Travel and Leisure Articles

Nassau and Suffolk counties are found at the eastern and central portions of Long Island. Despite comprising this portion, it is still referred to by folks as Long Island. These two counties are largely different from each other in terms of modernization where Nassau is highly urbanized while Suffolk is rural. However, both offer a lot of recreational and outdoor places to start a healthy way of life.

1. Christopher Morley Park. This 98-acre park boasts of the beautiful sceneries seen around the area. It has a variety of health options which could give you a dramatic change on your perception about living. Athletic activities are overflowing with swimming, basketball and baseball forming part of the basics.

2. Whitney Pond Park. Another park strategically located in Nassau, this one stands on a 24-acre ground. Walking trails are good exercising alternatives while you may also get to plunge in their swimming pools. Sweat out those fats with the basketball and tennis courts in the area.

3. Eisenhower Park. This is a park which could make you come up with picnic opportunities. Other than this relevant happening in your weekend trips, the 930-acre lot of the Eisenhower Park gives you sporting fun. Athletic fields are seen around which will definitely give you a taste of some if not all of the activities you want done.

4. Battle Row Campground. Camping is considered as one of the healthy things you can do. While in the Nassau-Suffolk area, you would come across of this 44-acre camping ground. Whether you are with family or friends, finding a place to put up your tent is considered a revitalizing activity in itself.

5. North Woodmere Park. Found at the southwest portion of Nassau County, this park gives you a definition of what it takes to start living fit. It has 10 tennis courts, 6 handball courts and two basketball courts. Other activities you could select from are football, softball, baseball and soccer.

6. Quogue Wildlife Range. Set on 300 acres of land area, this is a land and water place rolled into one. You may enjoy birdwatching as well as go for hiking in the area.

7. Otis Pike Preserve. Previously known as the Navy Cooperative Area, this recreational site stands on 4,000 acres of upland and wetland. Other than the usual hiking and birdwatching which you could also experience at the Quogue Wildlife Range, horseback riding, dog training, fishing and hunting are also available.

8. Linda Gronlund Memorial Nature Preserve. This 500-acre lot is a good opportunity to enjoy the sights of Nassau and Suffolk. While taking pleasure in this great view, you are about to experience other things from hunting to hiking.

9. Randall Pond Nature Trail. Another wonderful sight in Nassau-Suffolk is this 200-acre trail. Specifically designated for hikers, falconry is also one of the great ways to adopt a healthy life.

10. Rocky Point NRMA. This must be one of the largest trails in the area. With a 5,600-acre provision, you are guaranteed to start to visualize yourself fitly. While horseback riding is a good idea, you have to bring along with you your own horse.

Las Vegas used to be a city for night-time fun and adult entertainment only.  But in the recent years, the city has renovated its look and branded it as a destination to be enjoyed by the whole family.  Families from all around the country and the world visit Las Vegas for hotels, restaurants, casinos, and production shows and much much more.  And all of those you will discover amidst the thousand year old landscape of the great Canyon.  There’s no experience quite like it.  No wonder that every year, millions of tourist visit this city.

Las Vegas hotels provide exciting and spectacular themes and staying in one of them is already an experience.  Hotels like Mandalay bay hotel, Venetian , Belagio Hotel, Paris are some of the top hotels in the whole world.  You can choose 5 star hotels, 3 star hotels and for those tight on budget, there are also the lodges and motels.  You’ll find cheap hotel deals in many of these places.

Las Vegas will fulfill your gastronomic desires because it offer almost all kinds of food and almost all kinds of food services from breakfast buffets to dinner/show packages to cheap food court meals.  Craving of Italian food?  Mexican food?  Indian food?  Chinese food?  You can find all of these and more in more than a thousand food establishments.

Casino and night production shows will always be mainstays at Las Vegas.  Popular shows such as Cirque de Soleis, Blue Man Group and Zumanity don’t fail to attract hordes of spectators every night.  Of course,  casinos are what makes Las Vegas the place to be, especially during its first few years. 

Deals like Las Vegas hotel coupons, dining coupons, casino coupons and production coupons are great way to enjoy your vacation at this bright city.

A family vacation at Disney World and the other theme parks of Orlando is for many people a once in a lifetime opportunity, and it is important to plan it properly so that you and your family can enjoy the experience and also do it in a way that will save money. One of the most important decisions that you will have to make is where to stay? Should you stay at a luxury hotel at Disney World or nearby or should you take a vacation home rental?

As someone who is experienced in Orlando vacations, I would wholeheartedly recommend renting a vacation home, condo or villa near Disney World. You can say that I am biased because I am in the business or renting homes in the Orlando area, however if you add up all the advantages of vacation homes you can see for yourself that they are a great value. Let’s look at what you will get if you choose to vacation home rental rather than a hotel.

First let’s start with the prices. Luxury hotels with the same amenities as rental homes and condos cost much more. Rental homes near Disney usually have everything you could ask for in the way of comforts. These include air conditioning, screened swimming pools, stereo-home entertainment systems including DVD and your own garage. The homes also have complete furnishings, kitchen equipment and bedding materials. You will have a luxury home at your disposal, at a lower price than you will get in a luxury hotel.

But why stop with the price? Consider the location too. You may or may not get a hotel that is near Disney World or other attractions. However, it is possible to book vacation homes that are within minutes from Disney World, Sea World and other attractions. What this means is that you can visit the theme park in the morning, come back and rest and then go out again in the afternoon and evening. It is an ideal set-up and you have a lot of flexibility because you can get up and eat when you like, and return at any time without disturbing anyone.

For me the biggest factor in opting for a vacation home rental is the issue of space. When you are at home you do not try to do everything or fit the whole family in one or two rooms, so why start doing it when you are on vacation and trying to enjoy yourself? If you get a two bedroom condo or home with more bedrooms your children will have their own rooms and will sleep properly and everyone’s enjoyment of the vacation experience will be amplified. Plus, consider coming home and relaxing beside your own swimming pool, you just can’t think of a better scenario.

You can get a rental home near Disney World and other Orlando-area attractions all year round. If you are planning your vacation during the peak season such as Easter, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year then you should book well in advance so that you get the accommodations of your choice.

It is time to tie all of the Student Pilot /Pre-Solo and Post Solo Requirements together. In order to be eligible for the Private Pilot License Practical test, you have to have everything that I have listed so far DOCUMENTED in your logbook I go more in detail in my book but I will get you up to speed on this.

Now I will explain the requirements for you to be eligible for your Private Pilot Practical Test. All of the Previous requirements have to be completed for the student solo and the student solo cross countries. If you haven’t looked at them yet here they are:

Now this is where the requirements that usually show up on the internet come from. This is only the aeronautical experience regulation. This is the regulation that most flight schools make their cost estimates from and where most people who have nothing to do with aviation write their articles from.

(a) For an airplane single-engine rating. Except as provided in paragraph (k) of this section, a person who applies for a private pilot certificate with an airplane category and single-engine class rating must log at least 40 hours of flight time that includes at least 20 hours of flight training from an authorized instructor and 10 hours of solo flight training in the areas of operation listed in §61.107(b)(1) of this part, and the training must include at least-

(1) 3 hours of cross-country flight training in a single-engine airplane;

(2) Except as provided in §61.110 of this part, 3 hours of night flight training in a single-engine airplane that includes-

(i) One cross-country flight of over 100 nautical miles total distance; and

(ii) 10 takeoffs and 10 landings to a full stop (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport.

(3) 3 hours of flight training in a single-engine airplane on the control and maneuvering of an airplane solely by reference to instruments, including straight and level flight, constant airspeed climbs and descents, turns to a heading, recovery from unusual flight attitudes, radio communications, and the use of navigation systems/facilities and radar services appropriate to instrument flight;

(4) 3 hours of flight training in preparation for the practical test in a single-engine airplane, which must have been performed within 60 days preceding the date of the test; and

(5) 10 hours of solo flight time in a single-engine airplane, consisting of at least-

(i) 5 hours of solo cross-country time;

(ii) One solo cross-country flight of at least 150 nautical miles total distance, with full-stop landings at a minimum of three points, and one segment of the flight consisting of a straight-line distance of at least 50 nautical miles between the takeoff and landing locations; and

(iii) Three takeoffs and three landings to a full stop (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport with an operating control tower.

Then there is the other eligibility regulation for the Private Pilot License Flight Test.

(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, to be eligible for a practical test for a certificate or rating issued under this part, an applicant must:

(1) Pass the required knowledge test within the 24-calendar-month period preceding the month the applicant completes the practical test, if a knowledge test is required;

(2) Present the knowledge test report at the time of application for the practical test, if a knowledge test is required;

(3) Have satisfactorily accomplished the required training and obtained the aeronautical experience prescribed by this part for the certificate or rating sought;

(4) Hold at least a current third-class medical certificate, if a medical certificate is required;

(5) Meet the prescribed age requirement of this part for the issuance of the certificate or rating sought;

(6) Have an endorsement, if required by this part, in the applicant’s logbook or training record that has been signed by an authorized instructor who certifies that the applicant-

(i) Has received and logged training time within 60 days preceding the date of application in preparation for the practical test;

(ii) Is prepared for the required practical test; and

(iii) Has demonstrated satisfactory knowledge of the subject areas in which the applicant was deficient on the airman knowledge test; and

(7) Have a completed and signed application form.

There is also the ground instruction requirements. Lately the FAA has been getting very tough on this. There have been many cases where students have been signed off for flight tests and the instructor never did any ground instruction with them. You want to remember that your instructor needs to have this documented for you to be eligible for the flight test.

Personally I make up one sheet with all the flight training and all the ground training and sign it at the bottom. This way I have a complete record and the examiner can plainly see every subject area.

Within these three regulations are all of the others listed in the student pilot requirements and the student pilot pre solo cross country requirements. Most people don’t have a clue about all of this. And once you have started on the wrong track on your Pilot Training, it can become a very expensive venture.

This was the main reason that I ended up Writing “Airfreddy’s Guide on Learning To Fly”. This happens all of the time all over the country. I can’t tell you how many emails I get from people who are frustrated at the entire process. If they had planned and researched ahead of time, they would have gotten done in a realistic budget and on a realistic schedule.

Getting your Private Pilot License and Learning to Fly can be a great experience, but if you don’t understand that every time to delay, switch instructors, schools or wait to get your written test done. You will get more and more frustrated and I see it ALL THE TIME.

Your goal is to become a safe and proficient pilot on a realistic budget. Planning this process out is the most important thing you can do. You don’t want to jump and and then find you are on the wrong track.

Private Pilot Requirements

Hope To See You In The Sky

Airfreddy

Liverpool is a rich cultural centre and has a fabulous history of popular music. It is worth mentioning that ‘The Beatles’ have their origins here. Liverpool is a centre of excellence for performing and visual arts. It is the fifth most populous cities of England and holds importance as one of England’s core cities. The Liverpool hotels are the perfect place to put up at to enjoy the sights of the city built across a ridge of hills which rise to up to a height of around 230 feet above sea - level. The tourists traveling to Liverpool could do with a little information such as that the inhabitants of Liverpool are referred to as ‘Liverpudlians’ and also as ‘Scousers’ which is in reference to a form of stew which is the local meal. Now-a-days one will find that the term ’scouse’ has become more synonymous with the Liverpool accent and dialect. The city of Liverpool has always held special attraction for the performers of performing arts and poets. The number of theatres that are to be found in the city is an indication of the importance that performing arts has in Liverpool. Travelers can take full advantage of their stay in the best of hotels in Liverpool to enjoy the flourishing orchestra scene with the city also featuring a youth orchestra.

The waterfront at Liverpool was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004 and reflects a certain importance crucial to the city’s development. The docks have played a central role to the city’s history as well as the development of the world’s trading system and dock technology. After London, Liverpool has the maximum number of galleries and national museums. To view the better of the modern art collection one can visit the Tate Liverpool gallery houses while ‘The Fact Centre’ plays host to touring multimedia exhibitions. Liverpool has a good resource of accommodation options including cheap hotels in Liverpool for the budget travelers. The adventure tourists and the sports freaks will love to visit Liverpool just for the sake that it has for long been associated with a variety of sports, mostly football. Liverpool has also become somewhat of a secular centre in England as the numerous migrants and sailors who passed through the city left an undeliable mark of religious diversity. This is reflected when one sees the sundry collection of religious buildings. Liverpool’s status as a wealthy port city has helped it to construct two enormous cathedrals. One is ‘The Anglican Cathedral’ which has the highest peals of bells in the world. Liverpool also has a notable resource of synagogues to cater to the significant Jewish community. The Hindu community and the Sikh community also have proper representation in the form of temples and Gurudwara. The city plays host to one of the earliest mosques in Britain which was founded 1887.

Located right in a quiet forest right in the heart of Breckenridge, is the most luxurious and elegant condominium suites in town called Mountain Thunder Lodge Breckenridge. This stone and timber designed lodge has a very stylish design and many amenities to satisfy even the worst critics of resort lodges.

The amenities include in-room high speed internet access, complimentary shuttle service to where ever you need to be taken around town, ski lockers to keep all of your recreation equipment, hot tubs, outdoor pools, and a state of the art exercise facility. The Mountain Thunder Lodge Breckenridge offers exclusive town homes to make you feel like you are in your own house, and beautiful condominium suites.

The types of rooms that can be chosen at the Mountain Thunder Lodge Breckenridge are one, two, three, and four bedroom suites, two and three bedroom town homes. Each unit comes with special extras such as multiple televisions, private balcony or patio, high speed wireless connection, DVD players, full gourmet kitchen, and a moss mock fireplace which is really beautiful in the evening when you and your family may be settling in after a long day of fun.

The Mountain Thunder Lodge Breckenridge also hosts different activities within the lodge itself such as orchestra concerts. The Mountain Thunder Lodge Breckenridge is also a choice meeting place for many large companies that have workshops for their employees. This lodge has 43,000 square feet of meeting space that is used for corporate meeting, family reunions, and weddings.

The Mountain Thunder Lodge Breckenridge also has a full service reservation center. The main representative of whatever event is being planned can contact this reservation center and plan everything about the event from the dining to the breakfast and everything in between. They can do it all for you from start to finish so you can concentrate on the event and not on the planning.

The Mountain Thunder Lodge Breckenridge also has twenty four hour guest service, complimentary underground garage service, complimentary curb side service, laundry facilities, on-site bicycle rental, outdoor barbeque grills, DVD rentals, and state of the art fitness facilities. The Mountain Thunder Lodge Breckenridge also has year-round outdoor heated pool, pool house, deck and hot tubs. A beginning skier can also sign up for ski lessons with a fitness instructor in order to learn the basics of how to ski so that they don’t miss out on all the fun.

Rapid growth in the global yacht industry has caused many new yacht owners to hire professional yacht delivery captains to skipper their boats on long or dangerous voyages. Yacht delivery skippers confirm that boat deliveries are growing with international trends. “If you have the money it’s relatively easy to buy a new yacht”, said one, “but sailing long distances through potentially difficult waters or weather conditions requires skills that can take years to learn”.

Recreational boat ownership is currently a $25 billion international industry and sales are growing annually at 5-10%. While sales growth will likely be lower in 2008 due to economic conditions, many motor and sailing yachts are pre-ordered and are already under construction. There are waiting lists of up to three years for luxury yachts in the USA and Europe and so the international fleet of recreational boats will continue to grow strongly.

However sail training and sea experience lag far behind the growth in boat numbers. Learning how to handle boats safely, how to navigate and how to operate the often-complex equipment found on a modern boat can take years. The American Sailing Association and the British Royal Yachting Association both operate training and certification schemes. But learning to sail is not as simple as doing a course - and developing experience is critical.

Often new boat owners will join a delivery skipper for the voyage to the boat’s new home. This helps them to get to know their new boat and gives them valuable sea experience, while the presence of a professional skipper gives them security and confidence. Many delivery skippers offer sailing and navigation instruction in such cases.

But lack of experience is not the only reason that boat owners hire delivery captains to move their boats. Many wealthy boat owners are also very busy people and cannot afford to spend days at sea away from mobile phones and Internet connections. The average sailing yacht will only move about 150 miles a day, so a long trip can take weeks - time that that busy boat owners don’t have. Instead they want to be able to hop on a plane for a sailing holiday in a new cruising ground and have their boat ready and waiting for them when they land.

Popular routes for yacht deliveries include from the United States to the Caribbean and from the boatyards of Northern Europe to the sunny marinas of the Mediterranean. Yachts are also delivered to major events such as yacht races or the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers in which hundreds of yachts sail across the Atlantic Ocean each year. And of course, whatever the destination, the yachts usually have to be brought back as well.

As boatyards continue to produce record numbers of motor and sailing yachts for time-starved boat owners who are often inexperienced with long voyages, it seems that yacht delivery skippers will be busy for some time to come.

If you’ve seen any of the latest developments in passenger jets then chances are you’ll know about the enormous A380, the giant of the skies. The A380 can seat 450 people in varying degrees of prestige from economy, premium economy, business class and first-class.

The size of this aircraft is a sight to behold with it nearly being the full length of a football pitch; the wingspan would easily poke into the seating of a football stadium too. The A380 has three floors to it with a full length middle floor housing the majority of the seating; a stair case toward the front of the plane ascends to the first-class floor.

The lower floor is expected to be set aside by many airlines as cargo storage but some plans being formulated by some flight companies have converted these into sleeping areas or a child care facility.

Compared to the current airlines and passenger aircraft the A380 can accommodate 30-50% more passengers on board and its credentials seem to make it the logical choice for flights in the future. Airbus, the company who created the A380, claims to have developed such a technological advance that makes the A380 more economical and environmentally friendly that the current fleet of Boeing 747s despite its size.

Airbus say their A380 runs on 20% less fuel which is a major sticking point for cheap flights providers these days, they also claim it runs quieter and cheaper too. The flights and tourism industry has suffered many setbacks in the past 12 months with the cost of fuel running higher it has meant many cheap flights companies have been forced to bow out of the holiday market.

With a larger capacity and more economical energy usage the A380 may become a more viable option for many airlines and not surprisingly 66 airlines companies signed up to order some A380s to their army of aircraft. Australian flights company Qantas bought twenty for their flights to Australia with recent test flights from France to Australia being completed recently there are plans to open up flights going between London and Melbourne as well as to Los Angeles.

As the new king of the airways can the A380 reignite the ailing flights industry? The numbers on paper look favourable but will airlines still be able to pay their fuel bills by the time their new toys arrive? Only time will tell.

I just wanted to take a moment and share my experience in Mendoza, Argentina. Mendoza is probably the most perfect place to take a closer look at Argentine wines. It is a great city, there are a lot of things to do and the people is friendly and helpful. I done an extensive research on the Mendoza´s official website looking for some helpful information about Mendoza wine country.

We also contacted Mendoza Holidays company in order to organize a special program of wine tasting to help celebrate our anniversary. I was impressed with their follow through after I had contacted them for a price quote, which was extremely fair. They spent hours with me on the phone and via email creating and re-adjusting the plan for my husband and I.

They promised a personalized, private, romantic wine tour for our anniversary. The vineyards we visited were very nice and all of the people involved in all our tours were very knowledgeable and pleased to be around. One of the wineries we visited is Bonfanti, a gourmet winery which we belive has one of the most personal and private tour of all of the wineries in Mendoza, as we were guided by a family member of the owner.

Although our trip was short, we had unique wine experiences that we definitely would not have otherwise had. Our trip to the mountains was amazing. Although the weather was not to our favor, this will always be a trip that I will hold close to my heart. The High Mountain tour & vineyards which Mendoza Holidays provided us, was one of the most beautiful tours. The magnificence of Andes, combined with the wineyards was an unforgettable experience. I will never forget our trip to Mendoza as it was the most exhilarating trips I have ever had.

The land down under is a mysterious and wondrous place. Australia’s aboriginal roots inspire mysticism and its people are noted as the friendliest and most welcoming on earth. It is home to one of nature’s greatest achievements and its wildlife is legendary. In short, Australia is a holidaymaker’s paradise, no matter what type of holidaymaker you fancy yourself.

In a country a vast and plentiful as Australia, simply deciding what to do can be a daunting task indeed! To make matters easier this short list of must-see attractions and activities in the land down under should provide a bit more direction.

Hunter Valley Wine

Visiting Hunter Valley is sublime. The green, gold and purple vines are the oldest in Australia and set a serene scene while the weathered Brokenback Mountains complete a near perfect landscape. The offerings of Hunter Valley are many with large production vineyards and small boutique treasures, most notable is Allandale Winery. A Wine tour is a fabulous way to spend the day.

Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House is one of the land’s most iconic landmarks. It is home to all things art! Should you visit Sydney, a trip to see the Opera House is an absolute must. Take in a show to experience the magic.

Uluru | Ayers Rock

When one envisions the Australian outback, colossal Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, often dominates the image. This red baked monolith is sacred to the Aboriginals and is a testament to their great race.

Great Barrier Reef

One could hardly mention tourism in Australia without mentioning is greatest tourist attraction, the Great Barrier Reef. Home to flora and fauna in such magnificent and prolific scope, the Great Barrier Reef and its stunning islands will enrapture you. The reef is one of scuba diving’s best destinations and snorkellers will have a great time too.

The Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road leaves Melbourne in Victoria and winds its way along Australia’s wild southern coastline. This attraction is not just a mere road, but a war monument as well. Take a few days to drive this route to see typical Australian villages, wander through vast parklands, sample local wines and stare in awe at the majesty of this rugged and untamed coastline.

Australia has been a magnet for travellers for decades. From Perth to Adelaide and from the Gold Coast to the Great Ocean Road and everywhere in between, Australia’s offerings are endless. Be sure to take in the best attractions and take time to explore the land and get to know its fabulous people.