Thursday, November 21, 2013

Exploring the Bottom of the Sea in Key West

Planning to take a visit to Key West can be the best vacation that you can ever provide for your family, especially when you are trying to explore the bottom of the sea with various Key West water adventures. There are just so many things that you can try that are sure to give you and your family the excitement that you want for your vacation. All of the beauty that underwater creatures have to offer can be provided with trying many activities offered for visitors.

One of the popular attractions and activities that you and your family are sure to enjoy is riding and joining Glass Bottom Boat Tours. As you enjoy the air conditioned tour that you can get from some of the most impressive glass bottom boats, you will see how beautiful and dramatic the world of underwater is with seeing the only living coral reef in North America. You will love how you can see up close all underwater creatures without the need to wear any scuba diving equipment. This tour will give you the opportunity to get a good view of the marine world without the worries of disturbing these precious reefs and water creatures.

Glass Bottom Boat Key West

Enjoying the sight of underwater world is sure to give you the ease of relaxing throughout Key West as you ride a glass bottom boat. You will never regret choosing to try this activity with your kids since it is safe and very comfortable. Boats usually have these sitting decks around glass windows, which makes viewing as comfortable and relaxing as possible. All of the reserved underwater vistas for scuba divers can be explored with just looking through the glass bottom boats and letting your kids the beauty underwater.

Another activity that you can enjoy while staying for your vacation is snorkeling in Key West. It has been one of the top activities that people are doing whenever they visit Key West and enjoy various snorkeling trips including other water activities. People are enticed to try various snorkeling trips that will let them discover the reefs and enjoy the crystal clear blue waters that surround the entire island. You can try getting trips wherein you will drive your own boat and snorkel through any place you want. There are also trips where you can be brought to the living coral reef and enjoy snorkeling with dolphins and end the trip with the famous sunset in the island.

Snorkeling

The water activity that you should not dare missing is diving around the island. There are many diving sites that can be found in Key West, which makes it really exciting to explore whatever is stored for you underwater as you get deeper from 20 feet, 50 and even further than 100feet. Divers are allowed to explore all underwater attractions such as the Spiegel Grove, which was sunk intentionally and not serves as a popular artificial reef.

Shipwreck Diving

With all of these underwater attractions and activities that you can try as you visit Key West, you are sure to enjoy whatever activity you want to do with your family and friends.

Orignal From: Exploring the Bottom of the Sea in Key West

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Why Miami is a Paradise for Art Aficionados

The many attractions in Miami are sure to leave you wanting to return. Thanks to the perfect weather all year round in Miami, there is always a reason to be outdoors.

There are many Miami bus tours like the Hop-On-Hop-Off bus tour that take you around to experience the city's attractions. These tours allow you the freedom of alighting from the bus and taking off on your own adventure. Miami's art scene has been constantly growing and evolving with time. Here are some reasons why Miami is a paradise for art aficionados.

Miami is home to the Art Deco District


The eclectic Art Deco District has over 800 structures, each with a rich history and prolific significance. Art Deco has early neo-classical architectural influences and is characterized by bold geometrical shapes, vibrant colors and exotic motifs. This neighborhood was first constructed in the 20s when developers used these styles of modern, vivacious and colorful architecture to attract tourists to the city.

The Art Deco District in Miami is marked by the line-up of intricately crafted pastel-hued buildings. The three main streets famous of the Art Deco style are Collins Avenue, Ocean Drive, and Washington Avenue. There are also many tours that you can take to visit the Art Deco District.

Art Deco Hotel

There are many art galleries in Miami


There are more than 200 art galleries in the Design District as well as Wynwood. David Castillo's Gallery is has been awarded the "Best Art Gallery" in 2010 by the Miami NewTimes. One of Miami's most famous artists is Romero Britto whose. works are showcased in museums and galleries all around the world, including the original Britto Central, located on Miami Beach's iconic Lincoln Road. The Bakehuse Art Complex has been functional since 1987 and houses many exhibits. In addition to that, the BAC also has a photo lab as well as work studios that include ceramics, woodworking, and welding areas.

You can take an art walk in Miami


The city of Miami has many educative art walks to offer art aficionados. These public events allow you to walk into the participating galleries or studios and view their exhibits. Through these walks you can check out drawings, paintings, mixed media, sculptures, photography, as well as hand-made jewelry from local and international artists. Among the art walks to go on is the Wynwood Art Walk, Lincoln Road Art Walk, Coconut Grove Art Walk, and the Bird Road Art Walk to name a few.

Miami's art museums are among the best in the world


The amazing thing about the art museums in Miami is that they offer plenty of variety for the art aficionado. Right from modern contemporary art to ancient American art, Miami's art scene pretty much has it all. Visit the Bass Museum of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Lowe Art Museum for an insight into Miami's art world.

Orignal From: Why Miami is a Paradise for Art Aficionados

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Ethical Ways to View the Wildlife of the Everglades National Park

The Everglades National Park is a true ecological wonder and is teeming with exotic species of wildlife that can be encountered on the air boat tours that ply in the park. This 1.5 million acre landscape is made up of eight unique habitats, with over one-third of it covered with water.

These swampy wetlands provide suitable habitats for over 350 species of birds, 40 species of mammals, 27 species of snakes and other creatures. Here are some of the tiny rodents that call the park. When you make a trip to the Everglades National Park, it is important to be mindful about the wilderness into which you are treading.

Here are some ways to ethically view the wildlife of the Everglades



  • Keep in mind that it is a privilege to observe wild animals in their natural habitat. Be responsible, respectful and mindful about the wildlife you are viewing and about the surrounding landscape in which you are viewing them.

  •  Keep enough distance when you are viewing wildlife. Spotting scopes and binoculars allow you to view wildlife effectively without getting too close. Allow an adequate avenue for animals to retreat if they feel cornered. Never chase an animal.


Everglades Wildlife

  •  Keep a watchful eye for signs of alarm. While some animals give off subtle signs, this behavior varies from species to species. Signs of alarm may include agitated pacing, flapping, constant vocalizations, and heightened muscle tension. Back off if you find an animal exhibiting any of this behavior.

  •  Exert extreme caution not to disrupt nesting grounds, rookeries, or denning areas. If disturbed, parent animals may flee, thereby leaving their young susceptible to predators. Stick to designated, park-approved trails at all times.

  •  Do not try to 'rescue' a young animal or bird that appears to be sick or orphaned. They most likely have parents waiting close by.

  •  You are not permitted to bring pet on most trails in the park. You may get your pet into campgrounds, picnic areas, and buildings such as the Big Cypress Swamp Welcome Centre and the Oasis Visitor Centre but they need to be on a 6-foot leash for their own safety and the safety of the wildlife.

  •  Never feed the wildlife. Wild animals need to fend for themselves and eat only natural foods.

  •  Talk in quiet voices as loud sounds may scare away the wildlife you might have the opportunity to chance upon. Tread lightly and try not to disturb sensitive habitats. Remember, you are a guest in the homes of the animals you have come to encounter.


Best Places to Encounter wildlife


The marshy wetland landscape of the Everglades National Park provides a fabulous habitat for the wildlife. Among places to explore are Shark Valley, Eco Pond, the Anhinga Trail, Snake Bight Chokoloskee Bay, Nine Mile Pond, Bobcat Boardwalk, Otter Cave Hammock Trail, and Tram Road.

Orignal From: Ethical Ways to View the Wildlife of the Everglades National Park

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

The Enjoyable and Eclectic Attractions of Key West

The stunning island of Key West is located in the southern coastal waters of Florida, around 160 miles from Miami. The island paradise is known for its myriad tourist attractions in addition to the perfect sunny weather which lasts for most parts of a year, beautiful sandy beaches, Caribbean-like picturesque environment, and tranquil blue waters. Tourists can take a Miami to Key West shuttle or use other options of transportation to come for a Miami to Key West tour.

The Diverse and Beautiful Land Attractions of Key West


Key West is one of the most beautiful island cities in the world. Tourists can spend sunny afternoons exploring the numerous Key West attractions with family and friends.


  • The Key West Aquarium:


    It was the first tourist spot in the city. It was built in the 1930s to increase the tourist inflow and boost the depressed Key West economy. It currently attracts and entertains millions of patrons every year, most of whom are inquisitive children. The Touch Tank and the turtle and shark feeding sessions offer a hands-on experience of the eclectic marine life housed at the aquarium. Some of the exotic sea creatures include a variety of fish species like barracudas, groupers, and tarpons, as well as an assorted collection of local sea life like manta rays, eels, lobsters, shrimps, and lots more!


Key West Aquarium





  • The many museums of Key West:


    The island city is home to many unique museums as well as places of historic importance. Families can take their kids to the Shipwreck Museum, the maritime museums, the Nature and Butterfly Conservatory, and Ripley's Museum. A Key West tour should also include excursions to the old Civil War Forts, the Key West lighthouse, and countless other historic sites.

  • The numerous bars and restaurants of Key West:


Key West is famous for its many beautiful restaurants and bars. Tourists can enjoy a fine dining experience at a waterfront restaurant or at Duval Street eateries, and delight the taste buds with the freshest and most scrumptious seafood culinary delights. An outdoor dinner under a moonlit sky is an experience of a lifetime!

The Thrilling Water Attractions and Escapades of Key West


A tour to Key West cannot be complete without treating yourself to a fun-filled and exhilarating session in the clear blue Key West waters.

Snorkeling in Key West:


Adventure seekers can go for enthralling sessions of snorkeling or scuba diving and explore the beauty of the only living barrier reef in North America. Diving enthusiasts can discover the secrets of the many shipwreck sites. A glass bottom boat tour offers sights of the underwater treasures from within the safety of the boats.

Sailing excursions:


Tourists can hire a boat or an opulent yacht and go for a private sailing expedition. You can enjoy varied aqua adventures like dolphin sightseeing, fishing, kayaking, and more, while soaking up the pleasant sunny weather.

Abundant water sports:


Key West is also a great place for diverse water sports like parasailing, wave runners, Jet Ski tours, and speedboat rides. Do not miss out on all the fun!

Orignal From: The Enjoyable and Eclectic Attractions of Key West

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Customized Travel in Miami




Tourists who visit the city of Miami prefer to take bus charter rentals as one of the best ways to explore the city. This is a sterling and poignant way for big and small groups of people to check out the various places of interest in the city. The bus charter rentals pertain to two types of groups – the large bus caters to a big group while smaller groups opt for minivan Miami bus charters.


 



Magnanimous


Key West, which is just a 4 hour drive away, from Miami is one of the most sought after destinations for many.  You can just avail of the bus charter to Key West, from where you can ferry across to the beautiful island.   The bus charter services are available even during the time one spends in Key West. There are a lot of amazing tourist attractions in store such as the sandy beaches, the regal mansions, and the famous lighthouse that makes the ride worth it. You will not be the only one impressed.


 key west ocean



 Amazing Attractions at Downtown Miami


Downtown Miami is home to some of the best Miami attractions.  During the bus tour, one can find several interesting areas of visitor interest like the Miami Seaquarium, Miami City Hall, the Diner Key and the CocoWalk Marketplace and the 'Bayside' market place. Downtown Miami is also known as a shopper's delight because it has several discount stores that offer different types of food at affordable prices.


 Cocowalk_picmiami seaquariumbayside



Miami Districts


The Miami bus charter tours also familiarize you with many beautiful places in the city like Art Deco District, Wynwood district and the Edgewater District. If you love art and museums, you should visit Wynwood. This place which is also known as 'El Barrio's is replete with various art galleries, museums and studios. Edgewater is synonymous with residential skyscrapers and quite a few outstanding and prolific art clubs. The Art Deco district is the place known for the resplendent art deco style of architecture which had its roots here.


wynwoodthe-miami-design-district


el barrio


There are several attractions in Miami like Biltmore Hotel, the Holocaust Memorial, Calle Ocho, the Venetian Causeway, Cartagena Plaza and many other that you can be fascinated with. Some Miami bus charter tours can also take you along the homes of the international celebrities like Shakira and Madonna. You can even get to see the area where Michael Jackson filmed the 'Thriller' video; this was before he started to go downhill and had his property confiscated.


venetian cswy


miami holocaust


The reason why it is better to opt for Miami bus charter is because unlike other tours, this one has a lot of customization for the traveler. There is a sound public transportation system which can help in exploring the city but it does not come with the kind of customization one can get through bus charter rentals.


 



It is Your Time to Shine


If you opt for the Miami bus charter tour, you can find that the ride is not just delightful but educational as well. You are able to to see a lot of interesting tourist spots, right from the major ones to the trivial ones. You can also schedule and program your travel program according to your needs

Orignal From: Customized Travel in Miami

A Fascinating Ride Across Miami




Miami is one of the most sought after destinations in the world and this is not just because there are major shootouts between Jamaican gangsters and two funny cops (one who has a mental issue – see Bad Boys II). A traveler's delight, this exuberant city has distinguished itself among other travel destinations across the world for its teeming night life, the white sandy beaches, the pleasant weather and several other attractions that can keep the entertainment quotient going on.


 



On Time and On Schedule


Travelers have a lot of options at their disposal to enjoy this city. While some use cabs, hire boat tours and other public transportation system, the most enjoyable and satisfying way to enjoy the city is through the Miami bus charter. There are many tour operators that offer bus charter rentals. Tourists can make online reservations. Normally, since there is high competition on the digital space, one can obtain better discounts while booking for tickets online. Visitors can also call up the vendors directly and make Miami bus charter tour reservations. It has been seen that mostly people who like to enjoy Miami in groups often opt for bus charter rentals.


The bus charter to Key West is a dream vacation for many. The ride is thrilling and pleasing to the eye with the fascinating view of Florida Keys and the serene islands. The kind of adventure that one can do in Key West definitely underscores the fact that there is more to Miami. At the same time, you cannot discount the fact that the party atmosphere of Miami is incomparable.


 



Miami, the Right Place to Party


Miami Nightlife

This glamorous city is a darling of the media and celebrities. In fact, there are many high profile celebrities who have their homes here. The likes of Gloria Estefan have their homes in Miami; no income tax is pure delight. There is a lot of variety as far as cuisine is concerned, with Latin cuisine being a favorite.  During the night time, the city comes alive and the clubs have enough thumping, lively music in them to dance your worries away.


For those who love open air parties, there is the South Beach which is known for all night partying and revelry.  South Beach is also associated with the famous 'Miami Food Festival'.  The popular music event 'Ultra Music Festival' is held in March and is held in high regard by music lovers.  In fact, in the month of March, thousands of people flock to this part of the city just to enjoy and rock to music. DJs and musicians from all over the world come to play in the Ultra Music Festival. The ticket costs which hit an all-time just before the start of the festival, eventually are sold out and this happens sooner than you think.  


sunrise



Fun for Families


 Miami does not cater to just one age group; the entire family can enjoy the city to the hilt.  There is everything for everyone here, the kids are happy to visit the Miami Children's Museum, the Miami Science Museum, the Miami Zoo, and the Jungle Island among many other interesting spots. So, if you are a large group or a family, it's always worth taking Miami bus charter and enjoy the city to the hilt.


miami science museumMiami_MetroZoo_entranceMini-Monday-Mornings-at-Miami-Childrens-Museum



Orignal From: A Fascinating Ride Across Miami

Monday, August 19, 2013

Five Things to do When You Hop off the Bus in Coral Gables

 

Going on a Miami excursion? Choose to take one on the ever-fun hop-on-hop-off bus. This bus tour allows you the freedom of hopping off the bus to explore the sights of the city and then hopping back on when you're done. There are many amazing places that your bus tour will stop at such as the Art Deco District, Little Havana and Coral Gables to name a few. Coral Gables is a charming little Mediterranean-themed neighborhood and one of many attractions in Miami. Locals often refer to it as 'City Beautiful' due to the opulent mansions and luxurious villas that line the district. When your hop-on-hop-off bus tour stops at Coral Gables, here are the great sights to stop to visit:

Coral Gables Merrick House


Merrick-House-today1

Any Miami excursion will lead you to the Coral Gables Merrick House. Merrick House was the home of Reverend Solomon G. Merrick and his family. The reverend's oldest son was the one who founded the city of Coral Gables in the 20's. Today, the house is a museum and a monument to his achievements. Merrick House operates as a museum where tourists can see the Merrick family's personal belongings, artwork, family photographs, as well as furniture. Much of the house has been kept as it used to be back in the day so that tourists can sample the way of life from a time gone by. Merrick House has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Fairchild Tropical Gardens


fairchild-tropical-garden

Hop off your bus to head to the Fairchild Tropical Gardens on the border of Coral Gables. These gardens span 83 acres and host special seasonal events, tram tours and guided walking tours. You will be able to see many species of exotic flower, fruit and tropical plants along with oak trees, palms and flowering vines. There are hidden trails in the park which meander around orchids, rain forest displays, ferns, wild undergrowth, and 11 lakes.

fairchild



Matheson Hammock Park


matheson hammock park

Your bus will then proceed to Matheson Hammock Park that spans over 600 acres of land and has many species of flora and fauna. The nature trail will take you through the park to see the native creatures like the Everglades foxes, squirrels, skunks, opossums and butterflies. There are many old hardwood trees like the West Indian cherry, Gumbo Limbo, Wild Coffee, Jamaica Dogwood, Live Oak, and Stoppers.

The Venetian Pool 


venetian pool

Built in 1923, the Venetian Pool is visited by many tourists every year. It is filled with 820,000 gallons of spring water that is derived from an underground aquifer. The opulent architecture of the Venetian Pool is characterized by its porticos, loggias, palm trees, and bridges.

Lowe Art Museum


lowe museum

Hop off your bus to visit the Low Art Museum with over 12,000 unique pieces of art on display. The museum's collection spans over 5000 years and is characteristic of contemporary and classical art from both non-Western and Western influences.

Orignal From: Five Things to do When You Hop off the Bus in Coral Gables