Europe is, by convention, one of the world’s seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally ‘divided’ from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains. For more information visit: madrastravels.com
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Fifteen students from Houstons Energized for STEM Academy will have their first taste of the adventure that awaits them in the US Southwest this summer at a special workshop this Saturday led by Serena Renner, an Editor at AFAR Media. The trip, part of a series of national and international expeditions students across the country will embark upon this summer, is curated by Learning AFAR, the flagship program of AFAR Medias non-profit arm, the AFAR Foundation. It is made possible through the generous support of Schlumberger and the Pearson Foundation.

Offering exemplary underserved students an opportunity to see the world outside their own city limits, many for the first time, Learning AFAR encourages them to change their perspectives through experiential travel, returning to their communities as global citizens with a greater sense of purpose changed, inspired, proactive. Each trip combines community service, connection with locals and an experience that offers a window into the world that only travel can provide. Shared goals for the expeditions are: world-view, community, storytelling, tangible goals, and possibility.

This group of students will raft the San Juan River and explore community service, working alongside members of a Navajo Nation community.

Over two summers, Learning AFAR, with non-profit partner Global Explorers, has sent 101 low-income kids to places they might not have otherwise experienced, including Cambodia, Costa Rica and Peru. The 2012 expeditions will take groups to Costa Rica, Maya Yucatan and the American Southwest.

As part of the pre-expedition curriculum, AFAR editors are visiting the participating schools to talk to the students about: the meaning of experiential travel, what makes good writing, what it takes to put together a magazine, how important it is to tell a compelling story. In addition to uploading photos/Highlights from their trips to AFAR, the students will create their own Learning AFAR magazine after the expeditions.

LOCATION:

Saturday’s workshop: 9:30 a.m. -11:30 a.m.

Energized for STEM Academy, Inc.

High School Central Campus

9220 Jutland

Houston, Texas 77033

ABOUT AFAR MEDIA

AFAR is the multi-platform travel brand that inspires and guides those who travel the world to connect with its people, experience their cultures, and understand their perspectives. Headquartered in San Francisco, with an office in New York City, the company launched in 2009. Its platforms include the award-winning AFAR magazine, AFAR.com, the AFAR mobile App, the non profit AFAR Foundation; and immersive travel series AFAR Experiences.

ABOUT THE PEARSON FOUNDATION????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

The Pearson Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that aims to make a difference by promoting literacy, learning, and great teaching. The Pearson Foundation collaborates with leading businesses, non-profits, and education experts to share good practice; foster innovation; and find workable solutions to the educational disadvantages facing young people and adults across the globe. More information on the Pearson Foundation can be found at http://www.pearsonfoundation.org.

ABOUT GLOBAL EXPLORERS????????????????????????????

Global Explorers is a nonprofit organization based in Fort Collins, CO whose mission is to inspire responsible global citizenship by providing life-changing travel experiences for students and educators of all abilities and backgrounds. Our unique educational model equips students to explore science and culture for a deeper understanding of the world, to discover their personal interests and to tackle community issues with passion and wisdom. Visit http://www.GlobalExplorers.org for more information.

CONTACT: Shelley Tatum Kieran, shelley(at)afar(dot)com, shelley(at)afar(dot)com

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The Sheraton Safari Hotel and Suites in Orlando announced today a $ 25 million landmark transformation centered upon a dramatic new multi-pool courtyard and a new name Sheraton Lake Buena Vista Resort. The property features fresh amenities including a new spa, new fitness center and new ballroom along with completely reinvented guestroom and family accommodations, restaurants, event facilities and common areas. Boasting new spaces and services, the Walt Disney Good Neighbor? Resort sets the scene for spirited, sophisticated experiences for families, couples, groups and events.

Guests experiencing the new resort through December 31, 2012, enjoy savings of more than 25 percent on accommodations starting at $ 135 per night, 40 percent off spa treatments at the new Top of The Palms Spa and 20 percent off food and beverage purchases at the resorts fresh culinary outlets.

The hotels multi-million dollar renovation project is part of the Sheraton brands ongoing commitment to enhance its global portfolio and is one of several Sheraton properties undergoing a large-scale renovation this year. Completely new guestrooms and facilities wrap around the new 27 Palms Pool Club, named for the original palm trees surrounding the pool area, which features two spectacular pools. The Falls is a large, modern pool complete with a cascading waterfall and 79-foot water slide. The Beach presents a zero entry pool with in-water umbrellas dotted among water jets, a youth wet deck and splash pad with in-pool water sprays and more. Pool Captains offer food and beverage service throughout personal cabanas, lounge areas and more than 250 deck chairs, and arrange passes for nearby theme parks, make recommendations on area attractions and sponsor activities at 27 Palms.

“Sheraton Lake Buena Vista Resort is a fantastic addition to the lodging, dining and event facilities available for local residents and visitors alike, says Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. Travel and tourism drives our region’s economy and the significant investments made to this property have created yet another compelling offering in the tourism sector for Orlando.”

The hotels 490 completely revamped guestrooms and family accommodations feature crisp, sculpted fixtures, upscale linens and premium finishes, many offering views of the pool palm courtyard. Family accommodations boast the comforts of home with a separate bedroom and designer bunk beds with built-in reading lamps. Guestrooms feature the brands signature Sheraton Sweet Sleeper beds, designed using AAA Five Diamond Award? criteria, microwave, refrigerator, Wi-Fi, 42 HD flat screen televisions and express business services.

The lobby and other common areas are completely renovated with the lobby featuring the Link@Sheraton experienced with Microsoft?, a social space and connectivity hub including internet workstations, printing and faxing services, magazines and newspapers. Seating spaces are spread throughout the large common area, making room for intimate conversations and lively group discussions alike, while the view from the lobby looks out upon 27 Palms Pool Club.

Dining options include the new 27 Palms Grill, offering fresh juice poolside each morning and casual dining and Zest, the hotels signature restaurant and lounge. Serving an extensive citrus-infused menu, Zest presents indoor and outdoor seating, three private dining areas and a sleek lounge. Springboard Marketplace is a new market and caf? located in the lobby, serving fresh paninis, wraps and other snacks with Starbucks coffee and hand-scooped ice-cream.

A new spa, Top of the Palms, overlooks 27 Palms Pool Club. Therapists customize treatment packages according to guest preferences, offering signature massages, palm frond wraps, facials, manicures, pedicures and more in a fresh, upscale Lake Buena Vista spa environment.

New facilities also include a state-of-the-art fitness center. The Sheraton Fitness programmed by Core Performance? fitness center offers state-of-the-art training solutions via a revolutionary health and fitness program designed exclusively for Sheraton guests and utilizing professional-grade equipment, exercises and training gear guests can use in-room and Core Performance tips that extend beyond ones stay.

An on-site resort game room includes classic arcade-style games and big screen gaming on several consoles including Sony PlayStation? and Nintendo Wii?.

The resort also offers approximately 20,000 square feet of high-tech meeting and event spaces, with the entirely-new 7,000-square-foot Majestic Palm Ballroom, updated 6,000-square-foot Royal Palm Ballroom and several more intimate indoor and outdoor spaces offering venues for photo opportunities, small business meetings, grand receptions and Orlando corporate events.

Located near Downtown Disney, the Walt Disney Good Neighbor Resort provides free scheduled transportation to all nearby Walt Disney World theme parks and the ability for guests to purchase Disney tickets. Additionally, the hotels staff possesses a wealth of knowledge on the Walt Disney World? theme parks and favorite visitor activities.

Starwood has spent the last few years renovating and rebuilding one of the hotel industrys most iconic brands and Sheraton now stands better than ever with the strongest portfolio in its history. The brand is gaining market share, RevPAR continues to rise, guest satisfaction scores are the highest in the brands history and likelihood to return, likelihood to recommend and meeting planner and associate engagement scores are at all-time highs signaling that guests are taking notice and rediscovering the new Sheraton.

To take advantage of the opening offer, book online at http://SheratonLakeBuenaVistaResort.com or call 866-715-8106 and mention special rate code GRANDOP. For more information on Sheraton Lake Buena Vista Resort, call (800) 325-3535 or visit http://SheratonLakeBuenaVistaResort.com, http://facebook.com/SheratonLakeBuenaVistaResort or http://twitter.com/SheratonLBV.

About Sheraton Hotels & Resorts

Sheraton helps guests make connections at more than 400 hotels in 70 countries around the world and recently completed a $ 6 billion global revitalization and is now in the midst of a $ 6 billion global expansion over the next three years. Sheraton is owned by and is the largest and most global brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1,090 properties in 100 countries and territories with 154,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis?, The Luxury Collection?, W?, Westin?, Le M?ridien?, Sheraton?, Four Points? by Sheraton, Aloft?, and ElementSM. The company boasts one of the industrys leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit http://www.starwoodhotels.com.

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For Royal Caribbean International fans, the world is their oyster or shell! To celebrate the launch of new 2013-14 itineraries, the cruise line is hosting a Shell Yourself Facebook photo contest that will award one lucky winner with a complimentary cruise vacation, plus a trip to Miami to star in their very own professional photo shoot. The contest is a playful nod to Royal Caribbeans new global brand campaign which taps into consumers emotional connection with the ocean via playful imagery of a shellphone, a conch shell used as a phone, to illustrate its decree: The Sea is Calling. Answer it Royally.

With only a few days left to enter, consumers can submit their entries by sending a photo of themselves posing with a shellphone via the Shell Yourself Contest tab at http://www.Facebook.com/RoyalCaribbean and telling the cruise line where theyd like to sail and how theyd like to be treated royally. One winner will receive a seven-night cruise for two anywhere Royal Caribbean sails, plus two round-trip tickets to get there. And theres more the winner will also receive a one-night trip to Miami to star in a professional photo shoot that may be featured in the cruise lines new worldwide cruises brochure. The final day for entries is Friday, May 18, 2012.

Inspiration is available on the contest tab page via videos of the new brand campaign, plus a comprehensive map outlining everywhere Royal Caribbean sails including new itineraries in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the Mediterranean and Alaska, as well as newly revitalized ships sailing to the Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise brand with 22 innovative ships, calling on more than 270 destinations in 72 countries across six continents. The line also offers unique cruise tour land packages in Alaska, Canada, Dubai, Europe, and Australia and New Zealand.

Royal Caribbean provides a world-class vacation experience with a wide range of signature onboard amenities, entertainment, and award-winning family programming. The cruise line has a 40-year history of giving guests the Royal Advantage the most innovative cruise ships, exciting itineraries to popular destinations, and world-renowned friendly and engaging Gold Anchor Service. Royal Caribbean has been voted Best Cruise Line Overall for nine consecutive years in the Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards. For additional information or to make reservations, call your travel agent, visit http://www.RoyalCaribbean.com or call (800) ROYAL-CARIBBEAN. Follow Royal Caribbean on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/RoyalCaribbean or on Twitter, @RoyalCaribbean. Travel professionals should visit http://www.cruisingpower.com or call (800) 327-2056.

Royal Caribbean International is part of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE/OSX: RCL), a global cruise vacation company that also operates Celebrity Cruises, Azamara Club Cruises, Pullmantur, CDF Croisieres de France, as well as TUI Cruises through a 50 percent joint venture with TUI AG. The company owns a combined total of 40 ships and has one under construction and one under agreement.

MEDIA CONTACTS:????

Tracy Quan

(305) 539-6577????????????????????????????????????????

tquan(at)rccl(dot)com

Harrison Liu

(305) 982-2363????????????????????????????????????????

hliu(at)rccl(dot)com

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Travel to Khojand Market on the Silk Road in Central Asia. Xujand Panjshanbeh bozor Baazaar Khujand Tajikistan khodjand tourism trip. Tajik persian food traditional culinary restaurant cooking soups kabob bread dried nuts and fruits. Exotic adventure by Kambiz Taleghani usa iran camera: Abdumalik Sodikov

The Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) is working to share the message that love is at heart of every Virginia vacation and to do so, is partnering with tourism destinations across the state to have the word love pop up in many different and unexpected places and tourism destinations.

On May 17, VTC revealed the latest LOVE, this time in the form of giant Adirondack chairs at Kiptopeke State Park on Virginias Eastern Shore. Four chairs, each 10 feet tall and weighing more than 500 pounds, spell the word LOVE. The artwork will be at the beach all summer for families to pose for pictures and share on social media as part of a statewide effort to promote family vacations to Virginia. Visitors can take a picture with the LOVE artwork and share it on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/VirginiaisforLovers or on Twitter, using the special hashtag #LOVEVA. The artwork will also be featured in tourism advertisements and on http://www.Virginia.org.

Our iconic Virginia is for Lovers brand is about love – pure and simple, and has been for more than 40 years, said Rita McClenny, interim president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation. This is a great way to kick off the summer travel season by showcasing Virginias beautiful beaches and state parks. The new LOVE artwork will give families yet another reason to come visit Virginias Eastern Shore this summer.

Virginia is a beach destination with beaches big and small from the Virginia Beach oceanfront to the warm, welcoming sands of the Eastern Shore and many beaches in between, families will find the beach thats perfect for them in Virginia.

Virginia is home to one of the greatest state park systems in the country. Virginia State Parks are consistently rated the best in the nation and have been the backdrop for perfect family vacations for more than 75 years. Families will find that Virginias 35 state parks are as diverse as the state itself, with parks found along the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay, on historic sites, in the Blue Ridge mountains or just outside of major cities.

For more than 75 years Virginia State Parks have been places families love to visit, said State Parks Director Joe Elton. The setting at Kiptopeke State Park, with the LOVE artwork overlooking the Chesapeake Bay, is symbolic of the outdoor splendor state parks bring to visiting families all across Virginia. The state park system is managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.

The LOVE artwork at Kiptopeke is the latest in a series of LOVE that is springing up throughout Virginia. Visitors will find a LOVE artwork made out of thousands of wine corks at Veritas Vineyards in Nelson County. Visitors to the Fredericksburg Welcome Center on I-95 southbound are greeted by an oversized LOVE artwork. Destinations across Virginia are hosting a traveling LOVE artwork and visitors can find a schedule of appearances at http://www.Virginia.org/LOVE.

Love is at the heart of every Virginia vacation. Visit http://www.Virginia.org start planning a trip to Virginia or call 1-800-VISITVA to request a free, Virginia is for Lovers travel guide. Connect with Virginia is for Lovers on Facebook or on Twitter at @VisitVirginia.

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Filmed & edited by Robb Alvey – www.themeparkreview.com – http – Toboggan Run Alpine Slide POV Magic Mountain Merimbula Australia Wiegand
Video Rating: 4 / 5

On September 7-9 2011, Trek Australia hosted it’s dealers at the annual Trek World show, giving them a chance to see the 2012 range of Trek bikes, and Bontrager parts and accessories. Not only that, but dealers also had the chance to test ride the bikes at a Demo at Stromlo Forest Park. Follow us on Twitter @TrekBikesAust to learn about upcoming Demo’s and to keep up to date with all things Trek in Australia.
Video Rating: 5 / 5

Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim I had to stop for the night There she stood in the doorway I heard the mission bell And I was thinking to myself, This could be Heaven or this could be Hell Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way There were voices down the corridor, I thought I heard them say… Welcome to the Hotel California Such a lovely place Such a lovely face Plenty of room at the Hotel California Any time of year, you can find it here Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes bends She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys, that she calls friends How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat. Some dance to remember, some dance to forget So I called up the Captain, Please bring me my wine He said, “We haven’t had that spirit here since nineteen sixty nine” And still those voices are calling from far away, Wake you up in the middle of the night Just to hear them say… Welcome to the Hotel California Such a lovely place Such a lovely face They …

Lyrics: On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim I had to stop for the night There she stood in the doorway; I heard the mission bell And I was thinking to myself, ‘this could be heaven or this could be hell’ Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way There were voices down the corridor, I thought I heard them say… Welcome to the hotel california Such a lovely place Such a lovely face Plenty of room at the hotel california Any time of year, you can find it here Her mind is tiffany-twisted, she got the mercedes bends She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys, that she calls friends How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat. Some dance to remember, some dance to forget So I called up the captain, ‘please bring me my wine’ He said, ‘we haven’t had that spirit here since nineteen sixty nine’ And still those voices are calling from far away, Wake you up in the middle of the night Just to hear them say… Welcome to the hotel california Such a lovely place Such a lovely face They livin’ it up at the hotel california What a nice surprise, bring your alibis Mirrors on the ceiling, The pink champagne on ice And she said ‘we are all just prisoners here, of our own device’ And in the master’s chambers, They gathered for the feast The stab it with their steely knives, But they just can’t kill the beast Last thing I remember …
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Ocean lovers are traveling to Fort Lauderdale Saturday to attend SeaBlue, a South Florida event benefitting Oceana, the largest international advocacy group working solely to protect the worlds oceans. Visitors coming to Fort Lauderdale to attend the event are opting to book private Fort Lauderdale vacation rental condos and homes near the event venue through the Vacation Rentals Web Directory.

As demand for vacation rental condos and homes in Fort Lauderdale increases, more and more visitors are booking their accommodations online, and in doing so looking for cash-saving alternatives to traditional hotel and bed-and-breakfast lodgings. Private property owners in the Fort Lauderdale area are making their vacation homes available to visitors in increasing numbers, particularly heading into the spring tourist season.

The Vacation Rentals Web Directory is a comprehensive listing of vacation rental homes in Fort Lauderdale and throughout Florida, as well as the U.S., Canada, Europe, South America, Asia, Australia and Africa. VRWD.com provides a single gateway for people planning their South Florida vacations with a variety of available condos, villas, townhomes and estate homes to choose from.

Among the perks of staying in a Fort Lauderdale vacation rental condo or home is the privacy that comes with renting directly from the property owner. Fort Lauderdale vacation rentals offer a full kitchen, laundry room, and all the comforts of a home that make traveling easier and more enjoyable.

Vacation Rental Web Directory has grown rapidly in popularity as more and more property owners and travelers become familiar with this opportunity to connect for a mutually beneficial cause, says John Romano, CEO of VRMD.com.

Fort Lauderdale vacation rental homes, condos, chalets, cottages, and apartments are increasing in popularity every year, and VRMD.com provides a conduit for property owners and travelers to connect.

Many visitors traveling to Fort Lauderdale for the SeaBlue benefit plan to stay the weekend or the week to enjoy the areas beaches and other attractions. By booking a vacation home rental in Fort Lauderdale, they can stay and enjoy the Florida sun and surf much more affordably and with more amenities than a hotel can offer.

About Vacation Rentals Web Directory – VRWD.com

Vacation Rentals Web Directory (VRWD.com) is the world’s first and only marketplace that reviews and rates vacation rental websites and vacation home listings from around the world.

The VRWD.com human-edited directory provides a single gateway for everyone involved in vacation rentals: Visitors can find trusted vacation rental members for free, while vacation rental owners and publishers can become trusted members and receive great Internet exposure for a small fee.

VRWD.com is committed to quality and reviews every submitted listing before approval. The site only lists vacation rental-related Web sites. The directory is entirely free to use and is paid by featured and premium members.

VRWD.com is led by an experienced team of vacation rental experts who are dedicated to making vacation rentals a more consolidated and trusted marketplace.

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