The best way to locate one is to ask around. Check with the locals, make use of travel sites on the internet, and ask other visitors. Folks are usually not shy about telling what they think.

Also, keep your ears open. We learned about a place called Franks from overhearing the conversation between a couple folks who were annual visitors to these islands. They were happy to share their discovery, and provided details for finding it, without which we probably never would.

First you have to leave Provo and get over to North Caicos where the pace slows way down. Take the ferry and arrange to have a rental car waiting when you arrive. Note there is no office, over there – just the car and a friendly guy to take your money and answer questions. He may even need you to drop him off at his place on your way out.

While Franks is just off the main road, and has the remnant of a sign partially hidden by some trees, it is definitely easy to miss if you don’t know when to start looking. We passed it a few times each way. The turn off is more of a wash than a road, where the car bottoms out in the potholes.

But once you drive up it a couple hundred yards, you’ll see the house. Yep, it’s a house with the restaurant in front, and a small bar off the main room. The atmosphere was relaxed, and the kids playing outside just reinforced the slower pace here. We later learned they were actually Franks grandkids.

We arrived around lunch time, and aside from a couple guys coming in for to go orders, we were the only sit-down customers. At that time Frank wasn’t there, but his daughter was. Friendly and gracious, she took our order and prepared a great meal of fish, conch fritters, and veggies. We also got a chance to visit briefly with her afterwards.

Bottom line is that our meal at Franks was our favorite during our trip to these islands. It takes some effort to find, but the search is worth it because the food is great and the prices extremely reasonable – which is saying a lot, since most everything tends be pricey in these islands.

Montmartre used to be a Bohemian hangout and many famous artists like Dalí, Picasso and Van Gogh used to have studios there. It was the centre of artistic life in Paris but, as becomes clear from one of Charles Aznavour’s most famous songs, it is not what it used to be anymore. The studios and famous bars like Le Chat noir are gone but still, some parts are very nice to visit as a tourist. Place de Tetre is one of these parts. It is a small square which is filled with painters and sketchers who will try to sit you down and draw your portrait. you will also find several nice, affordable restaurants aroubd this square.

After dinner it is time to go up to the Sacré Coeur, a distinctive white church that was built on top of the hill in memory of those killed during the German-French war. You can go inside the church which has stunning decor inside, with its 48 metre high clock tower. But no matter how beautiful the building is on its own, for me it was the outside that still makes me want to return to this place; the stairs of the Sacré Coeur.

The stairs are located in front of the church and gives you an impressive view over Paris, both during the day and when it gets dark. As long as the weather is not too bad you can sit down on the stairs and enjoy the local groups playing live music there. It is usually quite busy in the evening but it is worth trying to find a spot to sit down, especially because often, there are people walking around selling cans of beer and soda for half the price you would pay in a restaurant.

The place might be best known by the younger generation but that does not mean that people who do not belong to this group anymore cannot enjoy it. The music played is for all ages and you never get too old for a drink, music and an incredible view.

Riads or ryads were once ancient palaces or private homes. The belonged to noble families, aristocrats and Sultans. You want to bet the first thing you’re going to do when you get there is to check out all the rooms for hidden compartments and maybe even a hidden passageway or two? How much fun would that be?

Marrakech Riads are tucked away into the winding streets of the city. Hard to find at first, but once you get the hang of where you are, it’s easy. What a super adventure, a Marrakesh riad to call you own for the duration of your stay.

What’s inside your riad will tell you all kinds of stories about the owners. Imagine the brightly colored doors that announce one’s station in life, the intricate wall hangings in bright colors that liven up the atmosphere and the gaily-splashing fountain in the center courtyard that acts as a small paddling pool.

How luxurious, how enchanting, how just so “chic chic” that you want everyone to visit your Marrakesh riad. The sense of time gone by, the culture, the history of this place would enthrall you for hours, days, perhaps even weeks. For it takes many, many visits to this striking country to absorb the culture and the exotic way of life.

There are so many things to see and do in Morocco and in Marrakesh as well. The sights, the sounds, the nightlife, the market places, the churches/mosques, the art galleries, museums and oh the list is absolutely endless. You will be so delighted with your vacation here; you will come back time and time again.

The boat museum focuses on pleasure craft, from the types that are lazily rowed or powered by sails to those that roar through the water at breakneck speed and which appeal to the most daredevil of boating enthusiasts. One of the most popular things about this museum is that the displays are, in many cases, functional and the staff delights in taking visitors for rides out on the river which are not only fun, but provide a way for people to experience the history of these watercraft up close and in their intended environment.

The Antique Boat Museum is, in all regards, as fun as it is educational. After all, the craft here were designed for pleasure and the staff is passionate about sharing them with the public.

Very Kid-Friendly

Those looking for a quiet romantic week with your spouse or a subdued relaxation vacation may decide that Beaches Jamaica is not suitable. This five-star resort is very kid-friendly – meaning it’s perfect for families and kids are in abundance.

For families with kids, the resort offers several daycare centers, numerous Sesame Street themed activities (characters walking around and live shows), water slides, day trips for teens, story time and even infant care. The major appeal is that they have a variety of activities targeted toward each age group – meaning your teen and toddler won’t wind up at the same activity center.

For parents, though, the resort can seem a little too kid-focused. There are adults-only areas and pools that are either designated for just families or just adults, but parents won’t have the run of this place. However, you can enjoy a little snooze at the beach knowing your children are well looked after and having a great time.

Great Fitness Center

Probably one of the best features for adults at this resort is the fitness center. It’s stocked with state-of-the-art equipment and they run a number of fitness classes every day – ranging from low impact and introductory yoga to high-impact sessions like kickboxing.

Lots of Dining Options

Anyone who has spent a week at an all-inclusive resort knows that the same buffet night after night can get tiring after a while. To avoid food boredom, locating a resort with numerous a la carte restaurants is key. Jamaica Negril offers 6 restaurants ranging from a beachside cafe to fine and elegant dining.

Beach is Too Open

Probably the biggest complaint from guests is that they are constantly barraged by people on the beach selling their goods and wares. While most tourists want to buy a few items during their stay, constantly being approached by vendors does not make an ideal vacation.

Rooms are Small

Unless you’re opting for a deluxe suite or large room, you’ll find the accommodations pretty small at Beaches Negril Jamaica. That said, if you’re sharing one room among a family of four, you may want to consider upgrading to a larger room.

Conclusion

Overall, Beaches Jamaica is a great resort for families looking for a fun vacation that will keep both parents and kids happy. The rooms are small though, so if there are four of you, you may want to look into a larger accommodations. Also, this is not a resort for couples or honeymooners.

La Fregate, one of the most recently appointed 4 star hotels in Guernsey, blends the charms of a cosy 18th Century manor house with all the amenities of a modern business and leisure hotel.

The hotel also boasts the highest 2 rossette standards of cuisine and luxury four star hotel service on the island of Guernsey.

Set in it’s own private grounds with charming gardens, the hotel is 2 minutes walk from the centre of St. Peter Port, the shops and the harbour.

All 22 bedrooms have a spectacular view over the harbour and the neighbouring islands of Herm, Sark, Jersey Alderney and even France on a clear day.

The restaurant is well known all over the island as being one of the best and is often frequented by celebrities staying on Guernsey.

Take the opportunity to really get away from it all and enjoy a few lazy days on a really beautiful island. Why not pop across to one of the neighbouring islands? The quiet, tranquil islands of Sark and Herm are a great place to escape to where cars are not allowed and the scenery is breathtaking.

With such spectacular coastline and countryside, the islands offer enough walking routes to last holiday after holiday. Qualified guides can help you uncover the islands’ secrets, or alternatively, just grab a map and head off yourself.

With an environment that’s as conducive to outdoor pursuits as ours, it’s not surprising that a range of sporting and other activities is available on the islands, including cycling, diving, angling and sailing. Guernsey’s west coast can also provide excellent surfing and windsurfing conditions. And nature lovers are in for a treat with plenty of bird watching opportunities on all of the islands. However you decide to spend your time in the islands, one thing’s for sure – you’ll want to come back for more.

As well as all the sporting activities all year round, there are also several food and drink related festivals taking place throughout the year. The famous ‘Tennerfest’ sees the best restaurants and establishments proving a sumptuous meal for a tenner!

When you arrive at Cheltenham Spa railway station, you are about a twenty minute walk from the centre of town, although there is a bus service into town, I decided that with all my luggage, that to hire a taxi was a better idea, as that would take me directly to the new Express Holiday Inn. As it turned out, this hotel is the other side of the town centre from the railway, so I was happy that I did not attempt to walk it, even though most of the buildings on route deserved much more of my attention than they got. The decision had already been made that I would have to have a good long slow walk around regency Cheltenham to take in some of the finest buildings that this fair town has to offer.

After booking in at the hotel it was time to go exploring the towns finest buildings, but this would be after a brisk visit to one of the towns newest developments, an old brewery that has been redeveloped into a leisure and retail area.

I love the regency building style the Spa town of Cheltenham has to offer, it’s simply unique in it’s own right, unfortunately though, business called my stay short, so I had to jump into a Cheltenham Taxi and dash to Birmingham Airport in time for a 21.00 hrs flight to Aberdeen.

Luckily for me, I had already booked a full week off work in the near future to attend The Cheltenham Literature Festival in early October, so I will be able to return then and have a full and undisturbed week to take in all that this delightful Cotswold town has to offer.

One place I also want to visit on my next trip is The Pittville Pump Rooms. Not very exiting you may think, but you would be wrong! Going back to about 1715, this is when Cheltenham’s Spa water was first discovered on the site as well as at Cheltenham Ladies Collage. In 1788 it is reported that Queen Charlotte visited and bathed in the waters along with George III. Jumping forward to 1825, this is when the first foundation stone was laid of what is now known, and quite famously as the present Pittville Pump Rooms. Anyway, seems I am going off beat again, Cheltenham I will return in October

Research has shown that when families take vacations together, they are more likely to eat meals together and are less likely to argue. They do not watch as much television because they are participating in doing things together. Kids even report that their parents seem to behave differently while on vacation.

While family vacations are an excellent time to connect with your children, communication issues that are already there will not automatically disappear. Particularly with teenagers it is important to listen and be flexible. Find out what the children would like to do and eat and plan accordingly. While even teenagers need boundaries, it is important for parents to try to avoid needless confrontation. Explain why you make the decisions you do and show them positive attention.

Kids will appreciate being included in vacation planning. There’s a good chance they will choose a theme park or the beach if those are among the options. Sometimes it works well for a teenager to take a special friend along on family holidays. While this might increase the parents’ load, the teen is likely to really appreciate it. And, sometimes it works well for children to go on holidays with their grandparents instead of their parents. Sometimes there is a special relationship here that can help children open up and communicate about their concerns.

While on family holidays, if teenagers are uncooperative or behave improperly, try to deal with the issue in private. Teens are very aware of embarrassmant and it is needlessly mean to exploit this sensitivity. In fact, you might explain to the children how their behavior embarrasses you, and they in turn might work harder at getting along and acting appropriately.

Kids will be happier on family vacations if they have snacks, drinks, and entertainment. Few kids enjoy a long ride in the car! Try to provide individual CD players or hand-held video games, and don’t forget to allow for lots of bathroom stops. Sometimes children enjoy the ride more if they can help you follow the map. This is an educational activity for them as well. By following these suggestions, your family vacations can make a happy memory.

A shared interest always helps parent- child communication. Whatever the age of your kids they’ll love to have their faces painted. So why not learn how to create some face painting designs
Kids face painting
Face painting designs
face painting ideas
You’ll be especially popular when it comes to themed birthday parties and, of course, Halloween.

A centuries old city, Savannah was founded in 1733 by General James Oglethorpe. It’s location near a high bluff overlooking the Savannah River, is where the General along with the other 120 passengers of the ship “Anne” first landed. Savannah became the first city of the 13th and final colony, which was named “Georgia” by Oglethorpe, after King George II of England.

Savannah is also known as America’s first planned city. If you look at a map, or walk around the historic part of the city you can easily see how Oglethorpe laid it all out in a series of grids.

He did this so there would be wide streets intertwined with shaded public squares and parks that would also serve as town meeting places and centers of business. Today, 21 of the original 24 squares are still in existence.

Over the years, the city and its people have been through more than their share of tough times, but have shown themselves to be a resilient sort. A devastating fire in 1796 and another in 1820, each wiped out half the town. Also in 1820, a yellow fever epidemic killed about a tenth of the population. Add in hurricanes and other natural disasters, and you can better appreciate the hardy individuals that call Savannah home.

Although the destruction mentioned above has certainly taken a toll, and many original structures had to be re-built, there are still several historically significant buildings remaining.

One of these is the “Pirates House”, that is today a renowned restaurant. This tavern was frequented by pirates who sailed these waters in 1794, and events there provided inspiration for Robert Lewis Stevenson’s novel, “Treasure Island”.

Dinner at “Pirates House” is an enjoyable experience, and if you are part of one of the many “ghost tours”, you’ll get to go through the old underground rooms and tunnels which are still haunted. Even if you miss the ghosts, the food is excellent and well worth the visit.

Another great haunt for dinner is the “the Olde Pink House” built in the 1770’s. It’s definitely pink but look close and you’ll see the antique bricks poking from beneath the stucco. The structure has been many things including a bank, but the house is now set up with dining tables and chairs in the different rooms making for smaller and intimate eating areas.

The setting is lovely and the food is superior. We were seated in what had once been an upstairs parlor, and it was like going back in time. Come here for a relaxed evening of fine dining, and perhaps a ghost or two. Like the “Pirates House”, the “Pink House” is haunted as well and featured on most all the tours.

Savannah is said to be one of America’s most haunted cities, and there are several tour providers quite happy to show you why. A couple of them offer walking tours that start around 9 pm and are a great way to enjoy a late walk after dinner. Be sure to avoid getting left behind by allowing a little extra time to finish your meal and still arrive at the starting point. (Usually one of the squares)

I’d recommend staying in the older historic part of the city by the river as it’s close to several great restaurants, and convenient to walking through the many squares and parks, as well as along the river itself. There are a few B&B’s there plus some nice hotels to choose from.

The Hampton Inn – Historic District was sort of the best of both, and definitely not your usual Hampton Inn. It’s a relatively new building built to look a century old, which made it blend in nicely with the ambiance of an earlier period.

Located on Bay Street, a block away from River Street, you’re close to the water but away from the noise of the night life along the riverfront. Try and get a room on an upper floor on the corner. They have superb views of the river and park areas below. They are also quite large, with a sofa in the sitting area, a very comfortable king bed, and tasteful furnishings. There’s also a full breakfast offered in the mornings that’s worth getting up for.

Old Savannah is definitely a great walking city, and with several days you can cover from the riverfront through all the squares. You can also cheat some and take advantage of the trolleys. But if you’re not up to tons of walking, plus want to reach places farther out, you’ll probably want to get a car. Parking can be dicey at times but worth the effort.

Savannah has also been the site of several memorable movies. You may remember the bus stop bench in “Forrest Gump” and the statue of the little girl in “Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil”. In addition there was the epic “Roots”, “The General’s Daughter”, “Legend of Bagger Vance”, and many others filmed here.

Any list of “must see” things will no doubt be incomplete. Best thing to do is grab a free map when you arrive and make your own list. Of some note would be a visit to Paula Deans restaurant, but be prepared for insanely long lines. If you drive out of town, you can dine at her brother’s place, and get some of Bubba’s shrimp without waiting at all. It’s also where she films her show.

Of course, there’s the statue of the famous “Waving Girl”. She was Florence Martus who lived with her brother George, the lighthouse keeper. Between 1887 and 1931 she waved a greeting to over 50,000 inbound and outbound vessels. How’s that for friendly?

You definitely have to see the mansion made famous by the murder in John Berendt’s novel that became history’s longest running New York Times bestseller. With the same name as the film mentioned earlier, “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” brought so many visitors to see the statue shown in the cemetery, that they ended up having to move the statue to a museum.

Whatever else you do in Savannah, be sure to stop and smell the roses, or in this case walk through some of the squares and relax. It won’t take long to start getting used to a much more serene pace.

I’m talking specifically about Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, and Tybee Island, Georgia. Both are popular and well known, so decided to drive around the area and check them out.

In general, the beaches along most of this area are typical light brown sand that packs well. In several places you can even drive on the beach. Most of them are wide and flat with dune and grass areas that while rising up only a few feet, do a good job of protecting inland areas from storm surge.

The ocean will often provide some decent body-surfing waves, but there’s no real reefs in the area so waves aren’t particularly high, except ahead of big storms where they can be a lot of fun. Following these storms is also about the only good time to find shells washed up.

Without much reef to speak of, there’s no snorkeling or diving. You can however dive further out on various wrecks found up and down the coast. Also, the ocean floor is mostly sandy, with visibility underwater running anywhere from about 8’ to 40’.

I found Tybee Island, at least along the beach in the main part of town, to be very touristy and crowded. Lots of visitors packed in like sardines. Driving further saw diminished crowds, but being limited by the length of the island, you can only get so far away.

There are many folks that live on the island, but because a lot of surrounding marsh area limits beach choices, the few existing beaches seem to draw tons of people from nearby towns and cities.

On up at Hilton Head you can get into some fairly exclusive areas once you get out to the island. Overall it was quite nice, and comparatively spread out. Like the Tybee area, there’s a lot of waterfront besides the ocean itself, in the nature of harbors, inlets, bays, and rivers, which is good for boaters, fishing, and such, but my interest was focused on the beaches.

Although not so much as Tybee, the Hilton Head beaches that were easiest to reach were the most crowded. No big surprise, but there were some other places, that if you could get across the marshy area separating them, let you out onto less crowded beach areas.

Bottom line was you could get away to more quieter areas if willing to trek a bit. Also, the beaches were lighter, softer sand. Of course you want to bring everything with you to avoid the need to go back before days end.

Overall there seem to be a lot of folks who either really like this area, or just use these beaches because they’re the closest option. Likely some of both. Having lived near various beaches including some along the east coast of Florida, I found these to be quite similar.

One of the real challenges in finding beach areas in which to visit or even settle, is locating those that haven’t yet been discovered, not to mention over-run with people. Although it’s highly unlikely that anything still remains undiscovered, I’m intrigued by the idea of finding places that haven’t really been “done” yet.