Located twenty minutes west of San Jose, the White Cloud
Sanctuary is a personal retreat high atop the mountains overlooking the town of
Santa Ana. There, you can partake of the quiet and solitude to practice
meditation techniques and learn Qigong and Tai Chi from sanctuary teachers. A
cottage at the top of the mountain accommodates a single person in modern
comfort (including a laptop connection) while giving you a view over the
surrounding natural terrain which includes bamboo forests, fruit trees, the Rio
Oro River, and an organic garden. You have the option of following a schedule
comprised of deep meditation and training, or you may rent the casita to relax
in the solitude and forego any lessons. Optionally you may book lessons on an
individual basis. Residency programs are also available for those who would
like to become involved with the running of the sanctuary, including caring for
the multitude of animals on the property.
The West Highland Way is the oldest and one
of the most popular hiking trails in Scotland. It stretches 152
kilometres (95 miles), from Milngavie to Fort William,
and is commonly divided into seven stages. The route takes you through the
sloping Lowlands, into forests and moors, passed lochs and eventually into the Highlands. The start is fairly easy, but later stages
require quite a bit of stamina.
Being a well established and popular route
has its advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, it is clearly marked with signs and there are sufficient facilities along the way. For those who don't fancy
dragging their backpacks with them, there is even a baggage transfer service
where your bags are transported between certain fixed locations along the route
(mostly hostels) and you can pick them up when you get there. For those wanting
to do it the hard way, it's good to know that wild camping is legal under the
'Outdoor Access Code', as long as you leave the places you camp in the same
condition you found them.
On the negative side, especially in the
summer months certain stretches can become quite crowded with holiday vacationers,
somewhat hampering the experience of the wild outdoors.
At West Edmonton Mall in Canada, participants have the chance to interact with one of three sea lions that were delivered to the mall from Scotland in 2004. The sea lions usually are at play in the mall's Marine Life pool at Sea Lion Rock where they perform daily shows, but you can book time with one of the creatures under the guidance of a trainer. With the trainer's help you will learn about the California sea lion and how to play games with it. Once geared up in a wetsuit and life jacket you can then join the sea lion in the water and have it tow you around the pool. Children as young as 14 years of age may participate.
For divers willing to brave the long and often rough ride
out to the Lighthouse Reef Atoll, a striking reward awaits. Blue holes are
vertical limestone caves created from erosion and weather changes during the
Ice Age. When the oceans rose, these caves were then submerged, creating watery
sinkholes. The Great Blue Hole off the coast of Belize near Ambergris Caye is
the largest in the world at nearly 1,000 feet across and 480 feet deep. The
depth causes the water in the hole to look darker than the surrounding
shallower water, resulting in its dramatic appearance. The deep, still waters
hold limited sea life past a certain depth, although sharks make an occasional
appearance. There, past 100 feet, the typical formations of a cave --
stalactites and stalagmites -- form a strange and beautiful landscape. The
experience of diving the hole becomes similar to that of diving a horizontal
cave system.
The Moscow
subway system is much more than a means to get around the city. Built to
impress and also educate its users, many of its stations feature mosaics and
paintings depicting scenes from Russia's
history to inspire the socialist spirit. The stations were designed by multiple
architects between the 1930s and 1950s and styles range from Neo Classical to
Art Nouveau. From the marble floors to the chandeliers, every inch is used to
reflect the grandeur of the former Soviet Union.
You'll find yourself easily lost, looking up at the ceilings and around at the
sculptures, rather than where you're suppose to be going. But in this subway
system it's no trouble spending a few hours simply exploring before you go on
your journey. It has more the feel of a presidential palace than a humble
transport system and all for the price of a single subway ticket.
If you and your children have grown bored with the standard theme
parks offering roller coasters and over-priced food, and if you'd like to explore a
unique park that's also educational, a visit to a dinosaur park may be in order.
Dinosaur Land was opened in the 1930s in Virgina's Shenandoah Valley. The draws of the park are huge
fiberglass replicas of dinosaurs ranging in height from the size of dogs to as
long as 90 feet. As visitors walk through forests, through swamps, and duck
into caves, they'll find themselves stalked by these prehistoric wonders.
Though none of the replicas are animated, children will nonetheless be
fascinated by their size. Over 30 different dinosaurs are in residence, giving
children the chance to identify them and expand their dinosaur repertoire. King
Kong, a giant cobra, and an octopus also rule the park. The most recent
addition is a carnivorous Tyrannosaurus Rex. Dinosaur Land is closed January 1- February 28th.
Dinosaur World has parks in Kentucky, Texas, and Florida. Over 150 life-sized replicas dominate the parks. Visitors can also visit dinosaur museums and dig for bones in bone yards. Party rooms and programs are available for groups. The parks are closed for some holidays.
If the choreography of aerobics and step classes is too
difficult for you, or you want to feel 'sporty' while you exercise, a spin
class is an activity you may want to try. Relatively low-impact and performed
indoors, spinning helps you tone your body in a group atmosphere filled with
music and encouragement.
For your first spin class you should show up early so
you can discuss the class and the equipment with your instructor. This will
also notify your instructor that you are a beginner so he/she can keep an eye
on you. Spinning is performed on a spinner bike which features a tension knob
and weighted flywheel which combine to help mimic riding hills and jumps
while keeping up your momentum, a feature which helps keep the workout
non-impact. In coordination with music, the instructor leads the class on an
imaginary bike ride, describing the hills and upcoming obstacles you will face
and coaching riders on how to adjust the tension knobs on their bikes to
reflect the course difficulty. Whether riding while seated or standing up on
the pedals for sprints, spinning is a powerful fat-burner, typically burning 10
calories per minute.
Whether you're a horse racing fan or you simply want to witness one
of the nation's oldest and most storied events take place before your own eyes, a
trip to watch the running of the 135th Kentucky Derby may be a memory of a
lifetime.
Tauck Tours has a 5-day trip to Kentucky in May 2009 that provides you
with a stress-free means of seeing the race and learning more about this
horseracing tradition. The trip begins in Lexington where you'll enjoy a visit
to Maker's Mark, a whiskey distillery that is the only distillery in America
designated to be a National Historic Landmark. A tasting and barbeque follows
as well as a visit to a mansion in My Old Kentucky State Park. The next day
features the opportunity to choose between attending the 135th running of the
Kentucky Oaks ("Run for the Lilies") or visiting a private horse farm
where you'll receive an insider's look at what is involved in running and
caring for thoroughbreds. The highlight of the trip comes the following day
when you're transported to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby. You'll enjoy
VIP treatment in the tour's special marquee with a full spread buffet, open
bar, closed circuit TVs, and private betting windows. When the race begins
you'll have reserved seating along the First Turn to cheer on your favorite
horse.
Sometimes it's not enough to watch your favorite television
shows every week. Sometimes you need that extra fix. What could be more
exciting and bring you closer to your favorite shows than to see them up close
and personal? Why not visit the studio where the show is filmed and sit in the
audience as the show is taped?
AudiencesUnlimited is a resource for finding tickets to
television shows, specials, award shows, and pilots. The free tickets are
available approximately 30 days before filming on a first come, first served
basis. Audience size can vary from 150 -200 people and are sometimes overbooked so to ensure your seat it's
important to show up at least one hour before the scheduled taping. Filming generally lasts 2-3 hours and if you're lucky the stars of
your favorite show will greet the audience or possibly sign autographs. Photos
of any kind are forbidden, however. Shows are taped in Burbank,
Culver City, and Hollywood. Maps are available on the website to help you find
the studios. Depending on the show's content there may be a minimum age
restriction. For many shows this age is 18, but there are some shows that allow
children as young as 10 to attend. Group tickets and fundraising opportunities
are also available.
