travel

The Great Smoky Mountains: According to the Locals

Angela Manning Travel , , ,
The Great Smoky Mountains: According to the Locals

Tourists come from all over the world to photograph the old-growth forests and trickling rivers inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, to get their blood racing on adrenaline-pumping rides at Dollywood, and to treat their kids to a wide variety of family-friendly entertainment at Ripley’s. World-famous attractions like these have put the small mountain towns of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg on the map. Yet, the region’s lesser-known activities are just as worthwhile! Locals often recommend these non-touristy things to do in the Great Smoky Mountains to give you an authentic experience of the region.

Stay In A Rustic Cabin

A visit to the Smokies would be seriously lacking without staying in a romantic log cabin. You could wake up each morning to magnificent views of the mountains, breakfast next to a freshwater stream, or hot coffee on a private balcony overlooking an enchanting woodland grove!

No matter what your accommodation requirements may be, HearthSide Cabin Rentals will set you up comfortably. Their luxury cabins range from one to twenty-one bedrooms, including pet-friendly options, across Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. You’ll be within a short drive of the attractions and also get to escape to the privacy of a rustic mini-resort, complete with a private pool or pool access, a theater room, fireplace, arcade and table games, hot tubs and more top-of-the-line amenities. Lodging at HearthSide Cabin Rentals for a week is one way to avoid the crowds and get a quintessential Smoky Mountain experience at the same time!

Sample Locally-Made Adult Beverages

As any native to the Great Smoky Mountains area will tell you, you haven’t truly experienced the local culture until you’ve tried some white lightnin’! Tennessee moonshine originated when Scots and Irish immigrants brought their whiskey distilling tradition to Appalachia and then continued to produce shine secretly during the moonlit hours (hence the name), even when alcohol was prohibited.

Today, you can legally taste those same traditional moonshines at Old Forge Distillery. This authentic distillery sources its grains from The Old Mill, the original gristmill of Pigeon Forge built in 1830, and its water from the fresh mountain streams. Old Forge Distillery uses 18th-century distilling techniques to create modern moonshine flavors like Chocolate, French Toast, and Coffee. Stop by their Pigeon Forge location for a tasting of their moonshine, plus bourbon and rye whiskies, cream liqueur, vodka, gin and rum.

Not a fan of hard liquor? Or perhaps you’re looking for something to set the mood? Gatlinburg Wine Cellar is a must for oenophiles and hopeless romantics alike. This eccentric wine producer specializes in locally-made wines in distinct flavors, like Apple Pie, Birthday Cake, Midnight Blackberry & Blueberry, and Strawberry Fields. Most notably, Gatlinburg Wine Cellar is the creator of the award-winning Cotton Candy Wine. Visit their Gatlinburg location next to the national park entrance for a free tasting.

Treat Yourself to the Local Cuisine

Wherever there is locally-made drink, there is always a robust cuisine to match, too. The South is known for its fried chicken and barbeque, to which Tennessean locals are no strangers! You will be greeted like family when you come to Mama’s Farmhouse for dinner. This all-you-can-eat restaurant keeps the freshly-made side dishes coming as you dig into your chosen platter of delicious Southern home-cookin’. Lunch and dinner entrées of their award-winning fried chicken, meatloaf, honey-glazed ham, and country-fried steak will leave you fuller than a stuffed turkey. Plus, you can’t pass up a sampling of their classic Southern sides, like fried okra, mac ‘n’ cheese, green beans, creamed corn, and chicken and dumplings.

When your inner tiger starts to show a hangry attitude, there’s only one place to go to satisfy a carnivore’s deepest desire. Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que has been serving some of the best ribs and barbeque in the Smokies for about thirty years. No matter your prey of choice — chicken, pork, or beef — Bennett’s smokes it over hickory wood for up to 14 hours until the juicy, tender meat slips off the bone. You can never go wrong with beef brisket, pulled pork, smoked sausage, pulled chicken, or burnt ends for lunch or dinner. Make sure to order some deep-fried pickle chips, potato skins, and deep-fried deviled eggs for an authentic Southern experience.

Explore Appalachian Arts & Crafts

While it’s true that Smoky Mountain folks have a talent for chowing down on barbeque and sipping on moonshine anytime, their unique artistic talents speaks for themselves as well. See for yourself, and spend an afternoon wandering along the 8-mile loop of shops, studios, and art galleries that make up the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community. This organization of independent artisans keeps traditional Appalachian craftwork alive and thriving. Explore and shop crafts like handmade baskets, candles, glass products, jewelry, fine art, leather products, pottery and ceramics, quilts, woodworking and much more.

In a similar vein, the Great Smokies Flea Market exhibits a spectacular diversity of artisanal products under a 200,000 square-foot heated and air-conditioned roof. It’s worth the trip out to Kodak, TN, to shop for anything and everything you could possibly want, from antiques and jewelry to apparel and beauty products to electronics and home gardening supplies. Aside from the 70% off clearance sale, the best part is the chance to bring your dog to the 43-acre farm and to munch on some free food samples. You’ll always find something new and unique among the hundreds of rotating vendors at the Great Smokies Flea Market.

Only In East Tennessee

The Great Smoky Mountains are some of the oldest mountains in the world, covering Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina with sweeping landscapes of layered blue peaks. It’s no wonder the region is a popular vacation destination when the natural beauty is as breathtaking as the local attractions are exciting. When planning your getaway to these picturesque mountains, make sure to incorporate some unusual activities just as much as the popular attractions. After all, only the non-touristy pursuits will give you the kinds of experiences you can only find in this unique Appalachian region of Tennessee!

Popular Amusement Parks To Visit If You Love Rides

Angela Manning Travel , , , ,
Popular Amusement Parks To Visit If You Love Rides

Thrilling rides, enticing shows, that feeling like you might be about to vomit: what’s not to enjoy about amusement parks? If you’re hunting for a vacation destination, why not choose to visit a theme park! You’ll get a break from work, the kids will have a blast, and you might be able to win your spouse a prize at a rigged game–if you’re lucky. But with so many different parks to choose from, and many of them are spread out across the country, how do you know which one to pick?

Disneyland

The grandfather of big-time amusement parks, Disneyland has it all: incredible rides, amazing shows, games, and best of all, Mickey Mouse. It contains properties from all your childhood favorites, such as Pixar, Star Wars, Avatar, specific Marvel products, and, of course, Disney. Climb aboard rides like Splash Mountain, The Haunted Mansion, and Pirates of the Caribbean. While Disneyland resides on the west coast, there is also a park located in Orlando, Florida called Disney World, which offers customers just as much fun.

Universal Studios

Another amusement park powerhouse located in Orlando, Universal Studios is where movie magic comes to life. The park contains attractions from popular films and television shows, such as The Simpsons, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Marvel, and plenty of older classics, like Men In Black, The Mummy, and Popeye. Coincidental enough, Universal also happens to own another park in California, where Disneyland is residing–those two just can’t keep away from each other.

Six Flags

While it might stand a bit shorter than Disneyland, Six Flags still packs a major punch. They’ve got some of the best roller-coasters in the country, along with water parks that really make a…splash. And while you won’t find any Pixar or Marvel characters roaming about, you might find Bugs Bunny walking around the park. There are several Warner Brothers inspired rides, such as Loony Toons, Scooby-Doo, and many DC Comics attractions, like the Mr. Freeze coaster, a Batman coaster, a Superman free-fall tower, and even a Justice League laser shooter!

Ending Thoughts

If you have a deep love of theme parks and crave the exhilarating rush of wind on your face as you plummet towards the earth, these are among the best in the world. There are many other amazing parks to visit, too, both small and large in size, but all wonderful. Regardless of which park you decide on, you’ll inevitably spend a lot of time walking, so be sure to wear the proper footwear. Failing to wear comfortable shoes can cause blisters and possibly even bunions, in which case you’ll need to visit www.northwestsurgerycenter.com/ for information on how to cure them. If you’ve yet to experience the magical adventures of Harry Potter World or interact with Mickey himself, do yourself a favor: book a vacation to one of these exquisite amusement parks.

Top Tips for Moving to The UK From Abroad?

Angela Manning Travel , , , , , , ,
Top Tips for Moving to The UK From Abroad?

Moving abroad always brings a mixture of emotions. Moving is an exciting, wonderful but nerving and sometimes scary time, which is completely natural. Whenever you make a big life decision like this, there is no better way to feel safer in your move than by being prepared. To give you a helping hand, we’ve put together this article with some top tips to get you ready for your move whilst removing your fears!

Plan Ahead

As soon as you’ve decided to make the move, you can start planning. If you’re a ‘leave it to the last minute’ type of person, then you need to change your ways as this isn’t something you can wing. Seat leasing and planning ahead is definitely the best way to go, get plotting out your route, creating lists of what you’ll need and writing down everything you can think of such as what you need to do and what you need to get sorted as part of the move. In the beginning, just literally listing everything you can possibly think of and then formalise it into more of an order at a later date. You can put things into categories and begin to timeline when need to have things boxed off by. If it’s a route you’ll planning, there are some handy digital maps you can use that plot out the best route and how long it will take you. 

Visiting the Place for a Recce

If possible, it always helps if you visit your new location before you move. What can be good the first time, may not be as good the second so if you can make sure you visit the place multiple times before you make your move to your new home. If you visit at differing times, you’ll get a full picture of the place and get a feel for the people and place, making it easier to adjust in the long run as you’ll have an idea of what to expect.

Build A Network

If you move to the UK it’s crucial that you create a network of friends and work contacts. With mobile technology, you’d be surprised at how easy this can be. Through avenues such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn it has never been easier to connect with people from afar that you don’t know. Start by performing a simple search for some local clubs, societies and groups that you want to get involved with when you’re over there. You can even get some events planned before you get there! This will mean that you can hit the ground running when the big day comes.

Get the Important Things Boxed Off 

So after the big news of Brexit, immigration has been a under the spotlight in the country. Therefore, it has never been more important to have your documents in order for when you move across. Make sure you have a valid passport, your visa or EEA family permit if you’re moving with the whole gang and any insurance you’ll need. It is the boring stuff but it is also the most important. If this isn’t your strong suit you can opt to speak to immigration lawyers in London as they’ll be able to provide you with advice suited to your situation – it’s better not to mess this part up so if you’re not the most organised, you should seek help.

Get Strict in The Early Days

Excitement is bound to get you through the early days, but you will need to be disciplined when the honeymoon period wears off. It is at this point you need to get strict. Get a plan together and stick to it. Start contributing to your new life, build that new network and immerse yourself into the community. By doing this you will get support at the toughest part of relocation and enjoy all the benefits it has to offer. Once you have established yourself as a valuable part of the community, you’ll settle in much quicker and you’ll get off to a flying start in your new British location!

Good luck!

How to Prepare Your Car for a Road Trip

Angela Manning Travel , , , , , ,
How to Prepare Your Car for a Road Trip

Going on a road trip can be a rewarding and reinvigorating experience. Before you go, however, there are a number of things you need to do to prepare. Mainly, you need to prep your car for the long and rather grueling trip. If your car is mainly used for driving to and from work or school, then it will require some hefty preparation before hitting the long road. Here are several tips to get your car ready for an awesome road trip:

Get Your Vehicle Checked and Detailed

First of all, you need to take your vehicle to the nearest auto mechanic for a thorough checkup. There are several things to check before you hit the road. Some of these can be handled by car owners, such as checking the engine oil or examining the tire treads for wear and tear. But it’s highly recommended to have a professional mechanic take a good look at your vehicle. Tell the mechanic about your road trip and the terrain you intend to cover. Then the mechanic can examine your car and tell you if it’s ready for a road trip.

You can also get your vehicle detailed at this point, which would involve checking and cleaning the engine—a must before any road trip. You can ask your local mechanic for good car detailing options before you hit the road for weeks.

Lease a Larger Car if Needed

It’s worthwhile to stop and think if that Hyundai accent you are using to get to work every day is actually suited for a road trip across the country or in the mountains. The car you take should be able to accommodate all the people traveling. It should be spacious enough for one driver to nap while the other takes the wheel in turns. The car should be able to tackle the terrain you intend to travel. Considering these option, you might want to rent or lease a bigger vehicle just for the road trip.

For those young, wild and free at heart going on a road trip, be sure to balance out your youthful enthusiasm with temporary car insurance under 21. Better to be safe than sorry!

Change the Tires and Pack a Spare

Ask your auto mechanic to change tires to suit the terrain you plan on traveling on. Tires should be checked for wear and tear, and also for inflation levels. The tires may require deflating for certain types of rough terrain. Before driving off, you must pack a spare tire in the trunk.

Install a GPS Navigation System

Even if you are very good with directions, it’s strongly recommended to install a GPS system in your car before you go on your trip if it already doesn’t have one. You will be traveling on strange and unfamiliar roads, so you will need all the help you can get. When you go off road, keep in mind that some route information will not be available on GPS. So pack a detailed road map for info on those side roads the digital maps don’t show.

When you hit the road, you must pack an emergency toolkit, extra fuel, and a first aid kit in the trunk. Pack more tools than you usually do for everyday transport to make sure you are not stranded in the middle of your road trip.

Why Rent a Car on Your Next Road Trip and Not Drive Yours

Angela Manning Travel , , ,
Why Rent a Car on Your Next Road Trip and Not Drive Yours

Road trips can be fun while traversing the country or even countries and experiencing different climatic conditions and cultures. They bring a big change from the boredom of the daily office life or the familiar home you have known for years. You get to sample different dishes and meet new people who change your view of the world.

As you plan for your next road trip, book hotels, map your routes and destination, and noting must-visit sites and can’t miss events, you have to address one issue: which vehicle will you use, yours or a rental? It is also critical to know who will drive. This article looks at some of the reasons for renting a car on your next road trip and how to save on it.

Reasons to rent a car for your road trip

While renting a car for a road trip seems like a costly option, below are some reasons you may consider it:

  •       To get a fuel-efficient car

If you own a car that is not fuel-efficient, renting one that is fuel-efficient could save you a decent sum of money. You need to consider the rental rates and availability of an economical car. Besides that, rentals offer protection products at a little extra cost that takes care of vehicle damages in case of accidents. You are better off using a rental if you are to take a long road trip since the longer the trip, the higher the chances of accidents.

  •       To avoid wear and tear on your car

Long road trips could take a heavy toll on your car, leading to future repairs at very high costs. Driving about 15-20 hours with few stopovers to cover over 1,000 miles may also make your car break down if it is old. It is no-brainer that to protect your car from wear and tear, renting, especially at good rates, is a better option.

  •       To have the right vehicle

You may own a small car but want to go for a family road trip that may involve some off-road drives. In such cases, getting a reliable, comfortable SUV from a rental, for example at https://milanirentals.com, would be the best option.

  •       To have fun as a gang

Taking a road trip in a convoy of small vehicles slows down the journey and kills the fun. Instead, you can rent a 7-seater SUV or a 12-seater van and drive in turns as you have your fun and move faster. You could also hire an extra driver from the rental at an additional fee so you greatly enjoy the trip.

Tips to save on car rentals

While renting a car for a road trip, you may use the tips below to save some money:

  •       Check several rentals

You need to visit several rentals to compare the rates and even use online resources by visiting big sites to compare prices. Try the small rentals since they sometimes have incredible deals.

  •       Keep away from airport rentals

Due to the high demand from visitors who want convenience and high operating costs among other factors, rentals based in airports tend to be more costly, so avoid them if you can.

  •       Rent on off-peak days

Most business executives travel on Sunday night or Monday morning, and vacationers rent mostly from Thursday to Saturday. Visiting the rental on Wednesday could get you better rates. The idea is to opt for off-peak times to get better deals.

Final thoughts

Renting a car for your road trip is the better option most of the time due to the reasons discussed above. Furthermore, it adds fun and excitement to drive a different car on such an adventure. However, if the rates and other costs are so high and your vehicle is in good shape, you may opt to use it. You may also want to drive the car you are used to or are certain about its condition, which makes sense to use yours.

Top African Nations You Need To See This Year

Angela Manning Travel , , , , , , ,
Top African Nations You Need To See This Year

Source: Gabriel Le Naour on Pixabay

Africa has always been a continent of contrasts. With so many unique countries and different cultures in one area, it’s easy to see why it can be one of the most interesting places to visit for those looking for a bit of a challenge. If you haven’t explored any of Africa before, this handy guide to the top African nations to add to your must visit list will surely help you make some decisions regarding where you really want to visit and the challenges you may face there. It’s the ideal first timers guide to the African continent. 

Egypt

Egypt may have a bit of bad press in the media due to different problems that arise throughout the country, but don’t let that stop you from heading over there. The reality is that almost every incident is isolated, with increased security and crackdowns with regard to any potential issue that comes up. Egypt is one of the most unique places to visit, with the pyramids, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel just waiting to be visited. For great coastal areas, check out Hurghada, Marsa Alam, or Dahab on the Red Sea coast off the Sinai if you want something a bit less resort-based. 

Take a trip into the Western Desert to visit the likes of the Black and White Deserts near Bahariya, but if you a really unique experience, check out the small village of Siwa Oasis, toward the Libyan border. This small town is home to a natural spring that you can swim in which is purported to have been one of Queen Cleopatra’s favourite relaxation places. Additionally, the old village of Siwa, made of mud and built into a hillside, is home to an old Oracle palace which was often frequented by Alexander the Great. Sounds pretty cool, right? 

Morocco

Morocco is another northern Africa nation which is an absolute delight to visit. Morocco, located on the northwestern coast of Africa, just across the Strait of Gibraltar from Spain is a Muslim country that is quite similar to Egypt, but with slightly different influences given its time as both Spanish and French colonies. The Atlas Mountain range is a great place to do some hiking, and you will likely have to traverse it in order to access the Sahara out in towns like Merzouga where you can go on overnight Sahara tours with Berber tribespeople into the dunes and stay in a traditional Berber camp. 

If you’re looking for an interesting experience though, why not consider stopping off in Marrakesh to visit the souks – a maze-like collection of covered shops and cafes that take twists and turns deep into the backstreets of the city, offering up almost anything you could possibly want to get your hands on. As an added bonus, you can stay in riads (guesthouses) within the souks themselves, making for the perfect place to stop off overnight. Try a traditional hammam (steam bath) with various types of scrubs if you want to experience the cleanest skin you will probably ever have. For those looking to experience the real life side to Morocco, head up to Fes to take a tour of the leather dyeing vats. Book yourself a cheap flight to Morocco and get ready for a fantastic experience.

Kenya

Kenya has long been one of the most popular and developed of the African nations, meaning many people who are looking for the ultimate holiday experience often will think of Kenya well in advance as one of their potential stops. Chances are that Nairobi will be your first port of call and while some people may not think that it has much to offer, nothing could be further from the truth. With Nairobi National Park offering fantastic safari options, Kenyan Bomas (traditional tribal homes) on display in the Bomas Tourist Village and other nearby attractions including the Karuna forest, it’s easy to see why staying a night or two in Nairobi is a great idea.

If you’re looking for a great safari nation, Kenya is it. The Maasai Mara National Park in the south towards the border with Tanzania is a perfect area in which to explore the wildlife of the country. For the beach lovers, Mombasa on the coast is one of the most ideal places to head, with a whole variety of beautiful resorts and stretches of white beaches with lots of opportunity for watersports such as kitesurfing, windsurfing, diving and more.

So if you’ve been looking for a challenging but interesting trip, consider one of these awesome African destinations. There are so many to choose from, but these three are some of the best with some of the higher levels of tourist infrastructure in place. So book yourself a trip today – you’re in for the trip of a lifetime!

 

Rides Not To Miss Out On At Universal Studios in 2019

Angela Manning Travel , , ,
Rides Not To Miss Out On At Universal Studios in 2019

Source: Unsplash | Pedro Velasco

If you are heading to Orlando this summer then Universal Studios will no doubt be one of the theme parks which you cannot wait to visit. This theme park is one of the most popular attractions in the USA, second only to the Disney World complex here in Orlando as well. What Universal does so well is its focus on all things relating to the silver screen, and its rides and attractions put you both behind and in front of the camera to live out your movie fantasies. Universal Studios tickets are best bought before you leave to ensure maximum availability and lowest prices, and once you get into the park here are the hottest rides which you need to try.

Hollywood Studio Tour

Rides come and go but this mainstay of the park is still one of the most popular rides which everyone loves. The Hollywood Studios tour takes you on a trip through some live movie sets such as those from Jaws, Psycho and Back to the Future. You’ll see the park through the eyes of the director as the explosive action takes place as you watch on from a tram, which will shake and move as you experience earthquakes, explosions and flash floods on the hour long journey.

Transformers: The Ride 3D

The Transformers movies were box offices smashes and the popularity of this franchise gave way to this amazing ride at Universal Studios. The ride uses a combination of flight simulation tech and 3D graphics to take you an a ride through the Transformers universe. The ride’s graphics and visual experience are outstanding and will convince you that you are right there with these incredible machines, a remarkable experience which you’ll not forget in a hurry.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

Widely considered as the best ride in the park, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey immerses your right into the world of our favorite boy wizard and involves you in the journey of all journeys. The experience begins whilst you are waiting in the queue as you walk through the halls of Hogwarts School. Once you get to the ride itself you will be challenged with saving Harry and his friends as you shoot through their universe on a rollercoaster with some of the best visual graphics which you are likely to find in any park.

The Simpsons Ride

This is a must visit ride for anyone who enjoys the Simpsons and it will take you right into the heart of Springfield, complete with all of your favorite characters. The creators of this ride wanted to design an attraction which would make visitors feel like they were jumping into their TV set and that is exactly what they have achieved. Take a drink at the Drunken Clam, visit Kwik-E-Mart and visit the home of Homer and Marge on this adventure for all ages.

Which ride will you be rushing to see first?

Making the Most out of Your Unpaid Summer Internship

Angela Manning Travel , ,
Making the Most out of Your Unpaid Summer Internship

The unpaid internship is the biggest conundrum of your college career. On the one hand, it offers invaluable experience that could help you find a job once you graduate. But on the other, you don’t get paid!

A whole summer without earning cash is hard when you’re already shouldering some of the biggest student debts on record. But it’s possible.

To help you survive with your finances intact, check out this list before your first day. These money-saving tips can help you make it to the fall semester with some money left over.

Search out cheap digs

In the ideal world, your internship is somewhere close to your parents’ house, where you can live for free. But in the event the commute is too far, you need to find somewhere affordable to live.

It’s hard to find a sublet on a broke student’s budget. If you’re struggling to find something, check in with these alternatives:

  • People you know.Check to see if you have family, friends, or friends of friends willing to put you up.
  • Although designed for short-term stays, this site might connect you with a host willing to open their home to you for a month or two.
  • As long as you’re willing to sleep in the same room as 10 other people and share a bathroom, you can save a lot of money by staying at a hostel long-term.
  • Local universities: Plenty of colleges open up their dormitories during the summer at lower prices for visiting faculty, students, and people like you.

Meal plan like a professional

While you can cut out most other “frivolous” spending during the summer, food is one of those staples you can’t live without.

Plenty of students survive off ramen and the occasional slice of pizza, but you can do better than this without spending a fortune. The answer is in meal planning.

Check out Leanne Brown’s Good and Cheap. Brown created this free cookbook to help people living on food stamps — which gives you just $4 to spend on food each day. Besides a ton of recipes, she shares special tips on how to shop on a tight budget.

Find free money

There’s no such thing as free money, or so they say. But this general rule may not apply to students. Every year, millions of dollars in scholarships, bursaries, and other awards go unclaimed.

Best of all? You won’t have to pay anything back if you win something. The only “price” to pay is the time it takes to search and apply for these scholarships. For that, we think it’s worth it.

Use a budget

A good rule of thumb when making a budget is to be as accurate as possible, so don’t fudge any numbers. Be as precise as you can be, using official invoices, transcripts, and contracts to fill out the basics.

Once you have a good idea of how much your internship will cost, compare it to what you have in terms of savings, bursaries, and leftover student loans.

If you don’t have enough to cover the bare bones of your budget, review your budget to see if you can change anything. For example, if you live relatively close to your internship, you can walk or bike to work instead of paying for transit or gas.

Try tweaking your expenses before you search out a personal loan. There are lots of reasons to get a personal loan when you’re on a tight budget, but paying for an anticipated expense isn’t one of them.

Online short term loans like lines of credit and installment loans are ideal for unexpected emergencies — like if the bike you use to get to work gets stolen, not if you can’t pay your rent every month.

Proactive thinking like this can help you get through your internship with some money left over. But hopefully, it doesn’t come to this.

Your internship is a fantastic opportunity to gain as much experience as possible. So make sure your finances are ready for the ordeal. Once you have your cash in order, you’ll be able to put 110 percent into your internship and maybe even get a job offer by the end of the summer.

The Philippines: Swimming, Snorkeling, Diving

Angela Manning Travel , , , , ,
The Philippines: Swimming, Snorkeling, Diving

“And the winner is … Miss Philippines!” Beautiful as the winner of the 2018 Miss Universe Pageant, the Philippines boasts some of the world’s most picturesque beaches in the world. To mention a few, Panglao and Anda in Bohol, Boracay, Moalboal in Cebu, and El Nido in Palawan are some of the country’s most popular destinations for both tourists and locals alike. Coron is host to some of the world’s best lagoons.

Panglao and Anda

Panglao is an island located in Bohol, Philippines. As with many beautiful beaches in the Philippines, Panglao island’s beaches are known for its fine white sugary sand. Panglao Beach, Momo Beach, Alona Beach, and Dumaluan Beach are only a few beaches most frequented by visitors of the island. Panglao Beach is home to Hinagdanan Cave, a cave with a lagoon and stalactites and stalagmites formations.

Anda is also located in Bohol, Philippines. Its location is further north from Panglao. Dubbed “best-kept secret in Bohol,” Anda is growing in popularity. This secret grows larger and it’s hard to not talk about it. Quinale Beach is the most popular of the beaches in Anda. It, too, boasts fine white sand. Aside from this beautiful beach, Anda is also home to caves and swimming holes. One particular swimming hole in Anda is Cabagnow Cave Pool. Since Anda is still establishing itself to be a destination, you may have to send money to the Philippines to make reservations for lodging.

Boracay

Another popular destination in the Philippines is Boracay. Boracay is an island located in Aklan, Philippines. Tourists and locals flock to Boracay time and time again. Beaches like White Beach (Station 1), Bulabog Beach, and Puka Beach are the top beaches visited on the island. White Beach is reminiscent of Miami Beach in Florida. It’s busy and vibrant. You’ll find a plethora of eateries to your heart’s content on this beach. Visitors also have access to convenient stores and banking institutions in this area. The beach itself is great for swimming and socializing.

Bulabog Beach is another beach frequented by visitors of Boracay. Its waters are perfect for kitesurfing or windsurfing. Located on the east side of the island, windy season (November through April) is the optimal time to go surfing on Bulabog Beach. Between White Beach and Bulabog Beach, Bulabog Beach is more geared towards sportier activities. Because of this, visitors aren’t encouraged to frolic in the waters due to surfing activities in the area.

Puka Beach is about a 15 to 20-minute moped ride from White Beach. It is located in the northern tip of the island, making it a great place to get away from crowds. Generally, locals gather here but it is also growing in popularity. You will find Puka Beach to be more preserved by nature than of the two other popular beaches in Boracay. Because of small bits of coral mixed in with the sand on this beach, visitors will find that the sand feels coarser on the feet. None the less, Puka Beach is a great place to relax and take in nature without being overwhelmed by crowds or loud music.

Moalboal

Moalboal is located in Cebu, Philippines. Depending on traffic and road conditions, Moalboal is about a 3-hour drive from Cebu City. Moalboal is known for its white beaches and deep waters. Because of this, many visitors associate Moalboal with swimming, snorkeling, and diving. Moalboal also has its own White Beach along with Pescador Island. These spots are popular among snorkelers and divers. Close by, in the town of Badian, is the famous Kawasan Falls. If you have ever wanted to see (and swim) that real-life waterfall you see on television, Kawasan Falls will have you living that dream.

El Nido and Coron

El Nido is located in Palawan, Philippines. It is known throughout the world for its limestone cliffs, beaches, caves, and lagoons. Both alluring and mysterious, it’s hard to say where to begin your adventure when it comes to El Nido. Visitors can swim in secret beaches or take a pump-boat tour ride to swim in El Nido’s lagoons. Nacpan Beach, Big Lagoon, and Miniloc Island are particularly popular amongst tourists and locals.

Another extremely popular destination in Palawan is also Coron Island. Coron is known for shipwrecks from World War II; specifically, Japanese shipwrecks. Diving is the top activity in Coron Island along with lagoon swimming and caving. Like its sibling, Coron has the world’s best lagoons that will have visitors feeling like a character out of the Pirates of the Caribbean films. Barracuda Lake, Siete Pecados, and Twin Lagoon are only to name a few points of interests to explore in the island.

These are only a few of the Philippines best destinations. Whether visitors are looking for a good time relaxing and frolicking on one of the beaches or looking for an adventure, the Philippines is host to one of the world’s top destinations in the world.

4 Fun-Filled Activities for Children with Special Needs

Angela Manning Travel , , , ,
4 Fun-Filled Activities for Children with Special Needs

For the last two decades, passive entertainment as an industry has grown to a multi-billion industry. However, traditional means of enjoying life remain unmatched. Activities such as traveling, camping and discovering new places are still one of the best ways to enjoy life. Children and adults with special needs can tap on the following four avenues regardless of their locality.

1. Camping

Among the four activities in this piece, camping is arguably the best way to help these children experience new realities in a controlled and fun-filled environment. Not all campsites are ideal for children with special needs and doing background research is vital for a better camping experience. Luckily, some camps, such as Christian special needs summer camp, are unmatched for children with special needs.

Apart from research, it is vital to have schedules and pre-planned rules for camping. Planning helps in reducing instances of confusion, an unexpected behavior, and more importantly, the code of ethics while on the camping trip. Rules and expected behavior, in this case, should also entail safety for everyone. In a special camping trip like this one, safety for everyone should be an obligation for all. Adherence to collective safety should, however, not interfere with individual responsibility and everyone enjoying their time on the camping trip.

In most camping trips, it is normal to forget some important camping necessities. It is, therefore, your obligation to make the packing list one month before the camp trip to avoid missing some items.

2. Road Trip

Road trips are arguably one of the most exciting summer activities. Unlike using air, road tripping gives the family members a chance to bond and spend time together. However, for a better experience, it is essential to follow the following guideline. First, when you are traveling with special needs, it is important to update them on the destination and any stopovers. This update helps them to be psychologically prepared, and it is one of the first steps of building their expectation about the trip and new experiences.

Second, snacks are important for any road trip. Any road trip for children is incomplete without snacks. When shopping for snacks, however, it is vital to involve them as opposed to dictating their snacks selection. You should also ensure that the car interior and the seats are comfortable. The more the seats are comfortable, the better the road trip.

Finally, having a clear destination is essential. However, it is advisable to have a flexible schedule and the more flexible the summer retreat, the better.

3. Discover new places 

A get-away should also include a chance to experience a new locality. Discovering new places is different when you have children with special needs. Regardless of the location, it is advisable to have a balanced approach to experimentation. Children, unlike adults, have a different perception of what is fun. Therefore finding a balance between the two demographics is important for a better experience.

Discovering new places have the following advantages to both parents an children with special needs. First, it is one of the best ways to learn something. A visit to a museum is not only fun but also a chance to learn. Second, new places are ideal for self-discovering and exposing children with special needs a chance to understand more about them. This new self-discovery, according to pundits, is unmatched for better development. When on a trip to discover a new place of a new culture, it is important to involve them in planning and let them feel like they are in charge.

4. Visiting friends and families 

Visiting families and friends is one of the best ways to spend time with children who have special needs. Unlike other activities which involve new experiences and new places, a trip to see friends do not require a lot of planning and high budget. However, planning on logistics, the day of the visit, and gifts is important. While planning for all these logistics, it is important to ask for their opinions and any suggestions for gifts.

When planning for home visits, informing the hosts is vital. Informing them helps them to prepare for refreshments and their time. It is also one of the ways to help them get special activities, such as children’s games. If they cannot afford these activities, it is vital to assist where you can. Whatever you decide to do, there are many ideas that will let everyone have a fun time.