Family Vacations: Top 10 Family Travel Destinations

Family Holidays are important. With the busy life we are living there is less and less time to spend with the ones we love. That is why spending the holidays with them can mean so much. It wasn’t easy to find a family friendly place to visit in the past, but with the evolution of traveling possibilities today we can find many vacation spots offering interesting things for the whole family. We chose the  Top 10 Family Travel Destinations that are perfect for a family vacation – just choose where to go next!

Playa del Carmen, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

 This popular tourist city is located in Eastern Mexico. It’s filled with hotels, restaurants shops and offers tons of entertainment for every age group which makes it perfect for a family holiday. You can find many family friendly resorts in Playa del Carmen for an ultimate holiday experience. While in Playa del Carmen, don’t miss the Coba Mayan Village, the diving center DeveMexor some of the amazing golf clubs for some family fun time.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge - Orlando, Florida

 Spending couple of days in the Disney’s animal kingdom lounge in Orlando is the ultimate family holiday. Your kids will love it, but you will enjoy the stay too asthe experience is similar to visiting the African continet. The resortfeatures 4 savannas, 200 animals, pool areas and interesting and fan programs you mustn’t miss.

Go Lego, Billund, Denmark

 Who doesn’t love Lego? People from every age will be thrilled to visit the Legolend located in Billund, Denmark. It features tons of reproductions made out of Lego bricks. One is the Billbund airport itself. There are also reproductions of many European capitals which makes the experience educational. You can hop onto a train for a quick Legoland tour.

Bright lights, big city, Tokyo, Japan

Bright lights and big city is the perfect description for the capitol of Japan. But don’t worry, Tokyo is no Las Vegas. In fact it is a polite and peaceful city that will be enjoyable for the whole family. If you are into shopping don’t miss Ginza and Shibuy

 Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore,  Michigan

 ABC’s Good Morning America named the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore located in Michigan “The Most Beautiful Place in America” based on their viewers votes. It is a great place to enjoy the nature and tranquility and recharge your batteries. It is also a great place to be with your family. The Dunes offer visitors sightseeing and recreational and educational opportunities in all seasons of the year. Learn more at sleepingbeardunes.com

Hilton Waikoloa Village, Hawaii

 Located on the Kohala Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii, the resort has a story of its own…Amazing views, rich wildlife, perfect tropical gardens and top class accommodation. Visiting the resort is truly an unforgettable experience for the whole family. Learn more at hiltonwaikoloavillage.com 

Salzburg, Austrian Alps, Austria

 The breathtaking city nested under the Austrian Alps has so much to offer. It is nicknamed The Rome of the North. You will fall in love with the city just by walking along the Salzach River or visiting the old town famous for its baroque architecture. Don’t miss: Schloss Hellbrunn, Getreidegasse, Hohensalzburg Fortress, Alter Markt Square, Mozarts Geburtshaus and of course the Toy Museum for the kids.

Nashville, Tennessee, United States

 The Music City – located on the Cumberland River in north-central part of Tennessee,  features tons of entertainment, resaurants, as well as cultural and architectural attractions. Lets not forget Nashville’s parks and gardens which are so enjoyable while on a family holiday break. 

Paris, Ile-de-France, France

 Yes, Paris is probably the most romantic city on the planet, but it also has so much to offer to families. Lets start with Disneyland! No, really, Paris is very kids friendly. The hotels offer family friendly accommodation, there is something interesting for the kids in almost every Parisian museum or tour and your kids will enjoy The Towers of Notre Dame Cathedral and the Eiffel Tower.

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, Caribbean

 If you are up for an active, filled with  adventure family holiday than you’ll enjoy the Grand Cayman, the largest of the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean. This amazing island offers something for everyone – from relaxation, food to breathtaking beaches and underwater sights. A great place to visit while on a family holiday is the Stingray City where you and your family can play friendly Southern Stingrays. Sounds Fun to us!

Family Vacations: Top 10 Family Travel Destinations

Cuteness Alert! This Dwarf Antelope Calf is Too Cute to Handle!

Awwww, baby animals – they are cuteness overload! And this tiny dwarf antelope calf  born in March at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago just confirms that fact. This teeny creature looks like a creature straight from a Disney movie (move on Bambi!). The cute pie is actually a female klipspringer calf - is a small species of African antelope that is utterly adorable in every sense of the word. They are quite smaller than any other antelope reaching around 22 inches in height when fully grown. And they are almost always standing and walking on their tip toes! Sure, they are small and gracious but they are also very very fast – and we are talking cheetah-like speed. In fact, he word klipspringer literally means “rock jumper” in Afrikaans. This is because they can jump up and down really quick. With a thick and dense, speckled “salt and pepper” patterned coat of an almost olive shade, klipspringers blend in well with the koppies (rock outcrops) on which they can usually be found. 

This particular little girl is the latest addition at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago and still doesn’t have a name! Take a look at these sweet calf and hit the comments with name suggestions! These photos will surely inspire you – and make your day…

Lincoln Park Zoo

 

 

Lincoln Park Zoo

 

Lincoln Park Zoo

Lincoln Park Zoo

 

Lincoln Park Zoo

Lincoln Park Zoo

 

Cuteness Alert! This Dwarf Antelope Calf is Too Cute to Handle!

The Sleepiest Animals on Earth

 

On average, a human needs from 6 to 8 hours of sleep every day, but did you know, the animals sleep a lot more. For example, the animal that sleep the most is the koala.

In animals, sleep is a naturally recurring state characterized by altered consciousness, relatively inhibited sensory activity, and inhibition of nearly all voluntary muscles. It is distinguished from wakefulness by a decreased ability to react to stimuli, and it is more easily reversible than being in hibernation or a coma.

During sleep, most systems in an animal are in a heightened anabolic state, accentuating the growth and rejuvenation of, e.g., the immune, nervous, skeletal and muscular systems. It is observed in mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish, and in some form also in insects and even simpler animals such as nematodes, suggesting that sleep is universal in the animal kingdom

 

Koalas can sleep all day

If there was a contest for the most sleeping animal in the world, koalas would win because they sleep from 20 to 22 hours per day. Koala is native to Australia. It is the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae, and its closest living relatives are the wombats. The koala is found in coastal areas of the mainland’s eastern and southern regions and it is easily recognizable by its stout, tailless body,  round, fluffy ears, and large, spoon-shaped nose.

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Lazy and cute sloths 

These cute creatures can sleep even 20 hours per day. Sloths  are medium-sized mammals. They are part of the order Pilosa and are therefore related to anteaters, which sport a similar set of specialized claws. Extant sloths are arboreal (tree-dwelling) residents of the jungles of Central and South America, and are known for being slow-moving, and hence named “sloths”.

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Lemur can sleep 16 hours a day

These interesting animals, known as the ghost of the forest  can sleep for 16 hours each day.  Lemurs are a clade of strepsirrhine primates endemic to the island of Madagascar.  They are small primates known as “prosimians,” which, roughly translated, means “pre-primates” or “before monkeys.”

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Mighty Lion wants to sleep

The king of the jungle is wild and dangerous only when he is not sleeping, but he can sleep a lot, from 14 to 16 hours a day. Lions are the second largest cats after the tiger. Most are tawny in color; faint spots found on the young are occasionally kept into maturity.

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Little Squirrel can sleep a lot

These cute, nuts eating animals can are sleeping every day for around 14 hours. Squirrels are familiar to almost everyone. More than 200 squirrel species live all over the world, with the notable exception of Australia. They are very trusting animals, and are of the very few wild animal species which will eat out of a person’s hand.

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Cat can sleep through  half of the day

We all know that cats love to eat, cuddle and sleep. One cat sleeps from 10 to 12 hours a day, sometimes even more. On average, cats spend 2/3 of every day sleeping. That means a nine-year-old cat has been awake for only three years of its life.

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The Sleepiest Animals on Earth

Algarve, Portugal - A Premier Holiday Destination

 

Wonderful beaches, brash resorts and picturesque whitewashed towns that flood with tourists hen summer arrives are the main reason why, the Algarve is Portugal’s premier holiday destination.

The Algarve meaning “The West” is the southernmost region of mainland Portugal. It has an area of 5,412 square kilometers with approximately 451,005 permanent inhabitants, and incorporates 16 municipalities.

The region coincides with the Faro District, and has as its administrative center the city of Faro, where both the region’s international airport and public university are located.

Tourism and related activities are extensive and make up the bulk of the Algarve’s summer economy. Production of food, which includes fish and other seafood, fruit, oranges, carob beans, figs and almonds, is also economically important in the region. The Algarve is the most popular tourist destination in Portugal, and one of the most popular in Europe. Its population triples in the peak holiday season thanks to a high influx of visitors, and receives an average of 7 million foreign tourists each year. In total, including national visitors, almost 10 million people visit the Algarve annually.

The climate is mild and sunny all year round, so you can enjoy its beaty when ever you want while climbuing the breathtaking cliffs, walk on wide golden sands, or just relax on the natural bays, scalloped beaches and long sandy islands with waves lapping at the shore. Outside the touristy enclaves, there are quiet castle towns, flower-covered hillsides and enchanting stretches of shoreline still untouched by development.

To relax, you can have various treatments in the spas and thalassotherapy centres and in the Monchique Thermal Baths. There are also many internationally acclaimed golf courses where you can enjoy a spot of exercise. And hotels, tourist villages, resorts, from the simplest to the most sophisticated. In short, a varied array sharing a genuine love for hospitality.

You can use footpaths and cycle trails to get to know the region, such as the Algarve Way inland or the Vicentine Route along one of the best preserved coastal stretches. And boat rides are another ecological way to observe the flora and fauna.

At the table, you will be delighted with the fresh fish and seafood, either grilled or in a casserole. These are divine flavours which you can enjoy on a simple beach terrace or in the most refined Michelin-starred restaurants, where chefs turn out new versions of traditional cuisine. They are further experiences not to be missed on a visit to the region.

To be honest, we don’t have words to describe all the magic of The Algarve and that is why you need to visit, so you can feel it, love it and enjoy it…

 

The Algarve is Portugal’s most popular holiday destination due to the clean beaches, the cool, unpolluted water, and the facts that it is relatively cheap, very safe and overall welcoming. English is spoken at most resorts.

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You must visit Lagos – The old inner city inside the remnants of a protective wall. You’ll find winding streets barely wide enough for small cars, quaint shops and wonderful restaurants.

Source ound all over. Since it has a big and rich coast, it has a very interesting array of wonderful fish and seafood, from sardines to cataplanas, and many dry fruit sweets that will make your mouth water for more.

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The first people in the Algarve were traders and Estate stewards that established their colonies on the coasts. Good examples were the Phoenicians and the Carthaginians that existed for a long time solely from the resources of the coast.

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One of the most important facts in the Algarve’s history: the five centuries of Arab occupation, visible in the regions architecture (lattice chimneys and tiles, for example) and in many places’ names beginning with ‘Al’.

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The capital of the Algarve and home to Faro Airport, the Algarve’s only international airport, Faro is a city surrounded by island beaches and Ria Formosa nature reserve, it really is an extra special city!

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Algarve, Portugal - A Premier Holiday Destination

The Magnificent Red-crowned Crane

 

Big, powerful, predominantly white crane with black face and neck are gorgeous birds, but they are known for their red crown.

Red-crowned Cranes are the only crane species that have white primary feathers. Adult forehead and crown are covered with bare red skin, and a large white band extends from behind the eyes and meets sharply with the black lower neck. The majority of the body is pure white with the exception of black secondary and tertiary feathers. Eyes are black and legs are slatey to grayish black. Males and females are virtually indistinguishable, although males tend to be slightly larger in size.

Red-crowned Cranes are highly aquatic cranes with large home ranges. They feed in deeper water than other cranes. They also forage regularly on pasturelands in Japan, and in winter they use coastal salt marshes, rivers, freshwater marshes, rice paddies, and cultivated fields. Red-crowned Cranes prefer to nest in marshes with relatively deep water and standing dead vegetation. Red-crowned Cranes are well adapted to cold temperatures.

There are currently two main populations of Japanese crane; one is resident to the Island of Hokkaido in northern Japan and does not migrate. The second population breeds in north-eastern China, Russia and Mongolia and migrates to eastern China, and North and South Korea where it spends the winter.

The red-crowned crane is also known as the Japanese crane. In some parts of the world, it is known as a symbol of luck, longevity and fidelity.

 

 Japanese cranes usually pair for life and perform an elaborate, synchronized courtship dance to reinforce this bond

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Japanese cranes are the most aquatic species of crane and prefer to forage in deep water

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In the Orient, the Japanese crane is sacred and seen as a symbol of fidelity, love and longevity

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The wingspan of the Japanese crane measures up to 2.5 meters!

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These beautiful birds were almost hunted to extinction in Japan at the beginning of the 20th century for their stunning plumage

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The global population is estimated to number c.2,750 individuals, which roughly equates to 1,650 mature individuals

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The Magnificent Red-crowned Crane

Traveling with children: 6 Useful Tips

 

Traveling, isn’t that everyone’s favorite activity? Visiting new places, tasting traditional food, exploring new cities, meeting new people and friends, long walks, adventurous hikes and much more….well. All this is fun when you a traveling alone, but when you traveling with kids each trip is a very big challenge!

Don’t think that we don’t want traveling with kids, traveling without cute and little monsters J is real pure and joy, and truly more work for the parents. Whether they’re your own or someone else’s, factoring a child’s needs into your travels involves a lot more than sticking on a CD full of pop music and making toilet stops. They are curious, so must keep an eye on them all the time, always have to have a big bag with food, drink and spare clothes, pills and medications, and lots of plain activities to keep them busy.

When looking for traveling tips and tricks for your family, make sure you take into account your kids’ personalities, behaviors, and ages.

So, if you’re a planning a trip soon, holiday, a Disney Worlds weekend or just quick gateway, make sure you very well prepared so you can have great time, just being happy with your kids, not worrying about the smallest thing.

To help we chose the easiest and most practical tips, so have a good time!

 

Arrive early and assume you’ll be getting there late. Traveling with kids always takes longer than traveling alone, so give yourself extra time to check in and get settled. If you’ll be driving, remember you’ll probably need to make more stops than usual for impromptu clean-ups, snack breaks or run-around relays. Be sure to over pack the snacks, the diapers and the toys, just in case you hit bad traffic or flight delays. It’s better to have too much than to find yourself overpaying for goldfish crackers at the airport lounge.

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It’s simple advice, but children dressed comfortably for the weather and terrain will be happier in a new environment. With all the gear available, there’s no excuse for dressing toddlers in ski-suits four sizes too big, forgetting their gloves, or leaving them barefoot on a beach where sea urchins lurk.

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Giving toddlers their own, robust or child-friendly camera encourages them to observe their surroundings and focus on what interests them. You might be surprised at the results from their knee-high view. Amongst pictures of feet and wheels, my three-year-old has shot flowers, animals, helicopters, boats, rocks and rabbit poo.

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To be honest, but yet practical, toddlers aren’t fans of reins, backpacks with a leash, or any infringement on their freedom. Keep tabs on them at airports, train stations and crowded attractions with a child locator. The child wears a small unit (strapped to a belt or shoe) and you keep the transmitter. If you lose your child set off the alarm and follow the sound to find them.

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Remember the old favorites. Be sure you have your child’s favorite toy on hand and do a spot check anytime you change locations to be sure that all-important blanket or teddy bear isn’t left behind. (Better yet, pack a back-up just in case the unthinkable happens and your child’s security blanket gets lost during a lay-over.)

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Expect some setbacks. Toddlers especially like their routines, so missing out on them – even for the trip of a lifetime – can be hard on everyone. Don’t fret if potty training, sleep schedules or discipline efforts fall back a bit. Have patience and plan for mishaps by packing extra clothes and diapers and assuming that everyone will get a little off kilter. Expecting some upset will make accepting it a lot easier.

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Traveling with children: 6 Useful Tips