Author Archives: Ogliastra45

Martin County, Florida Travel Guide

If you are planning to visit martin county Florida, please remember our long list of no noes – no theme parks, no high-rises, no crowds, no parking meters, no lines, no hurrying. Surprisingly, this unspoiled coastal hideaway is located just 30 minutes drive north of Palm Beach International Airport, small distance but a big change of pace. The environment here is preserved in just about every way imaginable, from the pristine beaches to picturesque downtown’s to premier golf courses. The landscape is uncluttered and unmarred by high-rise buildings, thanks to a very Martin-like four story building cap. Relaxing in this unhurried, uncrowded tropical paradise just sort of comes naturally.

Clean, uncrowded beaches stretch for miles offering access to the Blue Atlantic waters warmed by the nearby Gulf Stream. Many beach parks have full facilities and lifeguards, and all have free parking. The most famous is Bathtub Beach where a reef which is a hundred feet from shore creates a shallow Lagoon. This reef and other natural and man-made reefs create an enchanting playground for underwater divers.

For over a century, Martin County’s commerce and recreation have thrived along its 150 miles of waterways. Voted one of the most boater friendly communities found anywhere. There are dozens of public boat ramps, charters, and full-service marinas to serve visitors. Offshore fishing here is a world-renowned legacy and that’s no empty boast. Sometimes, the smallest anglers bring home the biggest catch. As one of the most sought-after game-fishing grounds in North America, this town earned the title of the sailfish capital of the world.

Fishing from a boat bridge or the shoreline, you can land one of more than 600 native species. The mammoth Lake Okeechobee on the western border is a Mecca for big bass fishing. If you prefer the lure of a golf course, you can tee up at a different designer course every day of your stay and still not play them all.

Cultural heritage is one of Martin County’s greatest treasures – at attractions like the Elliot museum showcasing Americana, the House of Refuge built in 1875 as a sanctuary for shipwrecked sailors, Heritage Museum in the century-old steward feed store, the old courthouse now a shining cultural center, and the restored lyric theater bringing quality entertainment to downtown Stuart for 80 years.

Dozens of parks and wildlife preserves invite the public to enjoy hiking, biking, cycling, and other recreational pursuits like birding at the six official Florida birding trail sites. Watersports come in all shapes and sizes. Near perfect conditions for learning to sail are found on the mile-wide Intracoastal Waterway at the US Sailing Center in Jensen beach, one of only two facilities in the country sanctioned for training us athletes in Olympic sailing. Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center on Hutchinson Island is dedicated to protecting and preserving Florida’s delicate ecosystems. Experience the eco boat tours where you’ll meet some of Martin County’s most celebrated residents.

Jupiter Island, perhaps the wealthiest ZIP code in America rewards visitors with blowing Rocks Park where geysers erupt as the sea bursts through natural limestone and where the thousand acre hopes sound National Wildlife Refuge hosts its famous sea turtle nesting tours. Martin County lures its share of the rich and famous just enough to give rise to sophisticated dining and shopping. Two dozen golf courses, many designed by legends of the game and a general aviation airport where the annual air show is staged.

Leisure visitors will easily find accommodations to suit every taste from an oceanfront resort or luxury condominiums on Hutchinson Island to marina hotels where you can dock your boat right at your door. Riverfront cottages, small Inns, and intimate bed and breakfasts throughout the county lend charm and authenticity to your lodging selection.

Whether you are in love with fishing or golf, history or nature, or just with each other, visit Martin County to enjoy change of pace and rediscover how to fall in love with Florida all over again.

Christmas Getaway to Prague

If you’re planning to go on an out of the country Christmas getaway, there is no better place to go than Prague. Imagine the pictures you see in Christmas cards and you’ll get that first hand when you come and spend the holidays in this Gothic fairytale-like Christmas city. Here are 5 things to-do when you visit Prague during Christmas.

CHRISTMAS FEELS
Christmas in Prague is usually chilly with early snow starting to drape the Gothic buildings and the air would be filled with the scent of cinnamons and fresh bakes of the day. Most of this historic buildings are adorned with glittering Christmas ornaments infecting people with the holiday bug. It’s like stepping in a Christmas village only seen on cartoons, but walking down there cobbled streets will just make you want to be drunk with Christmas spirit.

OUTDOOR CHRISTMAS MARKETS
Holiday shopping in Europe is every shopper’s dream and Prague is not exempted. Shopping rush is everywhere but one of the most recommended place to do your Christmas shopping is at the foot of the Church of Our Lady before Tyn in Old Town Square because that is the original and the grandest outdoor Christmas market in Prague. Aside from grabbing little trinkets for your loved ones, take time also to experience the culture and tradition of Prague through the people you meet and greet while shopping.

ICE SKATING
Another famous activity in Prague would be ice skating in the midst of the beautifully lights and the historical old buildings of the city. It doesn’t matter if you’re a first timer or a pro skater, the feeling of skating with all the other tourists and locals under the Christmas sky is just magical.

RIVER CRUISE
The cobbled lanes of the city are mostly full of tourists and locals doing Christmas shopping and errands, another lovely alternative would be a river cruise. Romantic cruises in the Vltava River are not only for couples but for families as well, it will also provide you another beautiful perspective of the old buildings embellished with Christmas decorations.

OPERAS AND AMAZING PERFORMANCES
Make sure to book a ticket in advance because this usually gets sold out fast. Ballets, operas and musical performances are quite common in this old city and they’ll probably make you fall in love with their world-class performances. The intricate interiors of Prague’s theaters are also an extra topping on the already noteworthy shows. December favorites will be the Nutcracker and Swan Lake Ballet.

Is It Possible To Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometown?

Do you feel like you don’t have enough money to take that one trip that you have always wanted to take? If you feel this way, don’t worry, because you are not alone. There are many people out there who choose to spend their vacations in their hometown rather than at some sort of an exotic place. Why do they do this? Probably because they feel the same way that you feel – either that or simply because they can’t get enough of their hometowns.

But did you know that staying staying in your hometown doesn’t necessarily mean that you are not going to have a good time? You get to spend more time at home and less time behind the wheel. What this means is that you get to keep a lot of money in your pockets. With that said, did you know that you can actually be a tourist in your hometown? While it may sound impossible to you, believe us, it’s not. So, why not be a tourist in your own hometown and spend some time exploring your own neighborhood? By choosing to be a hometown tourist, you get to fall in love with your own city all over again, and you get to save a whole lot of money as well. And now, here are top three tourist-like things that you can do in your hometown!

Climb a Mountain Or Hit the Beach
If you live near the mountains, there is always something to do. This includes all sorts of activities such as skiing or hiking which is a personal favorite for the owners of Zone Garage Calgary who live just an hour outside of the Rocky Mountains. And if you live near the seashore, you can spend an entire day swimming in the sea. You may even be able to enjoy the sunset or sunrise – it all depends on your particular beach.

Book a Tour
Many people don’t even bother to take a tour of their own city, simply because they think that they already know everything that there is to know about it. However, there is always something new to learn. So, take a tour of your own city as soon as possible!

Attend Some Local Events
There are many towns out there that host free community events. These events include things such as free concerts and festivals. That being said, make sure to attend as many of your town’s local events as possible.

Three Things That You Need to Do in Lucerne

Lucerne is a beautiful town that is located in one of the most beautiful countries in the world – Switzerland. You can easily say that Lucerne looks like some kind of a place that came straight out of a fairy tale or something like that, and the reason why is because it really is an amazing place with a lot of things to see, as well as a lot of things to do. It is pretty much safe to say that the streets of Lucerne are some of the cleanest streets in the world, and one of the main reasons why the streets of Lucerne are so clean is because a lot of people are nice enough to put their trash where it should be put – in the garbage can. Another reason is because the law in Switzerland is very strong, which means that throwing your trash around the city would most likely get you into a lot of trouble.

Lucerne

And now, let’s talk about some fun things, shall we? If you would like to fully explore Lucerne, 24 hours would probably be nowhere near enough. With that being said, the best thing to do would be to spend at least two or three days in Lucerne. If this is your first time visiting Lucerne, you are probably wondering where to go and what to do, aren’t you? Well, if you are, then you came to the right place. I am now going to tell you about some of the best things that you can do in this beautiful town called Lucerne. Enjoy your stay!

Visit the Lucerne Rathaus

If you are interested in exploring interesting and historic places, then Lucerne Rathaus is the place to be. So, what is actually the Lucerne Rathaus? It is the Lucerne Town Hall, and when it comes to its beautiful architecture, it is one of the most fascinating places in Lucerne.

Lake Lucerne

Lake Lucerne is not just your ordinary lake. Actually, one would probably not even think that it is a lake at all. The reason why is because it is so big, and it offers some amazing views both inside and outside of Lucerne.

The Streets of Lucerne

Like I already said, the streets of Lucerne are some of the cleanest streets in the world. Just walking through them is always a great experience. So, take your time and explore this beautiful town as much as you can.

What Makes Facebook Messenger Such a Great Travel App?

Many people out there think that Facebook Messenger is just another one of those applications that you can use to contact your family and friends. While this is completely true, there is so much more to Facebook Messenger than that. Did you know that a lot of Facebook Messenger’s features are actually aimed at people who love to travel? That’s right! Facebook Messenger can actually work as a travel app – you just need to know how to use it properly. The following are some of this app’s best features that could be very useful during your next trip.

Figuring Out Where Your Friends Are

Have you ever traveled in a group? If you have, then you already know how difficult it can be to find your travel buddies after being away from each other for a few hours. Actually, it might even be harder than agreeing with them where to go for lunch or dinner. This is especially true if you are in a country that you have never been to before. Facebook Messenger has a feature that lets you share your current location with your friends, which makes it very easy for them to see how far away you are from them. By default, this feature can stay on for an hour, and you can easily switch it on or off from any chat window. That’s it – no more misunderstood directions! This feature does pretty much everything for you.

Requesting a Ride

We all know that buses and trains are all part of the travel experience, right? But what if you just want to drive around in a comfortable, air-conditioned car? If you live in the US and would like to go for either a Lyft or Uber ride, you can contact them without leaving your Facebook Messenger app. Although this method will not save you a whole lot of time, not having to interrupt your conversations is a great bonus. Also, if you have never contacted Uber before, we are pretty sure that your first ride will be a free one.

Splitting Expenses

When it comes to traveling in a group, keeping track of who has paid for what is not always easy. But don’t worry, because Facebook Messenger is here to save the day! Your travel buddies can add their Visa or Mastercard debit cards into the Facebook’s secure payment system, and the whole process should not take more than two minutes. You can then use the app to request money from your travel buddies. This makes the whole experience much easier for everyone involved.