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A Vacation for the Soul

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Get Ready for Travel
Traveler woman waves her hand to airplane

It’s quite amazing how we think there is very little we as human beings can do alone. You do not picture yourself taking adventures and having fun without your family or friends.

You do not give yourself the benefit of the doubt that you will enjoy your own company and not miss other people, because you are so used to doing a lot of things with others.

Before you embark on anything you should know that, there is a difference between lonely and being alone. One can only be lonely because they do not feel the presence of those they love in their life. While alone is something you choose to do; being away from people. As human beings, it is important to embrace being alone, it cannot be avoided. You will not always be surrounded by people you love, there are times when you will not have them around you. And that is not a bad thing.

Every once in awhile, we all need to get away. We need time all to ourselves and not because we can’t stand the ones we love or our jobs. But only because, we need some “me time” to appreciate the most important person in our lives, ourselves. You can choose to do it for a day or even go as far as flying out of the country to some island to discover new things for yourself.  Getting away from everything does not necessarily mean that you have to pack your bags and run away. It means giving yourself enough time to grow you.

As adults, we spend our lives going through the motions; graduate, get a job and everything becomes scheduled for us. We forget how it feels like to take time off and breath without worrying about the next problem or those we love. But once you take a moment to breath, give your mind and heart time off to just relax and get there, your body appreciates you for it.

We never appreciate the free time we had when younger till the years seem to be rushing by.

So why wait for the later years to celebrate your life? Do it now; go for that road trip, try new things, go dancing, spa day, read those books or even try something extreme like kayaking and give your soul the vacation it deserves.

How to Enjoy an Excellent Florida Vacation

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Visit Florida

Florida is an excellent vacation destination. You can take a Florida yacht vacation, enjoy great entertainment options, relax at beautiful beaches and oceans and eat fantastic food. If you’re interested in taking a trip to Florida sometime soon, check out some of these tips for how to plan a great Florida vacation.

Where to Go

Ultimately, what you do during your Florida vacation will depend on where you go, and the ideal destination depends on what you’re looking for. Some people prefer to visit larger cities and be among the excitement while others prefer something a bit more quaint and relaxing. Florida certainly has both, with larger cities like Miami and Orlando providing great entertainment and nightlife while smaller towns like Naples and Cape Coral are a bit more laid back. Whatever you choose, make sure you find a spot that you’re going to enjoy. Each Florida vacation hotspot has its own benefits that make it great.

What to Do

One of the best parts about visiting Florida is that there’s never a shortage of things to do. If you’re in Miami, you have tons of options in terms of beaches, nightlife, food and more. If you’re in Orlando, you can visit Universal Orlando for a fun-filled family trip. However, one of the most fun things you can do is take a Florida yacht vacation. There are numerous spots to rent a yacht in Florida and you can go pretty much all around the state with one. Plus, if you get a group of friends together to pitch in money, it’s not too expensive.

Helpful Tips

If you’re taking a trip to Florida, there are some things you should know beforehand. First off, Florida’s weather is very different from other parts of the country. Not only does it get very hot during the summer, it’s also very humid., so you need to dress lightly. Florida is also unique in that it has a different variety of wildlife. If you’ve ever watched a nature program featuring wildlife from Florida, you know there are lots of snakes, alligators and other creatures roaming around. This isn’t an issue when vacationing f or the most part, but just be aware that you may run into something you aren’t used to.

Florida can be a really great vacation spot if you know where to go and what to do. Exploring Florida is even more fun when you do it in a yacht. As long as you follow these tips and do some research and planning before your trip, you’re sure to have a fun-filled vacation when you come to Florida.

How Do You Fourth?

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We love a good celebration and while nearly every nook and cranny of the United States will be enjoying the country’s birthday this year, nine communities in particular have big plans for America’s 240th.

Washington DC

Whether you are in Washington DC for the 4th of July or you are on the other side of the country, you can count on being able to see the fireworks from the nation’s capitol. A Capitol Fourth concert, hosted by PBS, has been celebrating America’s birthday with a bang for over three decades and this year looks to be just as grand.

Nashville, Tennessee

It wouldn’t be a birthday party without music and who better to bring the music than Nashville? Music City’s July 4th: Let Freedom Sing concert offers live music from top bands in the country, fun family activities, ice cream serving contests, and an epic fireworks show. The show will be the longest in Nashville’s history, firing more than 30,000 fireworks to the harmony played by the Nashville Symphony.

Portland, Oregon

With its most impressive musical line-up ever, the 28th Annual Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland, Oregon will be an event to remember. Over 100 musicians including Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Charmaine Neville and the Stone Foxes will be playing across four stages throughout the holiday weekend, making the nation’s premier blues festival. Proceeds also go to support the Oregon Food Bank and its mission to end hunger.

Honolulu, Hawaii

Birthdays don’t have to end after only one day and at Turtle Bay in Honolulu, America’s birthday lasts all weekend. From competing in a four to seven mile Da Hui Paddle Race, to chowing down on Kahlua pork at the Eat the Street event, to swinging your hips to live music, to oohing and awing at the fireworks finale, Honolulu locals and guests are sure to have a memorable 4th.

Preston, Minnesota

Preston Minnesota is known for its live reenactment of an 1899 Independence Day celebration. Take part in watermelon and pie eating contests, watch an 1860’s baseball game between Rochester Roosters and the Lanesboro Excelsiors, listen to political speeches and glee club performances from back in the day, and cheer on kids competeing in three-legged sack races.

Los Angeles, California

Not only is Los Angeles’ Queen Mary ship haunted, on July 4th it becomes a time machine. Between noon and midnight on the 4th, passengers are invited to explore any decade between 1910 and 2010. Each decade features live music, talented actors, dance lessons, games, and authentic cuisine and activities. Whether you find yourself entranced by one decade or are compelled to stroll through the entire previous century, the Queen Mary has everything you need to celebrate America’s birthday, including a show-stopping fireworks display after sunset.

Dallas, Texas

Looking for an event that has something fun for everyone to do, including the family dachshund? Look no further than the Frisco Freedom Fest in Frisco, Texas. Have kids? They will love the Children’s Expo where they can rock climb, bounce around, ride trains, and fly through the air on zip lines as much as they want. Hungry? Check out the Taste of Frisco event or enter the hot dog eating contest. Like dachshunds? Enter your furry friend in the dachshund races, 15 foot races that time how quickly it takes for your pup to run from your friend to you. Don’t want to be left out of the race? Join the Hotter n’ Firecrackers 5k Run. Want to just sit back and relax? Set up shop in front of the community stage where local bands and entertainers will be playing all day.

Seattle, Washington

Did you know that the United States’ flag has changed 27 times since its first creation in 1777? The Twenty-Seven-Flags Independence Day Celebration in Seattle, Washington will be rich in United States’ flag history and will have an insightful demonstration prepared for the holiday. Since the exhibit will only take a short part of the day, plan to see it in the morning, then head to Gas Works Park for Seattle’s traditional 4th of July celebration. Enjoy live entertainment, a beer garden, local food vendors, family activities, and the nation’s fifth largest fireworks display. If the crowds are overwhelming, skip over to the Seattle Children’s Museum for delicious art projects and crafts. Then finish the day at Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival, which takes place at the Center for Wooden Boats and watch the fireworks from a comfy spot on the water.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Maybe BBQ isn’t your thing. How about pancakes? That’s what the 4th of July is all about in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Pancakes on the Plaza serves up fluffy flapjacks, bacon, orange juice, and coffee all day long in celebration of the country’s birth along with live music, a car show, art and craft vendors, and of course, fireworks. Proceeds go to benefit local charities helping people in need.

Everywhere

Before diving into the BBQ, squirt-gun fights and fireworks, put your running shoes on and see if there is a 5k in your area. All over the country, Independence Day marathons and races are being held this year. Kingman, Arizona will be hosting a 4 mile Firecracker Frenzy run to honor the fallen firefighters of the July 5, 1973 Doxol Disaster. Looking for a challenge? Newport, Oregon is hosting the 4th of July Celebration Run, a 10k across the trails of Oregon’s beautiful coast. Run past beaches, trees, the city, and the Yaquina Bay Bridge. Kids can join in the kids fun run while you are working off that apple pie and ice cream. Speaking of ice cream, a 4th of July Sundae fun run is being will be held in Louisiana. Maneuver a 3.8 mile track while being doused with sundae ingredients. By the time you reach the end, you’ll be a walking ice cream sundae, a.k.a. a dream come true.

What are your plans for this year’s Independence Day? Share them with us in the comments section below.

Where to Go Gorilla Trekking

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Gorilla Trekking

Whatever you call it either gorilla trekking or tracking,it’s one of those really thrilling, lifetime experiences you should take time for before you leave planet earth.

Gorillas in Uganda are tracked in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Bwindi impenetrable national park has eighteen habituated families thus it can host 80 persons tracking gorillas per day since 8 persons are allowed to visit a given gorilla family per day while gorilla tracking in Rwanda is carried out only in volcanoes national park whose gorillas are the mostly wholly habituated and often found in bamboo than the dense forest which makes photographing easier.

Gorilla permits in Rwanda are very expensive compared to those of Uganda. In Rwanda, gorilla permits go to the tune of 750 USD per permit compared to Uganda’s 600 USD per permit. However Rwanda’s edge over others lies in the ability for one to go and track within one day and then fly back home on the same day since it’s a 2 hours drive from Kigali to volcanoes national park unlike Uganda’s Bwindi impenetrable national park which lies a whooping 8 hours drive form Kampala which makes a one day tracking totally impossible.

Rwanda’s roads linking to volcanoes national park are generally tarmacked compared to Uganda’s roads heading to Bwindi impenetrable national park which are generally un bearable.However, the long drive to Bwindi impenetrable national park is endowed with great sceneries all through like the Equator, lake Mburo national park, abundant wildlife, terraced mountains with flowing rivers things that not exist on the Kigali drive to the volcanoes.

Hospitality wise, Rwanda ranks a head of Uganda on the gorilla tracking day. This is manifested in the staff conduct towards the visitors. At exactly 7:00 am, tea/coffee dispensers with cups are laid for the visitors going for the trek. One is free to take as much as he/she wishes and during that time, they are entertained by the lively traditional dance troupe [SACOLA Traditional Dancers] that portrays Rwanda’s rich culture while in Uganda, this tea is not served and the dance you enjoy it at an extra cost.

In terms of accommodation, both countries boast of great places to stay. Rwanda’s Sabinyo silverback lodge, mountain gorilla view lodge, gorilla nest camp are really very enticing to visitors.However, Uganda’s accommodation stand out of the crowd. These include; Silverback Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Gift of Nature Lodge, Jungle View Lodge, Volcanoes Safaris Bwindi Lodge.

The longer distance to and from Bwindi Forest Park and the international airport in Entebbe (just outside Kampala) add to your traveling costs on the Uganda side. The drive is further in Uganda, but it is scenic and offers insight into rural Africa. A gorilla trekking safari in Uganda can as well include spending time at beautiful Lake Bunyonyi close to Bwindi and game viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park through the Ishasha sector while the short drive in Rwanda is on the other hand not particularly scenic or interesting.

In Uganda the gorillas tend to be found deeper in the forest in groups of between 10 and 20, with at least one silverback. In Rwanda groups range between 9 and 39 gorillas including at least one silverback. The trekking itself is generally more challenging in Bwindi (Uganda) given that the gorillas are more tucked away and after viewing the gorillas you often have to ascend steep slopes out of the forests. In Rwanda some of the gorilla groups are often found closer to the park entrance, requiring a shorter hike. You can’t however request which gorilla groups you want to see and the location of the groups does shift further into the forests.

Rwanda and Uganda are politically stable at this moment. Rwanda recovered from the genocide that took place in the early 1990’s whereby the Volcanoes National Park can be visited safely, is well managed and has a permit system that is functioning efficiently. Uganda has also been very safe since their political war that ended in 1986. Bwindi forest is very safe and they also have an efficiently functioning permit system. However, in the DR Congo civil war and conflicts are a problem, and conditions need to be checked before you travel. Militia groups and the army are currently fighting in the Virunga area, where poachers threaten the gorilla populations and poverty is leading to habitat destruction. Some travel advisory organizations consider the area too volatile for travel and recommend avoiding the DRC at present.

Turkish Airlines to Fly Millionth Passenger to Washington

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Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines (THY) is poised to carry its 1 millionth passenger on the Washington-Istanbul route.

THY Washington Director Erkan Erdoğan held an assessment meeting with the participation of THY agencies operating in Washington, D.C. Erdoğan told the guests about the regions where THY operates and the targets of the company. Recalling that THY’s flights to Washington started in 2010, Erdoğan said, “We have carried 900,000 passengers so far, and we will carry our 1 millionth passenger in Feb. 2017.”

Erdoğan said that THY is increasing the number of flights in different regions of the world. He noted that they launched flights to Tanzania’s Zanzibar region this month and announced that they will start flights to Cuba’s capital city Havana and Venezuela’s capital Caracas next week. Erdoğan also added that THY has sponsored several famous brands and sporting activities.

Turkish Airlines opened its first private passenger lounge ‘Turkish Airlines Lounge’ in Washington, D.C. last September. The private passenger lounge, whose interior design was inspired by Turkish art, offers many amenities such as prayer rooms and showers in addition to products from the rich food culture of Turkish cuisine.

Book Cheap Flights from Travel Agencies

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Cheap Flights in India

A lot of time and decision making goes into planning the perfect vacation to Uganda.  Besides booking a flight and choosing a hotel, you will also have to decide how you are going to spend your time once you arrive.  Travel agents can take the stress out of traveling, if you can find one you are comfortable with.  When looking for the person to arrange your ideal trip, a little bit of research can go a long way. Hiring a travel agent is a good way to get deals you would not normally and one such travel agent is Experience Africa Safaris, specialist in organizing tours and safaris in East Africa!

Planning a Vacation

A lot of time and decision making goes into planning the perfect vacation.  Besides booking a flight and choosing a hotel, you will also have to decide how you are going to spend your time once you arrive.  Travel agents can take the stress out of traveling, if you can find one you are comfortable with.  When looking for the person to arrange your ideal trip, a little bit of research can go a long way.

Hiring a travel agent is a good way to get deals you would not normally be aware of.  Because they plan vacations for a living, they have made contacts with other people in the industry.  This gives them the ability to book cheap flights, find a deal on a hotel and arrange for tours and special meals during your vacation.  Not only can they get you better prices than you could find yourself, their professional planning skills alone can make their services worthwhile.

When looking for the right travel agent, do some research.  Check with a friend or family member and find out if they have an agent to recommend.  The internet can also be a valuable resource in your search.  Check forums and travel websites to find agents with satisfied customers.  It is best to find somebody you feel comfortable talking to about what you are looking for from a trip.  By forming a solid relationship with an agent, you will have found somebody to plan your vacations competently for years to come.

As you check out travel agencies, it is best to look for one that is a member of the American Society of Travel Agents.  This organization is a network of businesses from all over the travel industry, including agents, hotels, airlines and cruise lines.  Members are held to certain quality standards, so you can be confident that your agent will act professionally.  Also, members of the society work together to find the packages and prices available.

Do not hesitate to ask questions of prospective agents.  You might want to find out, for instance, how long they have been in the business of planning vacations.  If you want to do more research, you could ask to speak with an agent’s previous customers.  Their experiences should give you a pretty clear idea of how well a particular agent would work for your needs.

Having confidently found the right person to plan the perfect adventure for your family, be sure to keep the lines of communication open.  Though your agent should be focused on the details of traveling, the two of you will need to sit down and discuss what you are looking for.  You can talk about what you would like to get out of your trip, and they will inform you about the choices at your disposal.  Though the agent is in charge of taking care of the reservations, you will always have the final word.  When you choose an agent you feel comfortable talking to, the two of you can plan a fantastic vacation.

U.S.A.F Thunderbird Visits Lafayette Regional Airport

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-The Sertoma Club of Lafayette recently announced plans for the 2011 Sertoma Cajun Air Festival, featuring the United States Air Force Thunderbirds. The 2011 show is scheduled for October 29th and 30th at the Lafayette Regional Airport.

In preparation for their performance, an advance team will arrive at 4pm on Friday, November 11th. The team will consist of Captain Kristin Hubbard, who serves as the Thunderbird #8 pilot, advance pilot and narrator. She will be accompanied by a Thunderbird crew chief.

Thunderbird #8, a U.S.A.F. F-16D aircraft, will arrive at approximately 4pm. Upon arrival, Captain Hubbard will perform several aerial survey maneuvers for approximately 10-15 minutes. During these maneuvers, which will be performed between 500’ and 2500’, Captain Hubbard will visually check the airfield and surrounding areas in preparation for the team’s October performance.

Upon completion of the aerial survey, Captain Hubbard will land the F-16D and taxi to Odyssey Aviation (123 Grissom Drive, Lafayette). After deplaning, Captain Hubbard and her crew chief will be available for media interviews.

**Area media is invited to meet at Odyssey Aviation on Friday, February 11th to view the arrival of Thunderbird #8, their aerial survey maneuvers, and to interview the team.
THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC EVENT. ONLY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA ARE INVITED.**

46th Annual Thoroughbred Horse Raising Season Gets Underway

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Opelousas, LA- With the addition of a hotel and even center, Evangeline Downs Racetrack, Casino, and Hotel has developed into an entertainment hot spot in Southwest Louisiana. Anchored by a state of the art facility, which includes a one-mile oval dirt track and a 7-furlong turf track, the racing program has become known as the “home of the biggest fields>” Races have averaged slightly more than 10 runners per race over the past four spring and summer thoroughbred racing seasons, a distinction that only Evangeline Downs can claim.

The 89-day thoroughbred racing season gets underway April 6th, and runs through Labor Day, September 5. Post time Wednesday through Saturday is at 5:40 p.m. with a special Labor Day post of 3:05 p.m.

Highlighting the lucrative stakes schedule is Louisiana Showcase Night, a stakes-only program restricted to horses bred in Louisiana featuring six races worth a minimum of $100,000 and totaling 10 events worth almost $1 million. Louisiana leads the nation with its breeding incentive program funded largely though the slots at the racetrack program. The casino at Evangeline Downs has over 1400 slot machines generating revenue for purses and breeding incentive programs.

Other marquee events during the season will include the Evangeline Mile and the Lafayette Stakes. The “Mile”, the premier event for older horses, will offer a purse of $125,000, up $25,000 from 2010 and be run on August 13th, while the Lafayette Stakes for Two-year-olds will be contested on its usual spot, Labor Day, September 5th. The Lafayette this year will be run on the Turf course for the first time and at the distance of one mile.

In addition to the surface and distance change, the Lafayette Stakes will feature a $100,000 purse, an increase of $50,000 from last year. More than $1.8 million will be distributed over the 25 black-type events offered in addition to overnight purses of approximately $170,000 a night, the same level offered in 2010.

“We continue to attract a solid group of horses and horsemen with our strong overnight and takes schedules,” says Steve Darbonne, director of racing operations. “Both the backstretch and the nearby training center are at near capacity and the morning workout lists are very long and we hope to once again offer our fans the full fields and exciting brand of racing they have come to expect from Evangeline Downs.”

Mardi Gras Festival at Cajunfield Announces Schedule

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The Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association will host the 18th annual “Le Festival de Mardi Gras a’ Lafayette” from Friday, March 4th through Mardi Gras day at U.L.- Lafayette’s Cajun Field. The Festival will include an exciting carnival mid-way, native Cajun foods, and an outstanding line-up of live music. To make the Festival a complete Mardi Gras experience, the route for all of Lafayette’s parades will pass directly through the Festival grounds. This popular festival enters it’s 18th year with a robust line-up of live music, a gigantic carnival midway, ample parking, and terrific viewing spots for all of Lafayette’s parades.

“The Festival has earned a reputation for being a wonderful, family oriented celebration of Mardi Gras. We are constantly working to improve the event and the entertainment we offer. We’ve designed the Festival so that it offers something for everyone.

The Louisiana Lottery midway will offer a wide variety of rides, from an area specially designed for small children, to fast, exciting, and wilder rides. We have also developed several price promotions that make our carnival within everyone’s budget. The Rouses Soundstage has one of the most extensive and diverse arrays of local, regional, and national musicians ever assembled. Borden will be on hand with free rides on the popular Borden train. Plus, all of the parades pass right through the Festival grounds,” Mann said.

“Cajun Field will be transformed for the 5-day event, with the huge carnival midway, the live music soundstage and plenty of convenient parking. It’s quite a sight to see and everyone wants to be at Cajun Field for Mardi Gras!” Mann said. “We are very excited to have local restaurants and caterers participating again this year. The quality and variety the food these local vendors provide is tremendous. We work hard to make the Festival site the easiest, safest, and most convenient spot to watch the parades,” Mann added.

What’s the best part about “Le Festival de Mardi Gras a Lafayette?” — IT’S FREE! Admission to the Louisiana Lottery Midway, the Rouses soundstage, the Borden train , as well as the parade viewing areas are free. There is a $10 charge for parking at Cajun Field. All of the money generated from the Festival will be used by the Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association to develop and promote Lafayette’s Mardi Gras parades and activities. The event is sponsored by the Louisiana Lottery, Rouses Supermarkets, Borden and the Lafayette Regional Airport Commission.
The festival is hoping to announce a few surprise performers, so keep everyone is encouraged to visit the festitvals FaceBook page (search “Le Festival”), or visit www.GoMardiGras.com and sign up for the email list.

Peter Pan Flies into Lafayette, Get Your Tickets Now

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All children, except one, grow up … but there’s a bit of him in each of us. Perhaps that’s why we hold his story so dear. Lafayette Ballet Theatre is delighted to announce its next spring production, “Peter Pan,” as never before experienced in Louisiana. This full-length ballet in two acts promises to please grown ups and children of every age — complete with humor, suspense and adventure, along with all the romance of classical dance. Tickets on sale now!

This spectacular show — slated for Saturday, April 9, and Sunday, April 10, at the Heymann Performing Arts Center — will feature the acclaimed choreography of the New Orleans-born Washington Ballet artistic director Septime Webre and guest artists from the Cincinnati Ballet. This is the first time a work of Webre, one of the nation’s most sought-after choreographers, will ever be presented in his home state. Setting the choreography on the local cast will be Cincinnati Ballet’s ballet mistress, Johanna Wilt. Another plus: trust and a little pixie dust — with help from America’s best aerial effects company, Flying by Foy — will send the stars soaring beyond the crowd’s greatest expectations.

Tickets are available at the Heymann Center Box Office Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (337-291-5555) and through all Ticket Master outlets including online at www.ticketmaster.com.

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