Vacations Blog

Scotland, in the British Isles, is a fantastic destination to take a vacation with a copious list of attractions including some of the greatest museums and galleries in the UK,  ideal countryside for ramblers, hikers, mountain climbers, hill-walkers and others as well as a huge selection of castles, historical buildings, stately homes and fortified houses.  Below I talk about the island of Arran and explain why the island is such a fantastic destination for a vacation.

Arran is the 7th largest island in Scotland and even though Arran is commonly referred to as being in the Hebrides it is in fact located further south in the Firth of Clyde. Because tourism is the main industry on Arran you will not find it surprising that there is a huge number of Arran hotels. Even though the overall majority of folk visit the island in order to enjoy the awesome countryside the island also has a reasonable number of attractions including; Brodick Castle Gardens and Country Park, Kildonan Castle, Arran Transport Museum and Arran Heritage Museum.

There are several population centres, the biggest settlement is Brodick, the site of the ferry terminal with ferries running to Ardrossan on the North Ayrshire coast. Lamlash, four miles south of Brodick, is where you can sail to Holy Island.

Lochranza is main settlement in the northerly part of the island and will find the ferry terminal with sailings to Claonaig on the Scottish mainland. It is important to know that the ferry only sails in the summer. Lochranza is set in a wide, and extremely pretty, bay with the ruins of Lochranza Castle being the most popular tourist attraction.

Blackwaterfoot is the most populous village on the western coast of the Isle of Arran. The village features a pub (bar), a small harbour, a garage and petrol station. Other villages worth visiting include; Catacol (in the north), Kilmory (south coast), Whiting Bay (south of Brodick), Corrie (north of Brodick) and last but not least Pirnmill which has the best beach on Arran.

If you considering a vacation in Scotland and you are looking for Arran hotels please take a look at our listings of bed & breakfast on the Isle of Arran.

Camping in New England can be truly an appreciated adventure when you go during the height of the fall foliage. While it is true that you can go camping elsewhere during those fall months and watch the leaves change, there is something more vibrant and crisper about the changing leaves in New England. Whether you have ever previously witnessed the changing leaves in any of these historically rich and naturally beautiful states or you are just looking for the best campsites ever, this is the trip for you.

New England states have a very unique and interesting charm about them. It is derived in part from the cultural history as well as in part by the rich natural history of the area. Camping in New England means coming face to face with people and nature that can literally be so stunning that it can change your perspective on life forever.

There are simple fairs, like pumpkin festivals and sheep and wool festivals to all out  Oktoberfest fairs that bring out the beer drinker in all of us. Much of New England still  experiences the country life, and their country fairs are a tribute to the simple life that  brings about good times.

Of course, there is plenty of crystal clear fall fishing to take up a weekend or a two week  tour of these small states. Outdoor sports are part of a ling heritage within the New England  borders, and those that get to participate in them do so respectfully and in awe of the  natural wonders that still allow then to carry on the pride of their ancestors.

With New England’s small country charm you and your family are simply bound to have a great time. There is something magical about the crystal clear lakes and rivers you can fish for freshwater rainbow trout (or your choice of fish) and bring it back to the campfire for a whole new experience in fresh fish. Anyone who loves to experience the outdoor lifestyle should never pass up the chance to go camping in New England during those early fall months.

Camping in New England is beautiful, littered with historic significance, and brimming over with experiences and people that you just won’t find anywhere else. However, it is important to remember that the beauty of fall in New England is often accompanied by the unexpected chill that can easily be brought in on a fast moving cold front.

Always heed all weather warnings and make sure that you are able to receive regular weather updates to make sure that you aren’t about to find yourself smack dab in the middle of the changing weather unprepared.

Scotland offers the most glorious countryside in Great Britain making it a popular vacation destination. Countless visitors decide upon Edinburgh as their main destination, while some choose something a bit different. The following article looks at Scottish vacations and a variety of things to do when in Scotland. The article also examines the Wickerman Festival.

With such an incredibly diverse countryside the list of activities is endless. Mountain climbing is highly popular, as are hill walking vacations. The most popular holidays are fishing or golf. With the country of Scotland being the birthplace of golfing it should not surprise you that that you are hardly ever too distant from at least one excellent golf course. With the Rivers Spey, Tweed and Tay you are guaranteed of a superb days fishing. But what if you want an altogether different vacation?

An increasing number of people are choosing music festivals their yearly holiday. Although nearly all music festivals are incredibly large with a focus upon making money, there are a small selection of music festivals suitable for the family, for example Tartan Heart and the Wickerman Festival.

The Wickerman Festival is an yearly music and arts festival is held on farm land close to Dundrennan in Dumfries and Galloway about 5 miles from Kirkcudbright in Scotland. The festival celebrates the classic cult British movie, “The Wicker Man which the stars Sir Christopher Lee, Edward Woodward, Diane Cilento, Britt Ekland and Ingrid Pitt.

The first festival took place in July two thousand and two and was put together by a local man called Sid Ambrose. With little experience of putting together a music festival it is surprising that it still exists today, especially when you consider the present economic climate. Wickerman has changed each year and, like the movie, has a cult following.

Wickerman is hugely family friendly it has a great many child orientated activities for example, numerous fairground rides, a mountain biking trail, various workshops and face painting. This fact can be verified easily by searching MSN, Yahoo or Google for Wickerman photos 2009 or simply pop along to the official Wickerman Festival Gallery.

Close to the festival site is Kirkudbright where you will discover many locations used in the film for example Harbour Cottage (the bakery) and High Street Gallery which was used for May Morrison’s post office and sweetshop. You will find that there are many places worth visiting in the area and it is really worth taking a short break here so that you may visit all of the visitor attractions. Popular destinations in which to stay include Castle Douglas and Dumfries. Bed and breakfast accommodation in Scotland is nearly always excellent and is also fairly priced and far less expensive than staying in a hotel.

The popular holiday island of Lanzarote is located in the Canaries.  The group of seven Spanish owned islands located off the coast of Morocco close to the Tropic of Cancer.  Where tourists can bask in warm weather all year round. These favourable climatic conditions have earned the Canaries the position of one of the most visited destinations in Spain.  With Lanzarote – the most easterly of the islands - welcoming well over 1.5 million foreign arrivals on their holidays in Lanzarote during the course of last year alone.

So lets have a look and see why holidays in Lanzarote are such a popular choice and choosing to stay in one of the many Lanzarote villas and apartment that the island offers is becoming an increasingly popular private accommodation  choice amongst holiday makers.

Like all of the Canaries Lanzarote boasts a unique charm and character.  Visitors expecting a lush green island will be disappointed though.  As it is much more barren than the rest of the Canaries.  As a result of experiencing very little rainfall.  Whilst also boasting an arid terrain forged by volcanic eruptions centuries ago.

This volcanic region – called Timanfaya - was declared a national park back in 1974 – and dominates the island’s interior.  It’s also the most popular sight on Lanzarote thanks to its incredible lunar like scenery.  Which in the past has earned the region a number of starring roles in major movie productions.  Most recently Broken Embraces starring Penelope Cruz, the latest release from Spanish director Pedro Almodovar.

There are lots of different accommodation choices available to holidaymakers here.  With the island offering everything from cheap apartments through to luxury Lanzarote villas and hotels.  Most of which can be found in the main resorts such as Playa Blanca and Puerto del Carmen.  With a growing selection available across the countryside too as demand for rural accommodation grows.

Lanzarote offers more than just sunshine and volcanoes alone though.  There are over ninety beaches for visitors to explore.  The best of which can be found in traditional coastal villages such as Playa Quemada, Famara, Orzola and Arrieta – which all remain largely unspoiled.  Whilst each resort boasts a good selection of beaches too – although many of these are man made, created by using sand from the nearby Sahara desert.

Lanzarote was unfairly dubbed Lanzagrotty by Michael Palin during the 1970´s.  But this epithet couldn’t be further from the truth.  As the island offers a wealth of cultural attractions.  With over a dozen museums – such as the fascinating house musem the Palacio Spinola in Teguise.  Which provides an insight into the life of an 18th century island merchant.  Along with the many works of the local artist César Manrique.  Who famously fought for the controlled development of tourism on the island of his birth.

For the latest holiday offers be sure to visit the Lanzarote holiday villas vacation and travel web.

The popular holiday island of Lanzarote in the Canaries is home to three main resorts.  As well as the emerging marina of Puerto Calero – where visitors will find two upmarket hotels and an abundance of expensive yachts and craft from around the world.

Each of these resorts has a unique identity and offers a number of different attractions.  Whilst also offering plenty of accommodation options – with a variety of Lanzarote villas, apartments and hotels available for visitors to stay in.

So lets investigate some of the favourite holiday resorts renowned for a wide selection of self catering Lanzarote apartments and villas.

Puerto del Carmen

Puerto del Carmen started life as La Tiñosa before becoming Lanzarote´s most popular holiday destination during the 1970´s.  Thanks to an abundance of good value holiday apartment complexes…  Accommodation choices have evolved along with the resort and visitors can now select from a wide range of hotels and holiday villas too.

The island government has recently spent over €16 million sprucing up Carmen’s image in order to maintain its competiveness against newer destinations around the world.  So there’s never been a better time to visit.

Costa Teguise Holiday Accommodation

Situated towards the northern end of the island Costa Teguise is just a short hop away from Arrecife airport.  And started life as Lanzarote´s upmarket resort.  Designed to attract moneyed Scandinavian and German tourists during the early boom years of the 1970´s.

Costa Teguise´s excellent beaches and wide open plan feel helped to establish this as the second most popular spot on the island during the 1980´s.  But that crown slipped somewhat during the 1990´s as the resort rival of Playa Blanca was developed at the southern end of the island.  However it still remains an attractive destination and there’s plenty of hotels and holiday villas in Costa Teguise for visitors to choose from.

Playa Blanca

Last but not least Playa Blanca was developed during the 1990´s and offers a winning combination of great weather and fantastic beaches.  Allied with an excellent selection of hotels and holiday villas.

There´s an abundance of good quality hotels and villas in Playa Blanca for visitors to select from.  Whilst the resort has a delightful sea front promenade which unites the three main beaches of Playa Flamingo, Playa Blanca and Playa Dorada.  The famous sandy coves of Papagayo are also just a short walk away.

Go here for the best Lanzarote holiday accommodation ideas.

Glasgow is the largest, and most lively, city in Scotland with excellent opportunities for shopping plus an amazing night scene. For the more artistic tourist there are many places to go especially in the West End which features tea rooms, boutiques, bars, cafés, restaurants and clubs as well as some upmarket Glasgow bed and breakfast accommodation. In the article which follows I will discuss 3 attractions in Glasgow which should be of special interest to those who enjoy all things artistic; the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, the Burrell Collection and the House For An Art Lover:

The Burrell Collection

Sir william Burrell and his wife gifted the Burrel Collection to the city of Glasgow in 1944 and the collection can be viewed at Pollok Country Park which is located in the south of the city This magnificent collection of works of art consists of more than 9,000 items. The collection is very diverse containing a selection of modern sculptures as well as an Islamic art collection. Visitors can view works of art by a variety of artists including Degas and Cezanne. As well as paintings and sculptures you is able to enjoy the spectacular collection of English furniture, tapestries, alabasters and stained glass. As well as all this, the Burrell Collection also contains a most important collection of art from medieval times plus collections from ancient Egypt & China.

The House For An Art Lover

House For An Art Lover is one of Glasgow’s most popular tourist attractions. The house is of an Art Nouveau design originally designed by Glasgow’s most famous architect, Charles Rennie Mackintosh who was aided by his talented wife.

In actual fact the design was an entry for a competition of 1901 to create a design for a ‘House for an Art Lover’, but, the entry from the Mackintosh couple was disqualified because of late submission. Fortunately, more than 100 years later the house is located in Bellahouston Park due to the efforts and hard work of the architect Professor Andy Macmillan and the engineer Graham Roxburgh. Construction commenced in 1989, ceased for a short amount of time but restarted in nineteen ninety four due to a collaboration between the Glasgow School of Art and the Glasgow City Council.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

The Kelvingrove Art Gallery is Glasgow and Scotland’s premier museum and art gallery, and it houses one of Europe’s great civic art collections, but also it has been voted one of the most popular free to enter attractions to be found in Scotland.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is located on the banks of the River Kelvin,  in the West End of Glasgow, on Argyle Street. The gallery was constructed using the traditional red sandstone in a Spanish Baroque style. The gallery was designed by E.J. Milner Allen and Sir John W. Simpson and first opened its doors in 1901. The collections in the museum were originally from the old Kelvingrove House Museum in Kelvingrove Park and the McLellan Galleries.

If you are considering a city vacation in Glasgow you will discover plenty of online hotels and guest houses providing Glasgow bed and breakfast accommodation. You will find a broad selection of Glasgow hotel accommodation at http://www.glasgowhotelscotland.com/