by admin on October 6, 2011
Okaloosa Island is an interesting name since there is no formal island of that name. Instead, the term “Okaloosa Island” generally refers to a portion of Santa Rosa Island, a barrier island situated in Okaloosa County in the state of Florida. Because Okaloosa Island features a great many residential homes and condominiums in high-rises, many of them unoccupied by permanent residents, there are plenty of places to stay in the form of Okaloosa Island vacation homes.
Okaloosa Island is considered part of Florida’s “Emerald Coast” which puts it far north in the state, along the relatively thin strip of land known as the “panhandle of Florida”. Beaches on Okaloosa Island are characterized by fine white grains of sand known as “sugar sand.” When set off against the brilliantly-hued waters of the Gulf of Mexico, these beaches look spectacular, particularly to tourists who have never seen the ocean before or who are more used to the typical “tan sand” beaches of California.
Santa Rosa Island contains some land that is not in Okaloosa County, but all of the Okaloosa County land that is on the island is generally considered to belong to Okaloosa Island. This portion features a full three miles of coastal frontage along the Gulf of Mexico and provides visitors and locals alike with many opportunities to go boating, fishing, swimming, and surfing. Other water sports such as jet skiing are also popular in the area, which is known for being a veritable paradise of sun and surf.
by admin on October 6, 2011
Ocala is a city located in the great peninsula that makes up Florida, but instead of being situated on the Gulf or Pacific coasts, it is located inland, in the north-central area occupied by Marion County. A mid-sized city, Ocala boasts some 53,000 permanent residents, yet it is the main city in its region and also serves as the seat of county government.
Ocala Symphony Orchestra
One reason tourists come to stay in Ocala vacation rentals is the wealth of fine arts available in the city. Ocala plays host to the Ocala Symphony Orchestra, a rather remarkable achievement for a city of this size. The Ocala Symphony Orchestra is an Ocala tradition, having been started as far back as the 1970s by a group combined of interested citizens and professional musicians. It exists today as a non-profit corporation and offers four concerts per year, with subscriptions available.
Ocala Civic Theatre
There is more than music to attract visitors to Ocala. The city also features a theatre troupe that performs at the Ocala Civic Theatre, providing during most seasons 12 or more productions each year. In addition, visiting touring companies sometimes put on productions in the venue. Tickets are considered affordable for these professional live and fully staged productions. The volunteer wing of the Theatre provides fine arts instruction through a community theater organization, working with more than 1000 students each year. This too makes Ocala unique, as it is one of the largest community theaters Florida state offers.
by admin on August 23, 2011
Wales is a small constituent nation of the United Kingdom. One of the most fascinating aspects of staying in Wales holiday homes is the opportunity to spend time in the land reputed to be both the birthplace and last resting place of the legendary King Arthur. The red dragon, related to Arthur’s surname of Pendragon, is today the national symbol of Wales. Tourists can wander the green, hilly landscape and wonder if they are walking in the footsteps of such famous figures as Arthur’s evil half-sister Morgan le Fay.
Another charming bit of Welsh lore is the lure of Welsh gold. Although gold is no longer commercially mined in Wales, gold mines still dot the hills and the Dolaucothi Mine, now run by the National Trust, an organization that promotes the preservation of historic buildings and locations, permits visitors to try gold panning. Those who are lucky enough to find a flake of Welsh gold will appreciate the rosy glow that comes from a relatively high percentage of copper.
Castles are another popular attraction in Wales. Great castles scattered across the land here were originally constructed to protect the Welsh from invasion by the English, who lived in the lands farther east. One of the best preserved castles in Wales is located in the village of Beaumaris, which is located in the Anglesey region in the north of the country. Many ancient castles have long since had their moats filled in, but at Beaumaris, tourists can see a castle as it existed during the Middle Ages: with tall circular towers surrounded by a moat to stop invaders.
by vrdmarketing on August 23, 2011
The Kingdom of Spain is located on the Iberian Peninsula and has major borders with Portugal and France, as well as coastlines along the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. A member of the European Union, Spain is located both in the Eurozone and the Schengen Area, meaning that it uses the Euro, the common currency of most of continental Europe, and allows borderless travel with other nations in the Schengen Area.
Spanish tourism centers around several major cities scattered across the nation. In the capital city of Madrid, tourists can visit the world-famous El Prado museum, which showcases the works of Old Masters such as El Greco. Another popular Madrid attraction is bullfighting demonstrations. Spain is one of the few nations where this ancient art is still practiced for public crowds. The main Plaza de Toros (bullring) in Madrid is called Las Ventas and dates from 1929. It can seat nearly 25,000 tourists. Visitors staying in Spain holiday vacation homes who wish to see courageous matadors battling with huge bulls are advised to book their vacations between March and October, which is bullfighting season.
Further to the north, tourists can visit Barcelona and dine on a wide variety of fish and shellfish, including the national dish of paella, which is composed of a layer of seafood served on saffron-infused rice. Also in Barcelona is La Sagrada Familia, a world-renowned church designed by architect Antonio Gaudí, who also designed many of the parks in Barcelona. Gaudí’s signature style includes blobs of cement work that look freeform and organic, making La Sagrada Familia one of the most unusual-looking churches in the world.
The marketing team at VacationRentalDirect.com works to promote some of greatest vacation rental properties and regions throughout the world. We are constantly researching and writing to bring our readers the most useful vacation rental news, stories and travel tips!
by vrdmarketing on August 23, 2011
The nation of Scotland is part of the UK. It occupies the northern portion of the main island in the British Isles, but also includes almost 800 islands scattered across northern regions of the Atlantic Ocean. Scotland shares a border with England to the south. Although a member of the EU, Scotland, like England, does not use the Euro for currency but has elected to continue use of the pound.
Two of the largest cities in Scotland are Edinburgh, the capital, and Glasgow. In the latter city, tourists can visit the oldest public museum in the country, the Hunterian, which appropriately displays artifacts from the era of Roman occupation of Britain. Glasgow also features Kelvingrove, a recently renovated art gallery and museum that specializes in modern works. In contrast, the National Galleries of Scotland feature works from the Old Masters and present a continuous picture of the art world through the early decades of the 20th century.
Tourists staying in Scotland vacation rentals can also visit the town of Paisley, famous for its influence on textiles, particularly with its development of the paisley pattern commonly used on wool shawls.
Castles are another popular attraction in Scotland. The earliest castle site can be found on the island of Wyre in Orkney. Known as Cubbie Row’s Castle, it dates from about 1145 A.D. and is the oldest surviving castle in the country. More popular still is Castle Sween, found on the mainland in Argyll.
The marketing team at VacationRentalDirect.com works to promote some of greatest vacation rental properties and regions throughout the world. We are constantly researching and writing to bring our readers the most useful vacation rental news, stories and travel tips!