Take it to the Streets: Hot Spots for Catching the Olympic Spirit

It’s an open secret that sports are just part of the Olympic Games experience. Now for the flip side: where’s the party? The places to be during the 2010 Winter Games – when not actually cheering at the finish line – will be at one of the celebration sites hosted by the City of Vancouver, the City of Richmond and the Resort Municipality of Whistler. The sites, set to open in February, 2010, will each offer a roster of family-friendly events, including big-screen broadcasts of the competitions and medal ceremonies, live music, and special guest appearances.

Vancouver’s two LiveCity sites will be at West Georgia and Beatty streets near BC Place Stadium, and a few blocks away at Yaletown’s David Lam Park, with a pedestrian route linking the two. The Georgia Street site will stay open through the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games and live on as a cultural legacy for the city. Vancouver’s Robson Square will also draw crowds with athletic demonstrations, family events, outdoor ice skating and more. www.tourismvancouver.com

The party continues at the O Zone in Richmond, where visitors can take a spin at the Ice Zone (an ice rink boasting a high–tech lighting system), view interactive public art, and catch multicultural acts at the Main Stage, featuring a host of international headliners and local talents. Sure to be a second home for speed skating nations, visitors can also view the Ice Gate, an ice art installation created by renowned west coast artist Gordon Halloran, and visit Holland House, an entertainment and hospitality venue expected to draw 6,000 visitors daily. And here’s something else to celebrate: the new Canada Line, part of Vancouver’s SkyTrain rapid transit system, can whisk fans between the Richmond and Vancouver celebration sites in minutes. www.tourismrichmond.com

In Whistler, six celebration sites each have a theme: from family fun at Town Plaza and live music at Village Square, to fringe theatre at Village Common and circus arts, dance, and Aboriginal performances at Mountain Square. The main site, Whistler Medals Plaza, will host Medal Ceremonies, live competition broadcasts and the Paralympic Closing Ceremonies. (Tickets will be issued for crowd control at Whistler Medals Plaza; details to be announced at vancouver2010.com.) And – because Whistler will be open for public skiing throughout the 2010 Winter Games – skiers and boarders can catch shows and updates at Skiers’ Plaza as they hop on and off the gondolas. Time to celebrate. www.tourismwhistler.com

For more destination story ideas related to the 2010 Winter Games, visit www.destination2010.ca or to read more story ideas from the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region, visit www.hellobc.com/vcmbcmedia.

A Guide – Ibiza Holidays

By Jez Rourke

It takes only two hours to fly from almost all European airports and holidaymakers in the UK, Spain, France, Italy, Sweden and Holland can take advantage of the numerous reasonably priced daily flights. Ibiza is well known for its electric night time vibe and amazing clubbing experience. In fact clubbing doesn’t get any better than Ibiza with its spectacular range of clubs and hundreds of scenic, charming and intimate bars across the island.

However, there is far more to this amazing Island. It has some of the cleanest water in the Mediterranean and the beaches hold Blue Flag awards. With beautiful weather conditions and perfect beaches, have a lazy day and recharge your batteries ready for a big night out on the town. There is plenty of sports including watersports for the more active holiday makers.

If you are looking for tourist information offices, you will find them at the airport, San Antonio, Ibiza Town, Santa Eularia and La Savina in Formentera. However, Ibiza is only a small island and you are never more than one hour’s drive away from one point to another.

Tours on the island included catamaran boat cruises, scooter tours, a scenic tour train, and self-drive and special guided tours. The island offers a variety of sports including football, rugby, golf, basketball, cricket, golf, kayak excursions and diving courses. Also provides a gym (Jet Gym), horse riding, mountain biking and tennis. For those looking for adventure sports there is paintball, carting and a nautical sports centre where you can try jet skiing, banana rides and parachute sailing.

This is a good place for family holidays. There is qualified nanny and childcare services throughout Ibiza, as well as fun for the family including San Antonio’s Smugglers Cave which is now an aquarium and the water slide park of Playa d’en Bossa.

An ideal place to get away from the crowds in the larger towns of Ibiza is the village of Santa Ines. The countryside is breathtaking with fields of almond, lemon and orange trees surrounded by pine trees.

San Carlos is a small village where all the roads meet before branching off to Cala Nova, Cala Mastella and Cala Lena, the beaches on the east coast. A hippy market happens every Saturday at the Las Dalias restaurant and is a popular meeting place. Another famous hippy market is held on Wednesdays near Santa Eulalia. Here you can buy everything from silver jewellery and trinkets to leather moccasins and colourful batik wraps.

You could also explore villages such as San Miguel, San Jose, San Juan and San Rafael. You will also no doubt experience on of Ibiza’s Fiesta days or carnivals no matter what month you visit.

According to the locals Ibiza only rains for 3 days at a time and the rest of the year the sun will always be shining with clear blue skies.

Copyright (c) 2009

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Kurumathi Blue Lagoon

By Kathy Adrian

Kurumathi Blue Lagoon is a beautiful place to take a relaxing holiday. The resort features a marvelous view of the ocean with waves lapping peacefully on the shore. Situated on the quieter western tip of Kuramathi Island, guests here feel as one with nature as they are surrounded by gorgeous turquoise waters and coconut groves. With the idyllic setting and comfortable accommodations, you can’t help but feel at home and bask in the glorious beauty of nature. Sunbathing, swimming in the ocean and getting an awesome tan are only a few of the activities that you can engage in.

Kurumathi Blue Lagoon Activities
As long as you’re at Kurumathi Blue Lagoon, why not add some fun to your holiday and try snorkeling, scuba diving, or a host of other great activities suitable for the whole family? Boasting of a myriad of water sports such as windsurfing, sunset sailing, water skiing, banana boat riding, and glass-bottom boat canoeing, Kurumathi resort is the perfect place to begin appreciating the beauty of the ocean! Or if land-based sports are your thing, don’t fret: Badminton, table tennis, football pitch, and volleyball are just a few of the games you can enjoy here.

Kurumathi Blue Lagoon Amenities
If you’re looking for a getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life, let the calm, relaxing sound of the surf be your soundtrack to exquisite peace and serenity to clear the senses at this resort. A true haven from the fast-paced rush of city life, provides you with the perfect atmosphere for renewing yourself and getting in touch with your inner soul. Despite being a natural paradise, it has everything you could want from home – including warm and cold showers, IDD telephones and a mini-bar.

Kurumathi Blue Lagoon Dining
Dining is a treat in itself as Kurumathi resort has fine dining choices for you to choose from. Aside from the talented food production team, there are great “theme restaurants,” such as Indian, Thai, Island Barbecue, and Grill Restaurants situated in different locations on the island. Whatever your palate may crave, Kurumathi Blue Lagoon’s fine dining experience is sure to satisfy your appetite.

So don’t forget, whether it’s an action-packed vacation or a tranquil, relaxed and idyllic getaway you have planned, Kurumathi is sure to have it all for you! A feeling of freshness and rejuvenation awaits as you conclude your stay, so come visit us now!

For more information about Kurumathi Blue Lagoon, visit the Resort website. If you have already visited Kurumathi Blue Lagoon, why not write a review at http://www.MaldivesReviews.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathy_Adrian