Warm Places to Go in March Within the Continental US

By the end of February, many residents of colder states in the midwest and northeast are looking to exchange their winter coats and snow blowers for Bermuda shorts and golf clubs. While many southern states start to get warmer in March, the warmest locations in the continental United States are still in California, Arizona, Florida and Texas. Each state also has major metropolitan areas offering a variety of outdoor activities.

Los Angeles

o    Los Angles has the warmest average temperature of any continental U.S. city, with an average high of 68.8 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter months and a low of 50. Located on the Pacific Ocean, Los Angles offers boating, fishing and sailing opportunities. Tourists can also watch dolphins and whales at Newport Landing, tour the Hollywood Walk of Fame, golf and relax on area beaches.

San Diego

o    The average high temperature in San Diego during the winter is 66.1 degrees. Outdoor attractions include visiting the U.S.S. Midway Museum, restaurants and amusement parks. Seaport Village offers shopping, cafes and restaurants overlooking the lagoon of Sand Diego Bay. Spanish Village, built in 1935, resembles an old Spanish-style village. Fiesta de Reyes is in the Old Town Historic Park featuring two restaurants and 16 specialty shops.

Phoenix

o    Phoenix, with an average high temperature in the winter of more than 68 degrees, features dozens of golf courses, museums and outdoor activities. There is hiking and climbing along Camelback Mountain and mountain biking at South Mountain Park. Other attractions include Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Desert Botanical Garden, Goldfield Ghost Town, Out of Africa Wildlife Park, Phoenix Zoo, Pueblo Grande Museum and Archeological Park and Rawhide Wild West Town.

Jacksonville

o    In Florida, Jacksonville offers an average high temperature during the winter of 65.8 degrees. Among the attractions is Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth, a 15-acre park marking the spot where de Leon arrived in Florida while looking for the fountain of youth. There is also Castillo de San Marco, the oldest stone fort in the United States and what is arguably the oldest wooden school house in the United States, dating back to the 18th century.

Houston

o    An average winter high temperature of 64.5 degrees enables visitors to explore the various outdoor activities offered in the Houston area. Features include the Air Texas Balloon Adventures, which offers rides to individuals, and corporate outings and the American Cowboy Museum. Allen's Landing marks the spot where John K. and August C. Allen came ashore and claimed Houston in 1836.

Welcomw to Panama

Welcome to the Panama recommended hotels and resorts section!
In the last couple of years Panama has experienced a big increase in the number of hotels and resorts in the city and in its main tourist destinations. We have carefully selected a small group of hotels, lodges, and resorts, that we believe are the best in each area always looking for price, value, character, and good service.

For your convenience, please find our selected hotels & resorts divided into the 7 major regions commonly used to classify hotel locations. The main hotel regions are Panama , Chiriqui, Cocle, Bocas del Toro, Colon, San Blas, and Azuero Peninsula. 
Additionally, the hotels in each region are further divided into sub regions. In Panama, visitors will find a wide variety of modern luxury hotels in Panama City, and small boutique beach hotels at the Pearl Islands. If you travel to Chiriqui and decide to go to the highlands, you will find nice mountain lodges both in Boquete and Volcan. If you decide to travel to the Lowlands, Boca Brava Island is the place to go with its paradisiacal unspoiled beaches. Cocle, which is close to Panama city, offers a wide variety of mountain bed & breakfasts at EL Valle, and a selection of all inclusive beach resorts in Playa Blanca.

Near the city is Colon and the famous Gatun Lake with its exuberant rainforest and wonderful hotel options. At the Archipelago of San Blas, there are more islands than days, but only a few hotels available mostly owned and operated by the Kuna tribe. At the Archipelago of Bocas del Toro visitors will find a wide selection of nice small beach hotels in Colon and its nearby islands. Last, but not least, is Azuero Peninsula, with its charming colonial towns and the beautiful coastline.
Please browse through our selection of hotels & resorts and discover the best that Panama has to offer!

Carnival in Rio de Janeiro

When is Carnival?

2012 Carnival starts on Saturday, February 18th and ends on Fat Tuesday, February 21. 

Which Carnival is the best in Brazil?

Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Olinda and Salvador all clamor for this title. The Carnival in Rio is definitely the biggest and most famous, not just in Brazil but in the whole world. And it is most visited as well. Hence Rio is dubbed the Carnival Capital of the Globe.

Where should I stay in Rio?

Try to stay in Southern Rio (the Zona Sul), which is not just the most beautiful area but also offers the best infrastructure and is the safest. Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon are the best, most up-market and priciest options, especially the last two. Botafogo, Lapa and Flamengo are more down-market but still within 15-20 minutes from Copacabana and Ipanema by subway, which runs 24 hours during Carnival.

When should I book?

Book flights and accommodation at least 4 months in advance. Get tickets as early as possible. The best tickets sell out early and prices usually increase as time passes.

Which events should I attend?

Rio Carnival's highlight is the Samba Parade. Go to a few balls especially to the Gala Ball in Scala. Join in as many street parties and street band processions as you can, both downtown (Centro) and in South Rio (the Zona Sul). Sample at least one samba school night.

Which are the best street parties?

The street band of Ipanema is the most famous and flamboyant one. The parties downtown (e.g. Cordão do Bola Preta) are the biggest.

Which are the best balls? 
High society attends the Magic Ball  at Hotel Copacabana Palace. For fun and a big night dance go to the Gay Gala Costume ball in Scala.  

When and where can I buy my tickets?

You only need to buy your tickets well in advance for the annual Samba Parade competition and the Magic Ball at Hotel Copacabana Palace. Some Scala balls sell out also quickly. See ticket details for all events.

What is a samba school?

It is an association of people in the same neighborhood preparing for the Samba Parade and entertaining the community with samba nights. They are not actual samba teaching institutions as their name may suggest.

Where can I learn to samba? 

Best to learn it just by watching others. Then have a go. You do not have to join a samba school. They do not offer courses or classes. Just go to a samba night at a school, watch and learn.

How can I participate?

Join in the street parties and march with the street bands. For the absolute knock-out experience parade yourself in costume in the Sambodromo

Disney World

A Disney vacation is the highlight of every child’s life and delights the child in all of us. I love Disney so much that some years my family spends two weeks at Disney World going to every park, and sometimes a trip to Disneyland too. Here you will find savings tips that will make your trip more affordable and vacation tips that will make your time more enjoyable, whether you are looking for the full Disney World resort/park experience or just a grand time at the parks.

There is so much to see and do in Orlando besides Disney too. The 4 amazing theme parks, 2 wonderful water parks, and downtown Disney will keep you in fun for a week. There are also numerous other attractions like Sea World, Universal Studios, Disney Quest, and the ESPN Disney Sports Complex.

DW Insider gives you the Disney World information resources to make your vacation an adventure of a lifetime!

Insider Tips for the Magic Kingdom at Disney World

The most magical of all places where the outside world seems to disappear, Disney's Magic Kingdom is paradise forever. This theme park is built in a wheel shape with the Cinderella Castle in the center and the 7 enchantedlands with rides and attractions laid out in spokes from the Castle.

You enter at Main Street with a view of the Castle straight ahead. Make your first stop at Disney's Magic Kingdom Guest Relations at City Hall just inside the park to pick up a 4” x 9” Times Guide & New Information card that contains weekly information for park hours, special hours, restaurants, height requirements, parade and fireworks times,show times, character greeting times, and locations for all.

Especially for small children: Disney Magic Kingdom autograph signing by the characters. I have found ones with Disney characters on the front for as little as $2.00. I can guarantee your children will want a book to have signed when they see all the other kids with them. Or if you are a scrap booker, you might want to bring colored note cards for the characters to sign—then put the autograph by the picture of your child with the character. You will find many of the characters at Mickey’s Toontown Fair during the day.

For the SpectroMagic parade and Wishes fireworks, I like to be on Main Street, but you need to get your spot at least an hour ahead of time. If other guests start to crowd into a space that you have been holding for a long time, let one of the Disney Magic Kingdom cast members know who is working crowd control; they are all trained in polite ways to ask people to find a more open spot.

France

France is the most visited country in the world. It has everything that you could ever want to see on your holidays: a great city like Paris, good beaches, more monuments than any other country, lovely nature, incredible mountain scenery; need I go on? France is also a very pleasant place to stay. It has good food, great wines and people enjoy their lives. And the best thing is, maybe apart from Paris, living in France does not have to be expensive. The North of France consists of the flatlands around the town of Lille and the English Channel. This area will remind visitors in many ways of Belgium and the Netherlands. The Grand' Place in Lille for example is a lot like the one in Brussels. Paris, the city of light and its surroundings are some of the most visited areas. Paris is without a doubt one of the most beautiful cities on the planet. With so much to see and do, renting one of the many Paris apartments is the perfect way to enjoy the city. Having the time to enjoy this fantastic location like a true Parisian is an unforgettable experience.

The West of France is facing towards the Atlantic Coast. In the north Normandy & Brittany have rolling hills, sandy beaches and quiet little harbour towns. Normandy & Brittany have a more rugged coast and many neolithic sites. It has quite a distinct atmosphere from the rest of the country; you can still sense the Celtic origin of the region in its inhabitants.

The eastern part of France consists of the Alsace, Lorraine, Franche Comté and Burgundy regions. The landscape has rolling hills and many beautiful cities, such as Metz, Strasbourg, Nancy and Dijon. This region produces many famous wines, including magnificent pinot noirs and chardonnays valued the world over, as well as the famous "Yellow wine" from the Jura mountain vineyard.

The Centre of France is in many ways the most quietest part of France. But the great treasure of this region is the Loire valley , with many great castles and beautiful towns. Chartres with its famous cathedral and Tours rates among the most beautiful French cities.

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The Alps are great for skiing in winter and hiking in summer. Albertville, Grenoble and Chamonix have all hosted the Olympic games. But the Alps also have nice towns to visit, such as Chambéry, Annecy or Grenoble .

The South with its lovely nature, good food, Roman ruins and of course the Riviera which draws a lot of visitors every year. Towns like Orange, and Arles but also big cities like Marseille and Toulon are must sees. The Provence is dotted with pleasant small villages. In the South west of France the Dordogne is one of the most quintessential French regions. The valley is so pretty, the towns are so quaint and the food is so good, that it is hard to believe that the people who live here go somewhere else for their holidays. The Languedoc has its own language and culture. In the south of the Languedoc you find the Pyrenees, a great mountain range separating France from Spain, where you can hike and ski. The towns of Toulouse and Montpellier are nice and the medieval town of Carcassone is a top destination. 

Introducing Colombia

Colombia’s back. After decades of civil conflict, Colombia is now safe to visit and travelers are discovering what they’ve been missing. The diversity of the country may astonish you. Modern cities with skyscrapers and nightclubs? Check. Gorgeous Caribbean beaches? Check. Jungle walks and Amazon safaris? Check. Colonial cities, archaeological ruins, high-mountain trekking, whalewatching, coffee plantations, scuba diving, surfing, the list goes on.

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No wonder the ‘magic realism’ style of Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez emerged from here – there is a dreamlike quality to Colombia. Here at the equator, with the sun forever overhead, the fecund earth beneath your feet, heart-stopping vistas in every direction and the warmth of the locals putting you at ease – you may find it difficult to leave.

Colombian culture, like the country’s weather, varies by altitude. The essence of Colombia resides in the mountains in the alpine cities of Bogotá, Medellín and Cali, and the smaller cities of the Zona Cafetera. This is the industrial heartland of the country. Geographical isolation has kept the accent relatively unaffected by outside influence; Spanish here is precise and easy to understand. The infrastructure in the mountain region is good, the water drinkable, the roads well maintained. In the heat of the Caribbean coast, life is slower, and the culture more laid-back. The accent is the unhurried drawl of the Caribbean basin, and the infrastructure, unfortunately, is still in need of some attention.

In darker days people used to say, ‘if only it weren’t for the violence and drugs, Colombia would be paradise.’ Well the drugs may still be here but the violence is gone, at least for now, and it is, indeed, paradise. It is an easy country to fall in love with, and many travelers do. It could well become your favorite country in South America.

Travel Alert: Travelers should exercise vigilance at all times due to the level of violent crime. Although kidnapping and homicide rates in urban areas have dropped in recent years, they remain high. 

San Diego Zoo Exhibits

Over the past decade, the San Diego Zoo has continued to transform itself, creating state-of-the art animal areas that include Polar Rim, Panda Canyon and Elephant Odyssey. Connecting these centerpieces are "trails," each with a theme. Some are wheelchair accessible and all are marked with their distance, time and level of difficulty.

The pandas are perennially popular at the San Diego Zoo. However, their exhibit is sometimes closed for the good of these shy animals. When they are on display, lines can get quite long to see them.

The observant visitor may notice that the zoo is also a botanical garden with more than 6,500 plant species, and some of its plants are more exotic than the animals. Plant-lovers can pick up special garden guides near the entrance.

The zoo sponsors a number of interesting special programs which change seasonally. Their sleepovers are especially fun and include a tent to sleep in, dinner, evening snack, and hot breakfast. 

San Diego Zoo Review

The San Diego Zoo continues to improve their facilities and visitors who went there as little as 5 years ago will find it changed significantly, all in ways we think are better. We rate it 4 stars out of 5 because we always have a good time, even if we get worn out doing it.

What Is the Information I Need to Leave When Going on Vacation Without My Children?

Ensure the safety of your children while vacationing by planning ahead and leaving specific information with those who you entrust to care for your kids. Double-check phone numbers, address information and any other facts you leave with a care provider. Give them back up phone numbers of another close family or friend, just in case they can't reach you.

Food Planner

·         Write down a daily food plan and make sure the fridge contains plenty of the foods listed. List any food allergies or restrictions, just in case the babysitter decides to take the kids out to eat one day. Write down foods to avoid such as pork or shellfish, if you and your family live a Kosher lifestyle. In addition, let the care provider know what beverages you do and don't prefer for your children.

Medication Instructions

·         Leave instructions for your children's medications such as which medication each child takes, if any. Make it clear if only one of your kids takes medication, write down specific dosage instructions and the recommended medication schedule. Stock up on over-the-counter medications and write down a list of approved OTC medicines, just in case your care provider needs to buy additional medicine that you forgot to buy.

Contact Information

·         The person watching your kids needs contact information such as your cell phone number and address of the location or different locations where you and your spouse plan on staying. In addition, give them the hotel number and contact information for other people who might travel with you. Give your babysitter phone numbers for the pediatrician, school and direct number for their school. Write down your flight information and give the care provider a copy of your travel itinerary.

Schedule

·         Give the care provider a copy of your list of daily activities. This list can include information for the places you plan to visit, such as the museum. Let the babysitter know that you may not have access to your cell phone on certain days. Write notes on the schedule and list the best times to call during each day.

Good Vacation Places East of the Mississippi in North America

 

Choosing a good vacation spot east of the Mississippi depends on your preference. Vacationers frequent New York City, Niagara Falls, Cape Cod, Cape May and Virginia Beach. The east coast contains classics like Disney World and hidden gems like the Pocono Mountains. Other good places to visit east of the Mississippi include Nashville, Acadia, Assateague Island, Washington D.C., Salem, Allegany State Park, Finger Lakes, Adirondack Park, Delaware Recreation Area and Columbus. Once you discover your definition of a good place to visit, plan your vacation east of the Mississippi.

 

Season

·         Good places to visit on the east coast depend on the season, as weather can create activities or make them unbearable. For example, bitter, engine-stopping, cold swamps Maine, the northernmost state on the east coast, in January with average high temperatures below freezing. On the southern end of the coast, Miami, Florida, has mild days with January average high temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees F. This is one of the best months to visit the Everglades National Park.

Atmosphere

·         Choosing beforehand the type of vacation can help make an average vacation a great one. Relaxing vacations occur mostly in the country. The absence of tall buildings, nightclubs and five-star restaurants might turn you off, and you might prefer to visit New York City, Miami or Washington, D.C. On the other hand, you might enjoy the fresh air and physical activities associated with places like the Pocono mountains, the Adirondacks or the beaches.

Activities

·         Consider what activities make up your dream vacation. The northern half of the east coast has activities like whale watching, dining on fresh-caught seafood, visiting mariners' museums, skiing, snowboarding, tubing, ice fishing, fresh and seawater fishing, wildlife watching and historical attractions. Some activities, like fishing, wildlife watching and historical attractions, overlap with the south, but the activities vary. Maine visitors see moose, while Florida visitors can see alligators. Southern activities include theme parks, aquariums, art museums, snorkeling, scuba driving, historical parks, wineries and islands.

Cost

·         Determine how much to spend. Cities tend to cost more than rural areas, but have attractions closer together. The cost to get to your vacation can range from the cost of a tank of gas to several hundred dollars for plane tickets.

Vacation Spots in Utah

With five national parks and easy access to several more in neighboring states, Utah is a destination for travelers who wish to get acquainted with some of the most spectacular natural wonders of the American West. Though it is known primarily as a winter getaway for skiers and snowboarders, Utah also offers a plethora of opportunities for warm weather recreation.

Salt Lake City

·         Utah's capital, Salt Lake City, is famous for its proximity to four world-class ski resorts--Alta, Brighton, Solitude and Snowbird--and for having hosted the 2002 International Winter Olympic Games. Ten national parks are within a day's drive of the city, also known as the epicenter of the Mormon community and often referred to as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or LDS.

In the city's Temple Square, you'll find 20 attractions related to the Mormon faith, including the Salt Lake Temple and the Family History Library. These make Temple Square one of the most popular tourist attractions in Utah. All major attractions in downtown Salt Lake City are accessible via its light-rail system.

St. George

·         St. George in southwest Utah is also of great importance to the Mormons, as it was founded by prophet and colonizer Brigham Young. Tourists visit St. George for its scenery and its historical significance. There are several ghost towns within driving distance of the city.

Along the Virgin River on its outskirts, you can see dinosaur footprints in the rocks. St. George is also the gateway to Utah's oldest and most popular National Park, Zion, which draws close to three million visitors every year, according to the Utah Travel Council.

Bear Lake

·         One of the northernmost vacation spots in Utah is Bear Lake, which is known as the "Caribbean of the Rockies" due to its inviting turquoise water and white beaches. The Bear Lake Valley extends into neighboring Idaho.

On the Utah side, you can enjoy downhill skiing at Beaver Mountain Ski Resort in the winter, as well as snowmobiling. Fishing is a year-round activity at Bear Lake.

Heber Valley

·         Fifty miles southeast of Salt Lake City lies Heber Valley, which encompasses the rural communities of Heber City and Midway. The valley is known as "Little Switzerland" due to its snow-capped mountains and fertile agricultural land.

Touted as a relaxing getaway spot, the Heber Valley offers a number of recreational activities, such as snowmobiling and fly fishing. Deer Creek State Park, the Strawberry Reservoir and Daniel's Canyon are all in close proximity to Heber.

Ogden

·         In the Ogden/Weber area located 50 miles north of Salt Lake City, you will find the only whitewater park in Utah, as well as more than 230 miles of mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding trails along with 38 recreational parks.

Powder Mountain in Eden, which is approximately 30 minutes away from Ogden, boasts the most adequate terrain for skiing in Utah, according to the Ogden Convention and Visitor's Bureau.