Tips Guides

Traveling with your kids can be a cherished experience or a horrifying nightmare. Children must always be entertained; you cannot expect them to remain quiet at all times without planning and having something resourceful to keep their minds occupied. The minds of children need to be nurtured and molded.

Always remember to bring the bare essentials when traveling. You will encounter a plethora of public restrooms that may not live up to your hygiene requirements while on the road or in the air. There is nothing like the feeling of using a public restroom and thinking of picking up a million germs upon exiting; or even settling down at a restaurant table that does not appear to be as clean as it should.

1. Portable hand sanitizers are a definite godsend! Children sometimes forget to wash their hands, especially if they are really hungry and ready for that quick snack. Packing sanitizer will eliminate a few of your worries for that eight hour drive or sixteen hour flight.

2. Baby Wipes are another blessing to the family of travelers. Be sure to bring regular and antibacterial baby wipes. Upon entering a restaurant; you may find the table may not be as clean as you would like it to be. Time to break out the hand sanitizer and baby wipes and thoroughly clean; so you can obtain some peace of mind while eating a family meal on the road. Baby wipes are great for cleaning hands, toilet seats, bathroom faucets and hand dryers, any place you know that harbor deadly germs and viruses.

3. If you are flying to your destination; be sure to choose an airline that has a children’s menu. Children will love the fact that they are able to eat their favorite foods such as pizza, chicken tenders, macaroni and cheese and Chef Boyardee ravioli or lasagna! They even include stickers and coloring books to keep your child’s mind occupied; making their traveling experience even more enjoyable.

4. Bringing your child’s favorite toys along is a most valuable asset you can possibly think of when traveling. Be sure to pack items that will hold your child’s attention such as portable art supply kits with paper, crayons, colored pencils or magic markers. Experiment with brand new toys in case they happen to become bored with the current toys they have at home. This little trick will surprise and charm them; adding many more hours of capturing and holding their attention.

5. In our wonderful age of technology, we are indeed blessed with mp3 players; Nintendo Gameboys and portable Playstations. It is wise to bring a few of their games and a possibly add a few new ones to occupy them while on the plane or in the car on that long road trip. Mp3 players hold a plethora of different tunes to occupy and break up the monotony of traveling.

6. If you have planned a road trip; it is a wise choice indeed to make a few enjoyable pit stops along the way. This allows the whole family to get out and stretch their legs for a bit; plus enjoying a new and exciting sight or activity. You may know of a nice antique store or even a children’s restaurant such as Chuck E Cheese; be sure to thoroughly plan and work it into your schedule; you may find you will spend a few hours in this place.

7. Perhaps you have a long plane trip have a young infant or toddler; definitely bring a car seat; as the airlines do not supply them. You will find your trip overwhelming and tiring if you have to travel for two to sixteen hours holding an infant or toddler with little or no sleep. Also, think of the safety factor involved. Unfortunately current U.S. laws do not require children in airplanes to be placed in car seats. You do not travel in a car while holding your infant or toddler, so why would you do this on a plane?

8. Once you have landed; jetlag will most definitely set in; which is twice as bad for children as it is for adults. Be sure to supply your children with plenty of bottled water and fruit juices. Everyone may possibly be ready for a small meal and a nap. Once everyone has taken their time and rested up; it is now time to venture out and enjoy the sights.

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Retirement is something that comes around once in a lifetime and you should definitely enjoy it. The best way to say adios to your career is to put on the celebration of a lifetime and what better way to do this than hold your retirement party on a chartered cruise?

Chartered cruises are usually far more affordable than most people think and they provide the ability to enjoy amazing scenery and luxury settings while celebrating. It’s a good idea to check with various chartered cruise companies in your area to find the best one, with a price you can afford and a boat of the appropriate size for your guests.

Bring on the Food

The retirement dinner is a definite must-have. Some cruises include a meal, but for true luxury, you’ll want to bring your own chef or caterer aboard and hand-pick the menu. Seafood is always a good option for a chartered cruise and is appropriately elegant for your retirement send off.

Find chefs by looking at the different caterers available in your area. Most of them will be more than willing to cook aboard, they will just need time to load their ingredients and equipment on the boat before your guests arrive. Make sure you schedule everything so that the catering crew and anyone else, including servers, can board early enough that they won’t be loading stuff on the boat as your guests are arriving.

You will want to make sure that there is adequate space for dining on your chartered cruise. Depending on the cruise ship, there could be anything from a cozy dining room to a proper banquet hall. Choose the chartered cruise option that fits the number of people you will be inviting. There’s no point in trying to cram 100 guests onto a cruise meant for 50. Most cruise lines will also limit the number of guests according to the size of the vessel.

Decoration of the Chartered Cruise

What would a retirement party be without a few decorations? There’s no need to be cheesy, with paper signs and such. You can request silver and gold streamers, decorated tables, etc. to suit the theme and still be elegant. It’s often nice to include a little favor for each guest at their place on the table.
Find out ahead of time if decorating is included and if you will need to bring your own table linens etc. Most cruise lines will have their own table settings, but if you aren’t happy with them, you should be able to rent something more appropriate, or speak to the caterer about the possibility of having the tables done to your specifications.

Choosing the Chartered Cruise

Not all cruises are the same. There are a variety of sizes available, from intimate dinners for a dozen all the way up to ships that can accommodate hundreds of guests. It’s completely up to you as to how many people you want.

Some cruise lines require that you use their particular caterer. While this is often fine, it could mean extra cost to you, so make sure you double check prices and find out if there is an option to bring in your own caterer and serving staff, which could save you money in the long run.

A retirement dinner aboard a chartered cruise is the perfect way to say goodbye to a lifetime of loyal work. It can be a lot of fun to kick off your retirement with a party on a boat and is a good sign of the fun times yet to come.

A chartered yacht makes an excellent venue for any special occassion or event, including themed cruises. When looking for a Toronto cruise, consider Klancy’s Charters.

Hotel rooms are all well and good, but are they fun? Not really. How about vacationing in a tree house, underwater or perhaps in a giant shoe? Here are some of the unusual accommodation choices available:

High Above
Who says tree houses are just for kids? Adults can get their tree house fix at resorts such as Secrets on the Lake in Queensland, Australia, where the tree houses are built far enough apart that you have total privacy, and come with such amenities as private balconies, huge showers, fireplaces and sunken spa tubs overlooking the lake. Closer to home (if you’re in the US), The Winivian resort in Connecticut offers a whimsically decorated (but very comfortable) tree house with a full bar.

For something a bit more sparse, head to Vasteras in Sweden, where local artist Mikael Genberg has created “The Woodpecker”, a traditional Swedish red cottage 42 feet above ground, right smack in the city center. You climb up a rope ladder to the tiny, IKEA-furnished cabin, which in spite of its small size, has a bed, table and chairs, a balcony, and thank goodness, a toilet. And if you book the De Luxe package, you will get breakfast and dinner delivered.

Down Below
How about letting the fishes watch you for a change? At Jules’ Undersea Lodge in Key Largo, FL, you can spend the night in their 2-bedroom, underwater research lab located in a mangrove lagoon. And it’s not all stainless steel counters and test tubes - it has air conditioning, hot showers and a fully stocked kitchen. The only downside (to some of us anyway) is that you have to scuba dive your way down there, so if that’s something you can’t picture doing, this is not for you. If you do want to visit but are not a certified diver, you can take Jules’ 3-hour non-certification course for those who just want to spend the night.

If diving to your bedroom is the last thing you want to do, but still want to give sleeping underwater a try, book a ticket to Vasteras in Sweden, where Mikael Genberg has once again created an unusual abode (his latest project is building a little red cottage on the moon). The Utter Inn, an over/underwater two-story house in Lake Malaren looks like a classic Swedish red cottage with a wraparound deck floating on the lake, but inside, the bedroom is one flight down, 9.8 feet below the surface. The upstairs has a bathroom and small kitchen, but if you’d rather take in the scenery than cook, no worries. Once again, the De Luxe package will provide you with breakfast and dinner (delivered by boat).

What About That Boot?
When Judy and Steve Richards built their two-story cottage in the shape of a giant boot, there was more than one pair of raised eyebrows in Tasman, New Zealand. But the boot, located between the Able Tasman and Kahurangi National Parks has proven incredibly popular. And no wonder: intended for couples, it’s adorable, romantic, warm and cozy (there are fireplaces both indoors and out as well as sub-floor heating) and fully equipped (except for a kitchen - building codes prohibit that - but an organic breakfast is delivered to your door daily, as is dinner, upon request).

Cattie writes about private holiday homes and the many different options available.

Craps is the roller coaster of casino games. When a shooter is riding a hot streak it can be the fastest and most exciting place to be in the house. This is understandable since craps is also one of the most favorable games to the player, if played correctly. No casino game is truly mathematically favorable to the player, since the house must have an edge to ensure profits. But craps at 1.4% with proper play is about as small a house edge as you can get.

The soon-to-be discussed craps tips will show the player how to maintain that small edge and even how to reduce that edge. Beating the game is not impossible. Beating the game, even with solid craps tips, can still be difficult because the house is relentless and must win in the long run. So one very important tip for the player is to not play for the long run. He must have enough self-control and a feel for the game, such that he rides and presses during a hot streak and backs off when the dice get cold.

There are four basic bets in craps that will provide the player the very best shot at beating the game. The player should restrict his play to these bets, plus a few other side bets that will be provided as craps tips later on. The four basic bets are Pass, Don’t Pass, Come, and Don’t Come. Pass and Come players are betting with the shooter, which is often called the “right” way. Don’t Pass and Don’t Come players are said to be betting the “wrong” way.

Betting wrong actually reduces the house edge, but not enough to justify the social advantage of betting “right”. If you decide to bet Don’t Come or Don’t Pass, one important craps tip is to leave your bet down after the first roll, even though you have the option of picking it up. The odds are in favor of letting the bet stay down.

Another terrific craps tip, one that will enhance your chances greatly, for beating the game is to utilize those bets called “free” bets, “odds” bets or “behind the line” bets. These bets can actually reduce the house edge to less than 1%. Here’s how they work. Let’s say you’ve bet $10 on the Pass Line and the shooter’s point is 4. You can bet an additional $10 on the 4 as a “behind the line” bet. If the shooter makes his point, you will be paid even money on the Pass Line bet plus the true odds of 2-1 for the “behind the line” bet on the 4. True odds for points are as follows: 4,10 - 2/1, 5,9 - 3/2, 6,8 - 6/5.

To take advantage of these bets, your betting unit should be in multiples of 10. These bets can also be made as part of your Don’t Pass or Don’t Come strategy.

Finally, another craps tip is to make place bets on the 6 or the 8. These bets have a house edge of about 1.5% and pay off at 7/6. None of the other Place bets should be played. Nor should any other bet on the board be played. The odds against you for anything else, Big 6, Big 8 or any bet in the center prop box is increasing the house edge in great multiples over the basic bets that the player should be concentrating on.

If beating the game is your goal, stick to the craps tips described here. Further, to minimize the risk of being victimized by the “long run”, press your play when hot or when the shooter is hot, and back off when things get cold. The latter tip is the toughest one to follow and will make or break you as a player.

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Old Town Discovery Canoes have created a name for themselves over the years as a sturdy dependable canoe. This article will take a closer look at the Discovery line to weigh the positives and negatives of the canoe type, as well as how it compares to other canoes like the Mad River Explorer and the Coleman Journey Canoe. If you have never heard of the Old Town Discovery line of canoes, please read ahead to get great idea of their history and features.

To start with, Old Town Canoes are some of the most respected canoes on the water. They are a member of the Johnson Outdoor Family of Brands, which has been named one of the best places to work by Outside magazine. By combining a great work atmosphere with a passion for canoeing, Old Town Canoe has consistently been able to produce world-class canoe models.

The company itself has been around for over 100 years and produced more than a million canoes and kayaks. Their combination of history and with modern technology means that they can be on the cutting edge of technology while keeping the true and tested forms of the past. From the original wood and canvas canoe to the new Cross link 3 body, Old Town canoes have revolutionized watercraft.

The Old Town Discovery hull material and design are what really sets it apart. Cross link 3 is the patented hull technology that combines two layers of polyethylene with a thick layer of foam that is sandwiched in between. This combination creates a material that is equal to the more standard royalex, but with additional benefits.

Old Town’s Discovery series hull material has all the floatation and lightness of the more traditional royalex hull material, but is much stronger and better resistant to abrasion. Both product types are made buoyant by their foam cores. The foam also allows them to be much lighter than a solid material core.

The difference is in the stiffness of the Discovery canoe foam core. This allows the canoe to be much lighter because no keel, supports, or ribs are necessary in the canoe framework. The space that would normally be used for this reinforcement is now available as storage space.

Unfortunately, there is no one canoe type that will work for all canoeing situations. The Old Town Discovery canoe is not designed as a small sporty canoe. Its size and weight, while perfect for multiple people and storage, might be too much for an individual canoer, so may not be for everyone.

The Mad River Explorer canoe and the Coleman Journey Canoe are two other brands that you will want to investigate before making your final purchase. The Mad River Explorer is a durable, well-suited to moving water and rugged conditions. The high-volume, shallow hull makes it stable, secure, and spacious. The moderate rocker gives it good maneuverability and the hull design also offers good flatwater performance.

The Coleman Journey canoe is both versatile and lightweight. It has exceptional stability and tracking performance, which is ideal for a quiet day on the water. The hull is built with the light and impact resistant ram-x hull material.

As you can see the Old Town Discovery Canoe series, Mad River Explorer, and Coleman Journey canoe are worth taking a close look at if you are considering the purchase of a canoe in the near future. Thanks for joining us in our examination of these canoes.

James provides information about Old Town Discovery Canoes through his website on used canoes for sale.

At 27 years old, Spanish race car driver Fernando Alonso captured the first race in the inaugural Formula One Singapore Grand Prix - this was Alonso’s first win of the current season and his 50th overall since he started racing professionally.

Sunday’s race was a thrilling affair, although reports are coming out that President of Ferrari Luca di Montezemolo is none too pleased with the event. Quotes published online have di Montezemolo criticizing the racecourse as being unsuitable for a Formula One event. He said that the track used for the first night event was better suited “for a circus.” Whether this had any bearing on the outcome of the race is anybody’s guess.

Ten teams with a combined total of 20 drivers took to the circuit to compete in the event. In the beginning of the race, winner Alonso’s teammate, Brazilian driver Nelson Piquet, Jr. was the first casualty. Was it not for this mishap, the Italian team would no doubt have captured a one-two finish. However, Piquet’s crash resulted in the safety car being brought out. This resulted in some confusion. It caused Ferrari’s Italian team of Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen to end up at the back of field. Piquet was followed by Robert Kubica (BMW-Sauber) and Nico Rosberg (Williams-Toyota), who ended up in the pit. However, this did not prevent Nico Rosberg from maintaining his second place position throughout the race.

The top eight drivers for the event were:

o Fernando Alonso (Renault)

o Nico Rosberg (Williams-Toyota)

o Lewis Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes)

o Timo Glock (Toyota)

o Sebastian Vettel (STR-Ferrari)

o Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber)

o David Coulthard (Red Bull Renault)

o Kazuki Nakajima (Williams Toyota)

Alonso’s winning time was 1:57:16.304. This was Alonso’s first win since last year’s Italian Grand Prix held September 7 to 9, 2007 at the Autodromo Nationale Monza, Italy. His win was not expected: “After qualifying, our homes were gone already. It was nearly over, but it shows that Formula One is unpredictable on Sunday.”

The 2008 Formula One SingTel Singapore Grand Prix is the first Formula One race where artificial lighting was used. The lights, 1,500 lighting projectors, were positioned so that the beams took on the shape of the track.

The event also happened to be the 15th round of the FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) Formula One World Championship races. The event was held September 26 to 28 in Marina Bay, Singapore. The Singapore Grand Prix was formerly billed in the 1960s and 1970s as a Formula Libre event. In many ways this was an historic event as the first Formula One race to be held at night.

His team may not have won the Singapore Grand Prix, but McLaren-Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton is full of confidence. With three major Grand Prix races left to compete in for the year and points to spare, he and his team have reason to be hopeful. (They came away with six points in Singapore.)

The three big events left on the calendar are the Japan Grand Prix to be held from October 10 to 12, The China Grand prix scheduled for October 17 to 19 and Brazil’s event to be held from October 31 to November 2.

In fact, even though settling for third place at the Singapore Grand Prix, Hamilton’s team may have put themselves in the position of finishing the season on top, having extended his team’s Championship lead. Hamilton reportedly said of the Singapore’s showing, “We only finished third, but we couldn’t really have asked for more from the result - all I can do now is take one race at a time, while keeping one eye on the final result at the end of the year.”

The classic street race for Grand Prix is Monaco, and information on how to get tickets for the Monaco F1 can be found at yourmonaco.com plus accommodation in Monte Carlo hotels

Monaco property for sale is also on-line.