Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

My History of Walt Disney World

I was 37 years old before ever getting to the wonderful world of Walt Disney World. It has always been a dream for me to see the largest theme park in Florida. I was 9 years old when my family went to California to Disney Land where I was in "awe" over the creations and technology of the rides. My favorite ride would have to be at that time was the Haunted Mansion. I had never seen anything lik. . .

4 Safety Tips for Rafters

Staying Safe While Rafting All sports offer their fair share of safety hazards, but some are a bit more perilous than others. When water is the arena, those hazards can be formidable, indeed. Before participating in any activity that requires sportsmen to enter a body of water, basic instruction and safety tips should be acquired, in order to provide the optimum recreational experience with the. . .

Houlgate And Its Beaches

Houlgate is a sea resort town situated at the back of a hill, within the region of Normandy, in France. Due to its great beaches and charming general appearance, this town attracts visitors from many different spots, not only within France but many other places of the world as well. This place offers a wide range of activities of many different kinds in such a way that all visitors would surely. . .

Making the Most of Your Cruise

Advance Planning Common Sense = Great Cruise! Cruises are a wonderful respite from the cares of the world. Twenty-four hours a day you are pampered with seemingly endless food, a wide variety of entertainment, opportunities for adventure, and social events galore! In fact, there is so much to choose from that most of us ask ourselves, "How on earth do I plan for this?" Whatever your reason for . . .

Pisa - The City Of The Leaning Tower

Although it is world wide famous due to its Leaning Tower, the city of Pisa also has many other great attractions and amazing characteristics to offer. Pisa is one of the most important historic Italian areas and one of the most visited year around as well. This city allows tourists to meet buildings which conjugate many different époques and artistic currents, such as, for example, Romanesque . . .

Walking Around Bologna

Bologna is designed in such a way that allows visitors and tourists to meet many of its main buildings, monuments, parks and attractive areas by walking to them due to the short distance which separates them from the city's center. This characteristic makes bologna unique and charming as well as allows visitors to enjoy the environment and its essence by going from one point to another.This Ita. . .

Granville, a Great Summer Resort

Granville is often described as one of the most attractive summer resorts of northern France. This town, located in the region of Normandy, is constantly receiving visitors from the entire world as well as from France since it is ideal for relaxing and spending a great vacation.The town of Granville has been considered a great summer resort and tourism spot since the XIX century. Although it al. . .

Tanzanian Community Self Help - Enjoy A Safari With Proce...

Tanzanian community self help - enjoy a safari with proceeds are going into child education in Northern TanzaniaAlbright, Stella and Twiibu are three of many young children taken off the streets in Aruhsa Northern Tanzania. These children are now placed with families and are being educated from tourism with is fire trade and giving to the communities. Book a quality safari in Tanzania - climbin. . .

Hotel Searches Made Easy Using The Internet

Easily Find With Right Hotel With Online Services Finding the right hotel with the right amenities for your budget is easy. The Internet makes it easy to search for your perfect hotel no matter where you are going to stay. Using the Internet for your hotel search will save you time money and effort. Is your trip for business or pleasure? Regardless you want the best hotel with the best features. . .

Lone Pine California Vacations

Lone Pine, California doesn't look like much at first. It's a dusty desert town of a few thousand, on highway 395, on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevadas. There might still be only one traffic light. So what makes it a great vacation destination?The Lone Pine Film FestivalHere are some of the movies filmed in this part of California: Gunga Din, How The West Was Won, Star Trek, Tremors, Sprin. . .

Excellent Vacation Adventures at Affordable Airfare Rates!

Traveling especially with your loved ones can ease out the daily tension brought about by everyday problems and pressure from work, studies, home and many other concerns. However the soaring rates and prices of airfare can pose a problem that can hinder the realization of traveling to the place you have been dreaming of. Fortunately, several international airlines offer packages, special offers. . .

A Trip To Iqaluit In Nunavut, A Canadian Arctic City

In 2004, I completed two Inuit art buying trips to Iqaluit (formerly Frobisher Bay), the capital of Nunavut, Canada's newest territory. For both trips, I flew out of Ottawa on Canadian North airlines. The other airline that services Nunavut is First Air. Only the last half of the jets was allocated for passengers as the entire first half was for cargo. Being so remote, Canadian Arctic Inuit . . .

Australia : The Sight-Seeing Travel Tour

If you haven’t been to Australia or are planning to visit it a second time, then you must have all the information about the places to visit so that you can fully experience the wonderful land that is Australia.Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world and is divided into 6 states and several territories. The 6 states are New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victori. . .

Take me Home Country Road: Purchasing Rural Homes

In a world where the news flashes daily images of war, terrorism and crime more Americans are dreaming of a safe, quiet place to call home. They imagine moving to a small town community where safety and simplicity are easy to find. Potential homebuyers between the ages of forty and sixty are the most likely to be fed up with the fast pace of city dwelling. They are in search of a renewed sens. . .

George Washington Slept Here: Historic Home Ownership

Chances are George Washington did not sleep on your historic home, but in certain parts of Southeastern Virginia, your home could be as old as the dwellings he slept in. To own and restore a historic property, preparation, discernment, and sensitivity are necessary. The rewards of historical home ownership are many. Financial Advantages of Historic Home OwnershipOne of the major benefits of his. . .

Backpackers and Billionaires

It used to be that backpacking trips to Fiji involved a bus ride from Nadi to Suva, then a ferry to somewhere like Ovalau, Savusavu, Taveuni or Kadavu. No more. These days young budget travelers are lining up to go to the Yasawa Islands, a chain of 16 large volcanic islands and dozens of smaller ones roughly 35 km off the west coast of Viti Levu.The dazzling white beaches, clear warm waters, co. . .

Oh No! Summer Camp's Over... So Now What?

Well, there is a name for it and it's called post-summer camp gap year travel!A mouthful to digest, but an easy decision to make! And as an after taste you'll have plenty of time to let it all sink in on your explorations of America. Once your summer camp duties have been fulfilled and you've squeezed every ounce of fun and satisfaction out of your time there, the last thing you'll want to do i. . .

Spring Break and the Sierra Madre

As I walked up the jet way, I could feel the dry, desert air in my lungs. As I approached the baggage claim, I could hear the sounds of mariachi music. I wasn’t able to discern if it was being played over the PA system or if it were a real live band. After reaching the bottom, and rounding a pillar, I was pleased to find a four-piece mariachi band playing near the baggage claim. I thought to my. . .

Traveling to Europe with your Digital Camera?

The Vacation Season is fast approaching and naturally you will be taking your digital camera along for the journey. After all your vacations are far and few between and it is nice to look back on those memories as you slave away at your job. However, when you travel with a digital camera, it is a completely different experience from that of traveling with a film camera. This is a lesson that fa. . .

The Florida Keys

When people ask about the top sights to see in the south Florida area including Fort Lauderdale and Miami, I always advise them to try and make some time to go down to the Florida Keys. The Florida Keys are the string of islands just south of the Florida mainland and runs 120 miles from end to end. Fort Lauderdale and Miami are fun but for a relaxing change of pace, the Florida Keys is the pl. . .

The Pyramids of Giza

The most famous Egyptian pyramids to be built are the Great Pyramids of Giza, located in the outskirts of present-day Cairo. There are over 100 Egyptian pyramids of various sizes, and over 50 more in neighboring Sudan. However, the three Great Pyramids of Giza earn their fame by being the largest of these.In the most popular pictures of the Pyramids of Giza, like the one shown below, the middle. . .

How To Breeze Through The Security Checkpoint At Airports

Air travel is such a common method of transportation today, we sometimes forget the practical tips to help us enjoy a flight. The following tips will help you reduce your wait time at the security checkpoint.What to do before you arrive at the airport. Do not pack or bring prohibited Items to the airport. Prohibited items are weapons, explosives, incendiaries, and include items that are seeming. . .

The Ghosts of The Tower of London Pt2

In this final instalment of The Ghosts of the Tower of London, you will learn about fate of Catherine Howard and discover the treachery behind the death of Lady Jane Grey who was Queen of England for only nine days.The most grisly execution and thus haunting is that of the 70 year old Countess of Salisbury, the last of the Plantagenets. King Henry VIII had her executed for political reasons. Th. . .

Retire, Relocate, or Purchase a Second Home in Smithfiled...

Walking down Main Street in Smithfield, Virginia, any visitor will have the sense that they are returning to America’s past. The downtown district is small and filled with history, and townspeople are congenial. You will feel like you may see Aunt Bea, Opie, Barny Fife or Sherrif Andy of Mayberry as you stroll the Streets of Smithfield, VirginiaFolks greet each other by first names. A casual tr. . .

Explore The Adventurous Side Of You

Adventure. Do you actually remember the word? When was the last time you went out for some real adventures? Well, you might be having some wrong perceptions about ‘adventure’, considering your everyday life in this concrete jungle as one big adventure (in a way, you may call it an adventure). Well if that is the case, you need to think twice over it.Let’s get back to the adventures that we defi. . .

The Grand Canyon Of Arizona

Only One Grand Canyon. The ancient world had its seven wonders, but they were all the work of man. The modern world of the United States has easily its seven wonders--Niagara, the Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Natural Bridge, the Mammoth Cave, the Petrified Forest and the Grand Canyon of Arizona--but they are all the work of God. It is hard, in studying the seven wonders of the ancients, to decide. . .

Caring For My New Guinea Pig

Guinea pigs are very lovable animals. They are very affectionate and have their own personalities, which will become very evident within days after you bring them home. They love to snuggle and cuddle. They will live longer than most other small pets, usually five to eight years. Although guinea pigs are naturally healthy animals and rarely get sick, doing your part to care for them can hav. . .

Travel Insurance Bargains for Brits

If you're traveling in the UK, or a UK citizen traveling elsewhere, you have many options including full year travel insurance. While the occasional traveler such as a vacationer may not find full year travel insurance preferable to the one-trip options, business travelers or other frequent travelers may opt for full year travel insurance as the best time saving and money saving choice. UK trav. . .

Insuring Your Travel on a Shoe String

Cheap travel insurance isn't necessarily about who's asking the lowest premium. Cheap travel insurance is about knowing your choices, perusing all the options and discarding the coverage you don't need. If you end up with cheap travel insurance that doesn't help you out of an overseas medical or evacuation jam, you haven't gotten a bargain. However, if you're a U.S. resident traveling within t. . .

What, then, is this Grand Canyon?

What, then, is this Grand Canyon, for which its friends dare to make so large and bold a claim? It is a portion--a very small portion--of the waterway of the Colorado River, and it is so named to differentiate it from the other canyons of the same river. The canyon system of the Colorado River is as vast in its extent as is the Grand Canyon in its quality of sublimity. For it consists of such a. . .

Kenya Safari Top Five National Parks

The Kenya safari circuit is one of the best in Africa containing national parks and game reserves that consistently provide great wildlife sightings and experiences coupled with high quality accommodation. But within the country itself there are certain areas that are better than others to safari in.So, according to the trip reports received at African Safari Journals, forums, my twenty plus ye. . .

Buying A Bar In Spain

Each year thousands of foreigners buy a bar in Spain, all with varying degrees of success and the whole process can be a nightmare if not done properly. Although sometimes it can work on your own, it is normally a disaster if you buy a bar in Spain without using a qualified agent to help you. You have to remember that the laws are very different in Spain and over the years, especially on the Co. . .

Thw Wonderful Wildlife of Andalucai, Spain

69, 70, 71, 72. I am trying to count the Griffon Vulture's as they glide effortlessly on their 2m. wingspan over the top of the mountains opposite my home.Earlier I was checking the damage to our vegetable patch as the wild boar were here again last night and they seem to have taken a shine to my husband's carrots!I glance up as I hear the screech of a Booted Eagle letting his mate know she has. . .

Casares, The Most Famous Of The "White Villages"

The Costa del Sol is blessed with several traditional Spanish white villages, or Pueblos Blancos, each with its own unique atmosphere. However there is something about the village of Casares that just makes you stand and stare. As you approach Casares up a steep winding slope it is difficult to prevent yourself from taking a sharp intake of breath and saying outload: "wow!" Stop the car, climb . . .

Hotel Safety Tips

As is often the case, the more we travel, the less we think about our safety. It's easy to become comfortable in a hotel when we spend so much time in it. Most people have caught themselves opening their hotel room door without asking who it is when they've ordered room service. And, quite frankly, you are usually so tired and desperate for the salad and glass of wine you ordered an hour ear. . .

Best Buys in Your Yearly Worldwide Travel Coverage

For best buys in annual travel insurance worldwide you need first only travel as far as your Internet connection. Annual travel insurance for worldwide travel is the best buy, as compared with single trip coverage, if you're going to be making more than one trip in a calendar year, or if you're stay is going to be lengthy. Let's look at some insurers and plans that qualify as best buy annual tr. . .

Types of Cruise Ship Cabins

Many cruise ships today have standard cabins of similar size and accoutrements, with the price differential being the location. The least expensive, inside standard cabins on a mainstream cruise ship run from about 120 square feet to 180 square feet. Since most cruise ships are relatively new or have been refurbished, the cabins usually are tastefully decorated with twin beds that can be pushed. . .

History of Spain

The History of Spain, and how it all begun.The Iberian Peninsula was first inhabited around 8000,000 BC and has long been subject to foreign influences. The history of Spain starts from 11th century BC, it was colonized by sophisticated Eastern Mediterranean civilizations, starting with the Phoenicians then the Greeks and the Carthaginians. The Romans arrived in Spain in 218BC to fight the Car. . .

A Wine Drenched Tour Along The Red Route of Paarl, South ...

The wine tradition in Paarl is older than the roots of the aging Oak Trees that line its Cape Dutch streets. The first European settlers arrived at the Cape of Good Hope in 1652, planting the seeds that solidified the Cape's reputation as a wine growing heaven. Now that the work has already been done, what else can you and I do but savour the delicate fruits pressed with decades of winemaking e. . .

Florence in a Day

Overflowing with history, art and culture, Florence is a city that’s very hard to do justice to in a single day. A visit to the Uffizi museum alone could easily eat a day or two into any itinerary. If you’re fortunate enough to visit Florence for the first time, but unfortunate enough to have only a single day to savour the delights of this city, you will need to ensure that you have a plan.So . . .

Mombasa & the Kenyan Coast- Where the Sun is Ever Faithful

Kenya's 480 km coast is one of the principal attractions for visitors to the country. Every year, hundreds of thousands of sun lovers find their way here. Many are returning pilgrims who truly know that the sun here is ever faithful. Unlike other beach destinations, the visitor is served with much more than just sun and sand but is delighted to discover ancient coastal forests and historical si. . .

Best Florida Beaches

Why choose a beach vacation in Florida? One good reason is because wherever you go in Florida, you're never more than 60 miles from the beach!Florida is also easy to get to, the temperature is pleasurable year round, it offers good value for your money and that’s just for starters. So whether you are looking for a family vacation, a romantic vacation, a relaxing vacation or getting in some golf. . .

Finding Flea Markets In Your Area

Over the last several years the flea market and swap meets have become as American as apple pie. According to a recent issue of Swap Meet magazine, over 600 such functions are being held on a regular basis. Most of these are weekend affairs, but more and more are operating every day of the week.The biggest flea market of them all is the monthly affair held on the grounds of the Pasadena Rose Bo. . .

But Why Zambian Safaris and Tourism?

…Because Zambian safaris are Africa's best kept secrets! They’ve made Zambia the most enticing destination in African safari today. Livingstone in Zambia is now acclaimed, and rightly so, the southern Africa Adventure Centre! The World Tourism Organisation (WTO) has ranked Zambia as Africa's No 1 emerging tourist destination. The UK 2004 Trends and Spends Survey also awarded Zambia the No 10 ra. . .

Staying Mosquito Free While Traveling

The last thing that any traveler needs is to be plagued by mosquitoes throughout their journey. Just as there are sure-fire ways to reduce the incidence of these pests in the home environment, definite steps can be taken to stave them off when you’re away from the home front. This is especially important in a society that’s been afflicted by the variety of diseases that are commonly carried amo. . .

The Sixties

A decade that stands out above the rest of our world’s history as a time of revolutionary changes from all over the globe - changes that even effected outer space. There was unprecedented levels of sexual freedom celebrated among the world’s youth, and teenagers around the world revolted against the generations before them. Radio brought the people completely new sounds in music, with the cha. . .

A Visit To Labadee In Haiti

The first port for our Royal Caribbean cruise of the western Caribbean was Labadee, Hispaniola which is actually a part of Haiti. This specific port is leased out to Royal Caribbean so only their cruiseships come here. Labadee is actually a peninsula with a few beaches. Getting to land from the cruiseship is by tender.There is a small section for kids with floating fake icebergs to climb and. . .

Colorado Springs – What Is There To Be Seen

The most frequently visited man-made attractions in Colorado Springs is the U.S. Air Force Academy, which is very interesting. Its tries to develop young men and women into brave Air Force Officers. You can find it in a beautiful area of Colorado, just outside Colorado Springs. The campus is an inspiring place. The part that is the most impressive is the Cadet Chapel. There is a nature trail th. . .

Great Adventures in Colorado

If you go to Colorado, you'll find a lot of different ways to play in the snow: you can ski, do some snowboarding or simply walk in snow. Colorado is a wonderful place to unplug, relax and do nothing al all. It is as well one of the hottest destinations for camping, rafting, hiking, fishing, and paying golf. Colorado is the place where, in the morning, you can play golf, in the afternoon, you c. . .

California Vacations - What You Haven’t Seen

It is understandable why California attracts a lot of people. There it is warm and sunny most part of the year, Los Angeles is full of movie stars, rollerblading babes can be found all over the place in Venice Beach. Even if it is exaggerated, this part of the California mystique is real and not very hard to find.But California has other things too, that are not scripted, sanitized, and broadca. . .