By Jonathan Williams

Grenada is one of the most popular Caribbean destinations in North America. Its rich culture is something that locals are proud of, and the festive mood present all year-round is something that tourists find contagious, enhancing their experience in the island. It seems that anyone who visits will not be lacking in things to do and sights to see because of the many beautiful spots and year-round festivities Grenada is known for.

1.) Grand Anse White beaches

You visit the Caribbean for its immaculate white sandy beaches. Grenada offers you the same. Grand Anse is a favorite beach destination not only to get the perfect tan under the Caribbean sun but also to join in the many parties and activities that every local and tourist will surely enjoy.

2.) Nutmeg Factories

Grenada is famous for its spices. Thus, you will definitely want to see how nutmeg is processed and learn how the spices are made. Nutmeg plantations, as well as cocoa plantations are always part of any tourist’s itinerary, and the guided tours are simply fascinating and informative.

3.) National parks

Over a period of more than ten years, Grenada’s national parks were slowly cultivated to protect their rainforests first and foremost. Now, these national parks also protect the coral reefs and the entire ecosystem. Here, you will get to see the famous oyster patches which are definitely something you would want to see.

4.) Hiking

Whether you’re ready for a full hiking workout or a short trek, you can always try the famous Mount Sinai. Here, you can also see its beautiful lake right in its crater. Plus, you will surely get to see the native floras and faunas of Guatemala.

5.) Toss a coin, make a wish

First-time visitors and even those who have been in Grenada once before always make it a point to throw a coin in the fountain found in the hot springs of the Sallee River. Here, they make a wish. Others claim that visiting the spring is also something sacred for them.

6.) Water sports

Whether you want to rub elbows with fishes by snorkeling or go deep down and dive, Grenada beaches are also perfect for your favorite water sports not just for tanning and partying. A good place to snorkel, too, is the marine park White Island. Be amazed of the myriad varieties of Guatemala’s marine animals.

7.) Caribbean Carnival

One more reason to visit Grenada is its wild and lively carnival held every year in the third quarter. Street dancing, shows, bands among other things are always a part of Grenada carnivals. This is a good way to relax and take in the country’s rich culture.

8.) Museum of Carriacou

Don’t ever leave any place you’re visiting for the first time without at least seeing one of its museums. The Carriacou Museum houses some of the most fascinating relics and works of art from the American Indian peoples. This works of arts date as far back as the time the island fell under France and British rule.

9.) Fort George

This military edifice was made popular in history not only because it is the first ever built fort in the island but because it was missed by an American bomb back in the early 1980’s. Unfortunately, this is also where then Prime Minister Bishop was killed by an assassin. Because of its history, it has become one of the tourist destinations in the country.

10.) Mount Rich

If you love uncovering ancient artifacts or at least being surrounded by it in the exact place they were discovered is an exciting experience, you shouldn’t miss Mount Rich in Grenada. You will also see stone carvings of the ancient American Indian race. What other great way to know of Guatemala’s history than this?

About the Author: Jonathan Williams is the travel writer for Destination Guide TV - the place to share travel videos. Visit http://www.destinationguide.tv/grenada to view or share Grenada travel videos.

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The tenth arrondissement is located on the Right Bank in northeastern Paris. Its land area is slightly more than 1.1 square mile (a bit less than 3 square kilometers). Its population is slightly under ninety thousand and offers about seventy-two thousand jobs. Two of its major attractions are railway stations. If you haven’t seen a grandiose railway station such as in Europe or Manhattan’s Grand Central Station, you really should visit some of Paris’s offerings such as described below.

This arrondissement is not particularly well known to tourists. However, if you visit here you may get a feel for the real Paris, the Paris of Parisians. You might start by viewing the Canal Saint-Martin, which links the Seine River with northeastern Paris. This 2.8 mile (4.5 kilometer) long canal was built from 1806 to 1825 under the orders of Napoleon Bonaparte. Believe it or not, in some places it is only about three feet (one meter) deep. It came close to disappearing in the 1960s and might have become just another highway. While there is some canal traffic, mostly it’s a place to view the boats and the locks. Recently the neighborhood has become trendy. In 1938 the Canal Saint-Martin was featured in the famous movie Hotel du Nord. And in 2001 it was once again featured in the movie Amelie. The nearby streets are car-free for the later part of Saturday and all day Sunday giving the area a unique cachet.

The Gare de l’Est (East Station) is one of the largest and the oldest railway stations in Paris. Approximately 34 million passengers per year pass through the Gare de l’Est per year, making it the fifth-busiest station in Paris. I wonder how many of these passengers have seen the beautiful statue representing the city of Strasbourg at the west end of the station and how many have seen the statue representing the city of Verdun at the east end of the station. It’s a magnificent building with lovely artwork throughout. For example, the arcade includes representations of agricultural products and the coat of arms of over thirty cities in eastern France. The ticketing hall includes a large painting of soldiers leaving in 1914 for the Great War. Both these cities are served by this station, first opened in 1849. Perhaps its most famous train was the Orient Express to Istanbul, first opened in 1883. Times have changed and the Orient Express no longer goes to Paris or Istanbul. But some of the new lines are scheduled to run at almost two hundred miles (three hundred twenty kilometers) an hour and almost ten per cent faster in the future. The station is undergoing extensive renovation; for example, removing ugly plastic that covered beautiful marble for decades.

The Gare du Nord (North Station) handles about 180 million travelers a year, making it the busiest station in Europe, and the third busiest railway station in the world. It was first built in 1846 but already partially demolished in 1860 to permit extensive expansion. The old facade is now in the northern city of Lille. The new, mid-1860s, Neoclassical railway station includes 23 statues representing destinations; the international destinations are more imposing than the national ones. The station was expanded several times and is served by several subway lines. In 2007 the station was the site of a riot involving several hundred people that lasted for eight hours. The Gare du Nord has appeared in several French films, for instance in Les Poupees russes (The Russian Dolls) and American movies such as The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Ultimatum, and Ocean’s Twelve.

Some of the other sights to see in this district are the Porte Saint Denis and Porte Saint Martin erected by order to Louis XIV to celebrate military victories, the Musee de l’Eventail (Fan Museum), Musee de Cristal de Baccarat (Baccarat Crystal Museum), and, for a change of pace, the Place du Colonel Fabien, headquarters of the French Communist Party designed by a famous Brazilian (Communist) architect, Oscar Niemeyer, named in honor of a resistance hero of World War II. A more traditional Place (Square) is the Place de la Republique that is often the site of political or other demonstrations.

Of course you don’t want to be in Paris without sampling fine French wine and food. In my article I Love French Wine and Food - A Midi Merlot I reviewed such a wine and suggested a sample menu: Start with Roque Anchois (Anchovies with Tomato, Spices, Vinegar, and Olive Oil). For your second course savor Tagine de Lotte (Monkfish Stew). And as dessert indulge yourself with Crème Catalan (Crème brulee with Orange Flower and Aniseed). Your Parisian sommelier (wine steward) will be happy to suggest appropriate wines to accompany each course. 

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Levi Reiss has authored alone or with a co-author ten computer and Internet books, but to tell the truth, he would really rather just drink fine French, German, or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He knows what dieting is, and is glad that for the time being he can eat and drink what he wants, in moderation. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. Visit his Italian travel, wine, and food website http://www.travelitalytravel.com/ and his global wine website http://www.theworldwidewine.com/.

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By Danielle Needham

Are you in the process of planning a family vacation to Hawaii? If you are, congratulations. In all honesty, you are likely giving your child or children the experience of a lifetime. Many families are now lucky if they even get to take a yearly family vacation and many more find themselves staying closer to home, but you are giving your child the opportunity to experience the beauty, land, and culture of Hawaii! As fun as the initial excitement will be, you will soon need to start making your travel arrangements.

When it comes to vacationing in Hawaii, you will find that you have a number of different options, especially where your overnight accommodations are concerned. If you are like many other travelers, you may wish to stay along the beach. Hawaii beach accommodations are highly sought after, but there is an important point that you must first take into consideration. That point is your children. There are a number of pros and cons to booking a stay at a beachfront rental while on a family vacation. A few of those pros and cons, as well as a few helpful tips are highlighted below for your convenience.

One of the many pros or plus sides to booking a stay at a Hawaii beach accommodation, like a Hawaii beach house, is the experience that you and your family will get. As previously stated, many families are lucky if they are able to take a family vacation each year, let alone stay along the coast of Hawaii. Regardless of the age of your child or children, they will likely be mesmerized with the view they are provided with. In fact, it is, literally, a picture perfect memory that will likely stay with them for years to come. As a parent, there is nothing better than providing your children with the experience of a lifetime.

Your options are another one of the many pros or plus sides to staying along the beach for your next trip to Hawaii. What many individuals do not realize is that Hawaii beach accommodations come in a number of different formats. Of course, you can book a stay at a Hawaii beachfront vacation resort or a beachfront hotel, but those are not your only options. Private beachfront vacation rentals are also available and they come in the form of condos, villas, cottages, and apartment rentals. When deciding where you would like to stay, keep the size of your family in mind. Vacation villas, cottages, and other private home rentals are ideal for large family vacations or even just small families seeking privacy.

Although there are a number of pros or plus sides to booking a stay at a Hawaii beach accommodation, it is also important to examine the cons or the downsides to doing so. With family vacations, one of those downsides can be safety. With that in mind, don’t automatically write off Hawaii beach accommodations, as there are a number of important factors that you will first want to take into consideration. For example, if your child or children are teenagers, they are more able to wander around your rental property unattended without putting themselves in a dangerous situation, as opposed to younger children, like toddlers and preschoolers. Distance to the ocean should also be examined. Many private rental owners have their homes positioned a safe distance away from the water and many even install privacy or safety fences, reducing the danger for younger children.

Should you decide to book a stay at a Hawaii beach accommodation, like a Hawaii beachfront cottage, be sure to keep an eye on your children at all times. This is particularly important if your children are young in age. Regardless of age, be sure to establish ground rooms, concerning the water or leaving the rental home in general unattended. If safety is a large concern of yours, consider booking a stay at a Hawaii vacation rental that simply provides you with an ocean view, as opposed to a beachfront rental.

As you can see, there are more pros than cons to staying along the beach for your next family vacation. In all honesty, use your best judgment and you will see that you and your family, regardless of your children’s age, can safely vacation right along the beach.

About the Author: Hawaiian Beach Rentals specializes in assisting those, like you, planning Hawaii vacations. Visit their website today to start examining their large selection of Hawaii beach accommodations.

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