Amusement Centres

By Roberto Garabell

 For visitors and residents of Anaheim, California, two of the major attractions here are the fabulous weather and the equally fabulous beaches. So, where are the best beaches near Anaheim?

Certainly Seal Beach will make anyone’s list of the best beaches around Anaheim. This is not just because of the actual beach but also the great facilities and area around it. Seal Beach is a family-friendly place with great shopping, excellent restaurants, and activities such as fishing from the charming pier area.

Huntington Beach is great for families with older teenagers. The long pier is a great “hang out” place, with shopping and plenty of activities, as well as some of the best al fresco dining.

For over 100 years, the seven miles of Laguna Beach has attracted visitors. That is no surprise; it has some of the most beautiful scenery along the Southern California coast. It is a great beach for children, with the best tide pools for exploring and excellent diving. It also sees some of the best sunsets so it is worth staying a little longer.

Along the Laguna Beach area, you will find a variety of smaller, beautiful beaches, such as Sleepy Hollow, near the center of downtown Laguna Beach. There is an ocean shelf here that is popular with swimmers; the reef at the south end makes excellent waves for body boarding.

If you enjoy South Laguna, the 1,000 Steps Beach is another fantastic beach. It is not really 1,000 steps; it just looks like it! This hidden gem is a great body surfing and volleyball beach, as well as a haven for surfers.

North of Laguna is the coastal cliffs and beaches of Crystal Cove. It is well known as a rural setting without the urban build-up of other areas. The area is also a haven for hiking, biking and horse riding. Just off-shore is an underwater park for snorkeling and scuba diving. At the Crystal Cove State Park, visitors will find an excellent, rustic campsite.

The Laguna area has many more great local beaches. To the north are Irvine Cove, Shaw’s Cove, Boat Canyon, Crescent Bay, Rockpile, Picnic Beach and Diver’s Cove. In the center of Laguna Beach are Main Beach, Sleepy Hollow, Thalia Street, St Ann’s Street, Oak Street, Brook’s Street and Mountain Road Beach. South Laguna Beach includes Pearl Street, Bluebird Canyon, Moss Point, Rockledge, Treasure Island, Wood’s Cove and Victoria Beach. It’s easy to get around the area by walking. The downtown area is great for shopping, art galleries and restaurants and it’s within an easy stroll of the beach. You’ll have so much fun exploring Laguna! Visitors find perfect beaches, no matter what they are seeking.

From small quiet, sandy beaches to “The Wedge” where the surfers hang out, Newport Beach is 22 square miles of great beach. It offers two piers, ferry trips, cruises around the harbor, boat rentals and trips to Catalina Island. There are several public golf courses and the opportunity to “star spot” as many celebrities have homes there.

Near Newport Beach is Balboa Island, a man-made island that was created just prior to World War I. It has its own unique identity and a charm all its own.

For a romantic setting, Dana Point is where people head. Its panoramic views and natural cover are why people call it “the only romantic spot on the coast.” The harbor and marina offer whale watching trips during the migration season. It is home to the Orange County Marine Institute, a fascinating educational visit with display tanks and exhibits. February here is “Festival of the Whales” with plenty of scheduled events and activities.

Dana Point is where visitors will also find Doheny State Beach with five acres of picnic facilities, volleyball courts, restaurants, food concessions and showers. It is a popular beach with the local residents and dolphins! If you want to enjoy a few hours watching for these delightful creatures, Dana Point is a great place to spot them.

Next to Doheny Beach are the glorious sands of Capistrano Beach, with its hilly backdrop and friendly atmosphere. The beaches here are narrower than other beaches. This is the perfect sand for beach sports, and visitors are likely to find several volleyball games going on. There are a variety of shops offering fishing gear for rent or sale.

When it comes to beaches to explore, Anaheim is ideally located and visitors are spoiled for choice.

BookIt.com is an online travel company determined and dedicated to becoming the leader in providing travelers with the most intuitive online booking experience full of relevant information, helpful guides and travel tips. With the many florida vacations available today, how can you determine which is right for you? Visit online today and we’ll help you narrow down the selection.You can also stay up to date with bookit.com on FaceBook.

History of Miami’s Spring Break

By Roberto Garabell

 Spring break has been a tradition for college students and people from all walks of life for many years. It is still known as “the great escape” for students, and many make it a point to choose the Miami area as their spring break destination. Some of their favorite spots in Miami include the Florida Keys, Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale. These spring breakers travel from throughout the U.S., and even from abroad, to Florida and rent hotel rooms, apartments or vacation homes for their stay.

Miami became a major focus of spring break activity in the 1970s. The sunny days, gorgeous beaches and ever-flowing alcoholic beverages lured youngsters from all over the globe. It wasn’t long until Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Panama City Beach were flooded with spring breakers, eager for some fun in the sun, drinks and, to the concern of locals, some debauchery, too. The 1970s and 1980s were considered the heyday for Miami’s spring break. Many drunken college students would climb and swing from the balconies of hotels, acting like “crazy people.” Unfortunately, a few famously fell to their deaths with such senseless acts.

More than drinking on tap

Not all of the students that come to Miami for spring break are looking for a way to get drunk and party. Many of them simply want to come and enjoy some of the live entertainment, beaches and sun. Miami boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, with an ocean that is crystal blue and, at times, even warm. Many students love to simply hang out on the beach all day and perhaps take in a club scene at night - with or without the drinking involved, many students consider South Beach to be “where the party is at.” The hot spot has seen its share of action over the years. This area is located right in the heart of the historic Art Deco district of Miami and has always been one of the best places to find a hotel and spend the entire vacation. Many students also find it to be a great idea to do a day or two of sailing around the Caribbean or simply strolling around the port to admire all of the giant ships. The nude beaches here (mostly unofficial) are also a hot commodity and attract the students who need an easy way to get an all-over tan.

Spring break took a turn toward manageability in the late 1980s and 1990s, when there was more authority exerted over the consumption of alcoholic beverages and more restrictions on the types of behaviors allowed in public. This was also the era when it seemed more and more students were willing to break the bank (the folks’ credit cards) for a trip to Miami. Although there are always moralizing politicians and newspaper editors that try to counter the activities of spring break with the offer of planned activities, sporting events, scavenger hunts, drive trips and even church activities, few students really noticed or cared.

A big, big deal

By 1985, Fort Lauderdale spring break crowds had reached a whopping 350,000 and the local governments were ready to call it quits on the entire idea of spring break in the area due to all of the mayhem it was causing. However, with the cash flow being so huge, they decided to keep the party going with the exception that there would be strict laws and rules enforced to keep the mayhem under control. Police units and task forces were sent out to monitor public intoxication and out of control students. The tactic worked and helped to greatly reduce the injuries and public intoxication.

During the 1990s, spring breakers eased up a little bit due to other pastimes that were on offer. MTV, Superclubs and other corporate sponsors tried to put a different face on spring break with shows, concerts and special giveaways. With the presence of so many new additions like live TV and video cameras all over the place, spring break became more than just a simple vacation - now it was a chance to be in the spotlight, if only for a moment. Of course, the “Girls Gone Wild” folks were still coming around, too, as spring break had become a full-blown industry. Some companies even charter cruise ships for the events, heading from Port Everglades to the Bahamas and other destinations. Radio stations throughout the U.S. sponsor spring break events with special prizes, like free tickets to Miami and admission to the local events and parties.

Miami has been the spring break getaway for decades and continues to lure and attract students and families every year. It will continue to be the best place in the world for a great spring break experience, because there is only one Florida, only one Miami - and they are not making any more of either of them!

BookIt.com is an online travel company determined and dedicated to becoming the leader in providing travelers with the most intuitive online booking experience full of relevant information, helpful guides and travel tips. With the many destin fl available today, how can you determine which is right for you? Visit online today and we’ll help you narrow down the selection.You can also follow BookIt.com on Twitter.

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Handy Travel Insurance Hints for the First Time Buyer

By Mui Aponta

 Don”t think you can travel without it.

When the process of buying travel insurance seems like one extra headache that you could do without just before your holiday, it can be tempting to think ”what’’s the worst that could happen”? This, however, is a bad move. You may well have a holiday that goes off without a hitch, but there is always the possibility that something could go wrong - be it minor or major - and leave you with unnecessary stress and an empty wallet.

Consider how frequent a traveller you are.

You may just be planning the one holiday at the moment, but before buying single trip insurance it’’s wise to consider whether you”ll be travelling frequently and therefore better off with annual cover. Annual insurance policies can be very reasonably priced - “” Travel Insurance offer European cover from ?37.65 - and are often better value for money if you intend to travel twice or more during the year.

Consider what kind of traveller you are.

Another complication of travel insurance is that most companies offer policies that cater to different kinds of traveller - backpacker, skier, golfer - so you have to consider what you need covered before picking your policy. A family holiday, for example, won”t require the same kind of accident cover as a winter-sports holiday, so insurance will probably be a bit cheaper.

Shop around.

Don”t just jump at the first insurance policy you stumble across because the process of searching seems too daunting. Yes, it may require a little extra time and effort to make a concerted search, but you will undoubtedly benefit from it as policies vary so much in price and details.

Don”t leave it to the last minute.

Above all, buying your travel insurance shouldn”t be something that you do in a panicky rush - a cool head and time for research is the best way to get a great deal.

Though it’’s not the easiest process to get your head around, searching for your first travel insurance policy shouldn”t be too difficult as long as you know what to expect. Always do your research carefully, and read over the policy so that you can be sure you”re covered for all your needs.

Mui Aponta recommends that you always take out cheap travel insurance. He’’s recently opted for the cheapest travel insurance he could find with from AA Travel Insurance.

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