Monday, September 7, 2009

The Best Beach Camping Parks in California

There are many beautiful beaches in California. Although most of these have many activities available for day-use, not all of them provide facilities for camping and allow overnight stays. This article lists the best beach camping parks in California and gives you some of the highlights of each park. We have broken the beach camping parks out into three sections: Northern California, Central California, and Southern California, so that you can locate beaches in just the region you desire.

Northern California
Clam Beach County Park is located just south of Little River State Beach, north of Eureka. It is one of the few parks that allows camping right on the beach. Beachcombing, clamming, fishing, picnicking, camping, kite flying, and building sand castles are all popular at this beach.

Gold Bluff Beach is within Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. The campground is located in the dunes along a beautiful 10-mile stretch of golden beach. The campgrounds lie between the Pacific Ocean and a bluff thickly covered with Redwoods. It is located about 50 miles north of Eureka.

Westport-Union Landing State Beach covers over 3 miles of rugged and scenic coastline. There are approximately 100 campsites located on the bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It is located about 19 miles north of Fort Bragg.

Central California
Half Moon Bay State Beach offers 4 miles of broad, sandy beaches. This picturesque setting is ideal for sunbathing, hiking, biking, fishing, picnicking, and camping. It is located near San Mateo in the San Francisco Bay area.

Manresa State Beach is a large, beautiful sandy beach, which offers surf fishing, surfing, swimming, and camping. It is located on Monterey Bay just south of San Francisco.

New Brighton State Beach is located in the town of Capitola, just south of Santa Cruz. This beach camping park offers swimming, fishing and a nearby forest. The camping area is located on a bluff overlooking Monterey Bay.

Seacliff State Beach is best know for its fishing pier and concrete freighter just offshore. There is swimming, fishing, camping, and hiking trails. It is located on Monterey Bay near Aptos.

Sonoma Coast State Beach is one of California´s most scenic attractions. It has long sandy beaches below rugged headlands. The craggy coastline has natural arches and features secluded coves. The beach is located north of San Francisco between Jenner and Bodega Bay. There are many campsites to choose from. Fishing, hiking, horseback trails, and many other activities are available.

Sunset State Beach features pine trees, mountainous sand dunes, and oceanside picnic spots. The beach is 16 miles south of Santa Cruz.

Southern California
Carpinteria State Beach is approximately 12 miles south of Santa Barbara. This park offers a mile of beach for swimming, surf fishing, tidepool exploring and camping. Seals and sea lions can be seen in the area December through May.

Doheny State Beach is two parks in one. Camping is located in the southern area and the northern area is limited to day-use. There is a five-acre lawn with picnic facilities and volleyball courts. Surfing and surf fishing is popular here. It is located just south of Los Angeles.

McGrath State Beach is famous for bird-watching. The lush riverbanks of the Santa Clara River and the sand dunes along the shore create just the right environment for our feathered friends. There is a nature trail for hiking, and 2 miles of beach for surfing, fishing, or swimming. It is located near Ventura.

Morro Strand State Beach is a coastal frontage park with excellent picnic sites and about 3 miles of beach. Fishing, windsurfing, jogging, kite flying and camping are popular at this park. It is located near San Luis Obispo.

Pismo State Beach is located near San Luis Obispo. This park offers all kinds of attractions: hiking, swimming, clam digging, surf fishing, camping, and bird watching. Four restaurants are within 2 blocks of the campground.

San Clemente State Beach has about 1 mile of beach. The beach is located at the south end of San Clemente and is popular for surfing, skin diving, and swimming. The park has a landscaped bluff top with picnic areas. There are also hiking trails on the bluffs which lead down to the beach.

San Elijo State Beach is located near San Diego. The beach is narrow and backs up to a bluff. It has a nearby reef that is popular with snorklers and divers. The park also offers swimming, surfing, picnicking, and camping.

San Onofre State Beach has 3.5 miles of sandy beaches with access trails cut into the bluff above. The campground is near old highway 101 adjacent to the bluffs. The beach is popular with swimmers and surfers. Whales, dolphins and sea lions can be seen offshore at times. It is located just south of San Clemente.

Silver Strand State Beach has extensive beaches on both the Pacific Ocean and on San Diego Bay. Camping, swimming, surfing, boating, water-skiing, volleyball, and picnicking are popular activities, along with fishing. The park is located in Coronado.

South Carlsbad State Beach is a beach near San Diego that features swimming, surfing, skin diving, fishing, and picnicking. Its large bluff-top campground has stairs that lead down to the beach. It is a very popular camping spot, especially in the summer.

Our family really enjoys camping, and we hope that you do to. There is nothing like the beach for relaxing and having some fun together as a family. Whether its just going for the day, or extending your visit by camping overnight, we hope that you have a wonderful time. Most of all, have fun and stay safe. You are creating memories that will last a lifetime!

Article by Rich Herman
Article Source:
http://www.articlebiz.com/

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Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Ten Spectacular Worldwide Cruise Destinations

Romantic, adventurous, educational, and cultural are a few of the types of cruises available to vacationers. A cruise is simply a chance to get away from your everyday routine and relax. The type of cruise that you choose mainly depends on what you enjoy most and which activities you would like to take part in while on the cruise. Your age, health, activity level, marital status, or if this is a family trip are all-important factors that help you decide the best cruise for you.

The following is a list of ten spectacular cruise destinations with a brief description of each. This should provide you with some tips during the planning of your cruise excursion.

1. Cruises to various Caribbean destinations are popular with many frequent cruisers. The months of January, February, and March are the most traveled months for cruises to the Caribbean. Why shiver in the snow and cold when you could be basking in the sun on the beautiful white sand beaches of the Caribbean Islands. These islands are home to. (St Croix, Grand Cayman, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Barbados, and Jamaica are just a few choice Caribbean cruise destinations.)

2. Hawaii is a top cruise destination any time of the year as far as many people are concerned because of its lush landscapes, natural resources, and rich island culture, music, food, and people. (There are 137 islands to choose as possible destination points to stop and explore during your Hawaiian cruise adventure.)



3. Adventurous types often enjoy cruises to Antarctica as a top cruise destination. Antarctic cruises typically cost more than other destinations and they come with several limitations in that travel to the Antarctic is restricted certain times of the year. (King George Island, Anvers Island, Elephant Island, Torgersen Island, and Port Lockroy are some of the destinations you can visit while on your Antarctic cruise).

4. Alaskan cruises are also popular with many people. Summer is the preferred time for cruises to Alaska because daylight is longer in summer offering visitors greater recreational and entertainment opportunities. Many Alaskan cruises arrange special outings at various Alaskan ports like hunting and fishing expeditions, wildlife safaris, white water rafting, and other activities.

5. Count cruises to Mexico among top cruise destinations. Temperate year round climate, Latin cuisine, music, and cultural events as well as the relative inexpensiveness of travel to Mexico makes cruises to this region popular with many people.

6. Baltic Sea excursions are also a top summer cruise destination. Winter months are not as popular since conditions in this region can become frigid and difficult. This region provides for breathtaking views and experiences in warmer months. (You may recognize the names of these top Baltic Sea cruise destinations such as St. Petersburg, Helsinki, Stockholm, and Copenhagen.)

7. Mediterranean cruises are top cruise destinations among many people because the area is packed with thrilling sights and different things to do and experience. (The Greek and French Riviera Islands, and Costs del Sol are a few of your choices for visiting on a Mediterranean cruise.)

8. Cruises to the Fjords of Norway offer travelers some of the most spectacular views of the wonders of nature. Many call this home to the Northern lights and the midnight sun. (Bergen, Kirkenes, Helyesyit, and Geiranjer, are some of the cities and villages you may visit on cruises to this region.)

9. The tropical climates of islands such as Fiji and Polynesian islands of the South Pacific cruises are also amazing destinations. The only caveat to the extraordinary beauty of this area for some people is the extended travel time between islands. Many people do not consider the long travel between these islands much of an inconvenience.

10. The Galapagos are home to some of the world’s most unique animal species and cruising to destinations here offers abundant opportunities to see animals not seen elsewhere and remote and undisturbed natural landscapes. (Some of the most popular cruises to the Galapagos Islands take place from April through May, although cruises to the Galapagos are available at other times throughout the year.)

You can find more information about some of the top cruise destinations from the different cruise lines and travel excursions they have available. You can even plan and book your cruise online. First time and even seasoned cruisers may want to refer to articles and reviews of top cruise destinations, cruise liners, and cruise packages found online to help in planning the best cruise experience possible. You can also consult with your local travel agent for information and special deals and discounts available on cruises to the top destinations around the world. Many books and magazines also feature information about top cruise destinations that you can use to help you decide which kind of cruise is best for you and which cruise destination you would like to visit.

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By: Shawn Thomas,
Shawn Thomas is a freelance writer and blogger who writes about vacationing, often offering advice about how to find cruise deals.

Friday, August 14, 2009

10 Tips for Hassle-Free Business Travel

If you're a road warrior, these travel tips will help reduce the stress of your journeys.

1. Choose your Travel Modality WiselyPlanes, trains or automobiles: what's the choice to be? While airtravel is clearly the only way to go for long journeys, shorter trips ofa couple of hundred miles might be faster via train, bus or auto.When making your decision, consider time spent traveling to andfrom airports, plus time spent lining up for check in, security anddeparture. Also consider the effects inclement weather can have onyour travel choice. It's no fun hearing the announcement that yourplane can't land due to poor visibility and you'll be returning to yourdeparture airport.

2. Consider Alternative AirportsIf you're flying, consider alternative airports that are outside the cityyou're going to visit. As a rule, these airports have fewer flights, lessoverbooking and less delays than their larger counterparts.

3. Obtain an International Drivers LicenseIf traveling outside your own country, an international driver'slicense will be more readily recognized than your locally issueddriver's license. The cost is not prohibitive and in most regions, thelicenses are easily obtained by showing your local driver's license.Inquire at your local Automobile Association.

4. Get Your Maps Before You Leave HomeTravel is less stressful if you know how to get around. Beforeleaving home, obtain maps of your destination city. One approach isto visit web sites such as City Search (http://www.citysearch.com/)and print out maps. Place your printed maps in plastic folders forprotection against the elements. Trying to read a road map whilestanding on a rainy street corner has its obvious disadvantages.

5. Carry Electronic Documents Rather than Hard CopyRather than carry heavy stacks of brochures or sales letters, takeelectronic documents on diskettes and have them printed at a localprinting service. Similarly, if you are working a booth in a tradeshow, it's a good idea to carry electronic documents in case you runout of the stack you shipped from the office.

6. Find Hotels that Cater to Business TravelersHotels that cater to business travelers will have Internet capabilitiesand offer access to business machines such as faxes andphotocopiers.

7. Remember Adaptors and ConvertersIf you're traveling to a foreign country, remember that you mightneed special voltage adaptors for electricity. You might also needplug adapters to accommodate both electrical plugs and telephonejacks. A good travel store will be able to help you decide what'sneeded.

8. Use Calling CardsWhen you're staying at a hotel, the phone bill can be a majorexpense. The cost of calling your family, checking your voice mailand checking your email is best handled by using a telephone callingcard or a corporate credit card.

9. Check your Cellular ServiceCellular phone companies regularly offer new rates. Check to be sureyou're getting the best deal -- some now include long distancecharges in the monthly fee. If your business travel will take you tosmall, out-of-the way towns, your digital phone might not work. Youwill need an analog or dual digital/anlog phone for such trips.

10. Protect Yourself Against TheftBefore leaving home, make copies of your travel documents(passport, airline tickets, travel insurance, credit cards and itinerary).Take copies with you and leave a copy with a contact at home. Takespecial precautions for your electronics. See what your local travelstore has to offer in terms of protective luggage. You can purchaselaptop cases that disguise the fact that they're used for laptops, orlaptop cases that look old and battered. And of course, you alreadyknow how fast and savvy a pickpocket can be. Avoid carryingimportant documents in your purse or hip pocket.

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About the Author
June CampbellHow to Write Business Plans, Business Proposals, JV Contracts,Human Resource Package, More!No-cost ebook "Beginners Guide to Ecommerce".Business Writing by Nightcats Multimedia Productionshttp://www.nightcats.comWritten by: June Campbell