Beaches (also known as Forever Friends ), is a 1988 Academy Award nominated movie adapted by Mary Agnes Donoghue from the novel Beaches by Iris Rainer Dart Learn More

The numbers and revenue show that sports enthusiasts are increasingly traveling to Mexico to get their hearts pumping and muscles moving. Both amateur and professional athletes are contributing to the ever-continuing expansion of Mexico’s sports tourism segment. Many sports benefit from Mexico’s natural beauty and unique backdrops, a fact not gone unnoticed by professional sporting event planners. Mexico has recently hosted many high-profile international sporting events, including Rip Curl’s Pro Search surfing event, part of the Association of Surfing Professionals’ Men’s World Championship Tour last June, and the PGA’s 2006 Champions Tour’s Puerto Vallarta Blue Agave Golf Classic last March. Upcoming events include the yearly Mexico City International Marathon in August. Amateur athletes and sports lovers are also helping to spur Mexico’s sports sector growth. 2005 enjoyed robust numbers, with sports activities pumping approximately US$1.27 billion into the national economy. Several high-grossing sports activities which contributed to the impressive overall figure. - In 2005, 600 thousand golfers traveled to Mexico, generating $400 million. - Triathlons attracted 36 thousand travelers to Mexico, who in turn generated US$6 million in 2005. - In 2005, diving and relating activities produced US$200 million in revenue. - Sports fishing reeled in $500 million in 2005. Bright future forecast for sports tourism The increased popularity of Mexico’s sports tourism sector echoes travel developments on a global scale. The World Tourism Organization predicts that sports tourism will be the second most important travel segment by 2020. Sports tourism’s bright future recently prompted Mexico Tourism Secretary Rodolfo Elizondo to underscore the importance of developing this segment during a national sports tourism conference. “Sports tourism plays an important role in the evolution of Mexico’s tourism industry. As we continuously improve infrastructure and sports tourism offerings on both a local and regional level, Mexico’s position as a sports tourism destination will be solidified, more jobs will be generated and we will attract investors,” he said. Elizondo went on to mention that Mexico’s active support of the sports tourism sector is part of Sectur’s strategy to diversify the country’s tourism offerings beyond its already-successful products like sun and beaches, nature tourism, and cultural tourism, among others. About the Mexico Tourism Board The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) brings together the resources of federal and state governments, municipalities and private companies to promote Mexico’s tourism attractions and destinations internationally. Created in 1999, the MTB is Mexico’s tourism promotion agency, and its participants include members of both the private and public sectors. The MTB has offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America. FOR PRESS ONLY: For additional ideas, help with a story or general travel and tourism information about Mexico, please contact the MTB’s North American Press Room directly at 1-800-929-4555, by e-mail at northamericanpress@visitmexico.com, or visit our press Web site at www.visitmexicopress.com. To access an online warehouse of free, downloadable b-roll, visit www.thenewsmarket.com/visitmexicopress. # # # Erick Laseca Mexico Tourism Board 312-228-0517 x14 erick.laseca@bm.com

Erick Laseca works for Burson-Marsteller as public relations liaison for the Mexico Tourism Board in Chicago. More Info…

Get Away To Beaches! Grab Your Gilfriends And Go! Grab your girlfriends and go to Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort for the ultimate girls retreat. Learn More

Brazil is wellknown for its many aspects such as its beautiful beaches, famed carnavals, natural beauties as the Amazon Rainforests, samba, capoeira, lively nightlife, warm people and more. Every year… More Info…

From Press staff reports The Mainland Regional High School sailing team won a regatta hosted by Southern Regional at Brant Beach in Long Beach Township on Saturday. The Mustangs placed first overall with 85 points, followed by the Rams (90), Randolph Learn More

AMY Winehouse has been caught cheating on her husband with a second man who she had a noisy sex romp with in a hotel suite, a UK newspaper has claimed. Winehouse’s new guy is the second guy she has been with, reports UK tabloid The Sun. The Back To Learn More

With so many activities that are perfect for the whole family to enjoy, Krabi is a favourite destination in Thailand. Here are 10 of the most rewarding and popular activities and sights. Body With so many activities that are perfect for the whole family to enjoy, Krabi has framed itself as a laid-back resort destination where the emphasis falls on comfort and relaxation instead of on high-energy parties. The natural landscape is accentuated by limestone outcroppings known as karsts that pop up all over the countryside. With abundant plant life and beautiful coral reefs, there’s plenty to explore while you’re staying here. Exploring the archipelago One of the most remarkable ways to experience the limestone rock formations and spectacular beaches is to take a daytrip from one island to another. Many tour guides offer organised daytrips to the highlights of the archipelago, which are worth it and a chance to break away from the crowds of the mainland resort. For the more independent explorer, sea kayaks can be rented for trips out to some of the nearest small islands. A boat day trip to Phi Phi is a must too! Than Bok Khoranie National Park If you have a tent and would like a place to set up camp, consider heading out to Than Bok Khorani National Park, a secluded place with no concrete accommodation but an abundance of plant species culminating in a very picturesque pond surrounded by gardenias and apocynaceae. The park also boasts several limestone caves and some lovely mangrove forests. Many visit on a day trip from Phuket. Rock climbing Many rock climbing outfitters in Krabi also give lessons at various skill levels to help you improve your rock climbing abilities. The limestone cliffs and unique stone formations have helped Krabi carve out a global reputation among rock climbing circles. Ton Sai is the first stop for most climbers, as it’s the most frequented climbed spot in the area. Other climbing outings to more secluded areas are easily arranged with the help of climbing outfitters. Koh Lanta Marine National Park The sea gypsies, or Chai Leh, still live and work on the island of Koh Lanta??”now a marine national park. For centuries they have practiced their own form of spirit worship and spoken their own distinct language. This island also has the region’s standard fare of beautiful beaches, unique rock formations and stunning coral reefs for exploration. Some of the rainforest on this island is virtually untouched and remains protected. Visitors can rent bungalows and stay a while. It’s also connected to Phi Phi island by ferry. Shell Fossil Cemetery Thirty five million years ago, the site of Ban Laem Pho Cape was an enormous freshwater swamp that hosted millions of small snails. The remains of these creatures formed a fossilised composite that has grown almost 16 inches thick. This huge slab has become one of Krabi’s most popular attractions and can be reached via a 10-mile drive from the town of Krabi. Krabi nightlife Ao Nang Beach resort area is the primary tourist hub of Krabi, with Krabi Town itself not offering a whole lot to out-of-towners except for a glimpse of everyday life for the locals. While not quite as exciting as Phuket, in the resort area you’ll find bars and restaurants whose doors remain open past midnight, though you’ll be hard-pressed to find any exhilarating parties or discotheques. Instead, this is a more family-oriented holiday spot with some nice restaurants and a relaxed, quiet atmosphere. Scuba diving The official diving season in Krabi is from November to Mach, though the conditions are hospitable all year round and divers are here at every time of the year. Snorkelling is also a great way to get a view of the coral reefs. Diving companies on the mainland can get you certified as a diver and will also arrange diving trips out to all of the best reefs in the surrounding area. The diving at Phi Phi is especially good. Biking Bikes can be rented in the Ao Nang resort area, and a cycling loop that heads out of town guides cyclist through the limestone rock formations that dot the landscape. The road curves through old villages and groves of coconut trees, and riders can stretch this spectacular route into as much as 15 or 20 miles of biking. Railay Beach Railay Beach may be the region’s most unique coastal area, with its crescent shaped coastline that’s cut off from the mainland by huge outcroppings of rock. Only accessible by boat, you can charter a vessel to drop you off for a daytrip to Phra Nang, a sacred enshrined cave, or for an overnight stay in one of the resorts that lay claim to these peaceful beaches. Even the beaches at Phuket don’t even compete! Daytrip to Wat Tham Seua Wat Tham Seua is the largest temple in Krabi, and its name means Tiger Cave Temple. It’s literally tucked into the limestone cliffs of Ao Luk Thanu mountain range, and the Buddhist monks that live and worship here do so in the caves themselves. The highlight of this temple is ‘Buddha’s footprint’, located at the summit of a 1,272-step climb, a point that affords wonderful views of the countryside spreading in every direction.

Andy Burrows is a frequent visitor to Thailand and web writer whose favourite web resources include;
Phi Phi and Krabi tourist guide
Phuket tourist guide Read More…

Isn’t it time that you rewarded yourself? You work hard so now it’s time to play hard. Get away from the stress and hassle of your job for awhile and take the whole family on a vacation to Jamaica, which is the closest thing to paradise on the planet. And you can do this without breaking the bank in the process. Jamaica was the first place to offer the all-inclusive resort idea. Instead of being nickel and dimed to death for everything, how about a luxury vacation where virtually everything is included at a single price after you arrive? In fact, these types of resorts, which are plentiful in Jamaica, are huge and offer almost anything you could want right on the resort property, so you do not even need to leave the resort after you arrive, and could leave your wallet in your room or in a safety deposit box at the front desk if you want to. Many of these resorts also cater to the family vacation, and not just to the business traveler or the honeymoon couple. Many of these resorts offer babysitting services with certified and qualified babysitters who can entertain your kids for hours while you and your significant other enjoy some time together just getting to know each other again. Your kids will have the best time they have ever had, exploring the beaches, searching for treasure, and learning more about the culture of Jamaica and what makes Jamaica a premiere vacation spot. If shopping is your thing, you will not be disappointed there either. Virtually all the area of Jamaica offer shopping in very unique gift shops, most of which offer items that are not available anywhere else in the world. And if you enjoy haggling, you will find that the typical Jamaican shop owner will be disappointed if you do not haggle with him to get a better price on that item that you have been looking at. This type of haggling is something that you have to become skilled at, and it only adds excitement and a bit of adventure to the task of shopping. If you plan ahead, even a few weeks, you can usually find great deals on airfare. The Jamaican airports are served by many commercial airlines, and cheap seats can usually be found with a bit of digging and planning. If your travel schedule is flexible at all, the cheapest seats are usually flights on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. If a luxury resort is just outside of your budget right now, do not let that disappoint you because you have a lot of other lodging and hotel possibilities. There are many upper end and middle rated hotels available at very competitive prices, and many of these also provide special interests for the kids as well as the whole family. If you are feeling particularly adventurous, there are also several bed and breakfast options available to you, where you can really get a chance to mingle with the locals and learn more about the Jamaica history and culture. Your choices within Jamaica are plentiful. You can choose the bigger cities of Jamaica for your vacation, or you can opt for a bit more quiet time with quieter and less crowded beaches at other areas of Jamaica, like St Thomas, St Lucia, and Montego Bay, each of which offer their very own unique flavor of relaxation, sight seeing, and yes of course, as much night life and dancing as you may care to do. If you have never been to Jamaica, make a point to plan a vacation there in the near future. You will wonder why you never vacationed there before, and it will almost certainly become a part of your regular vacation planning.

Jon is a computer engineer who maintains web sites on a variety of topics based on his knowledge and experience. You can read more about a Jamaica Vacation at his web site at Jamaica Vacations. Read More…

ANDERSON, Indiana (CNN) — Sen. Hillary Clinton called for a Lincoln-Douglas-style debate with no moderator against her rival, Sen. Barack Obama, who says no more debates are needed before the May primaries. Sen. Barack Obama attends a a town hall Learn More

SOLANA BEACH – A news conference has been scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday at Fletcher Cove Beach Park on Friday’s fatal shark attack. Dr. David Martin, 66, a retired veterinarian and longtime Solana Beach resident, was killed shortly after 7 a.m. while Learn More

A sign along the beach warns people about yesterday’s shark attack in Solana Beach, Calif., Saturday, April 26, 2008. A shark on Friday attacked and killed a swimmer training in the ocean with a group of triathletes at the beach, authorities said Learn More

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Quiet, comfortable lodging nesteled in Haines,Alaska’s temperate rainforest with mountain and ocean views Read More

Cancun is a relatively new destination made especially for tourism purposes by the government of Mexico with its development starting in 1970. Cancun is situated at the eastern most point of Mexico and is connected to land only by two bridges therefore you can get there it by air, road or ship. Cancun enjoys the benefit of warm weather year round but that is not the only reason why people from around the world choose it as a favorite destination above most places in Mexico. Cancun is dedicated to tourism and therefore you will find yourself choosing from a wide range of hotels that cater to your every need and desire. Most Cancun hotels are resorts and usually they will offer packages year round that includes accommodation, food, beach activities and some spa facilities of choice. Depending on the purpose of your visit choosing a Cancun hotel can become quiet a task as each package will sound better then the other.

Planning and Choosing a Cancun Hotel

Contact a local travel agent because they are the ones that have the first hand at discounts and usually the best deals for any destination; let the travel agent know the purpose for your visit so he or she can find he best location possible for the same. There are Cancun hotels that are dedicated to honeymooners, even if it is not your first one, and there are hotels dedicated to catering for families where activities are included with everyone in mind. Cancun is a destination in demand year round and if you want to get the Cancun hotel of choice, ensures that you plan in advance. A great way to view most of the choices available in Cancun hotels as well as their prices is through the Internet; here you will find pictures, packages and prices, which you can then compare to those made available by your local agent.

Helpful Tip

You will find a Cancun hotel to match any budget and desired activities if you plan your trip in advance. Also by planning in advance you may have a choice of getting a cruise instead of flying in or driving and start your vacation even earlier on a stylish all inclusive ship trip. Due to the fact that Cancun was made with tourism in mind, it is extremely easy to find a hotel that will meet all your demands and more, as most of them are located in breath taking locations with staff that are there to make your stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.

Copyright © John Hanna All Rights Reserved.

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John Hanna has cruised the world on all of the top cruise lines and stayed in most of the world's top hotels. He recently sold his bricks & mortar company to expand his internet consulting business. Visit his other Websites at: Vending Machine Sales    Princess Cruises  and  Luxury Hotels Read More…