Archive for the ‘Blog’ Category

All Aboard for a Beautiful Hawaii Island Cruise

Post date: October 16, 2008

Thinking about taking a cruise or a vacation and not sure where to go? Hawaii has it all, from a relaxing tropical vacation destinations to an exhilarating trips filled with adventure, or even secluded, romantic getaways. Known for its diverse landscapes and beautiful scenery, a Hawaii cruise or vacation will satisfy the desire of anyone, young or old, adventurous or relaxed.

Surrounded by crystal blue water, it’s no surprise that some of the most popular Hawaii vacation activities take place in the ocean. And if you prefer to spend all of your time in the ocean you may want to consider a Hawaii cruise. A Hawaii cruise gives you all the sun, sand, and beautiful ocean views of a Hawaii land vacation, with the added bonus of being able to see more than one of the Hawaiian Islands. When traveling by boat on a Hawaii cruise you may get the benefit of seeing at least four of the major islands in one luxurious trip. Taking a Hawaii cruise has other perks as well.

One of the countless perks of a Hawaii cruise includes paying only one price and having everything from meals to transportation included. All you have to do is sit back and relax without worrying about where to stay, how you are going to get from one point of interest to another, or how much all your sight seeing is going to cost.

Whether on an inland vacation or a cruise there are a variety of activities for everyone. For the more daring, there is snorkeling, scuba diving, or the well-known Hawaiian sport of surfing. While on a Hawaii cruise you will be able to participate in these activities right on the boat or during one of your land stops. Looking for a more peaceful way to spend the day? Pack your beach towel and a lunch and spend the day soaking up some sun either on the deck of your Hawaii cruise boat or on the miles of sparkling white sand beaches.

There are so many things to do and places to see on your Hawaii vacation that it is hard to know where to start. The six main Hawaiian Islands, although similar, offer a diverse selection of activities. Researching and knowing what each island has to offer might give you a start in choosing the destination that is ideal for you. However, after researching each island and you are still not sure which to choose, there’s always the luxury of a Hawaii cruise.

6 Things to Experience On Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island

Posted in Blog, scuba island
Post date: October 7, 2008

 

6 Things to Experience On Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island

1) Mountaintop and seaside hiking trails. The Cape Breton Highlands National Park has both easy and rugged trails for both the casual and ambitious hikers. You can hire a hiking tour or just strike out on your own to enjoy the serene and beautiful scenery of the region.

2) Sea Kayaking – hiring a tour guide can provide you with equipment and experience to better encounter the wildlife and rugged scenery of the coast of Cape Breton Island. Depending on where you hire your tour, you can see bald eagles, cormorants, guillemots, pilot whales, a minke. You can find sea kayaking tours from Cheticamp, Cape North, Baddeck, Ingonish, or Louisbourg and places in between.

3) Spend an afternoon in Baddeck, at the Alexander Graham Bell Museum overlooking scenic Bras d’ Or Lake. Mr. Bell made his summer home in Baddeck, and the museum houses many of his lesser known, but highly intriguing projects. His hydrofoil, his fascination with tetrahedrons, and many other intriguing things are in the world-class museum for you to discover. 4) Dust off your kilt and don your dancing shoes. Cape Breton is full of Celtic colors and tunes. If you’re driving through town and see home-made signs that say “Ceili Tonight” it might be worth stopping for a spontaneous sampling of Celtic culture. Otherwise, you can also plan your Ceili (pronounced Kay-Lee) experience by checking local tourist bureaus for feature events. In October, the entire island is abuzz with the Celtic Colours International Festival, the largest celebration of its kind in North American, but you’ll also find smaller events at other times of the year. 5) Scuba diving around Cape Breton Island. Literally hundreds of shipwrecks litter the ocean floor along Cape Breton Island. In fact, since 1597, more than one thousand shipwrecks have been recorded along Cape Breton Island’s coast. For the most rewarding diving, consider St. Ann’s Bay to St. Paul Island. 6) Descend down into a coal mine beneath the ocean floor in an underground tour of the Ocean Deeps Colliery Your guides for the underground excursion are retired coal miners who will help you imagine making your daily living in dark quarters beneath the ocean floor. Located about one mile from downtown Glace Bay on Cape Breton Island.

4) Hit the beach and bum around. The beaches of Cape Breton Island can be small and isolated, or large and packed with people – or any combination in between. If you’ve seen on Cape Breton beach, you have NOT seen them all. So, if beaches are one of your interests, you may want to consider a sampling of Cape Breton’s beaches and find out which ones suit you the best for your vacationing state of mind, and your personal travelling style.

5) Visit the Fortress Louisbourg. Spend your time wandering freely through a wonderfully restored centuries-old Acadian village. Staff at the fortress are dressed in clothing from the period, and restaurants on site serve food from the era. It’s a delightful step-back in time at North America’s LIVE largest historic reconstruction on the east coast of Cape Breton Island. 9) Hit the road (or the mountains) on your bicycle. Cape Breton’s scenery has been embraced by bikers worldwide, and Cape Breton Island officials have greeted them with arms wide open. Several wonderful biking trails (cycling and mountain biking) are available across the entire Cape Breton Island. Local chambers of commerce should have ample information about their specific locales trail system and related service providers.

6) Whale watching tours from Cape Breton Island will not only give you a chance to see the large graceful creatures, but you’ll also likely have a fair shot at seeing white dolphins, seals, leatherback turtles, and native birds. On portion of Cape Breton boasts a 95% success rate in whale sightings, and some tours will give you a certificate for another free excursion if you a whale isn’t sighted (or perhaps that’s just in Tiverton). Some tours use Zodiac boats, others use schooners, and some are via kayak. Cape Breton has plenty of options for the aspiring whale watcher.

 

Lizard Island : Romance Awaits

Posted in Blog, scuba island
Post date: October 7, 2008

 

Looking for a romantic getaway? Lizard Island, nestled in the depths of Australia, provides vacationers with more than just an ideal backdrop. With colorful schools of fish swimming in the crystal clear water, the white beaches are nothing less than a peaceful way to relax and get away from the fast paced life we are all so accustomed to.

According to hundreds of vacation magazines and travel guides across the world, Lizard Island is one of the most beautiful beaches on earth. It offers visitors a chance to experience a piece of life that is usually so hidden when we are busy with other aspects. For most people, they crave a sense of adventure when they are on a vacation. Therefore, Lizard Island allows you to snorkel or scuba dive in these warm waters. With year round instructors ready to either guide you in a group dive or an individual one, the opportunities are endless to have fun.

Not interested in exploring the deep crystal clear waters? While scuba diving isn’t for the anxious, there are plenty of other activities to do while visiting Lizard Island. Bird watching is one of the most popular hobbies, since the species vary from season to season. Other adventures include visiting the Great Barrier Reef via a dingy or trying your hand at paddle skiing. Regardless of how energetic you want to be, Lizard Island will certainly rise up to your expectations. There are even boat trips for visitors who just want to relax and view the scenery.

When you are ready to enjoy a bite to eat while gazing over the water, you may want to try Cooks Look. It is not only an amazing hike, but the food is mouth watering. The majority of visitors feel that it is a perfect ending to a tiring day, especially if you have tried the snorkeling or infamous scuba diving. Nevertheless, as long as you have an appetite, Cooks Look will be an exhilarating treat.

What is even more exhilarating about Lizard Island is that vacationers are allowed to camp out! While it is required to get permission from the National Park, it is probable to reside a few nights or even a day at the camp ground. This is a wonderful way to experience the outdoors, but it is important to remember that you must provide your own food and anything else you may need. One must also take into consideration that bugs are quite bad during most months. Therefore, it is essential to bring bug spray to avoid the annoyance!

For many visitors, Lizard Island is a getaway that should be made into living quarters. It is so beautiful and breathtaking that most people do not want to leave. The numerous amounts of activities and wildlife make it easy for vacationers to spend days upon days there. After all, who wouldn’t want to experience a place that resembled Heaven?