Two Fantastic Ways To Experience The Great Barrier Reef By Robert Aconley

The Great Barrier Reef is a magnificent sight and you can experience it in numerous ways. Two fantastic ways to experience the Great Barrier Reef are to take a light aircraft flight over the reef and snorkeling from a platform in the Pacific Ocean.

It is easy to drive to Whitsunday Airport, Queensland from Airlie Beach to catch the one hour pleasure flight over the Whitsunday Islands and ‘Heart Shaped’ Reef. You will be given a safety briefing before the pilot leads you to the 4-seater plane on the grass field runway. You will probably get the best seats if you can sit in the front of the aircraft! The pilot heads out over the Airlie Beach area and the views are stunning. A few minutes later the aircraft takes you over the very popular Hayman and Daydream Islands. It takes almost half an hour before the Great Barrier Reef comes into view. What a view it is! This is definitely a fantastic way to experience the reef because you can see how vast it really is as it stretches out for miles into the distance.

The highlight of the trip is circling the famous ‘Heart Reef’. The pilot tilts the plane both ways so that everyone gets a good view of the 'heart shaped' reef so have your camera ready. After leaving the reef the pilot takes you towards Whitsunday Island and the famous Whitehaven Beach. The Whitehaven beach stretches out for almost 4 miles and is arguably one of the ten best beaches in the world. The Hill Inlet sand formation is a superb view from the air and is well worth seeing. The aircraft flies over the vacation friendly Hamilton Island and Shute Harbour before returning back to the airport. The Whitsunday Islands are a marvellous place for a vacation but don’t miss the chance to see them from the air.

Snorkeling has got to be one of the best ways to experience the Great Barrier Reef. Port Douglas, Queensland is a good base to catch the Catamaran that takes you out to the Barrier Reef. The Quicksilver Catamaran takes you to the Agincourt Reef in almost two hours and you can enjoy the magnificent views of the north Queensland coastline as you swiftly move through the water. The platform is a superb place to explore the reef because you can also take a submarine type boat in addition to snorkeling. If you do not want to get wet, but still want to enjoy the reef then this option is ideal.

All the equipment for snorkeling is available at the platform so take advantage of it. It is almost a fantasy world when you snorkel at the Great Barrier Reef. The colors of the tropical fish are amazing and you can see them so clearly because they swim so close to you. Watch out for the Clownfish and then you will be able to claim that you have 'found Nemo' at the Great Barrier Reef. Be careful not to touch the intricate coral reef because it is actually a living organism and easily damaged. My personal advice is to swim away from the immediate crowds and then you can have this world all to yourself.

Seeing the Great Barrier Reef is an experience that will never be forgotten so don't miss the chance to see the reef, from above and below, if you travel to Australia.

Robert Aconley runs the Million Dollar Lake & Million Pound Lake websites. You can find them at http://www.milliondollarlake.com and http://www.millionpoundlake.co.uk

Photos coutesy of Wilkipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Barrier_Reef

Looking For Cheap Vacations? By Vince L. Paxton

Everybody loves a nice relaxing vacation but unfortunately not all of us can afford an expensive trip away. That is where budget holidays come in handy and if you look around you should be able to find some good deals which are ideal for you at a budget that you can afford. Here you will find some of the best holidays open to you for less than $1,000.

How to Save Money and Spend Less Than $1,000

So just how can you save money on your next vacation and still have a fantastic time? The good news is that there are a number of ways in which you can enjoy a holiday for less than $1,000 and the choices available allow you to do something different and fun at the same time.

The first option open to you is camping. Now when you think of camping, fun is not necessarily the first word that you think of. Rain, hard floors, wild animals and misery is often associated with camping out and so most of the time the family is hesitant to even attempt it even if it will save them money. However, camping really does not have to be that bad and if anything it can actually be quite fun. Try staying at a National Park for example and take along a small grill that will help you to cook nicer meals.

Another option open to you which the kids will love is Disney World. Yes it is completely possible to still go to Disney World and spend less than $1,000. This is because Disney offer value resorts and they have opted to make their parks more affordable for families which means that you get to enjoy all of the things that other families do just at a smaller price.

If you are looking to save money on travel then you can easily save money on flights. Flights tend to be one of the most expensive parts of a vacation and so if you can save money on them you will be able to spend more money on other things that you enjoy. Look for last minute deals as well as buying tickets from airlines such as Southwest Airlines or JetBlue Airlines.

Finally another way to have a fantastic vacation for under $1,000 is by going on a cruise. Now cruises used to be considered a luxury and you would not expect to find a cruise for less than $1,000 but it can be done. Some cruises from cruise liners such as Carnival Cruises, tend to have deals which vary in price from just $500. So shop around and see what you can find.

Overall it is easy to find cheap vacations to suit your needs; you just have to know where to look. Holiday deals are not always cheap and tacky, they can be really fun and if you go to somewhere like Disney you can really allow the whole family to have an excellent vacation. So when you are considering your next holiday, why not look out for cheap travel packages?

Vince Paxton wrote mainly for http://www.alicante-spain.com an internet site on the topic of Madrid , Alicante and other issues. Sharing his passion in detailed writings such as http://www.alicante-spain.com/murcia-airport.html the writer demonstrated his deep knowledge on issues related to Murcia airport.

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Branson Vacations

Perfect for families, entertainment-lovers, and pleasure seekers in search of a laid-back, fuss-free vacation, Branson, Missouri has confidently taken center stage as one of the most popular tourist sites not just in the Midwest, but in the country. For an old-fashioned retreat styled with a few modern touches, check out this bustling beehive of boisterous fun located in southern Missouri.
A number of factors contributed to Branson’s evolution from sleepy town to happening tourist destination, including business development, nearby dam activity that led to lake formation, and a novel called Shepard of the Hills that celebrates the settlers and the landscape of long-ago Branson. All of this plus a little pluck led to the brightly-lit, ever-active city of today, where you are welcomed to take in a show or two, fill yourself full of delicious food, or head out to the lake for some quality time with Mother Nature.
The center of the city is hopping with music, dancing, and colorful lights. A more wholesome Las Vegas, Branson offers choices for all members of the family. Country Western is generally the name of the game, but comedy, variety, and magic shows can all be sampled if you have the time. The overall theme of Branson entertainment is timeless fun, so if you seek solace in a more innocent atmosphere than the world sometimes offers up, consider traveling to the Ozarks.
In addition to shows, you’ll also find many more diversions that will please everyone in your group. Water parks will cool things down during the steamy summers, the Titanic Museum will fill your brain with information, and Silver Dollar City amusement park will provide thrills all year long. Several more museums and parks will tempt you while you’re here, so take a family vote and then fill your days with plummets and perusals of the local fare.
Shopping is another can’t-miss activity. Outlet malls and specialty shops abound, so keep your eyes open for great bargains and one-of-a-kind souvenirs to take home to jealous friends who wish they could have gone to Branson, too. Don’t forget that this land was once dominated by rough explorers and hardy horseback riders, so if you need a new pair of boots or a flashy belt buckle you’ve come to the right place. The land is tamer and the people are a bit more civilized these days, but Bransonites are proud of their heritage as weathered travelers who could handle anything thrown their way.
The outlying areas reveal another side to Branson’s personality, one that you’ll definitely want to become acquainted with. As mentioned before, dam-building means that there are lakes to be enjoyed, so pack up the fishing poles and the swimming suits for a few days of respite from the hubbub of daily life. Nothing is better than setting out across the water in a speedboat or lazily floating down the stream in a canoe, as you’ll soon discover during your excursion to one of the nearby sparkling blue oases.
Table Rock Lake is just three miles southwest of the city, and has an astounding 745 miles of shoreline. It is fit for boating, swimming, excellent fishing, hiking, camping, and pretty much anything else you can think of that you’d like to do by the water. Keep it low-key by stretching out for a snooze or kick things up a notch by renting a jet ski, either way you’ll find Table Rock the perfect place to be.
Similarly, Lake Taneycomo has what it takes to delight you and your companions as well. It has characteristics of both a river and a lake, and its cold waters are perfect for trout fishing. Marinas and boat ramps make things convenient, you won’t be too far away from restaurants and lodging options, and the lake itself is sparkling and clean. All in all, Lake Taneycomo should receive a little attention from you if you do decide on a Branson vacation.
Speaking of lodging, a good way to go when visiting this area is in the direction of renting a vacation property. Lake front cabins would make for many fine memories, as would condos that are conveniently located to golf courses, amusement parks, or whatever else tops your list. Imagine having enough space for everyone to settle in, avoiding the usual confrontations over sleeping arrangements and drawer space. If this sounds too good to be true, look into acquiring a Branson Vacation Rental and see what develops.
If you have a certain taste that has yet to be satisfied by your previous vacations, Branson might be what you’re looking for. It is distinctive and crowd-pleasing, with a little bit of natural beauty thrown in for good measure. Follow the well-beaten path to this friendly city to discover for yourself what all the fuss is about.


HomeAway.com is a good resource for all your vacation rental needs.
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