Vacation Home Rentals

posted by Vacation Home Rentals on Mar 6

Cape Town in South Africa has become one of the top 10 travel destinations on earth during the past couple of years. It comes as no surprise: with a list of ‘must-sees’ longer than that of any other city in Africa and Christmas weather to die for, it’s the ideal destination during the bitter winters of the Northern half of the world.

A large percentage of tourists of course visit the city because of its pristine beaches. When their family and friends in the other half of the globe are turning on the central heating, they are tanning on one of the numerous sandy beaches.

The Mother City, as Cape Town is often called, is an ideal destination for the family traveler. Even those families that include a very recent addition in the form of a baby will find that Cape Town is a great destination. You can fly in from numerous cities around the glob, rent a car and get baby-friendly accommodation all in a matter of hours. Note: When renting a car try and book one that’s fitted with a graco car seat for the baby.

One of the guest houses we recently visited even had a spa baby where we could bathe our baby in the more natural upright position. Not all guest houses will have this of course, but it just shows the level of sophistication of many South African guest houses.

Another favorite tourist attraction of the Mother City, and one that you can hardly miss, is Table Mountain. This colossal massif juts out from the ocean to loom over Cape Town like a mother hen guarding her children. An open secret that all Capetonians know is that if the wind blows on one side of Table Mountain, you are sure to find a peaceful beach free from wind on the opposite side. The view from the top of Table Mountain is incredibly beautiful. You can either hike to the top or take the cable car.

Then there’s the V&A Waterfront, where you can enjoy a world class meal while watching a living harbor at work. And there’s the Cape winelands, where many South African export wines are produced. Another top tourist destination is the nature reserve of Cape Point. Here a cog-wheel railway leads to a lookout point where you can see two ocean meet: the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean. A lovely restaurant, built into the mountainside, offers spectacular view of False Bay and the mountains of the Cape Peninsula.

It’s unlikely that you will have the opportunity to read a lot in Cape Town, but by all means pack your digital book reader. When everyone else in the family has fallen asleep, you can finish reading your favorite detective story while listening to the gentle sound of waves breaking on the rocks.

posted by Vacation Home Rentals on Mar 4

Everyone enjoys different activities and they can vary depending on the time of year. Some people are more athletic than others and are often out and about. They enjoy nature and love outdoor activities. At any given time they may be found swimming, hiking or maybe even skiing. They find these various pastimes to be very enjoyable.

It is always wise, however. To make sure you wear appropriate protective gear for any activity. This is especially important for skiers. There is always the very real danger of suffering from a bad fall. Such gear should include adequate, insulated clothing. Both gloves and boots provide extra protection and are well worth the money you have to spend on them.

The most important purchase that you need to make, though, is a helmet. In the event of a fall, they are the only thing that can protect your head from serious injury. A Giro ski helmet is an excellent choice for people that want quality gear. There are also many others to choose from.

Making certain that you have a reliable, quality watch is also essential. You need one to ensure that you keep track of the time and are not late to meet up for a favored activity. Without one, you could find that you have spent far too much time under the bright sun or out in bad weather conditions. Either of these could be very dangerous.

A black sport watch is an easy choice that matches anything. These types are also waterproof, so they can be worn for all activities. You also do not have to spend a lot of money on them.

Cookware is important equipment that you want to make sure you have when camping. You can easily pick up quality anodized cookware set, without spending a lot of money. It is safe to use and distributes heat evenly when cooking. These also have the advantage of not leaching metal into the food you are cooking. Pans like these have been specially made, so they do not do this. There is no longer a need to worry about risking anyone’s health when camping out.

Everyone that enjoys outdoor activities needs to make sure they have the proper gear for each. It is very important that you take along all proper protective equipment. You will want to have it all on hand and not realize when it is too late that you forgot something. Make a list and shop early, so you are certain that you have everything. Your activities will be a lot more fun if you actually get to enjoy them and do not have to worry or fuss. Even the busiest person deserves to have some fun!

posted by Vacation Home Rentals on Mar 4

This is an annual event. My mother in-law’s birthday marks our annual trip to visit my wife’s parents. We have been going almost every since we have been married. And, each year, something happens along the way. Her folks’ home is only a few hours away by car. However, something even occurs to make each one memorable either in preparing for the trip, the travel itself, or upon arrival. This time we planned ahead.

The last couple of times we ventured to my in-laws we experienced one type of accident or another. In fact, our very first trip was marked with a flat tire. On another occasion, our gift to her mom was stolen. We believe it occurred while we stopped for coffee at a convenience store en route. Last year, there was good news and bad news. My wife broke my black sport watch. This was somehow a positive because the slammed the door with my hand in the way. Luckily, it only shattered my watch.

As a result, on my birthday this year, I received a shiny new men’s sport watch. The watch is stylish and advanced in design. It can also take a few licks. For this year’s trip, we packed the day before and stored our luggage in the car the previous night. For the gift, we had the store send it directly to her parents. To top it off, I took our car in for a tune up a few days ago. In addition, we signed up for a membership to a twenty four hour car service that provides immediate service.

We were prepared this time around, or so we thought. We had made our coffee in the morning and poured it into our travel mugs. We had mapped out the most safest and efficient route to their home. We got up bright and early and began our journey.

Our route was a two part adventure. The first portion would involve driving through the suburbs to reach the freeway. The freeway would consume most of the driving time. Her parent’s home is about hundred and twenty or so miles from ours.

Once we got on the highway, there was not much traffic. In fact, there were very few cars out altogether at that early hour on a weekend. There were a number of folks who seemed to be either going or coming from a distance. There was one truck, in particular, that seemed to be on its way north for skiing. They had skis hooked up to their roof.

Our speed was within the limit, however, the truck driver seemed to be driving at a much more aggressive speed. He was swerving in and out of lanes without signaling. The truck quickly came behind us and then passed us on the left. It was a blur. After a few moments, however, we noticed a roundish object flying toward our windshield. The closer it came the easier it became to recognize. The object was a giro ski helmet.