The GypsyNesters

Colorado is a state filled with so many sights to see and places to be. While most people associate the state with mountains, hiking, and skiing, it’s a great place to create special memories with the kids, too.

For an unforgettable experience, you can book a cabin in Estes Park – there’s plenty of outdoor sightseeing and adventure for the whole family in the Rockies! There is an endless array of child-friendly activities throughout the state that will help you create those special memories that you’ll forever cherish. Take a look at the top 10 places in Colorado to visit with the kids and plan your itinerary today!

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Located in Colorado Springs, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is filled with over 750 animals from 150 different species . It is not a huge zoo, but one of the most intriguing that you could ever visit. It is the only mountain zoo in the U.S. and certainly offers a great time for all ages of children and adults. Enjoy up close encounters with giraffes, bears, tigers, lions, and more!

Sangre de Cristo Art Center

Located in Pueblo, the Sangre de Cristo Art Center is located inside of an artfully decorated building that turns heads. Once inside, there is much for kids to enjoy, including various pieces of artwork, hands-on learning activity and fun, waterfalls, dressup, and more. Kids can enjoy the entire day here and never grow bored!

Dinosaur Resource Center

Visitors take a step back in prehistoric time when they visit the Dinosaur Resource Center, a top children’s activity in the  state. Here, dinosaurs rule the land and massive exhibits come to life. It is a must visit spot for any dinosaur fan! There is much ado for anyone that appreciates a dinosaur at this Woodland Park, Colorado hotspot.

Denver Puppet Theater

The Denver Puppet Theater has been a beloved attraction in the city for more than 20 years because kids adore the show in its entirety. Plan a visit to the puppet theater to experience the magic firsthand. Kids not only enjoy a great puppet show, but also have the opportunity to make their own puppet at no extra charge!

Pearl Street Mall

The Pearl Street Mall is one of the best kid-friendly attractions in Boulder. If you visit for a bit of snow-fun, make it to this downtown attraction with the little ones. Street performers and kid-friendly scents make kids smile and the stores that cater to them are just as nice!

Denver Museum of Nature & Science

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is located adjacent to the Denver Zoo so families can get a two-for-one attraction. This awesome museum features Egyptian mummies, a planetarium, anIMAX theater and numerous hands-on science activities for children. It is a great time for all!

Garden of the Gods

Another Colorado Springs spectacle, Garden of the Gods is home of the ‘Kissing Camels’ rock formation, as well as many other brilliant works of art sprawled across the park’s 1,364-foot of space. Red rock formations are especially nice to see. Hike, bike, or drive your car through the park and experience a fun-filled day of nature with kids 4-up.

Fort Collins Museum of Discovery

The Fort Collins Museum of Discovery is another Colorado adventure for the family. Here you’ll discover many science-related activities to pass the time. These activities all combine education into them so the fun is with merit! Fort Collins is located about 60 miles from Denver and 30 miles from Colorado Springs.

Did You Know?

Denver is ranked by Forbes as one of the Top 10 U.S. locations to start a business. When you take a trip with the kids to the state, why not learn more about the great business opportunities that exist? There’s so much to do for the kids, it’s a family-friendly, beautiful place, and business is good! Business loans are available to help alleviate some of the initial start-up financial stress. There’s no doubt you’ll love life in Colorado.

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Travelers have now become smarter and more practical. Most of you would love to maximize the money spent on that holiday on the beautiful island of Mauritius – and even find ways to stretch that budget further so you can enjoy more. One of the travel expenses that can pile up quickly when traveling is the transportation costs. Travel experts note that renting a car during your holiday can ultimately give you significant savings! Hence, car rentals have become more and more popular today. If you’re still planning your trip look up the Transferiste Car Rental website to help you get a start on that perfect holiday in Mauritius!

Here are some of the things to NEVER do when renting a car while on your Mauritian holiday:

Never Forget To Compare Prices And Ask The Locals

It’s easy to get tempted and immediately book the first car rental option you may find on the Internet. But don’t get too excited! Research on more options, compare prices and see if you can even try to haggle for the best price. When you’ve finally reached Mauritius, don’t forget to ask the locals about the usual cost of transportation and car rentals. Doing this will make sure that you’re not paying an overpriced tourist rate. Do remember to factor in the local gas prices as well, as this should add up to your daily transportation costs.

Never Forget To Study The Roads – and Basic Transportation Law

Some roads in Mauritius (depending on where exactly you’re going) may be narrower than others, so if you’ve rented a big van to fit your entire family, then this might cause you some trouble. If you do plan on renting a car, please do your research first. Make sure that you’re aware of the road conditions before making a final booking as to the type of car that you’re going to use.

It’s also best that you have basic knowledge regarding the transportation laws in Mauritius. Be aware of their driving practices and the norms, and even travel signs. Mauritius follows a left-hand drive policy, and you’re supposed to give way to the right.

 Don’t Get Into An Accident

You’re on holiday, and you want to enjoy. Mauritius offers you countless opportunities to make your stay an extremely memorable one. But – don’t get drunk! Mauritius has a strict drunk driving law. Limit your alcohol intake to only 50mg in your bloodstream. Getting caught or worse, having an accident are situations you don’t want to get yourself in when you’re supposed to be relaxing and enjoying.

Never Forget Your Insurance Policy

If you initially didn’t think of obtaining a travel insurance policy, then you probably should. Choosing to travel by rental car increases your accident risk as you’re wholly responsible for yourself – and each other’s safety – compared with the more comfortable options of taking public transportation instead. It’s better to be prepared, just in case something untoward might happen.

Never Return Your Rental Car Dirty

A dirty car is almost inevitable for families traveling with children. But – this is no excuse for you to leave the car dirty when you return it. Even if you’re a paying customer, it’s a common practice of respect and courtesy always to return borrowed cars in the state that you received it. Take time to clean the car before you surrender it upon your departure from Mauritius. If there are any stains or dirt that may be hard to clean, please be honest to the car owner about it.

Never Experiment

Now isn’t the time for you to try and practice driving a manual transmission rental car when all you’ve been used to driving is an automatic car. You don’t want to get yourself into any trouble.

Never Forget Your Map!

Bringing a map is as self-explainable as it can get. You’re not a local. You’ll get lost. You need that map when you want to drive by car in Mauritius.

If you plan to stay for more than a week, then car rentals are the best transportation option for you. Do remember all these tips (or write them down, if you must!!) to help make sure that your holiday in Mauritius will be as calm and stress-free as the peaceful and serene white beaches. Most importantly: DON’T FORGET YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE. Be sure to know what to expect. Mauritius is a foreign country to you, and there are many differences that you have to be aware of – and to adjust.

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One of the things we are sensitive to as we travel the world is the impact we’re leaving behind for our children and their children. We want to leave behind a healthy ocean for future generations. Deep sea fishing is sustainable, since single line fishing and eating your catch are both good environmental practices. But we wanted to go further, so we tried to minimize our impact on the ocean and the world during our trip to South Florida.

If you’ve been to South Florida, you’ll know that it has some of the most stunning beaches and ocean in the world. Use this packing guide to minimize your impact when you visit Miami and the surrounding area.

Choose UV protective clothing made from natural fibers

If you are out on the ocean all day, you need clothing that will protect you from strong UV rays. The challenge for environmentally conscious travelers is that many fabrics that protect you from UV are synthetic. In fact, sixty percent of all clothing is made from synthetic fabrics, but many of these materials release tiny plastic bits, called microfibers, that are contaminating the ocean.

Do your part and stay protected by choosing tightly woven cotton or other natural materials. UPF gauges a fabric’s effectiveness against both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) light. Companies like Solumbra make hats in 100% cotton that have a UPF rating of 100, which allows less than 2% of UV rays through.

Suggested by: fishfindly.com

Wear water shoes with gripping soles to prevent a nasty spill on a slick boat deck, and keep your sunglasses from contributing to the trash at the bottom of the ocean by wearing a leash.

Don’t leave behind a toxic chemical slick

A hat with a large brim will help protect you from the sun, but you’ll need sunscreen even if there’s cloud cover. When you’re deep sea fishing near the Great Florida Reef, choose one that is reef-safe. Biodegradable mineral-based sunscreens don’t contain oxybenzone and octinoxate, two chemicals that are toxic to coral reefs and other marine life.

Pack along a small first aid kit with anti-nausea medication and bug repellent. Even the most seaworthy anglers can suffer from seasickness when the weather turns rough.

Bring reusable containers to hold your personal belongings

You’ll need cash to tip your guide and your phone to take pictures of your big haul. Instead of packing your phone, wallet, and keys in a Ziploc plastic bag, invest in a reusable waterproof bag. Small dry sacks are more environmentally responsible than single-use plastics.

Visitors don’t need a saltwater fishing license as long as they fish from a for-hire guide or charter vessel that has a valid vessel license, or if the operator of the vessel has a valid recreational saltwater vessel license in the name of the operator.

While the majority of deep sea fishing charters in Miami don’t require a passport, it’s a good idea to pack your passport book or card. Many charters, especially multi-day charters, can reach international waters.

Leave behind a healthier ocean for future generations

Make a few simple choices and reduce the impact you make on the Earth. Leave behind a healthy ocean for your kids when you take a deep sea fishing trip. South Florida has stunning beaches and the only barrier reef in the contiguous United States. Update your packing list by choosing environmentally conscious items from this guide when you visit Miami and the surrounding area.

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Is it really possible to travel to a land that may be a real life legend?

It seems as though it is, because the location of the mythical lost island of Atlantis is often theorized to be the Canary Islands.

Through the centuries philosophers, poets, writers, archeologists, soothsayers, mystics, and dreamers have speculated that Atlantis may have been in the Mediterranean, but most thought it to be in the Atlantic, as the name certainly implies.

We won’t weigh in on that debate, but in our research of this Spanish archipelago just off of the Northwest African coast we did find scientific assurances that the islands have not ever, nor would soon, sink into the sea.

Belief in a long lost landmass aside, the Canary islands have become one of the most popular places on Earth to visit. The magic of nearly perfect weather, beautiful beaches, and stunning scenery combine to make a legendary vacation destination, and we can’t think of a better way to visit than by sea on a Canary Island cruise holiday.

From the rocky, rugged coastlines that are broken up by beautiful beaches, to a soaring mountain summit towering above, there is a year-round feeling of springtime in Spain.

We began our investigation with Tenerife, the largest of the islands, and why not, it has so much to offer. Teide-Pico Viejo, Spain’s tallest peak, dominates the scenery and is both a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Gran Canaria is the other island in the Canary Islands. Flying into LPA Gran Canaria Airport you immediately see how impressive this island is. There are different options to see the island from renting a car to taking an airport taxi transfer. Either way, you will be inspired to explore further.

This dormant volcano reaches over twelve thousand feet above sea level, high enough to have snow fall in winter, even in this subtropical locale. For an amazing view, there is a ski lift style cable car that carries passengers up to a few hundred feet from the top.

Down below, the mountain includes one of the biggest lava tube systems in the world. These caves, left behind after molten rivers of rock flow to the sea, are some of the most interesting volcanic features we have ever explored and only occur in a few places on Earth.

We discovered another mysterious piece of history beckoning for examination when we read about the Pyramids of Guimar. Like Atlantis, there does not seem to be a consensus on when these were built or who was responsible.

Some claim that they are simply piles of stones that farmers stacked while clearing fields only a few hundred years ago, but others see a much more intriguing background. From what we gathered, we tend to come down on the side that they are likely much older.

Perhaps not quite as ancient as Norwegian adventurer Thor Heyerdahl theorized, linking them to the Egyptians and Mayans, but old enough to possibly have been built by the island’s oldest known inhabitants, the Guanches.

That brings us full circle back to Atlantis since some say the Guanches were actually Atlanteans, survivors of the sinking of the lost continent.  More likely they were simply descents of the Berbers from North Africa.

Yet another theory links the pyramids to Masonic symbolism because the main wall points to the sunset on the Summer solstice. Solstices are a very important symbol in Freemasonry, and the land was owned by a Freemason back when the pyramids may have been constructed.

We are undecided as of now, but luckily the ship offers an excursion that includes up close study of the archeological ruins and a tour of the onsite museum that could help us make up our minds.

Other onshore outings include a visit to the Museum of Aloe Vera, a 4×4 romp through the forest, and strolls through some of the island’s historic towns like La Laguna, Garachico, Icod de los Vinos, and Santa Cruz with the added bonus of sampling some delicious local dishes and tapas.

Of course we can’t discuss the Canary Islands without acknowledging the birds, not only those famous yellow ones like Tweety, but the world’s largest collection of parrots at Loro Parque. The park has over three hundred different types, and is also home to penguins, dolphins, whales, and sea lions along with many other animals.

As for those little yellow feathered friends, the name of the islands comes from a different pet, the Latin canariae insulae, meaning islands of dogs. It seems that when the Romans stopped by a couple of millennia ago, they found the inhabitants were fond of canines.

So we wondered, in a which came first the chicken or the egg kind of way, it turns out that the birds are named for the islands, not the other way around.

At least that’s one mystery solved.

David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com

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An ideal solution for a long weekend, especially for all true lovers of mountain walks, fans of historic architecture and medieval castles, as well as people who appreciate tranquillity, contemplation and contact with wild nature is a trip to Krakow and its surroundings. Two or three days are definitely not enough to get to know all the beauty of this area – trips around Małopolska (the province whose capital is Krakow) can be organized in parts and you can enjoy its extraordinary charm almost all year around. So what is worth sightseeing?

Krakow

Krakow is the former capital of Poland. According to most of the tourist rankings, Krakow is one of the most visited cities by tourists from around the world. However, it is not so unbelievable – the climatic Hejnał Mariacki (bugle call), played every hour from the tower of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church (colloquially from the Mariacka Tower), is to be remembered by more than one tourist, sipping coffee on the Krakow Market Square. Worth seeing is also St. Florian’s Gate, an unusually charming Old Town and the Wawel Royal Castle.

Zakopane

Zakopane is, undoubtedly, the main attraction of Małopolska. Ski jumping lovers can find the place called Wielka Krokiew (well-known ski jumping hill, where international competitions were organized) very fascinating. The most famous street in the city and the promenade are Krupówki. Many tourists often complain about the dizzying prices of all the attractions situated on this street, still, there are many people willing to walk on this legendary thousand-meter-long route. For the fans of hiking, Morskie Oko in Zakopane is a must-see! It is a lake, located in the Valley of Rybi Potok. The 8-kilometre-long trail ends with an amazing and unforgettable view of the panorama of the mountains and extremely picturesque reservoir.

The Witcher’s village

Fans of the computer game ‘The Witcher 3 – Wild Hunt’, will certainly be interested in the village, which became an inspiration for the creators and a real challenge for the graphic designers of this game. Zalipie is situated in the Małopolska Province and is famous for the fact that every house, or rather a cottage located in the village is decorated with unique, floral folk ornaments. It is an extremely characteristic and captivating place that has been added to the list of Małopolska’s most unique attractions.

 “Wieliczka” Salt Mine

Everyone is charmed by beautiful and majestic, forged in natural salt, spacious rooms, mysterious underground lakes, as well as artistic, salty sculptures. It is all closed in the area of the old salt mine, over 135 meters below the surface. It should be mentioned that in the recently organized (by the newspaper “Rzeczpospolita”) ranking of the seven wonders of Poland, the ‘Wieliczka’ Salt Mine occupied a high position. You can visit this place and form your own opinion about whether this nomination was right. It is not very uncommon for Polish tourists to forget about this unusual place, while the foreign guests put “salt mines Krakow” very high on their lists of the most attractive places to visit in Małopolska Province.

More information about Krakow and its surroundings can be found on the website – discovercracow.com (the organizer of Krakow Tours).

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