Since we’re already in Jamaica, and we’re talking about honeymoon villas, there is another private villa in the tropical paradise of Jamaica that you may want to consider for your honeymoon vacation: the Royal Plantation’s extremely private Villa Plantana.

The exclusive three-bedroom villa has it’s own driveway and a stone walkway that brings about the thought of Disney cottages and fairytales. It offers your own private pool as well as a manicured garden. You are also just a wish away from a secluded cove beach for a romantic interlude.

Villa Plantana Highlights include:

* Three bedrooms
* Private Pool
* Ultimate in service and privacy
* Private butler and private room attendant
* All meals, catered from each of our three gourmet restaurants, and expertly served in the privacy of your own villa
* Personal chef is available to prepare meals at the villa
* Unlimited rounds of golf on nearby championship course, with transfers
* Use of all resort facilities

The comforts civilization combined with the serenity of a dream honeymoon, Villa Plantana is a wonderful hideaway for the most special time of your lives together.

Visit www.royalplantation.com.

Where you go on your honeymoon is as important as when the wedding will take place. And there are so many honeymoon destinations out there. There’s Fiji, Hawaii, the Caribbean… Heck, even New York is a honeymoon destination if you’re from, let’s say, Kentucky. But if you have the means to go out of country for your dream honeymoon, don’t forget the most important thing.

In a honeymoon, the newly wed couple should get lots and lots of quiet time and privacy, such as the one offered by Jamaica, wonderful villas for the most exclusive honeymoon retreat.

Choose one of the gorgeous villas of Gordon “Butch” Stewart, world-renowned expert of vacation perfection. The idyllic environment is not only quiet and serene, but absolutely romantic and magical as to make the real world disappear.

The Sundown Villa offers a private beach overlooking Discovery Bay where you can dine al fresco and luxuriate in the beauty of Jamaica.

You can relax and slip into tranquility in the Lime-Acre Villa. Located on the south coast of Jamaica, the estate house has been lovingly preserved from a lime plantation to its present glory, giving off the feel of authentic old Jamaica.

The pastel getaway Santa Maria embodies the magnificence of Jamaica with this 2-bedroom island condo. You can bask in the sun on the white-sand beach or take a dip in the sea, your choice.

Any way you take it, be sure to enjoy Jamaica and each other on your honeymoon. That’s what it’s all about.

And you know what else? You can also get married in Jamaica! According to Wikitravel, fifty percent of marriages in the country are done by tourists. These are called “hotel marriages”, or “any marriage occurring in the island, performed by a certified marriage officer of the island and taking place under the auspices of a hotel, villa, lodge, cottage or any other property designated to the purpose of tourist accommodation”.

And here are the requirements. So if you plan to do the wedding and honeymoon in Jamaica, bring the following with you:

1)Proof of citizenship - certified copy of Birth Certificate, which includes father’s name.
2)Parental consent (written) if under 18 years of age.
3)Proof of divorce (if applicable) - original Certificate of Divorce.
4)Certified copy of Death Certificate for widow or widower.
5)French Canadians need a notarized translated English copy of all documents and a photocopy of the original French documents.
6)Blood tests are not required by law.
7)Italian Nationals celebrating their marriage in Jamaica must notify their Embassy to be legalized and translated.

Best wishes!

Source: Wikitravel

Photo Credit: sparkyd
Alaska, as I have found out, is more than ice and cold. You may want to go on an Alaskan cruise to get a fair picture of how gorgeous this winter landscape is. You may want to check out my entries on Fairbanks and Anchorage to get more information about what I’m talking about.

Interested in more? Why not try a Princess Cruise to Alaska? One of the leading cruises in the world today, Princess Cruise offers an experience you would never forget with every cruise you join.

Their Alaskan cruise includes an insider’s view of Alaska where Libby Riddles, the first woman to ever win the 1,100 Iditarod sled dog race comes aboard in Juneau to share her adventures with guests. You can also hear more about Alaskan life in Skagway from more of talented storytellers.

You will also sail with full-time onboard naturalists to teach you about Alaska’s unique and intriguing flora and fauna. And you can also learn about the Glacier Bay National Park, one of the Alaskan treasures you shouldn’t miss.

I think I may have to add an Alaska cruise to my to-do list. And one cruise no matter where the destination on one of the Princess Cruises ships.

Photo Credit: creatingkoan
It seems like Disney is staying away from theme parks this time around but don’t feel bad about your dream Hawaiian vacation yet because Walt Disney Parks & Resorts is planning a gorgeous resort in the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

It has been reported that the initial plans for the islands will include “830 hotel and vacation time-share rooms, a fantasy-laden water play area and an 18,000-square-foot spa to Kapolei in the rapidly expanding Ko Olina resort on West Oahu”. And Disney has always been able to deliver when it comes to fantasy places. Just think of Disneyland in California and Disney World in Florida. Not to mention the one in Hong Kong which is just as glorious and magical as the rest of them. It wouldn’t be entirely different.

The resort is also expected to hire a thousand “cast members” so even though it’s not entirely Disneyland, it will still have that Disney magic. It was also reported that there had been no mention of a full-scale theme park but I’m sure that whatever the Disney name will touch will include magic anyway. This will also be a treat to locals and tourists alike as Hawaii has no full-scale amusement park, banking only on the beauty of the Hawaiian beaches and volcanoes. In my opinion though, Hawaii has enough beauty on its own.

Get your surfboards ready and join Mickey Mouse on the sea, sun and surf. The complex is expected to be completed in 2011.

My most favorite city in the United States at the moment is New Orleans, said to be the most celebrated city of the American South. Okay, so I love it because of a book series that I’ve been following and have been obsessed about, the Dark-Hunters series by Sherrilyn Kenyon, and most of the stories are set in the Big Easy.

What I can’t do is write about the whole of the Big Easy in one blog. It just won’t do. So what I’m going to do is pick a chunk of the glorious city and write about them one at a time.

Probably, one of the most popular citizens of New Orleans is my favorite couple, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie who are back stateside after the birth of their twins, Knox and Vivienne. The couple lives with their extensive brood in a $3.5 million home in the city. Angie has recently been seen strolling with three of their children, Pax, Shiloh and Zahara. Hubby, Brad has also been seen cycling around the French Quarter.

The French Quarter or the Vieux Carre, is the oldest, most famous section of the city, laid out in the 18th century. It stretches alongside the Mississippi River. Although it is compact, there are loads to see in the French Quarter and you may need several days to completely enjoy it.

If getting drunk is your main vacation goal, you can go straight to Bourbon Street where countless bars, fine restaurants and pubs and joints abound designed specifically to cater to the hard-drinking tourists. Be ready to go to some really wild parties as the 8 blocks of Bourbon from Canal Street are not for the faint-hearted.

If you are to go to Bourbon at night, Royal Street is where a tourist should go to by day. These are where the art galleries, antique stores and specialty shops abound. Just one block away from bourbon, but as different as a an exotic dancer is in appearance from the queen mother.

Another enjoyable part of the Quarter is Jackson Square where live music and tarot readers abound.

You can also enjoy carriage rides, street entertainers and walking tours where you can mostly appreciate the magic that is the French Quarter. Try it and see what Angelina and Brad saw.

Brad Pitt’s photo courtesy of Popsugar.

Photo Credit: mcclave
I’ve always been partial to words such as magic and mystic. Since I was a kid, the word “mystic” had always been one of my favorites. So I was delighted when I found a place actually called Mystic.

A major tourist destination, Mystic, Connecticut is a village split in the middle, one part in Groton, another in Stonington. What’s lovely is that you can find the Mystic Seaport, and the Mystic Aquarium there, along with the more popular tourist shopping destination.

The Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration boasts of indoor and outdoor exhibits, and habitats where you can watch the beluga whales and the Pacific white-sided dolphins. Being a sucker for aquariums, I’d sure head there first before anywhere else.

You can also visit the Mystic Seaport, also known as The Museum of America and the Sea, which is America’s largest maritime museum. While at the seaport, you can also ride the Steamboat Sabino, the oldest, operational wooden steamboat that can take you on a tour of the scenic Mystic River.

For shopping needs, the charmingly named Olde Mistick Village is an outdoor shopping area, home to over 60 shops where the whole family can spend a day.

What I remember though is a movie called Mystic Pizza, starring Julia Roberts. Apparently, the real Mystic Pizza still exists on West Main St. They don’t have Julia Roberts but they do have great pizzas.

For something quietly mystical, head on over to Mystic.

Photo Credit: David.R.Carroll
Ottawa, the capital city of Canada, is along the Ontario side of the Ottawa River, right across from Gatineau, Quebec. Aside from its main tourist attractions such as the Parliament Hill, Ottawa is also a great place to wine and dine.

Local and international food are available in countless restaurants and street vendors across the city. It has the finest Chinese cuisine in the Chinatown area, along Somerset Ave. If Italian is your thing, wander over to Little Italy along Preston Street. And if you think, what the heck, I want something new, you have choices, choices, choices at the Byward Market area, a total food haven.

While you’re there, do not miss Ottawa’s “claim to culinary fame”, the deep-fried beavertail (which is actually deep-fried dough, and not a real beaver’s tail). You can get it topped with ordinary sugar or you can choose cinnamon, or both, or a hundred other variants. You can get it in the Byward Market on George St. It’s the only place that has it during summer.

You also have your choice of coffee shops. Starbucks is the safest bet, but there’s a Tim Horton’s at practically every street corner if you need a quick coffee fix.

And, coffee isn’t the only thing that you can find quickly in Ottawa. There are a lot of “chip wagons” parked around the city at lunch time. Food is usually just a few steps away so you will unlikely get hungry.

For the traveler on a budget, Budapest Delicatessen is an institution in Ottawa, serving great (and I mean great!) classic European cold cut sandwiches with the works. You can also try DiRienzo’s Deli which is a little heaven of a place in Little Italy which also serves great (and fast) sandwiches. If you want to splurge, there’s Domus, in the Byward Market. They serve regional Canadian cuisine under the knowing eyes of talented, award winning chefs. If you have a little taste for French cuisine, there’s Signatures, a classy French restaurant with a five-diamond rating.

If you want to go bar-hopping, Byward Market is still the place for you. Helsinki Lounge and Disco is a popular spot that serves creative, and very un-Finnish, delights.

There are also an abundance of Irish/British style pubs around such as Black Thorn, the Irish Village and Patty Boland’s. You won’t be wanting for any more beer, I think.

Wherever you turn, you can enjoy the dining experience in Ottawa.

Cheers!

Photo Credit: K _ Thomas
The Mesa Verde National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the southwestern corner of Colorado and is renowned for wonderfully-preserved cliff dwellings. This is said to be one of the most interesting sights in America. The name literally means “green table” in Spanish, referring to the verdantly green plateaus.

The are was covered by a shallow sea about a hundred million years ago, and as the sea receded, uplift in the area created the high plateau that is Mesa Verde. You can come into the park at Montezuma Valley where elevation is a steep climb to the mesa top. Park elevation ranges from 6,100 to 8,400 feet above sea level.

One of the best places to see is the Far View Visitor Center where you can sign up for guided tours of Cliff Palace, the Balcony House and the Long House. Or you can go on one of the many scenic views of the park where you can bask in the beauty of nature. There’s the Montezuma Valley Overlook, the Park Point Overlook and the Geologic Overlook. Most of the old service buildings can be found in the Historic District which you can visit. The Spruce Tree Terrance restaurant is quite a place to see.

Another must visit is the Wetherill Mesa, open seasonally from 9 AM to 4:30 PM from Memorial Day to Labor Day. You can walk the Badger House Trail or look at the Step House where the trail descends a hundred feet from the Wetherill Mesa Kiosk.

Lots of walking but incredibly beautiful. It’s going to be worth it, trust me.

For more information, visit the official site of the Mesa Verde National Park.

Photo Credit: fjarlq

The Arches National Park is located in the Canyon Country of Utah and is home to the world’s biggest concentration of natural sandstone arches. It preserves more than 2000 arches including the Delicate Arch which is one of the most famous, having found lasting recognition by being in the Utah state license plate. The national park is home to the most outstanding geologic formations found in the world from three-foot arches to the Landscape Arch which measures 306 feet.

There are a lot of incredible things to see in the Arches National Park. Park Avenue is a one mile trail by the park entrance that leads to a sandstone canyon with steep walls and a smooth bottom.

Want to see an important Hollywood scene? The Double Arch is a joining of two arches that has been prominent at the start of the Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, just a walking distance from the North and South Windows and Turret Arch.

You can also marvel at colorful formations of ancient sand dunes that had hardened into stone, giving them the charming name Petrified Dunes.

Join a ranger-led tour of the Fiery Furnace which is one of the most interesting geological areas in the Arches National Park. You might also want to visit the Devil’s Garden Trail which is home to numerous arches including the Landscape Arch, the Double O arch and what used to be the Wall Arch which sadly collapsed very recently.

Be ready to hike, backpack and view the almost 50 mammal species that live in the arches. But remember that these geological treasures are very delicate. Stay on the path so that your prints won’t erode the soils. And please, please take to heart the adage: Leave only your footprints, take only photographs. That tiny pebble you take might be the only thing that holds an arch together.

For more information, check out its Wikitravel article.

Photo Credit: tata_aka_T
A beautiful island off the coast of Belize, Caye Caulker is known for its supply of fresh water from the La Aguada. Its name is the anglicized pronunciation of the Spanish name Cayo Hicaco, meaning “the island of the cocoplum”.

Its location is already close to paradise itself but there is more to the island. The Caye Caulker Forest Reserve is mostly dense forest and covers the northern part of the island. It had been declared a protected area in 1998. There is also the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve adjacent to the forest as well as the Belize Barrier Reef that runs along the entire Caye. Four kilometers from the south of San Pedro, the Hol Chan Marine Reserve had bigger fishes but could get terribly crowded as well.

If you’re interested in bigger, as in bigger, marine animals, visit the Shark and Ray Alley to watch (or swim with) sharks and stingrays. An hour away from Caye Hicaco, the Blue Hole is also an interesting place to visit. Forty meters deep, it is the most famous dice site in Belize where you can find lots of corals and fishes.

Diving, snorkeling and kayaking are the most popular activities in the area. You can check out the Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary to swim with the manatees. Or go to Seagull Adventures for snorkeling.

Visit the Official Official Site of the Caye Caulker Belize Tourism Industry Association (CCBTIA) for more information.