by snow-capped peaks, mighty rivers, and picturesque traditional villages, all the way to Machu Picchu.

Finally, the Choquequirao trek is probably the most challenging, but also the most rewarding. This extraordinary adventure will take to the Choquequirao site, called the sister city of Machu Picchu. Larger than its counterpart, this site is also just as beautiful. However, its remoteness means that it is less visited. When you visit the complex, you'll truly feel like an explorer as you'll be alone to explore the ruins. This 10-day adventure is recommended for seasoned trekkers who are not afraid to stray away from the crowds.

This guide to Peru treks to Machu Picchu was written by a Peru travel expert at Peru For Less, specialist in Machu Picchu tours.

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Are You A Savage?

The Savage Race is a mud and obstacle race similar to the Warrior Dash, Tough Mudder, or the Muddy Buddy. The first race will take place in the Orlando, Florida area on August 27th with an entire event series planned throughout the US. The course will span about 5K at the Revolution Off-Road Experience in Clermont, Florida.

This is not your average 5K, though. You will climb over walls, trudge through mud, up sand hills, run down muddy trails, swim across lakes, and maneuver over cargo nets.

After the race, you will experience the Savage celebration with free beer and BBQ to quench that thirst and hunger you built up while running the course. The best part about this celebration? You don't have to participate in the Savage Race to join in the fun! The celebration will be free for spectators, too!

I had the opportunity to preview run the Savage Race with a bunch of other central Florida YouTubers. We were invited out by the Savage Race managers to put the course to the test.

This mud and obstacle event will be a great addition to the other central Florida race events, including all the Disney marathons, the Muddy Buddy, and the Everest Challenge. Florida was in great need of a mud and obstacle event, similar to the Warrior Dash. The Savage Race meets and exceeds this need.

The event costs $85 per individual racer and $78 per team member in teams of up to 10 people. Each participant in the race will receive one free beer at the celebration, a custom medal, a Savage Race decal, and guaranteed mud in your underwear.

For the winners, you will receive a custom engraved trophy axe to hang on your wall! Trophies will also be awarded to each of the top three finishers in each category. Participants with the best costume will be given a prize and be featured on the website.

The race will go off in several waves every 30 minutes. Your performance will be timed using chips, as most triathletes or marathon runners are accustomed to using. The race course will include 12-15 obstacles, including a surprise obstacle or two. Most obstacles will attempt to use the natural surroundings to their most effective measure.

Currently, the only venue scheduled is the Orlando, Florida event. To stay up to date with the latest locations, sign up for the newsletter on the official website.

-- Tim Jones has worked in the Orlando travel and event arena for over 10 years as an Orlando based travel agent. You can learn more about Tim on http://wizardingworldpark.com/ and more about the Savage Race at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74IJmkBlois

http://EzineArticles.com/6495007

An Arizona Canyoneering Adventure: Hiking Christopher Creek's Box Canyon and Ellison Creek Cascades

If you live in here in Arizona then you know that without good A/C and a swimming pool, it's just too hot! Even though temperatures may be sizzling here in the desert region of the state, you can still get out and enjoy nature and the outdoors. More any other state in the U.S., Arizona is famous for its many beautiful canyons and gorges, many of which can be reached in as little as a few hours drive from the Phoenix metropolitan area. If you're ready for a real outdoors adventure, and a great summer day trip & hike into one of Arizona's gorgeous mountain canyons, then check out Christopher Creek's Box Canyon & the Ellison Creek Cascades, and discover the adventure of Arizona Canyoneering!

Through a local hiking group I joined called the TLC Hiking Group, led and organized by Eric Kinneman, I saw that there was a really interesting water hike scheduled, rated easy to moderate, which sounded like a lot of fun. Though I have hiked and camped in Arizona's beautiful Mogollon Rim area for many years and recently visited the Christopher Creek area a couple months ago too, I had never heard of Box Canyon or the Ellison Creek Cascades before. But I always enjoy hiking, getting outdoors and exploring new places to go in Arizona so I was excited to sign up for this day hike.

I met up with Eric Kinneman and the TLC Hiking Group early on a Saturday morning, and by 7:45 am, we left the Fort McDowell Casino, heading north on Rt 87, aka the Beeline Highway. The drive up on Route 87 to Payson is one of my personal favorites. Absolutely gorgeous mountain scenery all the way! We arrived in Payson in about 1.5 hours, then made a right onto Route 260 east and drove 30 minutes and another 19 miles to Christopher Creek, arriving by 9:30am. Because there was no official parking for this hike and with the road construction that was going on that day, Eric advised us to park at the Christopher Creek Campground's day use area. So for a small fee of $6, which was strictly enforced, and with ample space available, we all parked our cars there.

Starting out from the Christopher Creek Campground, we hiked about a mile along the shoulder on the south side of Route 260, where just next door to the right of the Boy Scout Camp, we passed through a fence, collected the group, then set out on our descent down into Box Canyon. The trail was not real well marked at the beginning but we quickly found our bearings then trekked our way through the beautiful pines and forest vegetation and after only a short ways, maybe about a mile, we arrived at the top of Box Canyon. Wow, what an incredible view looking down into the canyon. Absolutely gorgeous! After stopping to take a few photos, we then followed the trail steeply down to the creek bottom below.

Once everyone had made it safely to the water's edge at the top of the creek, Eric quickly jumped into the water and began guiding the group down stream, swimming and scrambling from one waterfall and pool to another until roughly about 1/4 to 1/3 mile down they reached a 35 foot waterfall which could only be safely attempted by rappeling. With this being my first experience "canyoneering", I took it at a much slower pace and lost most of the group! After taking the plunge into my first swimming hole, I found the water to be cool, but surprisingly very refreshing. So one waterfall after another, each one seeming larger than the next, I slowly kept swimming, scrambling, jumping into pool after pool, trying to see if I could reach the group. I had just jumped down a 10 foot waterfall, dropping completely into a deep pool of water, then continued on a little ways further when I started to notice feeling cold and my feet and hands feeling really numb. That's when I knew I had reached my limit and the point where I couldn't go on any further. Christopher Creek Gorge is a beautiful and popular place for canyoneering in Arizona because of its many small waterfalls and pools. However, be aware that the water temperature is cool, especially if you've been in it for awhile and if you don't have a wet suit, getting hypothermia is a possibility and one of the hazards of canyoneering. But I made it back safely with the help of a few people along the way who helped pull me back up onto the rocks. Once I had arrived back, it only took a few minutes to warm back up in the hot sun at the top of the cliff and I was okay again.

It was by this time that Eric had returned, with the rest of the group coming in one by one behind him. After a few minutes collecting the group again, we started our hike back and arrived at the Christopher Creek Campground and our cars by 12:30-12:45pm. As soon as everyone had safely returned again, it was time to journey on to the 2nd water hike of the day, the Ellison Creek Cascades, just north east of Payson. By 1pm we got back into our cars and drove route 260 west back to Payson, then hung a right onto Route 87 north for a couple of miles until we reached the Houston Mesa Campground, then turned right onto Houston Mesa Road, aka FR 199.

It was a very beautiful and scenic drive out Houston Mesa Road, though some signs were still evident of the devastating Water Wheel Fire in 2009. It was about 8 miles later and shortly after crossing the East Verde River that we turned off into a small parking area on the right at the Cold Springs Campground. We parked, got out there, passed through the gate and began the short hike, roughly about a mile down the dirt road trail, FR 420, then hung a right down into Ellison Creek. The views along FR 420 of the surrounding Tonto National Forest area were really spectacular!

The temperatures on this August day were by now pretty warm, about the low 90's, so there were a lot of people already there at Ellison Creek as it's a very popular and well known swimming hole during the summer months. Once down at the creek, I hopped across the rocks and boulders until I caught sight of Eric and the group at the swimming hole next to the falls. Everyone that day was having a great time because next to the water fall there was a large tree that had steps carved into it like stairs so that you could climb up and jump off into the water pool below. Wow, that looked like fun!

After spending a couple of afternoon hours relaxing and enjoying the cool water at Ellison Creek, it was time to head back home again. We started our hike at around 4pm, making the trek back up the hot dirt road but feeling much cooler and refreshed now! We returned to our cars and the parking lot by 4:30pm, drove it back to Payson, then headed on down to Phoenix where we arrived back at the Fort McDowell Casino by 6pm.

In all, truly an extraordinary day and another excellent hike, very well planned, organized and guided by Eric Kinneman himself of the TLC Hiking Group and a great summer day trip and outdoors canyoneering adventure that I highly recommend and look forward to doing again in the near future!

For more ideas, tips and recommendations on what to see, do and experience in Arizona and the Western U.S. so you can plan your own outdoors travel and adventure trip...

Visit my travel blog at http://www.thegreatoutdoorstravelblog.com/

Laura K. Halik is a writer and author with over 20 years experience traveling in the state of Arizona and the western U.S. She has a passion for nature, the outdoors, travel and adventure. She enjoys camping, hiking, canyoneering, white water rafting, kayaking, writing and photography. Throughout her professional career as an International Marketing & Sales Manager and small business owner, Laura has worked and traveled throughout the Latin American region. Laura has a B.A. from the University of Arizona and Global Leadership Certification from Thunderbird Graduate School of International Management. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona.

http://EzineArticles.com/6492898

Brazil Vacation: Discover the World's Largest Wetland

If you're thinking about a Brazil vacation and you're hoping to see a lot of exotic animals, you might be planning on heading into the Amazon. And that is a great idea, because the Amazon is full of unique creatures. However, the Amazon is also full of lush vegetation and plant life, and sometimes it can be difficult to see all the animals that call the Amazon home. But you're in luck, because there is another place in Brazil that is renowned for its spectacular wildlife: The Pantanal.

The Pantanal is the largest wetland in the world, and most of it is in southwestern Brazil, although parts also fall in Bolivia and Paraguay. Basically, the Pantanal is located directly in the middle of the South American continent. It is home to the largest concentration of wildlife in all of South America-a simply remarkable feat. And visitors are usually lucky in seeing the animals that call the wetland home because there are not as many leafy plants for them to hide in and behind. Many of the animals you'd find in the Amazon you'd also find in the Pantanal, including tropical birds such as macaws and parakeets. Jaguars are also much more likely to be spotted in the wetlands than in the jungle. There are even stranger creatures, such as marsh deer, giant anteaters, and the Greater Rhea, which is a non-flying that bird that strongly resembles an ostrich. It can grow to be up to six feet tall!

The best time to visit this remarkable area is during the dry season, which lasts from April to September. During parts of the rainy season (November until March), up to eighty percent of the Pantanal floods, which means transportation is extremely limited. Even during the dry season traveling to and through this region can be a struggle. There are very few towns, extremely limited infrastructure, and distances are massive (in total, the wetland covers more than 60,000 square miles).

The best way to visit is through an accredited eco-lodge and with the help of expert travel advisors. Good lodges will offer interesting excursions out into the marshes and naturalists can help you spot the coveted wildlife. One animal you might not expect to see, but will indeed see a lot of, is cattle. That is because only two percent of the Pantanal is protected in parks and reserves, and the rest if privately owned and largely used for ranching.

This article about visiting the Pantanal on your Brazil vacation was written by a Brazil travel expert at Brazil For Less, specializing in Brazil vacation packages.

http://EzineArticles.com/6485677

Kausani Site Seeing

Kausani is a beautiful hill station near Almora. It is 1890 meters above the sea level. Nature has given all the beauties to this hill station. Walking in green tea garden is more then enough to rejuvenate yourself. In Kausani you feel like you can touch the Himalayas. Himalayas is so close from Kausani.

The sensation is Kausani's Sun rise and Sun set. After seeing the sun rise and sun set you would praise Kausani your-self as I am doing here.

The great Hindi poet Sumitrnandan Pant was born in Kausani, one have the chance to visit the place where the great poet was born. This place is famous as Pant museum.

In 1929 Mahata Gandhi came to Kausani and after looking the natural beauties of Kausani, He could not stop him-self of praising Kausani. The place where Mahatma Gandhi was stayed is known as Anashakti Ashram.

There are other places as well near Kausani where you can trek:

Baijnath Temple: Baijnath is a Historic Temple of Lord Shiva. You can perform puja(worship) here. After completing your puja(worship) do not forget to trek in the banks of Gomati River.

Someshwar: Someshwar is on the way to Kausani. Shomeshwar is famous for green fields and the temple of Lord Shiva.

Pinakeshwar: A small temple in the middle of dense forest. You would love to visit this place again and again, if you visit this place for one time. There is a waterfall near this temple which is awesome. You can have some fun with your friends on this waterfall.

Bageshwar: Bageshwar is a small town. It is famous for confluence of Saru and Gomati Rivers and Bagnath temple is also famous. It is a small town, but you can get everything you want for your daily use.

You can also visit Pindari Glacier, Jageshwar Temple, Almora, Chitai Temple, Ranikhet, Chaukori. All of these places are very close to Kausani.

What to eat: You have plenty of options for food in Kausani. You can get every kind of continental food, Chinese food, south Indian food and mouth watering Kumaoni food. I recommend you to eat Kumaoni food the specialty of Kausani.

Shopping:You obviously like to bring something with you from Kausani. So you can buy Pickles, Honey, Gaht dal and do not forget to buy the fresh tea. All of the things are available at the small market of Kausani.

Stay in Kausani:There are approximately 50 hotels in Kausani. The tariffs are not very costly which cost from Rs. 300 to 3000 Per Night. At season time make sure that you are making booking in advance otherwise it's very difficult to get rooms at season time.

I am a web developer and Travelling is my hobby. while I travel I write about the places. Kausani was awesome place. I stayed there at Pratiksha Himalayan Retreat. I believe it is one of the best Hotels in Kausani.

http://EzineArticles.com/6486967

How to Become a Naturalist

If you have an interest in wildlife and want to learn more about the natural world around you then I would encourage you to take the next step and become a naturalist. In this case I am defining a naturalist as a person who is interested in botany or zoology, especially in the field.

Learning how to identify the plants, birds, insects, fungi etc. around you will open up a whole new world to you. Although learning identification is important and rewarding, you can go on to learn about how organisms live, interact with one another and react to different situations. Additionally, you will learn what the presence of those organisms tells you about the landscape you are in.

What to look for

Whichever country you live in there are many thousands of different mammals, reptiles, birds, flowers, trees, insects, fungi etc. for you to see. You won't be able to learn about all of them, so at some point you will have to specialise, but for your first year I suggest that you try everything. Visit the nature reserves, parks and wildlife areas in your local neighbourhood and see how many animals, birds and plants you can find. Keep a diary and write down the sites that you visit, the date and everything that you see. When you get home, use some reference books to see if you can identify what you saw.

When

The best time of year to start is when there is plenty of wildlife around. Late spring or early summer are recommended. Starting in winter is not recommended as the poor weather makes it more challenging and the lack of wildlife can be disheartening.

Who with

The easiest way to learn how to be a naturalist is to find someone else who is already a naturalist and go on some field trips with them. They will give you advice on how to identify what you see, but they will also be able to give advice on two other important things:

1. Where to go to see more unusual wildlife, and

2. How to hunt for, search for and seek out interesting wildlife.

Another excellent way to learn about wildlife is to go on a guided walk at a local nature reserve. Some places are better at publicising these than others, but if you keep an eye out at your local library, local newspaper or a notice board at your local nature reserve, you can find out when guided walks take place. Also, nowadays, a lot of nature reserves have their own website, so any events will be advertised there. Going on such a walk will show you wildlife you may not have noticed yourself, but also it will also introduce you to people with a similar interest.

Another alternative is to join a local wildlife trust or conservation volunteer group and go out on tasks. Also some larger organisations, such as the National Trust, run working holidays at nature reserves that they own.

Joining a national organisation such as the RSPB, Mammal Society, Wild Flower Society or Butterfly Conservation Society will help you to find out about events for members and provide you with a magazine to read as well. Once you go to an event you will meet other people with the same interest and they may tell you about a local society that you can join.

A local wildlife group or society is the best group to join as they will run field trips in your local area, help you to find the best sights near to where you live and provide help in identification. I enjoy the social side of being in a local group and sharing your interest and enthusiasm with others.

Reading and Recording

When you are not on a field trip, I recommend that you buy a good field guide and read about wildlife in your spare time. Friends or local clubs can recommend good field guides. Otherwise have a look at the reviews on Amazon or other natural online bookstores; they will give you good ideas on where to start.

You will also need to buy a good notebook, with a waterproof cover, and write down what you see. Keeping records is an important part of being a naturalist. As well as aiding with identification, they help you to learn about different sites and compare them. You can also look back if you want to see a rare bird, flower etc. and see where they are found. The act of writing something down seems to help you learn and remember more abut the wildlife you have seen.

Many naturalists are also interested in photography, so you may want to take photos of the interesting wildlife that you see. Trying to take a photo of a bird, flower etc. really helps you to learn about their features, characteristics and habitat as well. It also gives you an excellent record of your day.

Other Equipment

Make sure you have good waterproof clothing for your field trips. You may also need special camouflaged clothing for watching birds or animals.

You may also need specialist equipment such as binoculars, magnifying glass, nets, traps etc.

Location is Very Important Too

Learn where the best sites for wildlife are. Some places are much better than others and an obvious starting point is to visit your local nature reserves.

Specialising

After the first year you will have an idea of which field you want to specialise in and you can concentrate on that. My advice is to be a specialist, but keep a good general knowledge as well. It is good to know the different butterflies, birds, flowers and fish that you see commonly, but it is also good to be a specialist in one particular area as well. Being a specialist means that you can be of great help to other people, but also conduct research and make new discoveries yourself.

After you have built up your local general knowledge, you may want to go deeper and specialise in one particular group of organisms. There will be a national society for you to join and members there will be glad to help you. You may also be able to take part in a national recording scheme and do surveys for them.

In summary

Starting out as a naturalist can be a bit daunting, but there is always help around, with local societies, field guides and websites as well. You can be a naturalist on our own if you wish and you can keep your own personal records. Alternatively, you can join with others in a local or national society and recording scheme. Whichever you do, have fun and enjoy your new-found interest.

Michael Knaggs is an experienced and enthusiastic naturalist who has been visiting the countryside and observing birds, mammals, butterflies and wild flowers since he was 12 years old. He is a member of the Wild Flower Society and the Bradford Botany Group.

http://EzineArticles.com/6451760

The Cape Glass Works in Glencairn - The Industrial Heritage Of Cape Point

Some years ago I was walking in the area of Elsies Peak in Fish Hoek (south of Cape Town on the Cape Point Peninsula- for those who do not know the area, Fish Hoek is a small town nestled on the eastern end of the Noordhoek valley, which effectively splits the Table Mountain range in two. It is a small town of a few thousand people and Elsies Peak rises to the South of it).

I had not been living here long but had already been to the summit so I decided to explore the South side of the hill. My journey took me down the hill towards the Spar convenience store but being a bit of an explorer I didn't take the obvious route and ended up cutting through a small opening between some houses. So it was by complete luck that I first happened upon one of the more unusual historical sites of the Cape Point Peninsula- The Cape Glass Company, or rather, what is left of it!

Unfortunately the site is closed to visitors (undoubtedly for safety reasons), however, if you are tall enough you can pretty much see all there is to see from the outside of the fence.

The Cape Glass Company was registered as a British company on 4th March 1902 under the management of a Mr. Briarley. It was the intention of the company to produce over 8 million dark brown or aqua coloured bottles per annum. That sounds a lot, but then, like now, Cape Town had a thriving brewing industry, both wine and beer.

They were going to achieve such high production numbers by using automated processors. In this regard the founders were to be a technical pioneer, this being the first glass works in the world to make bottles using automation only.

Ohlsson's Cape Breweries had a large shareholding in the business and saw the glass works as an answer to their need for bottles for their larger production in Johannesburg (importing the bottles was seen as very expensive).

The glass works had no competitors, a large market, cutting edge technology and adequate financial backing; so why is the Cape Glass Works not a rival for Pilkingtons? Despite all these advantages the company only lasted until 1905, when it went into voluntary liquidation. What went wrong?

The first problem was the location. Quite why the site was chosen is unclear. In the early 20th century Glencairn was an inhospitable wasteland and transporting glassware to civilization would undoubtedly lead to a lot of breakages. Also, since the machinery was so cutting edge the work force came primarily from overseas. A combination of isolation and homesickness made for an unmotivated work force. For this reason the production facility was poorly run and inefficient, surely impacting on the bottom line.

The other major problem is one that is familiar to nearby Metro railway today (and would have been far worse back then), that of shifting sand dunes: one can imagine that as many people were employed to keep the sand at bay as for making bottles.

In the end the location and the elements won and the Cape Glass Works was forced to close its doors in 1905. The experiment was never repeated and the site allowed to be swallowed by the sand. The works lay under the sand and was overgrown with vegetation until the 1980's when extensive excavation revealed the site as it can be seen today.

Next time you are at the Glencairn Spar take a minute to walk across, past the Masonic hall and down a break between the houses and there it is, an almost forgot piece of the Cape Point Peninsulas industrial past, and a reminder that we never beat nature we just slow it down for a while.

Russell Hepworth is a resident of Cape Point in South Africa. He moved there in 2005. Originally hailing from the UK he now is a permanent resident of South Africa and lives in the beauty of the Fair Cape, and shares his experiences in his blog- http://www.capepointchronicle.co.za/.

http://EzineArticles.com/6471230