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Alaskan and Caribbean cruise rates are at a great value this year. The fares include accommodation, meals and on board activities and entertainment, you might have a little left in your pocket.
Those who have never been on a cruise might want to know what activities are available onboard. Many of the activities are free, such as using the pool, visiting the library, game room, or catching live entertainment, such as reggae bands to comedians and magicians. There are also a number of children’s programs that cater to different age groups. Many cruises leave a daily planner, or compass, that can help you map out your day’s activities. Activities vary by ship and cruise line, but you can generally see the following activities:
Many onboard parties are held, which include a Captain’s Welcome party, a Sail Away party, mix and mingles, theme parties, and more. There are also games like scavenger hunts, karaoke nights, and talent and game shows. You can also participant in tournaments of mini-golf, basketball, and even ping-pong.
Some ships have very creative free entertainment. The Princess Cruise Line ships, for example, offer Movies Under the Stars, with a 300 sq. foot screen set up around the pool. During the day, family movies and videos are shown, while at night, the cruise provides blankets and popcorn for you to enjoy. Newer Carnival ships and MSC ships also have these outdoor screens as well.
The Celebrity Solstice features glassblowers from New York’s Corning Museum of Glass giving free glass blowing lessons during their “Hot Glass Show.” On deck with this show is the “Lawn Club” with real grass that you can play bocce, croquet, and putt golf balls for free. The coming Eclipse (2009) and Equinox (2010) will offer the same activities as well.
Those who like to eat will definitely like the Culinary Arts Presentations Center that Holland America has. These cruises feature on-deck chefs offering food demonstrations, and throughout the year, famous guest chefs are featured. These demonstrations occur twice during a normal 7 day cruise, and when it’s done, audience members can sample some of the food cooked. Many other cruise lines offer cooking demonstrations, as well as ice carving and napkin folding among other things.
Royal Caribbean offers rock climbing on many of their ships, and the new ships have free ice-skating shows. Freedom Class ships have the Flow Rider, a surfing simulator that attracts many participants. The wavelike surface of the Flow Rider is perfect for surfers of all levels, and those who just want to watch can take a seat in the surrounding stadium. The Oasis of the Seas, the largest ship in the world, will be offering a Boardwalk and Central Park area with activities for everyone.
You will never run out of things to do on a cruise. Contact one of our agents to help you find the best value for your next vacation.

Uncategorized Cruise line

Don’t let the rain mislead you, Seattle, Washington has a ton of great attractions, activities and events. Since this city rains more than most others, you should visit during the summer to get the most out of this great city. No matter what season you visit, you’ll always find something to do. The best part about Seattle is that many of its sites can be access by foot, especially if you’re staying in a downtown hotel. Before making plans, get a map to ensure you don’t miss anything while in Seattle.
1. Seattle Center / Space Needle – The Space Needle was constructed for the 1962 World Fair. Grab a bite to eat and head to the Space Needle to get a bird’s eye view of the city. The Seattle Center that surrounds the Space Needle is a fairground complete with concession stands and rides. It is also home to Paul Allen’s Experience Music Project. During the summer months, the Seattle Center hosts many outdoor events, so plan a day or two to see it all.
2. Pike Place – Pike Place Market is full of fish, restaurants and street entertainers. Almost 100 years old, it is a collection of small venders selling anything fresh you can think of, such as fish, fruit and produce. This is definitely one place you need to visit during your stay.
3. Ballard locks – The Hiram Chittenden Locks, called “Ballard Locks” by the locals, helps ships pass from Puget Sound to Lake Washington by raising and lowering the water levels. While here, you can visit the viewing room and look at the fish ladder. This shows salmon swimming upstream into Lake Washington. Because this place is beautiful and clean, you can just simply just eat here or watch the boats go by.
4. Seattle Pacific Science Center – Just south of the Seattle Center is the Pacific Science Center. You won’t run out of things to do, from watching movies in an IMAX Theater, to a butterfly house and a planetarium. Be sure to check out any exhibits that may occur during your vacation, as it has hosted some very interesting ones in the past, such as the Titanic’s Artifact exhibit. This is a must-see for vacationers with children.
5. Safeco Field / Quest Field – The Kingdome was demolished to make was for Safeco Field, home to the Seattle Mariners and Quest Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks. These stadiums have great features with wonderful views of the fields. Also it has great food, and more than just the average hotdog and chili fries found at most stadiums.
6. Pioneer Square – Pioneer Square is a neighborhood that’s over 100 years old. While it still has historical significance, it is now the center of the city’s nightlife, with tons of nightclubs, restaurants and art galleries surrounding here. Pack comfortable shoes as everything is within walking distance.
7. Boeing Tours – 30 miles north of Seattle is Boeing’s Everett plant, the largest free standing building in the world. This plant offers daily tours that allow you to look at some of the largest aircraft ever built. Be sure to check tour times as well as the age and height requirements for children. If interested in more airplane information, check out the Museum of Flight south of Seattle.
8. Seattle Aquarium – Located on Pier 59 is the Seattle Aquarium, where adults and children can be fascinated by the sea and plant life on exhibit here. Once you’re done, be sure to visit one of the many amazing seafood restaurants in the Seattle Area.
9. Washington Ferries – These ferries are perhaps a staple of the Pacific Northwest. Once on board, you’ll be having a truly authentic Seattle experience, complete with seagulls and other wildlife. Also a ferry ride might actually be in your vacation plans, as some places as easier to access through the. Ferry rides are schedule often, especially in the downtown area.
10. Bill Gates Residence – While Bill Gates doesn’t offer tours of his home, you know you’re just a little curious about how he lives. You can drive by his home. If you’re lost, ask any resident of Medina, Washington for directions to his house.

Cities Seattle Center, Seattle Mariners

Vacation is here, and we all have our plans. It’s important to take a break from our jobs and responsibilities to rejuvenate our body and spirit. From planning a road trip to exotic vacations, vacations are a great way to maintain balance. Here are a few tips to enjoy yours:
1. Relax. Don’t take any work with you while you’re on vacation, it can wait. Instead, use your vacation to rest your mind from the stresses and pressures of office life. This is the time to enjoy your family and friends.
2. Read a book. Take along a book with a genre you normally don’t read. Allow yourself to escape from a book instead of worrying about what you need to improve, change or develop.
3. Leave Your Blackberry at home. Your Blackberry is a connection to your office and work life. Leaving it at home seems like a large task, but it’s only a week, and you may find yourself breaking your addiction to this device.
4. Take a tour of the city. While you’re in the city, take a leisurely stroll or drive to enjoy the sights and scenery. You can also take a coach tour of the surrounding area, and visit museums, zoos, aquariums and historical sites. Don’t forget the camera.
5. Listen to relaxing music. Fill your MP3 with relaxing music that you can fall asleep to, which is an especially good idea if you’re taking a long road trip. Research does suggest that relaxing music reduces activity in the central nervous system, thereby decreasing stress.
6. Walk. Even if you aren’t exercising on a treadmill, be sure to walk. It’s something you can do everywhere, from the beach to roaming the streets to visiting street vendors. After all, you might see something you could easily miss by car.
7. Get some sun. Whether you’re on the beach or a pool, or lounging on your balcony, take time to soak in some sun. Not only will you feel the soothing heat, but you’ll also be getting a bunch of vitamin D.
8. Buy souvenirs. While shopping for friends and family, don’t forget to grab a few mementos for yourself. These souvenirs can be anything from native art and jewelry to dolls and sharks teeth.
9. Take in a show. You may want to consider a night out while on vacation, so be sure to pick up a local magazine at your hotel and look at available shows.
10. Try something new. While on vacation, it’s a good idea to try any local customs. This could be anything from dancing to trying new foods. You could even learn something new, like horseback riding or snorkeling. Look around your destination and keep your eyes open for an adventure.
Your vacation will be fun, especially with these helpful hints and suggestions. Don’t forget to relax and enjoy this wonderful break.

Travel Travel

Before putting your home on sale, there are a few tasks that need to be taken care of to make this venture successful. Since the real estate market is down, you should think of ways to make your house as appealing as possible to sell it quickly and still get the price you want.
The first step is finding a realtor. A good realtor will know what needs to be done to attract homebuyers while and acquire a good price. He or she will probably suggest making repairs, staging your home, as well as making a plan to keep it clean at all times. While working with your realtor, be sure to look around at prices that homes in your area are selling for. Doing this will help you pick an appropriate price for your home.
The tasks your realtor may ask you to do vary. For example, making the necessary repairs for your home could include repairing the roof to changing the door hinges. How appealing your house is will encourage potential buyers to look beyond the numbers when considering your home. The exterior of your house should be well kept, this is the first thing that people see, and the first impression they get. To ensure their first impression is great, be sure to keep the grass cut and remove any weeds.
Staging your home means making the interior and living spaces more attractive. Your walls should be painted a neutral color as bright colors may deter any potential buyers from liking the house. Also, neutral colors will help visitors imagine this house as their living space. Try to keep the house clean as much as possible. This may mean putting in a cleaning schedule or hiring a housekeeper.
The current real estate market is very competitive, so you and your house need to be in top shape in order to sell. You can sell your home for a great price in this market; just make sure you play your cards right by making your house as appealing as possible.

Real estate Real estate

So, I went on vacation this past week. It’s the first full week of vacation I’ve had (taken) since the leave I took for the birth of my son almost 2 1/2 years ago. I think that’s a pretty good stretch.

I enjoyed my time away from the office and took the opportunity to recharge my batteries. Once I had “reset,” I tried to think about what I could do to improve certain things in my life, including this blog.

To be frank, my drive to maintain this has been flaggin as of late, and I have a hard time figuring out why. It’s not the act of writing the posts – I enjoy writing immensely (and the feedback I’ve received is that you enjoy reading it, so at least we’re enjoying ourselves).

No, I think I’m having trouble getting this to find some aim or focus. For while, I spent time trying to talk about tech, Apples and those things that pertained to running my practice, but as I figured out what solutions to implement, I lost the need to write about it. I’m finding that I don’t enjoy this outlet as a form of diary for my practice and it’s practices. And, more importantly, the reason I think I don’t enjoy this blog as a diary is because it means that it’s about me – something that I truly dislike about blogs about people and their lives. (Stay with me as I put this down in writing and think through more clearly in print than I did in my ride back from upstate NY.)

I want this outlet to be about helping, informing, amusing other people. Generally, I gain more satisfaction when I attend to things that are other-centered. And, I’ve deliberately stopped from commenting critically on things because I wanted to keep the spirit of this blog positive. Well, unfortunately, that set-up means one post every week or so, which doesn’t help either of us.

So, an experiment.

Let me know what you think – as always, comments are welcome and encouraged.

Uncategorized On the Web, Upstate New York

A relaxing Hawaiian vacation does not start until visitors step foot on one of the state’s islands. This is because traveling to the Hawaiian islands is an unavoidable worry that can sometimes be the most stressful part of the trip for people trying to reach their Hawaii vacation rental. Most of Hawaii’s major islands receive major commercial service from the mainland U.S. Honolulu International Airport on Oahu and Kahului International Airport on Maui receive multiple daily frequencies from Los Angeles and San Fransisco amongst a number of other airline hubs on the U.S. mainland, including Las Vegas, Phoenix, Denver, Seattle, Dallas/Fort Worth, Atlanta, and Newark. Lihue Airport on Kauai and Kona’s Keahole International Airport on the Big Island also receive regular service to major hubs on the mainland.

International travelers also have many options to flying into Hawaii. Visitors to the Big Island from Japan can take advantage of Japan Airlines’ non-stop flight from Tokyo to Kona while all other international visitors must first arrive into Honolulu or connect via a point on the U.S. mainland. International service into Honolulu is operated from Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Seoul, Sydney, Auckland, Tahiti, Pago Pago, and Vancouver on a number of quality international airlines. Hawaiian Airlines, based in Honolulu, also operates over 180 flights a day to and from Hawaii as well as within the islands.

Uncategorized Hawaii, Hawaiian Airlines, Hawaiian Islands, Japan Airlines, Oahu, Pago Pago, Tokyo, United States