Archive for September, 2007

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Virgin Gorda, Caribbean

Published September 22, 2007 Caribbean , vacation rentals 0 Comments
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The ideal place to put your feet up and relax is Virgin Gorda beach rentals.  The easy going, watch the world go by attitude of the island and its locals make each day at holiday villas of your choice perfect for those who want a beach vacation.  Basking in the sunshine as it reflects off of the warm, electric blue waters off of the coast of beach front rentals in Virgin Gorda gives a new meaning to the lazy days of summer. 
With accommodations for couples wishing for the perfect romantic vacation rental in Virgin Gorda or the family seeking Virgin Gorda vacation rentals to enjoy the tropical location, the cottage to suit your needs is awaiting your reservation.  From golf and water sports like fishing or snorkeling, vacation rental Virgin Gorda seek to please every traveler.  With hidden beaches close to your vacation rental Virgin Gorda, there is sure to be plenty of white sparkling sand for everyone.

Things to see near your Virgin Gorda rental home:

  • Fallen Jerusalem:  As a natural habitat for many endangered species of Caribbean birds, Fallen Jerusalem is a bird lover’s paradise built of huge boulders and underground caverns.  As visitors to this sanctuary for birds not seen in other places on earth, Fallen Jerusalem surrounds each person with an appreciation of this home for perishing species of birds as they struggle to survive in this protected zone.
  • The Baths:  In these spectacular examples of Mother Nature at work, the Baths is a series of secluded nooks and crannies of pristine beaches and hidden coves perfect for romantic getaways and picnics.  A maze of large boulders carefully placed by time creates the ideal environment for exploration or simple relaxation in a world of your own. 
  • Devil’s Bay:  A hike to Devils Bay from the Baths makes for an incredible view of the bay and the ocean beyond.  With pristine white beaches of powdered sugar sand reaching out to the Caribbean blue waters illuminated by the sparkling sunlight, it is the ideal place for swimming, sunbathing, reading….or just relaxing.
  • Gorda Peak:  Hiking up to the top of the 1300 ft rise, Gorda Peak provides a stunning view of the island from the tower located high above sea level.  With a variety of plants and vegetations indigenous to the islands and this topical climate, the hike to Gorda Peak is enlightening, engaging, and inspiring, so be sure to bring your camera for this once in a lifetime opportunity to step into a postcard.

If adventure is in your soul, a short distance from beach houses in Virgin Gorda are the Baths, a collection of large stone boulders hiding caves and grottos for exploring.  Discretely secluding some beautiful stretches of beaches, the Baths near your Virgin Gorda vacation home can be the best place to seek the hidden or hide from the groups.  The convenience of restaurants and shopping of Spanishtown, the settlement of Virgin Gorda, makes your island paradise vacation home a place you will never want to leave!
“Find a Virgin Gorda, Caribbean vacation rental for your next holiday at Vacapedia.”

Steamboat, CO

Published September 21, 2007 USA , vacation rentals 1 Comment
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The quiet, easy going atmosphere of skiers visiting vacation rentals in Steamboat fills this picturesque mountain side town.  Quaint cottages by mountain streams flowing gently into the distance complete this ideal vision of rest and relaxation.  Not far from Steamboat vacation rentals, activities for couples and families abound in every direction. 

From hot air balloon rides providing the most breath taking view of the mountains as they stretch down into the valleys below to gondola rides into the clouds at the top of the mountains, Steamboat holiday villas are ready to prompt your adventuresome spirit.  With white water rafting in the clear uncontaminated cool mountain stream waters, rock climbing at the base of the mountains, and horseback riding tours through the great natural wonders, vacation homes in Steamboat are ready for weary travelers at the end of the day.  Welcomed by the relaxing natural hot springs pools or swimming in the lap pools in town, your vacation rental in Steamboat is ready for whatever activity you have in mind.

In Steamboat, it is never a matter of what is happening close to your Steamboat, CO vacation home.  Everything is happening near the Steamboat vacation home you rent…year round!

  • In the Summer, Steamboat is filled with activities from horseback riding to hiking.  If you want a summertime adventure, then Steamboat is the place for you.  As part of the western experience, all of the glories of a full rodeo event with clowns, bulls, and cowboys.  Whether seeking the fun of your first hot air balloon ride at the annual Hot Air Balloon Festival or want to hook that first big fish while fly fishing, Steamboat has the summer activity to complete your vacation.
  • In the Winter, Steamboat transforms in a winter wonderland perfect for loafing by a warm fire with a cup of hot chocolate or racing down popular ski slopes.  The joyous laughter of children snowboarding while whisking down hills and the making snow angels in the pristine snowfall will bring the gentle peace of innocence to your vacation getaway against the mountain backdrop of snow covered peaks.  The blanket of snow covered mountains add an enchanting element to celebrating the festivities of the winter season and sharing the warmth of the holidays.

In the truest tradition of Great Mountain cooking, your vacation home in Steamboat is centrally located to help you find the best food in town.  It really easy actually…all of the restaurants close to your vacation rental home in Steamboat are the best restaurants in town!  And, if you get an urge to take some of their home cooking home with you from your Steamboat vacation rentals home, they even have home cooking lessons.  No matter what time of year you choose to visit Steamboat Colorado, the friendly people welcome you to their hometown retreat with spectacular views, wholesome activities, and fun for the entire family. 

Find a Steamboat vacation rental for your next holiday.

Sunriver, OR

Published September 20, 2007 USA , vacation rentals 1 Comment
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Your vacation rental is Sunriver will be the perfect place for you to call home during your mind spinning days of activities or energetic nights of fun.  A virtual outdoor paradise for couples and families, Sunriver seizes every opportunity to welcome you into the beautiful mountain surroundings of your Sunriver vacation rental.  With treats like horseback riding and white water rafting, you don’t have to go far from your luxury Sunriver vacation rental to free the adventurer in you.  Or, if you prefer to enjoy the outdoors in with slightly less thrill, you can partake of any of the 5 major golf courses within close proximity to your vacation rental in Sunriver.  Noted for nature and the ability to commune with the environment through hiking, kayaking, or biking, integrating the beauty of Sunriver becomes one of the pleasures of your time spent in your luxury vacation rental in Sunriver. 

With activities such as fishing, boating, and nature walks, families are equally entertained in the rustic beauty and fresh air surrounding their vacation rental in Sunriver.  Impressions from interaction with nature and wildlife at the Nature Center stay for many years after leaving vacation rentals in Sunriver.  With specialized activities for pre-teens and teenagers, local vacation rentals seek to enchant every member of the family with activities like horseback riding, biking, and rafting tours.

What is around your Sunriver Oregon vacation rental?

  • Crater Lake National Park:  Thousands of years ago, due to a volcanic eruption of Mount Mazama, Crate Lake was created by a the collapse of the volcano into a beautiful rim of a lake that sparkles blue against the crystal clear sky above.  Surrounded by peaks of high points of towering trees reaching toward the clouds, the classical setting is almost is nature at its best.  Breathing the peaceful existence of a serine setting with the perfect backdrop for activities in the summer like hiking and in the winter such as skiing, this gift of Mother Nature brings each person closer to an ultimate understanding of the work of thousands of years of volcanic eruptions and carvings by melting glaciers in one sweeping landscape.  And it’s glorious.
  • Crater Lake Rim Drive:  To properly appreciate the many panoramic viewpoints of Crater Lake, gets your camera ready and take a drive around the rim of Crater Lake.  With over 20 different places to stop, soak up the dazzling postcard beauty, and take pictures, the memories of this drive around one of America’s greatest natural wonders is well worth the trip.  Noted as the deepest natural lake in the United States, the majestic mixture of the mountains behind Crater Lake is a stunning reminder of the forces of nature.

Although the scenery is open and wild, the food close to your Sunriver vacation rental is a melody of traditional western fare with the opulence of a fine dining experience.  From trendy cafes and pubs to outside dining at local grilles, Sunriver vacation rentals are sure to make your experience in the great Northwest even greater.

Enjoy your stay in Sunriver Oregon by booking your vacation rental with Vacapedia.

Who I Am and How I Like to Travel

Published September 20, 2007 Europe , vacation rentals 0 Comments

James MartinWhen the fine folks at Vacapedia asked me if I’d blog for them, I looked at the topic at hand–vacation houses across the globe available for weekly rental–and thought, there’s a niche I fit into. Just barely, on account of the fine food that I’m forced to eat when I visit Italy, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

I love to stay in a place for a while. I’m tired of the old “if this is Tuesday it must be Belgium” type of travel. I know to many of you it’s a chore to cook, but I’m one of those people who loves to go into a covered market in Europe and order up a big handful of clams I see squirting briny liquids from their iced-down lair, plus some still flopping little fish for a nice zuppa di pesce that will steam up the house with great smells.

For that I need a kitchen and some pans. I need a refrigerator to chill the Muscadet. I need a balcony where it all comes together and I can look over an unfamiliar and captivating landscape while eating my dinner and sipping my wine. And I need a washing machine, because, well, cooking for me is spontaneous and messy.

My name is James Martin, and I’m a house-renting junky.

Aulla holiday get awayIn fact, I got so enamored with the prospect of the slow life in Europe, I went out and bought my own house in the Lunigiana region of Tuscany–the cheap undertouristed part–where I spend a decent part of the year. But it’s never enough, I can tell you. Vacapedia even has a house for rent in my neighborhood, with one of the greatest views on the planet. It’s called “Aulla holiday get away” but it’s far above Aulla in Bibola, a town with a castle ruin overlooking my valley in the Lunigiana. It has a view I never tire of. You can see a little of it on the right. For grandeur, you’ll have to go in person.

In any case, I write about my experiences in other places, too. My personal blog about living in Italy can be found over at Wandering Italy. My European travel advice can be found at Europe for Visitors. I’ve been an electrical engineer, an archaeologist, and a travel writer. I photographed auto racing for 17 years after racing cars for three.

Still, what I like most is travel and discovery. You learn a lot about yourself when you travel, perhaps more than you’d like to know sometimes. But it’s all valuable. And it’s really valuable for your kids. They need to know that sometimes people come up with solutions to problems that are different–yet no less valid–than the solutions proposed by their own culture.

So I’ll quit preaching at you now. But think about renting a house on your next vacation. You don’t need to cook, or deal with fresh clams (or heaven forbid the lamb heads on display over at the butcher’s), but you might need to slow down, catch you breath, and sit on that balcony and think of what a great place the world can be sometimes.

Several times a week I’ll be pointing out some vacation rental houses in places I think are spectacular. Check back frequently if you’re dreaming of the perfect vacation.

Happy travels to you. Got a question? Leave a comment.

Jamaica, Caribbean

Published September 19, 2007 Caribbean , vacation rentals 0 Comments
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Offering beach vacation rentals with the best of both worlds, Jamaica shows a lush history of pirates and beautiful escape to an island with local as well as tropical color.  Vacation rentals in Jamaica bring visitors every year to see the famed white sand beaches of Dolphin Cove to swim with the dolphins or enjoy the fascinating gathers of Pelican Bay.  From the historical tours of old town Kingston Jamaica, your Jamaica vacation rental will never be far away from what you want to do!

Within in a short distance of beach rentals, Dunn’s River Falls presents a beautiful natural landscape of lush foliage folding around crisp cool waters as they cascade down.  Beach front rentals provide the perfect access for divers, swimmers, tanners, and loungers alike on the many shores of Jamaica.  Known for fabulous tropical rum based drinks and exquisite Blue Mountain coffee, your beach vacation to Jamaica coxes you to sit back and relax as you listen to the steel drums inviting you to become one of the natives during your visit.   Cultural and historical buffs will love the opportunity to explore the museum of Bob Marley, legendary reggae singer, tour 200 year old coffee plantation referred to as the Bloomfield house, or take a walking tour through St. Ann while staying at beach homes in Jamaica. 

Places we love to visit near our vacation rental home in Jamaica:

  • Emerald Rainforest:  The lush, green trees mix with the tropical atmosphere to provide a climate of a rainforest rarely experienced by visitors from other regions of the world. With a unexplained peaceful grace of the streams and waterfalls cascading through the tropical climate rolling over the surface of the landscape, the startling greens of the Emerald Rainforest glistens in the sunlight.
  • Port Royal: Famed in movies and legends throughout history, Port Royal has been the home of notorious pirates and shipping paths between countries.  If the your adventurous soul is seeking some fun and exploration, then the city of Port Royal is welcomes all would be pirates.
  • Montego Bay:  Nestled in the sloping hills that gently drop off into glorious picturesque beaches, Montego Bay is the crown jewel in an ideal setting.  Vast miles of pristine beaches meeting crystal Caribbean blue waters surrounded by coral reefs make the perfect playground for beach lovers and nature enthusiastic alike.  If you are seeking the day on the beach that will rival postcards, then Montego Bay is the place to go.  HINT:  While you are at it, don’t forget to do a little shopping on the main strip for souvenirs as you come through town!

No matter if your interests are the natural beauty of Jamaica, the historical significance of Jamaica, or the cultural aspects of the Jamaican people, your vacation rental Jamaica is waiting.  The hardest part might be deciding what to do once you get to the holiday villas.  Of course, you could always sit back, listen to the music wafting through the tropical air around your vacation rental in Jamaica, and take your time to decide!
Visit Vacapedia for a rental home in Jamaica.

Go to Venice, But Keep Your Shirt On!

Published September 18, 2007 Europe 0 Comments

Venice with GondolaIt’s bad enough with the Dollar at an all time low against the Euro, but now if you’re not dressed appropriately or if you’re laying out a nice picnic amongst the expensive cafes and pigeons in Piazza San Marco, you could risk a hefty fine–from 25 to 500 Euros, according to Gadling.

The last time I had a run-in with the “unacceptable behavior police” was in Florence. I was there on a day trip with friends who had boundless energy for viewing art. I was tired. I plunked down on the steps of the Accademia and was immediately accosted by a man in uniform.

“You must stand up,” he said in English.

“Why?”

“Sitting here is disrespectful of the statues,” he opined.

Harumph. I had a vision of being called into a meeting. There, lounging in chairs around a humongous table, were a dozen or so stony folks, waiting to query me on my insensitive behavior.

“The steps, sir, are of marble. If you haven’t noticed, we are of marble,” the biggest one began. “Do you see the connection?”

“Sitting on the steps, is, is like sitting on you all?” I exclaimed quizically, before accepting my due punishment.

Well, it wasn’t exactly a vision that enlightens one, but it was the best I could think of. Insensitive to the statues? I can’t even imagine it. And I imagine lots of things other people don’t ever think of.

Still, I think the Venice actions are good. I want to stand in a historic square and think of how it would have looked hundreds of years ago. This romantic vision is zapped when some hairy, bare chested guy plops down in front of me and starts throwing wrappers to the breeze in anticipation of a junk-food picnic in front of the cathedral. A big fine in this situation sounds, well, fine to me.

You don’t need to shun clothing and eat junk food to save money in Europe. Especially if you have a family. Just stay away from hotels.

No, I don’t mean you should stay out on the street. You should rent a place and stay a while. It’s called show travel, there’s a web site devoted to the practice called, oddly enough, Slow Travel.

Venice Italy ApartmentFor 100 Euros, what kind of hotel are you going to get in Venice for 4 people?

Take a peek at the rental property in Venice you see on the right. Now, imagine, you have a full kitchen, CD player, a beamed ceiling, and private garden for less than what it would cost you to rent two doubles in a Venice hotel. Yes, so many people have bought vacation homes in Italy that we’re in a buyer’s market–and you’re the buyer.

So don’t save pennies by eating junk food wherever you can plop down. Get good food. Keep it in your refrigerator. Eat on your private balcony when you want. Watch the Venetian life pass by. Unwrap that package of prosciutto in the privacy of your garden, far from the prying eyes of the tourist police. Have a glass of wine amongst the greenery. You could do worse.

Find a Venice, Italy vacation rental for your next holiday at Vacapedia.com.

Tortola, Caribbean

Published September 16, 2007 Caribbean , vacation rentals 0 Comments
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Historically known throughout the Caribbean as the home of famous pirates, vacation rentals in Tortola present a vacation with much of the same adventure.  From the ports of the past, yields mystery, adventure, and fun close to every Tortola vacation rental.  Beautiful, tropical views cover the landscape from each cottage.  Like a postcard from far away, the crystal clear blue green waters roll up onto the white sandy shores of beach front rentals.

Originally founded by the Dutch, Tortola offers influences of its presence British owners to all visitors to Tortola vacation rentals.  Enjoying the sun and surf around the beach house rentals can be one relaxing venture, but for those ready to leave their holiday villas for exploration of the island…treasures await!  From the top of Mount Sage, the highest elevation in the British Virgin Islands at 1700 feet, an incredible view of the sugar cane plantations, the surrounding islands, and Cane Garden Bay provide a picture perfect shot lined with vacation homes in Tortola.  Close to your vacation rental home in Tortola heart is a trip of mystery and intrigue at Smugglers Cove.  Once a familiar docking station and meeting place for pirates seeking to divide treasures, Smugglers Cove is a short trip from your vacation rental in Tortola. 

Places to Visit while at your Tortola vacation home:

  • Centre for Applied Marine Studies at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College:  A cultural and scientific center for visitors and aquatic biologists alike, the Centre for Applied Marine Studies provides an excellent opportunity to appreciate the marine life of the Virgin Islands.    With a connection to all things natural, such as trials for hiking, marine life educational tours, and a museum, the Centre for Applied Marine Studies excites the natural explorer in everyone.
  • Josiah’s Bay Plantation:  Once a sugar plantation, this current rum distillery practices a mixture of old and new technology with the goal of turning the most popular cash crop, sugar cane, into the much sought after flavors of the Caribbean known as rum.
  • Zion Hill Chapel:  Battered by hurricanes and tropical storms over its illustrious 150 year old history, the Zion Hill Chapel was finally rebuilt at the bottom of Zion Hill to celebrate the Emancipation of Tortola in 1834.    Still an active church and school today, the Zion Hill Chapel is a step into history that reminds visitors of the strife of mother nature and the inhabitants of the paradise island of Tortola.
  • Sage Mountain National Park:  At over 1700 ft. above sea level, Sage Mountain National Park includes the highest point in all of the Virgin Islands.  Providing a spectacular view over the lush foliage leading down slopes into brilliant Caribbean blue waters, the high elevation treats visitors to a generous supply of tropical endangered plants species usually only present in rainforests.

From a lazy beach vacation to a trip full of potential pirates, Tortola has something to offer every family member.  With days of shopping for souvenirs and once in a lifetime sunsets across Cane Garden Bay, vacation rentals Tortola make an unforgettable holiday treat or couples retreat.  Don’t let another sunset on the beach homes in Tortola without you!

“Find a Tortola vacation rental for your next holiday at Vacapedia.”

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