Archive for April, 2010
The Fact And Reality About The Cruise And Stay Holidays
People planning a cruise vacation first time in life have lots of ifs and buts in their mind. But they need not be muddled with any kind of confusion or misgivings about a cruise holiday. Actually these days as a part of business ethics everything is brought to the close notice of the people to attract them. As a result there are lots of options for cruise holiday which they can go through and pick the one suit them best. Among various types of cruises whatever one wants in their vacation according to that one can make the decision. If one likes hopping from one place to another by means of huge ship with having fairly welldesigned and stylish rooms entertaining activities normal classical type of cruise are the best for ones journey. But if one wants a true taste of the cruising like many people wants to enjoy their vacation fully then they can arrange a cruise and stay package.
As a matter of fact Cruise and stay holidays are greatly enjoyable joyful and memorable as they seem. It is the combination of a large cruise ship and a welldesigned hotel from one of the best destination resorts for staying. If one wants a cruise and a hotel according to the their choice at the cheapest price it is a little bit hard to find but if one is ready to pay the extra charges. Then they can get it easily. Generally the facilities and amenities which cruise lines offer are really expensive as they seem. So if one wants a cruise more flexible more deigning best quality of lodging excellent food and full of all amenities and facilities they have to pay some more but no doubt they can enjoy their vacation which they ever dreamed of.
So why does one choose to go for a normal classical type cruise holidays? It is good for those who are single and just want to visit different places islands and ports. In comparison with this if one wants a family package then nothing could be better than cruise and stay holiday package. One can explore all the islands and take relax as well. So it can be said that one should not worry about choosing a cruise. But whatever cruise one chooses it really fulfills ones dream related to the vacations.
About the writer: Book your next cruise and stay vacation at Cruiseanswers. They features the best discount prices on cruise deals and caribbean cruises.
The Everglades National Park
Just about an hour’s drive from the bustle of Miami you will find one of America’s most unusual national parks covering more than one and a half million acres of southern Florida. The Everglades National Park is one of the most diverse ecosystems to be found anywhere in the world and is simple a wonderland for wildlife.
Great Blue Herons American Egrets and White Pelicans are a common sight in the park as of course are alligators which find a plentiful supply of food along the edges of the miles of freshwater sloughs.
There are also many hiking trails through the famous mangroves and paths such as Anhinga trail allow hikers to get a closeup view of one of the freshwater sloughs. Although this particular trail is only about a half mile long through the saw grass it is a wonderful walk and you find not simply alligators but also turtles and many other species along the way.
One unique feature of the park is to be found in the fact that both alligators and crocodiles which are often mistaken for one another cohabit in reasonable peace and perhaps surprisingly this is the only place on Earth where this happens.
Although many people believe that the Everglades National Park is entirely composed of marsh and swampland this is not in fact the case and it also includes an area called Pine Forest which is the higher areas of the park and consists of species such as slash pine palmetto and others.
On of the most beautiful areas of the park in to be found close to Mahogany Hammock where a short hiking trail offers a wonderful view of trees growing within the saw grass marshes and providing fascinating areas of dappled shade and a closeup view of royal palms strangler figs and other hardwood hammocks.
If in addition to day hiking you also enjoy camping then the park provides over 200 campsites and as long as you abide by the rules as far as speed and wash are concerned you are even allowed to use a small motorboat in the park. Care needs to be exercised however because the park is also home to a large number of beautiful manatee which the park is eager to keep from being harmed by careless boaters.
Unlike many of America’s national parks one of the best times of year to visit the Everglades is during the winter months when the temperature is pleasantly in the mid 70s and the air is relatively dry. In the summer by contrast the temperature can hover uncomfortably in the 90s with the humidity way up towards 90.
About the writer: TheHikingClub.com provides information on everything from choosing a pair of Vasque hiking boots to planning a Hawaii waterfall hike
The Cattail – Best Of The Wild Edible Plants
Which is the best of the best wild edible plants? That depends on whether you are collecting them for a tasty meal or as a matter of life or death. It also depends on the season and where you are. But despite all these qualifications there is one that stands out as especially important in North America.
The Cattail
The common cattail typha latifolia and a few other species is one of the first of the wild edible plants that all hikers should familiarize themselves with. It not only has several edible parts but there is some part of the plant that can be harvested for food during any season. In addition it has other uses as well.
In the spring you can find a cattail swamp and cut the fresh tips of the plants from the mud. Rinse them in some safe water and they are edible either raw or cooked. Once you know the plant identifying the new shoots is no problem The stalks and dried flower heads of the old plants are always around.
In the summer you can first harvest the tender stems. The lower several inches will be white and ready to eat. If you pull slowly they will often come loose at the base. Raw they taste something like cucumber. Cooked the taste is more like corn. Later the green flower heads can be cooked and eaten like cornonthecob. By midsummer the yellow pollen will be falling from the spike atop the flower heads and can be shaken into a paper bag to use in thickening soups or even mixed with flour for making bread.
In the fall you can still locate the cattail by the old stalks and dig up the ropelike roots that crisscross the swamps. Clean these mash them in water and let the mix sit for a few hours. What you’ll get when you pour off the water is a gooey mass of starch at the bottom of the container. This can be used to make a bread of sorts or just put into emergency soups.
In the winter you can get the roots just as in the fall provided the water or mud isn’t frozen. Sometimes you can dig into the muck and find fresh new tips of the plants to eat as well. This is especially true as you get closer to spring.
New plant tips tender parts of the stalks flower heads pollen and roots five edible parts and at least one available in each season. But that’s not all. The “fluff” of the mature flower heads was once used to stuff life jackets and is still perfect as an emergency insulation. If you are lost and without sufficient clothing you can fill your jacket with it. Use it to make a warm mattress as well.
Cattail flower head fluff is also very flammable. Break open a mature flower head available almost any time of the year and make a pile of it. Then strike a match to it or even a good spark and it will burst into flame. The tight heads are often dry inside even after a heavy rain making this a great survival tinder.
The leaves are long and flat which makes them easy to weave into simple mats for sitting on. These mats can be used to serve food too or as a barrier between you and the ground in an emergency shelter. For many centuries they were also woven into baskets and other containers. The stems were used for weaving and other purposes as well.
The common cattail is not only one of the best wild edible plants but one of the best wilderness plants to know for many other purposes. How many other plant have five edible parts and several parts that are useful for a variety of survival needs? Best of all is the fact that they can be found in wet places across North America. Hikers backpackers and others who spend time in the wilderness should get to know the cattail before all other plants.
About the writer: Copyright Steve Gillman. To get the ebook “Ultralight Backpacking Secrets And Wilderness Survival Tips” for FREE as well as photos gear recommendations and a new wild edible plants section visit: http://www.TheUltralightSite.com
