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Healthy Travel

• Important Note: Traveling and Illness

As you are preparing for tarvel, please be sure to continue to focus on measures to ensure your good health: eat a balanced diet, get plenty of rest, avoid smoking and be sure you are effectively managing any ongoing health issues. In the unlikely event that you become ill with a fever or respiratory illness the day prior to your scheduled departure date, please see your doctor to determine whether you are healthy enough to travel and participate in the event. Your health as well as the health of participants is important to yourself.

• Your Travel “First Aid” Kit

Be sure you bring the following to ensure a safe, health and convenient travel experience:

Your prescription medicines (enough to cover your days away from home), in their original containers with clearly identifiable labels.

If you are generally in good health, there are some typical minor ailments that travelers frequently encounter which may necessitate use of non-prescription medicines.

Consider bringing a few doses of medicine if you are prone to the following:

diarrhea

upset stomach

headache

sinus congestion

motion sickness

• During Travel

Bring enough of any required medicines in carry-on bag.

If seated next to a person with respiratory symptoms on the plane, contact the flight attendant for a change in seating if available. When a change is not possible: avoid direct contact (face-to-face); avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth; be conscious of the surfaces you touch and wash your hands frequently.

Drink plenty of fluids (preferably water) before, during, and after your flight. Not only will you feel better, but keeping up your fluid reserves also helps your body fight illness and risk of jet lag. If need be, use moisturizer and lip balm to combat the dry air in the flight cabin.

If you wear glasses, don’t fly with contact lenses — wear your glasses instead. Contacts will only dry out and further irritate itchy or burning eyes.

Take frequent walks in the aisles, stretch and exercise your lower limbs while seated to keep blood your blood flowing and prevent conditions attributed to sedentary positions (swollen ankles, muscle cramps). If you can take aspirin safely, a low dose (81 milligrams) taken on the day of departure can be helpful in preventing clot formation.

Try to get as much fresh air and exercise as you can between flight connections.

Clear your head with a hot, steamy shower after you land. Avoid smoking areas while you wait for a connecting flight and when you reach your destination.

To minimize the discomfort of pressure building in your ears, here’s how to make them pop: pinch your nostrils closed and inhale deeply. Then exhale through your nose, blowing out in short, firm bursts until you feel your ears pop. Yawning, drinking liquids, and chewing gum also helps.

• jet lag

Anyone who’s suffered from the fatigue of crossing time zones can attest that it’s no fun being bleary-eyed and groggy for the first couple days of and after your trip. There are ways of minimizing the effects of jet lag, so take note:

Adjust your sleeping and eating patterns to the new time zone a couple days before your flight — usually one day per time zone.

Upon boarding the plane, change your watch to the destination time zone. Drink plenty of fluids, keeping yourself as hydrated as possible. While trying to knock yourself out with a couple glasses of wine or wake yourself up with coffee may seem like good ideas while flying, think again — alcohol and caffeine dehydrate the body, making your even more tired when you arrive at your destination.

If it’s daytime in your destination, take a walk after you get settled. The exercise will stimulate your body and help convince it to stop producing sleep-inducing hormones.

Use earplugs and blindfolds to help dampen noise and block out unwanted light while sleeping.

A variety of over-the-counter products are available that purport to ease jet lag or encourage sleep on lengthy flights.

Fortunately, your adjustment in New Zealand will likely go smoothly as you will be getting plenty of exercise!!

Stay heallthy

Focusing on these key areas will help you to “Stay Health”

1. Pay attention to personal hygiene and handwashing

2. Eat a balanced diet and drink plenty of water

3. Be physically active

4. Get plenty of sleep

5. Manage strees

6. Avoid smoking

7. keep immunizations current

8. Manage any ongoing health issues

Eating a balanced diet is perhaps the most direct action you can take to nurture your immune system

- The immune system requires a balance of nutrients to function properly

- Without this balance,you can become sick more easily and have a longer recovery time

- Ensure your daily meals include:

- vegetables(especially leafy green)

- fruits

- whole and fortified grains(any food made from wheat,rice,oats,cornmeal,barley or other ceral grain)

- dairy products,with small amounts of fish and meat(or alternative protein sources)

Your body requires a minimum amount of daily fluid intake to maintain health

- Fluids help to keep mucous membranes moist enough to combat viruses on contact

- Requirement 6-8 cups (1.4-1.9 liters) per day

- Avoid drinks like coffee, tea, and colas with caffeine;they deplete your body of fluids

If you are exercising and sweating, drinking water is doubly important

- 1to2hours before exercising: 10 to 14 ounces of cold water (about a cup and a half, or 295 to 414 ml)

- 10to15 minutes before exercising: 10 ounces of cold water (about a cup and a half, or 295 ml)

- While exercising: 3to4 ounces of cold water every 15 minutes (about a cup and a half, or 89 to 118 ml)

Abrahamson Owen is the professional freelance writer. He’s also the webmaster of Savehealthguide.com

Summer is nearly here and with it, the nation’s collective thoughts turn to the very best reward one could possibly imagine after a long cold winter and spring: the beach. But where to go? If given the opportunity, many individuals would love to travel to the Caribbean or vacation overseas; however, you may be able to find twin alternatives in the United States.

Caribbean beaches are memorable for an prolific digit of reasons. Many people enjoy the clear waters, white oatmeal, top - of - the - row resorts, and tropical climates. With a minor amount of research, you may be able to find beaches with alike features in the United States. To achieve your search started, beneath is a summary of just a few of the most haunting beaches in the United States.

When searching for beaches, many mortals automatically examine beaches located along the coast of Florida. In Florida, you are likely to find an abundant unit of beaches that could serve as your subsequent summer vacation destination. These beaches include, but are not limited to South Beach, Miami Beach, Daytona Beach, and Pensacola Beach.

Ocracoke Island, located in North Carolina, is a melodious summer vacation destination for families. Located on the outer banks of North Carolina, Ocracoke Island is only accessible by vessel or airplane. It is home to a figure of memorable beaches. Activities at Ocracoke Island include, but are not limited to camping, boating, fishing, surfing, swimming, and sunbathing.

South Beach, located in Miami, Florida, is ideal for those who are looking for a amount of activates, on and off the beach. South Beach offers beach activities such as swimming, sunbathing, surfing, and boating. Off the beach, South Beach is most well - confessed for its nightlife. Along the coast, there are an copious quantity of restaurants, clubs, and bars. Many of these sport venues are visited by vacationing celebrities.

Aside from Florida, the state of California is home to a unit of haunting beaches. Among those beaches, Newport Beach is one of the most sought after vacation destinations on the west coast. Newport Beach has always been a appealing vacation destination, but popularity increased when the area became the axle of multiple television shows. Newport Beach is confessed for its fun on and offshore activities. These activities may include, but are not limited to volleyball, Frisbee throwing, boating, surfing, and sunbathing.

While New York beaches may not offer a tropical climate, during the summer months their beaches are in full swing. Main Beach is located in East Hampton, New York. Despite being located in the Northeast, Main Beach is one of the top rated beaches in the country. White sands and clear water make this East Hampton beach just as beautiful as the beaches found in the Caribbean.

Hawaii is considered one of the fifty states; however, geographically it is out in the ocean alone. Many of the top rated beaches in the Untied States are located on one of the Hawaiian Islands. Depending on where you are located, traveling to Hawaii can be an expensive trip. Vacationers who are able to finically afford a trip to Hawaii are encouraged to take it. The beaches found in Hawaii are as close to a Caribbean beach as you can get. Popular Hawaiian beaches include Honaunau Bay and Poipu Beach.

Moorea Beach, Las Vegas, Nevada. Las Vegas?!??! Yes, indeed. One of the hottest beach scenes going on right now is at the Moorea Beach Club at the Mandalay Bay hotel. 11 acres of pools, rivers, waterslides, tropical gardens, palm trees and sandy beaches awaits hotel guests (only). The entrance is a steep $50 for men but only $10 for women. Why the big discrepancy? The Moorea Beach Club permits “European Bathing.” If you’re not sure what this means, the fact that no one under 21 is allowed might help you figure this out.

When selecting your next summer vacation destination, you may very well find yourself vacationing at one of the above mentioned beaches. Always remember, you don’t have to select the most popular beach in the world just to have a fun vacation.

Abrahamson Owen is the freelance writer. He’s also the webmaster of Season4fine.com

Given the important roles fathers have played in the development and success of many a successful person, it’s hardly surprising that they often feel the need to honour them in poem, prose and performance.

The greatest literary minds in particular have put pen to paper to express their love and respect some of which ends up even better than the verse you’ll find in the average Father’s Day card.

So take a break from seeking out the perfect Father’s Day Gifts and be inspired by Getting Personal’s collection of timeless quotes on the subject of fatherhood.

You can always rely on the great wit Mark Twain to sum up the special father-child relationship:

’When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years’.

Who doesn’t identify with that sentiment? Charles Wadsworth takes it a step further when he says:

’By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he’s wrong’.

Even Robbie Williams accepts the inevitable in the first verse of his hit Strong:

”And when I’m drunk I dance like my dad.

I’ve started to dress a bit like him “

(Getting Personal would like to point out that we do not condone dancing like one’s dad.)

So there’s a theme here that eventually we all start to shed our youthful naivety and stubbornness in favour of the more laid-back, seasoned approach exemplified by our fathers.

Perhaps it is a wise father who lets his children learn from their own mistakes rather than try to impose an overbearing will on them. They’ll grow up with their own personalities and dreams, and they are the most important things we can attain.

The ancients must have known a thing or two about fatherhood or the human race would have been replaced by cockroaches by now. And sure enough, they have left us enough clues about their attitudes to fatherhood that has created great civilisations and dynasties. Let’s start with Confucius:

‘The father who does not teach his son his duties is equally as guilty as the son who neglects them’.

The idea of the father as a guide and a moral guardian certainly spans continents and centuries. A character in Homer’s Odyssey says that it is a wise child that knows his own father, but perhaps Shakespeare’s modified version rings truer:

‘It is a wise father that knows his child’.

After all, isn’t a sign of wisdom to understand your own limitations and how to rectify them? Sigmund Freud too, in trying to explain everything that makes us tick, struggled to get past the idea that the relationships with our fathers play a vital role in shaping our attitudes and life choices:

’I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father’s protection’.

Although his motivation was to further his scientific investigations into the human condition, perhaps he stumbled upon a universal truth that explains why you care for your father and why you’ll happily spend weeks looking for Father’s Day gift that are really just a tiny annual repayment towards the massive investment he made in you.

Finally, just in case your father starts to get a little smug about the greatness attributed to his kind, how about reminding him of this bittersweet observation by the great humourist Helen Rowland:

‘A man’s desire for a son is usually nothing but the wish to duplicate himself in order that such a remarkable pattern may not be lost to the world’.

Of course, you will probably agree, whilst simultaneously hoping that the duplication wasn’t too perfect especially if you’re his daughter …

For further information, please visit our website at http://www.gettingpersonal.co.uk

To explore our range of fathers day gifts further, please visit our website at http://www.gettingpersonal.co.uk.

Most people only consider visiting their local costume shop, towards the end of October, but there are many more reasons why one might want to think about a costume, during the remaining eleven months of the year.

Of course, it is true that kids most often think of Halloween as the only reason to don a costume, but as that television commercial suggests, we adults are the ones who get to have the most fun.

After Halloween, many people dress as pilgrims in November; Santa Claus in December; and Baby New Year on New Year’s Eve. Adults dress as Cupid in February, a Leprechaun in March, and the Easter Bunny in April. Memorial Day is when veterans want to dress in their best military wear, even if they have outgrown their uniform from days gone by. Uncle Sam and Revolutionary War heroes grace parties on the 4th of July. There are more parties than the typical Halloween party that will welcome costumes of many flavors.

Believe it or not, according to the http://CivilWarNews.com website, there are civil war reenactments in every single month of the year and in 35 states, plus the District of Columbia.

In episode six of season one of the comedy television series “Psyche”, starring James Roday (Shawn) and Dule Hill (Gus), the boys investigated a murder that took place at a Civil War reenactment near their home in Santa Barbara, California.

On the surface, the premise of that episode might seem silly since the setting of the story is in California and no Civil War battles were fought there. But history tells that California sent troops and financial resources to help the northern states during the Civil War. As a result of California’s contributions to the North during the Civil War, there are at least four Civil War reenactments that occur in California each year.

Civil War reenactments are a perfect occasion to head to the costume shop to pick up a Union or Confederate military uniform, so that one can participate in the fun. But, reenactments encompass far more activities than the Civil War.

There are historical reenactments for the Revolutionary War and nearly every war in history. Rodeos typically feature old west cowboy reenactment performers. The Mountain Man rendezvous are also very popular throughout the country.

There are historical reenactment events and activities around the world representing European history as well, including the Dark Ages, Early, Middle and High Medieval Ages, the Napoleonic Age, up to and including Renaissance Fairs. Renaissance Fairs frequently venture into the remaking of King Arthur’s Camelot, from England’s Middle Ages. Hollywood exemplified this age in the movie, “A Knight’s Tale”, starring the late-Heath Ledger.

With the recent popularity of role-playing games, more people have ventured into a lifestyle that includes weekend gatherings of costumed participants, representing a vast range of eras. It is a fact that most groups, who gather, segment their gatherings to a specific time frame that usually covers only a century or so.

One such organization that can be tied to the dress-up, role-playing, is the 30,000 member strong Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA). According to their website at http://SCA.org, members dress in costumes and clothing of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, and its members attend events, which may feature tournaments, arts exhibits, classes, workshops, dancing, feasts, and more. Major SCA events are held around the United States and the world, with dates scheduled all year long.

When reenactment and role-playing activities happen, many of the participating members lack the appropriate garb for the age they are playing, so a trip to the costume store is a typical occurrence.

Of course, Hollywood has warehouses full of costumes for their various television and movie productions. But, local playhouses simply do not have Hollywood’s huge budgets and financing. On occasion, local producers will make the trip to their local costume shop to rent the costumes they need to properly outfit their actors and stage performers.

Speaking of actors, many out-of-work actors step into a clown suit from time-to-time to perform at kid’s parties. Others take their tricks to birthday parties wearing their magician outfit. Even starving artists have bills to pay.

Football and baseball teams hire team mascots to dance around as birds and animals and perform on the sidelines at the games. Commercial enterprises occasionally hire high school kids to stand on the side of the road in various costumes to hawk the companies’ products. In fact, Wonder Bread is fond of putting people in Twinkie costumes to remind people of their yellow cakes with cream filling.

As the political cycle gears up, many people like to dress up as their favorite candidates in the race. Couples who attend election parties in 2008 can attend as the Hill and Bill show, with Hillary and Bill masks. Nixon remains a popular mask even after three decades.

For those who love movies, the thought of Presidential masks will likely take one back to “Point Break”, starring Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Gary Busey. For those who have not seen the movie, Reeves and Busey were FBI agents charged with busting the “ex-President bank robbers”, who wore masks of Reagan, Carter, Nixon and Johnson while they robbed banks. The classic line in the movie was when the Nixon bank robber, while robbing a bank, threw up the trademark Nixon peace signs and declared, “I am not a crook.”

Point Break actually led to many copycat movie bank robbers, including Jim Carrey and Tea Leoni in the 2005 film, “Fun with Dick and Jane”, where Dick and Jane actually wore Bill and Hillary Clinton masks when they robbed banks.

Holiday parties, reenactments, rendezvous, SCA events, birthday parties, mascots, and politics are only a few of the reasons why an adult would want to dress in a costume. Dressing in costumes is fun, for adults and children alike, even more so for adults who get to leave their children with the babysitter while they go to their costume parties. It sure is great being an adult.

Erik Aronesty is a professional perl-programmer and the owner of Moon Costumes, which carries a huge selection of costumes for adults and costumes for children. Visit Erik

There are many reasons why hiring a car in Biarritz makes sense. For one, Biarritz has a fantastic location on the French-Spanish border. Car hire in Biarritz affords you the freedom to explore everything that this beautiful part of the country has to offer in terms of cultural and historical attractions. The real beauty of Biarritz car hire is that it allows you to discover all of the charms of the city and the countryside at a pace that suits you. Biarritz is like nowhere else in France, offering a plethora of unique cultural attractions.

Biarritz Mini Guide:

Situated in the Basque region, just 15 minutes from the Spanish border the coastal city of Biarritz is becoming one of France’s most popular destinations for short breaks and it’s easy to see why.

Things To See/Do in Biarritz:

A stroll along Biarritz’s stunning Grand Plange seafront is an excellent way to get your bearings on first arrival in the city. From here you’ll get pretty views of the fisherman’s cottages, picturesque Plage du Vieux Port and Plage de la C

Thinking about family holidays in the UK, why not choose a caravan park for your holiday? Choosing a holiday in the UK can be a tough job, making sure that the whole family is happy and satisfied.

With the huge choice of caravan parks located around the UK, a caravan holiday is an ideal place to start for family holidays, and keeping children entertained is no easy job.

A caravan holiday in the UK is a great way to enjoy fun filled days at the beach, taking in strolls across the sand, the kids can enjoy splashing around in the sea and enjoy traditional fish and chips on walks down the promenades.

Take a visit the many amusement arcades which can keep the kids entertained for hours, and could leave your pocket lighter than before you went in. Not forgetting the ice-cream and doughnuts which makes the perfect UK holiday.

Facilities at caravan parks cater for all age groups, from children’s and teen clubs to lively evening entertainment as well as many other activities to keep your day busy whilst on your UK holiday.

I recently took a holiday at one of the Haven parks and found that their excellent family orientated caravan park was an ideal choice for the family. With all the facilities you need under a safe contained park you wouldn’t want for much on your holiday.

Facilities include many sports activities for the kids from football, kwik cricket, basketball, tennis, badminton and table tennis as well as trampolines, bike hire for rides around the park.

As well as sport facilities the parks has many energetic water fun activities such as the indoor and outdoor pools which are fully manned for safety, at the caravan park I stayed at, there was a learn to swim programme for the children, where a professional swimming teacher takes the classes to encourage the children and even adults to get swimming.

In the evening there was plenty of entertainment to keep both children and adults busy for hours, there was a stage show where popular classics were performed, as well as this there was a live band on another evening which was great fun as old and new favourites were performed.

As we stayed for a full week the other nights had us busy with a live comedy performance that had the whole family and the rest of the place in tears of laughter.

Eating out was also a great option that the park provided from fish and chips at the on site chippie to the show bar that allowed for a great family atmosphere, as not every night you want to cook; you can stay at home for that.

Although one evening we did stay in for a quiet night and one great thing for a self catering holiday was the access to the local on site convenience shop which provided everything you need from basic snacks to all your fresh and packaged food.

Visit a Haven Holiday park where you can take your family holiday, the caravan parks are perfect for children and families to enjoy. A Haven Holiday park is a good choice for a caravan holidays and short breaks as well.

So as a regular visitor to UK caravan parks across the UK I found Haven to be the best I have seen and am already planning for next year’s holiday.

Finding the best vacation rentals is all about knowing what you want, being willing to put in the search time, tapping your resources and booking early. Keep reading for some tips and hints that will show you how to find the best vacation rentals for your next vacation away from home.

Location is Key

If you have your heart set on a summer spent fishing on the lake, then a mountainside ski chalet 50 miles from a body of water isn’t going to cut it. Alternatively, if you’re dreaming of a holiday spent traversing the canals of Venice, you’re not going to be too happy in a cabin in Montana. When it comes to vacation planning, settling for something less than a fulfilling location can put a damper on the entire experience.

Before you start shopping for vacation rentals, make a list of your preferred destinations and the nearby or on-site amenities you and your family are looking for. Once you’ve narrowed down the location, you’re halfway there. You’ll be able to track down property owners and rental management firms while you increasingly focus your search.

Know Where to Look

If you’re not searching through an estate agent or travel rental company, try renting directly from property owners. Websites like RedWeek.com or VRBO (vrbo.com) list vacation properties and even time shares that are rented and advertised by individual property owners.

While you may not find quite the professional service that a managed property comes with, you’ll often obtain a discounted price and a stronger personal relationship with your prospective landlord. The personal touch you receive can enhance your overall enjoyment.

If you’re trying to save money, consider sharing a vacation rental with another family. Either rent it for a month and split the time or share the rental simultaneously. Just be certain that you don’t put a great friendship at risk by spending so much time together!

Tap Your Personal Resources

Finding the best vacation rentals is about more than searching online or checking the newspaper for listings. Try your personal connections to find a great property this summer.

Send out an email to family, friends and neighbors outlining what you’re looking for. Someone might know of a great property that fits your description and is going unused that week, month, or even for an entire season.

However, before you engage in a business transaction with friends and family, make sure you’ve both thought through the arrangement and have a clear, written agreement. Again, back to preserving that friendship as a high priority.

Book Early

Admittedly, last minute deals can be found. However, if you have your heart set on a particular list of amenities in a popular vacation spot, you should book early to help ensure you are able to lock it in. Many returning tenants reserve their rentals a year or more in advance, leaving new guests competing for space.

Consider that if you keep returning to the same vacation rental, you’ll eventually move up in the rental hierarchy - able to secure the best weeks and even negotiate better rates with owners who have gotten to know and trust you.

For information on exciting vacation rentals, please see http://www.rentalpropertytips.com, a popular site providing great insights concerning vacation destination ideas, such as a St. John villa rental, Smokey Mountain cabin rentals, Maui house rentals and many more!

New York is best known for the Big Apple, or New York City. What you may not know is that there are vacation opportunities all across the state of New York. You will have your choice of a vacation full of busy activities, or a relaxing lazy day type of experience. There are numerous hotel resorts in New York, but a vacation rental home will offer much more space and comfort.

A popular tourist destination in New York is Niagara Falls, which is located on the north-western portion of the state. During your stay, take a boat tour that will go behind the Falls. Other famous attractions include an aquarium and dining options. The rental properties are slightly harder to come across the closer that you get to Niagara Falls, but there should be some sort of rental accommodation close by. Other tourists prefer to stay along the shore of Lake Ontario. If you are available during this time, you can try to arrange your vacation so that you will be there during the New York State Fair in Syracuse.

If you are planning your New York trip for the summer, then consider staying in upstate New York, around Lake George. This is a very commercialized are where people retreat to during the summer months and take advantage of the water-play facilities. If you enjoy crowds, then a resort might be a better option for you. However, for a more peaceful experience along Lake George, vacation rental homes are available. You might have to inquire about a rental property earlier in the year to make sure that you are able to book a stay.

Of course, it is hard to visit New York without taking a trip to New York City. It is an experience that everyone should take part of. The housing options are less scarce the closer you get to the city. However, there are condos and penthouses available, as well as apartments for rent. When searching for a rental property, you can narrow down the search options by entering in your price, amenity choices, and other preferences. Make sure that you take a stroll through Central Park, visit the Empire State Building, go to the top of The Statue of Liberty, and go to the Museum of Art. You should also visit Ground Zero, which was the site of a terrible terrorist attack that killed thousands in 2001. While it is a very somber place to visit, you can feel the unity that New York City truly has among the citizens.

New York State is one of those destinations that makes it hard to see everything on one trip. There are so many wonderful locations that offer culture, excitement, and memories that will last a life time. Make your stay even more memorable by obtaining a vacation rental home. You can find vacation rentals by owner or search by location. There is always a large variety of pictures available as well as previous customer reviews. You will have more space and you will be more comfortable.

Situated on the eastern side of the United States, nestled in between Virginia and South Carolina, is a beautiful state called North Carolina.

This cardinal state has the best of both worlds: a beautiful coast line and cool crisp mountains. The moderate climate on the coastline of North Carolina is perfect for a weekend getaway or a beach wedding. You can find miles upon miles of quiet beaches, fishing, golf courses, boating, elite dining, resorts, and fabulous shopping. Peace and quiet is what normally lures people to the North Carolina coastline. It is not too crowded but the coast still has exciting things to do when you are tired of the water.

You can spend a relaxing day at the beach, or try your luck at surfing. Many people have also started taking up the sport of wind surfing. Afterwards, head on over to the marina where you can join a charter boat for a sun filled day of fishing. If the moving waters is not for you, then you can still spend the day riding other forms of sea craft or watch the fishermen bring in their daily catch. You can truly forget your troubles in North Carolina. The climate is always perfect, not too hot and not too cold.

North Carolina is also the best place for vacation rentals. Many homeowners will purchase a seaside retreat for themselves, but rent it out to tourists when they are not using it. The latest developments to sprout along the North Carolina coastline are beach villages, or rental developments. These look very much like a condo resort, and most of them contain a high class golf course.

In the elite developments there is also tennis courts and several pools. This is the type of place to find a luxurious vacation rental home. While the resorts at the North Carolina beaches are very comfortable and nice, the privacy of a vacation rental home cannot be matched. Large families find the most use out of the homes, because everyone can have their own piece of privacy. However, smaller families also like the vacation rentals because they are quiet and away from the crowds, especially those with children.

If you are traveling during the autumn months, take a trip to the North Carolina mountains. The Blue Ridge Parkway is a delight during the cooler months, especially during the peak season. This is when all of the leaves start to turn bright colors of gold, red and yellow. Along the Blue Ridge, you can have a wonderful view of all of the mountain tops, as well as rock side waterfalls.

The most common vacation rentals in the mountains are cozy cabins, especially in the ski resorts. The cabins are perfect for couples needing a romantic getaway for the weekend. There are also historical stops along the Blue Ridge for those who enjoy a walk back in time. By vacationing in North Carolina, the benefits are very large. If you want to visit both the mountains and the beach during your vacation, then spend a week at both places!

Katie Warr is a Destination Rep from http://www.selfpropertyrental.com an online advertiser for New York Property Rentals Direct from Owners.

Alicante Airport is the gateway to the Costa Blanca, a wonderfully sun-drenched region where myriad beautiful towns and villages are just a short car hire drive away. The following is a list of recommended drives that can be easily made from Alicante.

1. La Villajoyosa: ‘The Chocolate City’

Rather disappointingly, La Villajoyosa is not actually a town made of chocolate. However, there’s plenty of sweet sights to be seen all over town which more than make up for this!

Located just to the south of Benidorm, La Villajoyosa is a city that you smell before you see. The distinctive aroma of chocolate is undeniable as you enter the town. La Villajoyosa first began to import chocolate in the 18th century. Today the produce is available in shops all around town called Valor, which produce chocolate for sale all over Spain. While in town, be sure to sample the local speciality Chocolate Con Churros, donut-like pastry accompanied by small pots of chocolate sauce.

Watching your weight? Don’t worry, La Villajoyosa also offers plenty of opportunities to burn off all those calories. The beach of Paraiso is well known for windsurfing and water sports.

2. Altea

A 14km drive to the north of Benidorm will take you to the town of Altea, a beautiful and traditional fishing village that has been well preserved. Car hire in Altea allows you to explore all of the charms of the village as well as the beautiful surroundings. Altea boasts 5km of beaches, each offering stunning views and pretty places to relax. Meanwhile, a short drive away from Altea will take you to the scenic mountainous area of Sierra de Bernia.

3. Moraira

The tranquil town of Moraira is situated close to Denia, Calpe and Altea and is a charming old fishing town that has cloaked by mountains and washed by the Mediterranean Sea. If you find yourself in the town between Tuesday to Sunday, be sure to catch the fish market that is held daily in Lonja right next to the port area.

Moraira also offers visitors a range of picturesque beaches including the Portet, where the famous watch out tower near the Cape D’Or is within easy walking distance.

4. Orihuela

The fabulous city of Orihuela is situated about 50km to the south west of Alicante, just between Elche and Murcia. Orihuela is the capital of the city known as ‘La Vega Baja’ (low fertile lowlands), one of the largest regions in the province of Alicante that forms part of the Valencian Community. Attractions worth seeing include The Cathedral and the Palace of Rubalcalva. A short car hire drive away will take you to the beautiful 16km stretch of beaches that are located 20km from the city centre.

5. Benissa

Situated right on the waterfront, Benissa is a city that is located between Alicante and Valencia. Benissa has over 4 kilometres of coastline, providing the perfect ingredients for a relaxed seaside day trip.

Benissa is a town that is rich in cultural attractions too. It’s worth setting some time aside on your Benissa car hire excursion to visit beautiful buildings including the ‘lonja’, the city’s oldest building and the pretty Portal quare.

Fiona writes for Argus Car Hire and Car Hire Spain

Safety is your number one concern when playing baseball and it’s paramount that the batting helmet used be well made and meet the safety standard to protect the batter’s head from an impact. Once you have chosen a batting helmet, you may want to customize it and that’s easier than you think.

A batting helmet, like most helmets; is good for one major impact only. After that the helmet could contain microscopic cracking that will interfere in the ability of the helmet to protect the batter’s head from an injury from a flying baseball or other risk faced during play. If you’re going to custom paint your batting helmet, just remember it won’t be a forever kind of thing as far as wearing it.

Many amateur teams paint their own matching batting helmets to get something uniquely “them” and also something that shows unity as a team. There are painted batting helmets that have flaming skulls, baseballs with growling faces and even depictions of famous players in action painted directly on the helmet. And those are just helmets to be actually worn and used, other helmets that are used in collections are sometimes painted very elaborately with logos and other insignia to show devotion for a favorite baseball team.

When you choose to paint a batting helmet, avoid sign paints which will adhere to almost any surface, but most contain lead and you don’t want that anywhere near your body. Instead use lead-free paints and after the paint is completely dry, give it a couple of coats of clear coat. The clear coat will lock in the paint job and keep it nearly nick free by protecting the paint.

Nine times out of ten it’s best not to try to paint over a batting helmet that has already been painted and sealed with a clear coat finish. If you do manage to get to the paint to stick - it will probably peel off in chunks not long after you begin using the batting helmet as the clear coat has no “tooth” in other words, the paint needs a slightly roughed up surface to stick to, and it won’t get that with a surface that has been clear coated.

How you want to apply the paint will be up to you. A finely bristled paint brush will do the job, or if you’re good with an airbrush, you can get some amazing effects for the helmet through the use of different tips for the way the paint is sprayed. At most hobby stores you can purchase beginner air brushing kits that consist of a host, a sprayer (to apply the paint) and it’s powered by an aerosol can. Attach the sprayer brush to the hose and the hose to the can and release the pressurized air and you’ll be in the business of painting a batting helmet.

If you want to make an unusual gift for your favorite local team or you want to give someone a gift that is very unique, consider getting a batting helmet for the baseball/softball enthusiast on your gift list and make them a batting helmet that will be head and shoulders above the rest in uniqueness.

Rick Grantham writes for BooYah Village, an online sports retailer. He has written numerous articles on sporting goods, sporting tips, and fan gear.