Ideal Travel Places

Oregon Dunes

The Oregon Dunes State Park and Oregon Dunes National Park are among the most unique features of the Oregon coast. Located near the beautiful coast the sand dunes in Oregon are a favorite tourist spot because of the wide variety of recreational activities available and the unexpected beauty of the dunes. Suited for outdoor adventures peaceful camping or retreating or just enjoying natural surroundings a trip to the Oregon Dunes complete any vacation to the Oregon coast.

WHAT ARE THE OREGON DUNES?

The Oregon dunes are a beautiful formation of shifting sand often referred to as the American Sahara. They are caused by the extreme erosion and water evaporation over thousands of years. The Oregon coast dunes stretch over forty miles along the Oregon coast beginning in the north with the Florence Oregon sand dunes and ending in the south at the Coos Bay dunes. The Oregon sand dunes are the largest coastal dunes in North America. Rising to up to 500 feet above sea level this unusual formation is set against the backdrop of one of the most beautiful coasts in the Northwest. From the rising sand peaks to the islandlike tree formations the dunes in Oregon are one of the most ecologically diverse features in the United States. Combining shifting deserttype sands with coastal waters lakes streams and forests the Oregon coast sand dunes are a mustsee on any Oregon vacation.

OREGON DUNES CAMPING

There are three major sand camping areas on the Oregon dunes recreation facilities. The first is located in the north dunes called the Florence Oregon sand dunes. The two major camping sites in the Florence dune area are called Driftwood II and Honeyman State Park.
Driftwood offers 68 OHV slots for trailers or automobiles.

Honeyman boasts a close proximity to the ocean and dune access points as well as two freshwater lakes within its park borders.

Just south of Florence is the second major recreational area called Winchester Bay or the Umpqua Dunes. The largest camping area in the Winchester Bay dune area is called Discovery Point resort. The resort offers over 60 RV slots with complete hookups. Discovery Point is located just below the Umpqua lighthouse and very near the Umpqua dunes access point.

The southernmost Oregon dunes recreational area is located at Coos Bay. The Coos Bay dunes area offers several options for camping. The major camping areas are Spinreel OHV OffHighway motor Vehicle Oregon Dunes KOA Hauser Overflow OHV camp Horsfall OHV and Horsfall Beach OHV.

Spinreel OHV campsites are located eleven miles south of Reedsport and offer 36 auto trailer and tent sites.

Oregon Dunes KOA Kampgrounds of America is located further from the dune access than most of the other campgrounds but boasts water sewer electric and TV hookups on every campsite. Oregon Dunes KOA offers 62 large campsites that accommodate RVs and tents. Oregon Dunes KOA also has a selection of cabins available.

Hauser Overflow OHV is only used during Memorial Weekend the Fourth of July and Labor Day Weekend.

Horsfall OHV is located a mile and a half from North Bend. Horsfall OHV offers 70 OHV campsites.

Horsfall Beach OHV is also located a short distance from North Bend. Horsfall Beach consists of 41 OHV automobile and trailer sites.

Before planning a camping trip on the Oregon coast dunes make sure to check out the local rules and regulations costs seasonal availability and amenities. Also try to make reservations if possible. Many sand campgrounds do not accept reservations from October 1st to April 30th and many sites require reservations during the summer months. Plan ahead to make sure and get the best camping site available. Check out the Internet websites for each campground to check out the cost availability reservation information amenities and other particulars for each private campsite.

OREGON DUNE FEST

The Oregon Dune Fest is an annual event that usually takes place around the first week of August. This event is located on the sand dunes in Winchester Bay. During the day Dune Fest has exciting racing and events for all ages genders and skill levels such as motocross racing barrel racing dune drag racing relay racing and many more. Children can get involved too. A variety of activities are available during the day just for children. One of the main activities for children involves a treasure hunt and dig on the dunes. At night things heat up with concerts dancing and bonfires. Local DJs are invited to spin their stuff and acclaimed rock groups give a wild concert during the last night of the festivities. Every year the Annual Charity ATV Auction is held raising money for various causes. More information about this years event can be easily found on the Internet.

DUNES NATIONAL PARK

The Oregon Dunes National Park is part of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation
Area. The National Recreation Area consists of the sand dunes coastal areas rivers lakes streams and forests located in the fortymile stretch on the Oregon coast. Dunes National Park is only small part of the National Recreation Area established in Oregon. The Oregon Dunes National Park is a great place for outdoor activities such as hiking biking sand boarding OHV use and horseback riding. But the recreation area is also home to more solitary and relaxing pursuits such as bird watching or trail walking. The National Park is shelter to many rare birds such as endangered shore birds osprey bald eagles and egrets. The ecological diversity found in the Dunes National Park creates a perfect sanctuary for many types of wildlife. Enjoy the conveniences of the local campgrounds and Oregon coast dune access points. Explore the natural wonder of the winding trails and the beauty coastal waters. Camping is also available in the Dunes National Park. Campgrounds can be easily searched on the Internet and can accommodate most of the average vacations camping needs. Campgrounds can be found that house RV parking and hookups showers water hookups traditional tent camping cabin camping and nontraditional camping such as teepees and covered wagon camping.

About the writer:  David Nool a proficient writer writes articles for www.loonlakerv.com Supplementary editorials that were written by David Nool about Oregon Camping Oregon Campgrounds Camping Oregon Oregon Coast Campingare accessible on the internet.

Bahamas Vacation: How To Choose An Island

Thinking about a vacation in the Bahamas but dont know which island to visit? This article will introduce you to each islands unique character and the mysteries and adventures it has to offer.

New Providence Island is home to Nassau the capital of the Bahamas and by far its largest city. Nassau was first settled in the 1600s and is rich with history including plenty of genuine pirates. Nassau has some beautiful colonial architecture and on the outskirts a strip of highrise hotels and casinos along Cable Beach. Paradise Island connected to New Providence by a bridge is home to the gargantuan Atlantis resort with its shark pools and water slides. New Providence offers golf tennis diving fishing charters gambling night life sightseeing and cultural activities.

Half a century ago Grand Bahama Island where Freeport is located was almost uninhabited. Today its port is one of the largest in the hemisphere and the city of 50000 is well known as a resort and cruiseship destination. The tourism center is Port Lucaya which features a large marina highrise beach resorts shopping and dining. Unlike New Providence the island of Grand Bahama has less populated regions as well with deserted beaches and tropical pine forests. The Lucayan National Park includes a nature preserve and vast underwater cave system.

The Abacos the acknowledged sailing capital of the Bahamas are among the worlds most beautiful cruising grounds. Marsh Harbour on Great Abaco is a major boatcharter center as well as a base for diving and deepsea fishing. The Abacos were settled by Loyalists who fled New England after the Revolutionary War and the islands are known for their CapeCodstyle houses with clapboard siding and picket fences. To contrast its quaint villages Abaco has several major resorts complete with championship golf courses and acres of condominiums.

The Exumas are a chain of over 300 islands and cays. Aside from Great and Little Exuma which are the two largest most are uninhabitedand thats half the fun. Like the Abacos the Exumas are wonderful cruising grounds. The largest settlement is George Town on Great Exuma a village of1000 souls with a fine harbor. The Exuma Cays Land and Sea National Park at the north of the chain is popular with divers and even has a few nature trails for landlubbers. Exuma also has several major resorts including the Four Seasons at Emerald Bay.

Hemingways famous Island in the stream Bimini lies in the Gulf Stream just 50 miles from the east coast of Florida. Hemingway helped make it famous as a center of deepsea fishing and it remains so to this day. Biminiwhich is actually two islands and a number of caysis also a popular cruising ground and the main settlement Alice Town caters to the yachting crowd. Bimini has one major resort Bimini Bay but is otherwise still very rustic. Biminis other claim to fame is Bimini Road a highway of stone in twenty feet of water that some believe is a remnant of the lost city of Altantis.

With sixty miles of beaches and only a few dozen hotel rooms Eleuthera is a paradise for beach lovers who enjoy privacy and unspoiled natural beauty. Eleuthera is an island of rolling green hills and sleepy villages. The guidebooks are fond of noting that Eleuthera has not a single traffic light but that isnt surprising when you consider that most of it has only one road. Needless to say there is little need for a map and on an island less than a mile wide for long stretches youre never far from the beach.

Andros is by far the largest of the Bahamian islands with an area of 2300 square miles. The interior said to be the largest stillunexplored landmass in the world is home to sixfoot iguanas and the rare Bahamian boa constrictor. Sasquatch has not been sighted but only because no one has braved the iguanas and boas to look for him. The east coast of the island the only populated area has scattered villages and miles of beautiful beaches. Just offshore is Andross other great attraction a vast barrier reefthe second largest in the world.

Long Island is one of the few Bahamian islands which does not depend primarily on tourism. Fishing and to a lesser extent agriculture still predominate. The island was settled by American Loyalists from the South who came with their slaves and established plantations. The soil would not support largescale farming however and the plantations were gradually abandoned. Their ruins can still be seen. Long Island is also home to Deans Blue Hole one of the deepest in the world and a spectacular sight with its high cliff walls.

Fifty miles long and with a population of 1600 Cat Island is a place for people who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of for example rural North Dakota. Cat has many miles of deserted pinksand beaches and a central ridge that reaches 200 feet the highest elevation in the Bahamas. A monastery known as the Hermitage handbuilt by an Anglican clergyman turned Catholic priest is located atop the peak. Aside from heaven itself a hermit could hardly have found a better place for peace and quiet.

Columbus made his first landfall in the new world on the Bahamian island of San Salvador. There are four monuments to the event scattered about this lonely island of 1000 souls. The interior of San Salvador is taken up largely by salt lakes and marshes and the only road follows the circumference of the island. San Salvador is almost entirely surrounded by a reef and has some of the best diving in the Bahamas including cave diving and wreck diving. The beaches are also excellent. The island is home to the Bahamas only Club Med a vast resort of 200 rooms one of the most luxurious in the Club Med chain.

About the writer:  Matthew Simon is developing oceanfront condominiums on the island of Eleuthera http://www.ButtonwoodReserve.com/. His latest book is How to Buy and Sell Real Estate in the Bahamas: Insider’s Guide http://www.HowToBuyRealEstateBahamas.com/. Matthew may be reached at mattsimonmxjuno.com.

Longans Lychees And Pagodas

Travel to Southern Guangdong China

When the Southern China Airliner descends for landing in Guangzhou’s International we see myriads of glittering lights below us. The time is early evening 1900 hours.In summer days the air stands heavy and polluted in Guangzhou the capital of Guangdong. A center of industrialization the immense amount of manufacturing units add its share to modern days’s plight of greenhouse emissions.

We sigh when we leave the Airport nearly melting in the humid stifling atmosphere that has engulfed the city. Millions of people work here like in the other big centers across China. Guangzhou is a showcase for the industrial revolution its International Fair held twice a year draws Billions of foreign capital to the Chinese Economy. The official figures claim 10 Billion Dollars are received in orders during 10 days of Spring fair and the same happens 4 times a year.

Our contact man Mr. Wu is expecting us at the Exit with a signboard exhibiting our names clearly. After an initial welcoming ceremony we tend to the waiting cab and speed off towards the main bus terminal. We will continue the journey to southern Guangdong without a rest in the capital. Buses in China are plentiful we depart from the southern terminal near the railway station.

Along the highway the familiar sights of China as in every province the huge signboards lining the roads to lure customers to displayed merchandise the modern capitalistic features of are everywhere visible. I wonder how many times I must have seen the “HAIER” advert written in huge letters on the billboard that we pass. Familiar scenes cross my mind. China a gigantic country by all standards a society which is diverse unique in its size and its achievements. Nothing will stop China from achieving superiority status there is no other nation where people work as hard as in this progressing Nation.

The bus speeds through the night leaving the capital behind us turning towards the southern parts our destination unknown except for the name. We are anxious to see where we shall end up. Along the road huge Banana plantations which cater for the whole of the Chinese market Guangdong’s climate is ideally suited for the growing of fruits.

Where we will end up this night ? We wonder and Mr. Wu tries to elaborate on some scenic spots along the road. Since months have we prepared to reach this part of China and now the time has come to see the ‘fruit city’ famous for its Longans and Lychees throughout the dynasties Emperors in Beijing demanded the best fruits from here.

After four hours we finally reach the Terminus looks typically provincial. Lots of characters linger around here which I dislike. One should be careful at night always watch your bags.

A Taxi in form of an ‘Wulungxie’ the Chinese version of a Minibus takes us to Mr. Wu’s residence he insists he wants us to stay at his home. Mr. Wu is a teacher in the Gaozhou ‘Normal school’ a Middle school with approx. 5000 Students.

His residence is far outside we cross rice fields typical Chinese village like structures and I regret not having insisted on staying in the city center. When the house is reached we recognize the residential structure of an apartment building the ones covering China from North to South East to West. Simple with basic utilities enabling millions to live in an affordable home.

Through the dark staircase we reach the third floor carrying our bags and start to sweat from the physical effort. As always I don’t like to carry much baggage with me this time I blame myself for not being persistent enough.

Always revenging itself a heavy load of baggage adds to your inconvenience when going to distant places.

When we enter we realize that we made a mistake to follow Mr. Wu’s advice and lodge with him. The place is Spartan to say the least. Our bedroom features two beds hard wood as the source of a mattress and a straw mat. There is lots of personal junk from the owner lying around. We decide to make it through this night anyway we do not have much of a choice. Mr. Wu is in high spirits and he wishes us a good night before retiring.

No one can find sleep we are too tense although very exhausted from the trip. When we doze off it is close to 0500 hours in the morning.

We awake to sounds of birds singing the windows open and we can see rice paddies in front of the building. It’s a lovely scene and we feel better than the night before when we arrived. Looking for a bathroom we find a basic bare concrete floored shower and toilet room enough to make you run back to where you came from. We look into the kitchen and see a heap of unwashed dishes signs of Bachelor’s life and a rice cooker. Beside it a note inviting us to have our breakfast consisting of rice congee. Two bowls and 2 pairs chop sticks lay beside the rice cooker the congee is hot the cooker was left on ‘warm’. We are hungry and taste some congee the common breakfast in China ‘Xi Fan’ as it is called.

The note also says he had to attend to his class and will be back around 10 AM. We have made up our minds we will leave at the earliest opportunity trying not to offend the host. Hard to understand without knowing the mentality of Chinese People they offer you their home and you do not want to accept it.

When Mr. Wu finally arrives we are ready to leave he looks surprised. He is of the opinion that his house is more convenient than a Hotel however he agreed and calls a Taxi. Again I carry the unnecessary weight of our luggage down the stairs.

Do to the remote location it takes almost 30 minutes till the ‘Taxi’ arrives. A Motorcycle with sidecar and the luggage is all stowed away. Rattling through the suburbs we now fully realize how far the place is from the center of town.

A hotel is quickly located and we now settle into a somewhat more familiar surrounding. Mr. Wu has accompanied us and helps us to settle in with instructions to the chamber maid the ‘Foo Yuan’ in Pinyin. We need rest for the night we spent without much sleep and ask to be excused for a few hours. Mr. Wu leaves and promises to return in the afternoon.

We drift into a deep sleep and I wonder like so many times before what will wait for us here. .

Next : The gardens of Eden.

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