All the great places for vacation

Monday, June 22, 2009

Aquariums in France



France does not only offer visitors the chance to see art museums and listen to music in their parks. The country has many aquariums to discover. They are located throughout the country and offer a variety of exhibits and species to view and learn about. This would be an exciting addition to anyone's tourist plans, especially with young children.

Musee de la Mer is an aquarium located in Biarritz, France. It first opened in 1935 and has since been renovated. Musee de la Mer offers a spectacular collection of fish and invertebrates that are found in the Bay of Biscay. These creatures are held in 25 aquariums. There is over 150 species to see. These include sharks, the guitar ray, and the saw fish. One of the most popular attractions is the seal pool, which can be seen from open air and below. It is especially fun to see when the seals are fed. This aquarium is open every day of the year except for the second week of January.

The city of La Rochelle offers the state of the art Aquarium de La Rochelle. The aquarium features several different water habitats to discover. You will find exhibits on sea life in the Mediterranean Sea, and also the Atlantic Ocean. There is a wide variety of jelly fish, along with fish and mollusks that are from the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The building also has a 120 seat auditorium which is where conferences can be held and films are played. This is a must stop if you are in the area.

Paris offers what some say is the most beautiful aquarium in Europe. CinAqua has over 9,500 fish, and 26 sharks to see. You know this aquarium is huge when it takes 4 million liters of water to maintain. These aquariums are the biggest in the country.

The building also has 16 cinema screens that play music and animated films. This aquarium is in the heart of Paris, so make sure to not miss it if you visit the city of lights.

Ocanopolis will please anyone who is interested in sea life. The aquarium is located in the city of Brest. There are over 50 different aquariums to see, which hold sea creatures that are from all over the world. These aquariums are sectioned off into three different groups. These groups include tropical, polar, and temperate. This means you will be able to see many types of creatures that live deep in the ocean. The aquarium also has picture galleries, films, and interactive games which will keep both children and adults entertained. It is definitely worth a visit.

If you love the ocean and all it has to offer, you will not be disappointed with the aquariums that the French have. They are easy to locate and offer a large variety of species that you may have never seen before. This would be a great addition to you travel itinerary. It is fun for the whole family. It would be a memorable experience to add to your visit to France.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Traveling in Armenia, Colombia



This city located north west of Bogota and is the capital of Quindo which is a department of Colombia. Armenia is located between Bogota, Medellin, and Cali which are the three largest cities in Colombia, however, this city is much smaller than the latter three. However this does not stop Armenia from being a large tourist attraction. Armenia helps form the three cities that make up the Colombian Coffee Growers Axis. Armenia is also proclaimed to be one of the most attractive areas in the country, being a clean and green area.

Armenia is known to the locals as Ciudad Milagro, or the Miracle city due to its amazingly fast urban growth and development. As you travel a bit south of the city you find that there is a renewed and booming tourist industry. This area has many villas for rent, eco-hotels for the eco-tourist, theme parks which are always a hit, and family centers you can easily spend whole days at. Of course, there are always the local favorites like local cuisine, country clubs, and exhibition centers. These country clubs specialize in tennis, golf, and fishing along with cart races and several other sporting options. Armenia is a great place to take a family vacation to. It is also much more calm and considerably safer than the three much larger cities surrounding it. However, Armenia is also a great place to stay if you are wanting to visit more than one of these cities. There is a great transportation center for going in between these cities surrounding Armenia.

This renewed tourist industry that has swept over Armenia is making this city a very popular attraction again. Armenia's northern region is a gateway to Los Nevados Park which houses the highest peaks in Colombia. These mountains rise to beautiful snowy tops more than four thousand five hundred meters above sea level. On the side of the foothills of this national park resides the breath taking Cocora Valley. Here in this aesthetically pleasing valley is where Colombia's national tree grows, the wax palm.

Armenia is also known for its culinary delicacies. If you are a fan of eating out this is a great place to enjoy delicious foods of all sorts. The local famous favorite is the fried river trout, which is proclaimed to be some of the best in the world. There is also a great local love for arts, crafts, and furniture which are world renowned. This area is well known for being the bohemian center of regional artists. You can, of course, expect a great festival to be held here as is tradition in this part of the world. The festival held here is the Jeep Parade which includes the country's folklore and is represented through the events and traditions visible during most of its town's festivities.

Armenia is a great and peaceful city to visit while in Colombia. If you are looking for a spot that is more laid back but still jam packed with things to do, Armenia is the destination for you.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Brewery Tours in Germany



Germany is known for its beer, so what better way to learn about the country and its tradition by visiting a brewery tour. There are countless breweries throughout the country. You will be able to get a first hand glimpse of how the brews are made and even sample them. You might even get hooked on a German brand that you never even heard about.

Andechs Monastery & Brewery goes back to the 10th century and is one of the few breweries that are monastic owned and operated. It is now a large and modern brewery. The brewery also makes schnapps and brandy. The grounds offer visitors a beer garden and restaurant. The profits go to fund the monastery. The monks breed their own livestock and make their own cheese which is used in the restaurant. You can drink a few brews while viewing the beautiful scenery. The money goes to a good cause and will make you feel good about spending it. The Andechs Monastery & Brewery is located by the second largest lake in the country, Starnberger See.

Paulaner was also started by monks in Munich. The most popular brews from this company are Weissbier and Salvator stark beer. Their logo is the head of a monk which shows its history. The company is no longer ran by monks and happens to be the most modern and biggest breweries in all of Germany. They offer tours of their plant. Weihenstephan is another brewery that was created by monks in 1040, making it the oldest brewery in the world. The German state now owns the brewery. Tours are available and guided by experts. Free beer tasting is also welcomed.

If you are near the town of Darmstadt, a great tour can be found in Pfungstadt at the Pfungstaedter Brewery. You will be able to watch a video that shows the beer making process which lasts about 20 minutes in length. After the video you get to tour the brewery itself. Once the tour is over, you have about an hour to enjoy the beer tasting. Food is provided which includes sausage, and pretzels. The brewery also gives souvenirs to everyone after the tour is over. It is worth going to if you enjoy beer and want to try new brands.

The Hofbruhaus brewery was created by Duke Wilhelm V and was specifically made for the royal family. This is why the logo has a crown on it. By 1939 it became state run. The Hofbruhaus beer hall is more known that the actual beer that is produced there. It happens to be one of Germany's most frequented tourist attractions.

Wherever you go in Germany, you are sure to find a variety of beer available. Many tours will help you learn how the beer is produced and how the companies came about. This would be perfect for someone who wants to view the beautiful scenery of Germany while sampling its finest brews. Many of the tours can be spoken in English, so before going, call ahead to make sure you will be able to fully understand the tour.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Interesting Facts about Niagara Falls



One immense water feature, actually made up of three waterfalls, the Niagara Falls is a hot tourist attraction. Newlyweds often plan their honeymoon in the area surrounding Niagara Falls and thousands of new visitors visit the falls every year. The view of the falls is beyond stunning, making it one of the most well known and famous waterfalls in the world. Yet, there are some facts about Niagara Falls that many people may not be aware of. Below are some fascinating facts associated with Niagara Falls.

Few people know that a person actually successfully went over Niagara Falls in a barrel! Despite the fact that the feat was attempted several times by others with dire consequences, a schoolteacher actually survived the ordeal. What's more, the schoolteacher was a 63 year old woman!

At one time, Niagara Falls has what is referred to as an ice bridge. Tourists used to be able to walk along the ice bridge, a bridge that was naturally formed by the cold water in the waterfall during the wintry season. Of course, the passage of tourists onto the natural ice bridge was forever ceased in the early 1900's when several tourists died while on the bridge. The frozen bridge gave way and tourists have not been allowed to go onto the natural formation ever since.

Another interesting fact about Niagara Falls is most people are under the false assumption that it is the biggest waterfall in the world. This probably has occurred because the falls are so well known. In truth, Niagara Falls is second to the South African Falls called Victoria Falls, in terms of size.