Summer Festivals Around The World

One of the best parts of summer is the excitement and fun of spending time with family—this year, why not take an adventurous trip across the seas and spend time at one of these interesting summer festivals?

• White Nights Festival- Do you love art, music, or theater? How about festivals in Russia? Why not do both and go to the White Nights Festival! This annual arts festival takes place in St. Petersburg, and the name—White Nights—is derived from the fact that the sun doesn’t set during the time of the festival (and the whole city is naturally lit up 24 hours a day). From late May until the end of July, enjoy theater performances, costumes and carnivals, fireworks, live shows, and even a pirate battle on a gigantic ship to cap it all off. This year, the White Nights Festival will take place between the 24th of May until the 28th of July.



• Madrid Water Fight- In the second week of July, the people of Madrid prepare themselves for a gigantic party in the streets of Vallecas, where everyone is invited to join the fun. The best part? It’s a water fight! People take water balloons, water guns, and buckets full of water to splash each other. The 2013 celebration will take place on July 16th, and crowds are estimated to be around 10,000 people.

• Pflasterspektakel- This “pavement spectacle” is a street festival that takes place in Linz, Austria. Over 200,000 people gather to watch acrobats, plays, musical performances, magic tricks, and parades—there’s even a special segment just for kids. This year, it’ll run for three days on July 18,19, and 20.



• Boryeong Mud Festival - Mud has traditionally been used in makeup products to purify and detox the skin. One beauty company took it a little further, however, and started the Boryeong Mud Festival. This celebration takes place in Daecheon Beach, South Korea, and has over 2.2 million people attending each year. The festival includes mud slides, mud wrestling, mud throwing, and even mud sculptures! After sunset, the beach comes alive with music, parades, and even fireworks. This year, the festival is from July 19 to July 28.

So whether its watching daring pirates battle it out in a “sea”-worthy battle or slinging mud at your closest friends, there’s plenty of things to do and see out there this summer! To know more about these exciting festivals and places around the world, check out the Little Passports program for kids.

The Different Types of Accommodation in Italy

If you are visiting Italy for the first time, you will have to look for the kind of accommodation that would suit your budget and your travel itinerary. There is a standard star-classification system for hotels in Italy, ranging from deluxe five-star to one-star. The rates, however, vary between provinces. Prices are generally more affordable during the off-season months of November, December, January, February, and March. The accommodation rates usually include taxes, service, heating and/or air-conditioning.

Bed and Breakfast

Italian B&Bs are small hotels that offer rooms on a bed-and-breakfast basis. They are generally affordable and offer enough comfort for travelers. You will find a lot of bed and breakfast accommodations in the most popular parts of Italy and you can actually just scout for one once you get there.

Affitacamere

Affitacamere are rooms for rent in private homes. There is no standard rating for this type of accommodation. If you need to get more information, search for references in a local tourist office or read online reviews. You can make reservations through the Associazone Gestori Alloggi Privati (AGAP).

Agriturismi

These are farm-based houses that are normally rented out on a weekly basis. Some owners prefer shorter terms like two to three nights stay. Farm holidays are ideal for families that have young children. The kids will surely enjoy the scenery and the sight of farm animals. To get more information and a listing of agriturismi in a particular town or province, get in touch with Agriturist, Terranostra, or Turismo Verde.

Image source: affaritaliani.libero.it

Youth Hostels

Youth hostels in Italy are managed by the Associzione Italiana Alberghi per la Gioventu, which is based in Rome. You will hostels in most places, even in major Italian cities. They’re cheap and perfect for people who are traveling on a budget. Youth hostels in Italy do not have an age limit or impose a curfew. You do not have to be a YHA member either.

Other popular types of accommodation in Italy include convents, monasteries, and other religious institutions. You can obtain information about these places through local tourist offices.

Recommended Reading:

Bed and Blessings Italy: A Guide to Convents and Monasteries Available for Overnight Lodging

by June Walsh

* This article first appeared in ExpertsColumn. Published with permission from the author.

La Jolla Sea Caves Tour

The most popular tour offered by Hike Bike Kayak of San Diego is the kayak tour of the well known La Jolla Sea Caves. On this tour, you can witness the abundant wildlife and amazing views of the La Jolla Cove with your guide who will be an amateur naturalist.

Not only will you kayak up the caves at La Jolla Shores, but you'll also witness dolphins swimming, along with sea lions playing. From your kayak, you can see Mount Soledad to the east, the bluffs of Torrey Pines State Reserve to the north, and La Jolla Cove to the south.



You can take the La Jolla Sea Caves tour every day at 9:30 AM, 12:30 PM, and 2:30 PM. Starting in June, the tours are every half hour. To make a reservation, all you need to do is call.

What to expect

On a typical day, you should be prepared to get wet. The tour launches into the waves from the end of their street. You meet at their shop, where you'll check in, sign waivers, etc. You'll also receive a life jacket and paddle.

You'll need to bring the following with you:

- Sunglasses with retainers
- Sunscreen
- A change of clothes
- Bathing suit
- Towel
- Sandals

The tour is very popular with tourists and locals alike. Hike Bike Kayak can accomodate age ranges from 6 - 65. They also have bike trailers and trail a bikes for children that are 1 and older. This way, anyone can take in the beauty and mystique
this tour offers.

Cost and availability

The cost of the La Jolla Sea Caves tour is $50 per person for singles, and $45 per person for tandem kayaks or couples. If you can go with someone else, that would be easier choice.

California Vacation Rentals @ RealAdventures

Family Camping and Cabin Rentals in Catskill, New York

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Exlore the Okavango Delta In Botswana

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Kayaking and Canoeing Rentals & Tours in Texas

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The Most Visited Spas in Tuscany

Your tour of Tuscany is not complete without a spa experience. Tuscany is one of the most important spa regions in Italy. The springs used in Roman times are the same springs you can enjoy today. Here is a list of the most visited spas in Tuscany:

Chianciano Terme – This is the most visited spa in Tuscany with nearly 2 million people coming every year.

Montecatini Terme – Close behind is the Montecatini Terme spa with over 1.5 million visitors every year.

You might also want to check out Tuscany’s grotto-spas and hot springs. Monsummano Terme probably is the most visited grotto-spa in the region. The most popular hot springs are: Bagni di Lucca, Bagni San Flippo, Caldana, San Carlo, San Casciano dei Bagni, San Guiliano, San Giovanni, Montepulciano, Petriolo, and Saturnia.

Related post:

The National and Regional Parks of Tuscany http://www.bubblews.com/news/442220-the-national-and-regional-parks-of-tuscany

* Photo shows Bagno Vignoni, a hot spring and spa resort in Tuscany

Spend Your Spring Break in Mexico

Mexico is one of the most popular vacation spots in the world. It has breathtaking beaches, good food, and fun-filled nightlife. Many people prefer to visit Mexico during the summer, but there are also those who choose to tour the country during the spring. If you are a college student going on spring break, you may want to consider traveling to Mexico.

What college students enjoy the most in Mexico are the beaches, the socialization, and the nightlife. The legal drinking age in Mexico is 18, and this law enables most college students to drink alcohol during their spring break. They enjoy drinking with or without the peers at many spots, most of them located in beach resorts.

Cancun is the most popular spring break destination in Mexico. College students, in particular, are drawn to the city’s vibrant nightlife. Cancun has a large number of bars and nightclubs that cater to tourists who like to party all night. Some of the most frequented watering holes in Cancun are Fat Tuesdays, the Bulldog Café, and Senor Frogs.

If nightlife and partying is not your cup of tea, you can always find many other activities that can make your day tours interesting. You can join jungle tours, ride four-wheelers, or go horseback riding. Ocean cruise and snorkeling are popular activities in Mexico, too. On the beach, you can sunbathe, swim, or play volleyball.

Besides Cancun, many tourists flock to Acapulco where nightlife and beach fun can be found in great proportions. Swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, swimming with dolphins, and beach sports are just a few of the many activities you can enjoy in Acapulco. Off the beach, you can join a colorful Mexican fiesta or visit historical sites.

Nightlife in Acapulco is just as vibrant as that in Cancun. Tourists can always drink and party in clubs, discos, and bars. The Yuppies Sports Bar, the One Dollar Bar, and Mangos are popular among young people and college students.

As soon as you decide to spend your spring break in Mexico, you would want to make travel arrangements right away. The most popular hotel resorts in Cancun and Acapulco tend to fill up quickly during this time and if you search for packages at the last minute, you just may end up spending more than what you originally intended to. Look for spring break travel packages from travel discount websites a few months before your planned vacation. This almost ensures that you will get the best travel deal.

The many activities and accommodations found in Mexico are sure to make your spring vacation enjoyable. Consider spending your spring break in Mexico. It just might become one of your most memorable vacations.

Kid-Friendly Activities and Workshops in Florence, Italy

Traveling to Florence in Italy becomes more meaningful with cultural experiences that introduce the city's rich culture and history. If you are planning to visit the place with very young kids, you may want to consider signing them up for workshops and activities that can help them appreciate more the culture and art of Florence.

Inquire at these places for kid-friendly tours, workshops and activities:

Palazzo Vecchio

For kids age 8 and above, Palazzo Vecchio offers a tour of the place’s secret passageways accompanied by actors and animators. Workshops, experiments and historic re-enactments are also provided at the Museo dei Ragazzi (Children’s Museum). Younger kids are welcome to spend time at the play area “di Bia e Garcia”. Stay at the Children’s museum is free with entrance to the Palazzo Vecchio. Booking is recommended.

Museo e Parco Stibbert

School-age children interested in the history of war can check out the tools of ancient warfare at the Museo e Parco Stibbert (Stibbert Museum and Park, Via Stibbert 26). This museum has a fascinating collection of ancient weapons, medieval standards and samurai swords.

Museo di Storia Naturale “La Specola”

Youngsters will learn much about natural history at the Museo di Storia Naturale “La Specola” (La Specola Museum of Natural History, Via Romana 17). This museum owns a rich collection of anatomical waxworks and over 5,000 animal specimens.

Biblioteca dei Ragazzi Santa Croce

Little bookworms will find a great selection of books in Italian and in English at the Biblioteca dei Ragazzi Santa Croce (Children’s Library in Santa Croce). Other than the library’s huge selection of books, kids can take advantage of various activities from book-readings to puppet shows.

Ludoteca Centrale

An indoor play area is available for smaller kids at the Ludoteca Centrale (Children’s Recreational Center, Piazza SS, Annunziata). Admission is free.
While many of these places admit children for free, the activities and workshops may limit seating and the number of participants per session. To avoid wasting time, call the establishment a day before and inquire about tour and workshop schedules.

Copyright 2013 Tip Sheet Writer

Guided Walking Tours in Florence

Walking tours are a great way to explore Florence, Italy. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or someone with limited travel time, you will find a guided walking tour that suits you and your companions.

You may want to consider any of these three guided walking tours in Florence:

Florence Introduction Tour

This guided walking tour includes history and insider’s information on Florence. If you are a first-time visitor, this is the perfect choice. You can book through via www.initaly.com. Packages are available for two people, three to six people, and seven to 10 people.

Mercurio Tours

For tourists with limited travel time, take on one-day walking tours through Florence’s past and present. These tours include guided visits to the Uffizi, Accademia, bargello, Palazzo Pitti and Medici Chapels. Tours cost include museum entry. Go to www.mercurio-italy.org for more details about tour packages.

Walking Tours of Florence

These tours offer a three-hour tour of Florence by day and a one and a half hour night tour, trips around the Uffizi and a performance tour of the Palazzo Pitti. Children may be offered free tours. Inquire at www.artviva.com for more information.

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