Archive for February, 2009
Taking a Holiday with Your Pets
Going on a holiday is fun, but it can be even more fun if you take your pet along with you. Taking your dog or cat along for the trip does make it more like a family outing, but it does bring up a few extra concerns.
First, you’ll have to make certain the hotel you have booked is pet-friendly. Some hotels allow pets with no extra charge, but many will require you to pay a small deposit fee. You’ll also need to take everything your pet will need—water bowl, food and food bowl, litter box, and leash.
Flying with your pet is very difficult. Your animal has to be placed in a carrier that meets regulations and then will be placed with the checked luggage. Many end up sedating their pet during travel, which can be hard on him. Likewise, trains and buses rarely take on trains. If you’re travelling internationally, you most likely will not be able to take your pet with you—there are usually quarantine periods that animals must go through before they can enter the country, and these periods are usually fairly long (months at the least).
Once you do arrive on your luxury holidays and check in to your pet-friendly hotel, you’re going to want to spend some time with your pet each day. There’s not much point in taking your pet with you if all you do it leave him or her in your hotel room, after all. You may want to look into things you can do with your pet, such as walk through the neighbourhood or go to a local park. Think of things you and your pet can do together so as to make your holiday exciting for both of you.
View Toronto From Above at the CN Tower
CN Tower is one of Canada’s greatest man-made wonders. It offers visitors a great view of all of Toronto during both the day and night. There are two different platforms that you can visit. One, the Look Out Level, is 346 m high, while the other, the Glass Floor, is 342 m. There are also several restaurants, the SkyPod, a film, and even a motion theatre ride for you to enjoy!
Heading out from your most Toronto hotels more than walking distance from the CN tower, you’ll want to take the subway and get off at the Union Station. From there, you only have to follow the Skywalk to reach the CN Tower. Once you arrive, you’ll have several ticket options. If you have a Citypass, you’re in luck—you get a free ticket that includes a visit to the Look Out and Glass Floor levels and either the chance to watch The Height of Excellence film about the tower or go on the motion theatre ride. If you want to visit the SkyPod, which is the world’s highest observation deck, you’ll have to purchase an additional ticket.
CN Tower is open from 9 am to 10 pm, although the hours do change during some seasons, and the weather may require some of the higher decks to close. It’s best to go before noon or in the later evenings since the tower is usually less crowded.
Once there, you can have a light meal at the Horizon’s Café, or, if you have some extra money to spend, eat in the 360 Restaurant. As the name suggests, the restaurant actually revolves as you eat. It’s quite the experience. The Glass Floor observation deck, likewise, is exactly like it sounds—you can actually walk across very thick and strong glass panes and look down at the rest of the tower below you. Quite the experience and one definitely not for those who are afraid of heights!
Research Before You Go
Travelling to a new destination can be an adventure, but you don’t want to head off into the unknown without, well, knowing a bit about it. If you’re planning a holiday somewhere you’ve never been to before, it’s a good idea to do a little research first. This research doesn’t have to be extensive. You’re not writing a term paper on the destination, just wanting to get a good idea of what there is to do there. The internet can be a good place to start. The larger cities and tourist destinations will have hundreds if not thousands of web pages about them. There are pros and cons to this. Since it’s online, anyone can publish anything they want about the destination. You don’t always know if you’re getting the truth. However, you may be able to find comments and reviews from travellers that may be very helpful to you. You can also head down to your local library or book store and look for books on your travel destination. This is especially helpful if you’re headed to a large city. These travel guides are often more of an authoritative source than the internet, but the internet is likely to have more information on smaller, out of the way destinations. Travel shows can also be a good source of information, although again, you may have to search for the episode that features your destination. Some of these shows discuss popular tourist attractions, while others are focused on travelling on a budget. One of the best ways to learn all there is to learn about a location before you visit is to combine all three forms of research. Doing this should help you make a list of things you absolutely must see and do on your holiday while at the same time giving you an idea of things you don’t really care to see. By doing a little research, you can put together an agenda for your holiday that will allow you to see and do as much as you can instead of wandering around looking for potential attractions.
Hiring a House Sitter
If you’re going to be out of town for more than a week, you may want to look into hiring a house sitter. He or she will stay at your house while you’re away making it look like you are still at home to dissuade thieves. A house sitter can also take care of your pets and water your plants, although you may have to pay extra for these services. If you’re thinking of hiring a house sitter, here are some things to keep in mind.
Make certain the person you hire is someone you trust. Often, your house sitter is a relative or a friend. You probably won’t be comfortable paying a complete stranger to stay in your home for a week or more, although professional house sitting services are available in some areas. If you do decide to hire someone you don’t know, be certain to ask for references and check up on him or her before you leave just to be safe. Be sure to get his/her full name, address, and contact information as well.
Once you have a house sitter, you’ll want to make out a detailed list of what he or she needs to do while you’re away. It may be easier to break it down day by day so your house sitter knows exactly what must be done. Chores you may need to list out include feeding your pets, taking out the rubbish, taking care of your plants, and getting your mail.
Don’t forget that your house sitter may not be at your home all the time. You may want to ask him or her to be at your house at a certain time each evening. The entire point of having a house sitter, after all, is to make it look like someone is home. If your house sitter is out all night, you won’t be getting that benefit.
Coral Castle – an Amazing Experience
If you’re in Miami, you may find yourself with way too much to do. You might find yourself leaving your hotel really early in the morning and not getting back until late at night. In fact, you may be so busy that it seems like you never get a moment to just stop and enjoy the view. If you’re looking for a place to visit that allows you to slow down and take a leisurely stroll, you may want to visit Coral Castle.
Coral Castle features over 1,100 tons of different coral, all carved into amazing shapes and sculptures. The castle, also known as Rock Gate, is located a bit south of Miami proper where most hotels in Miami are found, giving you a chance to get out of the busy downtown part of the city.
Coral Castle was built entirely by hand by Ed Leedskalnin over nearly 30 years. He began in the 1950s, and he was incredibly secretive with his project. He built the castle as a tribute to his lost love, Agnes. The two were to be married, but Agnes cancelled the wedding the day before it was to occur. Leedskalnin was heartbroken, and to get over his loss, he began carving coral. Because he refused to let anyone see what he was carving and because it’s incredible that so slight a man as Leedskalnin could move such huge blocks of coral, rumours that Coral Castle was created using paranormal powers circulated for some time after it was opened.
While it may sound odd that someone would spend years carving coral in remembrance of their past love, Leedskalnin’s creations are amazing. You can take a 30-minute audio tour of the castle, or you can simply wander the grounds on your own. Coral Castle is open seven days a week, with extended hours on Friday and Saturday. If you have purchased a Go Miami Card, admission is free.