Global Premises

The city of Seattle is situated in the eastern area of the state of Washington in
Northwest America, between the waters of the Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
Known for its appealing atmosphere and emergence as the USA’s city of the 1990s,
Seattle’s waterfront is its main attraction and this lies along the Alaskan Way,
although the city does contain a number of must-see sights.

Seattle’s community is built on commerce, fishing and timber, greatly influenced by
the nearby Boeing aerospace company. Full of gourmet coffee shops, museums, art
galleries and a lively nightlife, the city now also celebrates an important tourism
industry.

Seattle is a large cosmopolitan city, covering around 90 square miles / 233 square
kilometers, with a population of almost 600,000. The city incorporates many
smaller communities and important, historical neighborhoods. Amongst these
locations are the Ballard, Belltown, Capitol Hill, Pike Place Market, Freemont,
Greenlake, Pioneer Square, Queen Anne, SODO and University districts.

Seattle Tourism:

Tourist attractions in Seattle are varied and impressive, making Seattle an excellent
vacation destination. Facilities include many notable landmarks and monuments,
museums and art galleries, parklands, recreational activities and insightful guided
tours of the city. Top attractions include the Boeing Factory, Hiram M. Chittenden
Locks, Fisherman’s Terminal, the Smith Tower Observation Deck, Hing Hay Park,
Safeco Field Stadium, the Seahawks Exhibition Center and the Seattle Center - both
a cultural center and popular amusement park constructed for city’s World Fair,
which was held in 1962.

Seattle is perhaps best known for its eye-catching Space Needle, which towers
around 150 meters / 490 feet on the city skyline, offering spectacular views. City
museums worth a visit include the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture,
the Museum of History and Industry, the Science Fiction Museum and the Seattle Art
Museum (SAM). Popular parklands in the Seattle area include Discovery Park,
Freeway Park, Green Lake Park and the Washington Park Arboretum.

Seattle Transport:

Around Seattle, public transport provides a number of affordable options, including
Amtrak trains, Greyhound and regional buses, and boats from Canada. One of the
most popular ways to travel around the city is on the Metro Transit Buses, which are
cheaper outside of peak hours. Renting a car is another transport option favored by
many visitors to Seattle, allowing easy exploration of the city and surrounding
areas.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport stands around 12 miles / 19 km from the city
center and is a bustling transportation hub. With many passengers both arriving and
departing each day. The airport provides a number of affordable ground transport
options, which include shuttle buses, taxis, car rental options and luxury
limousines.

Seattle Hotels:

The city’s central downtown district is often booked solid during the summer
months, when hotel rates are at their highest. However, outside of downtown
Seattle you will find many further hotels, which are more reasonably priced and just
a short distance from the city center. Room rates are also often reduced during the
rainy season, from October to April, and at weekends. Bed and breakfast
accommodation in Seattle is both affordable and popular with visitors, with a
number of options being located close to th
e waterfront.

Seattle Restaurants:

Seattle takes its coffee very seriously and is famous for being the origin of
Starbucks, with the first store still in operation at Pike Place Market. Many other
stylish coffee shops and espresso bars can be found throughout the city, together
with an abundance of restaurants and dining options. Restaurants in Seattle cater
for all palates and many are concentrated along the waterfront, where seafood is a
particular specialty. The northwestern side of the city is another popular dining
location, with restaurants offering Pan-Asian, Mediterranean, Italian, Mexican and
more traditional American cuisine.

Seattle Shopping:

Seattle is a popular shopping destination offering a large range of major shops and
stores. Facilities include a number of famous designer outlets, vast department
stores, boutiques and large shopping malls. Popular shopping areas include
Broadway Avenue East, First Avenue, Maynard Avenue, Pike Street, Pine Street,
Queen Anne and West Dravus, Seneca and Fourth Avenue and University Way.

Seattle Weather:

The Seattle area is known for its rain, although this is a little unfair, since the city’s
annual rainfall averages less than 40 inches / 100 cm. Much of the weather is both
fine and mild, with hot summers and cooler winter weather. Temperatures are
hottest during the months of July and August, peaking at around 25C /
77F. January is the coldest month, when temperatures during the daytime
average 8C / 46F, well above freezing.

Nia Rees writes for World Guides
providers of travel and tourist information for major cities throughout the world.
For further tourist information about Seattle, Washington, USA visit:
About Seattle, Washington
For further airport information visit:
Guide to Seattle Tacoma
International Airport (SEA)

A man moves into a house on Lancaster Street, Baltimore. One day, he decides to
take down the previous owner’s kitchen curtains. He takes out a wobbly stool and
steps up to remove them. Suddenly, he looses his balance and begins to fall. Then,
a hand presses against his back, steadying him and he doesn’t fall. No one else was
in the room besides himself.

Later, he recounts the story to the woman who sold him the house. She replies,
“That must be mom. She once fell from that stool and broke her arm. She must have
wanted to prevent the same thing from happening to you.”

This is just one of many stories you’ll hear while taking the Fell’s Point Ghost Tour.
Fell’s Point is riddled with ghostly happenings. Not only is it one of the oldest
neighborhoods of Baltimore, Md., it also has experienced a lot of death. In both
1794 and 1797, many people died of yellow fever. So many, that the bodies piled up
like cordwood in what is now Fell’s Point Square, which may also be the site of their
mass burial.

Establishments highlighted on the tour have had ghostly headless chickens running
around the basement, an African American spirit who likes to move an ash can from
the fireplace to the front door, and an apparition that walks down the street only to
disappear in front of his grave.

“One of my favorite stories,” says Amy Lynwander, co-founder of Fell’s Point Ghost
Tours, “is at Duda’s where we talk about Doc, a retired seaman” who used to live
there. He had a favorite polka that he played on the jukebox often. After he died,
the polka was retired from the jukebox. However, some months after Doc died, “the
polka spontaneously played for a group of regulars sitting at the bar.” When they
checked the jukebox, the polka was not among the selections available. “They
thought it was Doc saying goodbye.”

Maryland has a lot of ghostly activity, says Beverly Litsinger, co-founder of the
Maryland Ghost and Spirit Association, an organization that researches and
investigates ghostly paranormal phenomena throughout Maryland, “most likely
because it has a lot of history.”

The Fell’s Point Ghost Tour lasts about an hour and a half and features about a
dozen locations around the neighborhood. For a real ghost-hunting adventure in
the Baltimore area, be sure to visit these places, as well:

• Fort McHenry, which was, in part, the inspiration for Francis Scott Key’s Star Spangled Banner, is said to be haunted not only by soldiers who died defending the
fledgling US, but also people who were detained in its dungeons at other points in
the fort’s history.

• The USS Constellation is said to be haunted by a young Naval officer or seaman
who died in service to his country. One story also tells of a priest who was given a
tour of the ship by an older man, only to find out later that no such man worked
there as a guide.

• The Westminster Church and Catacombs, which is home to Edgar Allan Poe’s
grave, as well as other well-known historic figures, has a long list of spooky stories.
Visitors have reported hearing hushed voices, feeling invisible hands touch them,
and felt icy spots with no explanation.

According to Lynwander, October is the most popular time of the year to take her
tour. However, she says, “September is a good time, too. It’s the calm before the
storm. It’s dark when you do the tour and the weather is usually very nice.” For
more information, visit http://www.fellspointghost.com.

This story was excerpted from the October 2005 issue of The Genre Traveler, the online travel magazine for science fiction, fantasy and horror fans produced
by C.S. Pothitt. For the full story, including tips for ghost hunters and
photographing ghosts, visit
http://thegenretraveler.com/OCT2005/TGTOctober2005.htm.
If you see the world through genre-coloured glasses, sign up now at
http://thegenretraveler.com.

Timeshare resale is a growing and becoming more and more popular all over the world. The actual business of timeshares is growing and is the best way to take the dream vacation that you have been waiting for your entire life. This form of rental is considered a vacation ownership. More and more places are using the timeshare resale business as their main goal.

You can now avoid the yearly expense of maintaining and buying furniture for a completely owned vacation home. When you invest in a timeshare resale, you are going to be making a good financial decision that will make you and your family very happy with your investment.

When you invest in a timeshare resale, you are getting the privilege of using the vacation home and all the accommodations at the resort. You will then be able to use the area every year after that for a fixed term or rate. When you purchase a timeshare resale, you will be giving yourself the advantage of saving over half of the money that you would normally save with a regular purchase.

You can get a timeshare resale at a fixed week or a floating week. A fixed week is a certain week that you will occupy the vacation property every year. The value of the ownership is that you will know which unit you will be using and where you will be going. If you decide not to use that week, you can make it a floating week. You will have to pay a fee to do this option.

A floating week is determined differently at every resort area. Floating will allow you the option of calling and scheduling your week without a fee. You will be able to use the week as long as no one else is taking advantage of his or her time. This is gong to be a good idea if you think you are not going to be able to commit to a certain date for the timeshare.

A timeshare resale is a great opportunity that should be taken into great consideration. You should think long and hard before you pass up this great investment deal. You can have a great time and save money at the same time. This is going to be the best way to invest your money without tying yourself down one set decision.

You can get your friends and family in on the timeshare resale if you are so inclined. You can let them in on the fun and the savings just as you found yourself. They will get to enjoy the same great pleasures without spending a fortune on the resorts and vacations spots that they have dreamed of.

Just an Easter thought that needs to be shared that some of you may find very beneficial for you and your family.

The season of spring is a time for new beginnings, new life and new tomorrows - our lord Jesus Christ proved that to the world with his miraculous rising on Easter Sunday.

Out with the old and in with the new (removing clutter followed by a lick of paint) was a mission undertaken by people the whole world over when the great spring clean took place. It is all well and good that the house be in ship shape order and tip top condition with the new facelift - but what about you.
How about this Easter be focused on keeping you and your family in tip top condition.

Now the house has a new image after the service of fresh linen - mopped floor and polished furniture then now it is time to service your self. Health farms and beauticians can make your Easter extra special by giving you the (it takes 2 factor) Number 1 is the feel good factor and number 2 is the look good factor. Both of these factors combined are with out doubt a sure way of finding the real inner you.

Health at Easter time can be a major concern for those looking to stay prim and trim should they over indulge with the intake of their Easter fix of chocolate easter eggs. Obesity in children should not be encouraged by to many of these easter goodies.

The fragrant aroma fills the air from the cherry pink blossom - in spring. The smell of the fresh cut grass lingers aloft also - in spring. Then we have seasonal baby lambs and yellow fluffy chicks hatching in great numbers again also - in spring. So why don`t you spring into action this easter and take control over your health.

Out with the old (remove waste body toxins) and in with the new (inner feeling of health) by taking up yoga this Easter. Yoga is normally performed to music compilations made up of nature sounds but why - when at springtime you can exercise to the real thing.
On a fine day - take you and the kids out into the garden or Local Park and introduce them to a little gentle exercise showing them what they need to know on body awareness. Preferably the park - the reason for this is you may also gain interest from the public who may just want to become aware too.

This could be the start of a new craze at Easter where you get the both of both worlds. Chocolate eggs and bunnies can be eaten with no feeling of guilt because you get to shed the excess pounds all at the same time.

You will find the children involved with your new easter trend will not only have taken their first steps in gaining a more healthier out look on life but furthered there education on the birds and the bees so as to speak. In other words they can tell you what bird whistles the happy tune and name the flower that sways in time with the gentle spring breeze air as you exercise.

Your health and that of your family should be first and foremost in your mind. Because new tomorrows can only bring sorrows if health matters are ignored.

100% fit in mind body and soul is what healthy living is all about. With yoga you claim what is rightfully yours control. http://www.want2yoga.com Take steps now to move on with your life http://www.allaboutonlineeducation.com

When guests are invited to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving dinner at your house, you may want to create festive and beautiful Thanksgiving decorations to transform your home into a wonderful autumn landscape.

Thanksgiving dinner is usually set around a formal dinner setting but if you are having a lot of guests and don’t have enough seating, you can set up a buffet table. Start off by using natural items you would find in the fall months. Go outside and collect changing leaves, pinecones, twigs with berries still attached and any other element from nature that you might think you can use in your decorations.

Press the leaves in books ahead of time so they have time to dry out before Thanksgiving Day. Create a thrilling cornucopia by spray painting all of the vegetables the same color; burgundy, silver, or gold. Your cornucopia can be used as your table’s centerpiece or for a decoration on another flat surface.

Use your leftover Halloween pumpkins in your Thanksgiving decorations. Bring a Thanksgiving scene to life on the front of your pumpkin by using paint with stamps or stencils. Cut a hole out of the top of the pumpkin and use it as a vase to hold gold or orange mums or carnations or daisies.

Instead of using pieces of paper for place cards, create variety by using mini pumpkins or gourds. Write the names of your dinner guests on the mini pumpkins or gourds to mark each table setting. Create an interesting and beautiful autumn garland by using autumn leaves, small pinecones, nuts and berries.

Drape the garland around the room for a festive Thanksgiving atmosphere. Plan a few fun games and activities if you are going to have kids at your dinner. Surf the internet for ideas. Make sure to use plenty of Thanksgiving Day colors throughout your entire home. Oranges, gold, browns and burgundies are the perfect Thanksgiving Day pallet.

We found free Thanksgiving party games, word find, word search, coloring pages and party ideas at Thanksgiving Party. Plus, they have a nice selection of decorations, party supplies and favors.

Mrs. Party… Gail Leino is the internet’s leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies, using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. Free Party Games to help complete your event.

Florida has a great amount of biodiversity and nature lovers will enjoy the great variety of plants found in the Sunshine State. On our recent trip to Orlando we had a chance to visit several locations with a beautiful parks and gardens, such as the Harry P. Leu Gardens and the Historical Bok Sanctuary. Even my excursion on the Scenic Boat Tour in Winter Park brought me up close to some of the fascinating flowers and plants found in the Orlando area.

Florida has a mix of subtropical and tropical climates and the area around Orlando are more subtropical. Central Florida has a hot, but often stormy climate and experiences many thunderstorms with a frequent risk of hurricanes.

Geographically, the Central Florida area encompasses Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Brevard, and Volusia counties, and some consider Polk and Sumter counties also to be part of Central Florida. This low-lying area is dominated by hundreds of lakes surrounded by marshland. Historically predominant industries include cotton, citrus and cattle-raising. The climate favours a great deal of plant and animal species.

Nature lovers will revel in Central Florida’s abundant gardens and parks which give them a perfect opportunity to enjoy nature up close. Here is a collection of parks and gardens that will give you great exposure to Central Florida’s natural beauty:

Archbold Biological Station P. O. Box 2057, (Old State Road 8), Lake Placid, FL 33862 Phone: (941) 465-2571. “The Station fosters long-term ecological research on native plants and animals of central Florida and also provides environmental education for K-12 children.”

Bok Tower Gardens 1151 Tower Boulevard, Lake Wales, FL 33853-3412; Phone: (941) 676-1408. “Historic Bok Sanctuary offers visitors Florida’s most abundant
opportunities for aesthetic, cultural and personal enrichment. The lush landscapes of the Olmsted gardens, the majesty and music of the carillon tower and the splendor of Pinewood Estate create an experience that inspires all who visit.”

Cypress Gardens 2641 South Lake Summit Road, Cypress Gardens, FL 33884; Phone: (800) 282-2123. “Standing sentinel in the historic gardens is the giant Banyan tree, which was planted in 1939 from a seedling during the parks early years. Topiary Trail features a collection of colorful topiaries, including a variety of animals such as a rabbit, swan and serpent. The crowning gem in this trail of jewels is the waterfall, a sparkling cascade accented by brilliant floral blossoms. The Plantation Gardens grace the manicured landscape of Snively Mansion and include the aromatic herb garden, a glorious rose garden and the butterfly garden adjoining Wings of Wonder.”

Disney Wilderness Preserve 6075 Scrub Jay Trail Kissimmee, FL 34759; Phone: (407) 935-0002. “Fifteen miles south of Walt Disney World, in the heart of Central Florida, lies the Disney Wilderness Preserve. The site, originally the Walker Ranch, is now owned and managed by the Nature Conservancy, a private, non-profit conservation organization that is responsible for the largest network of private conservation lands in the world.”

Harry P. Leu Botanical Gardens 1920 N. Forest Avenue, Orlando, FL 32803-1537; Phone: (407) 246-2620. “Miles of paved scenic walkways that take you through garden settings, including: America’s largest Camellia collection outside California and the largest formal rose garden in Florida, a house museum dating from the 1880’s, a palm garden and bamboo garden. New gardens include the Tropical Stream Garden and the new Kitchen Garden with herbs, vegetables and a butterfly garden!”

Highlands Hammock State Park 5931 Hammock Road, Sebring, FL 33872; Phone: (941) 386-6094. “The contrast of the dark swamp waters against the bright trunks of the bare trees is reminiscent of more northerly forests. White-tailed deer munch their way through the campsites, enjoying the scattering of acorns around the base of many oaks. Bobcat tracks are found each morning in the damp sands along the roadways, and the Barred owls call as soon as the sun goes down. Visitors are enjoying viewing alligators as they soak up the warm sun that follows the cool nighttime temperatures.”

Lake Kissimmee State Park 14248 Camp Mack Road, Lake Wales, FL 33853; Phone: (941) 696-1112. “Florida’s cowboy heritage comes alive with living history demonstrations of the early Florida “cow hunters” in an 1876-era cow camp, open 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekends and holidays. White-tailed deer, bald eagles, sandhill cranes, turkeys, and bobcats have been seen in the park, located on the shores of lakes Kissimmee, Tiger, and Rosalie. Visitors enjoy boating, canoeing, and fishing in the picturesque lakes. Nature students can hike over 13 miles of trails to observe and study the abundant plant and animal life. Six miles of trails are open to equestrians. A large, shaded picnic area with pavilions is available. The park has full-facility campsites, as well as a primitive camping facility. The youth camping area can accommodate up to 50 people. The dark skies make stargazing a popular nighttime activity for campers.”

Ocala National Forest USDA Forest Service, 17147 E. Hwy 40, Silver Springs, FL 34488 Phone: (352) 625-7470. “The Forest offers 383,573 acres of unique ecological sites, trails, natural springs. There are hundreds of camping sites throughout the forest offering everything from full-service campgrounds to more rustic sites. The National Forest also has designated trails for horseback riding. Hunting is permitted in designated areas where the enforcement of state regulations is strict. Recreation areas include Alexander Springs, Fore Lake Recreational Area, Juniper Springs, Lake Eaton Loop Trail, Lake Eaton Sink Hole, Mill Dam Recreation Area, Salt Springs and Salt Springs Trail. Specially marked walking/hiking trails are located throughout this wonderful resource. Lake Eaton Sinkhole and the Lake Eaton Loop are only two of the trails that allow the visitor to explore the area on easily traveled interpretive trails.”

Silver River State Park 7165 N. E. 7th Street, Ocala, FL 34470; Phone: (352) 236-1827. “This park has more than 14 distinct natural communities, dozens of springs, and miles of beautiful trails. The adjoining Silver Springs attraction houses the headwaters of the Silver River, which flows through the park into the Ocklawaha River. The park is home to a pioneer cracker village and the Silver River Museum and Environmental Education Center. The center is operated by the Marion County School District in cooperation with the park and is open to the public on weekends and holidays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00. p.m. Admission to the Museum is $2.00 per person.Children 6 and under are free.”

Silver Springs P. O. Box 370, (5656 E. SR-40), Silver Springs, FL 34489; Phone: (800) 234-7458. “Silver Springs is a 350 acre nature theme park surrounds the headwaters of the beautiful Silver River, the largest artesian spring formation in the world. Located 90 miles north of Orlando, just east of Ocala, Florida. Here you can view the underground springs from our famous glass-bottom boats, where you’ll see fish, shellfish, turtles and alligators in water that’s up to 80 feet deep and 99.8% pure. Walk the beautiful grounds and experience the natural habitats of Florida’s largest alligators, endangered bears and panthers, Kritter Korral petting zoo, plus an entertaining variety of wildlife shows from Birds of Prey to snakes and reptiles. There are rides and exhibits for all ages in a natural setting of stunning beauty. “

University of Central Florida Arboretum 4000 Central Florida Blvd. Orlando, FL 32816-2368 Phone: (407) 823-2141. “The Arboretum of The University of Central Florida was founded in 1983. From the original 12-acre “quick view” garden with a mix of ornamental and native plants in the pond pine community adjacent the Stockard Conservatory Greenhouse, The Arboretum has grown to nearly 80 acres. North of the 9 acre man-made lake and the Engineering E-2 parking lot, trails take visitors through a 5-7 acre cypress dome and a picturesque 2-3 acre oak hammock. North of the oak hammock the trail crosses an open area with wild rosemary and sand pine, and oak scrub, returning to the cypress dome. An unmarked trail circles the cypress dome on the north, club mosses and carnivorous sundews lining the sides, before rejoining the main trail on the southwest side of the dome. Follow the broad white sand trail west through a ‘mature’ [last burned in the 1950’s] sand pine and wild rosemary community for a quick exit to the University Field House road, or return on Arboretum trails.”

Winter Park Kraft Azalea Gardens, Winter Park, Phone 407-599-3334: Located on Alabama Drive off Palmer Avenue. Thousands of azaleas, tropical shrubs and trees grow luxuriantly along the shores of Lake Maitland where cool breezes and breathtaking sunsets can be found. Azaleas bloom January through March.

Although the Orlando area is mostly known for its big-thrill attractions and theme parks, nature lovers will find plenty of parks, gardens and wilderness areas to enjoy. For more information about the Orlando area contact the Orlando Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Susanne Pacher is the publisher of a website called Travel and Transitions (http://www.travelandtransitions.com). Travel and Transitions deals with unconventional travel and is chock full of advice, tips, real life travel experiences, interviews with travellers and travel experts, insights and reflections, cross-cultural issues, contests and many other features. You will also find stories about life and the transitions that we face as we go through our own personal life-long journeys.

Submit your own travel stories in our first travel story contest (http://www.travelandtransitions.com/contests.htm) and have a chance to win an amazing adventure cruise on the Amazon River.

“Life is a Journey Explore New Horizons”.
The story with photos is published at Travel Stories and Photos (http://www.travelandtransitions.com/stories_photos/orlando_florida_plantlife.htm).

Vacation rental homes are better than hotels. Hotels do not provide much peace or privacy, and are costlier than rental homes. A crowded hotel can make your vacation unpleasant. An Orlando vacation rental home, on the other hand, affords you much freedom, privacy, ammenities, flexibility, personal space, and more. They come in a wide range of sizes, styles, locations, and prices. Look into the options, and make your decision wisely.

Vacation rental homes are cost-effective, private, pleasant and spacious. Vacation homes are in fact small units. These are individual houses that cater to the needs of its visitors with boundless facilities, like a private kitchen, swimming pool, spa and more. These provide fully furnished accommodations, with an Internet connection and everything a person can require.

Since these vacation rental homes are owned by private people there is a lot of competition between them. This offers a benefit to the customer, who can find the best facility at the cheapest price possible. Vacation rental homes accommodate an entire family. The whole family is united in one house and can enjoy the vacation in a refreshing manner because these are small units in beautiful surroundings with complete privacy. Staying in a vacation rental home can be a life-enriching experience.

Vacation rental homes in Orlando are no exception. These homes could be rented directly by the homeowners through websites, thereby minimizing extra or hidden charges. Whatever charge is quoted is the final charge. There are many vacation rental homes much closer to Walt Disney World.

I admit it; I am addicted to the written word in all its glorious formats. If I am awake and not talking or working, I am reading. I was watching Capote the other day and was stunned by the difference 50 years can make in the accessibility of things to read. In the movie they show a scene of the author reading selections from his third book. This was a big event that drew a large crowd and garnered much media coverage. So many fewer books were published in those days, and the availability of what a reader could get their hands on were limited to the local newsstand, bookstore and library. Nowadays, the true junkie has a multitude of options available and can spend every waking minute reading and still not make it through all the available text that they find interesting.

The Internet offers enough options to keep the most avid reader going night and day. It may take some time to separate the wheat from the chaff, but there are fantastic offerings for everyone, no matter how obscure your interests may be. Personally, I have my “can’t miss” blogs that I check in with everyday; I want to know the latest happenings for the folks that I find interesting. I love the multitude of voices within several forum communities that I visit often, and sometimes feel that I simply must chime in. The Internet gives me the option of checking news from other places. I am out here on the left coast and love to read the right coast view in the online version of the New York Times, as well as the views of the middle as represented in the Chicago Tribune.

Magazines are another way to kill some hours reading. Running a company, I am sent free subscriptions to a multitude of publications that offer insight into my industry and the newest technology. I skim them all, reading articles that catch my interest and scanning the rest. Additionally, my business partner is always trying to help me with my pop culture cluelessness by passing on his Stairmaster reading, like People, TV Guide, and Entertainment Weekly. I keep these to read in the car when early to an appointment, or pop them in my bag to peruse while waiting in line. They are great for situations where I will be reading in bursts, as nothing requires full attention or concentration.

Books, printed and bound, will always be my number one love. My space is truly overrun with books, as I read 5-9 books a week and always have more coming in. I read in the morning, before I sleep, while I enjoy a hot bubble bath and any extra time I can squeeze out in my day. I try to trade them as much as possible so I have as many going out as coming in, but they are still stashed in every available nook and corner. I adore everything from non-fiction books on building a business to biographies of people who have achieved greatness in their field. Mysteries are a great way to exercise my powers of deduction from the safety of my own bed. Some fiction offers insight to far away lands or into the lives of people who experience life differently or from past times. Trashy romances provide pure escapism and mindless entertainment.

Some people say that books will soon be a thing of the past, replaced by ebooks and other electronic formats. While I love reading the reading I do online, I only read books in their printed format and don’t think they will ever disappear. After all, I can’t take my laptop into the bathtub.

About the Author

Jessica Hardwick is founder and CEO of a startup, http://www.SwapThing.com that changes the way people barter goods and services through the Internet.

SwapThing is a site focused on building a strong swap community online for consumers and businesses.

This article comes with reprint rights. You are free to reprint and distribute it, as you like. All that we ask is that you do not make any changes, that this resource text is included, and that the links above is intact.

Las Vegas has more than 100,000 hotel rooms to choose from. There is something for every budget, and enough entertainment within walking distance to keep anyone occupied for months, never mind the usual weekend stay or honeymoon. There are few cities which have as many luxury hotels as Las Vegas.

For travellers searching for top of the line accommodation, try the Four Seasons Las Vegas. It offers an oasis of tranquil elegance, comfort, luxury, and seclusion. Though it has no in-house casino, it is adjacent to Mandalay Bay Casino. Four Seasons Las Vegas is a tranquil retreat from the bustling city. This hotel offers 424 rooms are located on floors 35-39, and the views from the floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the famous Las Vegas Strip. The Business Center and Concierge service at this hotel have an extremely good reputation for meeting special needs of guests, such as arranging limousine services on a moment’s notice.

The Bellagio, a Las Vegas landmark, is a five-star hotel located on the 122-acre site of the legendary Dunes Hotel and Golf Course at the corner of Flamingo and Las Vegas Blvds. It contains one of the most attractive casinos in Las Vegas as well as numerous shops and restaurants. Bellagio’s world-famous fountains combine opera, classical and whimsical music with a breathtaking water and light show. The Conservatory & Botanical Gardens holds rows of exotic plants and flowers with unique displays for every season and holiday. It’s an inviting location for a honeymoon photo opportunity.

Caesars Palace is the long-standing epitome of Las Vegas luxury hotels. It holds the famous Forum Shops, Spago, an Imax theater, and a new shopping wing and tower. For those guests who want to relax and be pampered, this hotel offers the Spa at Caesars, Venus the Salon, and the Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis.

Caesars also offers guests access to the exclusive Cascata Golf Club. It features mountain scenery, beautiful waterfalls and rivers, and panoramic views combined with challenging holes and velvety greens to produce a golfing experience unparalleled anywhere else in the world. No expense has been spared, from the opulent clubhouse and pro shop to the personal and attentive service personel. Cascata was named listed as #56 by Golfweek Magazine in its article “2004 America’s Best Top 100 Modern Courses”. Golfweek also listed Cascata as #2 in Nevada in their list of “America’s Best State-by-State Public Access Courses”. In addition to be being named in Golfweeks America’s Best Modern Courses, Gary Galyean at Golf Magazine named Cascata #19 in the “Top 45 Courses Since 1959″.

Luxor is a Nile-theme hotel which features a sphinx and a large pyramid which has become a Las Vegas landmark. The Pyramid has 2,256 rooms with 236 Spa suites, two in each corner of every floor. The rooms are reached by inclinating elevators which travel sideways at a 39-degree angle up 30 stories. The Luxor features a wide variety of restaurants and entertainment.

Mandalay Bay is a tropical-theme new resort offering visitors the chance to walk inside a plexiglass tunnel through the Shark Reef Aquarium, which holds sharks and rays. The hotel has a 30,000 square foot world-class Spa Mandalay and the 11 acre Mandalay Beach pool complex. The House of Blues music theatre has a seating capacity of approximately 1,800, and plays host to an eclectic mix of live music.

The Mirage Hotel is has an exploding volcano and a 20,000 gallon aquarium the greet guests as they enter this luxury hotel. The large pool complex has a quarter mile of shoreline along two large pools and smaller lagoons, and features a grotto and waterslides. The 2.5-million-gallon Dolphin Habitat is home to a family of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins.

The Mirage Hotel Tiger Habitat is the open-air home of Siegfried & Roy’s Royal White Tigers, available for viewing by the public during the day and evening. The tigers’ environment features a swimming pool with fountains and simulated mountain terrain. Unlike conventional tigers, which have black and gold markings,
white tigers are white with black stripes, pink paws and ice-blue eyes.

Visitors can find French-themed shopping and dining at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel. It has a replica of the Arc De Triomphe and a half-scale Eiffel Tower. The Eiffel Tower Experience allows guests to ride 460 feet to the top to see a stunning, panoramic view of the valley.

Paris is not the only European city recreated in miniature. The Venetian, renowned for its spacious and luxurious rooms, has gondolas in the midst of Las Vegas, as well as the Grand Canal Shoppes, a 500,000 square foot shopping plaza complete with cobblestone streets and beautiful traditional venetian style storefronts. The Grand Canal Shoppes host Streetmosphere, a cast of Carnivale street performers and opera singers.

For bargain hunters, the Rio hotel is not the newest or most elaborate building in town, but this all-suite Las Vegas hotel just off the Strip was rated No. 1 in value by Condé Nast Traveler.

The Rio was voted to have the best slot club according to Casino Player 2004. The Rio has more than 100,000 square feet of casino floor, hosting around 1,200 state-of-the-art slot and video poker machines, more than 80 table games including blackjack, craps, baccarat, roulette, Let It Ride, Caribbean Stud Poker and Mini-Baccarat as well as a Keno Lounge and full-service Race and Sports Book.

The Rio offers a great variety of entertainment all under one roof, from afternoon programs to risque late-night adult revues and interactive theater such as Tina and Tony’s Wedding.

The Rio has opened a new restaurant, the Mah Jong Chinese Noodle Bar, which offers authentic Cantonese and Chinese dishes such as Beef Brisket Noodle Soup, Preserved Egg and Pork Congee as well as seafood entrees like Salt & Pepper Seabass and Scallops with Asparagus. Asian inspired decor and a fluent Chinese staff make this restaurant a memorable place to dine.

This list is just a small sample of the luxurious theme hotels available in Las Vegas. This city has something unique for every taste and budget.

J Schipper loves Las Vegas
Private Jet Charters
The Life Of Luxury

No doubt the 2006 season at the theme parks in England will be little different from 2005 in that there will be numerous offers from the theme parks to induce you to attend. The favourite method , particularly from Tussauds, who own Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventure and Thorpe Park is the 2 for 1 voucher. 2 for 1 vouchers will be popping up everywhere from the Sun newspaper to tins of beans. And of course these appear to be very good news. A free ticket to your favourite theme park! Hey, who can say no to that? Well before you get the scissors out to clip out the vouchers this year, here are a few things to consider before deciding whether 2 for 1 theme park tickets will really save you money.

1. You will be required to buy 1 full price adult ticket for each “free” ticket you get. This can often eliminate any savings, since a full price adult ticket bought at the turnstiles might be twice the price of a similar theme park ticket purchased from discount vendors such as Loial Travel. Do the sums first to see whether 2 for 1 vouchers will really save you money or not.

2. The “free” theme park ticket is often available only for children. Given that you have to buy a full priced adult ticket, how much are you saving? Check out what a child’s ticket would cost you at a discount seller and you may find you are throwing money away by using a 2 for 1 ticket.

3. You can usually only use one voucher per transaction, so if you have a large group then buying discount theme park tickets will often work out cheaper than using a 2 for 1 voucher.

4. To use your 2 for 1 vouchers you have to queue at the turnstiles. This can often be a long and frustrating experience that will cut the time you spend in the theme park. If you buy discounted tickets from someone like Loial Travel, you can usually take your booking confirmation email and go straight to pick your tickets up at the advance booking office.

5. Check the times when you can use the vouchers. Theme parks use 2 for 1 vouchers to fill the parks on days when demand is low. This often means school days. Check the small print (the VERY small print) to ensure you can use the vouchers on the days you want to go.

The author is webmaster of Loial Travel http://www.loial.co.uk and the U.K. Theme Park Blog http://ukthemeparks.blogspot.com