Travel articles from writers around the world
If you are thinking that it is time to plan a major family holiday, and if any of your children were fans of the movie, “The Lion King,” then an African family safari can be an adventure that the whole group can enjoy. However, you will have to seek out an African safari tour operation that has both the experience and the inclination to cater to family safaris.
Some of the family-friendly services that are offered by African safari tour companies are baby-sitting, special menus to appeal to the kids, and specially trained guides for the family. Some family safaris will even make arrangements to have special children’s activities, such as a bush treasure hunt, African-inspired crafts like bead-making, or bedtime stories told by authentic African storytellers.
Parents who might be concerned about exposing their children to malaria can choose to take a family safari to one of the malaria-free game reserves that are located in South Africa. Another splendid option is to embark on a self-drive African safari through the countries of Namibia or South Africa. In those areas, the roads are in excellent condition and the family can travel at a stress-free pace.
One of the challenges that parents might encounter during a safari is convincing a youngster, who loves to cuddle up with his favorite stuffed lion at home, that the mother lion preening her cubs cannot be petted or even approached. This can be one of the more difficult things to get across, especially for children who have never been on wildlife safaris.
Even with the challenges that are bound to come up, a safari for families is not only possible, but also great fun. As long as family wildlife safaris are undertaken safely and are conducted under the watchful supervision of an experienced safari guide, who knows how to handle and cater to the children in the group, they can be an experience that will provide lifelong memories.
Many parents who have never considered taking African safari holidays with their children in tow might be surprised to learn that family safaris are one of the most popular types of vacations for children, from the ages of four to eighteen. There are many African safari tour operators, African tourist bureaus, and adventuresome parents who have successfully undertaken various Africa safaris with their children and claim that is was the experience of a lifetime for the entire family.
If parents take their time in selecting the destination for a family safari carefully, and also take care in selecting a safari guide or African safari tour operator, then the chances are great that you and your children will have a wonderful holiday. One of the best ways to make sure you have the right safari travel company is to ask other parents who have gone on similar trips for their recommendations, so you can plan your trip with confidence.
The historic city of Gloucester sits on
the banks of the River Severn and is the 46th largest settlement in England. When you decide to visit Gloucester,
you’ll find lots of things to see and do in the city and close by. A short drive from the city and visit the woodlands of the Royal Forest of Dean or looking at the views from atop the Malvern Hills. In the other direction Gloucester borders the Cotswolds with its variety of quiet unspoilt villages, which you can explore.
Although historically the city has been a port, the docks got neglected and but have since been extensively renovated. There are plenty of riverside open spaces to wander around or spend time doing a little bit of shopping. And, as you’d expect, there are also plenty of bars for you to relax with a quiet drink and maybe some food. One of the old dock warehouses is also home to the National Waterways Museum. If you’re interested in military history, then make sure to check the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum in Custom House.
Other attractions that are of interest in the city include the Cathedral. This building has been a place of worship for more than thirteen hundred years. Inside you will be amazed at the beautiful architecture and the cloisters are generally thought to be some of the most beautiful in present day England. If you find thinking that, you recognize this building from somewhere then you do as the cathedral has been used as a location for the Harry Potter movies.
Another place that many people like to spend time in when visiting the city of Gloucester is its park. This is located very close to the heart of the city and was the first park to be developed. The park has lots of space to keep your children occupied and you to enjoy a picnic on a summers afternoon. There are many events which take place here during the summer months. You can find out about these online or at the Information Office that is housed in a Tudor Cottage and will keep you informed about all the current events.
Another place that you’ll almost certainly want to see when you v is Blackfriars. This Dominican Priory is the oldest one in England. Although it hasn’t been a friary since 1538, the buildings were then bought by Thomas Bell. He then spent money converting the church into a home and the rest of the property into a factory where his cloth could be made. If you time your visit well, you may be able to take one of the guided tours offered by English Heritage.
You can get a list of places to stay in Gloucester here.
Colchester is the largest of all the settlements in the County of Essex in England. It lays claim to being the oldest settlement in the whole of Britain and is definitely the oldest recorded Roman settlement in the country. Due to its long history, there are lots of attractions in Colchester, which one can enjoy whilst visiting the town. Here, we look at just a few which may be worth considering visiting when you stay in Colchester.
1. Balkerne Gate – This is the most complete Roman gateway you will find in Britain and is believed to have been built at around 55AD. It was originally actually the main way that visitors would enter the town but over time was then transformed into a triumphal arch instead. Then after this, the gateway was merged into the town’s walls then in 465 AD it got blocked up in order to help strengthen the defences of the town. The actual gate itself was only uncovered some 100 years ago which is why it’s been so well preserved.
2. Charter Market – The oldest recorded market in the United Kingdom has been run here for more than 800 years now. The market was granted a Royal Charter in 1189 by King John and this is where its name originates from. You can still find a market at Charter Market twice a week, on Fridays and Saturdays and there is a wide variety of things to choose from as the charter prevents more than one stall selling the same item.
3. Colchester Castle – Altough “only” dating back to Norman times, this castle was built on the same ground as the Temple to Claudius in Roman times. However, the Roman temple was smashed to pieces in 60 AD as part of Queen Boudica’s campaign to force the Romans to leave Britain. The Normans re-used the stone to make the current castle is in fact much of the materials used to build the Roman temple.
This castle now has one of the largest and oldest castle keeps in the whole of Europe and within the castles walls there is much to do and see. There are a number of exhibitions in the castle, which span more than 2,000 years of British history and there are interactive displays to keep your youngsters busy. Whilst touring the castle you might want to find out about the Witch Finder General, Matthew Hopkins who used the castle as a jail at the time of the main witch trials.
4. Colchester Zoo – One of Europe’s finest zoos and is only a short drive from the town itself. Located in around sixty acres of English countryside the zoo is home to over two hundred different species for you to view. Naturally, the elephants can be found in Elephant Kingdom, there are the chimpanzees in Chimp World to enjoy. Also you’ll find the other bits of the zoo just as enthralling. As with any zoo, you’ll almost certainly find yourself spending lots of time here.
Check out this list of Colchester accommodation for your next visit.
Brighton weekend breaks are popular with not only people in the United Kingdom but those visitors from around the world also. Perched on the south coast of England, Brighton is one of the UK’s largest seaside resorts.
It was originally called Brighthelmston and dates back to well before the Domesday Book of 1086. That said, its importance as a health resort only came to the fore in the 18th Century. It started to become more popular with young and old alike looking to spend a day down by the coast as the railway came to it in 1841. Indeed, in the 18th and 19th centuries, Brighton was home to much of the era’s aristocracy.
In fact, if you go further back in time during the 16th Century this town was a small fishing village with around 1,500 residents, dotted around in small cottages. You can still discover a few of these buildings to be found in The Lanes. The 1600’s saw quite a large change because Dr Richard Russell from the nearby town of Lewes started to extol the virtues of using seawater for treating glandular diseases.
After 1750 the town began to fill with people who wanted to test the sea water to find out if it could help them as well. The town also became popular when the UK royalty came to try the sea waters and even to bathe themselves.
Each year now the town has more than 8 million visitors to it and they don’t just come to sample the sea air. Hotels in Brighton span the complete range from total luxury to mid priced ones. There are also lots of fantastic guesthouses and B&B accommodation which offer a friendlier, more personal, service.
When you get to Brighton there is plenty for you to see and do from spending time wandering around the streets. Plus a walk along the promenade and the unmissable Palace Pier and Royal Pavilion both of which normally end up on your tourist agenda. Certainly, the you should include the Royal Pavilion on your itinerary.
Known as a folly this building was created by the Prince of Wales who later became King George IV. He was renowned for his eccentricity and flamboyany ways but the building he created still remains as a reminder of bygone times even though the town has long since surrendered to the influx of tourists.
Along with the more traditional attractions, you’d expect to see in a prestigious UK seaside resort, Brighton is also host to a myriad of cultural events each year as well. Of course, you’ll still find the amusement arcades along with souvenir shops but delve deeper and you’re bound to find all sorts of other delights that help people come back to this town.
When it comes to holidays in Brighton one will be amazed at all the different things to see and do here.
Check out this list of Brighton accommodation.
The Peak district National Park attracts visitors from around the globe some of whom come to get out in the wilds and are happy to stay in one of the Peak district b&bs whilst other come to the area to visit many of the town and villages around the area many of which are home to Peak district luxury hotels.
One of the towns in the area is Bakewell in Derbyshire and it is right in the heart of the Peak District, is a small and extremely beautiful market town. The town is situated on the River Wye and from the historical point of view the five arched bridge which dates back to the 13th century is still open to traffic. Due to increase in traffic over the centuries it was widened in the 19th century.
There is a lot of history to Bakewell that a lot of people don’t know about, the town its self has even been mentioned in the Doomsday book as having two priests a church which signified importance all those centuries ago. The local grammar school was founded in 1637 by the marriage between Sir George Manners and Grace Pierrepont and the school is known as Lady Manners School.
The local church, All Saints Parish of which the majority stands now, dates back to the 13th and 14th centuries, with fragments of Norman and Saxon stonework, again like the bridge considerable restoration work took place in the 19th century. The church is low and broad with an octagonal tower giving grace to the beautiful spire.
There used to be in the centre of Bakewell the White Horse Inn, which has been replaced by The Rutland Arms Hotel, with some other various buildings being demolished in 1805, to form Rutland Square.
Centuries ago, these would of catered for coach travellers who passed through the town, and it has always been reputed for the connection to Jane Austin, who was reported to have stayed at this hotel, whilst writing Pride and Prejudice, and that Lambton in the book has been identified as Bakewell.
Another truly great invention happened by accident at the hotel, and that is the famous Bakewell pudding known throughout all of the UK. The story is told, that when the cook misinterpreted the baking instructions, and pored the egg mixture over the jam instead of adding to the pastry what should have been a tart had now become a pudding.
There are numerous shops in the town centre where these puddings can be purchased.
Bakewell in the peak district is at the southern end of the Pennines in Central England, there are thousands of people who visit this beautiful area every year, probably making it the second most popular National Park in England.
There are some really beautiful and interesting places to visit on Peak District holidays especially in and around Bakewell. The area has something for everyone, whether you want a hotel, or a guest house, there are plenty to choose from, who all offer good food and quality Bakewell holiday accommodation.
To fine out more about this delightfull region visit the Peak District tourism blog
When it comes to booking yourself Cambridge vacations, you can visit this very historic town at just about any time of year you want. This university city has lots of different things for you to see and do on your visit. It's easy to get to Cambridge. The city has good connections by road, rail or even air. You can fly in to Stansted airport and reach Cambridge in around twenty minutes.
That said, don't think that you will manage to take in all the different things of interest in as short as one day. Allow yourself several days for a full exploration of the city. But along with exploring Cambridge itself, there are plenty of places close by that may be of interest to you as well.
The minds of people such as Charles Darwin and, more recently, Stephen Hawking, have been inspired by the city of Cambridge. If possible, you should endeavor to make the time to visit one of England's oldest universities. During 2009 the university will celebrate 800 years of existence and events will be taking place throughout the year.
Along with wandering around the grounds of the various seats of learning in the city, there are plenty of other things that one can do. It has a great shopping center and some superb bar, restaurants and cafes as well. There is accommodation available to suit all budgets. Cambridge is home to everything from luxury 5 star hotels right the way through to welcoming guest houses and bed and breakfasts. And if you're really pressed for cash, you can check out the hostels and camp sites as well.
As well as many historic buildings to view, there are plenty of festivals and events taking place in the city, throughout the year. The gardens of the college see the Shakespeare Season in the summer. At other times of the year, you can hear recitals or listen to concerts in various churches and college chapels.
This is a city for those who are looking for a little more culture during their weekend or weeks vacation. However, you can have a more active time at one of the city's many sports and leisure centres. Plus close to Cambridge, there are a couple of good quality golf courses you may want to try. There is Cambridge Lakes Golf Course (9-hole par 3) and the much more well established Gog Magog Golf Club.
Don't worry about taking children into the city with you - there are lots of things that they can enjoy too. Just a few miles away from Cambridge is the Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey. It is a great fun day out for all and will show you how farming technology has developed and the way in which farming has changed.
Above we have looked at few attractions and things that one can do when you stay in Cambridge. Certainly, you may find that a weekend's stay is not sufficient to take in everything that this historic and beautiful city has to offer you.
Check out a wide range of Cambridge hotels here.
Keswick is located between Derwentwater and Skiddaw. It is one of the major tourist destinations in the north of the Lake District. Because of this, there are a wide variety of Keswick attractions that visitors to the town can enjoy. There are plenty of hotels and guest houses in Keswick.
The market town of Keswick was first granted its market charter back in 1276 by Edward I and even today, a market still takes place in it every Saturday. However, when the town was first being settled it was located at Crosthwaite, which is located on the western side of the town today. The Church at Crosthwaite was the first to be built in 553AD and was called St Kentigern and was where Canon Rawsley (co-founder of the National Trust) was vicar from 1883 to 1917.
Today you will notice that much of the land that now surrounds the town of Keswick is actually owned by the National Trust. This is why Keswick and the surrounding area hasn't changed much over the years. As well as there many attractions to be enjoyed in the town itself there are plenty of others in the surrounding area and below we look at a few.
1. Ashness Bridge - this appears on all sorts of places and is probably the most-photographed place in the Lake District. From here, you can see right the way across Derwentwater to Keswick and on to Skiddaw. if you can, do your best to visit at sunrise or sunset. You'll miss most tourists and get the best views. You'll get a spectacular photo opportunity here.
2. Castlerigg Stone Circle – There are any of these to be found in locations around the British Isles and is one of the most accessible. Of all the stone circles to be found in the area of Cumbria, England this is the most popular and dates from around 3,000BC. By why the circle was built is still unclear today but many people have come up with many ideas. One idea is that it was a burial site. Another idea is that it was built as an astronomical observatory. However, the reason why most people enjoy visiting this location is because of its peace and tranquillity.
3. Derwentwater – This is a 3-mile long lake situated close to Keswick and probably the best way to enjoy it is by either hiring a rowing boat or hopping on one of the motor launches. The tours on the launches are run by Keswick Launch and take you to Ashness Gate, Loddre, High and Low Brandelhow, Hawes and Nichol End. If you want to see the lake from it's shores, there are a wide variety of well marked paths for you to enjoy.
In this article, we have taken a close look at some of the more popular Keswick attractions that people to the town enjoy. However, there are plenty of other fascinating and interesting places for one to visit as well as things to do whilst staying in Keswick.
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The city of Carlisle is the largest of all settlements that you will find in Cumbria, England. Along with being the administrative centre for the city and the County of Cumbria, it also houses the main campus for the University of Cumbria. Carlisle vacations are ideal for those who would like to discover more about this historic city.
Actually getting to Carlisle could not be any easier. The city is well linked with the rest of the country. The M6 motorway provides easy access to the South of England whilst the M74 motorway provides good links with Scotland. However, actually getting around the city itself in a car can prove quite eventful especially when the rush hours are in full flow.
If you’re not going to drive to the city, then there are plenty of regular train services that are direct to the railway station. The railway station has through routes from London, Glasgow, Leeds and Newcastle upon Tyne. However, the train that comes from Glasgow does come via the town of Dumfries.
Once you’ve reached the city for your vacation or business trip, you’ll find lots of things to see and do. Carlisle is famous for both it’s castle and the cathedral.
The castle has been situated at the Western end of the city on the Anglo Scottish border for more than 900 years. It has witnessed many conflicts and even been subject to the occasional siege. Today, these are but memories as you tour the dungeons, stairways and chambers. The legendary “Licking Stones” can be found in the dungeons. Legend has it that Jacobite prisoners were so thirsty that they would lick the stones in an effort to get some water to help keep them alive.
Carlisle cathedral dominates the city’s sky line and can be seen from almost anywhere in the city, which has been the case since it was founded in 1122 AD. The crypt’s decoration is exquisite. If you take the time to actually go into the crypy, you’ll be greeted by a display that covers over a thousand years of Christian history throughout Cumbria.
However, if you are looking for a little more excitement when visiting Carlisle then a day or an evening at the races should be considered. The racecourse is located on the outskirts of the town and is set in beautiful countryside and this is why the course undulates somewhat. Carlisle racecourse is home to top class horseracing. These encompass the National Hunt season (which runs from September through to April) as well as the Flat season (from April until August).
Carlisle vacations are ideal for those who are looking for a quiet romantic time away with their partner. But they are also the place for families who are looking for a little adventure and fun during their Carlisle holiday.