NEALTOWEY

Archive for the ‘Beaches’ Category

Before Mexico’s Riviera Mayan became famous as a region, Cancun already was attracting legions of American travelers looking for a beach vacation. Cancun still has the most breathtakingly-beautiful beach, and more of just about everything than anywhere else in the country.

Cancun has the finest accommodations in Mexico. The Zona Hotelera, where the best hotels stand, is a 14-mile strip of sandy-white beach lined with luxurious places to stay. Boulevard Kukulcan, the main thoroughfare, is itself tastefully landscaped and decorated with palm trees, bushes and waterfalls. The hotels in this area are fabulous but also very expensive. The devastation wrought by Hurricane Wilma in 2005 hastened renovations and new development, as extravagance became the norm.

The Ritz-Carlton Cancun is one hotel that gets rave reviews. Its architecture pays homage to Mexico’s Spanish heritage, but its centerpiece is its powdery white-sand beach. The hotel’s primary restaurant, The Club Grill, is highly acclaimed and has earned the prestigious five-diamond award.

Le Blanc Spa Resort is an all-inclusive property on the Zona Hotelera that is one of Cancun’s finest. Its spa and fitness center are extraordinary, as is Le Blanc’s service. Another top hotel choice is the JW Marriott, with its marble lobby and luxurious guest rooms. The JW Marriott’s Gustino restaurant serves the finest Italian cuisine in Cancun.

Cancun is also an epicurean’s paradise. Fabulous restaurants abound, especially on Boulevard Kukulcan, where the major hotels are located. Casa Rolandi, a Swiss/Italian restaurant, is the cream of the crop. The fresh Caribbean fish, veal and other meat dishes are outstanding, as are the desserts. Casa Rolandi also features an extensive wine list.

Lorenzillo’s is a premier choice for seafood and is best known for lobster. Harry’s Prime Steakhouse has a far-reaching reputation as the go-to place for superb steaks, but the fish is excellent also.

Nightlife is a big part of the Cancun scene. Several clubs are located in major hotels, and standalone mega-clubs include The City, CoCo Bongo and Bling. The Bar Hopper Tour takes the party crowd to Congo Bar, Senor Frog’s and CoCo Bongo in one evening.

The adjacent Caribbean Sea adds tremendous value for fans of boating and water sports. Perhaps the most popular boat trip is a ride to nearby Isla Mujeres, home to a laid-back former fishing village with shops and restaurants. Isla Mujeres, which also has hotels and an excellent beach, is a vacation destination in its own right. Other boat outings include an evening party aboard the Caribbean Carnaval as well as a night of games and a pirate show on the Captain Hook.

Several vendors offer a Jungle Cruise, where two people drive their own speed boat across the lagoon and through a large coral reef. Other Cancun adventures include night fishing and snorkeling.

America’s best spots for beach picnics vary from dramatic rocky cliffs to tropical aqua lagoons, but they all have one thing in common – they’re absolutely perfect for seaside ‘al fresco’ dining. Pack up your picnic basket, sunscreen and flip-flops and take a trip to these amazing spots for the best outdoor meal of your life!

Siesta Key, Florida – This barrier island off the coast of Sarasota is one of Florida’s best-kept secrets. Long a favorite vacation destination of natives, this island is blessed with warm waters, cool breezes and an incredible variety of animal life. Observe the pelicans, egrets, ibis, storks, cranes, dolphins and manatees as you take in your picnic meal. The beach also has concession stands, volleyball courts, a softball field and a playground.

Coast Guard Beach, Massachusetts – This family-friendly beach lies along the 30-mile Cape Cod National Seashore, and is accessible by Read the rest of this entry »

A beach vacation offers everything from fun in the surf and sand to breath taking sunrises and sunsets, great for a summer vacation or escaping winter doldrums.

Here are two of my favorite beach vacation spots:

Myrtle Beach South Carolina

I love renting a condo right on the beach, it’s well worth the extra cash. I also try to find a condo or rental that always features a swimming pool that comes in handy for taking breaks from the pounding surf. With a night walk along the beach you will find others enjoying the evening on the beach as well so it is very easy to meet new people and friends. The beach does tend to be a bit crowded at times but still worth the trip. For those into saltwater fishing you will find many fishing charter options available to you.

There is plenty of night life and good restaurants for great dining during the evening hours. If your into golf make sure to bring your clubs, Myrtle Beach has numerous world championship golf courses for your enjoyment. I usually stay on the southern end of what is referred to the Grand Strand. If you would like to avoid the crowds consider visiting after labor day when the crowds have diminished and the kids are back in school.

Sanibel and Captiva Islands Florida

A couple of years back I was lucky enough financially to be able to rent a luxury home for a month on Sanibel island. If you like a relaxed laid back casual atmosphere this is the place to be. The two islands offer plenty of great beaches with Sanibel being a haven for seashell lovers and collectors. There are only a handful of hotels on the islands but a quick search on the web will find you plenty of vacation rentals.

The two islands located right off the coast of Fort Meyers have plenty of restaurants that offer everything from pizza to gourmet meals and the dress is casual. There are miles and miles of bicycle and walking paths on the islands so if you love walking, jogging or cycling you can enjoy this uncrowded option. Florida is ver hot and humid in the summer months so consider it an option for a winter or spring vacation. The island temperatures are usually a few degrees colder than the main land. If you like breathtaking beach sunsets Sanibel and Captiva Islands have plenty of them.

When people visit San Diego, they usually make it a point to add Coronado to their list of places to see. While here, it is virtually impossible to stay away from Coronado Beach because it draws you in for at least one day of good old fashion beach fun.

Coronado Beach is located on the west side of Coronado Island. It is made up of three general sections-North Beach which starts just south of the Navel Air Station; Central Beach which is the beach front located adjacent to the Hotel Del Coronado; and The Shores which is the south section of the long stretch of sand.

The top five reasons why you should travel to Coronado Beach are:

1. Family Friendly Atmosphere

Coronado Beach is one of the most family friendly beaches you will find in San Diego County. The beach is very peaceful and laid back which makes it the perfect setting for a family. Certain sections of the beach even have seasonal lifeguards on duty.

2. Tons of Water and Beach Recreational Activities

If it can be done at the beach, then it can be found here. The water and beach activities you will find include:
Swimming Surfing Body boarding Sailing Fishing Whale Watching Beach Volleyball Kite Flying Tide Pool Exploring Biking
3. Clean Sparkling White Sand

One of the main things that bring most people to Coronado Beach is the incredibly soft sparkling white sand that covers the beach. If you have not let the sand here run through your toes at least once in life, you are missing out. The reason why the sand has a shiny tinge is because of a mineral called Mica that creates a glittery look often called “sugar sand”.

4. The Hotel Del Coronado

If you have heard of Coronado, chances are you have heard of the Hotel Del Coronado. Since the hotel meets up with the beach, it gives the beach a very romantic, classic feeling. You can step into the hotel and be swept away by the ambiance of the past or just sit on the beach and enjoy the hotel as your backdrop for a day of relaxing.

5. Beautiful Scenery

Of course, the main reason most people come to Coronado Beach is because you can’t help but appreciate the beautiful scenery that surrounds this beach. The perfect end to a day here would be watching the sunset with your toes in the sand. If you travel to Coronado Beach, you definitely will not leave disappointed!

A lots of people, particularly those who live in the northern latitudes of the US, tend to think of a beach vacation as always taking place when there is a snap to the air and snow on the ground. It is a natural response after all and the thoughts of running in on the beach with sand in your toes and the warm sun on your shoulders appeals to many. It’s a fact that there are a lot of beach vacation destinations available during those truly cold winter months up in the northern states. It is interesting to note that beach vacations, typically between Thanksgiving through Memorial Day, at Florida, Texas and Mississippi beaches are the most expensive due to the “snowbird” traffic influx seen there. The prices of everything from vacation towels to swim suits at these beach resort locations are much higher during this time of the year than during the off season.

The thing to remember is that the beaches are there all year long, so catching a time when the mad rush to get warm and recapture the summer can be had even in December. Think of the Holidays like Christmas in December and a nice warm beach with lights as a fun get away. Of note is that prices for everything are generally lower if you try to time your vacations during months that might not be the most traveled during the winter season.

Hotel stays will be cheaper, eating out will be less expensive, and show tickets will be less too. There’s a reason for all this and it is really simple. Most people think of summertime to go to these places and those people will pay much more than even the snowbirds coming down for some warmth. This huge surge in tourism can be boost to the local economy and they understand that it is temporary, so they jack the prices up to even out the rest of the year.

But hold the horses! Won’t it be cold even there during the middle of winter? Yes and no. It will be cooler to the locals because they are acclimated to their local weather, but to someone fro Michigan, 60 degree weather in middle of winter is like a sauna.

The best route to take during the winter months to your winter get away is a train if they have routes to get you there. If not then consider the train coupled with the bus. There are no real restrictions on baggage like airplanes and the ride is much more pleasant.

Delray Beach is situated at Palm Beach County of Florida and it lies on the Atlantic Ocean. It is known as one of the best resort towns worldwide. With sandy coastline of over two miles, around one million people visit the Delray Municipal Beach and Atlantic Dunes Park, south end of the Delray Beach.

The cleanliness and well-management of the Delray Beach has led to it being voted as a Blue Wave Beach by the Clean Beaches Council. The basic amenities are all available here and beach’s easy accessibility for people of all ages and groups makes it one of the best beaches on the United States east coast.

It is voted as the number 1 beach of the Palm Beach County by the South Florida Parenting Magazine and the Delray Municipal Beach is rated as the best swimming beach of Southeast by Travel Holiday Magazine.

Most preferred by people who are looking to relax and enjoy their beach holiday, one can just sit and enjoy the stunning sunrise or play beach volleyball with friends and family. You can also surf or go sailing on the beach.

The Delray Wreck is a state historical site and is situated some hundred yards from the Delray Beach. It is best diving spots of the area and divers go diving here looking for the SS Inchulva wrecks, a ship that sank in 1903 off the Delray coast.

Atlantic Dunes Park has a nature trail and boardwalk. It is well maintained park and after spending a day on the beach, the beach goers take a stroll on the promenade, it’s a walkway that runs parallel to the scenic State Road A1A. From the beach pavilion that overlooks the ocean, many people enjoy the beautiful sunrise and sunsets.

There are five oceanfront and beach parks, two intra-coastal parks, eight community parks and five athletic fields; the city also offers many recreational activities for all people.

Palm Beach County is considered to be America’s golf capital. The golf courses of all types from executive to championships are here and golfer from learner to experienced can find a golf course of their liking. The golf courses of Delray Beach are known to be golfer’s haven.

Delray Beach Cruises are available and you can enjoy the views passing by while sipping your favorite dink on board a cruise ship. The marine life in their natural habitat can be seen on a cruise and see some of the most beautiful mansions of the area.

There are best tennis courts in Delray Beach and it hosts some of the important tournaments like Davis Cup ties, Delray Beach International Tennis Championships and Federation Cup ties.

After enjoying a day at the beach, the evenings can be spending at the Downtown Delray Beach. It is a cultural, residential and retail center. There are many art galleries, shopping places, posh restaurants and nightclubs in the area.

Every Friday night from 7 pm to 10pm on the Atlantic Avenue, there is Gallery Walk in which all the downtown art studios, showrooms and galleries are open for public to enjoy an evening of music, art and refreshments.

Here’s 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’ve 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’ll be taking the beach vacation of your life, for a steeply discounted price. Here we go:

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 Read the rest of this entry »

It is known as the typical beach town offering endless means to relax and enjoy. Cocoa Beach is situated on a barrier island in Central East Coast of Florida and it is six miles long and one mile wide. The weather of the Cocoa beach is mild and it is one of the features that attract tourists from all over to this place.

Be it a family beach holiday, a weekend getaway, a business trip or leisure travel that is being planned, Cocoa beach is perfect place for every type of holiday. It is one of the most affordable holiday places in Florida. There are many exciting things that can be seen and done in the Cocoa Beach, it’s like the excitement never ends here.

Whole of six mile of ocean beach can be accessed from one end to another of the city easily. A perfect day can be enjoyed at the beach. Just lie and relax and get a tan or build sand castles with children. A volleyball game can be enjoyed at the beach or look out done for the seashells that come to the shore.

Cocoa Beach is famous for its great waves and there are more than 100 surfing spots in the area. The new to surfing and pro both will sure enjoy surfing here.

There are four oceanfront parks, Alan Shepard Park, Sidney Fischer Park, Lori Wilson Park and Robert P. Murkshe Memorial Park in Cocoa Beach and these all have facilities like picnic tables, showers and restrooms.

On the Banana River is a 27-hole public golf course where one can enjoy a game of golf.

There is a public tennis complex in the city having lighted courts where you can play tennis in the late evenings also.

For the children to enjoy are many children’s park all over the city.

Accommodation of all types from high-end to Read the rest of this entry »

Many couples previously made holiday and travelling as a must in their calendar but are now restricted to a day trip or have to pay extra dollars for an uncomfortable baby cot provided by the hotel, or make their relatives babysit their child while they go travelling. Since summer nearing, many holidaymakers are planning trips for the whole family, yet still concerned about the safety of their toddler. This is where a pop up travel cot may come in handy.

So, what must you prepare before you go for camping, backpacking, or a trip visiting your family all over the country? Have you thought of where your toddler can sleep and play in one safe contained place rather than having the child play around the furniture and risk bumping into any sharp table edge that could cause more than just bruises? With a pop up travel cot, parents can be assured that their toddlers are tucked in a safe zone.

The pop up travel cot is made to be the main sleeping place for the child that supports a toddler up to six months old. Its portability and lightness made it easy to carry to a park or a beach for outdoor use. This will ensure that your child is safe in and outside the house whenever they are in the cot. To use it longer, just get a cot that could support a child of up to two years old which is bigger and sturdier.

When you want to buy your toddler a pop up travel cot, it is vital to list down the safety features want the cot to have rather than just buying one and it does not do a lot to protect your baby. There are many travel cots sold in the market that offer great features. The most common feature is the compactness of the cot when it is folded. This is to make sure that the cot does not eat too much space in your vehicle or backpacks when you travel.

Secondly, make sure the cot’s cost does not break your budget. The more expensive the cot does not mean that it has more safety features that could protect the toddler. Lastly, you have to make sure your baby is comfortable in the place where you want to put them. One way to check is to bring along your baby and put them into the cot to see whether there are enough space for them to move around or to see if the mattress underneath is cosy for your baby.

You may want to browse on the internet to check out the cots’ design that makers have in the market. This will give you the initial idea of what type of brand that has the highest and lowest ratings by the reviewers. This method will save you a lot of time and money when you go out and buy a pop up travel cot for your baby. Remember to get the one spacious and safe enough for your baby to sleep and play in.

Playa del Carmen is a vibrant part of the Mundo Maya located on the shores of beautiful Mexican Caribbean. Beach, as is commonly known, is the perfect starting point for those who want to explore the fascinating places exist along the Cancun-Tulum corridor, now called Mayan Riviera. Playa del Carmen is blessed with extensive white sand beaches bathed by the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean. Viva a vacation in Playa del Carmen and the countless adventures Mundo Maya has to offer. The capital of the Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen, evolved from having been a villa pequea descendant of Maya, a vibrant and cosmopolitan city with the highest urban growth in the country. Its Aspects natural beauty and great beaches, its enviable geographical location and its mix of sea and jungle make this destination in the Mexican Caribbean, a magnet for visitors from Mexico and elsewhere in the world.

Beach is a great place for a vacation, spend a day or live. The town has grown along the beach, as far as anywhere you go, feel the closeness with the sea. The main street is called Fifth Avenue, is a pedestrian passage and very common point of reference. Here you will find most hotels, restaurants, bars and shops. Life in Playa del Carmen is characterized by its variety and diversity.

To the south of the pier is an area called Playacar, is a development which is all big hotels with all inclusive plans; here also find the golf course, some houses and condominiums particular, the aviary and some interesting Mayan ruins. The deep waters that separate Playa del Carmen, Cozumel are ideal for sport fishing, jungle invited to explore their magical exuberance is approaching while archaeological sites. The experience will be rewarding. In your vacation in Playa del Carmen you can find a huge variety of water sports ranging from swimming at the beach until more vigorous sports such as windsurfing, sailing or diving in the nearby reef, or go on a journey by boat or other vessel .

The extreme sports lovers will enjoy diving into the open sea in the crystalline waters of Playa del Carmen. You can dive and snorkel in the Great Mayan Reef located less than 100 meters from the beach. You can also dive in the caves, which you can be sure will be a great experience.

Playa del Carmen is also an ideal starting point for visiting one of the most beautiful ecological parks in Mexico: Xcaret, where they also get the ferry to the island of Cozumel. It is also near the area of natural springs in Puerto Aventuras and the largest natural aquarium in the world, Xel-Ha.

The evenings offer a number of options, places to dance and combat insomnia caused by the Carib nights; festivals on the beaches and bars with an excellent atmosphere.