2008 July

Holiday Mountain, located in New York, is a popular
area for skiing. Even though the highest elevation is
only 1300 feet, and the vertical drop is only 400 feet,
this area is a popular place for the younger crowd,
and it is definitely a great place to learn how to ski.

There are eight lifts, including three chair lifts and five
surface lifts. There are 15 trails for beginners,
intermediate skiers, and expert skiers. While skiing
and snowboarding are the main attractions, there is
much more here as well, including bumper cars, an
arcade, and a mechanical bull. There is always
something to do at Holiday Mountain Ski Resort.

The best place to stay when visiting Holiday Mountain
Ski Resort is the Villa Roma Resort Hotel, which is
located in the Sullivan County Catskills. Villa Roma
was named as one of Americas 50 Best Family
Resorts by Better Homes & Garden Magazine, and
with the amazing amount of fun activities, it is easy
to see why. The resort features a rail park for
snowboarders, birthday packages, snow tubing, and
of course skiing.

Humidifier is described as either “warm mist” or “cool mist”. In each of the process it uses a distinct method in producing the moisture it releases. Humidifier uses a fan to blow out water through wet pad or wick filter that helps trapping bacteria and dust particles before the water evaporating into the air. There are variety of Humidifiers available in market. Some of them are Warm Mist Air Humidifiers, Cool Mist Air Humidifiers, Whole House Air Humidifiers, Vaporizers and many more. Each one of them comes as a great companion that helps preventing asthma attacks and winter infection like cold. During winter humidifier provides comfort and ease by drying the air, which lessens skin allergies. It adds required moisture to the air, which lessens skin infection or allergies.

Point and Shoot ELPH cameras are compact but still contain the advanced technology of the Canon digital camera. The Power Shot SD 750 is available in silver or black and silver and operates at 7.1 megapixels and a time lapse movies function. The large LCD screen has sharp clarity and color tone. The Power shot SD40 is another 7.1 megapixel with a slimline design and top quality zoom. It’s available in four colors, including pink and has Camera Station and Wireless controller.

The A-Series is the most basic of the range and many people using a Canon digital camera for the first time recommend this type. The Power Shot A460 runs on 5.0 megapixels and has a 4x optical zoom. The A570 has high auto settings that minimize blur if there is not much light. The A540 operates at 6.0 megapixels and 4x optical zoom.

Canon Digital Camera
The company has been a leading player in the development of the Digital SLR. The first product of its kind to come on line was in 1995, following a liaison with the Kodak company. Since then, there have been around 40 digital SLRs with the Canon EOS flash system. The most expensive models have up to 45 autofocus points for an excellent, sharp picture. Manual focus EOS cameras are available too with a split focusing screen. A Canon digital camera, no matter what the model is will continue to stand for innovation and quality.

Little girl’s skin may be sensitive to different perfumes. The perfume line for little girls uses a lighter formula when creating the perfume. This allows the scent to be weaker and the ingredients to be less potent. Teach her how much perfume she should use at one time instead of letting her spray it all over.

Finding perfumes may be easy to do, depending on what character she likes at the time. Perfumes are made using character perfume bottles to attract your little girl’s attention.

Perfumes For Little Girls
Once you purchase the perfume, allow her to spray it on her wrist only. Make sure she sprays it only on her wrist for at least two to three days. This will give you time to see if she will have an allergic reaction to it. If she don’t than she will be okay with it.

It’s not a good idea to allow them to spray perfume all over their body and find out later that they are allergic to it. The skin is sensitive and it’s better to be cautious.

When it comes to skiing and winter sports, Europe has more than its fair share of amazing resorts. From the greatly priced, to the more than reasonable, Europe has it all, and has so much to offer any skier. If youve never been to Europe on a skiing holiday, or if youre looking to expand your experience, youll find something that catches your eye without too much research, and you might just end up joining the legions of skiing fans that wouldnt go anywhere else in the world for their vacation.

On mainland Europe, you have such a varied selection. From the world famous French skiing resorts to Austria, Switzerland and the tiny principality of Andorra, youve got such a wide range of skiing to choose from. France is known the world over as the true home of skiing, and the French really know how to do a quality vacation. With naturally amazing resources, and scenery that can take your breath away, France is an ideal location for a skiing trip. Why not try the Courchevel resort, which has four different ski resorts within one, providing the perfect blend of quality and affordability in a skiing trip. From the grossly overpriced 1850 resort, the playground of Europes film stars and playboys, to the seemingly remote 1350 at the bottom of the hill, you have so much to choose from in Europes finest skiing country. With the kids or with your friends, France is truly a destination that will make for a memorable skiing vacation.

Or how about some of the Italian resorts? Italy, famous for being the cheaper way to ski, also benefits from a diverse range of resorts, like the tiny Alba resort, as well as some larger, more sizeable areas to ski. Famous for passion and a depth of culture, Italy is the ideal place to take a skiing break in Europe, and the weathers good too! Or how about Italys neighbor, Croatia? A rising European nation, youll find a Croatian holiday outrageously good value for money, not to mention top quality. From the international standard ski resorts to their world class restaurants, Croatia is certainly a country on the up, and its skiing facilities can only improve as more and more tourists flock to their slopes each year. Additionally, Bulgaria is an excellent skiing destination to take the kids. With open arms, you will be welcomed by the Bulgarian people, who are more than eager to tell you about their rich and deep past, and welcome you as part of their future. In these expanding and developing European nations, you will come to appreciate the value of tourism, and the quality of treatment and service they are prepared to offer for your investment.

How about Austria for your skiing trip? When we think of skiing, we often imagine the Alpine ideal, with breathtaking scenery and fresh, clean air. Well, it simply doesnt come much better than Austria, and if youre looking for a skiing destination that has it all, why not try Austria for that touch of class with your skiing. Or why not pop over to Switzerland for their Alps experience? Skiing the alps in the home of chocolate and cuckoo clocks, you will be amazed at how picturesque this modern nation has managed to be, whilst still becoming a world leader in financial industry.

Skiing in Europe is the ideal way to spend your vacation. If you love skiing, you are guaranteed to find a great resort somewhere, within your budget that meets your needs, and caters for your ability. With most resorts also boasting strong training academies, you can also work to improve your skills while you are there, ensuring that your skiing trip is both useful and memorable. Whatever you are looking for, choose Europe as your number one skiing destination, for that perfect blend of quality, tradition and culture, and for a holiday that is truly breathtaking.

With its moderate temperatures year round, San Francisco is one of the best cities in the world in which to go outside and play. No matter what time of year it is, there is probably something you can find to do outside that is a lot of fun. Even if it is just “Singing in the Rain”. Beyond singing of course, there are plenty of activities that are best enjoyed out of doors. And there are few places in the world better to enjoy these outdoor activities than Golden Gate Park.

If you like wheels, there are plenty of places in the park where you can either rent biking and skating equipment. Of course if you plan on skating, it is quite easy to bring your own equipment along on your vacation. If you have children and are looking for fun activities that you can enjoy together, these are among the top on my list. Of course there are several more that you will find at Golden Gate Park as well.

I can keep my kids occupied for hours with one little Frisbee tossed between the three of them. And there are plenty of open spaces in this great park where Frisbee tossing is quite possible. In addition to Frisbee there are several other outdoor activities that can be enjoyed by you or your family.

There is an archery field and a shop where you can rent all the equipment you will need. In addition to equipment, which can be purchased or rented, you can also buy lessons for that equipment as well. If this is something you’ve never tried before, you should at least stop by and take a look. I think it’s a great sport that is incredibly fun for young and old alike. It’s also something that isn’t as commonly found as it should be so may actually be a real treat for your children.

If you love the water as I do, you will be delighted to find that in addition to beaches which offer surfing and sea animal watching, there is a huge lake in the park which offers paddleboat and row boat rentals. This is good fun and clean living if you ask me. Of course, I’m a water baby so I’m a little biased.

If water isn’t your thing, have you ever tried swing dancing? If not, it’s time you considered Lindy in the Park. Every Sunday, weather permitting, there is swing dancing from 11:00 am -2:00 pm with free lessons offered at 12:30 pm. Young and old children alike get a real thrill out of this and it’s a great way to trick yourself into exercising. Lindy in the Park is completely free and a lot of fun. If you are planning to include a trip to Golden Gate Park in your San Francisco visit, I strongly urge you to plan it for Sunday and plan to attend Lindy in the Park.

In addition to these activities there are handball tables both indoors and outdoors that can be used for a quick game. If this is something that you find interesting you might want to stake out a spot close by because there are only a few tables and a great deal of interest. Other interesting activities in Golden Gate Park include lawn bowling, tennis, dog runs, basketball, and disc golf. .

If all of that isn’t enough there are several other sites and activities available throughout the park that should spark your interest. Among those is a favorite for young and old children alike–The 1912 Herschel-Spillman carousel. This is very popular among children and seconded closely by the nearby playground. If you think about it, a day at Golden Gate Park isn’t your typical day at the park. With so much to do and see, it is hard to imagine that a day at this park isn’t a vacation in and of itself.

Geilo in Norway stands 800 metres high, and has one of the highest ski lifts in the world, stretching 3,887 feet. Geilo is positioned three and a half hours from the capital city, whilst having good road and rail links to the village. Set amidst amazing scenery just off the banks of Fjord, Geilo is at the heart of Norways Winter Wonderland. Maintaining its reputation as an excellent family resort, Geilo has seen visitors from Europe and beyond since early 1900s. Geilo remains unspoilt, with true Norwegian character firmly intact.

With more than just skiing facilities Geilo is home to the 4 star Highland Hotel, as well as numerous lodging houses, and the famous Holms Ski Bar. Although primarily a ski resort Geilo also offers sleigh rides, wildlife adventure tours, ski orienteering, tobogganing, snow shoe walking, dog-sledging, kite-skiing, night-skiing, snowboarding, freestyle snowboarding and much more.

Geilos reputation as one the worlds top skiing resorts lies mainly in its ability to cater for family vacations. With over 10,000 families visiting the slopes each year, Geilo also offers excellent tuition in packages it refers to as the Family Starter Pack. This involves tuition for your entire family for the equivalent of $200 a day. This means, that not only can your whole family learn together, but is also means that families with no skiing experience, can go along and after the first day, they will be able to ski on their own.

Geilo has also increased its reputation amongst Snowboarders in recent years beating off Lillehammer, Voss and Hemsedal in its bid to host the Norwegian Snowboarding Championship. With four sides of mountain each dedicated to snowboarding and skiing, Geilo is now able to call itself Norways first skiing location to offer 5 runs dedicated to snowboarding. With 110 runs in total, Geilo has 14% expert allowing experienced skiers to enjoy themselves on the slopes, whilst maintaining the rest of its facilities for intermediates and beginners that account for a larger number of their yearly visitors.

Geilo also offers exceptional value for money with weekly family packages starting from $1000 including accommodation, bed and breakfast. The element that stands out the most about Geilo is the way it caters for families, with crches, family diners, and especially their Christmas bonanza which includes Santa visiting the slopes with his reindeer on Christmas day, and the time leading up to christmas. Geilo never fails to be fully booked for Christmas, with so many families choosing to bring their children along to experience Christmas within this winter wonderland.

Although Geilo offers amazing family packages, it would be unfair to say that Geilo is limited to family vacations. Geilo has hosted very serious world sporting events, as well as being the training ground of the national snowboarding and skiing teams. Geilo is available from August/September all the way through to late March and is also considering investing in Avalanche Technology which generates snow from water to provide 24/365 skiing. If you have never been to Geilo then I would recommend that you give it a go, although the family image may put certain people off visiting the slope I would suggest that checking it out is the best thing to do. From their website it is clear to see that consistent snowfall, and a good variation in the difficulty of runs, Geilo is a facility that can genuinely cater for everyone; from beginner to professional.

It has many great options for accommodation, and with good travel links as well their really is no excuse for not hoping on a plane and going to Geilo today. With thousands of people on the slopes, from different countries and different backgrounds Geilo is suitable for families and teenagers alike. With individual price plans starting from $350 a week, and well-known DJs playing at local club venues Geilo is also becoming very popular amongst those teenagers who would have previously seen Ibiza as the only place to be seen on holiday.

If you are looking for a great place to go for your
family ski vacation, Fun Valley, Iowa is the place to
go. This resort caters to families and beginner level
skiers, but it is also great for intermediate and expert
skiers as well. There is something to suit all levels at
Fun Valley.

The top elevation at Fun Valley is 1201 feet, with a
vertical drop of 200 feet. There are six lifts, including
three chair lifts and three surface lifts. The new
learning center is something to see and experience
if you are a beginner. Tubers and snowboarders are
welcome, and there is an excellent terrain park
available. Rental equipment, including tubes and boards,
is available.

Fun Valley offers outstanding group rates for groups
of ten or more. Birthday packages are also
outstanding for kids twelve and under. Every
Wednesday and Thursday night, the resort offers a
student night, with greatly reduced rates. Buddy Pass
Fridays are also popular bring your friends and you
will all save on lift tickets. Coca-Cola sponsors Sprite
Saturdays at Fun Valley, where you can participate in
three activities for one flat affordable fee. Sundays are
Family Four Pack Day.

If you are bringing young ones on your visit to San Francisco, you’ve probably wracked your brain trying to find activities and events that will not only be fun for them but also provide much needed mental stimuli as well. Well, look no further. I have five museums that are guaranteed to be completely kid friendly and fun for the entire family.

Gone are the days of stuffy museums that are cold and unfeeling. These museums of old have been replaced with modern day museums that offer areas that encourage hands on activities and promote learning and education through activities that are well disguised as fun. Your children will have no idea what just happened and you will be able to rest comfortable in the knowledge that this event that they considered so much fun will remain with them for a long time to come. Knowledge is a great gift to pass on to your children, especially when they don’t realize what it is that you are giving them.

The first of these museums is the Cartoon Art Museum. You may wonder what your children can possibly learn from a museum such as this, but as with all art, comics often imitate life and this museum shows how comics have evolved and morphed over time. In addition to that, anything that will encourage your children to read is a good thing in my opinion, even if it is comics that they are reading.

Next, there is the Bay Area Discovery Museum. This museum offers hands on entertainment for children of all ages. While most exhibits are designed with children ages 1-10 in mind, there are plenty of activities and exhibits that will appeal to older children as well as those entertaining the notion of a second childhood. This museum offers many activities and adventures both indoors and out that will appeal to your children while teaching them about other creatures, cultures, technology, and the world at large around them. This is definitely worth having a look. Be sure to check and see if there are any events being offered while you are visiting.

If the Bay Area Discovery Museum isn’t enough to get your little one’s creative juices flowing and put you all into the supreme spirit of learning, then perhaps you should check out Zeum. Zeum is a multimedia arts and technology museum. By allowing visitors to hands on use of their equipment they are fostering imagination and igniting curiosity in the young minds of their guests. This is definitely unique enough for a closer look. I hope it spikes your inner techno guru as completely as it reached mine.

There are many more places than this that you can visit in San Francisco that offer an equal spark for the minds and imaginations of your little ones. But the fact remains that you know your child’s interests and talents better than anyone else. Find those things that will appeal to each child’s personality and that above anything else will make this trip special for him or her.

I also believe that it is important to allow your children an opinion on what to do and see while on vacation. You may be surprised to find the things that will appeal to them as well as the fact that they really do on occasion think about what you as a parent want for them. By giving choices and a voice you are teaching your children that they are important to you and that their opinion matters.

For the ultimate family ski vacation, you must visit
Frost Fire Mountain in North Dakota. Located near
Walhalla, the resort features three lifts, including two
chair lifts and one surface lift, 25 acres, and ten trails
for beginners, intermediates and experts. The top
elevation is 1346 feet, with a vertical drop of 345 feet.

Although this is not a large ski resort, it is a great
deal of fun, and perfect for family ski vacations. This
is the perfect place to bring kids to learn how to ski.
Both ski and snowboard lessons are available at
reasonable rates. There is a rental shop and ski
maintenance area on the grounds, and many motel
accommodations in the area to choose from. There
is a separate terrain park for snowboarders as well.

There are many restaurants to choose from, and you
can also visit the areas antique shops when you
arent busy enjoying the slopes. There are many
historical sites to see in the area as well, as
Walhalla is the second oldest town in the state of
North Dakota.

Fisherman’s Wharf is one of the most famous of destinations for visitors of San Francisco, California and with good reason. There is so much to see and do in Fisherman’s Wharf that you could quite easily plan an entire trip to Frisco and only leave the Wharf as you are leaving the city.

The Wharf offers more than 2,500 hotel rooms, several restaurants, and an almost endless amount of shopping, history, culture, and attractions. Anyone would be hard pressed not to find something fun to do in Fisherman’s Wharf.

If you are interested in the sea faring culture and history of the Fisherman’s Wharf, take the Port Walk, which is a walking tour that you can take at your own pace while learning about the history of Fisherman’s Wharf through the various signs located along the tour. You can also tour the USS Pampanito, which was a WWII submarine, or the SS Jeremiah O’Brien, which is the last unaltered Liberty ship that is operational. Both of these can be found on Pier 45.

If you find yourself a little hungry, perhaps it’s time to check out the many restaurants that the Wharf has to offer or simply to stroll on over to Ghirardelli Square, okay, I confess, I could spend my entire vacation here. With its rich history of chocolate and chocolate making, no pun intended, this square is now home to some lovely little shops and for chocolates, clothing, souvenirs, and jewelry. Really, who could ask for more in a shopping center? Chocolate, jewelry, and clothes, the only thing missing is shoes.

Back to reality and the fact that many of us travel with family. Fisherman’s wharf has a lot to offer in the way of family entertainment. Check out Pier 39. Ever want to take a Magic Carpet Ride or star in your own musical video? What if I told you that you could actually do both? In addition to the Magic Carpet Ride there is the San Francisco Carousel, which children of all ages will love, Frequent Flyers (perfect if you have any aspiring acrobats among you), and Riptide Arcade (I recommend giving dad an allowance before going in here unless you want to spend most of your vacation rooted to the spot-or giving a time limit and leaving the guys while the girls go shopping). In fact, there are so many things to do at Pier 39 you could almost make a vacation here alone. Don’t leave though without checking out the sea lions.

I can’t really mention Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, and families without brining to attention the fact that the Aquarium of the Bay is a great place for family entertainment. The aquarium is a great way for you and your family to spend the day. Not only is this a fun excursion that your children will probably remember long after you’ve gone back to the real world of your day-to-day lives, but it is also an educational experience that is cleverly disguised as fun. Your children will learn about all kinds of marine life, while having a great time and never know what really hit them. This is one of those times when it is great to be a parent and you can pat yourself on the back for providing an educational experience that they are enjoying. Even better, they never have to know.

Last but not least, there really isn’t enough that I can say about the fantastic shopping and dining experiences that are available all along Fisherman’s Wharf. There are so many shopping areas at Fisherman’s Wharf that it is hard to keep them all separate in your mind but this is a girls dream vacation while still offering enough activities to satisfy the men in your life. If the history, the culture, and the fun aren’t enough to convince you, then perhaps the food should speak for itself. All you have to do is show up with your appetite; your nose will lead the way for everything else.