Tuesday 19 July 2016

A Double Dose of Fun in Orlando and Cape Canaveral for 2018

Book your Florida holidays 2018 and enjoy the world famous attractions like Disney World and Universal Studios. But there is another place, close by, where history has been made. Cape Canaveral, Florida is home to the space shuttle launches. Combine these two places for a memory-making vacation.

Cape Canaveral Air Force Station is an active station. Launches from this pad have made history, and brought misery. Challenger, the doomed space shuttle of 1986, was launched from Cape Canaveral. 73 seconds later, it exploded over the ocean as all America watched in horror. Today, visitors can see the rockets like the SpaceX Falcon, Dragon, which will launch on June 26th, to take supplies to the International Space Station. The launches can be seen as far away as Cocoa Beach and Orlando.

The Kennedy Space Center, also located in Cape Canaveral, has a visitor complex where people can meet astronauts like Wendy Lawrence, who has gone into space four times. A question and answer session is held to inspire people about the space programs. An astronaut is available every day of the year for visitors.

The Kennedy Space Center also holds events like Fly With An Astronaut. Enjoy a catered lunch overlooking the launch pads. Tour the Apollo/Saturn V Center. Pass the vehicle assembly building where the rockets are made. The Shuttle Launch Experience will have you in simulated flight with an astronaut. These events have limited space. VIP tickets are available and the knowledgeable agents at Charter Travel know how to get them.

Orlando, the more well-known of the Florida cities, holds theme parks like Disney World and Universal Studios. Visit Epcot and see Mexico, Asia, the new Frozen exhibit, Sommerhus, (coming soon), and more. Head over to Disney World to enjoy characters like Snow White in the character’s parade. Watch the nightly fireworks display over Cinderella’s castle. Take a safari in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, where Kilimanjaro Safari’s will have you rolling past lions, giraffes and elephants. Coming soon, the Safari will hold nightly rides that showcase nocturnal animals.

Universal Studios will soon open Skull Island with the Kong ride. See the 800-lb ape. Hear the audio-animatronics. Cling to your seat as the open-sided vehicle takes you through this thrill ride. Volcano Bay Waterpark is in the works too, and it promises to be a real ‘splash’ with kiddie rides, slides and more.

As 2018 is over 18 months away you can book now knowing you can save and look forward to this magical experience with friends and family.

Thursday 3 March 2016

Iceland and the Blue Lagoon

Blue Lagoon and Northern lights are what most people think about when discussing their visit to iceland. Not forgetting, geysers, hot springs, black sand beaches and waterfalls are as much a part of the land as glaciers. A vacation to this land of Vikings and northern lights will captivate your imagination and your heart.

Iceland holidays start with bringing your family and exploring the capital, Reykjavik. Here you can find the Bridge between Continents. Walk from one continent to the other by crossing the tectonic plates of Eurasia and North America. Your kids will be the only ones in school able to brag that their vacation was spent on two continents!

See the Nautholsvik Geothermal Beach, where you can enjoy designated thermal pools or you can test out the cold waters of the ocean. Locals love this place. It is a great place to get a feel of the ‘real’ Iceland. After you have warmed up, stroll through one of the many museums like the Viking Maritime Museum. Experience the history, the people and the culture of Iceland.

Tour southernmost Iceland and the town of Vik if you want to see one of the 10 prettiest beaches on Earth. Here, black sand lines the shores and the Atlantic rolls in with great force since there are no land formations in the way to block it. Basalt rock along the cliffs is stacked in columns as if a giant child were stacking his blocks. This beach is truly breathtaking.

Visitors to Iceland don’t want to miss the opportunity to see the volcanos that make this the land of ‘fire and ice’. Hike up to the now dormant Thrihnukagigur volcano. Spectacular views of the volcano and the countryside are worthy of your photos. Experienced tour guides will lead you into the magma chamber, the heart of the volcano.

The trip to Iceland wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Blue Lagoon in Grindavik. This spa is based around the geothermal waters of the lagoon. The perfect temperatures, silica and minerals make this blue water great for a relaxing soak. For true relaxation, have an in-water massage. Float on the water as experienced hands massage away your aches.

Enjoy a silica mud mask. Use as much as you like, let it stay on for at least 5 minutes, then wash off the mud. Your skin will feel soft and smooth. Carved into the lava rock are sauna and steam rooms where you can sweat out all of those toxins and impurities.

Wines and cocktails are available without even leaving the water. Swim up to the Lagoon Bar and enjoy your drink. The Lava Restaurant with its amazing views and gourmet meals like slow cooked Arctic char and Langoustine soup will fill that empty spot in your belly.

At night, snuggle into the Blue Lagoon Clinic Hotel. A private lagoon, complimentary breakfast, and discounted price to the Blue Lagoon make this gorgeous hotel set in a lava field a wonderful place to stay.