Taking the Plunge at Niagara Falls

Taking the Plunge at Niagara Falls
By Herod Jacobs

Perhaps the most well-known set of waterfalls in the world, Niagara Falls is a sight to behold. Made up of three different falls (the Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls, and the Bridal Veil Falls) that move over six million cubic feet of water per minute, Niagara Falls is the most powerful waterfall in North America. Exceptionally wide, incredibly beautiful, and an important source of hydroelectric power, the falls are an invaluable resource and brilliant natural wonder. However, some people see them as something else: a challenge.

Everyones heard of it, although very few people attempt it: going over Niagara Falls in a barrel. This world-famous stunt was first performed in 1829 by Sam Patch, the first famous US stunt performer. Patch simply jumped off the edge of the Horseshoe Falls to the amazement of the huge crowd. It wasnt until 1901 that a barrel would be used to go over the falls. This attempt was also the first by a woman. Annie Taylor survived her attempt with only a few bumps and scratches, and since then, fourteen others have made the attempt. Some, like Karel Soucek in 1984, survived only to face still fines. Others have not survived their attempt to defeat the powerful falls. The most recent person to leap from the falls was Kirk Jones, who leapt from the edge without a floatation device in October of 2003. While Jones did survive, many speculate that he was attempting suicide, not a stunt.

All of the attempts at going over Niagara Falls, whether in a barrel or not, have been done at the Horseshoe Falls. This is because it has fewer rocks than the other two and a faster current, which propels daredevils farther out from the rocky edge. Because of the rocks and other dangers, it is now illegal to attempt to go over the Falls in any way. This hasnt stopped people from attempting it, although those who survive find themselves facing high fines and possible arrest.

Despite the small number of people to leap from Niagara Falls and the even smaller number to survive, the stunt remains one of the most well-known and amazing feats a daredevil can attempt. To jump from the top of the majestic falls and survive proves one has courage, bravery, and the ability to defeat one of natures most spectacular sights in the world.

http://www.onlineniagara.com

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4 Most Beautiful Thailand Beaches

4 Most Beautiful Thailand Beaches
By Monice Dulcinea

Thailand has one of the most beautiful beaches on the planet. For those that have traveled there they know that the beauty of this untouched place makes for some of the best vacations in the world. This is coupled with the vast amount of historical culture that abounds the countryside and there is never a shortage of things to do in this country. Because much of this land is untouched by development you will find that relaxation and peaceful living is more than possible. The reaches of the mighty have not gotten this far and that means that you will get the very best in the vacation arena, especially when it comes to the Thailand beach areas.

Khao Lak is a wonderful Thailand beach. Just a short drive from the airport, this paradise offers a remote vacation area like no other. Thanks to the area being largely uninhabited, there is lush rain forest nearby along with a whole host of wildlife to be viewed. The water remains warm in the November through December months and the fishing and scuba diving is out of this world.

Phuket Thailand Beach is another great spot. Enjoy this resort November through March. There is more than enough to do. It is a bit more crowded than other beaches as this area thrives on the tourism dollars that it brings in. The scuba diving is top notch in this area and you will also find some of the warmest most clear water in the world. There are several nearby attractions to keep one busy for quite a few days.

Phi Phi Don Thailand beach is quite the turn around. Once a remote and nearly unknown place, this Thailand beach came to life when Hollywood came in and filmed a movie here. It is now considered to be one of the most popular beaches in the entire country and is frequented by many big names. This is a site that you will not want to miss, as the views are breathtaking and the water warm and inviting.

West Railiy Thailand beach is one of the undiscovered diamonds in the rough. There is very little that is expensive here and one can stay at the resort for over a week and barely tap the budget. The sands are milky white and the water clear. Scuba diving is very popular here as well as the fishing. This location is only accessible by long tail boat so plan for a bit of a long ride.

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Cruising the Popular Holiday Choice

Cruising - the Popular Holiday Choice
By John Gibb

Cruises are currently in the middle of a big resurgence in popularity. For a few years, it seemed like cruises might have been killed off by an age of ever-faster trains and cheap flights, but something about the romance and the luxury of the experience has managed to keep them alive. For most cruisers today, the cruise is no longer about a way to travel in style from one place to another instead, its all about enjoying your time on the boat itself, living the sea life and relaxing on the ocean waves. This has led to a shift in focus, from trying to make the ship go as fast as possible to it taking weeks for it to get anywhere.

The nice thing about cruises is that your holiday starts as soon as you get on the ship: theres no sitting around in departure lounges and on planes. Most big cities have a port somewhere nearby, and the chances are that there are cruises no more than a few hours drive away from you.

So what can you do once youre on a cruise ship? Modern cruise ships are basically like big, luxurious floating hotels, and are often truly huge, big enough to include a whole towns worth of facilities. The worlds largest ship is currently Freedom of the Seas, and listing everything on board would take a long time: it includes swimming pools and a water park, shops and cafes, an ice rink, a boxing ring, and more. The second-largest, the Queen Mary II, is arguably even better equipped, with restaurants and bars, a casino, swimming pools and a planetarium among other things.

The best thing to do, though, is just sit back and relax. Because cruise ships are open at the top, its no trouble for them to set sail down towards the equator and give you some real sun to enjoy. All you need to do is wake up, get out of your room and go up on deck, and youre set.

John Gibb is the owner of cruise guidance. For more information on cruises please check out http://www.cruise-extreme3k.info

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Cyprus: Sample a Diversity of Cultures on a Fascinating Island of Stunning Beauty

Cyprus: Sample a Diversity of Cultures on a Fascinating Island of Stunning Beauty
By Michael Hanna

Cyprus is indeed a stepping stone to three continents. Whether you are looking for holiday packed with activities, historical sights, sunbathing, partying or exploring, Cyprus has it all. Its array of assets makes it a perfect destination for the independent traveller.

Cyprus is a truly remarkable place to visit rich with fascinating history tracing back over nine thousand years. It has hosted a multitude of famous historical figures throughout the ages from Aphrodite to Cleopatra. Cyprus also has been invaded by an array of civilisations over the centuries, all of which have left evidence of their culture giving Cyprus its charming character. The lure of Cyprus is obvious with its pristine beaches, beautiful mountain backdrops, captivating ruins and fragrant citrus groves.

Today Cyprus comfortably merges history and hedonism with extravagant hotels, pools and beaches within walking distance of Greek and Roman ruins. One of the islands most impressive archaeological sites is the ancient city kingdom of Kourion which overlooks an exquisite stretch of beaches with sparkling blue sea which combine to make Cyprian scenery at its best.

Driving in Cyprus is most advisable as regular transport service is not available to all remote areas where many places of interest are to be found. Hiring a car will allow you to explore the island and discover its treasures and cultural diversity. Car hire in Cyprus is in abundance in the larger towns with most established companies having a presence. Whether you chose to go on a daytrip or decide to spend several days touring and discovering Cyprus you are assured of lasting memories.

Larnaka is a charming modern city and boasts the beautiful St Lazarus Church, this would be the perfect starting point for a round island trip. Other places that will astonish any visitor include the village of Lefkaritka which is famous for its lace and the picturesque mountain villages in the Troodos Mountains. The town of Pafos should be also be seen, this energising place is said to be the playground of the Gods and it's remarkable history makes it a virtual open air museum. The National park 'Carvo Greko' is a tranquil place and with lush vegetation is the perfect atmosphere to spend time to relax and unwind. Helpful itineraries for trips are available online at http://www.visitcyprus.org.uk

If you feel like letting your hair down, the town of Agia Napa has a reputation for its booming party scene. World famous DJ's place the latest dance, trance and house music at lavish nightclubs well into the next day. A night in Agia Napa is something to be sampled and experience that will be hard to forget.

The island of Cyprus really is worth spending time in, it will never fail to impress and will certainly prove to be of significant interest beyond far beyond the package holiday.

Abou the Author:

Michael Hanna is a keen writer, and internet marketer living in Scotland.

Contact details:
E-mail: samqam@googlemail.com
Michael's Website: Belfast Taxis

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30 Things About Portland: The Good The Bad The Interesting

30 Things About Portland: The Good, The Bad, The Interesting
By Ariel Villegas

Portland, Oregon. It's sometimes a misunderstood place. Yes, it's true it rains. But not as much as people might imagine. Here are a few things that make Portland, simply, Portland.

1. Portland is a great walking city. City blocks are 200 feet, half the length of those of many other cities.

2. Portland has great beer. There are more breweries in Portland than any other city in the world.

3. Portland's air is cleaner than a lot of other major cities.

4. Portland has plenty of beautiful, natural scenery. It's very green with lots of trees.

5. (Bad) Coastal region is said to be due with earthquake (tsunami) like activity. Are we prepared?

6. Portland was almost named Boston. A coin toss decided the name.

7. Portland is the largest city in Oregon.

8. (Bad) Perception that it rains here all the time. Really, it rains more in places like Atlanta, Houston, Indianapolis, and Seattle.

9. The International Rose Test Garden, located in Portland, is the oldest rose test garden in the US.

10. Portland has a World Famous Symphony. The Oregon Symphony was the first orchestra in the Western United States.

11. Portland has the nation's largest outdoor and crafts market, The Portland Saturday Market.

12.The Benson Bubblers are drinking fountains located at several locations downtown. They came about long ago because there was nothing else to drink in Portland but beer during the workday at one time. Beer sales at saloons dropped considerably when they were installed. Seriously.

13. Portland has one of the most authentic Japanese Gardens outside of Japan.

14. With 5000 acres, Forest Park is the nation's largest urban wilderness. In all, Portland has 37,000 acres of parkland with 150 miles of trails.

15. Dr. Marten's retail store, the only one in the country, is located in Portland.

16. Recently PDX was rated one of the best airports in the country.

17. You can't pump your own gas in Portland, in Oregon in fact. It's illegal.

18. Here are some interesting names that reference Portland: Bridgetown, Stumptown, City of Roses, PDX, P-Town, and Puddletown.

19. Portlandia is the second largest copper statue in the US. It's located on the Portland building downtown. The largest copper statue is the Statue of Liberty.

20. Portland celebrates the Rose Festival in June. 2 huge parades, dragonboat races, fireworks, and the crowning of the Rose Festival queen all takes place during this period. Several large ships from the Coast Guard and the Navy come to shore for tours.

21. The Columbia River Gorge, minutes from Portland, is considered the best place in the world for windsurfing.

22. Nike's world headquarters is located in Beaverton, minutes from Portland.

23. There is no sales tax in Portland. A matter fact, there is no sales tax in Oregon.

24. Portland is the first city in the US to remove a freeway, Harbor Drive, which was later replaced by Waterfront Park.

25. At 546 feet, the Wells Fargo Center is the tallest building in Portland. Height restrictions were placed after construction in 1972. The public did not want the view of Mt. Hood blocked by tall buildings.

26. The Flying Boat known as the Spruce Goose is located at the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville near Portland.

27. The submarine that featured in the movie Hunt for Red October is housed at OMSI in Portland.

28. In 1888, for Skidmore Fountains grand opening, Oregon brewer Henry Weinhard offered to pump beer from his brewery to the fountain via fire hoses. This never happened because city officials feared that residents would help themselves and poke holes into the city's only set of fire hoses.

29. The tunnels known as The Shanghai Tunnels are located under Old Town Chinatown in Northwest Portland. These tunnels connected to basements of bars and hotels. Way back then, bar and hotel customers were drugged and incapacitated from the very same bars and hotels that served them. The tunnels were a means to smuggle unsuspecting individuals for sale as slaves to ships docked at the waterfront.

30. Oregon State Hospital, an insane asylum, was built in SE Portland in 1862. The street it was built on was named Asylum Street. People protested the name. So the street was later renamed after one of the hospital's administrators. Asylum Street was later renamed Hawthorne Street, a very popular and thriving district today.

Ariel operates a Portland Oregon travel website - best-of-portland-guide.com. Did you like this article on The 30 Things About Portland? Check out the 101 list here.

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3 Unforgettable African Safaris

3 Unforgettable African Safaris
By Darren Ravens

Africa is a continent of contrasts. From the sandy Sahara desert to tropical rainforests and vast open plains, Africa something to suit everyone any time of the year.

A safari in Africa is perhaps one of the most alluring holiday options available for tourists around the world. A safari gives visitors a unique opportunity to experience all the magic that this beautiful continent has to offer.

Of course, with options come choices. If you're looking for an African safari, where do you start? How do you know what's best for you? What are the must see sights of Africa?

3 Unforgettable African Safari experiences

1). Kenya - Wildebeest Migration

The Wildebeest Migration is one of Africa's most eagerly anticipated events. This dramatic show takes place within Kenya and Tanzania and is definitely one of the greatest wildlife stories on the planet.

Across the vast open plains of the Masai Mara and the Serengeti, an astonishing number of wildebeest and zebra voyage in search of new pastures. This migration with the change of season is an important part of the living cycle, which has a massive effect on their entire bionetwork as it sets off a chain reaction across multiple tiers of the ecosystem. It is a rather unpredictable event, and there is considerable variation in timing from year to year.Between June and August is often the best time to see this somewhat spontaneous natural wonder... the huge herds of wildebeest massing near the banks of the Grumeti River, in preparation of the momentous crossing.

Where to witness the spectacle

Sarova Mara Camp
Located outside Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve, the Sarova Mara camp is set on an elevation surrounded by two streams. Facilities include a dining area, a swimming pool and curio shop. The camp, consisting of 75 tents, has 24-hour electricity and a shower with hot and cold running water.

Governors' Camp
Governors Camp is situated in the northern Masai Mara and offers a perfect setting in which to witness the epic migration. The entire safari camp is under canvas and the 38 tents are in the classic safari style.

2). A Big Five Safari in Africa

The big five safari is perhaps the quintessential safari experience. The Big Five are the elephant, rhino, leopard, lion and buffalo and these magnificent beasts exude a grand presence that very quickly makes you realise just why they are so special.It is a rare experience to see all of these animals in one place, but in a select few places in Africa, the amazing diversity of the bushveld makes it a real possibility.To see all of the big five on safari, with the animals in their natural habitat, is an inspirational experience that will stay with you forever.

Where to see the big five:

Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve South Africa
Sabi Sabi Game Lodges are situated in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. It represents the ultimate in luxury safaris, offering an experience to remember with its amazing combination of five star luxury and wildest Africa.

The reserve is blessed with phenomenal biodiversity and provides and excellent chance of close encounters with the 'Big 5' as well as other interesting creatures like the wild dog and cheetah.

3). Fishing Safari - Hooking the biggest fish of your life

Fishing in Africa is remarkable. Whether you're a fresh water enthusiast or after that elusive trophy gamefish; whether you're a fly-fishing fanatic or a spinning specialist, Africa is home to the type of fish you love to catch.

When it comes to fishing, any serious fisherman knows that the fight factor is a huge one, and the world's most powerful freshwater fighter, the tigerfish, is only one of the numerous African fish which will test your skill and equipment. The only thing as important as the fight, is the size.

Does size matter? To a fisherman you better believe it does! The Nile Perch is one of the world's largest freshwater fish. Native to the Lake Chad, Congo, Nile, Senegal, Volta, Lake Turkana and other river basins, it reaches a maximum length of nearly two metres and can weigh as much as 200 kg - this is one seriously big fish!

A fishing safari in Africa is a fisherman's dream come true and the kind of African safari experience that you'll remember forever.

Where to fish

Lake Nasser
This is a place where many the first time visitor catches the biggest fish they've ever caught. It promises an angling adventure they will never forget. Lake Nasser is the greatest venue in the world for wild Nile perch, while your line is in the water you never know if the next fish is going to be an average sized fish or a 200lb monster.

Lake Victoria Uganda
This is another hotspot for Nile Perch fishing. The nearby Ssese Islands, a small cluster of over 80 islands off Entebbe, Uganda, are a largely uninhabited paradise. They are covered in thick, tropical forests and fish of over 80 kg have been caught. The main methods of fishing in the lake are; trolling with lures, fly fishing, and live bait. Apart from the Nile perch, local tilapia and large catfish are often caught.

These three magical experiences, while certainly not the only magic that Africa has to offer, are without doubt some of the most memorable you're likely to find anywhere in the world.Witnessing the age-old migratory trek of huge herds of Wildebeest, seeing the majesty of the Big Five up close or hooking the 200lb Nile Perch you've always dreamed of - these are the memories that stay with you for a lifetime.

About Author
Sabi Sabi, set in the Sabi Sands game reserve, is a luxury safari lodge with a focus on ultimate comfort. Sabi Sabi will treat you to the most luxurious and adventurous experience imaginable and provide a safari experience second to none. The magnificent diversity of wildlife and habitat makes it one of the world's best venues for Big Five safari.

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3 Tips for Having a Fun Family Holiday Vacation

3 Tips for Having a Fun Family Holiday Vacation
By Tracy Falbe

Holiday travel need not involve a trip to a boring unheard of town and sleeping on couches or kids beds. Families these days are enjoying the trend toward planning holiday celebrations at vacation destinations. This way family members get to use their vacation time from work actually going somewhere fun and interesting instead of visiting their home towns. It is really a win-win situation because family members get to visit and celebrate the holidays while staying in a comfortable hotel and site-seeing.

Popular destinations for family gatherings include Las Vegas, Hawaii, Lake Tahoe, Florida, and the Caribbean. For Las Vegas, the Christmas holiday season marks the start of the Las Vegas busy season that lasts through the winter and into the spring as snowbirds escape cold and gray climates for Nevada sunshine and stimulating night life and casino action.

Because gambling is a popular activity for many people, Las Vegas is particularly well suited as a vacation destination for holiday family gatherings. There are plentiful hotel resorts with various themes. There are gambling games to satisfy every whim. Las Vegas shows really are world class entertainment, but the tickets arent cheap by the way. The shopping is truly fabulous and an excellent way to get rid of any casino winnings.

Another thing that makes Las Vegas and other gambling destinations appealing to families planning a holiday vacation is the potential for low room rates. A family member who is a regular or at least an annual casino visitor can get a player rating that will qualify him or her for complimentary prices or comps on rooms and meals. Casino resorts are eager to sing up visitors for their player rating or player points as part of their marketing efforts. Usually a player can find out about the deals offered by casinos by talking to guest services or a casino floor supervisor.

Tips for a successful holiday family vacation:

Plan as early as possible to get good rates on flights and rooms.

Be willing to compromise. If everyone can't decide on where to go, let majority rule. If the vacation turns out to be a bust, everyone will know who to listen to next time.

Plan for free time. Don't pack so many activities into each day that nerves get frazzled and tempers flare. Relax and have fun at a leisurely pace.

Vacation destinations and resorts are eager to accommodate families interested in an alternative to the family gathering at a home. And families are also glad to avoid any bickering about who will host the family for the holidays and it is nice to skip all the housework needed to prepare for guests.

Read about how to play craps.

Tracy Falbe is the author of Get Dicey: Play Craps and Have Fun published under the pen name Tracy Michigan. Falbe worked as a craps dealer in Las Vegas and based her how to play craps book on thousands of hours of live game experience. A free how to play craps guide is available at her website.

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