Vacation Home Rentals

posted by Vacation Home Rentals on Mar 10

Every year since 1959, the Newport Folk Festival has been a wonderful two day music event and epicenter for the folk music scene. It’s brought a number of famous musicians into the spotlight and fan’s scrapbook pages before they were popular, and continues to be a showcase for talent both old and new. For these reasons, it’s considered a great musical destination during the summer. If you’re considering folk festivals this summer, here’s a few tips I’ve picked up from the Newport event.

In terms of lodging arrangements, Newport has many very nice hotels and campgrounds fairly close to this festival’s site. One nice campground worth checking out is called Melville Ponds. Don’t expect to be sleeping at this festival, however, since the Fort Adams State Park does not offer this service.

In terms of parking, there is a low fee for registration ahead of time when tickets are purchased, which will be more if purchased on the date of the Newport Folk festival. Bicycles can also be ridden to the site, but not on the festival area itself. Buses and water shuttles are some other viable alternatives.

There’s a larger list of restrictions on this festival’s website for what is and is not allowed during the two-day event, but to quickly summarize: glass containers, alcohol, pets, and audio and video recording devices should all be left at home. These restrictions are pretty common for concerts and music festivals, so even if you don’t visit the website, please keep in mind a little festival common sense. Additionally, beach umbrellas should be left at home, but accommodations can be made by event staff if you have a medical condition that requires more limited sunlight.

As for recommended items, definitely bring something to protect you from the sun. Sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat can make life a lot less uncomfortable at the festival. In the middle of the summer, the sun can cause a lot of skin damage. On that note, have a good supply of water with you. Bring some money for the many good food vendors. Clothing should probably be loose, and footwear should be something versatile, like leather brown boots, and will hold up under whatever weather conditions arise.

Besides the regular musical attractions, there are a number of shops and gear demos that are taking place outside of the stage areas. One a few years ago was demoing a takamine acoustic guitar and allowed amateur songwriters to show off their stuff. Very exciting!

Please enjoy one or both of the festival days, stay safe, and tell your friends about this magnificent event!

posted by Vacation Home Rentals on Mar 9

The word “vacation” may stir up thoughts of beach resorts and tropical weather in your mind. But have you ever wanted to ride a horse or wrangle a bull? To be fair, not many people think of such vacations right off the bat. Who do you know these days that suggests you to spend your three-day weekend on a ranch instead on a beach? Only the adventurous would tell you to try something new and head for open fields, campfire songs, and horse shoe tosses. Dude ranches across the U.S. are one of the best kept secrets in vacation spots. If you are looking for a different kind of adventure, they may become your destination.

Any hesitations you may have about going to a ranch should be discarded once and for all. Ranches are a great place for a mini-escape to clear the head. Whether for a romantic couple looking to try something new, or a family wanting to having a bonding experience, the activities at the ranch are so abundant, there’s something for everyone. At ranches, a child that grew up watching cowboy and horse riding on the television can finally see it all in real life. Also, it is a great place for kids, especially the rambunctious kind. A ranch is meant to give visitors a taste of the Old West back when cowboys still rode and mail was delivered by wagon. With such broad hospitality and a wide variety of energizing activities, a trip to one of these off the road ranches can do wonders.

Tracking down a ranch to visit is the least of the trouble you have to go through. Montana dude ranches, for instance, have some of the best attractions around. Don’t be put off by the worries stranding yourself in the middle of no where with a half-hearted host. With howdy accents and dedicated staff members that seem to form a welcoming family for guests, the authenticity truly shines through, making for a truly rewarding experience.

Make some time and try going to a ranch at some point. You will be glad you took the time to try something new, and if you bring the whole family, you may find out something new about each other you would never have known otherwise.

posted by Vacation Home Rentals on Mar 9

If you want to enjoy your best ever ski season and get the most out of it, then you should work on getting your body in shape before you even strap on your ski boots and pat on your giro ski helmet. A fitter body will help your endurance on the slopes and minimize the chance of injury and accident.

Skiing and snowboarding are both very physically demanding sports and they require strength, endurance, control and balance. If you get to the ski fields and you are out of shape you will either not get the most from your trip, or you may even be more likely to become injured.

The most difficult part of preconditioning training is getting into the swing of it. Sticking to your program is generally tough at first, but once it becomes a habit you will find it easy to keep going with. To make sure you continue with the training you might have to offer yourself incentives for doing it or do it with a friend to make it more enjoyable.

By combining cardio exercise with a muscle workout routine, you will be in top shape when it’s time to head to the ski fields. Cardio fitness training will build your endurance so that you can get the maximum time on the piste and get the most out of each ski run. Cardio building activities include cycling, jogging, running, roller blading, dancing and jump rope.

You should do cardio around three times a week. If you have not been doing much exercise prior to starting, you should take it easy and gradually build up your endurance. Do not go too crazy at first or you will end up with sore or torn muscles and put yourself off the whole experience. Set yourself goals and gradually increase the goal posts. You can strap on your black sport watch and use it to measure your time or your distance.

As well as getting aerobically fitter, you should also incorporate muscle training into your exercise program. When you have stronger muscles you will have more control and balance on the ski fields and be less likely to injure yourself. Muscle areas to target include calves, hamstrings, shoulders and back.

If you plan your ski preconditioning and get into a routine with it, then you will be guaranteed a fantastic winter season free of sore, tight muscles and injury.