Aug/090
Visit Chile’s Answer To The Grand Canyon
Every year thousands of tourists flock to a place with no buildings, no restaurants, and no clubs. Instead, it is a vast wasteland created by nature that draws these interested onlookers. The Valley of the Moon is Chile's answer to our Grand Canyon.
Located in the Atacama Desert, this area should be on your list of places to visit. This is an unspoiled land that not many travellers of this region have visited. But all that have come have left with a sense of awe and glowing reviews. The Valley of the Moon, or Valle de la Luna, is found 13 kilometers west of Sand Pedro in the Atacama Desert in Chile. This area is characterized by natural sand and stone formations. Fashioned by floods and constant winds these natural wonders have wondrous color and texture that makes this place such a wonderful destination. Its name is derived from its resemblance to the surface of the moon. Even NASA has taken note of this unique place on Earth, testing vehicles that would later be used on Mars in this rocky, barren landscape.
Also found here are dry lakes which appear to be different colors throughout the day. Depending on how the sun is positioned in the sky and the time of day, one can see green, yellow, red, and blue colors which give color to your surroundings. Stand on top of a sand dune and take a few moments to take in all of the natural beauty that surrounds you.
This is also one of the driest spots on the planet. Some parts of the valley have not received a single drop of rain in hundreds of years. The unique weather conditions, combined with hundreds of years of floods and winds, have created stone and sand formations which resemble sculptures, some of which have names like "Las Tres Marias." These conditions have also yielded an incredible color pallet. It is hard to believe that these colors can be found naturally on the surface you walk on. There are salt caverns and volcanoes. The Licancabur volcano is so spectacular that it can be contemplated for long periods of time. Due to the dryness, as well as the saltiness, of the land, this is considered one of the most uninhabitable places on earth. While this may sound like a bad thing, it actually envelops the area with a sense of majesty. At night, under the moon, there exists a silence which is both unnerving and magical at the same time.
A quick internet search reveals a number of ways to travel to this area. There are hotels and tours that can be booked in the surrounding region. All you have to do is make the arrangements to get there.
Nowhere else on this planet can you experience anything like the Valle de La Luna. This area's beauty cannot adequately be described in words. Do yourself a favor and perform a quick internet search of this fine area. Better yet, visit the Valley of the Moon yourself and experience this amazing part of the world. I can guarantee this is a trip you will never regret taking.
Aug/090
Enjoy Beautiful Slopes at Termas de Chillan Ski Resort
Are you a skier looking for that next exciting slope. If you are and you want to have the time of your life then you need to visit Termas de Chillan Ski Resort. This ski resort features beautifully maintained slopes with a taste of nature. The slopes here are one of a kind and any skier or snowboarder would be more than happy with their condition. If everyone in the family is not into skiing there are other activities available. These activities include dog sledding, volcano tours, hiking, fishing, tennis, golf, horseback riding, or just laying by the pool. Of course, the activities available depend on the time of the year, but no matter what time you visit, you will never run out of things to do.
This center is considered one of the best to visit for its flexible activities, beautiful surroundings, and quality hotels. When you visit you will never be disappointed in the hotels or the service you receive throughout the center. Nice employees along with nice activities and accommodation are always a plus. This is considered a perfect family vacation area, because no matter how diverse a family's interests are, they will always be able to find something to do in or around the center.
Depending upon the season, the more adventurous family members are able to rock climb, hike, or take a tour of the volcano. On the other hand, the more athletic and active family members will spend their time skiing, snowboarding, or playing tennis. However, if you're the kind who wants a relaxing and enjoyable vacation, you needn't worry. This resort does not forget about those who want to make the most of their rest while not being very active. You can take a nice stress free day fishing or playing 18 holes of golf. If all else fails, you can relax in your beautiful hotel room or take a quiet day by the pool. However, few holidaymakers will want to miss out on the snow mobile park. It is a family activity that can bring you all together to have some great fun while keeping the intensity high. Snow mobiles can be rented and driven on courses provided within the park.
You now know all about the activities available in the Termas de Chillan Ski Center, but they're not the only impressive aspect of the resort. You can find a few hotels in this area which will be sure to match your liking. They are all stunning with great accommodation and amazing surroundings. Each has their own pool area, and depending on the one you pick, you may be lucky enough to spend a cold day in a steaming hot tub. Aside from relaxation next to a pool or in a hot tub, you can also reduce your stress level completely by experiencing one of the many therapies offered in the spas of certain hotels.
Looking for a place to spend your time and money that will reward you with a huge amount of adventure and relaxation? Vacationing at Termas de Chillan Ski Center will be sure to fulfill your every wish.
Aug/090
Experience South America by Car
Have you ever wanted to experience South America the way that the native people experience it? Native inhabitance stay off the beaten path and go places that most tourist just don't get to take advantage of. Well, you to could experience South American this way through car travel.
You want to travel to South America but you are worried about means of transportation when you get there. What do you do? Well, you have several options: you can choose to figure it out when you get there and travel by bus, train, shuttle, etc., or you can rent a car. Most are nervous about traveling to a new country to begin with, and then they are faced with the problem of getting around when they arrive. Some consider it foolhardy to head to South America with no transportation plan, and to just improvise upon arrival. Others see no problem with it. Those who think that it is a risk they are not willing to take will want to know how to secure a rental car before arriving. They will also worry about the driving rules and regulations of South America, but this worry can be averted with a small amount of research. It is important to think ahead and set things up early so you do not run into problems when you arrive. Many underestimate the complexity of the process, and do not know what to do when they arrive. Most important, other than car rental, is awareness. Driving in South America is not considered a particularly safe or easy task so being aware of the situation is a very big deal.
Getting the rental car is very simple and there are plenty of resources available on the internet to help you work through any problems that may arrive. All you need to do is find a website which provides rental cars to travelers. Log on to the site and let them know when you need the car for and where you would like to pick it up. That being said, you will have to provide some information to the site so that they can go through all of their procedures and hold the car for you. On the other hand, it could be a lot more difficult to arrange a rental when you arrive. Locating a rental company in an area that you are not familiar with can be a real headache and hard to find.
Finally, make sure you are always switched on when traveling by car in South America. Many roads have been partly-destroyed or damaged, or are covered in hazardous obstacles which are usually natural but occasionally are man-made. Some parts of South America have man-made obstacles to slow drivers down but they are usually not marked which leaves them hard to see, especially at night. Driving at night is never recommended because you never know what to expect on the roads in an area you are not familiar with. Day driving should be limited not only because of the hazards that will be found all over the country but also because urban traffic can be heavy and chaotic. Bearing in mind the points made above, having a car can still be more beneficial than relying on public transportation. As long as the rides are short then you will enjoy having the freedom to travel where you want when you want to.
Be sure to make it easy on yourself and book your rental ahead of time. Always be aware and careful when driving a rental car. Make sure to plan your route ahead of time and head straight to your destination. Driving around South America aimlessly is only going to lead to accidents!
Aug/090
Brisbane Hinterland
The Brisbane Hinterland, just outside of Brisbane, has many attraction to enjoy. D'Aguilar Range, with it's main access in Mount Glorious, is only twenty minutes west of the city. There are crops and antique villages at the Valley of the Lakes, and South Burnett. While here you will enjoy pine rain forests and the children will love the opportunity to encounter native animals.
Bunya Mountains: this isolated spur of the Great Dividing Range is a cool, moist region of waterfalls, green and scarlet king parrots and the remaining stands of bunya pine, a species much depleted by early timber-getters. Walk the easy 4 kilometre Scenic Circuit from the Dandabah camping area, which winds through rainforest to Pine Gorge lookout.
South Burnett: This comfortable slice of rural Queensland invites you to the historic timber towns of Blackbutt and Yarraman and to wineries along the scenic Barambah wine Trail. At Nanango or Kilkivan you can fossick for gold and find accommodation in a great Bed and Breakfast or a Farmstay property.
Booubyjan Homestead: This is a homestead, located near Goomeri, owned by two Irish brothers, the Clements. This land is open for daily tours, where you can get a close up look inside the home and and of the property.
Brisbane Forest Park: Offers pristine waterfalls, rainforest, deep swimming pools, mountain streams, forests and trees. Mt. Glorious offers a wide range of walking trails, and if you travel 10km further you will arrive at Wivenhoe lookout, which offers views of Lake Wivenhoe.
Also located in Brisbane Forest Park is the Walkabout Creek Wildlife Center. This is a freshwater creek, populated with frogs, water dragon, platypus, python and fish. Just past Samford, in the The Woolshed, you can get a realistic demonstration of life on a sheep station. Enjoy everything from shearing demonstrations to watching the native animals roam.
Daisy Hill State Forest: This is an area of eucalypt forest and acacia scrub. 25 kilometers south of Brisbane, visitors can view the koala from a treetop tower, and watch as they sit comfortable on the tops of the trees.
Aug/090
The History Of Horse Racing At Del Mar
Southern Californias Del Mar Racetrack has been somewhat forgotten by the general public in recent years, overshadowed by East Coast venues like Churchill Downs and Belmont Park. The reality is that the 72 year old track has a history to rival their better known counterparts. Operated by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and located 20 miles North of San Diego, its perhaps most famous for its iconic slogan Where The Surf Meets the Turf but that only scratches the surface of its star studded history.
The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club was founded by a group of well heeled enthusiasts in the mid 1930s, and they immediately turned their attention to building a world class horse racing venue. The names that were instrumental in the creation of Del Mar include a whos who of American entertainment"most notably Bing Crosby, Oliver Hardy (of Laurel and Hardy) and Jimmy Durante. At the time the facility opened thoroughbred horse racing was the second most popular sport in America behind major league baseball, and Del Mar quickly gained a reputation for being a player in the industry.
The starpower drawn to the course was unprecedented. Bing Crosby himself greeted patrons at the gate on opening day, and during the late 1930s and early 1940s it became a place to be seen for Hollywood A-listers and those who aspired for celebrity. In addition to known gambling enthusiasts like W.C. Fields, Edgar Bergen and Red Skelton, the Del Mar patrons during that time also included some of the top female stars of the era including Ava Gardner, Paulette Goddard and Dorothy Lamour
In 1938, Del Mar hosted an internationally anticipated match race between Seabiscuit and Ligaroti. This event drew a record crowd and gained worldwide notoriety for the track. Seabiscuit won the $25,000 winner-take-all duel by a nose, and would forever be enshrined in the annals of American popular culture. Horse racing at Del Mar continued to be a smash until the facility went dark in 1941 due to World War II. It would remain closed until 1945, and for a time was used as a training facility by the military.
After the war, Del Mar reopened with a bang. The track reopened the day after Japan formally surrendered to Allied forces, and on that day Del Mar attracted over 20,000 fans through its gates who wagered what at the time was a record $958,476. The postwar prosperity was also a boon to Del Mar, which also benefitted from the Santa Fe Railroads daily Racetrack Special that brought bettors down from Los Angeles to enjoy a day at the track. During the latter part of the decade a new crop of Hollywood glitterati would flock to Del Mar, including Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Mickey Rooney John Holmes, Frank Sinatra and Jimmy Durante. Durante would become such a regular that the turf course at Del Mar would later be renamed in his honor.
Even though the popularity of horse racing among the mainstream populace would ebb over the years, Del Mar remains a viable part of the thoroughbred community to this day. Theyve updated their facility, with a state of the art grand stand and most recently a synthetic polytrack surface that was installed in 2007. The racing season at Del Mar begins in mid July, and hosts crowds of 20,000+ on a daily basis throughout.