Another Side to Oregon Tourism
 by: Ben Randall

One minute I’m cruising around this really cool new website about the Oregon coast (www.beachconnection.net), and the next I’m cruising around Highway 101, taking in all the clean air, the beautiful sights, gobbling some wowing food and visiting a lot of funky secret spots I found online. It’s a wondrous trip that’s hard to forget.

It begins with this site Oregon Coast Beach Connection: rather new, but already huge and all-encompassing in its coverage of the upper half of the coast. I started by goofing around the virtual tours (not all of them are completed), which have on average 60 different stops along various areas of the coast. I found some interesting hidden beaches near Cannon Beach, down in Newport and near Manzanita.

The site has this awe-inspiring, sprawling news section, where I discovered some great restaurants and hotels. I used their weather page to check the forecast just before I left on this really sunny weekend in February – and just like one of their stories about “winter weather secrets” said it would be – it was exceptionally warm in February. See their news section at www.beachconnection/news.

So I head out for the coast, first gobbling up insane seafood on the scenic, pristine Tillamook Bay at Pacific Oyster. They have this cioppino to die for. It’s thick, hearty and so stocked full of a variety of fish it puts a hatchery to shame. The oysters are like tender little chunks of beef: extremely rich and flavorful, quite powerful for their miniscule size. The smoked salmon burger was wonderful as well, and the view of the bay was magnificent. 5150 Oyster Drive. (503) 377-2323.

That night, I stayed at the Old Wheeler Hotel: a wildly romantic hotel in the tiny town of Wheeler that was carved out of an old building once ready to fall apart. This was totally amazing to discover, as the place has an extremely manicured, old world charm, with hard wood floors, chandeliers, clawfoot bathtubs and views of the untouched and pure Nehalem Bay. It’s been nicknamed the “Westin-Benson of the Oregon Coast.” I’m addicted and will be back. Hwy 101 and Gregory. www.oldwheelerhotel.com. 877-4theview.

Practically next door, it’s pure pizza heaven at a fairly new eatery called Guido’s Ristorante. The staff here was constantly hilarious – a little like watching the cast of “Seinfeld” interacting. But it’s the grub that was the real star of the show, with a thick, even juicy crust beneath a forest-like covering of innovative ingredients. The main chef there (he called himself Guido, but I think that was part of the gags of the evening) said he’d help me decide on my pizza selection and just make something up for me.

I shyly asked about meatballs on my pie, and he not only said “yes” but eventually brought me a masterpiece with various kinds of cheeses, a delicious marinara sauce drizzled on the meatballs and some kind of garden of vegetables which I can’t even remember. This place also had an outstanding view of the bay. 675 Hwy 101, Wheeler. (503) 368-7778.

The next day, I wander up just north of Manzanita to check out one of the incredible hidden spots I’d found at www.beachconnection.net. A set of grandiose cliffs and a small mountain hovers over the sleepy little beach resort, and on its north face lie some wild, weird slopes. The website said it resembled Ireland in some spots, and scenes from “Planet of the Apes” in others. Somebody nailed it on the head. You walk down these steep, grassy areas to come across a strange seascape of jagged, freaky rock structures and boiling surf. It was absolutely remarkable.

I again follow the website to a place called Hug Point, near Cannon Beach. I’d been here before, actually, but never seen the array of veiled pleasures and interesting details tucked away in one rocky area or another. There’s a waterfall, a few sea caves (one has some intricate structure inside that’s fun to crawl), and this rather mysterious road going around the point. According to Beach Connection’s site, the state had dynamited this road out of the rock in the early part of the century so old horse ‘n’ buggies and Model T’s could make their way around during high tides.

The area is a geologist’s wonderland too – but that’s another story.

Next up, I wander Cannon Beach and wind up in this tiny little wonder called Fultano’s Pizza. I ordered the penne pasta with meat sauce – and meatballs, of course. These meatballs are exceptional, with a marvelously multi-layered taste to them, like the subtleties you find in fine wine. The meat sauce is partially responsible for this, also with a few layers of goodness all its own. This place is a truly gourmet discovery, yet not only is it totally kid friendly but thoroughly has a romance element as well.

I came back here for dinner too, having this seriously delectable pizza with a sauce made from mashed grapes. This was fabulous, and I must say I’ve never had anything like it. 200 N. Hemlock and Second Street. (503) 436-9717.

That night, I bed down at a real charmer of a motel called the San Dune Inn in Manzanita, where I’m joined by my lady friend and her dog. This place is super dog friendly.

They have a large selection of movies, as well as other unique things I’ve never seen at a motel, like bikes for use of guests, volleyball gear, beach balls and other beachy equipment. Wow. We had a blast biking down to the beach (only a few blocks) and laughing as we got stuck in the sand. That night, after drinks at Guido’s beautifully hip little retro bar (just a few miles away), we dragged the bikes out again – although I’m not sure if this what the owners had in mind for these. 428 Dorcas Lane. www.sandune-inn-manzanita.com. 888-368-5163.

In the morning, we scarf down a combo of leftovers from Guido’s and Fultano’s, and slowly make our way north towards home. We stop at a castle-looking bed & breakfast called Arch Cape House and take a look around, completely awe-struck. Antiques filled these rooms, and the place looks like something between a castle and a ski lodge. We make a vow to the owners to be back and stay here next time. East Ocean Rd. – S. of Cannon Beach. www.archcapehouse.com. 800-436-2848.

For more information on the Oregon coast, make sure you go to www.beachconnection.net. You’ll find virtual tours, weather, lodging, dining, and as they claim, loads of “beach secrets.”

About The Author

Ben Randall is a freelance writer from Oregon specializing in travel, Internet and the media.

benrandall_or@yahoo.com

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Nightlife in Long Beach NY
 by: Joey Longbeach

What is the best way to cap off a day of fun in the sun spent on a pristine white sand beach? How about partying all night bathed by ocean kissed breezes, along a strip of wild and exotic bars and night clubs that runs the length of the beach just a few feet inland? This is summer night life in Long Beach NY, a hidden jewel located on the south shore of Long Island New York.

By day a beach town, Long Beach is dotted with unique shops, boutiques, cafes, galleries, and restaurants serving a variety of fine cuisines. The centerpiece is its famous boardwalk, which runs several miles along Park Ave., the cities traditional commercial center. However as the sun sets and the party begins, the focus turns to the areas West End, a two mile long half mile wide stretch of land bordered by beach on one side and bay on the other. This area has the cities highest concentration of restaurants and cafes, many of which convert after hours into some of the trendiest bars and night clubs in long island. The result of such a concentration of evening entertainment so close to the beach front, is a night time mile long revelry of drink and merriment which can last until the wee hours of the morning.

One of the most well-known hot spots on this strip is Minnesota’s. By day a bar and grille, nighttime sees the transformation of this establishment into a high powered night club with great DJ’s and awesome music. About a block away one can find The Inn. Another restaurant turned bar/club after-hours, the Inn generally offers live music on the weekends, and has a more laid back attitude then the formal feeling Minnesota’s can evoke.

Other places to go after hours in Long Beach include the Twisted Kilt, which is known for its generous drink specials and its eclectic crowd, the Whales tail, which is so popular they often have to open the front of the restaurant to let people spill out onto the sidewalk, and the Tiki Bar, which generally caters to a more mature crowd, and features live music and outdoor grilling.

As the evening ends and the sun begins to rise, there are few sights more inspiring then that of the rosy dawn rising above the waves of the Long Beach shore. As a salty breeze sweeps in off the water, the day begins again, the shops open, the residents emerge from their homes, and the city settles back into its peaceful demeanor. It will be winter soon, and the cabanas and beach bars will close their doors against the harsh cold of winters might. Still, the wild summer nights of long beach are always there, just beyond the sunset, awaiting those who would explore their endless possibilities.

About The Author

Joey Longbeach is the author of this article, and a resident of Long Island New York. His website, http://hungrymenus.com/longbeach has restaurant information on establishments located in Long Beach NY and surrounding areas.

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Top Beaches In San Diego

If you are looking for a summer vacation in the sun, San Diego is hard to beat. There is plenty to do, but most people are interested in hitting the beaches.

San Diego is a popular vacation destination. There is a lot to do. You can go to the San Diego Zoo, take in the nightlife or sit in the sun at a Padres game. Ah, who am I kidding? Everyone wants to go to the beach. The good news is San Diego has plenty of them. Even better, the beaches all have different vibes, which means there is one for everyone.

If you are looking for a beach with lots of hard bodies and a party atmosphere, one stands above all the others. Mission Beach is located about 5 minutes north of downtown San Diego. The beach is a wide, white beach with a whole lot going on. If you are looking for the young party crowd, this is the place. Try to go early as parking is a pain and fills up quickly.

Perhaps your hard body, party years passed a while back. You want to hit the beach, but are looking for a calmer atmosphere. Del Mar is the place. Del Mar is located about 15 minutes north of downtown San Diego. The atmosphere is more family oriented and relaxed.

Del Mar offers an added benefit. From the middle of June through the Fourth of July, you can walk over to the Del Mar Fair. It is a smorgasbord of booths, concerts, rides and a good time.

If you are in Del Mar in late July through early September, the fair closes and the horse-racing season takes place. The races start at 2 p.m. and concerts are often held afterwards. You can hit the beach early in the day and go play the ponies in the afternoon.

Some people just prefer to relax in solitude at the beach. Put another way, they prefer to be on the beach with as few people as possible. During the summer, San Diego beaches are packed,
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but there are a few secret spots. Solana Beach is located just north of Del Mar. Cliffs back the beach, so there are not a lot of people. To find solitude, just park at the end of Lomas Sante Fe, the main street, and walk north or south along the beach till you find a perfect spot.

There is little doubt that beaches in San Diego are epic during the summer. That being said, keep in mind that there can be coastal cloud cover much of June, known as “June Gloom.” Even if you experience this, there are plenty of other things to do.

By: John Grimes

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Get natural products for the outdoors such as biodegradable sunscreen and natural insect repellent at AllTerrainco.com.

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To cruise or not to cruise – that’s a question many of our middle-age friends are asking as they consider ways to spend their vacation time and hard-earned money. A lot of people have one of two images – the Party Animal Special with 20-somethings being rowdy and stupid, or the God’s Waiting Room cruise with a demographic roughly equivalent to your local Senior Center.

The truth is that most cruises fall somewhere in between, although there are cruise lines and destinations known to appeal to the very young or to the very old. We just came back from our second trip on Holland America Line – this time to the Western Caribbean – and we found both of those cruises to have a smattering of the young, a few more of the old, but a lot of people like us who were smack in the middle.

When friends ask us if they should try a cruise, we say by all means. We view cruising as a kind of sampler vacation – a week or 10 days in which you get to try several destinations and decide which ones you think you would enjoy visiting for an entire vacation period. The disadvantage for us is that we often feel like we would like to spend more time in a port when it’s time to leave.

But consider the advantages. With cruising, you pack and unpack your bags once, while the scenery changes before your very eyes. With most cruise lines, the meals are no-muss, no-fuss, always cooked and ready for you to eat when you’re hungry — and also when you’re not. Alcoholic drinks usually cost extra, but meals are generally covered with your price of admission. Most onboard activities are covered and only shore excursions cost extra. Dining arrangements usually put you in situations where it’s easy to meet new friends.

Our most recent cruise was on the Veendam out of Tampa, Florida, visiting Cozumel, Mexico, Montego Bay, Jamaica and Grand Cayman Island. This seven-day itinerary was about the right combination of shore time — one day per destination – and cruising. The Veendam produces a program each day outlining the myriad of activities that are available for the passengers. The line-up is impressive. You can learn to yoga, or enjoy a spa, or take in a cooking demonstration, or just play games. At night, the ship features professional entertainment in its theaters and lounges.

Of special note to parents bringing children, Holland America Line makes Club Hal available to passengers who want to drop off their grade school-to-pre-teen kids. This was a hit with our seven-year-old who enjoyed the games and crafts but especially liked the idea of meeting new friends on board that were her own age. There is a separate meeting and program area for the teens.

On the Veendam, our “triple” stateroom gave us a couple of twin beds and a couch for our daughter to sleep on. With lots of closet and drawer space, the couple of hundred square feet didn’t seem particularly small. We didn’t have a veranda – or private outside balcony – but going with just a window saved us about $500 a week.

While a veranda is great to kick back in privacy, read a book and watch the ocean go by, we found an excellent substitute on the Veendam: Deck 6. This is the outdoor promenade deck which is lined with a single row of deck chairs perfect for watching the scenery. It’s also where we did our daily walking – four times around to walk a mile.

Days in port can be pre-planned by buying shore excursions such as boat trips, snorkeling trips and various sightseeing tours. We did do one snorkeling adventure – on the Nautilus “submarine” in Grand Cayman, which turned out to be an especially great way to see the abundant fish life in George Town Bay – but generally we preferred to not have any set schedule for our days in port. We like to get off the ship, start walking the town and then take taxis or buses as necessary to see sights we had previously researched.

As you might expect, great beaches and warm-water swimming and snorkeling were plentiful in all three of these destinations. But each destination had its own flavor and attractions and we especially enjoyed such destinations as the Harbour Street Craft Market in Montego Bay – where we loved getting to know the local merchants and vendors – and Cozumel’s Chankanaab National Park, where there are beaches galore, giant iguanas run wild and even a pool where visitors can swim with dolphins. On Grand Cayman Island, we found the perfect snorkeling beach at Seven Mile Beach – ideal because the water was clear, the fish plentiful and the people sparse.

Back on the Veendam, the food was generally prepared to a high standard and we usually ate breakfast and lunch in the cafeteria-style Lido restaurant, and dinner in the Rotterdam dining room. There were three formal evenings – meaning everybody gets to dress up for dinner — with all other meals remaining casual. Interestingly, we overheard some older passengers complaining there was too much cafeteria dining, not enough formal – yet we probably would have preferred even fewer formal dinners. It’s hard to please all the people all the time.

Each day, Holland America Line will charge you $10 toward tipping cabin stewards and wait staff who have helped you during your voyage. Frankly we were glad to pay it – the service was as good as any umpteen-star hotel we’ve visited, always cheerful and responsive. For decades, Holland America Line has been recruiting most of the ship’s workers from Indonesia and the Philippines – even to the point of establishing training facilities in those areas – and it seems to be a great marriage. Kids and grandkids of former cruise workers readily sign up to continue the tradition, while Holland America continues to get high marks on its service.

One thing our friends sometimes ask about is this whole thing about people getting sick while cruising. Indeed, with news stories cropping up from time to time about illness aboard cruise ships – including one very recent episode on a San Diego-based ship – it’s only natural that prospective passengers want to know if they’ll be safe on the high seas. Television, newspapers and the internet jump on the story and you can almost feel the air being squeezed out of the industry as cruise companies try to unring the bell of negative publicity.

On this most recent cruise, we spent some time with the captain and his executive staff talking about the precautions that Holland America Line employees (and indeed most cruise lines) take to prevent an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness. The captain and his staff explained that, once a virus breaks out, it’s quite difficult and time-consuming to purify an entire ship. And so Holland America Line for some time has been waging a pro-active battle – what they call a “Code Yellow” alert – that encourages passengers to wash their hands frequently and avoid physical contact with other passengers. The Veendam greeting, the captain said – only half joking – is to touch elbows, not shake hands.

Indeed, before we even stepped on board the Veendam, we had already been told to wash our hands using one of dozens of Purell dispensers placed all around the ship. Every time we went to eat, dispensers were at the ready. And we noticed railings on the ship were scrubbed and polished many times each day just to avoid transferring germs.

AT A GLANCE

WHERE: Holland America Line’s Veendam currently is cruising out of Tampa, Florida. This particular trip included destinations in the Western Caribbean.

WHAT: Cruising, whether the Caribbean, the Mexican Rivera or anywhere else in the world is getting even more popular with baby-boomers who enjoy the amenities and convenience.

WHEN: Any time of the year, depending on your destination. Cruise lines generally re-position ships to take advantage of increased passenger interest for certain destinations during certain seasons.

WHY: Cruising, in a word, is convenient. Today’s ships are so large there are plenty of activities to keep you busy. Cruising also allows you to sample several locations in one trip without having to pack and unpack..

HOW: For more information on Holland America Line cruises, phone 877-SAIL-HAL or visit http://www.hollandamerica.com.

About The Author

Cary Ordway is president of Getaway Media Corp which publishes websites focused on regional travel. Among the sites offered by GMC are http://www.californiaweekend.com and http://www.northwesttraveladvisor.com.

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Barcelona is the capital of Catalunya, one of the richest and most fiercely independent regions in Spain. Catalan people speak their own language and many do not believe themselves to be Spanish. The golden age of Catalunya was around the twelfth to fourteenth centuries, when Barcelona was the centre of the great seafaring empire of Aragon. In addition to Barcelona, Catalunya is made up of the cities of Lleida, Girona and Tarragona, and the long Costa Brava, stretching from the French border to Valencia.

Barcelona has become a real tourist trap for the fantastic mixture of activities on offer there. Its coastal location attracts sun worshipers who enjoy the beach front resorts along the coast, as well as the vibrant nightlife of the city centre. The cultural and historical delights of the town appeal to the sightseer, visiting for a long weekend, and the more active will love hiking in the nearby mountains, where skiing can be found in winter.

The most famous symbol of Barcelona and one sight that all holidaymakers want to visit is Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia. Even those that have not visited the city will be familiar with the dripping wax image of the main façade. The famous architect began work on this church in 1882, however the task took a long time as the building work relied on donations, and it had not been completed in 1926 when Gaudi was struck by a train and died. Work has since recommenced on the church and much has been added since Gaudi’s death, but there is speculation as to whether the building will ever be completely finished, or in fact whether it really should be.

You can pay to go up inside one of the towers, of which there are now eight, each one over one hundred meters high. The initial design was meant to incorporate eighteen towers, one for each of the twelve apostles, four for the Evangelists, and one each for Jesus and the Virgin Mary.

Other piece of Gaudi’s work can be seen all over the city. You will want to pull the Park Guell, La Pedrera and the Mila house into your itinerary if you possibly can.

You can get detailed information about the sights of Barcelona before you go from your travel agent, the internet, or the tourist information office in Barcelona’s main square once you get there. Make sure you pick up a map showing all the main sights as well as the major stores, restaurants and hotels. Also consider going on a bus tour of the city. It is a great way to get your bearings in a very busy and crowded city, and give you an idea of the distance between places of interest. Talk to your guide, they may be able to give you local information about great eating places and temporary exhibitions that will not be marked on your map. You will never get bored in Barcelona; your only concern will be how to fit in everything you want to see.

About The Author

Focusing on latest news in Barcelona, Robert Carlton writes articles most often for http://www.barcelona-information.com . His work on Sagrada Familia are published on http://barcelona-information.com/sagrada-familia.html and also other websites.

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Myrtle Beach Golf Courses Face New Competition
 by: Evans Putman

Fall is here and the Myrtle Beach golf industry is booming. Heat and humidity are falling as fast as the summer crowds are leaving. With its average temperatures hovering around seventy five degrees, the Grand Strand area is perfect for a golf vacation.

Even with rising golf rates and threats of hurricanes, golfers will flood the fairways and fill rooms left behind by families on summer vacation. With this impending rush of golfers to the Myrtle Beach area, you would think all is well in the local golf industry.

Think again.

The over saturation of golf courses in the Grand Strand is and has been a cause for worry with course owners. Golf courses are not seeing the same high numbers of golfers or profits they have in the past. However, it seems the growing competition amongst Myrtle Beach golf courses is not the main problem behind golf industry woes. It is only a contributing factor.

What is the new competition facing the golf industry in Myrtle Beach?

It is the real estate boom. With sagging sales of tee times, some golf course owners are finding it hard to ignore the real estate developers knocking at their front doors. Developers salivate over many golf course properties but not only because of the Myrtle Beach and nationwide housing boom. They also find the zoning of many courses a perfect fit for development plans.

For example, Belle Terre Golf Course is one of the latest to announce its imminent closure. According to Alan Boldin of the Myrtle Beach Sun News, “The property is zoned RC/HC, which is Highway Commercial and Resort Commercial, which allows resort-related commercial uses, several residential uses including multi-family condos and single-family homes, and low-scale businesses such as offices, restaurants, grocery stores, etc., that might comprise a town center.”

Not only does this zoning allow for multiple uses, it also means that a potential real estate developer possibly does not have to apply to the county for zoning changes.

Think this isn’t a trend?

At least two layouts at Bay Tree are closing. Raccoon Run just closed its doors along with Ocean Isle Beach Golf Club and Calabash Golf Links. Over all the number of Myrtle Beach golf courses has dropped from 117 public golf courses down to 110. There are rumors that up to a dozen more are considering selling to developers.

It is hard to say when this trend will end. But it seems that the Myrtle Beach golf industry has run into formidable opponent. Golfers shouldn’t get too worried. We are sure Myrtle Beach will continue to be the “Golf Mecca” for many years to come.

Copyright 2005 Evans Putman http://www.PerfectGolfVacations.com – All Rights Reserved. Reprints allowed see below.

About The Author

Evans Putman

Article courtesy of http://www.PerfectGolfVacations.com your source for the best golf destination information. We deliver “Truth in Golf Travel”. PerfectGolfVacations.com delivers the best local market information and word-of-mouth recommendations from golf destinations like Myrtle Beach, Las Vegas, Ireland, Hilton Head, and more. Keep current with updates, news and specials at our blog http://www.PerfectGolfVacations.blogspot.com.

This article may be reprinted with no changes, omissions, or additions. All links must be left live and in tact.

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Myrtle Beach Golf Courses

Golf is a gentleman’s game which is fun to play and equally invigorating to watch when a great player is on one of Myrtle Beach Golf Courses. However, you need to know where to go to in order to have an effective golfing session. In fact, there are a number of places out there which provide golfing pleasure, but only a few of them that actually manage to succeed with their claims. One of these would have to be Myrtle Beach Golf Courses, which are considered to be quality golf courses without the premium price.

There are multiple reasons for Myrtle Beach golf to be so popular among golfers. To begin with, Myrtle Beach is a fascinating place in itself. There are a lot of activities that can be fun and involve the whole family. It’s one of South Carolina’s premier destinations for millions of people. Consequently, the golf here is of a higher quality as well. You get to indulge in one of the finest sports in the world at one of the best locations. The quality of the golf here at these golf beach resorts is truly one of a kind, which makes it all the more worth it.

Of course, you might be thinking that all of this will only be at a premium price and something that you might not be able to afford. Fortunately, the good news is that these courses are very affordable. In contrast to the ones at Miami and other exotic locations, you should know that the Myrtle Beach Golf Courses are actually relatively inexpensive and easier to get into. You don’t have to wait forever and at the same time, you can be assured of a quality experience while you’re here. This is definitely one of the nicest places to play championship golf.

By: InterCoastal Net Designs

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Tilghman Beach and Golf Resort of North Myrtle Beach specializes in

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Europeans Tourists Head Stateside

A devalued US dollar was welcome news to international skiers earlier this year.

United States ski resorts reported seeing more international visitors than previous recent years. They credit this primarily to the lower exchange rate of the dollar vs. other currencies. People like getting the most bang for their buck, no matter what buck their currency represents.

During the recently passed ski season, guests booked extended stays months in advance. Resorts reported that skiers who would generally stay two to four days have extended their visits to seven to 10 days due to getting better prices for their currency.

International guests also shopped and spent more money at local stores and restaurants and on rental equipment.

Some resorts reported that the number of Canadian skiers was up by 20 percent. Stowe and Smuggler’s Notch reported stronger bookings from Europe during the Easter holiday break. Eastern United States ski resorts had a very good 2007-2008 ski season due to an early Easter holiday, steady winter storms and a weak dollar.

European ski destinations such as France, Switzerland and Andorra were all affected by more skiers heading for North America, and some hotels in Andorra have already reported that a second year of a high Euro and low Dollar could impact their 2008/9 ski season bookings.

Now that skiing has come to an end for this season, holiday goers will be looking for great summertime destinations. The dollar is still lower in value than it has been in years, making the United States a more viable tourist destination. Many hotels are already booked for prime summer travel months. Theme park operators are looking forward to the potential influx of tourists due to current exchange rates.

Many favourite ski resort destinations also double as favourite summertime destinations. Most resorts offer great summer activities as well as ski packages.

North American ski resorts offer summertime camping, fishing, hiking and other outdoor activities.

Children’s camps are one of the more popular summertime activities at resorts. Several favourites offer summertime concerts and other special events. Some special events include mountain biking and the occasional poker run.

Prime holiday destinations, such as the Balearic and Canary Islands could potentially see a decrease in holiday traffic this year. The typical holiday on the island of your choice will be more expensive due to current exchange rates.

Some of the more popular summertime destinations in the United States are Florida, Colorado, California, Washington D.C. and New York.

One of Florida’s main family attractions is Disney World. Disney World is one of the most visited family holiday destinations in the world. Other Florida destinations include Daytona Beach, Miami, Busch Gardens and Kissimmee.

Colorado, Washin
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gton D.C. and New York offer great historic and educational holiday opportunities for families looking for more than roller coasters and swimming pools.

Current monetary exchange rates as of April 2008 allow the purchase of a $75 theme park ticket for 47 euros or just under 38 sterling.

The current decreased value of the dollar allows great potential for more international visitors to enjoy an American vacation during 2008.

Cheaper airfares from many destinations in Europe will help offset the current exchange rate for Europeans who enjoy the occasional weekend trip to the Balearic Islands.

By: Paul la Vella-7925

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

For skiiers considering a European ski holiday for the 2008/9 season, yourandorra.com includes a map of Andorra and ski holidays in both Europe and Northern America with Crystal ski

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Foreclosures Of Rich And Famous People

Although the rich and famous are rich and famous, it doesn’t mean that they are impervious to the popping of the real estate bubble. Many have succumbed to real estate woes as of late.

Ed McMahon had tabloids a talking when his real estate troubles became front page news last year. The now deceased celebrity attributed his dollar difficulties to alimony paid out to ex-wives and the economic downturn.

Aretha Franklin set the record straight about her exclusive Detroit suburban home. It went into foreclosure due to non-payment of property tax. She could have lost her $400,000 home to foreclosure due to $445 in back property taxes that accumulated into $20,000, since 2005. She said it was an oversight by her attorney. Once alerted of the situation, the Queen of Soul satisfied the debt.

Amber Frey, infamous ex-mistress of convicted murderer Scott Peterson lost her home northern California home to foreclosure. At auction, the asking price was over $200,000 less than the original purchase price. No one snatched up the deal at a low $305,000. She ended up surrendering the property to the bank.

Fantasia of American Idol fame came close to losing her home in Charlotte, North Carolina. The R&B singer settled with her Florida lender just days before the auction was scheduled to sell her pond-front home.

Extreme Makeover scandal hit the Harper family home in Atlanta, George when it went into foreclosure and would have been sold had it not been for … even more … generous donations. The most expansive Extreme Makeover ever seen was completed with much dedication, sweat and effort by volunteers, along with a deluge of donated dollars. Taking out a $400,000+ loan for a construction business that went belly up put the Harper’s home in harm’s way.

Laura Richardson, California Congresswoman, fell behind on property tax and mortgage payments in 2008. To the disdain of Sharon Helmar who sold it to her, the Long Beach home went into foreclosure and was sold. Neighbors noted that she did not keep up the lawn or take out her garbage.

Sports figures are not unfamiliar with foreclosure, either. Latrell “Spree” Sprewell, former NBA guard known for choking his then Coach P. J. Carlesimo, lost his 70-foot yacht and his Milwaukee home to foreclosure. Assessed at a mere $668,000, the home’s value was nowhere near what most other sports professionals in his pay range own.

Jose Conseco experienced women woes, which caused him to lose his expansive 7,300 square foot Encino, California mansion. At least, that’s his story. He said he lost $7 to $8 million on his two divorces that left him hard up for cash and was unable to pay his mortgage.

Not to anyone’s surprise, Michael Vick’s home was in foreclosure, since he was in prison and no longer could come up with the cash. Once NFL’s highest paid player, the dog-fig
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ht diva was convicted and was to serve 23 months in prison. He was released earlier this year to serve out the rest of his sentence in home confinement.

Evander Holyfield, famous for his fight with Mike “I’ll Bite Your Ear Off” Tyson, had his Fairburn, Georgia home in foreclosure. He was also behind on child support payments to a mother of one of his eleven children, and being sued for not paying $550,000 he loaned he owed to a consulting company.

Michael Jackson (King of Pop), MC Hammer (Hammertime fame), Veronica Hearst (Randolph Hearst widow), Scott Storch (previous hip-hop producer), Damon Dash (hip-hop mogul), Doug E. Fresh (rap icon), Vin Baker (former NBA star), Wyclef Jean (Fugees’ frontman) and other famous actors, performers and sports professionals have all experienced foreclosure.

By: Dane Smith

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Ki graduated from UT with a CS degree. Now he works with Austin real estate. He has a website allowing buyers to search Austin MLS listings. He also keeps an updated blog on Austin Texas real estate.

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