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Experience Kauai at the Aloha Beach Resort in Hawaii

admin — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 07:35:07 +0000

Experience all the charms Hawaii has to offer at the Aloha Beach hotel nestled between the verdant east coast of Kauai and the sacred Wailua River. This luxury Kauai Hawaii beach hotel and resort is the perfect place for your Hawaii honeymoon vacation or romantic vacation in Hawaii. With a central location on the island, this destination resort in Hawaii provides easy access to the Lihu’e airport, local shopping, Kamalani Playground, Lydgate Beach Park and other popular attractions.

Look to the best hotel in Kapa’a Hawaii to meet your need for a complete Kauaii Hawaii family vacation package. Along with an abundance of entertainment opportunities surrounding the Aloha Beach Hotel, guests of this beachfront hotel in Hawaii will discover plenty of activities within the resort. This luxury Hawaii hotel, surrounded by picturesque views, boasts Kauai’s only protected swimming and snorkeling beach. In addition, two swimming pools, Jacuzzi, fitness room, tennis, volleyball and shuffleboard are a few of the amenities available to our guests to ensure a pleasant Hawaiian vacation. Aloha Beach hotel also features some of the best options in Hawaiian dining. The Palms restaurant, a Hawaiian-themed dining room, is the ideal place to sip a cool drink or dine on a sumptuous meal while watching the sun set on Kauai. In addition to this restaurant, the Kuhio Lounge and the Kahuna Bar & Grill offer more tasty options for excellent food and drink.

With beautiful vistas from every room, activities galore and unrivaled amenities, visitors to Hawaii should look no further than the Aloha Beach hotel for an unforgettable Hawaiian getaway.

The Aloha Beach Hotel Kauai invites you to experience a unique combination of warm, genuine aloha spirit and the pampering treatment of a modern Kauai hotel. Our beautiful beachfront location features 216 luxurious rooms, suites and cottages which provide breathtaking ocean or garden views. All rooms come fully-equipped with a refrigerator, safe, free parking and many additional amenities you may require during your stay.

Experience the luxury of our Hawaiian-style guest rooms and suites in the Maile and Pikake Wings. These spacious rooms with spectacular views of lush gardens or the glistening ocean can accommodate up to four people, and families or large groups may request adjoining rooms.

For more privacy on your Hawaiian retreat, choose one of our beautiful two-room cottages, boasting a separate sleeping and living area and a lanai to enjoy the crisp ocean breezes.

The friendly staff at the Aloha Beach Hotel Kauai invites you to experience the ultimate Kauai vacation. Take advantage of Kauai’s only protected swimming and snorkeling beach where you will discover a vivid palette of colors in the native marine life. For land-based entertainment, the hotel also offers numerous options for exhilarating activities including tennis, volleyball and shuffleboard.

Guests of the Aloha Beach Hotel Kauai are presented with a variety of tantalizing onsite restaurants, sure to satisfy even the most discriminating diner. This newly-renovated beachfront hotel is an exotic island hideaway offering attentive service paired with thoughtful amenities and relaxing accommodations.

These extensive amenities include:

2 sparkling swimming pools

Daily maid service Fitness room

Free parking

Gift shop

Jacuzzi

Kahanu Bar & Grill

Kuhio Lounge

Laundry facilities

Meeting and banquet facilities

Palms restaurant

Picnic tables

Protected swimming & snorkeling beach

Shuffleboard

Tennis

Valet service

Volleyball

How to Look Dazzling on the Beach Without Really Trying

admin — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 13:36:00 +0000

It’s summer once again and you know that it is the perfect time for you to show off your new buff body. After looking at your body in front of the mirror, you feel pleased that the long hours you spent working out in the gym and the countless weight loss programs you endured have finally paid off. Your slim arms, flat tummy and gorgeous legs are really something that you can be proud to parade on the beach this summer. Although a well-sculpted body is really a factor in making you a dazzling beach babe, you also need to think about your overall look, including your accessories and makeup. If you want to be the star of the beach, read on and follow these tips:Find A Perfect BikiniEven if you have a body that is to die for, you still have to take time choosing a bikini or swimsuit that will suit your size, body shape and activities. If you plan to simply laze around on the beach, then a string bikini will be all right. A high leg bikini is also more appropriate for people who have short legs. However, if you plan to play beach volleyball, swim your heart out on the sea and do other beach activities, you must ensure that the straps on your top are firm and secure. You don’t want your precious ones to peak out or loll out of your top while playing volleyball or swimming with the dolphins. Don’t Be Afraid To AccessorizeMany think that beach outfit should be minimal. Although this is all right, there are actually a number of tasteful accessories you can bring to the beach. A pair of cute sunglasses and some shell necklaces or wooden bangles can add a little spunk to your otherwise boring beach outfit. Finding the right flip-flops could also make or break your look. Have A TanFor some people, going to the beach is a chance to get that most coveted tan. But this may not be a very safe thing to do, especially because of the ill-effects of overexposure to the sun. What you can do to keep away from overexposure to the sun yet avoid looking pasty and pale on the beach is to use tan spray. Do not overdo it though because you don’t want to look like a cooked crustacean. Keep Your Nails CleanA manicure set is a must when you are going to the beach. When you are walking on the sand, playing beach volleyball, or parasailing with your friends, your nails can surely get dirty or, worse, chipped. Thus, you should always be ready to trim your nails and repair your polish. It would be better if you stick to clear nail polish for a cleaner and fresher looking nails and toes on the beach. Makeup EssentialsYour beach vacation does not mean you have to build sandcastles or stay on the beach 24/7. Since you will surely go to restaurants or hang out in bars while you are there, better be prepared with your makeup essentials. Waterproof foundation and concealer are a must, so are water resistant mascara and eyeliner. For more color, cheek and lip stains are also a good choice. By the way, you can also find lip-gloss that has sunscreen to protect your lips from being chapped and dry under the heat of the sun. Don’t Forget Your EyesYou probably know that sun protection for your face and body is necessary to keep your skin from getting burned by harsh sunrays. A sun protection factor of over 50 that shields you from both UVB and UVA rays is ideal. However, for your eyes, you also need to look for a sun block that is gentle enough on the area surrounding the eyes. Also, do not forget to bring an eye cream that helps get rid of puffy eyes and dark circles after nights of drinking and having fun with friends. One eye product that you can use is Eyevive. Simply visit http://www. eyevive. com/ for more information.

East Coast Beaches to West, Florida Beach Locations in Sarasota County Are Some of the Best!

admin — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:35:07 +0000

Whether you are a winter visitor, vacationer or full-time resident, Florida’s 1,200 miles of coastline is yours to enjoy and we’re going to help you by giving you all of the details on the top west Florida beach locations including special amenities, recreational offerings, hours, pet regulations and more. Sarasota County is home to many well known towns including Sarasota, Venice, Englewood, Siesta Key and Longboat Key. Beautiful Sarasota Bay separates the county’s barrier islands from the mainland. With its 40 miles of beaches, Sarasota County is one of America’s most desirable places to live and to vacation. Sarasota accommodations are varied and many, from Sarasota inns, to Sarasota resorts, to even Sarasota motels and the same is true throughout the County. You can find Sarasota vacations rentals in Siesta Key condos, Sarasota condominiums and Sarasota villas. Sarasota Restaurants throughout the County are many and palate pleasing! In Venice, Café Venice Restaurant & Wine Bar is the place to go. Cork on St. Armand’s Circle in Sarasota was named “Best New Restaurant. ” It’s a pretty exciting place with exciting food! Ophelia’s on the Bay offers beautiful alfresco dining overlooking Sarasota Bay and Euphemia Haye on Longboat Key is legendary. Try them all! On to the beaches! Here are 6 of the 17 beaches in Sarasota County: Blind Pass Beach Location: 6725 Manasota Key Road, one mile north of the Charlotte County line on Manasota Key Phone: 941-861-5000 Sarasota County Hours: sunrise to sunset Parking: free lot Amenities: ½ mile of beach and 66 acres gulf to bay, canoe launch, picnic shelter, nature trail, playground, restrooms, handicapped accessible Activities: swimming, fishing, sunbathing, surfing, walking canoeing, kayaking Pets: no Of Special Interest: In addition to enjoying this beautiful beach, canoeing, kayaking and fishing are popular in the coves and lagoon on the bayside. Manasota Beach Location: 8570 Manasota Key Road, west end @ Manasota Beach Road. Phone: 941-861-5000 Sarasota County Hours: sunrise to sunset Parking: parking lots are free and plentiful Amenities: 1500 foot beach, 14 acres gulf to bay, lifeguards, boat ramps, boardwalk, docking facilities, dune walkovers, picnic shelters, restrooms, volleyball courts, handicapped accessible Activities: swimming, boating, fishing, shelling, walking, sunbathing Pets: no Of Special Interest: The beach is situated between the Gulf and the Intracoastal Waterway. On the Intracoastal side, a boat ramp and docking facilities are available allowing access to the Bay and Gulf. The 620 feet of dockage becomes a scenic boardwalk that meanders through the mangroves. Casperson Beach Location: 4100 Harbor Drive, Venice, south of the airport Phone: 941-861-5000 Sarasota County Hours: sunrise to sunset Parking: free lots Amenities: 2 miles of beach, 177 acres, 1100 foot boardwalk, . 34 mile nature trail, picnic area, restrooms Activities: swimming, shelling, walking, fishing, handicapped accessible Pets: no Of Special Interest: Caspersen is recognized as one of the most enjoyable shelling beaches in this area. This is an exceptionally good area to find prehistoric sharks’ teeth. You can see freshwater and saltwater marshes, mangrove areas, and tidal flats. Enjoy a 20 minute walk through Caspersen’s nature trail which has been developed through a coastal hammock. The southern two thirds of beachfront has been left in its natural state. A dune restoration system with walkovers has been implemented to preserve the shoreline. Brohard Park Location: 1600 Harbor Drive on the Venice Airport property Phone: 941-861-5000 Sarasota County Hours: sunrise to sunset Parking: free lot Amenities: 84 acres, Venice municipal fishing pier, bait shop, Pelican Man Sanctuary, restrooms, food concession, restaurant nearby, Paw Park Activities: bird watching, swimming, fishing, sunbathing, walking, shelling Pets: yes, in Paw Park Of Special Interest: For dog lovers, at the south end of Brohard Beach is the Paw Park, with doggie drinking fountains, showers on decks for dogs only, fire hydrants and leash posts. Dog lovers have declared this park and beach to be the best doggy park in the state, where dogs are allowed to roam free. Service Club Park Location: 1190 Harbor Drive, north of and adjacent to Brohard Beach, Venice Phone: 941-861-5000 Sarasota County Website: Hours: sunrise to sunset Parking: free lot Amenities: playground, picnic tables, restrooms and showers, handicapped access, playground, dune walkovers Activities: swimming, fishing, shelling, sunbathing, walking, fishing Pets: no Venice Beach Location: 101 The Esplanade, west end of Venice Ave. , Venice Phone: 941-861-5000 Sarasota County Hours: sunrise to sunset Parking: free lot Amenities: 2 miles of beach total, 7. 5 acres, lifeguards, handicapped accessibility and handicapped wheelchairs, concessions, dune walkovers, pavilion, restrooms, volleyball courts Activities: scuba, snorkeling, swimming, sunbathing, volleyball, walking Pets: no Of Special Interest: A reef containing fossilized material is located a quarter mile offshore making it a favorite spot for local divers. We hope you enjoy your stay on a west Florida beach, whether it’s for the week, or for the rest of your life. Now what are you waiting for? Get swimming!

Best Florida Beach-City of Delray Beach

admin — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 14:54:02 +0000

With over 350 fabulous beaches in the State of Florida, it’s almost impossible to choose a Best Florida Beach. City of Delray Beach, however, on the east coast, equidistant between West Palm and Fort Lauderdale is at the top of the list. Delray Beach is fondly known as the Village by the Sea. It’s a first-class resort town in Palm Beach County next door to Boca Raton. Delray won the Centennial Medallion Award for its historic preservation efforts, joining New York’s Central Park and San Francisco’s Ghiradelli Square. It has a thriving downtown with Atlantic Avenue as the focal point, featuring shopping, galleries, dining and nightlife and even, the last time I checked, an excellent Elvis impersonator in one of the landmark outside bars! Delray has three miles of award winning Blue Wave certified beaches and the largest beach in the County with plenty of parking on the street (angled in) and in lots. A short walk through the mangroves on narrow winding paths all along A1A brings you out on the other side to a wide expanse of beautiful sand. There are volleyball nets along the beach, and a nature trail and boardwalk in Atlantic Dunes Park. There are boating activities, you can rent a seadoo or sunfish. There are several open air restaurants on A1A and many more as you stroll down Atlantic Avenue from the beach. Here are the particulars on the Delray Beaches: Main Location: Atlantic Avenue and A1A, Delray Beach Hours: 5 AM to 11 PM Parking: metered street and lot parking Amenities: 2 miles of beach, lifeguards, restrooms, outdoor showers, restaurants, handicapped accessible Activities: swimming, volleyball, sunbathing, snorkeling, diving, fishing and surfing outside guarded areas Pets: no Of Special Interest: 150 yards off the southern end of Delray’s Bch 22 feet down, lies a steel hulled freighter that sank in the 1920s. This is a first-class beach dive and excellent for beginners, according to Dixie Divers. Atlantic Dunes Park Location: A1A, one block north of Linton Blvd. , Delray Bch Hours: 8 AM to dusk Parking: metered/4 hours Amenities: lifeguards, restrooms, outdoor showers, handicapped accessible Activities: swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, volleyball, surfing & fishing outside of guarded areas Pets: no It’s not only the beach itself that makes Delray so appealing. The City’s Master Plan is a unified vision to create a thriving downtown that stretches all the way from I-95 to the beachfront. It is a national model on how to promote cultural and economic activity. December is a fabulous time to visit Delray Bch as the City is more alive than ever with Holiday Spirit: · 12/3 Art & Jazz on the Avenue – Open house for restaurants, art galleries and shops along Atlantic Avenue, live entertainment, 6-10 pm · 12/3 Famous 100-Foot Tree Lighting Ceremony – Old School Square, 5 pm entertainment, 6 pm Santa arrives and official tree lighting · 12/4 22nd Annual Chamber Golf Classic 7 · 12/12 Holiday Parade · 12/12 Ride & Remember Trolley Tour – · 12/12 Kids Day at the Tree – Old School Square, visit Santa and play in the snow, special surprises at the Famous 100-Foot Christmas Tree · 12/12-13 Delray Art League Outdoor Art Show – Veterans Park · 12/14-15 Santa’s Calling – Community Center · 12/19 Breakfast with Santa – Join Santa for a special breakfast at the Delray Beach Marriott · 12/19 Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Delray Beach · 12/26-27 Howard Alan Craft Show – Delray Bch Tennis Center · 12/31 First Night® 2010 New Year’s Eve Celebration – Bring the entire family to enjoy visual and performing arts in non-alcoholic venues at various locations downtown Come and visit the Best Florida Beach – City of Delray Beach!

Hermosa Beach a little off the L.A. tourist path

admin — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 23:41:38 +0000

While Santa Monica, Malibu and Venice seem to get a lot of the media attention, the other Los Angeles area beach area that’s “hidden” in the neighborhoods just south and west of LAX is the scrappy little community of Hermosa Beach. The beach bunnies in Hermosa Beach have a little more attitude than their counterparts a little farther north – after all, many of them are world-class volleyball players who are not on this beach to just soak up the rays. They and their hunky boyfriends hit balls back and forth all hours of the day, prepping for one competition or another, and just generally flaunting their usually close-to-perfect looks. This is why the little village of Hermosa Beach attracts a lot of the city’s singles as well as travelers who are single hoping not to remain that way very long. Not that families don’t come here as well – there’s much more to Hermosa than the opposite sex and the area can be an ideal base of operations for couples and families wanting an L. A. beach location that is reasonably close to many of the city’s tourist attractions. The hotel infrastructure in Hermosa is not huge – if you’re planning on spending part of your L. A. vacation here, it’s best to book way ahead. There are a few lodgings sprinkled here and there, precious few on the beach. We stayed a few blocks from the beach at the updated and comfortable Quality Inn where we were close to the action but not so close that the room rates reflected the usual cost of staying “on the beach. “The people who live in Hermosa are young – median age is 32 – and the local architecture is what is typical nowadays for an urban beach setting: small lots and houses, many bungalows, condos and apartments clustered close to the beach area. The residents are also hip: Hermosa was one of the first cities in the country to install free wi-fi internet service for the city’s residents. Vacationers come to Hermosa because everything is neatly compacted into a 1. 3-square-mile area – the shops are all close, the beach spectacular and the people-watching is better than anywhere in the L. A. area. The California surf culture is ever-present as you spot many tan young surfer boys and girls strapping their boards on cars, bikes and their bodies. Many of the shops cater to this clientele, and restaurants serve up good helpings of surfer food, an eclectic mix of greasy hamburgers, salads, veggies and, of course, beer. “We’re a great location where people can stay and not only enjoy the small-town atmosphere, nightlife and beach,” explains Hermosa Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Carla Merriman, “but also use this as a base to travel to other points of interest. Even if you are attending an event elsewhere, you can come home at night to enjoy the beach, eat outdoors – you don’t even have to get in your car. “The action seems all to be within a few blocks of Pier Avenue where the last couple of blocks – those closest to the beach – have been set aside as a pedestrian plaza with giant palm trees, street benches, several shops and about a half dozen sidewalk cafes. The wide plaza leads the visitor down to “the Strand,” the beach path that extends for several miles in each direction offering an opportunity for pedestrians, joggers and cyclists to exercise their way north and south along the waterfront areas of Los Angeles. Stroll the strand and you’re likely to see people of all ages and colors coming at you from both directions – a kaleidoscope of casual L. A. Out on the beach, the sand seems to go on endlessly. Hermosa lays claim to 1. 5 miles of it, but it connects with other beaches to provide plenty of maneuvering room for even those people who don’t want to have anyone sharing the beach with them. At least on weekdays, it’s possible to grab a piece of beach big enough to pretend it’s all yours. That could be why Hermosa was recently named one of Claifornia’s “Top 10 Beaches. “For those who want to be entertained while they’re sunbathing, just set up camp close to the dozens and dozens of volleyball nets that are positioned along the eastern edge of the beach. There’s always a group of young and healthy volleyball players who really seem to know what they’re doing. Of course no one can figure out how they can afford to be doing this in the first place – just guessing here, but there can’t be THAT many volleyball players actually making a living this way. It’s also likely that, on any given day, visitors to Hermosa will get a glimpse of some film crew doing some sort of commercial. After all, this is the California lifestyle that folks back in North Dakota only wish they could live. Young, beautiful people, gorgeous beaches, constant sunshine – it’s all in Hermosa. Celebrities also find their way to Hermosa. Just up the street a couple of blocks from the beach is the Comedy and Magic Club, famous as the place where Jay Leno often tries out new material. Usually Leno performs on Sunday nights in the small theater – just 225 seats – and it’s a chance to get in and see top-drawer live comedy for just $15 a seat. Other comedians such as Bill Maher and Jerry Seinfeld also perform at the club. Live music is a big part of the Hermosa equation – local clubs offer a variety of acts and on our recent weeknight visit there was a professional four-piece jazz ensemble playing for free outdoors in the Pier Avenue shopping district. The music offered a festive backdrop for the diners who were enjoying a pleasant evening meal at one of the sidewalk cafes. Summer concerts are held in Hermosa, offering big-name entertainment in an outdoor beach setting. During certain times of the year, things get even more festive with the largest arts and crafts festival in California held each Memorial Day and Labor Day. “Fiesta Hermosa” features 270 crafters and artists, a kiddie carnival, beer and wine garden and two stages offering continuous entertainment. In August, the city also hosts the Annual Aloha Days Surf Festival, another event that draws participants from far and wide. Lest you think that Hermosa Beach is nothing but the young and hip, there’s a historical side to the town that is a little surprising. Visitors can go on a historical tour of Hermosa Beach visiting many locations where well-known people lived or that otherwise offer up a bit of historical flavor. For example:- The former Charlie Chaplan home is at 32 – 10th Street and is where the Chaplan family stayed for several summers. – The Old Hermosa Inn, at Pier and Ocean Avenues, was a frequent hang-out for Errol Flynn. – The Justice Shaw House at 740 The Strand is the former home of Supreme Court Justice Lucien Shaw, founder of the Los Angeles Bar Association. – The Sea Sprite Motel, along 10th Street, has been the vacation spot for people such as Dizzy Gilespie, Tito Puente, Hugh O’Brien, Emilio Esteves, Beverly Sills and many others. – The Berth Hotel, 11th and the Strand, is the only hotel in operation in Hermosa in 1917. – Loreto Plaza is the site of the Insomniac Coffee House and is where the ‘beatnik” generation gathered regularly to listen to jazz and poetry. – The Slim Summerville House at 1820 The Strand, is where the famed vaudeville comedian spent summers. AT A GLANCEWHERE: Hermosa Beach is about 10 miles southwest of Los Angeles and about a 10-minute drive from LAX. WHAT: One of California’s true beach towns – a small-town atmosphere but a surf and youth culture that appeals especially to young singles, although the town also is a pleasant getaway for couples and families. WHEN: Any time of year. WHY: Hermosa Beach is a great place to base your Los Angeles visit if you want to be near the water yet close to popular tourist attractions both in Los Angeles and Orange County. HOW: For more information on Hermosa Beach, contact the Hermosa Chamber of Commerce at 310-376-0951 or visit www. hbchamber. net.