The dolphins off Key West enjoy watching you, too.
Key West dolphin tours are hugely popular, and are a “must-see” part of any Florida Keys vacation. People just seem to be drawn to these graceful creatures. Bottlenose dolphins are fascinating because of their beauty and intelligence. Though they’re wild, the bottlenose dolphins in the ocean around Key West are frequently curious and interested in the vessels and people sharing the water with them.
Humans and Dolphins seem to have something special going on. There are many reports of wild dolphins coming to the rescue of swimmers in trouble. A few years ago four lifeguards, swimming off Ocean Beach, near Whangarei in New Zealand, were protected by a group of dolphins for forty minutes when they were approached by a great white shark. Dolphins have befriended fishermen in Mauritania, Africa and Brazil, where they herd schools of fish into the fishermens’ nets, and eat the fish that escape. Humans aren’t the only species who have been rescued by dolphins. A dolphin off Mahia Beach in New Zealand helped coax a mother pygmy sperm whale and her calf back out to sea after the pair beached themselves in 2008.
In Key West, local dolphin experts have put policies in place to help protect the areas dolphins from being harmed by the presence of the humans that are so interested in them. Considering that they have a lot of fans among the human visitors to Key West, there is a natural interest in these beautiful mammals. But it’s important to watch them from a safe distance (for you, and for the dolphins!)
Key West dolphin watch trips are created to grant you the best chance of observing dolphins up close, without stressing them. It’s particularly special for lots of folks whenever dolphins are observed in their unspoiled home in the sea. You’ll watch them catching fish, visiting and playing on their own and in substantial pods.
Your half-day Key West dolphin excursion will give you quite a bit of time to take joy in the behavior and beauty of the dolphins. The Key West dolphin tours are appropriate for all age groups. Anything you need is provided, such as snorkeling gear. The boat voyage is fashioned to be comfy, and there is a great deal to view on your ride. Water and pop are included at no additional cost. Snacks, too.
Don’t miss your chance to book an exciting Key West dolphin watch excursion. It’s no wonder that they’re one of the most popular things to do in the Florida Keys. If you’re planning a Florida trip, this eco-tour belongs on your itinerary.
This article was provided by ToursKeyWest.com, an online booking agent for Key West tourist attractions.
From glaciers to beaches, from elegant cities to friendly little towns, Argentina is a top travel location. With the economy stabilizing, now is the time to go.
There used to be rampant corruption and economic problems in Argentina. However, things appear to have stabilized and the country is back on the travel map. So, what is to see?
Argentina: Back from economic woes, now an affordable and beautiful travel destination.
Buenos Aires
Prior to landing in Buenos Aires, you are strongly encouraged to glue your jaw shut. Buenos Aires is a city of jaw-dropping beauty. In lots of ways, you will feel as though you have magically been transported to Vienna. The European impression is overwhelming. The city is elegance itself. If you are a meat eater, make sure you experience four of the steak houses. You won’t be disappointed.
Mar del Plata
you have been doing sit ups, right? The Mar de Plata is the hot beach area. Literally. Damn hot, sometimes. If you wish to pursue a little melanoma research, this is the place. If you prefer to pass on the cancer research, you can hit the Mar de Plata Aquarium, play golf on five different courses. The area is also rife with discos. Try the ones on the “Noisy Avenue”, but don’t mention my name. There were problems last time I was there.
Iguaz˙ Falls
If you like waterfalls, this is the place for you. The Iquaza Falls are seven times as wide and taller than Niagara Falls. The Falls actually consist of over 250 cascades that came into existence due to a volcanic eruption. If you can, try to visit the falls in the spring or fall as it’s ungodly hot and humid in the summer.
Tierra del Fuego
Welcome to the end of the world. At least, that is the hook for Tierra del Fuego. Ushuaia, the capital of Tierra del Fuego, is the southernmost city in the world. From the city, you can take the “end of the world” train to see incredible snow covered mountain ranges in the Tierra del Fuego National Park. Words fail me, but the area is definitely worth visiting. Come on, you rode the elephants in Thailand, didn’t you? Patagonia
No, they are not talking about the clothing line. Patagonia is located in a vast area below Buenos Aires and is famous for uncompromised beauty. Greater Patagonia is actually split between Chile and Argentina. The section in Argentina is filled with glaciers, national parks and so on. I cannot possibly describe it, so i am not even going to try. know that you won’t be disappointed.
Photo Credit: Jiashiang
When you’re visiting the Florida Keys and need a novel boating tour experience, try Key West glass bottom boat tours. Usually, only scuba divers have the opportunity to look at the coral reef up close and personal, with its array of surprising marine and flora, but with a boat tour on one of these uniquely designed watercraft, you can experience wonderful views that previously only scuba divers may have been able to see. Gazing into the depths you can see tropical fish and plants, and a truly wonderful sight, the only living coral reef within the continental U.S., that many eco tourism fans have traveled to the Florida Keys to experience.
Key West glass bottom boat tours permit guests to look at over three hundred species of fish that are unique to the keys, and the colourful coral reef and wonderful seascape. Throughout the tour, the captain and crew can provide you with attention-grabbing facts about the marine life and eco-system. True to the name, the boat is built with special glass windows that permit you to look down at the coral reef while enjoying the gorgeous views of the Key West waters. Once you reach the coral reef, the boat can remain in place so guests have the ability to look at the reef and its huge variety of creatures from the boat.
When you reserve Key West glass bottom boat tours, you have the option of the boat tour, or a ship tour that has a snorkeling experience. If you haven’t been snorkeling before, this can be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see some of the most fascinating and colorful ocean life in the world. You’ll not only see tropical fish, but you may be lucky enough to see sting rays, ocean-dwelling sea turtles, and even Key West’s famous wild bottlenose dolphins. Make it a point to bring a camera so you can photograph the wonderful creatures and the vibrant coral reef.
You may schedule your boat tour at any of three convenient times, making it easy for you can match it into your schedule of Key West sightseeing. Because it’s so educational and fun, a glass bottom boat tour can be a good trip for adults and youngsters. (For any kid in your party below the age of 5, the trip is free of charge, making it a great family-friendly outing.)
Key West glass bottom boats are catamarans that are designed with a twin hull, creating a great deal of stability for the passengers, which makes for a better experience when floating above the reef. This twin hull design prevents the boat from rocking much in rough waves, in contrast to boats with conventional designs. This makes for a safer, more comfortable trip.
The Key West glass bottom boat tour lasts for two hours. The boats are air-conditioned with giant windows to experience the beautiful sea and sky on your way out to and back from the coral reef. A sundeck, snack bar, and restrooms are aboard the boat. For your convenience, we suggest booking your Key West glass bottom boat online before your trip.
This article was provided courtesy of FlowersKeyWest.com.
Very few human beings choose to live in the Australian Outback. With monthly rainfall of less than half an inch, and summer temperatures ranging from a “low” of 95 degrees Fahrenheit to egg-frying highs of 122 degrees, the climate is arid and the landscape is stark. In fact, many say that the Outback and the surface of Mars have a lot in common.
So, why was Coober Pedy the destination for so many new residents in 1915? That’s the year that gem-quality opals were discovered by a man named Willie Hutchison.
A Coober Pedy opal. Photo furnished by Opals-On-Black.com.
The opal is a unique gemstone, in that it doesn’t have the same kind of crystalline structure you’d find in a diamond or emerald. Instead, the internal structure is composed of microscopic silica spheres. But that isn’t what makes opals special: it’s the fact that these spheres trap water molecules. In fact, opals are composed of up to 20% water by weight. (You could say, they’re one of the few things in the Outback that contain water.) This water content bends and refracts the light passing through an opal, creating the “aurora borealis” light show effect that opals are known for.
By the end of the 20th century, over a quarter of a million mineshafts had been bored into the ground around Coober Pedy by opal miners. Most are abandoned, but sizeable numbers have been turned into surprisingly luxurious underground homes, known by the locals as “dugouts.” In Coober Pedy’s arid climate, these mines have a huge advantage over traditional, aboveground homes: they maintain a steady, comfortable temperature year-round.
Development of the Stuart highway between Adelaide and Alice Springs has made Coober Pedy more accessible as a tourist attraction, but the brutal climate and relative isolation have ensured that Coober Pedy would remain a small Outback town, with a current population of around 2,000 year-round residents. Even so, it is the home of a number of restaurants and attractions, including the “Old Timer’s Mine,” art galleries, an arcade, bookstore, beauty shop and museums (most of which are underground). And opal mining is still the leading industry in Coober Pedy, though tourism also inspires a great deal of economic activity.
So, what does “Coober Pedy” mean? The name was bestowed by Aboriginal peoples who first called the outback home. Kupa-speaking indigenous residents referred to the town as kupa-piti, or “white man’s hole in the ground,” and the name stuck. Now the population of Coober Pedy is much more varied–the town is home to residents of over 45 nationalities, according to the Coober Pedy Visitor Information Centre.
The Coober Pedy Visitor Information Centre is your best source of helpful information if you’re planning a visit to “The Opal Capital of the World.” They publish a “Gems of Coober Pedy” guidebook that features the history of the town, and can provide you with information about car rentals, restaurants, attractions and accommodations. And the visitor center itself offers public restrooms, Internet access, and a gallery of local travel and tourism posters.
By Kathleen Hanover. Contact Kathleen Hanover at Imagine That Creative, Inc. for original SEO web content and SEO copywriting services.
How popular is Key West snorkeling? Conchs and visitors spend upwards of $150 million a year at reef-related businesses, supporting thousands of local jobs.
Surrounded by warm, shallow tropical waters on all sides, it’s no surprise that the Florida Keys are a magnet for divers and snorkelers year-round.
Both local Keys residents and tourists enjoy snorkeling above the thousands of coral outcroppings that make up the Florida Reef system. In fact, if you want to dive a dynamic, living barrier reef, the Florida Keys are your only option in North America. According to the United States Geological Survey, the Florida Reef Tract offers over three dozen species of stony corals. And these corals—which are colorfully beautiful in their own right—provide homes for over 500 tropical fish species, plus fascinating invertebrates such as sea urchins, crabs and shrimp. With so much to see, it’s no wonder that people travel from halfway around the world to snorkel Key West.
But the Florida barrier reef isn’t the only thing that draws divers to southern Florida. Before a string of lighthouses was finished in the 1880s, the reefs around Key West wrecked thousands of ships, making reef and wreck diving another popular Key West attraction. No diving trip to the Florida Keys is complete without a reef and wreck dive on the USNS Vandenberg. This former troop transport ship was brought to the waters off Key West and intentionally sunk to create an artificial reef for divers and marine life alike. When the 500-foot Vandenberg was sunk in 2009, it became the second largest artificial reef anywhere in the world.
Divers can observe all the marine creatures that now live on the Vandenberg, as well as make their way around the ship, which rises to within 40 feet of the surface of the water. Key West diving fanatics have created an artificial reef that many reef and wreck divers consider to be the best in the world. The site is good for novice divers to go down to levels of 40 feet, or for experienced divers who may dive down as far as 140 feet. All Vandenberg dives are escorted for the safety of the diver.
It didn’t stop with the Vandenberg. The Artificial Reef of the Keys (ARK), took 10 years to develop, starting with the mission that created the Vandenberg artificial reef in 2009. Scientists hope will be a long-term project involving a vast array of similar artificial reefs, and what a lot of divers expect to be one of the most fascinating and challenging diving opportunities anywhere.
There’s a Key West snorkel or dive trip that’s perfect for you, no matter your level of experience, or how deep you’d like to dive. Dive tour operators offer a variety of different snorkel and SCUBA diving excursions. Many are all about the diving, but other trips combine snorkeling with glass bottom boat trips, dolphin watching, sunset cruises or other watersports adventures. If you’re a snorkeler or a diver, you owe it to yourself to plan a diving trip to Key West, Florida.
This article was provided by ToursKeyWest.com, an online booking agent for Key West snorkel and dive trips.
Barcelona is a huge city with several districts that are perfect for sightseeing. Enjoy a wide range of restaurants, nightlife and accommodations for any budget. And there are festivals year-round that are a huge part of life for residents of Barcelona.
Hanging out at a festival with local residents is a great way to get to know them and their city. You may see a side of Barcelona that most tourists miss.
There are about a dozen national Public Holidays that are recognized in Barcelona. Here are the holidays for 2012 so you can start your planning early!
- 1st January – Ano Nuevo / New Year’s Day
- 5th January – Epifanía / Epiphany
- 19th March – Dia de San José / St. Joseph’s Day
- Late March or early April – Jueves Santo / Maundy Thursday
- Late March or early April – Viernes Santo / Good Friday
- 1st May – Fiesta del Trabajo / Labour Day
- 15th August – La Asunción / Feast of the Assumption
- 12th October – Nacional de España / National Day
- 1st November – Todos los Santos / All Saints’ Day
- 6th December – Dia de la Constitución / Constitution Day
- 8th December – La Inmaculada Concepción / Feast of the Immaculate Conception
- 25th December – Navidad / Christmas Day
Barcelona is Spain’s second largest and the capital of Catalonia, one of the 17 regions that form Spain. The city, Spain’s second largest, has a wealth of unique historic architecture and has emerged as one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe during the 1990s.
When to visit:
August is probably the busiest time in Barcelona; at the same time about 10% of shops and restaurants can be found closed from mid-August to early September: owners go to vacations. As humidity is high, 19-23 degrees Celsius (not higher) is the most comfortable weather.
Barcelona Festivals and events
* Sonar – 14-16 of June. The International Festival of Advanced Music and Multimedia is the destination for anyone interested in electronic music, urban contemporary art and the world of multimedia.
* Festa Major de Gracia – around the 15th of August, the celebrations from the Gracia quarter. Many streets are decorated by the neighbours. You can look forward to live music, food in the street. Expect to party all night long.
* Les Festes de la Mercé Around the 24th of September, the main celebrations in the city. Live music during all the day and night, theatre, life in the streets, castellers, and most of it for free!
* Sant Jordi – 23rd of April. Is celebrated like Valentine’s Day in Catalonia.
* Fira de Santa Lucia – From December 2nd/3rd to December 23rd, to commemorate Santa Lucia (December 13th).
When most people think of the Florida Keys, they think about Key West tourist attractions. They think about Key West snorkeling, parasailing, Ernest Hemingway’s home, and other Conch favorites. Key West is the southernmost point in the U.S. and is known for its freewheeling nightlife, Margaritaville, and openness to alternative lifestyles.
Key Largo is another island in the Florida Keys archipelago and one of the largest of its islands. Key Largo is a popular tourist destination and calls itself the “Diving Capital of the World”. Tourists enjoy Key Largo’s scuba diving and sports-fishing. Key Largoís proximity to the Everglades also makes it a premier destination for kayakers and eco tourists.
The Florida Keys are a great eco tourist destination.
Key Largo Florida. Even the name invokes a feeling of a tropical paradise. Key Largo was the first of the Florida Keys resort towns. Now Key Largo is called the dive capital of the world. But there is much more to Key Largo than only scuba and skin diving.
Key Largo has the world’s largest artificial reef, the 510-foot USS Spiegel Grove and is home to the John Pennekamp Coral Reef. The waters surrounding Key Largo are a National Marine Sanctuary, guaranteeing the best, most pristine waters available for your pleasure at the Stephen Frink Underwater State Park.
Here you can see the world Christ of the Abyss underwater statue famous while taking a glass bottom boat from Key Largo.
There are many opportunities to fish around Key Largo, both salt and fresh water. For the more adventurous, Key Largo offers kayaking, swimming with the dolphins, air boat rides and everglades tours.
On the other hand, my favorite Key Largo activity; kicking back with a tropical beverage and doing nothing at all but watching the beautiful sunsets.
The Key Largo Chamber of Commerce likes to say this: “Come stay in Legendary Key Largo, where reality ends and tranquility begins”. I cannot blame them for expressing those sentiments.
Key Largo is the gateway and first stopping off point for a trip to the Florida Keys and attractions like parasailing and jet skiing. Key Largo is only a short drive from Miami but is a world away. Nevertheless, that does not mean that you have to give up any of the amenities of a world-class resort area. Key Largo has a huge range of accommodations.
If five star luxuries is your desire, Key Largo has it. If you are more interested in a self-contained vacation, there are even private home and bungalow rentals in Key Largo. Bed and breakfast suit your fancy?
Key Largo goes out of its way to accommodate your needs. All budgets and all choices are available in Key Largo. Key Largo also has a wide array of RV and camping sites if that is your pleasure.
Great choices also apply to the activities you may want to pursue. In Key Largo, you can take a charter or rent your own boat and snorkel on nearby exotic reefs. On the other hand, you can dive some of the sunken wrecks that dot the undersea landscape at Key Largo.
If land based activities are more to you liking, Key Largo is next to the Florida Everglades, where you can, take an airboat tour, see the bird sanctuary, or visit an alligator farm.
Whether you want to book Key West snorkeling, or enjoy the underwater life of Key Largo, you’ll have a great time in the Florida Keys.
This article was supplied by ToursKeyWest.com, your one-stop online booking agent for the best things to do in Key West.
Here ís a really simple way to save on beach vacation travel. We are going to show you 3 ways to save you some bucks when booking your next beach vacation. The beach is an incredible experience. No matter whether you’ve traveled to far western Australia or taken a quick weekend trip to the Jersey Shore, barring rain, the beach is usually a really enjoyable experience. We’ve taken trips all over the world we have missed giant opportunities of money savings that were seemingly all around us if we had just taken the time to do a little extra research. Well, you are in luck. The travel research has been done for you, all you have to do is be willing to keep reading. Before you know it, you will be taking the beach vacation of your life, for a steeply discounted price. Here we go:
Save money on beach vacations and you can stay longer!
1) Buy it used. Well, not really used: more like discounted (or unused actually). Sometimes, people can put their vacation opportunities up at real discounts. Did you know that there are all sorts of people out there who own time shares but can’t use them for various reasons? Maybe the season isn’t right, or they can’t seem to get the flight that they need. Ebay has a thriving market for timeshare opportunities. A lot of the listings are permanent (e.g. people looking for others to buy their times shares out completely), but sometimes people are just looking to monetize a weeks worth of timeshare that they can’t seem to use themselves. Their loss can be your opportunity. Ebay is an auction, and the highest price wins usually.
2) Compare everything. Guess what? Expedia and Orbitz seem like they are juggernauts of internet travel and they control a lot of the market. BUT, they don’t have every vendor available. A lot of the discount airlines like SouthWest and JetBlue don’t use either of these massive companies and you can only get their deals by going directly to their website. Don’t tell anyone, but from what we’ve heard JetBlue is supposed to have really nice seats and monitors on new planes with really good prices. We haven’t used JetBlue ourselves yet, but it is supposed be really good (especially at delivering good value on Northeast to Florida routes). That tip alone could save you some bucks while getting you a really nice flight.
3) The first 2 points are perfectly valid in any trip planning but almost worthless when you consider that you might have to shell out a lot more bucks for destinations abroad. There is a beautiful beach state located not too far from anyone East of the Mississippi. That ís right. Florida. Florida is back and it’s beaches are still fantastic. Florida is still beautiful. There has been a lot of development of Florida during the last 50 years, but Florida is still a massive state with plenty of undiscovered beaches. Yes, parts of Florida can be expensive (think South Beach) but Florida is a state full of families who are looking for affordable Florida travel and tourism attractions.
What is the real secret to cheap international travel? it’s the same as the secret to doing anything for less. Learn to be an opportunist. Opportunistic travelers get to travel more, see more and do more. Of course, you can ignore this advice if you have money to burn!
You can see amazing wildlife in Ecuador, one of my favorite cheap travel destinations.
Honestly, are not there plenty of interesting places in this world? Why not choose eight you can travel to inexpensively? The other places will be there in the future, and you may have an opportunity to go to those places cheaply at some point.
I chose to go to Ecuador. Why Ecuador? Because it was cheap, I had never been there before, and you can still get a decent meal for $8.00 (US). And you don’t have to worry about converting currentcy because U.S. Dollars are the official currency of Ecuador now. How easy is that?
That’s why Ecuador is now my favorite international location. From the soaring, snow-capped Andes mountains, to the eco-tourism-favorite Galapagos Islands, you’ll seldom run out of places to explore in Ecuador. Travel there is safe and inexpensive. And the people of Ecuador are incredibly kind and friendly.
In general, South America in general is a cheap place to travel, and the most affordable countries are, in my opinion, the most beautiful. These are the countries along the Andes mountains; Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. Argentina, thanks to it’s recent economic troubles, is once again a cheap place for travelers as well.
In Central America, it costs little to travel and holiday in both Nicaragua and Guatemala. Nicaragua, in particular, has become more stable and safe for travelers in recent years. Costa Rica is a wonderful , and though it’s eight of more expensive counties of Central America, that probably still leaves it cheaper than Europe.
