Kerry Streason's Travel Blog

Deciding to take a long flight overseas might have been something you have wanted to do for a long time.  Depending on where you live, your flight could take up to twenty hours with connecting flights and lay overs but you know it will be worth it for the amazing sites, sounds, tastes and cultures you will experience.   You want your trip to go smoothly and so you ask others who have made this trip if they have any tips to offer you.

These days, what you will hear a lot of is to have some travel apps with you.  Travel apps can have you converting currency and translating languages fast and easy and it’s all there on your phone.  There are travel apps that will help you pack, keep track of all your travel documents, show you where the nearest restaurant or bathrooms are and there are travel apps that will let you leave your guide books at home.  If you need to make a last minute hotel reservation, there’s an app for that and for those who want to Skype those back home, that is possible also.

Booking tours in advance is always a good idea so you are sure to have a place when you arrive.  Nothing worse then counting on a certain tour and then come to find it is booked during your visit.  You can find many more travel tips online and if you want to shop for a new phone, one that supports apps, just go to mobilephones.org.uk and check out the deals and choices.  The best travel tips come from those who have traveled a lot.  They can offer ideas about places to eat and places to visit that are away from the usual tourist spots.

The Norfolk Broads are the UK’s most popular boating destination and no wonder with the beautiful scenery and the chance to sample real ale en route. They also support some of the UK’s most interesting wildlife. The whole family will love exploring the area, the wildlife and the joy of a boat ride.

Rare And Common Sights
The beauty of a well balanced ecosystem is that everything has its place and every part of the chain is important. The Norfolk Broads contains and supports many rare species of flora and fauna as well as the more commonly seen. You might just spot an otter, hare or even a grey seal from the side of your boat. Reeds and rushes support a variety of interesting birds. The Marsh Harrier uses them successfully as nesting grounds and various species of duck nest and fish there too. The small mammals along banks support larger birds such as the majestic Horned Owl.

River cruiser or canal boat hire is a lovely way to see the area and the best way to spot rare flowers and animals. Despite being the most popular boating destination, the Norfolk Broads are a peaceful place and the gentle movement of the boats is less likely to startle a Kingfisher or Bittern and means you have more time for the whole family to see a rare Southern Marsh Orchid growing on the banks. There is plenty of time to get out the camera at this pace, too.

Range Of Water Habitats
The different forms of water, the lakes, canals and rivers, each support different species, each important in their own way. Children might particularly enjoy spotting the minibeasts on each (known as invertebrates to us big people), which as well as being part of the national curriculum in England, Wales and Scotland hold a particular fascination for many small people. They might even spot a rare Norfolk Hawker Dragonfly, which is hardly ever seen outside of Norfolk and Suffolk and lives on flatter beds of water such as reed beds and marshes that support the plants it lives on.

The marshes also host some beautiful flowers, such as the Marsh Marigold and the Yellow Flag Iris. Open water supports Britains’s largest flowered plant, the White Waterlily. If you spot this latter, which you are almost certain to, do look out for the animals that enjoy its surface and shade, such as frogs, dragonflies and fish. Perhaps you will spot a colourful perch under the leaves. There is also the smooth newt to look out for, which, much like a penguin, is a little comical on land but graceful in the water. Many species of butterfly also enjoy the Broads, alongside the fascinatingly named Whirlygig Beetle, with one eye pointing up and the other down.

Boating holidays provide such a change of pace that you will find you go back to the ‘real’ world refreshed and with some incredible memories of grey seals and horned owls. The Norfolk broads are never dull. There is such an astounding variety of animals, plants and birds to spot and enjoy in their natural habitat that as well as being educational the whole family will enjoy themselves immensely.

AUTHOR BIO
Jennifer writes regularly about canal boat hire for a variety of travel blogs and websites. In her spare time she enjoys snorkeling, reading and eating gingerbread.

When you sign up for an adventure holiday in Canada or Alaska, you will have the chance to view breathtaking sights. You’ll also participate in many fun small-group activities. Read on for an overview of popular Canada and Alaska trips and for helpful information on booking a holiday online.

Overview of Canada Adventure Holidays

Canada adventure holidays, designed for a small traveling tour group, vary in length from four days to 17 days. Examples of available tours include the Best of the Rockies, the Churchill Polar Bear Experience, the Canadian Park Trails, the Atlantic Maritimes, the Canadian Family Discovery, the Vancouver Island Wildlife Mini and the Yukon Canoe Expedition. Participants have the opportunity to engage in activities such as canoeing, bird and wildlife viewing, rafting, hiking, fishing, touring a gold mine and exploring islands. These tours offer a close view of several Canadian highlights, which may include Jasper National Park, the city of Vancouver, Yoho National Park, the Athabasca Glacier and Banff National Park.

Overview of Alaska Adventure Holidays

Though Canada and Alaska holidays may vary in terms of duration and itinerary, they all offer days and nights of activity-filled excitement. If you are interested in an Alaska small-group holiday, you can choose among tours such as the Alaskan Adventure Tour, various Alaskan Adventure Cruises, the Wild Alaska and Northern Lights Tour, the Alaska, Denali and Northern Lights Tour, the Alaska, Yukon and Arctic Circle Tour and the Alaskan Highlights Tour. Examples of tour activities, which differ according to which tour is selected, include camping, kayaking, hiking, wildlife viewing, cave exploring, beachcombing, whitewater rafting and fishing. Some of the main tourist attractions on Alaska tours include the city of Anchorage, Kenai Fjords National Park and Denali National Park. These adventure holidays range in length from eight days to three weeks.

Booking an Adventure Tour Online

The process of booking an adventure holiday in Canada or Alaska is a simple one when you reserve your ticket online. All that you need to do is search for a tour that interests you, choose a date of departure and select the number of people who will be participating. After you press the booking button, you can enter all of your personal, passport and credit card details into a secure server, confirm your reservation and wait for an email that contains your travel invoice.

These adventure tours in Canada and Alaska provide single people with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to establish friendships with fellow travel enthusiasts from a number of regions. If you are searching for a comprehensive travel experience without the hassle of complicated booking, consider the option of an adventure holiday.

AUTHOR BIO

Dana Brackenridge developed her love of writing about travel after spending several single holidays abroad. As both a writer and editor, she has contributed articles to a broad range of travel websites and blogs. Dana especially loves writing about Canada and Alaska holidays and has fond memories of visiting both regions.

You might think that everyone packs pretty much the same things when they travel but you would be wrong.  People who have experienced being sick while on vacation will always pack some over-the-counter products so they are prepared if it happens again.   Some people pack clothes for every type of weather so no matter how much the weather might change, they will never be lacking for something to wear.  Other will bring shoes for all occasions so they are prepared for walking, hiking, shopping, dancing or a night out on the town for dinner.

Someone who has travel plans that will have them on a sunny tropical island somewhere, will bring their own sunscreen because you never know what choices you will have at your location.  Sun hats, shorts, flip flops and bathing suits might be all they need to wear, but along with that beach vacation could also be the need for a couple good books, magazines, deck of cards or translation book for the trip into town to buy souvenirs.

A very popular group of islands that is often a choice for island lovers are found just off the west coast of Africa.  Here are the Canary Island with Tenerife and Gran Canaria being common destination choices.  More information on these two island can be found at Respect-Holidays.co.uk where you can read about the charcoal sand beaches.  After years of travel, you come to learn what not to pack and which items are a must, those things that come in handy and make your trip that much more enjoyable and comfortable.

You know those things you need each day, whether they be you favorite walking shoes, sunglasses or your travel bag for shopping for souvenirs, your essentials will always be with you.

Whether it is boating through the Norfolk Broads or walking through the many acres of woodland that England has to offer, there is a fun activity holiday that will suit you and your family or friends.

Adventure holidays don’t have to mean theme parks, sports or traveling to the ends of the Earth. Why not get back to nature in England instead?

Taking a family holiday can be expensive, particularly in the current financial climate. Sometimes, the best holidays can be found at home or not far from it and England has lots to offer. Adventure holidays are a fantastic way to spend time with your family as well as to enjoy some exercise and the great outdoors.

Canal and River Boating, Norfolk Broads

The Norfolk Broads has some of the most beautiful wildlife in England and you can explore them on one of the boat tours offered in the area. Start from Horning and pass through Wroxham viewing the unspoilt countryside and the rare species of bird, animals and plants. There are also wildlife walks where you can get up close and personal with nature.

Family adventure holidays are not complete without some fun activities and, as well as hiking or boating, you can also try your hand at horse riding in Norfolk.

Jungle Trek, Trebah Garden, Falmouth

This 26 acre garden in Cornwall is world class and home to varying rare species of plants, trees and birds. It also leads down to a beach on the Hertford River. There are children’s trails weaving through tunnels and the exotic gardens, while there are paragliding opportunities for adults. Take a picnic along and have lunch in amongst nature or relax on the beach.

Bedgebury Forest, East Sussex

One to take the kids to, the Go Ape experience in Bedgebury Forest is a great way for you to get some exercise with its bike trails and the children’s adventure play trail. There are also guided walks for adults and a high wire 13 metres up, for your daredevil kids.

Explore the peaceful National Pinetum nearby with its beautiful conifers, marvellous species’ of bird including Goldcrests and Hawfinches as well as the placid lakes and streams. For children who love learning, there are wildlife safaris held in the pinetum, where they will get to explore some of the smaller creatures that inhabit the Walled Garden area.

Woburn Safari Park, Bedfordshire

Travel by car through 360 acres of land and see a variety of exotic safari animals. Travel through the Northern Plains and see the North American bison and watch the rhino, buffalo and zebra graze in the African Savannah section. Also included are the Asian elephants, lions, tigers, bears and wolves, as well as the primates and the desert camels.

To awaken your sense of adventure, why not travel on foot? Here you will see the smaller animals such as the lemurs, penguins, wallabies and various species of bird. There is also the children’s play arc, the Swan Boats and even a six lane slide for both adults and children.

There are plenty of adventures to experience in England and this kind of holiday is a great opportunity to try something different while bonding with your family and friends. The mix of nature and adventure will provide you with a unique experience that you will remember for years to come.

Jennifer Morgan writes regularly on family adventure holidays for a range of travel websites and blogs. She specializes in holidays in the UK.