Voted as one of the most unique and memorable rail experiences in the world, Napa Valley Wine train provides a three hour relaxing journey through the scenic Napa Valley, past vineyards and wineries while guests enjoy their Wine and gourmet lunch or dinner. Napa Valley Wine Train is one of the most magnificent trains of the world that is ideal for celebrating any occasion, Birthday, Anniversaries, Weddings, Holidays or any other special occasion. It is a distinguished service that will take you back to an era of elegant rail travel. It is a 36 mile round trip journey from Napa to St. Helena with options of Brunch, Lunch and Dinner, all of which include gourmet dishes and some of the best wines in California along with panoramic views of Napa Valley Vineyards.
The Napa Valley Wine Train has nine historic cars that have been elegantly decorated with brass fixtures, flowers, white linen and glass ceilings to accommodate splendid dining areas that offer mesmerizing views of about 26 of Napa Valley Wineries.
Napa Valley wine train picturesGuests can freely move around in the train since it is all open, you can also watch the talented chefs preparing the food since the kitchen has glass walls. Since this Wine Train offers breathtaking views, relaxed atmosphere, elegant surrounding along with food and wine, it is one of the best ways to explore the Napa Valley which is one of the top wine producing areas in the world. Guests also get a chance to shop and taste wine prior to boarding in the McKinstry Street Station. The Wine Emporium features over 180 kinds of wine and gifts, Baubles & Beads offer elegant jewelry, and Unique Gift Express offers fine gifts.
Wine Train Options:
Gourmet Express which is a 1915 dining and lounge car in which a 3 - course meal is served that is freshly prepared on board. The two cars seat 130 people at a time with a choice of two seatings during the trip.
Silverado Car operates April to October and offers a open air seating arrangement. The area is decorated with pictures of "Hollywood Western Movie Stars," that were donated to Wine Train owner Vincent DeDomenico by Robert Redford.
Vista Dome is a 1950 elevated dining car with breathtaking views of the vineyards. A 3-course meal is served with a glass of Napa Valley's premier sparkling wines.
Napa Valley Wine Train operating hours:
For Lunch excursions the train departs at 11:30 am and returns at 2:30 pm. For Dinner excursions the train departs at 6:30 pm and returns at 9:30 pm. Napa Valley Wine Train operates daily all year round, it is suggested to get your reservations done in advance and a 24 hour cancellation notice is required.
Wine Train Tour Price:
The prices start at $50 per person for a train trip alone. There is an additional charge for meals and drinks. Ranging from $70 to $150 you will be able to enjoy outstanding appetizers along with Champaign in the lounge car before you enter the dining car for a fabulous 3-course meal.
Best Photography Time(s):
Any time is a good time but summers is preferred since it is the harvesting season of grapes and offers better views of the vineyards. Also, Lunch Excursion is preferred over Dinner since it is difficult to see the vineyards in the late hours of evenings.
Getting to the Train:
Napa Valley Wine Train
1275 McKinstry Street
Napa, CA
707-253-2111, 800-427-4124
Napa Valley Wine Train - The best California Vineyard Experience
The most striking beaches of Puerto Rico
What many will consider the most striking beaches of Puerto Rico-with the exception of Coco Beach-are not actually part of its mainland. Instead, they can be found on islands off the coast. What is often the case with these beaches is that instead of overcrowding and gimmicky tourism ploy, what you get, instead, is a scarcely populated beach that paints a traditional, tropical paradise.
Topping the list is a beach unlike any other in Puerto Rico. It's ecosystem is seemingly unrivaled, and there are no hotels to spoil your line of sight. Mona Island is often referred to as the Galapagos Island of the Caribbean, and like the Galapagos, some of the more bizarre species of animals call it home, roaming its land and waters, openly. As a result, the island is closed to tourists during hunting season (January - April).
To add to exclusivity, tours to the island are only offered from May through November and to visit the island, you'll need permits from the Natural Resources and Environmental Department.
Coco Beach is not quite as elusive as Mona Island, but it does share some similar qualities. It offers lingering stretches of virginal beach and colorful contrast between greenery, sand, and vibrant blue ocean. On the beach, however, are as casual scatter of chic resorts; Gran Melia Puerto Rico and Coco Beach Golf and Country Club, just to name a few.
Shacks Beach, also known as Bajuras, of Isabela Island is known for spectacular waters that facilitate the best snorkeling, surfing, and windsurfing in Puerto Rico. What many notice are the sleepy coconut palms that line the beach and offer ideal conditions for napping or relaxing.
Another deserted beach still absent of hotels (we think), is the Northeast Corridor of Luquillo. The island is not as exclusive as Mona and still offers an impressive amount of exotic wildlife and lush vegetation.
What is particularly appealing about the beaches of Puerto Rico is that, save a few of the overdeveloped areas, most of them are incredibly secluded. They project a sensation of unaware onto their visitors. It is a feeling of isolation that is strangely comforting and familiar.
Enjoy Puerto Rico vacations at the Gran Melia Puerto Rico golf resort and spa.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_Hunt
Safari Travel Adventure in Botswana - Leopard Sighting
Safari Adventure in Botswana - Leopard Sighting
We began to tear across the savannah, only able to drive on the existing trails. Drivers are not allowed to make their own trails, not in this neck of the woods! As we bounced from side to side in our open Land Rover, getting closer to the leopard every moment, the sun sank further and further. And then...no, not the leopard, but we saw four lionesses taking down a zebra. The zebra was barely alive, with one lioness on the throat, one on the rear end, one underneath and another resting close by. Finally, with the zebra succumbed, they begin to enjoy the fruits of their labor!
We begged the driver to stop and he said, 'what about the leopard'. We told him to wait until after we take pictures of the sighting. Cameras clicking away, we spent way too much time there, but worth every minute, as the sunset became more beautiful with each passing moment. And then off we went, rushing to see the leopard!
Still with some daylight remaining, we arrived to see the most spectacular, stunning and regal leopard perched atop a huge rock, barely visible when his head was down. As he lifted his head out of the same color of grasses surrounding him, oh my god, what a sight! Gently he moved his head from side to side, surveying any potential threat or danger and gently laid his head back down as if to say�can you please let me get some rest here? As if posing for our hundreds of pictures, the leopard casually and slowly got up to move, from the heat of the sunlight to the shade of a nearby tree, as the sun was slowly going down in the distance. And as the sun set, and we could only see the eyes of the leopard, we realized it was pitch black in the Okavango Delta.
How do we get back? How do we see? Can we find the roads? We're not in the city; there are no streetlights, no signs, and no headlights! Like most guides, ours knew exactly where to go and how to get there. But first he asked us, who knew the way back� everyone pointed in a different direction, so we chose his. Tearing back across the savannah, the only things visible were the many eyes of animals in the bushes or out in the open. The guide pointed to the eyes, and would say, there's a hyena over there, there's a lion over there, but really the only eyes we wanted to see were the eyes of the Chief Camp's guides as they greeted us back at camp. WHAT AN ADVENTURE!
About the Author
Kay L. Trotman, a Travel Agent specializing in African Safaris and Group Tours and Cruises, lives in Southern California. She is an avid amateur photographer and shoots pictures of her safari adventures and her beautiful flower garden. Travel information can be found at www.KayTravel.com. Many of her pictures can be purchased as custom photos or cards at www.KaysCreativeCards.com/.
Shanghai Travel Experience
Recently I had a chance to travel to Shanghai for four days. It was a wonderful trip and I was not at all surprised to see that Shanghai is really a city which is developing itself prosperously and positively.
I was staying in a three-star hotel in which you can see as many foreign visitors as you can in a HK hotel. When I had the chances to go shopping in one of the busiest shopping streets, I found that things sold in HK can also almost all be found there, except that if you were expecting things to be there cheaper, then you would be absolutely disappointed.
All the meals I had were served in Shanghainese style - 8 cold appetizers followed my 8 hot dishes. All were very delicious. One would notice that Shanghai people are not the meat-eaters in HK. They tend to serve quite a few vegetarian dishes, except that they are able to think of many different styles of frying them in different sauces like cabbage in black bean sauce, stir fry green beans, various mushrooms fried in oyster sauce, etc. Do ask for more chopsticks and spoons if you want to be more hygienic since it seems that they do not have the practice as in HK of using a pair of shared chopsticks for everyone.
They seem to like serving dessert in the middle of each meal and a soup would come at the end. Tea is not served in the same way as in HK. Tea would be served but if you want a refill, you will have to ask for it and so this only can make the waitress busy enough.
We were a bit surprised to see that we were not served any meat buns in baskets which is one of the most famous food in Shanghai. Interesting enough we were told that these meat buns are not classy enough to be served to guests. At the end, we decided to go to the most famous place which serves these buns on our own in Yu Garden - Nan Cheong Man Tou Dian. Remember one thing, do not just go to the second floor because it only serves the typical meat buns at a price of 15RMB for 16 buns. Go to the third floor then you can experience the real crab meat buns which serves 6 buns at a price of 40RMB. A huge difference!
At the end of our trip, we took a chance to take the Transrapid System which took us to the airport from the city in just 8 minutes. It is the fastest rail system in commercial operation in the world. At its top speed of 430km/h, it really gave us a thrilling experience and made the 50RMB worth the cost!
However, one strong disappointment hit us when we got to the airport. Knowing that we still had more than an hour before the departure gate closed, and our tickets were all taken care of, we hoped to enjoy a cup of coffee. Inside the restricted area, we failed to find any proper cafes. The only place we found offered proper coffee at a price of 48RMB and instant coffee at a price of 28RMB. Considering that the area was not particularly well-kept, coffee at such a price was obviously not worthwhile.
All in all, the vacation was a very good one. I am sure that Shanghai will continue to set as a good model for many other cities to follow in China and we are proud of home country.
About the Author
This article was produced by Asia Dragon. Visit us at www.asiadragon.co.uk where you will find authentic oriental fashion clothing & accessories, kimonos, stylish home furnishings, furniture, beautiful ornaments, Chinese calligraphy plus much, much more!
The Natural Luxury of an Arizona Dude Ranch Vacation
Beautiful weather and sunny days are a year-round natural luxury in Arizona. One can easily argue that the weather and the scenic beauty of the state are best enjoyed in the saddle of a horse. Arizona dude ranches offer the opportunity to do precisely that, and much more.
Horseback riding is the main event at dude ranches, but it definitely isn't all a visitor will find. Swimming pools and tennis courts can be found at many ranches, and some even offer health spas and massages. Activities often include cattle roundups, hayrides, and cookouts. There is always something to do, or not do, depending on the pace the guest prefers.
Some Arizona dude ranches are operating working dude ranches. Guests may enjoy working alongside the ranch hands, roping and feeding cattle. Of course, no one is ever required to work, but the opportunity is there for those desiring to take an active role, and those willing to get dirty.
Other ranches in Arizona are known as 'guest ranches'. They're not currently operating cattle ranches, and instead the primary focus is on the comfort and enjoyment of their guests. Guest ranches offer the usual dude ranch activities, and provide a wide range of modern amenities. The type of dude ranch to visit depends entirely on the experience the traveler is looking for.
Fittingly, the Spanish influence is clearly seen in many Arizona dude ranches. The American cowboy has roots that directly trace back to the Mexican vaqueros, and Arizona itself has very strong Spanish ties. The western hospitality you will find at Arizona's dude ranches can be easily summed up: 'mi casa es su casa.' Dude Ranch Info provides informatino on dude ranches in Colorado, Texas, Montana, Wyoming, Arizona, and California, and information on dude ranch jobs. Dude Ranch Info is the sister site of Mountain Vacations Web Travel.
Tanzania Ticket: Saadani National Park; Elephants Frolic In The Surf!
This park is only 100km north of Dar es Salaam. Saadani is where the bush meets the sea. This colorful clash of ecosystems is found nowhere else along the coast of East Africa. Imagine, this is the place where the hippopotamus compete with coral reefs, lions roar at the surf and baboons race along the beach. Elephants have even been spotted enjoying the surf.
Your hotel room not only looks out over the African bush but it also has a sea view! This park has only recently been gazetted as a National Park and was once a coconut plantation. Game viewing is in open 4x4 vehicles, however, walking safaris are allowed in the Forrest and on returning from your walking safari to your hotel - take off your boots � and have a refreshing walk in the surf. There are only a very few locations where walking safaris are allowed in Tanzania and this is one of them and this park also boasts a special night walk trail.
There are green turtle nesting sites along this beach. Wami River safari is a wondrous experience entering the river from the ocean is a truly unique experience. There are canoing safaris on the Mafui River that offer blissful bird watching opportunities.
There are a number of small islands dotted along the coast line and snorkeling and swimming in the warm crystal seas is part of the Saadani experience. There are also cultural visits to a number of community projects in the area.
This is a most unusual destination and well worth considering when you plan a trip to Tanzania.
About the Author: Bethel Adventure are a non-profit making enterprise that is registered with the Tanzanian Government. http://www.betheladventures.co.uk using tourism to change lives. At the moment we are building a nursery school in Arusha Northern Tanzania - http://www.betheladventures.co.uk/community.htm - thanking you for your support
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