Ski Vacation . From

Skiing In Canada, Canada Ski Vacation, Vacations for Winter Vacation Packages What's New! Travelling To & Around Free Vacation Guides Maps » Home » Skiing & Winter Fun » Skiing in Canada They told you that you couldn't have your cake it and eat it, too. In Alberta, you can. Skiing in Canada is affordable upper crust. Here, snow is the light, fluffy icing on the cake. So go ahead - take a slice of the high life in Alberta, with a Canada Ski Vacation . From high-speed six-seater lifts (known as "six packs") and luxurious lodges to rugged wilderness areas and backcountry huts, Alberta has everything under the sun to help you enjoy the ultimate Canada ski vacation. Alberta's Alpine Ski Resorts Offer Many Vacations for Winter Alberta may look like the land of a million Christmas trees but it's more than just a pretty visual. When planning your family winter vacation remember that winter in Alberta is about a season that offers unparalleled Canada ski vacations at diverse resorts all over the province. Deep in the south lies an unknown powder hound's heaven called Castle Mountain (with new terrain and new slopeside digs at cheap prices); just west of Calgary lies Nakiska (home of the XV Winter Olympics) and Fortress (also known for its dry, fluffy powder and inexpensive accommodation). Farther west is Mt. Norquay (legendary for its hang-on-tight steeps and proximity to Banff), Sunshine Village (brags of Canada's longest ski season and all-natural snow) and Lake Louise (Canada's single largest ski area) - and all offer great winter vacation packages. Veer north and you'll find the newly expanded, family-friendly resort of Marmot Basin, in Jasper National Park. And skiing in Canada is doubly attractive in Alberta, the only province without a provincial sales tax, which makes it a very affordable family winter vacation. For complete ski packages, mouse around here . Terrain Parks & Pipes Where there's a major ski resort, there's a terrain park. Spines, table tops, quarter pipes, jumps, berms and banks are standard fare in Alberta, as are weekend races. Riders, hungry for fresh terrain, should get their boards down to the new Eagle Ridge wilderness area at Marmot Basin, opening in the 2003/04 season - just another example of more skiing in Canada! Skiing in Canada Includes the Nordic Variety Despite Alberta's magnificent backdrop of the Rockies, the perfect terrain for downhill ski resorts, we don't stop at alpine skiing. Hosting the XV Olympic Winter Games blessed Alberta with the Canmore Nordic Centre, an exhilarating 60-km tumble of track-set trails. In nearby Kananaskis Country, the Ribbon Creek system also has 60 km of groomed trails as well as 75 km of additional trails in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park (check out the annual Ski Marathon a.k.a. as the Cookie Race, held every February), another terrific skiing in Canada event. Right next to this nordic area is Nakiska (and 15 minutes further is the downhill resort of Fortress), so combining nordic and alpine skiing is easy in Alberta, the ultimate in Canada ski vacations. In the southwest corner of Alberta you'll find Waterton Lakes National Park, also laced with family-friendly trails, that makes for a great choice when selecting a vacation for winter. Nordic racers from around the planet annually flock to the Canadian Birkebeiner Ski Festival, (every February), held in Edmonton and Strathcona County (two other areas loaded with track-set trails). Named for a Norwegian family renowned for saving the life of a crown prince by skiing 55 km over three mountain ranges, it's the biggest classic ski race in North America. For more Canada ski vacations, check out our winter packages page or for the ultimate Skiing in Canada road trip, mouse around here . In order to help you plan an idyllic Canada ski vacation, visit these sites for the most current sir reports and conditions at Alberta's individual resorts: » Lake Louise Ski Resort - Live Ski Cam » Sunshine Village Ski Resort - Live Ski Cam » Marmot Basin in Jasper National Park - Live Ski Cam » Ski Banff @ Norquay » Fortress Mountain » Nakiska » Castle Mountain Resort Back to Top Skiing In Canada | Canada Ski Vacation | Vacations For Winter focus pages built by anduro technologies

Italy Travel Photos Italy

Italy (attitude Travel) Advice, Photos and Resources for Independent Travel Home > Italy attitude Travel Questions on Highlights of Travel Advice Background on Getting to Getting around Where to stay in Where to go in Culture Shock! Journals from Photos of Books about Resources for Maps of Language of Websites about Austria Belgium Bosnia Bulgaria Croatia Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Greece Hungary Italy Japan Latvia Lithuania Malaysia Montenegro Morocco Netherlands Norway Poland Russia Serbia Singapore Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Thailand Turkey Uzbekistan Italy Home Considering Italy Italy Travel Photos Italy Bookshop Getting to Italy Consular Travel Advice UK US AUS CAN Travelling in Italy Mediterranean attitude Travel Italy is a resource for independent travellers in Italy and a space for travellers to share original writing & photos Article Index Your questions! Travel Centre Bookshop Trevi Fountain (more travel photos...) Trevi Fountain (more travel photos...) attitudetravel.com SiteSearch Italy Profile Country Profile UK Foreign Office Italy Briefing The Economist Italy Profile BBC News Background Notes US State Dept Cheap Hotel Rooms in Rome Holiday Insurance from InsureandGo Car Hire Italy from carhire.co.uk Find cheap plane tickets on Yahoo! Travel Free Ranking and URL submission at siteranking.com Italy is home to such a staggering amount of monumentally significant culture and history, it's a little difficult to get your head around it. More maps... In two and a half thousand years, three great cultural waves - the Roman Empire, the Catholic Church and the Renaissance - have swept out of Italy to reform the outlook of European peoples. So fair to assume that even half a lifetime of travel and exploration on this Mediterranean peninsula, would scarcely be enough to uncover all the country has to offer. Like Greece , the Aegean coast of Turkey and the Dalmatian coast of Croatia , Italy is something of a vast open-air museum with thousands of ruins from classical antiquity. But essentially, that's only an early historical sideshow to later architectural and civic triumphs: Byzantine temples, mediaeval castles, gothic churches... the foundation of the Republics of Venice, Florence, Genoa... Rennaisance art and architecture... and the scientific and cultural legacies of Galileo, da Vinci, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Dante, Macchiavelli, Verde, Puccini and a seemingly endless list of other Italian illuminaries. Professional Sites Click this icon to read a review of the website Go to Roma E-Partners Guide to hotels, apartments, and walking tours in Rome. Also includes travel information. Rome Hotels E-Partners Guide to hotels in Rome Hotel Europa Island of Ischia Link to us on your site: Open source Italy travel guide Click above for details The island of Ischia © Sandro Buono, Ischia, March 2003 (from an original piece by Geppino Salemme & Franco Longobardo) The most beautiful and largest island in the Gulf of Naples , Ischia is one of the most famous coastalspas of Italy. The ancient Romans called it Pitecusae Aenaria Inarime Arime Iscla . Today, the island of Ischia is renowned for its unparallelled natural beauty, for its mild climate all year round and its thermal waters. More books... Approaching the island across the sea from the mainland, Ischia rises from the water like a vision - as though it were a large vessel adorned for a feast, where the sides, decks, portholes, shrouds, masts and other accoutrements are all decorated in green. Even the peaks of the smallest rocks along the coastline are covered in rich vegetation. Ischia's verdure can even be found in the stones - for example, the famous green tufa found in the Forio area, whose stones make up the beautiful and unique parracine (dry stone walls) which punctuate the vineyards' thick green expanses. The greenery does not hide the natural beauty of the lay of the land. Ischia has a very varied landscape, including mountains, isolated hills, majestic promontories, slopes, plains, and brows of hills, all of which can easily be seen from the magnificent terrace of the soccorso in Forio from which the incredible beauty of [ article continues... ] Sandro & Raffaele Buono, represent Ischia's Hotel Europa , providing hospitality and organised trips to the island's vineyards, wine cellars and marine surroundings. Travel Articles on Italy The island of Ischia Article by Sandro Buono (from an original piece by Geppino Salemme & Franco Longobardo) © 1997-2003 attitude Travel A r o u n i n m e d i a publication Independent Sites Click this icon to read a review of the website Island of Ischia WebCam Austria | Belgium | Bosnia & Herzegovina | Bulgaria | Croatia | Czech Republic | Denmark | Estonia | Finland | France Georgia | Germany | Greece | Hungary | Italy | Japan | Latvia | Lithuania | Malaysia | Morocco | Netherlands | Norway | Poland Russia | Serbia & Montenegro | Singapore | Slovenia | Spain | Sweden | Switzerland | Thailand | Turkey | Uzbekistan home | free backgrounds | bookshop | travel centre | features | travellers' cafe

Taiwan Travel Guide Overview

Taiwan Travel Tips and Advice | iExplore.com FORBES' #1 ADVENTURE TRAVEL SITE 5 YEARS IN A ROW — TIME MAGAZINE TOP 50 Keyword Search: -- Home Trip Finder Travel Guides Community Special Offers Store My iExplore advertisement -- Home Travel Guides Far East Taiwan Do's and Don'ts Taiwan Travel Guide Overview Tours Where to Go Activities General Info History Weather Travel Tips Dining Shopping Visa & Health View Trips to Taiwan Far East Overview Browse Taiwan Photos Taiwan Questions and Answers Read Taiwan Journals Find a Taiwan Travel Buddy Taiwan Travel Tips & Advice Social Conventions Handshaking is common. Casual wear is widely acceptable. Ancient festivals and customs are celebrated enthusiastically and traditional holidays are important. Entertainment is usually offered in restaurants, not at home. Visitors are not expected to entertain. Chinese culture in the form of drama, opera and art is very strong. Despite rapid industrialization and development, the way of life is very much Chinese, steeped in tradition and old values. Tipping Tipping is not an established custom, although it is on the increase. Taipei hotels and restaurants add 10 per cent service charge and extra tipping is not expected. It is not customary to tip taxi drivers. The standard tip for porters is NT$50 per piece of luggage. International Travel: Travel warning Earthquakes (mostly minor) occur regularly and typhoons and tropical storms are a risk: visitors are advised to learn about emergency procedures for such events on arrival. Air The national airline is China Airlines (CI) (website: www.china-airlines.com ). EVA Airways (BR) offers flights to destinations throughout Asia (excluding China, PR), Australia, Europe, New Zealand and North America. Other airlines serving Taiwan include British Asia Airways , Continental Airlines , Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways . Approximate flight times From Taipei to London is approximately 15 hours including a stop in Hong Kong. International airports Chiang Kai-shek-Taipei (TPE) is 40km (25 miles) south of the city (travel time - 30 minutes). Airport facilities include an outgoing duty free shop, post office, car hire, bank/bureau de change, bar/restaurant and tourist information. Buses depart every 15 to 20 minutes for both Sung Shan (domestic) airport and the main railway station. Taxis and buses are available to the city center. Kaohsiung International (KHH) (website: www.kia.gov.tw ) is 9km (4 miles) from the town center. Airport facilities include an outgoing duty free shop, car hire, bank/bureau de change, post office and bar/ restaurant. A regular bus service is available (travel time - 30 minutes). There is a taxi service to the town. Departure tax None. Sea Ferries run regularly between Keelung and Kaohsiung ports (Taiwan) and Okinawa (Japan). There are also sea links between Kaosiung and Macau. Duty-Free The following items may be imported by persons over 20 years of age without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 454g of tobacco ; 1 bottle (not more than 1l) of alcoholic beverage ; reasonable quantities of perfume ; other goods for personal use up to the value of NT$20 , 000 (NT$10 , 000 for passengers under 20 years of age) . Prohibited items Narcotics, arms, ammunition, gambling articles, non-canned meat products, fresh fruit and toy pistols. Publications promoting communism are prohibited, as are items originating in Albania, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China (PR), Cuba, Korea (Dem Rep), Laos, Romania, Vietnam and members of the CIS. All baggage must be itemised and declared in writing. Internal Travel: Air Far Eastern Air Transport , Mandarin Airlines , Transasia Airways and Uni Air are amongst the domestic airlines that run services to local destinations from Sung Shan Airport, Taipei. Sea There are reasonable connections from local ports. For details, contact port authorities. Rail Services are provided to destinations all over the island by the Taiwan Railway Administration (website: www.railway.gov.tw ). The main tourist routes are Taipei-Taichung-Chiayi-Tainan-Kaohsiung (a top-class service), Taipei-Taichung-Sun Moon Lake (with the last leg of the journey by bus), Chiayi-Alishan (with spectacular mountain scenery) and Taipei-New Hualian-Taitung (scenic coastal route). Air-conditioned electric trains run at least hourly from Taipei to Kaohsiung; some trains have restaurant cars. Children under three travel free; children aged three to 13 pay half fare. Train tickets can be purchased at many major hotels in Taipei, as well as at the main railway station. Road Traffic drives on the right. There is an adequate road system joining all major cities. A highway links Taipei and Kaohsiung. Some main streets have English signs. Congestion can be a problem, and mudslides may block mountain roads. Bus: There are both local and long-distance bus and coach services. Taxi: These are plentiful and inexpensive (metered). The destination may have to be written in Chinese for the driver. Car hire: This is available in major towns. Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required. Urban A number of private bus companies provide extensive services in Taipei. An unfinished Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system, a monorail train, serves Taipei and its suburbs. Metered taxis are available in Taipei; tipping is not expected, but it is starting to come into practice. TRAVEL TIMES The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Taipei to other major cities/towns: Air Road Rail Kaohsiung 0.40 5.30 4.40 Tainan 0.40 4.30 4.10 Taichung 0.30 2.30 2.30 Hualien 0.30 7.00 3.00 Taitung 0.50 10.00 5.30 Sun Moon L. - 4.30 - Alishan - 6.00 - Kenting - 6.30 - Makung 0.40 - - Sponsored Listings ( Add your listing ) advertisement Advertisement -- advertisement Why iExplore? About Us Advertise Site Map Privacy Policy Travel Agents Contact Us © 2005 Adventure Travel with iExplore --

Russia Travel Itineraries what

The most interesting travel itineraries in Russia: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Russian province, Novgorod, Karelia, Trans-Siberian and more -- WayToRussia.Net Guide to Russia Choose your destination: - Moscow - St. Petersburg - Trans-Siberian - Baikal Lake - Siberian Cities - More destinations... Made by Travelers from Russia for Travelers Worldwide >> WayToRussia.Net / What Is Russia / Russia Travel Itineraries what is russia introduction history itineraries myths & truths russian language russian art russian women guide to russia what is russia practicalities transportation russian visa business guide destinations talk lounge life in russia travel services apartment rent accommodation airline tickets train tickets visa support transfer / taxi tours extra services our team Russia Travel Itineraries and Hightlights contents: the big cities - russian province (golden ring) - northern russia - trans-siberian - siberia - far east -- your message For your convenience, you can open a map of European Russia and a map of Asian Russia in another window. The Two Capitals The most often traveled destinations in Russia are Moscow and St. Petersburg, the two great and very different cities. Moscow is the capital of Russia, vibrant and at the same time tranquil, an exaggerated version of everything you can get in Russia, as if conforming the quality of Russian character to push everything to extreme. St. Petersburg is a beautiful city of channels and impressive architecture, is completely untypical Russian city. Being the closest Russian city to Europe St.Petersburg expresses everything European Russia has to offer, but in a unique and a strange way mixing with old traditions. For those, who want to escape the busy life of the big cities, there are many small towns around Moscow (Sergiev Posad, Kolomna, Tver, Tula) and around St Petersburg (Petrodvorets, Pushkin, Zelenogorsk, Vyborg), which can give you the 'taste' of provincial life. The best time to visit the both cities is, perhaps, May, June, September, Januar and February. In May and June there are many things happening in both cities: carnivals, exhibitions, concerts, and other special events. Besides, people are happy that the colds and snows are gone and prepare to enjoy short four months of heat. In the end of June - beginning of July St. Petersburg becomes a really special place: there's daylight all day long. This period is called "White Nights" and is definitely worth seeing. In September , many people have just came back from the holidays and are relaxed and in a good mood. It means more parties and more people outside. Also, autumn is one of the most beautiful periods in Russia: yellowish and red trees, sunny weather, cool winds and the mood of change. People want to have as much fun as possible outside, before the colds start. January and February are good because there's much snow, and the city looks magic. Both cities are covered with snow and look very beautiful, like in a fairytale. City dwellers are sitting in clubs, sipping 'hot' drinks, talking and listening to music. To me, Moscow is the most interesting and beautiful in that period. Russian Province For the real Russian province the Golden Ring trip is the best. The Golden Ring is the name for the trip that stretches about 200 kilometers north-east of Moscow and back. The trip goes through Vladimir, Suzdal, Ivanovo, Kostroma, Yaroslavl, Rostov Veliky, Pereslavl. Each of these seven cities gives a unique perspective on Russian provincial life – laid-back and full of unusual contrasts. The land where the ancient Russia has started, home to many beautiful churches and cathedrals you won't see elsewhere. The best time to go is, generally, anytime, only that the most of the cultural events are happening in the summer, but, at the same time, winter puts a special charm on these little towns. Northern Russia Northern Russia is all traditional that Russia has to offer. Between Moscow and St.Petersburg there's the old Russian town of Novgorod , our personal favourite. This is perhaps the oldest Russian town and it has retained the most 'Russian feel'. Novgorod and Novgorod region is the place with beautiful nature, marvellous white stone architecture (the oldest cathedral in Russia - St.Sofia), friendly and helpful people. Novgorod for us is like an ideal of what it can be like in Russian province. Go there anytime of the year, especially that it's only 3 hours from St. Petersburg by train. If you want an exotic outdoor adventure with a lot of historical and cultural background , and you don't want to get too remote, try to go to beautiful Karelia land, which is located to the northeast of St. Petersburg. There's beautiful nature in Karelia: splendid northern forests (taiga), mountain lakes and rivers. Also, there's a famous Solovki monastery and Kizhi museum of wooden architecture. Besides, Karelia is rich with the history of Finn-Ugor and Slavic tribes that lived together on this land centuries before and at some places you can see prehistoric rock carvings and structures. We will soon put a guide to Karelia online, if you want to arrange a travel there now, or get some information, please, see our Karelia Tours section. Trans-Siberian Trip One of the famous Russia's gems and mysteries is Siberia land. Siberia is the same distance from Moscow as France, for example. But thanks to the Trans-Siberian railway it's not so inaccessible as it could be. Trans- Siberian railway stretches east from Moscow to Ural, Western Siberia (Novosibirsk), Eastern Siberia (Irkutsk and Baikal lake). Then one branch goes around Mongolia to China and is called Trans-Manchurian railway, and the other branch goes through Mongolia (Ulan-Bataar) to China. The final destination for both is Beijing. Trans-Siberian is the longest railway in the world and probably one of the most interesting and tough: imagine riding in the train for six days seeing various landscapes pass in front of your eyes... Only this way one can see the transformation from West to East (or vice versa) smoothly and feel the distance and the land. Siberia Until recently, Siberia was closed to foreigners and was hard to get into. Now it's all changed: take a train along the Trans-Siberian and hop off where you want along the way. Perhaps, it's not so easy to travel around there, and industrial Siberian cities can by no means be interesting to stay in for more than a few days, but the beautiful and legendary Baikal lake and Altai mountains make the trip there surely worthwhile. Besides, the unique landscape and remoteness of the area provide inexpensive opportunities for the kind of outdoor activities that can't be performed elsewhere. Far East The Far East is the most remote area in Russia, closer to Alaska, than to Moscow. Only a few people went to Kamchatka peninsula, but those who did, came back mesmerized. The land of volanoes, geysers, beautiful view, the ocean, the nature unfolding itself in front of one's eyes is very seducing. Kamchatka was closed for a long time for the travelers, and remoteness of the area was a great obstacle too. Now it is still a very militarized place (there's a border with the US), and the main town - Petropavlovsk - is a typical Soviet concrete and dull place, but just a just few kilometers away there's the untouched volcanoe land stretching far north. Your Comments Please, leave your messages, comments, and questions in our Russia Talk Lounge Forums . Privacy Policy | Terms of Use © 2002-2005 Dmitri Paranyushkin, Celina Smith (photos) / WayToRussia.Net. All rights reserved. Ask Us a Question Feedback

Chicago Vacation

Chicago Vacation Rental All Vacation Rentals North America United States Illinois Chicago Luxury Living - Executive Retreat - CHICAGO Property Information Indian Trail, a serene and peaceful retreat that offers the finest touches for an executive away from home. An alternative for executives looking for an extended stay of 3 months or longer. It has all the comforts of home while overlooking a quiet pond and a nearby golf coarse. * Optional Amenities: Personal concierge, private chauffer, personal chef, massage therapist, personal trainer, nanny services. Smoking : No Pets : No 2 Bedroom(s) 1.5 Bathroom(s) Rates Info Eamil for rates.... Property Notes Availability Year Round Property Amenities Recreation/Activities Shopping Golf Nearby Tennis Nearby Other Unlisted Amenities Kitchen: Refrigerator with outside water and ice, oven range, dishwasher, coffee maker, blender, toaster, cookware, dinnerware, and linens. Living Space: Great Room, Dining Area, Eat in Kitchen, Private Patio with table and chairs for alfresco dining Electronics: Unlimited local phone calls, Home Theatre System, stereo, Cable TV, DVD/VCR, fax machine and Office. Property Resources Reservations Information Tammy Jo Day Phone: 630-455-9877 Fax: 630-455-9878 Click Here to send an email directly to owner/manager Mention Property #11539 at Findrentals.com Click Here to View Photo Slide Show Owners Login | About FindRentals | Customer Service | Legal Notices | Advertise | Privacy Policy © 2005 findrentals.com | All Rights Reserved Number of Visitors to the Page this Month: 31 Total Number of Visitors to this Page: 594 Property # 11539