For visitors staying in Sydney hotels , it’s not long before it’s apparent that Sydney has a lot to see and do. This is true any time of the year, but the 10 day festival in the Spring, which is Fall down here, there are sights one can’t see just every day. Horses and cattle are the prize attractions here, and the ones the locals get the most emotional about. There are also vast numbers of shetland ponies, and other animals for the young ones to pet. Carnival rides are plentiful, and the scrumptious foods of Australia are all well-supplied here. It’s a chance to see what the land offers, and what the people can make of it.

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Regardless of the inspiration behind Margaritaville, and actually both places are perfectly fitting and they could even share the title, Jimmy Buffet himself has strong ties to Key West and so the association remains strongly attached to this city. The city itself has never used the song for marketing or claimed and identity attachment to it. Less disputable are other popular references to the city in song. John Cougar Mellencamp released a song in 1996 called Key West Intermezzo and while it landed on the Billboard chart at number 14, it never achieved the iconic status of Buffet’s.

The strongest literal association the city has to Buffet’s song began in 1991 when throngs of people flocked to its beaches to celebrate the Parrott Heads in Paradise Convention. This has occurred annually since then and usually takes place sometime in November. Buffet launched a restaurant chain named after this song and there is a Margaritaville Cafe located in Key West, though there are others throughout the country. Regardless of any association to Buffet, though also not intending to mitigate it, a luxury hotel Key West is full of happy guests who simply love the city for the beauty and atmosphere it contains.

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There used to be a Mardi Gras celebration in Coney Island, that lasted from 1903 to 1954. As most people could imagine, a Mardi Gras celebration here is bound to have its share of highly unusual spectacle, and a very broad spectrum of humanity, defining publicly their idea of fun. The Coney Island Mermaid Parade is an homage to that event from the past, and it’s rolling in the present in typically fantastical New York fashion. It marks the opening of the beaches for the summer, and is also a bit of a nod to the ancient celebrations of the change of seasons. It takes place on the first Saturday on or before the first official day of summer, so occasionally it hits it exactly right on the solstice.

There are typically a couple thousand participants, and a hundred thousand onlookers, and it really is something to behold. Anything that someone could imagine in a mermaid parade is here, and there are lots of things that no one could have imagined. The event goes from about 2pm to 5:30, after which a King and Queen arrive. In 2010, the happy couple was a New York duo, Laurie Anderson and Lou Reed , who tied the knot in Boulder, Colorado in 2008.

Those staying in NY hotels who are in town for the parade are always strongly advised to take the subway to Coney Island. Cabs there are extremely expensive, and parking a car at any public NY event can test anyone’s nerves. There’s also a ball afterward, and here is a chance to have some real New York fun. It’s a different world, and there are even more different worlds that open up when people are dressing up in New York, re-defining what a bachanale can be in the 21st century.

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There are many five star hotels in Los Angeles and one of them is bound to be near The Edison . This is one of the most retro establishments in the city. The theme of the place celebrates the days of discovery in light, sound, and vision. The industrial age and the lifestyle that went along with it. They have classic cocktails with a twist and many beers to choose from. Take part in all the treats at the well stocked bar. The menu is simple Tesla fries and the Ruben. Entertainment is happening in the Radio Room on a nightly basis which features live music, DJ’s and burlesque shows.  

Then there is the Nickel Diner with its modern twist on the diner experience. Gourmet food with a diner feel. They add the avocado to the BLT sandwich. There is a tuna burger along with the classic beef burgers. The salads have more than just iceberg lettuce and tomatoes. And there is chili made for the Vegan. But don’t worry there is still enough grease in the place to call it a diner.  

So now you aren’t completely lost as to were to experience the most unique dining in the Downtown Los Angeles area.

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Miami During the Spring and Summer is the classic times to visit. The weather is hotter so there’s less clothing and the beautiful people seem to be out in force. On the flip side of that it is hotter and most forget to plan accordingly the best Miami hotels to stay in during the summer are going to be the ones along the beach or within walking distance. If you’re particularly sensitive to the suns rays you might even want to see about a hotel with an indoor pool. When you plan to hit the clubs remember some have dress codes that require dressing nice so light natural fabrics like silk and cotton are your friend, linen dresses and suits are particularly summer friendly. Do NOT forget to pack or purchase plenty of sunblock and insect repellent . Miami is near a swamp and there are going to be mosquitoes in the early evening and just after dawn times of the day. The need for sunblock should be mostly self explanatory. The savvy traveler should also keep a filled water bottle on them at all times; just because the climate is humid doesn’t mean you can’t dehydrate.

Fall and Winter are great times to visit Miami and Southern Florida. While you’ll still need the sunblock and bug spray the weather is much milder and you are less likely to ruin that nice suit or new dress when you hit the clubs from over heating. This time of the year is usually when you’ll encounter some of the more interesting festivities as well. Halloween in Miami is special with it’s variety of cultures and several attractions hosting haunted houses and parties. What do you think about the idea of working on your tan during Christmas vacation? You should dress for warm weather but just in case of the odd cold spell remember to have a light jacket or coat on hand; the South is known for spontaneous weather changes.

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Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation is located there, and it is also one of the most famous and highly trusted nut producers in the world. Hawaii is known for producing some of the most delicious macadamia nuts in the world and they are continually increasing in popularity and uses. The trees are beautiful and have a graceful appearance with glossy leaves. Historically the trees were planted specifically for their beauty because the nutshells are so hard that for generations no one could crack them. They are actually the hardest nut shell in the world, even more so than the hickory.

By 1946 the plantation that would become Mauna Loa was established and the rest is history. Today the company is probably the largest macadamia nut distributors in the world. In addition to eating the nuts roasted and salted there are numerous recipes that incorporate this delicious sweet nut, and they are also sold with various seasonings and coverings. Chocolate covered nuts are the most popular variety and they are absolutely delicious. In addition they are available with chocolate and coconut or toffee. There are honey roasted and even garlic and onion varieties. Kona coffee glazed are gaining in popularity and the wasabi spiced are generally met with a bit of hesitation but are surprisingly good. Macadamia nuts also have vitamins and minerals and are good sources of protein.

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First, you might want to know what Mardi Gras and Shrove Tuesday have in common. Well, everything actually, other than their language. They both refer to Fat Tuesday with the former being the French version and the latter being an older English version. Metaphorically they both represent the Carnival celebration traditions that occur just before Ash Wednesday, which the first day of Lent. This is a period of solemn abstinence and generally includes fasting and the giving up of other habits.

Mardis Gras, or Carnival, in addition to being Fat Tuesday or the day before the beginning of Lent refers to that immediate season and traditionally been a period of abandoned revelry and indulgence. This has been a time when all social roles and norms are turned upside and anything goes. This excess ends abruptly on Ash Wednesday when the period of giving up begins. New Orleans has the largest and most famous Mardi Gras celebration in this country. People from all over the nation make an annual pilgrimage to Louisiana for the chance to catch some beads and other goods along the Riverwalk. Parades, live music, costumes, great food are all part of this annual event. So, if you’re going to go to New Orleans, make sure you pack a mask or costume of some kind in your suitcase.

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You see, I recently won a vacation down to Mexico and I jumped at the opportunity to take it.  I suppose most people would (since it was a free vacation after all), but for me it was going to be something special as I have not had the money to take a vacation for a number of years now.

One of the best parts of the prize was the opportunity to swim with dolphins in Mexico which was an experience that my sister had just last year, and she told me that no matter what, I had to do it.

When I did get there, I was amazed at how beautiful Mexico was and how friendly the people were.  But when it came to swim with the dolphins, I was afraid.  In some respects, the thought kind of grossed me out, but I would say that the fear was there just because I had never done it before.

But thankfully, with a bit of encouragement from the others in our group, I was able to muster the courage and I swam with the dolphins.  It is now one of the highlights of my life, and had I never gone, I would be less of a person than I am today.  It was definitely one of the most memorable experiences of my life.

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As you might suspect, most of the things are things that I don’t end up needing. Like last year when I bought a really beautiful maternity top from a local artisan in Mexico City. It was gorgeous but unnecessary since I’m not pregnant nor do I think I might be soon.

For awhile, I was trying to stop making purchases on my trips. I failed miserably at this. It just filled me with longing to see all of these things that are so neat but not to buy them. I also felt bad looking through markets and local stores and not contributing to their sales.

I think I’ve found a solution. From now on I’m going to use my travel time to purchase gifts for the people that I love. I will give these gifts to them for holidays and special occasions. I’ll be able to eliminate my other holiday shopping by replacing those gifts with the gifts from my travels. The gifts will be more special and I’ll still be able to shop during vacations!

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Have you made your summer travel plans yet? It’s not too late to take your family on a summer vacation. There are many destinations to choose from. I happen to think that the best one is Canada.

Reasons that I think a family vacation in Canada would be ideal include:

• Most people haven’t spent a lot of time in Canada. You get to go somewhere foreign without a big trip overseas.
• Canada is beautiful. Those people who have been to Canada already can attest that it’s a truly beautiful country.
• There are lots of cool adventures to enjoy there as a traveler. A great example is that you can take a Canadian Rockies train ride with your family.
• The summer weather there is great. You can choose from different specific locations to get the exact type of weather you’d like to enjoy during your vacation.
• It’s easy to travel there. You do need passports but other than that it’s a destination that doesn’t require a lot of hassle.

A Canadian vacation is a fairly easy vacation to plan and execute. It offers a lot of benefits over a domestic vacation. Don’t wait until next summer to enjoy this type of experience.

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