www.YourDailyVacation.com

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. 7) 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 traveling style. 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. 10) 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.

By: C.S. Deam

Article Source: http://www.articleinterchange.com

C.S. Deam and his wife fell in love with Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Cape Breton Island on their first vacation to the region in 2001. Since then they’ve grown to be avid promoters of the scenery and lifestyle enjoyed by Nova Scotia residents and vacationers. Photos of these campground landmarks are featured at their website http://www.vacation-nova-scotia-tourism.com/

I had the pleasure recently to go on a holiday trip to New York. And this is what I discovered. Everything about New York is complex. To fully appreciate the magnificent place, you must know a bit about New York. Here are the top nine little-known facts about New York which I think everyone planning to go there should know:

1. Everyone calls New York City the ‘Big Apple’. But why? Where did it come from? The phrase was first popularized by a newspaper editor, John Fitzgerald, who titled his column: Around the Big Apple. He first heard the term, the ‘Big Apple’, being thrown around by Black stable boys which they used to describe New York City as place of monetary abundance and opportunity.

2. The state of New York has the most extensive and oldest transportation system in the whole of North America. New York City, itself, is home to more than 12,000 yellow cabs, 120,000 bicycles, a huge subway system, bus and railroad systems, large airports, massive bridges and tunnels, ferries, and a aerial commuter tramway (think of a oversized cable car).

3. New York hosted the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid. The US Ice Hockey team, consisting of collegiate and amateur players, was to be up against the favoured Soviet Union team, which had legendary players in world ice hockey. To put it in the words of the New York Times: “Unless the ice melts, or unless the United States team or another team performs a miracle…the Russians are expected to win the Olympic gold medal for the sixth time in the last seven tournaments.” The US won and went on to win the gold medal. This victory was one of the greatest sporting moments in the twentieth century and was dubbed “Miracle on Ice”.

4. New York State is best know for the urban landscape of New York City. However most of New York State is dominated by farmland, forests, rivers, mountains and lakes. Even in built-up New York City there are more than 12,000 acres of undeveloped natural land and 26,000 acres of parkland. Who would have thought that rivers, estuaries, beaches, saltwater marshes, forests, grasslands, sands dunes, ponds, and lakes could be found in New York City? Apart from the aesthetic appeal, these natural habitats have performed, and continue to perform, vital ecological services for the city including providing clean air and water, absorbing pollutants, lowering temperatures on summer days, and improving public health and welfare.

5. The Erie Canal was built in the nineteenth century and was an important step in creating the international trading center, New York City, that we know today. It was a marvel of its day and was often called the Eighth Wonder of the World. The Erie Canal was enlarged a number of times to keep up with increased trading. The ‘final’ achievement was a canal 12 to 14 feet deep, 120 to 200 feet wide, and 363 miles long. Today the Erie Canal is largely used for recreational purposes.

6. Who coined the name ‘New York’? The land was first explored by an Italian, Giovanni da Verrazzano, who named it New Angouleme in honor of the French king Francois I. Then, the Dutch claimed the land and called it New Netherlands. Finally, the Duke of York from England bought Long Island and took possession of the rest of the land by the brute force of an army. The Duke of York called the land New York (what a surprise).

7. New York was the first state to employ license plates for automobiles. They first appeared in 1901, however the government did not issues the plates as they do today. In fact they required the owners to make their own plates. From 1901 to 1902 the plates had no numbers - all they had were the initials of the owner. It was only until 1910 when the state of New York began issuing license plates.

8. The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has been put up every year since 1931. The tradition began when construction workers of the Rockefeller Center decorated a small balsam fir tree with cranberries, paper, and tin cans. Nowadays, the Rockefeller Tree is usually a Norway Spruce which have a life span of 80 to 110 years and grows 1 foot a year. The dimensions of the tree must be a minimum of 65 feet tall and 35 feet wide to qualify for the Rockefeller Center. After the season is over, the tree is often mulched and donated to charities. One tree can yield almost 3 tonnes of mulch.

9. The Empire State Building was the world’s tallest building from 1931 to 1972. It was surpassed by The World Trade Center which became the tallest building in New York. After the bombings, the Empire State Building was announced and now remains the tallest building in New York. Just as an aside, the tallest building in the world is the Sears building in Chicago. However this record is expected to be surpassed by the Burj Dubai which will be, once completed, about 1.5 times the height of Sears!

There you have it! The top nine facts about New York I discovered on my trip to New York. Everyone knows New York is a global leader in business, finance, fashion and the arts. However this is just the ‘mask’ of New York. By reading this article, you have taken your first step to appreciating this great city.

The climate here is mild in winter with snow cover from December to April but there is plenty of snow around. The Bulgarian government has recently committed to developing the resort further under a scheme called ‘Super Borovets’, with the aim of turning it into a world-class, year-round resort.

Skiing in Borovets

Although a well established resort, Borovets has all the facilities and comforts of a modern winter sports centre. The resort has hosted the Alpine ski World Cup twice and offers visitors a wide range of world-class ski runs to suit all abilities from novice to expert. Skiers here can also take part in cross-country skiing, ski-doo, ice skating, snowboarding, biathlons and ski jumping. The biathlon track here is held to be one of the best in Europe.

The resort’s ski facilities are excellent and will be improved further during the ‘Super Borovets’ initiative. The resort has around 19 ski runs split into three areas (Sitniakoyo, Markoudzhik and Yastrebets). International signs and markings are used across the resort which well maintained and serviced. There are a range of lifts including a gondola, chair lifts, drag lifts and baby drag lifts.

Accommodation in Borovets

The resort offers a full range of accommodation both for people who wish to go self-catering and for people who wish to stay in hotels. The hotels in Borovets include high-quality luxury hotels and mid-range and smaller options. There are plenty of hotels here due to the size and popularity of the resort. People looking to rent accommodation are also given plenty of choice. Self-catering options include chalets, bungalows, houses, villas and apartments. Visitors can choose to rent new properties or older, traditional homes and there are options available for all size of party.

Entertainment in Borovets

The resort offers all kind of options for eating-out and night-life. There are many restaurants, bars, cafes, discos and clubs in the town to suit all tastes. Many visitors like to try out local cuisine but restaurants also offer a full range of other options here from simple snacks through to classic modern European cooking.

Local attractions

Many visitors describe Borovets as being like a big friendly village. Although the town isn’t large it is still full of local charm and tradition. The countryside in the area is lovely in both winter and summer and many people choose to spend their spare time walking and hiking and horse riding is also available. Taking a trip up Mount Musala is a popular option for many. Visitors should also make sure to visit the Bistrista Palace. This old royal hunting lodge is worth a trip in itself but make sure to take a look at the local woodcarvings there which are a local tradition.

Those looking for attractions further afield can visit Sofia which is around an hour’s drive away. There are a lot of museums and churches worth a look here including the National History Museum and the St Nikolai Church.

Conclusion

It’s not surprising that so many people choose to return to Borovets after their first ski trip. The resort offers high quality skiing and facilities, the locals are friendly and there is plenty to do in the town. Although the most popular resort in the country, costs are still relatively low compared to the UK which makes it even easier to enjoy a stay in Borovets!

I found a great deal on a trip to Miami, what documents do I need to have in order to travel?

This is a common questions that I am presented with. It is important to consider the requirements before booking an international trip of any kind: you would hate to miss your vacation due to being turned away at the airport!

You will need a passport. As of January 2007, Canadians flying into the USA require passports. You are still allowed to travel by car, train or bus without a passport, but by January 2008 these travelers require (more…)

There is no better rush than skiing down a mountain on fresh snow. For all you winter sports enthusiasts, we have compiled a list of the popular ski resorts in the USA to fulfil your craving for speed:

Breckinridge, Colorado

One of the better known Ski resorts in Colorado, Breckinridge totals 2,358 acres and has 155 trails. Its longest trail, Four Oclock, reaches a length of 3.5 miles and the resort spans over more than 10 peaks. Of the 155 trails this resort hosts, 36-percent are expert slopes, the largest percentage of slope difficulty, and 13-percent of the slopes have the easiest designation.

Aspen, Colorado

Located in the midst of the Rocky Mountains, Aspen, Colorado, is the Aspen Mountain Ski Resort. Aspen Mountain sits on 673 acres and is one of the smallest skiing resorts around. It utilizes Aspen Mountain and Bell Mountain which has an elevation of 11,212 feet.

Killington, Vermont

This ski resort is the largest resort in the eastern part (more…)

If you are an outdoors enthusiast looking for a spot to avoid the tourist crowds and soak in the beauty of pristine wilderness, look no further than Ely, MN. So, where the heck is Ely? It is about a 3 hour car ride north of Minneapolis/St.Paul just outside of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW).  There are many fantastic resorts located on Ely area lakes complete with reliable fishing guides,  world class restaurants, and spacious waterfront rooms. If your idea of a spacious waterfront room is a 2 person tent and having the morning silence shattered by the cry of a nearby loon, you have still come to the right place

Established in 1978, the BWCAW is an area spanning over 1,000,000+ acres of pristine wilderness which is protected from logging, mining, and the use of most motor vehicles. Wildlife within the BWCAW is abundant and includes (more…)

At last, after researching destinations from the popular to the relatively unknown, here are The Top Ten Travel Destinations For 2008! From Safaris to South American paragliding this list of the top ten travel destinations for 2008 is sure to have something for everyone. 

10.  Antigua, Guatemala

This UNESCO World Heritage Site has charming cobble stone streets, active volcanoes, and enough charm to make you contemplate ripping up your return ticket home. This former capital was the political and economical center of Guatemala for over two hundred years before being decimated in 1773 by an earthquake.

9. Beijing, China

Playing host to the 2008 Olympic Summer Games, Beijing is sure to be a hot destination this year as it shows off all it has to offer to the world. This three thousand year old capital boasts such sights as the impressive (more…)

Overseas travel is the highlight of many people’s lives. However, your first trip abroad can be intimidating at times, especially if there will be a language barrier to overcome. The purpose of this article is to provide you with a short list of things your can do prior to departing that will give you peace of mind and make your trip all the more enjoyable.

Passports and Visas

If you are heading out of the U.S. you are going to need (more…)