Posts Tagged ‘adventure’
My Day at Moorten’s Botanical Garden
January 16, 2012
On my last trip to Palm Springs, I took my family on a tour of the Moorten Botanical Garden. There was something of interest for everyone with plants, glistening crystals, colorful rocks, ancient fossils, pioneer and gold mine relics. It’s a 1 acre family owned botanical garden specializing in cacti and other desert plants, located in Palm Springs, Riverside County, California. It is in the Colorado Desert ecosystem.
All the Moorten family memebrs are desert plant specialists. They have turned their residence estate into a living museum of desert lore. The Moorten Gardens were established in 1939 by Patricia and Chester “Cactus Slim” Moorten. The Moorten collected many of their own specimen plants from Baja California, mainland Mexico, and as far south as Guatemala. This private arboretum was created to share with everyone the beauty and extraordinary varieties of desert plants from around the world. Featuring desert trees and cacti from miniatures to giants.
Moorten’s has a classic collection of more than 3,000 varieties of plants designed in concentrated habitats along a natural trail. Also, a special exhibition of quite rare plants. The Moorten’s Mediterranean style home, called “Cactus Castle” is in the Palm Grove Oasis, often described as haven of tranquility. The garden includes: examples of the desert cacti and other desert plants, grouped by geographic regions: Arizona-Sonoran Desert-Yuma Desert, Baja California Peninsula, California- High Desert-Mojave Desert and Low Desert-Colorado Desert-Yuha Desert, Colorado Plateau-Great Basin Desert, Sonora, Mexico-Gran Desierto de Altar, South Africa-Succulent Karoo, South America-Monte Desert-Patagonian Desert and the Texas-Chihuahuan Desert.
Their collections include: Agaves, Bombax, Cereus, Cardoon and Boojum trees, “arborescent candelabra Euphorbia”, a two-story Pachypodium, thorned Caesalpinia and Bursera and over a dozen Aloes of southern Africa and Madagascar.
Greenhouse collections include: cacti and succulents, with caudiciform species exhibiting thickened root crowns, many species of Asclepiads Azecia, Gymnocalycium, Alstromeria, Euphorbia, and Ferocactus, plus two fine examples of Welwitschia mirabilis from Namibian desert.
During the 1950′s the Moorten’s were also called upon to create a desert setting for a new amusement park in Orange County that would be known the world over as Disneyland. Chester “Cactus Slim” Moorten was also one of the original Keystone Kops. He worked in numerous silent movies. He also started mining gold in what is now Joshua Tree National Park. Moorten’s Mill site is still an attraction there.
The Moorten Botanical Garden is a perfect stop on your next Palm Springs vacation.
Learn more about what to do on your next Palm Springs vacation. Stop by Mitchell Sussman’s site where you can find out all about hotels, attractions, events, golf and restaurants for your next Palm Springs vacation.
Mesmerizing Vacation Air Tours to the Unforgettable Canyon
October 29, 2011
Get away from the Forget feeling short or waiting in line for your turn on the railing, a helicopter tour right out of Las Vegas puts you at the front of the line every time. Most helicopter tours will only seat between four and eight guests per trip which means not only a smaller tour group, but also an intimate experience with just your family or only a few additional guests.
Ditch the gas tank and hop a helicopter for an eagle eye view of one of the most majestic places in United States. Beyond the obvious benefit of not having to drive yourself to the Grand Canyon, there are many other benefits to taking an areal helicopter tour of the Canyon direct out of Las Vegas. Check it out.
Expanded views offer you an unforgettable peek at the beauty of the canyon. Forget just the red rocks of the sandy Grand Canyon. You’re also getting an overview of the Vegas Strip! See the lights, casinos, and scenery in a way most people can’t even imagine as you swoop through the developed lands and into the vast undeveloped desert in just a matter of minutes.
From there the sky is the limit, so to speak. You can add expanded tour times to the Grand Canyon Skywalk, The Colorado River, and Death Valley. Don’t get stuck in the clouds with your thought process though. Many helicopter packages aren’t limited to just the air above these great views.
Shopping around will lead to tour companies that focus on the air tour, but also include a rafting trip, bus trip, and even a limo ride to and from the air space. Leaving from the mega metropolis of Las Vegas puts a ton of luxuries and amenities within realistic reach. When it comes to creating a day trip that meets your every need, all you have to do is ask.
Check out: grand canyon helicopter tours
Road Trip A Great Time For Everyone
October 3, 2011
Going on vacations is always a nice thing to do, but for many people this is just not possible for various reasons. However, you will want to consider going on a road trip to have this get away from your home. If you are not sure why this will be a great time though you will want to take into consideration the following items.
The first thing is that you are going to have fun. Even if you are just going to the local park up the street you will realize that you can have a great time. Being able to have the fun is going to be a nice thing because then you will not have to worry about not enjoying yourself.
The second reason is by going on one you can find out something new about your area. Now you might think that you know everything about the area around your home, but you will probably find one thing that interest you and never realized that it was anywhere near your home. So you can easily gain an education about your local area just by taking one little drive.
The third reason is that you will not have to spend money for a hotel room. Now this is going to be dependent on how far you travel, but typically you will only want to take a tank of gas for the entire visit. By doing this you probably will not need to have a room to stay in overnight.
The fourth item is you can leave all the stress behind. You might not think that you can get rid of that stress, but remember that anytime you are away from your home and work that you will not be stressing about anything. So that is a huge positive because then when you return home you will be calm and relaxed!
The fifth reason is that they can allow you to take your children along. traveling with children sounds like a great idea for many people and if your children are smaller then you will want to avoid long trips. So that is what makes doing these so great if you have kids.
If you are considering going on vacation, but not sure if you can afford one you will want to remember that you can go on a road trip. Being able to go on these will provide you with a day away and the ability to educate yourself about your hometown.
Planning to go on a road trip? Check out our online overview of must-have motor vehicle accessories for the inside scoop on van accessories including 4WD snorkels .
High Marks With The Tourists In Melbourne, Australia
June 9, 2011
There are millions of ways to see the incredible capital of Melbourne and tourists all over the world will tell you testimonies of Melbourne activities that will make you wish to travel half way around the world just to take in half of what you are hearing about which is what the appeal of this city genuinely is. It is one of the true diverse towns in the world in the fact that it is both a glamorous city and an incredible tropical haven.
The experiences that you will find in Melbourne are both diverse and fabulous but with so many incredible things to do it is easy for a tourist to become overwhelmed wondering where to go and what to see. There are some things that only appeal to some of the individuals but the following are attractions that tend to appeal to a larger sect of the population that are visiting Melbourne each year.
To begin with there are many destinations throughout the city of Victoria but by far one that has been voted time and again as one of the most popular throughout Melbourne has to be the Royal Botanic Gardens located in Melbourne. In addition to the outstanding gardens of Melbourne tourists also fall in love with the fine art exhibits at the Country wide Gallery of Victoria and the cute little creatures at the Melbourne Zoo.
In addition to the several attractions in Victoria there are also a variety of tours that the guests in this vast city have a tendency to embark upon. Some of the favourite tours as voted by tourists as well as locals alike had been the Vinetrekker Private Wines Tours, the Melbourne Photo Tour, and also the Escape Discovery Experience. While these three tours seem to certainly not have a common twine besides the fact that they are the most sought after tours the general commonality seems to be they are all hands on travels where those who are around the tour are not just seeing what it being done yet having a full knowledge and perhaps this is the draw.
Fine dining plntys through the city of Melbourne, however, it is important to note that again some of the places favorite places to dine were additionally those that included some thing unique along with the dining experience such as the extraordinary ambiance of the Colonial Tramcar Cafe or the lovely Vue de Monde. It seems like for Melbourne visitors the atmosphere was as important or even more important than the actual food itself judging by these selections.
Your Melbourne experience ought to be your own but when looking at the many different attractions along with experiences that you have to pick from be sure to consider many of these locations as across the board they seem to be the real people pleasers of Melbourne. Critiques by other vacationers can help you make the absolute best decisions regarding your own holiday experience so it is a good idea to reference this information before you travel.
You may be hoping for Melbourne information when you vacation. If you search online for Discount Melbourne hotels you will find an exceptional amount of great places.
How To Travel The World On The Cheap (with Lonely Planet TV presenter Graham Hughes)
December 25, 2010
Graham Hughes, the world’s most travelled scouser, offers his expert advice on how to travel the world on a shoestring budget.
htttp://www.theodysseyexpedition.com
When asked how can I afford to travel so much, I feel like retorting with: how can you afford your rent? To keep a dog? To have children? To smoke? I have no rent to pay, no dog to feed, no kids to look after or cigarette companies to support, so 100% of the money I have can go on travel. Keeping to a budget of $15 a day is fairly easy if you’re CouchSurfing (free), eating street food ($2 a meal) and travelling on the chicken bus ($10 per 100 miles). That’s just $5500 a year — less than a typical British cigarette smoker will spend on over the same period and much, much less than the rent on a squalid little flat in London or the cost of bringing up children.
“The toughest part of travel is deciding to go.”
Travel isn’t a question of being loaded, it’s a question of priorities. Obviously if you want comfort and security, stay at home, work hard and maybe go on a cruise when you’re 67 years old. If you’re lucky enough to live that long. But if you want to see the world, rush headlong into the thrill and vigour of the unknown, wake up every day in a new place with new challenges and new friends, then the world is your dancefloor — all you have to do is make the decision to GET OUT THERE and strut your funky stuff.
To follow my Guinness World Record Breaking attempt to visit EVERY COUNTRY in the world without flying (184 countries so far) visit htttp://www.theodysseyexpedition.com
Filmed on location in Sorong, West Papua and various places on Planet Earth.
Duration : 0:9:43
Travel Answers: Cheap Travel Locations for Financially Strapped Travelers
November 28, 2010
User RyanandLinnea asked, “For the financially strapped traveler in which country can one stretch their money the furthest”.
A great question – one which doesn’t have a specific answer. The reality is that there are a wealth of budget friendly countries out there. In this video I go in greater depth on how to find them, and more importantly some of the key considerations to keep in mind while weighing your different options.
What are some of my personal favorites? Croatia, Belize, Guatemala and the Greek Island of Crete (in the winter).
I’ve heard amazing things about Peru, Argentina, Thailand, Indonesia, China and Turkey!
I mentioned the Big Mac Index by the Economist (Whoops I said Business Week in the video). You can view it here:
http://www.economist.com/markets/bigmac/
I also mention GDP lists:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28nominal%29
Another great resource is the CIA World Fact Book:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
Have one I missed? Let me know and I’ll add it!
Duration : 0:6:32
MUNI 33: San Francisco Travel Video Guide and Cheap Adventure
October 28, 2010
**SF Weekly’s Best of SF 2009 voted the Stanyan 33 as the Most Scenic MUNI line…after I made this film!**
*SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE travel VIDEOS*
I, Nick Vivion, pledge to show you a side of San Francisco that often goes neglected. A side of the city most often seen only by locals, as seen through the window of a MUNI bus.
Duration : 0:2:0
Los Cabos, Mexico: A Travel Guide
September 17, 2010
http://StrayCompass.com – for more great travel videos and articles.
James Knott explores the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula. Los Cabos is made up of three distinct regions – Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo and the Corridor. Discover what’s good and what’s not about visiting the hot vacation destination.
Duration : 0:8:58
Celebrity Cruises – Elegant nights and days of discovery
August 29, 2010
Every Celebrity cruise is meticulously put together, just for you. And the evenings are no exception when you’ll find the ambience on our ships becomes even more special. For your dining, Master Chef Michel Roux and Celebrity have worked together to bring you cuisine that’s won us accolade after accolade. Then there’s entertainment that includes the latest in glamorous West End style shows, a new and exclusive performance by Cirque du Soleil® , live music and dancing. Throughout your ship, you’ll find intimate and elegant cocktail bars and lounges to relax in – places like Michael’s Club, a sophisticated piano bar, or the Martini Bar. And every sunrise begins yet another day of discovery with a wide variety of activities, many designed to complement and enhance the places you’ll be visiting
or 2007-2008 Celebrity Cruises has increased its European destinations significantly, allowing you to experience an even broader range of cultural and exotic European destinations in the style and comfort of a Celebrity Cruise.Itinerary highlights include: Sailing on Constellation –12 night Transatlantic sailing calling at Cornwall and Dover and a 14 night Scandinavia and Russia cruise calling at the ancient walled town of Visby in Sweden. Sailing on Galaxy –Two exotic 14 night Mediterranean and Black Sea cruises, offering Celebrity ‘s first cruise through the beautiful Bosporus Strait, which forms the boundary between the European and Asian ports of Turkey and a 14 night cruise calling at Limassol in Cyprus and the historic Alexandria in Egypt. Sailings on Millennium –12 night sailings from Barcelona to Venice calling for the first time at Morrocan ports Tangier and Casablanca. Sailings on Century –From Amsterdam, the first 9 night cruise sailing around Scotland and Ireland. Ports of call include Edinburgh, Inverness/Loch Ness and Kirkwall.
Duration : 0:4:49
Egypt Tours Coach Holidays Vacations Travel Nile Cruises
May 9, 2010
A stunning video of escorted tours in Egypt and Nile cruises, by Trafalgar Tours, including Cairo, Luxor, The Great Pyramids Of Giza, Valley Of The Kings and more. Sit back, relax, and have every detail attended to.
Trafalgar Tours offer escorted tours of Egypt, Nile cruises, Egyptian coach holidays, Egypt coach travel, coach vacations of Egypt and coach touring across Egypt and bus tours. Fascinating destinations on our Egypt tours include:
Cairo
Luxor
Karnak
Edfu
Kom-Ombo
Aswan
Memphis
Sakkara
Dendera
Giza
Alexandria
On our Egypt tours and Nile cruises you will also see the breathtaking sights including:
The Great Pyramids Of Giza
The Nile River
Temple Of Luxor
Temple of Amun
Avenue Of The Sphinx
Temples Of Karnak
Valley Of The Kings
Temple Of Medinet Habou
Deir el-Bahri
Aswan Dam
Temple Of Isis
Sun Temple Of Abu Simbel
Cairo’s Egyptian Museum (home of King Tutankhamun’s treasures)
The Sphinx
Colossus of Ramses II
The Step Pyramid
Ships on our Nile cruises include:
MS Giselle
MS Sapphire
MS Miriam
MS Medea
Trafalgar Tours TrafalgarTours Tour Holidays travel Vacation Touring Escorted Coach Trips Breaks
Visit Trafalgar Tours at:
http://www.trafalgar.com
Visit our video-channel at:
http://www.YouTube.com/TrafalgarWeb
Duration : 0:1:43
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