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How to Plan the Perfect Family Day Out

Having a day out with the family seems like such a great idea. But the reality can be marred with tantrums, bad weather, logistical issues and other disasters. However, many can be avoided or minimalized by great planning…
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Having a day out with the family seems like such a great idea. It will be a chance to bond and spend valuable family time together, to offer educational experiences to your children and aid in their development, and most of all for everyone to have fun!

Unfortunately it doesn’t always turn out this way. The reality can be marred with tantrums, bad weather, logistical issues and other disasters. None of these are a reason to avoid planning a family day out and the benefits it will bring.

Some of these are unavoidable and simply the reality of having a young family. However, many can be avoided or minimalized by great planning. Here are some top tips on planning a great family day out so everyone gets the most out of the experience.

Where to Go on Your Day Out

The first and perhaps most important thing to consider when planning a family excursion is where to go. There are the old favourites, such as the beach or the park, which still make great destinations for wholesome family fun.

Here are some creative ideas for a family day out that you may not have thought about:

• Head to the local museum for a fun, interesting and educational experience. Look for museums which are aimed towards kids, or have kids exhibitions or activities. Many museums put on special programs for the school holidays so this is worth checking out.
• Explore parks in your area, beyond just the neighbourhood playground. Check out all the nearby parks, exploring their walking trails, and see if they offer additional playgrounds or other activities.
• If your kids are reasonably confident on two wheels, check out local biking trails in your area, or within driving distance.
• Check council and events pages for community activities, festivals and fetes. There may be an interesting, family-friendly fair happening in a nearby town or village!

How to Prepare

Once you’ve decided on the destination for your family’s amazing day out, now it’s time to do a little preparation. Some time and effort taken at this stage will save you a multitude of hassles later.

Make sure you do your research in advance about the attraction you’re planning to visit. Check opening hours, and if there are any irregular closures coming up. Thankfully the internet makes this very easy to do these days. If driving, it’s also a good idea to research the route and print out the map. This will save you fussing around with your phone, or getting lost if your signal lets you down.

When going to sights and attractions that have entry tickets, it’s a good idea to book your tickets online in advance, particularly if it is somewhere that may book out. If you’re wanting to head to a popular attraction but finding it hard to get tickets, Tour Scanner is a great place to find last minute tickets, as well as to find ideas for fun tours and attractions in your area.

Another item to prepare is cash – make sure you have enough cash on you. Many parks and natural attractions do accept credit or debit cards for their entry fees. It is particularly a good idea to have lots of small change for small activities and snacks.

Be sure to pack well (see our suggested packing list below). This includes packing for all weathers, and being prepared for rain, hail of shine. It is also a very good idea to pack a complete change of clothes for each child in case of unexpected disaster, weather-related or otherwise. Preparing some snacks is equally valuable for feeding hungry mouths on the go and staving off tantrums.

Finally, prepare your children by telling them where you’ll be going, the plan for the day, and particular expectations for their behaviour.

What to Pack

Finally, before you head out the door, make sure you’ve packed everything you need. Being properly equipped and having all the necessary supplies with you is key for dealing with whatever may come your way and adverting minor disasters.

Here is the essential packing list that will have you covered for most excursions:

• Wet weather jackets
• Umbrella
• Wellies
• Sun cream
• Bug spray (DEET-free)
• Change of clothes (just in case!)
• Baby wipes/sterilising wipes/hand sterilising gel
• Picnic rug
• Water bottles
• Snacks such a fruit, cereal bars or crackers (or even better, a full picnic)
• First aid kit
• Anti-motion sickness wrist bands for long car journeys
• A few toys

Of course, some of these are seasonal, but packing most of these items could be handy year-round!

CBD Vape Juice – Touching the Unknown

CBD vaping is becoming popular nowadays since it is a good alternative for people looking to finally quit smoking. The use of CBD Vape Oil promotes relaxation, comfort, pain relief, less anxiety, and an improved mood… CONTINUE READING >> 

Vape Juice contains Cannabidiol extract from hemp and interestingly enough can serve as a good substitute for nicotine. Cannabidiol is widely used for its medicinal purposes such as helping people quit smoking through CBD vaping and treating epilepsy disorders through vape oil application, long before vaping became popular. For example, a drug called Epidiolex was approved by FDA in 2018.

CBD vaping is becoming popular nowadays since it is a good alternative for people looking to finally quit smoking. CBD vape juice oil has beneficial and safe ingredients since it contains CBD with less than 0.3% THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol), propylene glycerin or vegetable glycerin and artificial flavors compared to tobacco that could contain up to 7,000 harmful chemicals from which at least 60 are known as carcinogenic. The use of CBD Vape Oil promotes relaxation, comfort, pain relief, less anxiety, and an improved mood. According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, 16 million Americans are living with diseases caused by smoking which is also accounted for cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Varieties of vape juice oil flavors are available in the market. Some of these flavors include strawberry, coffee, caramel and other fruity flavors. This makes it an enjoyable and satisfying experience for people who are looking to quit smoking. Vaping also provides a placebo effect to users who are smoking.

CBD Vape Juice is extracted from hemp, a type of cannabis which doesn’t exceed 0.3% levels of THC. The extracts from these plants are proven to have health relief and most importantly, doesn’t have any psychoactive effects to make a person high. It only provides the healing properties of cannabis.

Its real taste is widely unknown because most of the available CBD Vape Juice products today come with diverse flavors. Without any added flavors, some described the taste as earthy or grassy.

CBD from Hemp vs. CBD from Marijuana

Hemp is just a name for the Cannabis sativa strain which has a very low THC content, as mentioned it usually has up to 0.3% which makes it safe and legal to use. This strain also has higher CBD amounts and the highest yield can be harvested. Hemp is typically grown outdoors and does not require the level of control and attention. It is also used for medicinal products such as CBD oil tinctures and CBD-infused topicals.

This Cannabis strain is preferred by many since it can be produced quickly and CBD can be extracted safely without touching its THC which means not including any psychoactive effects of the plant. This is achieved through a process called Isolation. CBD isolate is CBD in its purest form which is basically very much how it sounds — it is isolated Cannabidiol. During the extraction process, everything is removed or filtered out of the hemp plant except for Cannabidiol. This leaves you with a pure CBD product.

On the other hand, marijuana is a cannabis plant that is usually grown for medicinal and recreational purposes because it contains high THC levels and for some people can cause addiction. Marijuana is still treated as a controlled substance and is federally illegal under the Controlled Substance Act. This is one fact makes it different from hemp and often times, people who are not well informed about their legal differences may think that CBD from hemp plant is illegal. It’s important to note that Cannabis sativa can be marijuana too but in this case those sativa strains contains way higher THC levels.

A person cultivating marijuana must provide close attention to its plant stages and growing marijuana plants requires a lot of attention to the environment, temperature, lighting, and humidity.

Usually this plant isn’t concentrated in terms of CBD but it contains a very high amount of THC,  reaching up to 30% of THC concentration in a plant. That’s why most CBD oil and vape is made from hemp to avoid high amount of THC.

Is It Legal or Illegal To Use CBD?

CBD usage has become so popular with the passage of the US Farm Bill of 2018 that legalized industrial use of hemp. The number of users is growing and most of them would have little to no information at all. This CBD vape short guide should help all the curious ones to know more about CBD including its uses and legalities.

Before the US Farm Bill of 2018, CBD use was illegal because the federal government didn’t distinguish the difference between the CBD extracted from hemp or harijuana. They are all treated as general. Essentially wherever CBD was extracted from hemp or marijuana, both were illegal since the extracts are from cannabis plants that may come with potentially harmful effects of smoking marijuana, which contains high amounts of carcinogens from burnt materials and high levels of THC.

The general treatment on these sources was changed after 2018. The U.S government has established a clear distinction between the two sources of CBD and declared that CBD extracted from hemp is legal provided it contains 0.3% or less THC content by dry weight.

So far the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency continues to classify CBD as a ‘Schedule 1 drug’. Drugs that have this classification mean that they have no currently accepted medical use and have a high potential for abuse.

But to note a specific exception, The U.S Food and Drug Agency approved a drug called Epidolex even  though it has CBD content. This decision is based on the drug’s ability to treat a rare form of epilepsy. Because of its most significant medical benefit, this drug was classified as a ‘Schedule 5 drug’ since it was found out that it has the lowest potential for addiction and abuse.

Why Are Lab Tests So Important?

Lab tests, especially third party lab tests, are essential on CBD Vape products since it ensures that an unbiased scientific analysis can be conducted. The “no strings attached” kind of analysis makes sure that the output is transparent in terms of safety and quality.

Since the health and safety of the consumers are at stake, these labs would serve the interest of the public and they are not tied with any benefits related to a product or a company since they are independently working with the test.

They won’t risk tainting their reputation in approving unsafe products or products with potential health risks for the consumers. Having a third-party lab test also shows the sincerity of the company to provide quality and safe products to the masses.

This transparency will be a contributing factor to earn the trust of the consumers, which would reflect on the sales of the company’s products. These tests will save a company from potentially (and deadly) mistakes of rolling out unsafe products that are caused by faulty quality control.

It is also important because it can block low quality and unsafe CBD oil vapes to flood the market. With this, it will discourage manufacturers from producing such vapes.

Also, since the CBD market is still unregulated in general, CBD manufacturers can quickly provide false claims about their products’ safety and quality. Because of this risk, third-party lab tests are crucial in informing the consumers about the products’ benefits and potential implications.

Takeaway

CBD extracted from hemp with 0.3% or less THC content (by dry weight) is legal. With 16 million American smokers affected with different diseases, CBD Vaping may provide a good alternative solution to everyone wanting to finally quit however, further studies and regulations are needed in giving consumers confidence with safety usage.

We are happy to present this collaborative post to offer valuable information to our readers.

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Post-Parting Depression: Saying Good-bye to My Adult Kids

Having just returned from our first visit to our eldest’s new home in Paris, we felt that this is a good time to take another look at this story.

I’ve got an issue and I need help! I’m hoping I’ll get a lot of suggestions on this post from our amazingly insightful readers…

CONTINUE READING >> 

Veronica Writes

I’ve got an issue and I need help! I’m hoping I’ll get a lot of suggestions on this post from our amazingly insightful readers.

“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” -Dr Seuss

Having The Spawn come and go in such short and hectic celebratory spurts gave me some interesting insight into how I deal with my empty nest good-byes.

Not well, it seems.

No matter how long they’ve been out of the nest, no matter how happy they are, no matter how I prepare myself, no matter how much I write about it – I can’t seem to keep myself from being head-over-heels depressed every time I have to say good-bye to my young adult offspring.

It hits me like a ton of bricks. Seriously, I cry like Tammy Faye Bakker on the second day of her period — a regular air-sucking, mascara-dripping, please-God-nobody-see-me sob fest.

One would think I’d be used to good-byes by now. Or that I’ve somehow figured out how to prepare for the letdown. After all, The Spawn are all finished with college and it’s been over ten years since we’ve had a full time, live-in offspring.

Prior to a visit, I’m obnoxiously ecstatic. Bouncing off the walls happy. I certainly don’t want to tarnish that feeling with the planning of the inevitable pit of despair at the end. So instead, I’ve been leaving an open void of time — just waiting there for me to fall into, dragging self-pity in behind me.

Seeing The Spawn never fails to fulfill me. I am always surprised at how easily I can slip fully back into Mommy mode, it’s a huge part of who I am. When I’m around them I smile bigger, laugh harder and feel so comfortably myself. The heartstrings sing — and dig in hard.

Having to let go from those good-bye hugs at the airport is literally physically challenging. I feel like I’ve just run a marathon (okay, I’ve never actually run a marathon, but it looks really difficult). I can’t catch my breath, there’s a tightening in my chest and exhaustion soon sets in.

I have to force myself not to take to my bed with my smelling salts.

On the plus side, I’m finding that I have a quicker recovery time. What used to last weeks is now a matter of days.

Growth, right?

Does this mean it gets gradually easier until the post-parting depression goes completely away? Or do I need to learn to brace myself for the inevitable and learn new ways to cope with it?

Veronica, GypsyNester.com

YOUR TURN: Do you have similar experiences? Any advice on how I can avoid post-parting depression? Suggestions, please!

We would like to thank mypaperdone.com for helping us to provide this story for our readers.

Top 10 Appliances Which you Need to Have in Your House

Our home is a place where we have got everything which can make our lives incredibly easy, you can not deny that, and if you have not got all the appliances, you can simply have the affordable ones…
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Our home is a place where we have got everything which can make our lives incredibly easy, you can not just deny that, and if you have not got all the appliances you can simply have the affordable ones which you think can help you a lot. Range hoods make sure that you get the best of home appliances online, so you can get an idea from there as well.

I am not a big fan of smart home appliances, but one cannot deny this fact that these appliances are incredible when you are trying to save your time. in this article we will see what sort of appliances we see daily and how generally sellers categorize them.

Before we start, let us check what forced me to write this article. Recently, I was surfing on the internet and happened to hover an online shop, where I got confused as there was tens of categories of home appliances.

I was trying to look for toaster and I thought that it will be somewhere in cooking or kitchen, being a concerned writer, I wanted to share these categories and types of home appliances, this article is divided into various types and then those types have sub-types for your ease and understanding.

Kitchen Appliances

I do not know what sort of items you will put in this category, but I will only mention which I think you need to have all the time. We all have these necessary kitchen appliances at home. But these appliances need to be placed properly so that our kitchen may not seem like a storeroom. We can make a proper kitchen cabinet for these appliances so that everything is placed properly. Floating kitchen cabinets are there too to effectively handle a lot of appliances. We can make our kitchen amazing with amazing kitchen ideas.

1.    The Coffee Maker

This has to be the first item, because every one will start their day with a mug of coffee, does not matter what sort of coffee you people will be having but in many regions, it is considered as a morning ritual which can not be skipped.

So, whatever coffee maker you are going to buy make sure that it has got a good and thin Strainer in it, otherwise you will have big pieces of coffee beans in your mug. For making a satisfying cup, you could try finding which coffee beans are best to go with your coffee maker.

2.    Toasters

Again, your breakfast has to do a lot with the toaster in your kitchen, here I am using the word toaster but now because of their various styles we have got toasters, sandwich makers and sandwich grillers.

These items are quite similar, all are used for cooking sandwiches, but I would recommend you to have a classic toaster which will make your toast for a good breakfast.

3.    Food Factory

You all know why we call them factory, it has got a lot of machines in it, although the processing unit is the same, but the jugs and blades in them are very different.

I do not think a kitchen is complete without these factories, you need to make various types of pastes, juices and mixtures for your routine foods, so when you are collecting stuff for your house, you need to make it a top of the list priority.

4.    Microwave

Who does not love baked food, and in winters when you need to warm your food after every 10 minutes, will you like to use the stove?

I know, you answer is negation. That is why, make sure that you have got a microwave at your home. Recently, my microwave got damaged and I had to warm my food on stove and to be very honest that time of my life was one of the toughest.

Other Appliances

5.    Washing Machine

Have you ever seen a house in 21st century without washing machine? I do not think, even those who have not got any washing machines tend to send their cloth for laundry, most of the students who are living independently, and single parents are used to laundry.

I believe in having your own washing machine, because you never know when you will need one for cleaning sheets.

6.    Television

Who lives without a television? You need to know about everything happening around you so a television can be your best friend, I know kids will be saying hey, we have go social media like LinkedIn Lead Generation Software , but to be very honest I want to say this, you social media has not got that much information as our TV has got.

Because televisions have got a topic centered discussion, which is delivered in minimum time possible, so if you have got a hectic routine then you can only watch TV and news bulletin, social media has not got fixed timings.

7.    Vacuum Cleaner

Everybody wants to clean their house, not want to but have to, it is a sort of obligation. Otherwise, you will not feel at home. Clean carpets are a big part of making the whole house feel clean, or as the French say: Nettoyage de tapis.

A good vacuum cleaner is the most important thing. You can not use brooms and mops, all day. This is why a vacuum cleaner with various brushes is your ultimate friend.

8.    Thermostat

A thermostat, your ultimate temperature controller. You can not simply live in any kind of weather; I do not recommend having the heater working all day long. But when you are sick and it is the time for need.

9.    Tools

You must have to buy a toolbox, just as a first aid box.  A tool box, must have all the screws, types of screw drivers and all sort of wrenches in it.

You never know, when will you need a tool box, it is one of the most important thing in your house. make sure that while buying a tool box you have asked a professional about the most used products of a tool box, it is not always the screw drivers and nails.

You will need different kind of tools, for various tasks, for instance a plastic pipe can also be considered a tool for cleaning.

10.   Smart Devices

In this category I will include all sort of smart devices which can be helpful in maintaining the house. you can buy google homes or Alexa by amazon for empowering your house. Read more about WeRedesign.

Similarly, your mobile phones, security cameras and smart switches come in the same category. There are some technical things which you need to know before buying these products. so always start by reading the reviews, otherwise you may be in huge losses.

We are happy to present this collaborative post to offer valuable information to our readers.

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10 Helpful Tips for Planning a Trip

There are many reasons why people love traveling, it brings excitement in our lives. Planning is the most significant aspect of travel. It can be daunting, yet has a crucial role to play…
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There are many reasons why people love traveling, and most of the time, they go on vacation to spend some quality time with their loved ones or take a break from the daily schedule. Holidays eventually bring excitement in our lives, and the journey began when we began to plan. Planning is the most significant aspect of travel. It can be daunting, yet has a crucial role to play. In case, if you’re planning a vacation to Asian countries, then choosing the right International Tour Operators in India is essential.

Operators can ease the burden of planning and make your travel experience quite seamless and relaxing. For instance, an international tour operator in India will assist you throughout your journey, right from booking your flight tickets to departing. If you’re already from India and want to explore the country, then a Domestic Tour Operators can help you precisely.

In this blog, we’ll be sharing ten helpful tips that will help you accomplish successful planning of the trip:

1. Start with the budget-

Budget is vital in every aspect as it will help you decide about various things in a better way. Before you even plan your destination or itinerary, setting a budget is way more important as it will lead to no disappointments. Once you know what you’ve, you can plan accordingly. A vacation to countries like India will help you save a lot as it’s not that expensive.

2. Pick a destination-

Choosing a destination is a major factor while planning your vacations. Make sure that you look into everything of your favorite destinations. Make a list of at least five destinations and then check the climate of that place, expenses, places to explore, etc. More so, whatever places you’ve picked should meet your interest as well.

3. Organize your documents-

If you’re planning holidays out of the country, then make sure that you’ve all the documents organized. A passport should be available, visas, id proofs, etc., all these play a vital role. In this way, you won’t get stuck in any country due to invalid documents. As per the chosen country norms, you need to apply for a tourist visa ahead of time.

4. Book your flights-

Now that you know your destination, you’re ready to book your flights. No doubt, airfare is the biggest expense of all, so taking it out as early as possible will save you a few bucks. Countless flight booking sites offer good deals, but here we’ll share some secret tips that will help you save more:

• Switch to incognito mode on your browser
• Select alternate dates
• Use a VPN to hide your IPS address
• Be flexible with the time of the day and baggage allowance

5. Pre-plan your itinerary-

As I have mentioned in the beginning, choosing the right tour operator can help you tremendously. These operators will provide your car facility, assure you to stay in the best hotels of the city, and enable you to cover the famous places in the city. You don’t have to worry much because your travel would be smoother.

6. Get your travel insurance-

Travel insurance is the most significant controversy of all. Many people feel the need of travel insurance as anything can happen while traveling. But many think that in countries where the medical facility is affordable, then what’s the need for travel insurance. If you want to remain on a safer side or you’re planning an intense, adventurous trip, then take travel insurance.

7. Pack smartly-

When it comes to holidays we all want to take our best dresses, shoes, accessories, glamour box, etc., to get best pictures. More so, we shop so many things on our vacation, which result into an issue on the airport. Therefore, we recommend you to pack smartly. Begin the packing process at least a week before as it will help you collect things which are essential on the trip.

8. Find the best transportation-

If you’re planning a trip on your own, then finding the best ground transportation is an integral part. In many countries, cab drivers charge high to the tourist, knowing that they don’t know the right price. But you need to be smart enough and do research work beforehand.

9. Choose the best accommodation-

Although a tour operator will book the right hotel with good ambience. In case you don’t want to involve any operator, then make sure you find the best accommodation as don’t let your loved ones suffer through the problems in an unknown country.

10. Have a great time

The last thing that we’ve on our list is that you need to enjoy your holidays to the fullest. This is easier said than done because unforeseen obstacles might come your way. But gaining experiences from your mistakes is the best thing.

We are happy to present this collaborative post to offer valuable information to our readers.

Goin’ for the Gold (Coast) in Australia

We may be nuts, but we’re not crazy! Of course we jumped at the chance to spend a few days along Queensland’s Gold Coast.

This dazzling stretch along the Coral Sea has become Australia’s playground for food, fun, surf, and sun.

From our first look at the towering skyline and enticing water… CONTINUE READING >>

Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Peppers Broadbeach from above in Gold Coast, Queensland, AustraliaWe may be nuts, but we’re not crazy! Of course we jumped at the chance to spend a few days along Queensland’s Gold Coast.

This dazzling stretch along the Coral Sea has become Australia’s playground for food, fun, surf, and sun.

From our first look at the towering skyline and enticing water off of our balcony at Peppers Broadbeach we knew we had struck gold.

Toasting our good fortune at Peppers Broadbeach

Gold Coast Dreamin’

The Buzzsaw at Dreamworld, Gold Coast, Australia

We couldn’t visit the coast without a stop at Dreamworld, Australia’s largest theme park. With rides like The Buzzsaw, The Cyclone, and The Giant Drop from the Tower of Terror we knew that we were in for a thrill.

What we didn’t know was that we were in for one of the wildest adventures of our lives, feeding an enormous crocodile. That surprise was sprung on us once we entered the park.David feeds a crocodile at Dreamworld, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

It’s hard to say if falling nearly 400 feet from the world’s second highest vertical drop ride helps prepare a person for staring into the teeth of a 1,500 pound eating machine, but we decided to give it a try before heading over to the croc pond.

Figured it would either steady our resolve or make us too weak in the knees to care…

Click here to see us feeding crocs – with video!

A Journey with the Original Australians

The Dreamworld Corroboree Theater in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
The Dreamworld Corroboree Theater in Gold Coast, Queensland, AustraliaThe Dreamworld Corroboree Theater was just the ticket. Built in a replica bush hut called a humpy, the theater runs a film and features interactive exhibits about the local Yugambeh people.

Outside, Aboriginals tell stories and give demonstrations of traditional arts and weapons. Boomerangs and spears seemed downright tranquil compared to a giant mouthful of teeth.

Boomerang demonstration at Dreamworld, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

The Gold Coast’s Surf Culture – It All Started with Saving Lives

David gives surfing a go on Kurrawa Beach in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

After a day in the park, and all of the eating going on, it was time for us to do a little chowing ourselves.

From our room at Peppers Broadbeach we could see the Kurrawa Surf Club and heard it was a great spot for some seaside seafood. We heard right but, before digging in, we first dug up a little background.

Kurrawa Surf Club in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

Veronica is wearing her Kaf. Tanned at Kurrawa Beach in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Watching surf lessons on Kurrawa Beach Veronica’s kaftan courtesy of Kaf.Tanned

Each stretch of beach has its own club that oversees safety for the swimmers and surfers in that area. Kurrawa has been keeping beach-goers safe along their beach since 1958.

But the tradition of surf clubs in Australia goes back over one hundred years to when laws against swimming in the ocean were challenged and the beginnings of Surf Life Saving Australia, SLSA, took hold.

Now, over 165,000 members and 65,000 junior members known as Nippers, who range from 5 to 13 years old, participate in beach safety and awareness skills training, as well as competitions.

Dress code at Kurrawa Surf Club in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

The clubs have also become social organizations for each neighborhood, with restaurants, banquet rooms, dance halls, and some even have casinos.

Non members like us are allowed to come in as guests, but only if they live outside of the area served by the club. Locals must join.

Tower of delicious seafood at Kurrawa Surf Club, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

Certainly no one would hesitate if they knew about the seafood platter for two. This tower of goodies features “A selection of trawler caught seafood… Prawns, sautéed bugs, chilled crab, mussels, oysters, smoked salmon, and flash fried morsels…”

Wait, go back, sautéed bugs? That must mean crawfish, mud bugs, like in Louisiana. But it didn’t, those are known as yabby in Australia.

Bug means Balmain or Moreton Bay bugs, types of slipper lobsters that are a smaller cousin of the spiny lobster. These were something we had never seen, or tasted before. Served as split tails, they had a flavor and texture somewhere between shellfish and fish filet.

We were curious now, and wanted to know what these critters looked like before they found themselves cracked and stacked on our tower.

Going Around the Middle Man – Finding the Bug’s Source

The Fisherman's Co-op in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
The Fisherman's Co-op in Gold Coast, Queensland, AustraliaWe asked around and the Gold Coast Fishermen’s Co-Op was the place to find them.

Just so happened that it was going on the next morning, so we rented some bikes and pedaled off toward the marina.

The co-op allows a group of boats to set up shop on the docks and sell their morning catch directly off the boat.

The Fisherman's Co-op in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Yabby in Australia. Bug means Balmain or Moreton Bay bug in QueenslandIt doesn’t get any fresher than that, and we got to see a bug intact.

But we couldn’t figure out how we might go about eating one right on the beach, so we settled on a bag of freshly steamed shrimp, known as prawns down here (and blowing the whole “shrimp on the barbie” quote out of the water!), and sat on the rocks for the ultimate sack lunch.

Picnic on the spit near The Fisherman's Co-op in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

Biking along the coastline in Gold Coast, Queensland, AustraliaWait. What? That’s Made out of SAND?

Surfers Paradise in Gold Coast, Queensland, AustraliaContinuing along the coastline on our trusty beach cruisers, we came upon the Wait. What? That’s Made out of SAND?Australian Sand Sculpting Championships.

Fantastic forms fitting the theme of Myths, Legends & Fairy Tales lined the promenade along the Pacific shore in Surfers Paradise and several other of the whimsically named communities, like Mermaid Beach and Paradise Island, along the waterfront.

Artists at work at the Sand Scupting Championships in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Troll under the bridge at the Sand Scupting Championships in Gold Coast, Queensland, AustraliaEntries were judged in several categories including Australia against The World. In that competition two teams of invited artists, one from Australia and the other from around the globe, vied for king of the sandbox.

All in all, over 180 tons of sculpted sand became temporary masterpieces. It seemed a shame that someday these whimsical works of art will be washed away.

Click here to see more of these amazing sand sculptures!

Cowabunga! A Less-Than Stellar Attempt at Surfing!
David takes surf lessons on Kurrawa Beach, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
David’s only “successful” ride! His tee courtesy of aussieBum, his swimmers, Billabong

With all of the talk of surfing, and since we were staying right by Surfers Paradise, it seemed like a golden opportunity to give surfing a go.

Peppers hotel from the beach in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
We can see our room from here: Peppers Broadbeach looms over David from the beach!

Our attempts on the long board were somewhat less that cowabunga-worthy, but we did manage to get a few good rides in on the boogie boards.

Maybe we should have tried paddleboards. From what we have seen this in this comprehensive guide they are much easier.

Oh well, even with the multiple wipe outs and tumbles, we were glad we gave it a try.

All in all, an amazing afternoon on Kurrawa Beach – and, luckily, we didn’t require a rescue by a Nipper.

Can You Eat Your Way to Heaven?

Social Eating House + Bar, Gold Coast, QueenslandThat evening, we were lured to Social Eating House + Bar like a cartoon animal floating behind a visible wave of luxurious scent.

Social Eating House + Bar, Gold Coast, Queensland
We love a kitchen garden! From our perch we watched ultra-fresh herbs and micro-greens artfully placed on each beautiful dish.

Right across the street from our temporary home at Peppers, in the little village of shops and restaurants that surround the hotel, Social was certainly convenient. But that turned out to be way down the list of reasons to love the place.

Decor, style, seating along the kitchen where we watched everything being prepared (dinner and a show!), and the food, ooooooh the food, all topped the list.

Innovative specialities are served in small portions like tapas, enabling us to sample over half a dozen different dishes. It was like an appy crawl without ever leaving our seats.

As the name implies, shared plates equal a truly social experience.

Confit Pork Belly, Spiced Plum, Parsnip Puree, Crackling Crumbed Prawn, Apple Cider Jusat Social Eating House + Bar, Gold Coast, Queensland

We ordered a couple of dishes to start, then decided what we wanted next by watching orders as they came out of the kitchen.

We asked our server “Ooooh that looks great, what is it?” several times and wound up with… see our entire, incredible meal at Social Eating House + Bar

And we thought those crocs knew how to eat. Take that you leapin’ lizards!

David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com

Delve Deeper:
See where we stayed! Peppers Broadbeach
See more spectacular Sand Sculptures!
Drool over the unbelievably delish Social Eating House
Watch us feed crocs!
Bucket list check! We snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef!
Watch us skydive above beautiful Queensland – yikes!
Follow us into the Australian Hinterland and kayak the Noosa Everglades!
Find out how we saw all of the bizarre Australian animals in one place!
Let Us Introdoos-ya to Noosa and Spread a Little Sunshine Coast

Huge thanks to Tourism and Events Queensland for providing this adventure! As always, all opinions are our own.

Click here to see all of our adventures in Queensland!

How to Bring More People to Your Vacation Rental

Many people believe that it is easy to bring visitors to your place once it has been cleaned and decorated, but in reality there is much more to it than that. To help you increase your profits from your rental, here are some tips… CONTINUE READING >> 

If you have a vacation rental and you haven’t had a great year then now is the perfect time to take stock and take action to ensure that in the coming year you have done all that you can to bring more people into your rental. Many people believe that it is easy to bring visitors to your place once it has been cleaned and decorated, but in reality there is much more to it than that. To help you increase your profits from your rental, here are some tips which you should bear in mind.

Pick Your Niche

Something which many fail to successfully with their rental is to really nail down the niche that it is in. This could be luxury, budget, for families or even for groups. It can be tempting to try to sell your place to all comers, but ini reality you will likely fail to deliver 100% for any of them. A far better idea is to pick your market, if you are going to become a budget rental then reflect this with your price point and the amenities within the property, really take ownership of what kind of rental you are to bring in more visitors.

Nail The Description

The description of your vacation rental has to be lengthy and accurate as people looking for somewhere to stay want to know exactly what they are getting. In so many cases customers use reviews to find this information out, when in reality those reviews should be used to understand more about the experience customers can expect, rather than trying to find out what your property offers. If you have a look at this Mykonos hotel for example, you can see that the description covers all bases, it let’s a potential customer know exactly what to expect when they arrive at the property and as such it will bring in more customers. A vague explanation will only serve to ensure that customers look elsewhere, for a property which tells them exactly what to expect.

Cast Your Net

Placing your rental on a variety of 3rd party websites may require a bit of investment on your behalf but in casting your net further like this you can attract a far greater range of visitors. Not everyone uses the same websites when looking for vacation rentals which is why it makes much more sense to cast your net wide and try to go after every potential customer that you can.

Iron Out Issues

If a customer tells you about an issue in the property or they leave a review which mentions it, you simply have to be quick in terms of fixing it. Many vacation rental reviews that you see have people who are talking about the same issues time and time again. If you fall into this category then you are going to be turning away a huge number of potential customers going to the act that you have not fixed the issue, no matter how big or small.

Follow these tips and making 2020 the most profitable year yet for your vacation rental.

We are happy to present this collaborative post to offer valuable information to our readers.