AmazoniaBike | TravelBlog

What better way to explore some of the country’s greatest natural treasures and historic sites than a bicycle tour through the back roads of Florida? And now, you can do it any time of the year! In an effort to help make Florida tourism greener, non-profit organization Bike Florida is bringing back year-round, long-distance bicycle touring for the first time in 25 years.

To inaugurate the new initiative, Herb Hiller and Linda Crider, co-founders of the modern-day Florida bicycling movement, will lead a week-long bicycle tour this October 10-16, starting and ending at Palatka, a rural county seat by the St. Johns River in northeastern Florida.

“For too long there’s been no organized comfortable cycling way to discover backroads Florida,” says Crider.  “These tours are organized for that, but also for fun.”
The 260-mile loop takes cyclists through state parks, as well as the Merritt
Island and Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuges. Also on the
itinerary is a stop at St. Augustine, the oldest city in the country
and recently named one of the top ten best places to live by U.S. News & World Report. 

By
2013, the St. Johns River-to-Sea Loop will become the longest paved,
off-road loop trail in the American southeast. That same year will also
mark the 500th anniversary of Spain’s colonization of “La Florida,”
named in 1513 by Ponce de Leon for its flowered land. Because
wildflowers are abundant on the tour’s route, Florida Wildflower Foundation,
a chief sponsor of the touring program, will use the loop to help
launch the state’s wildflower tourism in celebration of its
quincentennial year.

The new effort may be just what Florida
tourism needs to draw more people to the nature, culture, and heritage
of the state (instead of the standard big hotels and beach resorts) and the trademark of these tours will be their local access. Not only will
cyclists experience Florida’s beautiful landscapes, but they will get to do so with local naturalists, writers, and
historians all working to turn Florida tourism green.

Hiller,
a leading advocate of sustainable tourism, understands the economic
value in Florida’s “heads in beds” tourist industry, but also
recognizes its drawbacks. “Tourism doesn’t champion environment or
heritage,” he says. “Yet, apart from making visitors comfortable, what
counts as much as using their presence among us to help accomplish our
aims? I mean, aims that include protecting our natural resources,
helping make our downtowns more livable and advancing diversity.”

Included
in the tours are luggage-carrying support vehicles, on-road guides,
maps and cue sheets, overnights in B&B’s, homestays and motels as
well as all breakfasts and sit-down dinners.

For additional tours and prices, visit bikeflorida.org. For more information on Florida’s greenways and trails,
visit
www.floridagreenwaysandtrails.com.

Photo courtesy of John Moran 

It seems incredible to me that the gleaming island of Bermuda is celebrating it’s 400th anniversary this year.  This beautiful island was first settled in 1609 by the survivors of a shipwrecked English vessel, The Sea Venture.  Bermuda was the very first English colony and is the second oldest parliamentary democracy in the world.  All I can say is ‘the years have been kind to Bermuda’ – she is as sparkling and beguiling as ever.

Visitors to Bermuda in 2009 will see the introduction of several new and redesigned resorts as well as gala celebrations all through the year.  In case you haven’t considered the pleasures of Bermuda in some time, here’s a refresher about the charms that have captivated visitors for hundreds of years.  Bermuda has 21 miles of glorious landscape including quaint harbors, pink sand beaches and dozens of mid-size luxury resorts and inns.  Bermuda is one of the world’s top golf destinations with 9 championship courses – more courses per square mile than any other destination.  200 square miles of coral reefs will delight divers, who will find more wreck sites to explore than anywhere else on earth.  Shopping and dining have always been a top priority in Bermuda, and you’ll appreciate that Bermuda’s currency is on par with the US dollar.  Located just a two hour flight from major east coast cities, Bermuda makes a perfect long weekend escape destination.

There has never been a more exciting time to visit Bermuda and sink your toes into those warm, powdery pink sand beaches.  Here’s a recap of the events and new venues awaiting you lucky travelers:

Tucker’s Point Resort – is a brand new luxury resort, private club and residential community that celebrated it’s opening in April, 2009.  It’s dramatic ocean front location gives wonderful views of  Castle Harbour, Harrington Sound and the Atlantic Ocean.  Guestrooms feature a lovely balcony or terrace, gracious decor, top amenities and amazingly, a fireplace for ambiance.  8 restaurants offer every dining experience you could wish for from formal dining in elegant rooms, quiet wine room or library, less formal palm court, Winter Lounge, Chef’s kitchen table, or Terrace Grill.  Find all their information at TuckersPoint.com

Newstead Belmont Hills Resort – Open for just a year, this resort offers visitors a charming harborside boutique hotel with a dramatic infinity pool looking out over Great Sound.  Each residence offers views over the gardens, to the infinity pool, across to the city of Hamilton and out to Great Sound – wonderful!  Accommodations offer large living space with a kitchen, sitting room, bathroom and bedroom area.  Check out them out at Newsteadbelmonthills.com.

The Reefs – Long considered one of Bermuda’s best hotels, 2009 sees the completion of The Reefs Club – a private club of 19 luxury two and three bedroom residences which will be available for a brief time as one-time rentals.  The Reefs has also new and expanded services at it’s well respected La Serena Spa.  Find the info you’ll need at TheReefs.com

Upcoming events to look for:
Cup Match Cricket Festival – July 30-31, 2009
Bermuda Music Festival – October, 2009
PGA Grand Slam of Golf – October 19-21, 2009
World Rugby Classic – November 8-14, 2009
Bermuda Christmas Boat Parade – December 12, 2009

For all the vacation planning information you’ll need – visit BermudaTourism.com.  And the good news is that there is lots of ways to reach Bermuda.  Eight major airlines serve the island – American, Continental, delta, JetBlue, US Airways, USA3000, Air Canada and British Airways, and a number of cruise lines make stops during summer months.  With all the inbound service to Bermuda, prices stay competitive and reasonable.  If you haven’t considered a vacation in Bermuda latetely – it’s time.

Anne Frank was one of the millions of Jewish victims of the Nazis during World War II. Although she was only 13 years old when she died, Anne Frank’s story has been told many times thanks to the diary she kept whilst she was in hiding in Amsterdam. Anne was born in Germany and along with her father (Otto), mother (Edith Frank-Hollander) and sister (Margot), fled to Holland to escape persecution.

Otto had set up a successful food business and part of the company was located in a building on Prinsengracht. In May 1940, Germany invaded Holland and they brought with them, the repression of the Jewish people. Fearful about the fate of his family, in July 1942, Otto Frank moved his family to an annex at the back of the building at 263 Prinsengracht. Later, the Franks were joined in the Annex by Hermann and Auguste van Pels, their son Peter and Fritz Pfeffer.

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The whole of northern India has become the favourite Tourist Destination for tourist from all parts of the world. This beautiful part of India has some of the most beautiful locations including the famous lands of Leh Ladakh, Kashmir and the states of Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan. All these places have so much to offer that the list of foreign as well as local travelers have been increasing day by day.

Among all these places, Ladakh city witnesses the largest number of travelers. The main reasons for such huge bulk of travelers every year are its small accessibility period and the beautiful destinations & scope of adventurous activities in Ladakh.

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How many times have you had this experience that the weekend you had waited for so anxiously has finally arrived, you are all up for fun and excitement, and you don’t know where to go? Plenty of times, as all of us… The truth is there are an enormous number of events being organized in the city; you just need a convenient tool to look for them.

Having a list of Vancouver events does benefit both local residents of the city and people who are on vacation in our Lotusland. Having your own list of Vancouver events at hand can give visitors as well as residents the convenience of choosing best events and activities to attend. With the huge variety of events and activities happening all at the same time in the city, you will have an easier way of selecting what to do and where to go if you have a list of Vancouver events.

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