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On Mombasa Beach Vacation? Take a Safari Break to Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary
Posted on July 30th, 2010 No comments
Mombasa Island on the Kenya coast and the nearby Diani Beach in Ukunda are mostly known as beach destinations that offer world-class tropical beach vacations to hundreds of visitors each year. In comparison, the nearby Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary may not enjoy equal limelight but still offers a unique complimentary opportunity for holidaymakers in this coastal town.Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary is a private sanctuary that covers slightly over 28,000 acres and is next to Tsavo National Park. It is just 200kilometres from Mombasa and a gentle 30-minute flight from Nairobi. This proximity makes the sanctuary an ideal destination for those who might want to combine a beach vacation with a short safari.
Needless to say, if you can afford a few more days – say 3 or 4 days, you can add on Tsavo Park and Amboseli National Parks and enjoy even more of Kenya’s wildlife. Your safari operator will be happy to organize this kind of tour, giving you a short break from the sun and sand indulgence. Read the rest of this entry »
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How Has the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Affected Popular Beach Cities?
Posted on July 28th, 2010 No commentsThe Gulf of Mexico oil spill has been prevalent in the news all summer long. Residents might wonder how this catastrophe, also referred to as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, is affecting their favorite vacation spots. Since Sanibel Island is obviously a beach city and part wildlife refuge, this is surely one of the most important destinations in southern Florida.
What affect has the oil spill had on Sanibel? Royal Shell Vacations, which is Sanibel Island, Florida and Captiva Island’s premiere vacation rental firm, recently reported that there is no oil evident anywhere near the beaches of the island. As a precaution the company announced a beach watch to assure residents and visitors that the beaches would continue to be oil free throughout the summer. In fact, the company is so dedicated to resident satisfaction that it is offering a special refund policy on its vacations if any oil does wash up onto the beaches.
Sanibel Island hotels and Island restaurants are still operating normally, as are Sanibel events in the area. What about the reports of “dark-colored clumps of algae?” This is not actually related to the oil spill. Beachgoers who have noticed these clumps are actually filamentous blue green algae broken off from submerged algal mats. The Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation stated that these clumps are not related to oil spills, nor are they harmful to the environment. These algal mats are often found in marine and freshwater conditions. These mats’ suggested place of origin is the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River or even beyond. Read the rest of this entry »
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A Tourist Guide to Rhinebeck, New York
Posted on July 27th, 2010 No comments
1. Introduction and HistoryLocated on the east side of the Hudson River in Dutchess County some 100 miles north of Manhattan, Rhinebeck, accessed by the Taconic State Parkway, Route 9, Route 9W, and the New York State Thruway, is both a picturesque and intensely historic village. It itself is part of the Hudson River Valley National Historic Area which was established in 1996 by Congress to recognize, preserve, protect, and interpret the nationally significant history and resources of the valley for the benefit of the nation, and stretches from Yonkers to Albany.
Founded in 1686 when Dutchmen Gerrit Artsen, Arie Roosa, Jan Elting, and Henrick Kip exchanged 2,200 acres of local land with six Indians of the Esopus (Kingston) and Sopaseo (Rhinebeck) tribes, it was initially designated “Kipsbergen.” In 1713, Judge Henry Beekman referred to these land holdings as “Ryn Beck” for the first time. Read the rest of this entry »