All posts in Vacation

Grand Canyon Helicopters – Trips Over The Memorial Day Vacation Weekend

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Can you imagine a better way to celebrate Memorial Day than by taking a terrific Grand Canyon helicopter tour? The holiday is May 26, and since it is on Monday, many people get to take a three-day weekend. The Grand Canyon is a huge destination for holiday travelers and helicopter tours usually fill up fast. I urge you to book now if you decide to take one of these great adventures.

Grand canyon helicopter tours depart from Vegas in Nevada and Tusayan in Arizona, Tusayan is near the South Rim gates. Flights take off hourly and are running on their regular schedules over the holiday. If you are in Tusayan, your flight goes to the South Rim and if you are in Vegas, your chopper goes to the West Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Either rim is a fantastic adventure.

South Rim Grand Canyon Helicopters

Tours to the South Rim can be aerial-only or landing tours. The air tours come in a thirty minute or fifty minute option. Both of these air tours depart from the Grand Canyon National Park Airport at Tusayan. If you choose the thirty-minute flight, you will start at the North Rim, fly across the canyon to the South Rim, then fly back. The longer option covers the same ground but also takes you to the eastern edge of the canyon so you get to see the beautiful Painted Desert.

There are also two choices in landing tours. One option combines the thirty-minute helicopter tour with a fun ride through the National Park on a Harley. Another one is a chopper tour and a 4×4 excursion to see the sunset on the edge of the canyon. All these tours are popular and full up quickly, so get your seats early.

Grand Canyon Chopper Tours From Las Vegas

Vegas helicopters only fly to the West Rim. You can still take a helicopter tour of the South Rim if you are in Las Vegas, you just have to fly to the South Rim first by airplane.

You can choose between landing tours and air-only tours at the West Rim too. The West Rim has an extra benefit in that it is the rim where choppers can descend to the canyon floor.

If you don’t have much time to spend in the Grand Canyon, the air-only tours are fantastic. On the way to the Grand Canyon, your chopper flies over notable landmarks such as Lake Mead, the Hoover Dam, and Grand Cliffs Wash. Once your chopper arrives, you’ll fly over the fabulous Grand Canyon Skywalk (the Glass Bridge) before turning for home.

The landing tours let you add on some amazing adventures so they are the favorite options among many travelers. The tour that lands on the canyon floor and includes a champagne picnic is a terrific pick for the holiday. You take a thrilling 3500-foot descent into the canyon where your picnic awaits beside the Colorado River. A smooth-water rafting tour is a popular add-on for this flight.

Another landing flight option is one that comes with VIP access to the Glass Bridge. Constructed entirely of glass, the Skywalk lets travelers walk 70 feet out past the rim’s edge. As you stand 4000 feet above the canyon floor you will get to see the most amazing scenic views you can imagine.

Wrapping Up

The holiday weekend is closing in on us fast. If you are going to be close by, don’t pass the chance to take a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon. Holiday flights typically sell out fast, and this is the first real holiday of the summer. That makes it smart to book your seats at least a week ahead. You should also book your tour and pay for it online so you can get the lowest price possible.

How to Book a Cruise Vacation Online

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If you have never booked a cruise vacation before, or if you have always made your cruise arrangements through a travel agent, the process of booking a cruise vacation online may seem a bit daunting, if not downright confusing. Booking a cruise vacation online is pretty simple and straightforward once you have decided on the cruise that you want to take. The steps discussed below can help you find and book a cruise vacation online with ease.

Where Do You Want to Go?

The first step in booking a cruise vacation is deciding on a destination. While most people might think of the warm tropical islands as ideal cruise spots, there are cruise vacations that can take you all over the world. Whether you want to spend five days in the Caribbean or three weeks traveling through the Norwegian waters, there is a cruise line for you. From Africa to Alaska, you will find amazing cruises that will take you wherever you want to go.

Choose a Cruise Line

Once you have decided where you want to go on your cruise, you need to find out which cruise lines offer trips in that area at the time that you want to travel. You will also want to narrow your search by choosing a cruise line that offers the kind of cruise that you want to take. Carnival Cruise line, for example, tends to cater to the high energy, party-loving younger crowd. They offer great family vacations, honeymoon packages and swinging singles cruises. Royal Caribbean, Princess and Disney cruise lines are great choices for families with young children while Crystal Cruises puts together theme cruises and family cruise get-togethers.

Pick a Ship or a Cruise

Once you have decided on a destination and a cruise line, check into the cruises and ships available. Each ship on a cruise line offers different amenities, so it is important that you know which ship, or at least which class ship, that you want to sail on. You can find all of the information you need on the cruise lines website. Once you have got all of the details organized, you can start shopping for the best price for your cruise.

Find the Best Prices for Your Cruise Vacation

Start with the web site of the cruise line that you have chosen to get a base price for the vacation that you want. From there, make the rounds of travel discount web sites to see if you can score a better deal anywhere else. Sometimes the deal is not with the price alone, you may find free cabin upgrades or on board credits that you can use toward purchasing extras.

Choose Your Cabin

Another detail to consider when booking your cruise vacation is the cabin location and style. These options can make a difference of several hundred dollars in the overall price of your vacation. A small cabin would be less expensive, but if you like to spend time in your room, you may be happier to spend the extra money to get a larger room where you can relax. In addition, keep in mind that certain locations are kinder to those who do not deal well with motion. If you get seasick, opt for a room near the middle of the ship on a higher deck, where you will feel the boat rocking less.

Sex Toys-traveling On Vacation

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There are few things more embarrassing then going through customs and having them open your suitcase to see all the Adult Toys fall out, and today, that can even be dangerous! Find out the best ways to pack your Adult Toys when going on vacation, including storage, keeping them sanitary, and how to stay discreet.

The easiest way to travel with Adult Toys is to not take them at all. If you are leaving the country and will have to go through intense customs, you may want to leave them at home and purchase new Adult Toys when you get to your vacation country.

Canadian and Mexico borders do require a passport, but that doesn’t mean you won’t get stopped at the border and have your luggage gone through. If you do decide to take your special Adult Toys out of the country with you, you may want to consult websites geared toward the laws and expectations of luggage entering a new country.

Remember that the batteries in your Adult Toys will most likely set off metal detectors, so you might want to think this one through. The best advice for taking Adult Toys on vacation this way is to use the ones that are made from latex and do not use batteries or have any mechanical–aluminum or steel–parts. The Realistic Cock white or (Black) is an excellent choice and has a suction cup for sticking to the walls of the hotel shower. Butt plugs and anal beads are also a good choice when traveling where you will have to go through metal detectors, the anal beads, if in a protective leather pouch, look like jewelry, and I doubt anyone will ask you what the purpose of a butt plug is.

Having said that, suppose you are just going across the country on vacation; in the airports, you may have to deal with the same scrutiny you would expect from a customs agent, but if you are driving, you’re home free.

The best packing material for Adult Toys is a plastic baggie. These zip to lock and can store flat. If you are taking a blow up toy along, this is the best way to ensure that it won’t get sand or dirt in the plastic, both of which break down the plastic and can cause holes.

Discreet sex toys are hot topics for the market right now. A dildo or vibrator looks like a lipstick, but can transform at the touch of a button. The compacts are so small that they can be carried in a purse or carry on bag, as on a greyhound, but it’s not best to take them with you in your purse, again, through the plane terminal. Customs agents and security have been known to go through bags and open lipsticks looking for bombs Another toy is waterproof for aquatic arousal, and discreet enough to tuck in her purse is the Make Her Blush Massager Brush. Pehaps maybe the discreet Vibra cell phone might do the trick.

So be careful, be discreet, leave the large toys and metal ones at home, pack in zip-loc bags for sanitary reasons, and bon voyage!

Ica Peru Vacation A Magical Oasis And A Witches’ City

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Your Ica Peru vacation is located about 300 kilometers from Lima. Ica city was founded in 1563 by Luis Jernimo de Cabrera and the area was host to several ancient cultures, including Paracas, Wari, Nasca and Ica, dating back some 10,000 years.

Spanish occupation left behind beautiful colonial architecture, with the Cathedral of Ica being the most impressive. Ica is where the famous pisco brandy was spawned, being made from white-grapes and is the most important ingredient in Peru’s national drink, the Pisco Sour. The many vineyards in the area produce several excellent types of wine and pisco.

Activities and sight-seeing opportunities abound for your Ica Peru vacation. Flights over the Nazca Lines are offered in the city for those who don’t wish to travel to Nazca. The Museo Regional has several pre-Colombian exhibits, including mummies with elongated heads, war trophies, gold ornaments and pottery.

At the Plaza de Armas (Main Square) there is an unusual museum of controversial Ica stones. This is a collection of some 15,000 stones that are engraved with depictions of humans with dinosaurs, extinct species of fish, ancient maps, astronomy and open-heart surgery. Critics claim the stones to be falsified, while advocates claim that the stones are from an extremely ancient, advanced culture that lived alongside the dinosaurs. If any of the stones are proved to be authentic, they could change world history.

A few minutes from the city of Ica lies the Huacachina oasis where Peruvians and tourist go to relax in the warm, dry climate. Legend says that the oasis was created after a native princess was spotted by a young hunter while she was bathing. When she fled, the pool of water she had been bathing in became an oasis. The woman is rumored to still live in the oasis as a mermaid. Every Valentine’s Day there is a recreation of the legend on the oasis, with a former Miss Peru playing the part of the princess. You’ll see several locals bathing in the oasis as it is believed that the sulfur-rich waters have curative properties.

The Huacachina is surrounded by giant sand dunes. The areas favorite sport is sandboarding. Dune buggy rides are also a popular activity. No Ica Peru vacation would be complete without a visit to the Huacachina.

Since the 19th century Cachiche, also known as The Witches City, has been famous in Peru for its witches, located just 4 kilometers from Ica city. Cachiche’s first witch, Doa Julia, would heal and help villagers with her white magic. Outside the witches’ principle residence is a statue to honor her.

For a few soles the witches will interpret your current status, and predict your future, by reading your palm or by consulting the tarot cards. Cachiche’s witches have become well-known in Peru for their startling accuracy.

Nearby is an old, abandoned house, known as “The Devil’s House.” As locals tell the story, a foreigner once lived there who would practice black magic. One day the house was in perfect condition, and the next left the house in a state of ruin for reasons unknown. If you wish to see specters of the supernatural you will need to visit the house at the stroke of midnight. However, be certain that you are completely covered in feces to protect yourself from black magic.

Not far from the witch’s residence grows a remarkable palm tree with 7 heads that twists like giant snakes. In 1987 a Cachiche witch died at the age of 106. On her death-bed she declared that Ica would be destroyed sometime after the seventh head of the palm tree grows. In 1997, an El Nio year, flooding plagued the area. Locals went to cut off the tree’s seventh head, but the flooding stopped before they did so.

On August 15th, 2007 an earthquake reaching a magnitude of 8.0 on the moment magnitude scale devastated Ica, destroying over 58,000 homes in the area. The earthquake ripped northwards through Pisco, with ripples of it being felt in Lima. Most of the points of interest in Ica are still intact, and people are working hard to rebuild the city, but when planning your Ica Peru vacation make sure beforehand that things are running smoothly.

How Bodybuilding & Vacations Can Work Together For Sustained Muscle Building And Fat Loss

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Those who pursue bodybuilding have different views on time off from weight training, with some believing that several weeks of regular bodybuilding workouts should be followed with a break from training of at minimum one week, while others fearing the very idea of time off from bodybuilding, to the point that they try to find a workout facility even when they are on a cruise with family or friends. The true answer to how a fitness enthusiast must deal with vacations in order to avoid any significant adverse impact to muscle building or fat loss is somewhere in the middle of these two extremes.

It’s very easy to become compulsive with weight training, to the point where skipping a workout brings about fears of a significant muscle mass reduction or body fat gain in a short period of time, and this can cause those who pursue weight lifting to actually try and avoid vacations so that they can remain consistent with their weight training workout routines at all times. This to the outsider seems excessive, and there is no doubt that, mentally, living such a one track bodybuilding lifestyle can bring about emotional breakdown, so avoiding breaks from bodybuilding training completely is never a logical or reasonable choice.

Others aim for vacations from weight training workouts every few weeks, performing their weight training and aerobic sessions for a month, and then taking a several week sabbatical from weight lifting before beginning another month long weight training and aerobic routine. This technique can delay bodybuilding progress significantly, so I recommend, instead, planning breaks from bodybuilding around special events (Easter, visiting family), and saving unexpected vacations for times when sickness strikes (flu, injuries, etc), so that you can comfortably move away from weight lifting workouts for 1-2 weeks during times of the year when you have places to see and people to spend time with, or when you are surprised with an unexpected sickness or injury.

The amount of muscle lost during a vacation from weight training can be significant if the time away from such workouts is excessive, so my recommended period of time to vacation from weight training workouts is seven days, and preferably, a vacation from weight training should never exceed two weeks, as the body begins to reduce the amount of muscle after a 1-2 week period (dependent upon genetics). If you are taking a trip that requires a lengthy time away from your normal weight training workout routine, consider following a reduced frequency schedule, where each muscle group is trained once per week with lower volume, at least to encourage muscle maintenance during a longer period away from weight training. This technique can be used for a vacation that lasts any length of time, but is vital if your time away from bodybuilding will exceed two weeks. Such an approach allows for short weight lifting workouts that stimulate the muscle sufficiently to delay muscle loss.

Often bodybuilders believe that since muscles grow during rest, long periods away from weight lifting will cause the body to produce superior results compared with infrequent breaks from weight lifting, and rest will assist in muscle gains if in fact enough stimulation has occurred through weight training, but this also means that lengthy breaks from weight lifting will not only remove the overload necessary for continued muscle growth, but also eventually begin to burn muscle tissue, as the body constantly adapts to the most recent level of stress, and will begin the muscle reduction process during extended vacation breaks from weight lifting workouts.

In regards to the frequency of breaks from bodybuilding workouts, this will depend on your lifestyle. For maximum results, the fewer extended breaks you take, the more muscle you will build, yet a one week vacation several times per year is helpful for the mind and body, but only if such periods away from bodybuilding occur at extended intervals, with at least two months (preferably three) of consistency prior to a break from weight lifting.

Also, do not neglect the importance of proper diet during a vacation from bodybuilding, as abandoning sufficient protein or carbohydrates during vacations from bodybuilding will cause your body to quickly reduce muscle, where otherwise only minor negative change will occur. Most are excited about eating during vacations away from bodybuilding, but just make sure to consume sufficient protein during such periods, and aim for carbohydrates at maintenance levels in order to discourage unnecessary muscle loss.