Things To Do In South Beach Miami

Travel Pre Internet:
I’ve been travelling for over 40 years – by thumb in my early days, by boots in the Scouts, a Lambretta came next and then my first old banger followed by newer old bangers to the beaches of the Costa Brava.

My thumb, boots, bikes and bangers took me all over Europe and the UK before finding that a charter flight to Spain on an old ‘Connie’ could get me to the beaches and bars a lot quicker and allow more time to enjoy the local travel opportunities by horse and cart and the occasional bus and train.

‘Go West and Prosper’ seemed to be a good idea so instead of taking an 8 hour flight I took an 8 day transatlantic crossing from Tilbury to Montreal on the Stephan Batory of Polish Ocean Lines ensuring that jet lag did not trouble my travel plans. Some years later I crossed the pond again on a ship but this time it was 5 times bigger and I travelled in style on the QE2 and dined in the Queen’s Grill somewhat removed from my earlier experience. I highly recommend ocean voyages but cannot see myself on one of the modern cruise ships going from port to port with constant line-ups to get on and off to buy t-shirts. However, I have done 10 Windjammers and a Star Clipper cruise in the Caribbean which were all memorable (let’s hope Windjammer Barefoot Cruises recover from their woes). But I digress.

I had read that Canada is a spectacular country, from sea to shining sea, and my entrance into the St. Lawrence River to Montreal and then heading west in an old Econoline van from the Great Lakes, across the Prairies to the Rocky Mountains before ending up whale watching off of the Pacific Coast of Vancouver Island was a trip of wonder to a bloke from London. Today the scenery is still spectacular and the best way to go is still by road so rent or buy a car, motorhome or motorbike, take the train or tour bus but remember the maps, a fly rod, good boots and take your time.

My favorite part of Canada / USA for adventure travel has to be Northern BC / Alaska, to hike the Chilkoot Trail in the steps of the goldseekers of 1898. The Northwest Territories to canoe the Nahannie River and the Yukon to drive from Dawson City to Chicken, Alaska. If you like the outdoors and can put up with a few bugs, cast a fly and scale a few hills or drive on endless dirt roads sharing the space with moose, caribou, elk, bears and eagles, then these are the places to put on your list. The pleasures and experiences in driving to Inuvik on the Dempster Highway or to Prudhoe Bay on the Dalton Highway or even the Canol Road can only be felt by doing them. I would have mentioned the Alaska Highway but now it is an easy drive unlike the aforementioned.

Today the costs of driving these distances may mean that sharing the journey with others is required, but RVing or simply vanning and camping is a great way to see beyond the horizon. Some enroute adventures now need to be booked in advance whereas when I hiked Denali and the Chilkoot Pass it was just a case of turning up, registering with the local ranger office and heading on out. A little more forward planning is needed for today’s traveller and cost considerations of lengthy flights or drives have to somehow be countered with more careful planning. In the days of reasonable gas prices I would not even consider the driving or flying costs and have driven to Key West from the northwest coast, down the west coast to the Baja and to the west coast from New York. I once even flew my 1946 Fleet taildragger from the Pacific to the Atlantic and back using around 5 gallons an hour of avgas. Before the oil and credit crisis I drove from Rio de Janeiro to Lima, down to Tierra del Fuego and back to Rio covering over 15,000 miles of spectacular scenery and with no consideration about the cost of gas. South America should be on your itinerary too! Some other memorable drives that may now require a mortgage with the gas companies include London to The Nordkapp, Norway, Skippers Canyon in New Zealand and the loneliness of the far north of Australia and the amazing coast of Western Australia stopping by at Monkey Mia and Wave Rock. Read the rest of this entry »

Pensacola is known as the City of Five flags, as it was ruled by five different countries, before becoming a part of United States. It was ruled by Spain, Britain, France, Confederacy and United States. Pensacola was under Spain for about 240 years, although in three separate periods.

The First Spanish Period (1559 – 1719)
The first European settlement in United States was Pensacola. It was established by Spanish conquistador Don Tristan de Luna on Santa Rosa Island. Pensacola became the largest city in Florida, under the British in 1763. The Spanish were the first to bring African slaves to American continent and introduce the Roman Catholic Church. Pensacola was named after the Panzacola Indians, a tribe that lived near the bay when the Spanish arrived.

The French Period (1719 – 1722)
The French captured Pensacola in 1719, when Jean-Baptiste Bienville, the governor of French Louisiana, arrived with his fleet and a large force of Indian warriors. The Spanish commander was unaware of the war that had been declared by France. As the Spanish garrison was very small, the commander surrendered on conditions, that the private property and the citizens would not be harmed, and they would be allowed to march out of the fort with honor. They were later shipped to Havana in French ships. However, a hurricane drove the French from Pensacola in 1722. The Spanish then moved the town to the mainland.

The Second Spanish Period
In 1722, the area destroyed by hurricane was rebuilt by the Spanish. During this period, they were largely occupied in the missionary work with Indians. The other objective was the development of Pensacola as an important port and building a strong military force. Spain always had a conflict with French and British interests during the period, but Spain’s informal alliance with France clearly meant that they confronted serious threat from the British pirates. These pirates and smugglers sold goods cheaper than Spanish companies, which was not taken lightly by Madrid.

British Period (1763 – 1781)
In 1763, at the end of Seven Years’ War (French and Indian War), the British took control of Pensacola. During the British period, Pensacola prospered, and was made the capital of British West Florida. After the war, the British gained access to inland areas as far as the Mississippi River. The French were ousted from the mainlands. In 1963, a modern street plan for Pensacola was laid down by the British.

During the American Revolution (1775-1763), many British colonies, like Georgia and Alabama revolted against the British. Spain allied themselves with the American rebels and won the Battle of Pensacola. They also succeeded in capturing West and East Florida.

Third Spanish Period (1781 – 1819)
Pensacola was recaptured by the Spanish in 1781. There were few short-lived invasions by Americans, but Spain retained control later. The entire Gulf Coast and Mississippi River Valley was under the Spanish governance during this period. This situation wasn’t acceptable to American settlers since this region was important for the shipment of American goods like corn, tobacco and cotton. The Spanish were occupied with the growing rebellion, and were not able to concentrate in fortifying the region. The American rebellion under General Andrew Jackson succeeded in capturing the Pensacola region, and all of Florida was transferred to the United States.

United States Period (1821 – 1861) Read the rest of this entry »

There are quite a few things that vacationers, and other individuals should consider when looking for Clearwater Beach Rentals in Florida. The most important thing to do before planning a trip is to research the area. You need to consider the weather for instance. This time of year in Florida tornado watches supposes a threat to residents and renters who live near oceans or islands. You may not want to plan a trip during this time of the year for safety reasons.

Another thing to consider is pricing. Everyone has a budget that they feel they can’t go over. Try searching for cheaper or discounted rentals near or within a few miles of your desalinated attraction area. Saving money is always a good idea. There is no need to spend more money than you have to. There are lots of attraction sites, and entertainment that are free or reasonably priced. There are so many beaches in the Clearwater area for everyone to enjoy.

The main beach in Clearwater is extensive it reaches an average of 3 miles long. Even though, it relatively crowded there is still plenty of room for everyone to walk around the beach and enjoy the sand beneath their feet. When the day is coming to a close there are always hotels and restaurants close by to assist you in a good night’s sleep and a nice nutritious meal. Everything is lined up with Clearwater beach so there is no need to look far for what you need. Read the rest of this entry »

A Mississippi river cruise, is ideal for people desiring to learn more of America’s history, at the same time enjoying local music and regional cuisine on a historic steamboat. Traditional paddle-wheeled steam boats, featuring authentic Victorian decor, take tourists on a memorable journey during their cruise vacation.

Cruise Length
Various cruise companies dole out several tour offers comprising different packages. One can either chose a one hour cruise or even a 3-12 nights Mississippi river cruise. The length of the cruise, will depend on the number of ports of call. Since the entire river system envelopes over 50 rivers and tributaries, tourists are given the opportunity to explore quite a bit of the American Midwest on the voyage. The pace of these river cruises are not like the fast moving ocean going vessels and is merely six miles per hour, thereby enabling passengers to absorb the river’s beauty. Special cruises such as Valentine’s day cruises and Christmas cruises, with exiting fireworks, are also offered. The rates vary for every event.

Best Time
Mississippi river cruises are available all the year round, however, the itineraries may vary widely. During the winter months more northerly routes are not available. Moreover, during the summer, the river basin is quite warm, thus people sensitive to heat and humidity should avoid cruising during that time. Since, most of the river boat cruises host fewer than 500 passengers per cruise trip, the tickets are sold off well in advance. Thus people interested should plan and book accordingly. These cruises are available for all financial plans and can obtain no add-ons transport and eat on land to reduce the expenses. People can even lease a small private boat.

Cruise Destinations Read the rest of this entry »