Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
Caladesi Island, which lies off Florida's central Gulf Coast just north of Clearwater Beach, remains almost completely undeveloped, providing visitors with the chance to truly leave the rest of the world behind, even if only for a few hours. Accessible by boat, the island is home to Caladesi Island State Park and a pristine shoreline of nearly 4 miles that was rated the nation's best in 2008 by coastal expert Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, a Florida International University professor better known by many as Dr. Beach.
Located along the St. Johns River, Blue Spring State Park (floridastateparks.org) spans more than 2,600 acres in northeastern Florida. The park is home to the largest spring on the St. Johns River and is home to a substantial population of West Indian manatees. You can stay overnight at the park, with more than 50 campsites and cabins to choose from.
Egmont Key State Park, southwest of DeSoto Beach at the mouth of Tampa Bay, is rich in wildlife, history and recreational opportunities. The island is accessible only by private boat, but if you make the trip, you'll be rewarded with nature trails, ruins from the key's days as a military base, a 19th-century lighthouse, picnic areas and pristine beaches with turquoise water.
Fort De Soto Park (pinellascounty.org) stretches across five keys south of St. Petersburg in a picturesque spot between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The site of a fort built in 1900 as part of a series of fortifications to guard Tampa Bay, the park draws boaters, birdwatchers and sunbathers. Campers can reach the park via the Pinellas Byway, and choose among the park’s campground sites for tents and RVs.
Cooking linguine vongole is something you can do right at home, so long as you know which key rules you have to remember. Cook linguine vongole with help from a first generation Italian-American, cookbook author and executive chef in this free video clip.
Evenly heating your skillet is easy, so long as you know a few key tips and tricks. Learn how to evenly heat your skillet with help from a master chef in this free video clip.
Whether you are a mobile home camper or you prefer traditional tent camping, Inglis, Florida, has several campground options for you to choose from. This tiny West Florida town is located near the Gulf of Mexico and several rivers and lakes in the area connecting to it. Each of the campgrounds offers the basic amenities with easy access to nearby activities and attractions.
In the Nintendo DS game "Pokemon: SoulSilver Version" you can trade or battle Pokemon creatures with your friends online. Registering your friends requires a key item called the "Pal Pad." Acquiring the Pal Pad is possible once you have bested Gym Leader Falkner in battle. Falkner is the first Gym Leader and awaits you in Violet City. Once you have the Pal Pad use it to keep track of your friends.
An effective paragraph is a well-thought out collection of sentences based on a central theme, in this case a vacation. A coherent, unified paragraph lets you convey opinion or fact regarding your vacation. For example, if you enjoyed a recent trip to the Bahamas, you could use the paragraph to tell the reader why you enjoyed the trip. There's no set length to a paragraph, length is based more on theme coherency; if you change the subject, it warrants a new paragraph.
The wooden frame of a painter's canvas may shrink over time causing the canvas to sag. To fix this problem use canvas stretcher keys. These keys are small wedges of either wood or plastic you may insert into the corners of canvas frame. The keys push the canvas bars back into position and tighten the canvas. Canvas keys are either pre-inserted into the frame or come stapled to the frame in a small plastic bag.
The tropical waters of the Florida Keys teem with spiny lobster, an eight-legged crustacean with spiny antennae. Spiny lobsters, also called Florida spiny lobsters, vary in color from white to dark red-orange with long antennae positioned over their eyes to scare off predators. Know all the rules and regulations before you embark on a lobster fishing adventure in the Sunshine State.
Okaloosa Island is the name given to the far eastern region of Santa Rosa Island in North Florida. This island is part of the City of Fort Walton Beach and the Emerald Coast, a stretch of beach from Pensacola to Saint Andrews Bay. Okaloosa Island is home to beaches, fishing spots and entertainment facilities. Tourists have access to hotels and vacation homes on the island; most of Okaloosa's accommodations are on the Gulf of Mexico shoreline.
Lake Norman, located about one hour north of Charlotte, North Carolina is the largest man-made lake in the state. The lake is a freshwater lake, which is supplied by the Catawba River. Lake Norman is more than 50 square miles in total size and boasts an impressive 520 miles of beach; making the lake a landlocked shore adventure for those visiting the area. Plenty of activities and entertainment can be found throughout Lake Norman to keep children entertained while visiting.
IGaCoS is an acronym for the Island Garden City of Samal on the island of Mindinao, which is part of the Philippines. The city is comprised of two main islands and several small ones clustered in the Gulf of Davao near the major city of Davao del Norte. It is a vacation destination for those seeking tropical waters, white beaches and swaying coconut palms, but it is also important in terms of its ecological attributes. One of these attributes is its abundant coral reefs.
Volcanic ash, a mixture of silicate particulate matter and gases, is a highly abrasive material that can have a catastrophic effect on the turbine engines and metallic skin of a modern jet airliner, according to Finnair pilot Jussi Ekman, in describing the effects of the 2010 eruption of Iceland's Eyafjallajokull volcano on regional air travel.
After a long life of working hard and raising a family, many people like to focus on retirement in a place that will allow them to relax and enjoy the rest of their lives. Many retirees prefer to retire in areas that offer a different environment than what they are used to. For example, people who live in the Midwest may want to live in a place such as California, Arizona or Florida that has a warmer climate year-round. Famous retirement communities can offer seniors a number of amenities including recreational activities, beautiful scenery and myriad cultural points of interest.
Some like the luxurious beaches on the Gulf of Mexico coast for the rest and relaxation that they get there, and others want to take a part of the beach with them. In Pinellas County, many beaches on this western Florida coast side offer spectacular sea shell findings for souvenir seekers.
Naples in Collier County in southwest Florida had more than 25 percent of its residents older than age 65 in 2007, according to naples-florida.com. The city sits right on the Gulf of Mexico and offers plenty of leisure for retirees. Seniors, whether in a group or flying solo, can find activities to pass the time and have a little fun.
Hillsborough County in Florida is home to the county seat of Tampa. The area is filled with activities, events and things to do. Many such options are suitable, with many even targeted toward, seniors living in Hillsborough County. Finding an activity of interest won't be hard, because plenty of options exist.
Georgia's Fort Stewart is found along the Canoochee River in Liberty and Bryan counties. Home of the 3rd Infantry Division, the fort is the largest Army installation east of the Mississippi River and covers 279,270 acres. Activities for children in Fort Stewart include swimming at one of the fort's three pools, fishing and bowling.
Three-year-old children typically enjoy outside activities, interacting with other children and learning about community helpers. Naples, Florida, provides the opportunity for children to do all of these things. Naples is located in Southwest Florida on the Gulf of Mexico. With a population of approximately 22,189, it is part of a greater Collier County area with a population of over 315,000.
The most familiar glow-in-the dark creature is certainly the lightning bug, which uses a phenomenon called bioluminescence. This is rare among land animals, but widespread throughout marine life. In fact, most groups of marine animals have members that glow in the dark. Some marine animals generate their own light through bioluminescence, while others store luminescent bacteria in their body. Two identifiable glow-in-the-dark marine animals are the Caribbean brittle star and the pine-cone fish of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Pinellas County lies along Florida's Gulf Coast and Tampa Bay. It includes the cities of Clearwater and Saint Petersburg. The area is known for its white sandy beaches and the emerald-colored waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Vacationers and retirees flock to this corner of southwest Florida to take advantage of the year-round sunshine. If you plan a visit to Pinellas County, make time for a canoe trip down one of its many waterways.
The staggering size of the Himalayan mountains brings to question why there are so few volcanoes in the region. The explanation lies within the type of plate collision that creates these formations. Oceanic-oceanic collisions form volcanic islands like those of Hawaii. Volcanic mountains, like Mount Ranier and Mount St. Helens, are formed by oceanic-continental collisions, and mountainous regions, such as the Himalayas, are formed with continental-continental collisions. The latter plate collisions push little earth into the great depths of the mantle; therefore, it is not as common for volcanoes to form.
The Caribbean offers clear blue water, sparkling sand and plenty of sunshine. What better way to enjoy it than au naturel? Clothing-optional beaches are a place where you can sun worship or just relax in various states of undress. Bathing suits or birthday suits -- anything goes. Locating a true clothing-optional beach is very important while traveling. Getting a citation or even arrested would certainly put a damper on any beach vacation.
Harrison Ranch is a large housing community located in Parrish, Florida. The community houses thousands of residents that live in single family homes that range in size from three to five bedrooms. Although it is not a city of its own, Harrison Ranch features a store, parks, recreation center and over 5 miles of trails for walking, jogging and biking.
Saint Paul, Minnesota's must-see capital, sits on the north bank of the Mississippi River and downstream from the confluence of the river. The city is home to a history center, various museums and the annual Winter Carnival, which features a treasure hunt and ice sculpting. If you are a visitor to Saint Paul, several attractions are available for you to see while in the city.
Huts are dwellings that can be easily constructed out of crude, natural materials and used as temporary dwellings. They are some of the oldest constructions in the world; the stone huts of ancient Europe are still standing. In modern times, people have taken the hut to a new height by adding luxury beds, kitchens, flooring and heating systems. Beach, rain-forest or temperate travel huts provide stand-alone hotel rooms for the culture-thirsty traveler.
Beginning at the southeastern tip of the Florida peninsula, the Florida keys archipelago contains 4,500 islands. At 14.4 square miles, Key Largo is the largest and a popular tourist destination. The tropical island is home to two state parks, a national park and a marine sanctuary.
Trochus shells are medium to large oceanic snail shells found across the Indo-Pacific region. According to the Marine Education Society of Australasia, the demand for commercial products made from Trochus shells has sustained Trochus farmers on the coasts of Australia and Indonesia for decades. While an estimated 7,000 tons of Trochus shells are harvested every year, coral reef sanctuaries that help prevent overfishing and protect shell populations have thrived since the 1980s.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the northeast region of the United States comprises thirteen states from Maine to Virginia. This area includes the ecosystems of the Atlantic northern forest and Appalachian Mountains as well as big rivers, freshwater and salt marshes, coastal plains, estuaries, barrier reaches, and coastal islands. With such a large area and varied landscapes, there are many birds, wildlife, and aquatic animals native to the northeast section of the United States.
Many couple choose to celebrate their anniversary by traveling to their original proposal or honeymoon destination. Some even decide to renew their wedding vows there. But what if these ideas are not your cup of tea or you want to do something new? There are hundreds of romantic destinations for all ages, interests, budgets and anniversary celebrations.
The Florida Keys are a popular destination visited by thousands of travelers year round. Strung among the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, traveling by high speed boat is an exhilarating and speedy way to arrive at this vacation paradise. These "Big Cat" double catamarans, colloquially referred to as hydrofoils, provide fast, scenic alternatives to flying or driving long distances. It's easy to reserve seats on these convenient ferries departing from southwest Florida, and you'll add an extra dimension of fun to your trip to the Keys.
Enjoy a tropical vacation in the over 100-miles-long island chain of the Florida Keys, 60 miles south of Miami in the southeast United States, any time of the year. You can drive to the five main Keys, which derived their name from the Spanish word "cayo" meaning small island, on the Overseas Highway U.S.1 and reach some of the other 1,700 islands in the cluster via bridges or ferries.
Pasco County is a part of an area known as the "Nature Coast" of Florida. It is located directly on the Gulf of Mexico in the area of Tampa Bay, and is comprised of 740 square miles of land, according to Visit Pasco County. Six cities are in this county, including Dade City, the county seat, and New Port Richey, which is the Pasco County's largest city.
When traveling abroad it is always helpful if you can speak a few basic phrases of the local language. Such phrases include greetings and basic questions such as where to locate a hospital. If you want to learn basic Thai, focus on learning spoken Thai because written Thai involves learning a difficult alphabet. It is possible to learn basic spoken Thai online, through books, through interactive sources, in school and of course by talking to Thai people.
St. Petersburg, nicknamed the "Sunshine City," is best known for its beaches and dozens of outdoor recreational activities. However, you'll also find fun, indoor family activities in this tourist and retirement city. On a day when the weather doesn't permit you to play outside, or if you want to do something educational or cultural, spend the day enjoying indoor activities in St. Petersburg with your family.
Minneapolis and St. Paul, known as the Twin Cities of Minnesota, offer a variety of year-round, child-friendly family activities. Regardless of whether families are looking for fun, adventure, education, culture or a combination of it all, there are things to do. Activities appeal to different age ranges and interests, are suitable for a variety of budgets and are located within minutes of one another.
Tourists of the Florida Keys expect to see aqua blue oceans, white sands, beautiful sunsets and venerable piers but many forget about some of the historic landmarks of the region. The Gulf Coast is home to a small group of stilt houses built around the turn of the 20th century. Though the government has since prohibited the building of these structures, those that still stand represent times long past.
Jacksonville, which is located in the northeastern part of Florida, has a population of approximately 850,000 people. Although many cities in the United States boast much larger populations, Jacksonville is the largest city by area in the continental U.S. A major benefit of this size is the robust urban park system and the abundance of resources that give residents and visitors a host of choices for staying active.
Madera is the Spanish word for lumber and the city of Madera's roots revolve around lumber. In just a few short weeks, Madera became a thriving town where once there was only desert. Madera, California is just a few minutes from the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains and Yosemite National Park. The city is in the San Joaquin Valley and features a colorful heritage of events including the Sierra Arts Trail the Coarsegold Peddlers Fair and the Indian Fair Days.
Closing a house for the season involves many tasks and can be hectic. Keeping a proper checklist of things that need to be done, and phone calls that need to be made, is very important. Some of the preparations can be done on your own, but you need to rely on friends or neighbors to be certain your home will be well cared for while you are gone.
The world is turning to organic and naturally produced foods as a means of avoiding dangerous chemicals, pesticides and heavy metals that can be found in some foods. Organic foods do not contain any of these potentially harmful contents, including artificial flavors, colors and preservatives. The Tampa, Florida area has natural food stores where residents and visitors purchase organic foods, eco-friendly household cleaners and other health related items, such as vitamins.
Although Naples, Florida, has a population of just over 20,000, it offers a wide variety of nightlife options. Most of the city's evening hot spots are centered around the lively 5th Avenue South, which runs directly to the beach. Naples also offers more highbrow options such as theaters and classical orchestras.
Amelia Earhart was a woman ahead of her time. She was born in 1897 and had a daredevil spirit. She fell in love with airplanes and flight and began learning to fly in 1921. Earhart came to worldwide fame in 1928 when she became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic. Before tragically disappearing mid-flight in 1937, Earhart set several flight records.
Lifestyle, or alternative lifestyle, bars and clubs are predominantly found in urban settings, though many smaller progressive towns and cities, such as Gainesville, Florida, are increasingly offering a wider range of entertainment options for the gay community. In fact, Gainesville, a north-central Florida town that elected an openly gay mayor in 2010, is home to several alternative lifestyle bars. The city is also home to the University of Florida, one of the country's largest institutions of higher learning.
Port Canaveral is a major deep-water port in Brevard County, Florida. Dedicated in 1953, the port handles cruise, cargo and naval cargo traffic. The port serves as a base for cruises to the Bahamas, Mexico and destinations in the Caribbean operated by Carnival Cruise Lines, Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International. Port Canaveral is also home to a number of recreational opportunities for cruise passengers, area residents and visitors.
The Florida Keys are a major destination for many travelers. Located at the southeastern-most tip of the U.S., these 42 small islands are connected by U.S. Highway 1 from Key Largo to Key West, called the Overseas Highway. The road is about 128 miles long and is toll-free. Each island or islet has places to explore and walk about. The Gulf of Mexico lies inside, or to the right of the Keys, and the Atlantic Ocean borders them on the left when west bound. Although a structure for walkers is currently being implemented, it is not continuous or completed. This…
Jacksonville, Florida, located along the St. Johns River, offers a myriad of recreational activities for its residents and visitors. People of all ages can participate in different kinds of activities, from sports and camps to classes and lessons. Jacksonville, known for being a winter resort, is also a place where these activities and countless more are offered throughout the year.
Nature surrounds the city of Naples, Florida, from the shimmering emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico rolling along quartz beaches to the plants and animals of the Everglades. Outdoor lovers get to take in the beauty of cypress trees in swamps inhabited by more than 200 bird species and endangered wildlife, like the manatee. In addition to nature, Naples offers museums recounting the area's history and sights recognized as national landmarks.
