Traveling to The Sunshine Coast of Australia

by Zane Archer

Australia's Sunshine Coast is a little nicer than the Gold Coast. It's gorgeous beaches stretch for more than 100 kilometers. Starting at Calondra, on down to Cooloola, you will find the Fraser Islands and the Glass House Mountains. Mary Valley and Noosa Hinterland are here, as well. There are plenty of things to do, catering to all ages.



Among the many activities to enjoy, are rainforest walks, golfing, and spas. There are lots of things to enjoy doing outdoors, canoeing, fishing, surfing and swimming. The Sunshine Coast has the offering of the country as well as the coast. It is an ideal choice for a little rest and relaxation.



A main attraction not to miss is the Australia Zoo in Beerwah. Steve Irwin pioneered the zoo and made great contributions. His family is still seen often around the zoo. There is lots to do for kids, here, and the variety of animals is tremendous.



The Big Pineapple in Woombye is a great place to visit, as well. It is a working plantation of over 80 hectares that grows pineapple. They have a wildlife reserve you can tour, as well. You can pan for gold, as well. Take a trip on the Valley Rattler in Mary Valley. It is a steam train that rides along a very pretty view, leaving from Gympie station. At Underwater World you can dive with sharks and swim with seals.



With the surf, hinterland and the sun, its no surprise that the Sunshine Coast also offers outstanding food, always fresh and often organic .The local cuisine makes the most of the local produce and you can literally taste your way around the most natural settings in the world.

About the Author:

When visiting Australia's coastline, you will be sure to book the perfect Sunshine Coast accommodation available by visiting sunshinecoastinformation.com.au. If you are going to be nearby Moolooba, book your Mooloolaba hotels by visiting us too!

One of Florida's Top Beaches - St Pete Beach

by Katy Flanagan

People come here from around the world to have a family vacation or be just bring a friend, to get married in a picturesque setting or spend the day fishing to their heart's content uninterrupted by responsibilities. Some find it a great location to get to other attractions, or to escape after a busy week at Disney World, or just to run relatively undisturbed by the water for their daily exercise. Whatever their reason, the beauty of this beach is a huge magnet.



For those of you confused about the two, St Pete Beach is a separate city from St. Petersburg City to the east. In 1994, the citizens of several communities voted to shorten several parts of the coastal beach area to St Pete Beach. Places such as Passagrille, St. Petersburg Beach and Belle Vista area are now part of that one small city of about 10,000 residents. The city swells and lowers depending on the time of year, so snowbirds from Canada and northern states who are trying to stay warm during winter, bring the population up to around 20,000.



Then there are the tourists who keep coming back to this area because the beaches are beautiful, the rates can be relatively cheap depending on where you stay, and there is something about the area for those trying to avoid huge crowds. Dont get me wrong, this can be a busy area, but not like Daytona Beach in the same wild party way. There are 39 acres of beach for the public to enjoy, and after all, beach is what its about here.



If you want public transportation instead of renting a vehicle, try the Beach Trolley which winds its way around the Gulf Boulevard every 30 to 40 minutes and will take you into St. Petersburg, Clearwater and the Tampa Bay area if you wish via connections. There is Bats Taxi Service which knows the area well, and can be more economical if you are coming with several people from Tampa International airport rather than taking a shuttle. Bats is at 727-367-3702.



Staying right at the beach is first choice for many and understandably so. You'll find many accommodations concentrated by the sand on this St Pete Beach hotel site. However, some people love to rent a more private space, including one woman I met on the beach from Denver, who consistently rented from the Frank Hurley Associates rental and real estate office. I would recommend considering it if you can be flexible about being at the water. 1-800-783-6929.



And don't forget to check out the Honda Grand Prix at St Pete Beach during April/09 if you are lucky enough to be the area!

About the Author:

Voted one of the best beaches in Florida, for some this has never been a debate. It is beautiful, not too touristy and is an escape for many each year. Voted One of the Best Beaches in Florida Click here to get your own unique version of this article with free reprint rights.

Leucadia - Where Surfers and Business People Meet

by Carlos Hunnefeld

Leucadia is a funky beachside community within the little South California beach town of Encinitas. Once a hippie heaven, remnants of the 1960's are still in evidence throughout this north San Diego community. Here you will find wooden cigar store Indians, tie-dye T-shirts, weird lawn art, cool love beads and surfboard mailboxes.


Settled by English spiritualists in 1870, Leucadia was named after some Greek islands and its streets were named for mythological figures. You won't find a Home Depot, McDonald's or shopping mall in Leucadia, but you will still find some of the flower farms that made it the Poinsettia capitol of the world.


Leucadia is home to phenomenal restaurants, goofy shops, palm readers, coffee shops and hip galleries. Popular hangouts include Pannikin Coffee, housed in a former train station (very artsy); the iconic Lou's Records (national recording artists have played in Lou's parking lot) with an enormous collection of CDs and records; and Juanita's Taco Shop, home of the best Breakfast Burritos on earth.



Leucadia's residents say that the best thing that ever happened to Leucadia was that nothing ever happened to it. Leucadia's beaches are lost in the 1960s and are old neighborhood surf breaks where hundreds of Leucadian's have been surfing for thirty or more years. There are four especially popular surf beaches - Moonlight, Grandview, Beacon's and Stone Steps - all are hidden treasures.



If you want a great work out, try "running the stairs" with the locals at Stone Steps Beach. 99 stairs take you from the bluffs to the beach. All along your workout you have incredible views of the Pacific Ocean while you exercise.



You can learn to surf by taking a class at Beacon's Beach from world-famous Kahuna Bob, a Leucadian celebrity. Dolphins and whales are regularly seen, especially from the "high-bluff" beach entrances at Stone Steps and Beacon's. If you're lucky, you'll see the famous "green flash" as the sun takes its final dip into the vast Pacific Ocean.



Leucadia's largest beach, Moonlight Beach, is often called "the beach with everything" because it has lifeguard towers, a big playground for children, roomy parking lots, safe play areas, fire-rings for use after sunset, clean restrooms and showers and a very wide, very sandy beach.

About the Author:

Carlos Hunefeld has traveled throughout Southern California on vacation and has discovered the most unique Bed and Breakfast in Encinitas, the Inn at Moonlight Beach, a small, 4-room boutique Inn just across the street from Moonlight Beach. Carlos prefers the inn over Encinitas hotels because it is more intimate and comfortable.

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Great Islands in the South Pacific

by Jimmy Smith

The South Pacific is known for a lot more than just being the name of a Broadway musical. It's also home to fabulous tropical islands, Polynesian culture, world war two historical sites, coral reefs, volcanoes, and more. There are thousands of tropical islands in the South Pacific that make fabulous tropical destinations for your holiday. Some of the most famous island nations are Fiji, French Polynesia, The Cook Islands, Vanuatu, and Micronesia.



With so many tropical destinations to choose from, there is something for everybody in the South Pacific. Some islands are so small they are only beach and a surrounding reef. Others are so big they contain volcanoes, lots of wildlife, and even canyons. For the lover of tropical beaches, you have many options if you head to this part of the world. Here is a quick round up of the highlights:



If you love adventure, you should make it a point to visit Fiji. Though the country has over three hundred islands, most of the action happens on the western islands. Fiji has excellent diving, there is mountain climbing, para sailing, surfing, and much more. If you want to party, make sure to visit the Yasawa islands where all those seeking a good time flock to.



French Polynesia is one of the best romantic island destinations in the area, if not the world. Tahiti is famous for its expensive resorts and spas. The resort bungalows are like you see in postcards- right over the water. In the morning, start off with a swim and finish your day with a romantic candlelight meal on the beach. Tahiti is built around romance and luxury. Whatever you desire, can happen here.



Islands like Vanuatu and Micronesia are good off the beaten track islands. Vanautu lies just south of the Solomon Islands. The real attraction of Vanuatu is its phenomenal sightseeing. Underwater visibility at its peak hits fifty meters, revealing limitless schools of colorful fish darting around spectacular coral reefs, as well as a formidable array of submerged WWII wreckages. Above sea level, the scenery only gets more amazing.



Micronesia is a great place to enjoy spectacular diving at the many underwater wrecks in Chuuk. There are many historical ruins on the island to that date back centuries. You can not only learn a lot about nature here but also about the local culture since many sites are so well preserved. After working up a sweat hiking, dive into the clear blue and warm ocean and just melt into the scenery. It is pure paradise here.



For those looking for amazing tropical islands, you can't beat the South Pacific islands. They offer some of the best beaches, best diving, best ocean in the world. There is great food and culture on these islands too. Polynesian culture is rich, diverse and has a long history. After a long day in the sun, there is nothing like a little outdoor BBQ and dance to make the perfect day even better. By far, I believe that the best tropical islands are in this part of the world.

About the Author:

Jimmy Smith is an experience travel writer. You can read more about the tropical islands in the world he wants to see on his website.

Traveling to The Sunshine Coast of Australia

by Zane Archer

Australia's Sunshine Coast is a little nicer than the Gold Coast. It's gorgeous beaches stretch for more than 100 kilometers. Starting at Calondra, on down to Cooloola, you will find the Fraser Islands and the Glass House Mountains. Mary Valley and Noosa Hinterland are here, as well. There are plenty of things to do, catering to all ages.



Among the many activities to enjoy, are rainforest walks, golfing, and spas. There are lots of things to enjoy doing outdoors, canoeing, fishing, surfing and swimming. The Sunshine Coast has the offering of the country as well as the coast. It is an ideal choice for a little rest and relaxation.



A main attraction not to miss is the Australia Zoo in Beerwah. Steve Irwin pioneered the zoo and made great contributions. His family is still seen often around the zoo. There is lots to do for kids, here, and the variety of animals is tremendous.



The Big Pineapple in Woombye is a great place to visit, as well. It is a working plantation of over 80 hectares that grows pineapple. They have a wildlife reserve you can tour, as well. You can pan for gold, as well. Take a trip on the Valley Rattler in Mary Valley. It is a steam train that rides along a very pretty view, leaving from Gympie station. At Underwater World you can dive with sharks and swim with seals.



With the surf, hinterland and the sun, its no surprise that the Sunshine Coast also offers outstanding food, always fresh and often organic .The local cuisine makes the most of the local produce and you can literally taste your way around the most natural settings in the world.

About the Author:

When visiting Australia's coastline, you will be sure to book the perfect Sunshine Coast accommodation available by visiting sunshinecoastinformation.com.au. If you are going to be nearby Moolooba, book your Mooloolaba hotels by visiting us too!