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Archive for December, 2010

With prominent personalities in the world of showbiz and business thriving within this incorporated town, families who are planning to transfer here are assured that they are moving to one of the finest places in Florida. Imagine having James H. Clark, the founder of Netscape, John Sculley, the former CEO of Apple, Inc. and PepsiCo, the Kennedy family, Donald Trump, Dina Merrill and best selling author James Patterson as your neighbors.

The Town of Palm Beach is situated at the heart of Palm Beach County, Florida and bordered by the Inter-coastal Waterway that separates this incorporated town with West Palm Beach and Lake Worth. In fact, it is considered as the eastern most town of the state and is located along a 16-mile magnificent barrier island. This is undeniably the reason why Palm Beach is famed for its stunning gleaming white sand and crystal clear turquoise waters.

With a purchase of a new home or a luxurious condominium unit within this prestigious location, you and your family are assured of easy access to the best systems and facilities in education, beautiful beaches, high-end shopping centers and theaters.

The financial stability and economy of Palm Beach is anchored by tourism and the wealth of its residents. So, business opportunities that are involved in resort development, recreational activities and food service will surely thrive.

With a healthy flow of tax dollars, your children will be given a quality education in Palm Beach. There are more than a hundred schools to choose from. With this wide array of choices, your kids will surely be cradled in an institution where his or her personality and needs will develop to their benefit.

After a grueling week at work, treat yourself and your family to a weekend hideaway within reach. Tag along the kids to meet and greet the animals in Palm Beach’s African safaris and wildlife sanctuaries like the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, Lion Country Safari and Palm Beach Zoo. See ocean creatures as they graze through the waters within the excellent waterpark facilities in the area like Calypso Bay Waterpark, Coconut Grove Waterpark and Recreation Center and Rapids Waterpark.

For fathers and sons who would like to spice up and add some variety to the usual golfing experience, try one of the 48 various golf courses and driving ranges surrounding Palm Beach. From this wide selection to choose from you will find executive, championship and beginner courses for pros, amateurs and even families. So, gear up and take your clubs to practice that perfect swing or play a round on one of the countries finest golf courses at Atlantis Country Club, Boca Dunes and Country Club, Cypress Creek Country Club or Southwinds Golf Course.

Complete your weekend extravaganza with a visit to Flagler Museum, also known as Whitehall. This marvelous 55-room mansion is open to the public and features guided tours, regular exhibits and special programs relating to culture and the arts. Architecture enthusiasts will surely fall in love with this huge and carefully built structure with marble flooring, walls and columns, breathtaking murals on the ceiling and heavy gliding. It was regarded by the New York Herald in 1902 as “more wonderful than any place in Europe, grander and more magnificent than any other private dwelling in the world”. This museum is also listed in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places for being a historic landmark. Other museums that are sure to fire up the joy of learning in your little ones’ hearts are the Lawrence E. Will Museum, Children’s Museum and South Florida Museum.

Mothers and daughters can take pleasure in a high-end shopping galore bonding at Worth Avenue, which is referred to as the Rodeo Drive of Florida. Go crazy with the wide selection of brand-name fashion items found within the long stretch of this street. Upscale living is depicted through over 250 shops, boutiques, art galleries and restaurants. Designers like Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co, Gucci, Chanel, Giorgio Armani, Cartier, Neiman Marcus, Hermes, Ralph Lauren, Loro Piana, Brooks Brothers, Salvatore Ferragamo, Valentino, Lacoste and many more are represented on Worth Avenue.

For mothers who are not into splurging, going to the botanical gardens could also be fine therapy. Within Palm Beach is the renowned Four Arts Garden that was established in the 1930′s. Expect to be awed by the most beautiful tropical plants in Southern Florida. Its Through a small pathway winding past a rock garden, you will be welcomed with a sophisticated faade of the Spanish Gardens, with vibrant and well-decorated walls. You are not only bound to see lushes and greeneries in Four Arts Garden, you will also be amazed by creations of the country’s premier sculptors like Luis Montoya and Philip Jackson.

Palm Beach, Miami, Sarasota and Siesta Key real estate makes up some of the finest residential offerings in Florida. These areas were not immune to the recession and many are at their 1999 price levels. If you are looking to invest in higher-end Florida real estate, these areas offer some fantastic opportunities.

If you’re looking to decorate your child’s room using a fun and exciting theme, you may want to consider using beach wall decor. This theme has become increasingly popular amongst boys and girls, and the decorating possibilities are essentially endless! Additionally, creating a beach themed room is something that you and your child can do together throughout the years.

Just imagine a beach themes room beginning with a simple, sandy wall color and a couple of seashells propped on a nearby shelf. Then, over the years, you collect new pieces to add into the room. You can have a full sized surf board mounted onto the wall. If you’re feeling really crazy, why not have a mural painted which depicts a palm tree and hammock? You and your child can take this theme as far as you want!

The first decision to make will be whether your plan on decorating your beach wall decor with a sand or ocean theme. If you go with the ocean theme, your room will have a crazier, more tropical feel to it. With the ocean theme, you can also incorporate nautical designs such as anchors, sailboats, rowboats, etc. However, if you want true beach wall decor, then you should go with a sand theme. This will give the room a neutral look, which the child will be more likely to grow into.

Another fun idea when decorating a beach themed room is to choose one accent wall which will be painted a different color. This can open the room up and give it a bit more personality. For example, if you have chosen to do a sand theme throughout the room, your accent wall could be one which depicts the ocean. Not only could your accent wall be a cool shade of blue, but it could incorporate a fun mural of a boat sailing out to sea. The best thing about accent walls is that they are easy to change. You can change the entire look of your room by simply repainting the accent will with a different beach wall decor inspired design, which is much more convenient than giving the entire room a color change.

Virginia Beach is a self-governing city in the South Hampton Roads, along the Commonwealth of Virginia. It lies in the seashores of the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay. Virginia Beach is known as a resort with a great walk. There are many motels, hotels and restaurants along its oceanfront.

It is a vacation resort offering splendid activities and accommodations such as:oGood restaurantsoAmphitheateroNight clubsoAquariumoFun amusement parksoQuality golf courses oand truly special events

Virginia Beach oceanfront has plenty of excellent special events and regular attractions. These include the following:oThe Virginia Beach American Music FestivaloNeptune FestivaloThe Holiday Lights at the Beach oThe East Coast Surfing Championship

These are only some of the happenings that attract thousands of visitors in this wonderful city of Virginia Beach.

Virginia Beach has hundreds of inns, motels, hotels and other lodging accommodations for you and your whole family. There are oceanfront motels and hotels only a block off the beach. There are also hotels in the new Virginia Beach Town Center.

Listed below are some of the Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hotels

-Sheraton Oceanfront Hotel – It has direct beach access, allowing you to step right into the excitement of Virginia Beach. Enthusiasts will enjoy playing golf in the golf courses. Bikes can be rented to enjoy a scenic ride around the area. After your day in the beach, you can retreat to the comfort of your guest room and enjoy utter relaxation. Slide between the crisp sheets and under the cozy duvet of your Sheraton Sweet Sleeper Bed.

It is located at #3501 Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach.

-Best western Oceanfront Hotel – This oceanfront hotel offers well-appointed meeting rooms that can accommodate more than 200 guests for organizing various significant events. Entertaining facilities such as the swimming pool or the gymnasium can be used to enhance your mental and physical well-being. It also offers 214 modern guest rooms that are elegantly furnished with an array of in-room amenities, making sure you have a pleasurable stay in the hotel. It is situated at #2809 Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach.

-Springhill Suites Virginia Beach Oceanfront – Rejuvenate and relax at the Springhill suites, wherein, weekend family vacations, outings and business trips can be memorable when you check in at Springhill Suites. It offers free hot suite seasons breakfast buffets. Each oceanfront studio and oceanfront one bedroom suite comes with a private balcony, free high-speed internet access, amazing overlooking views, 2 televisions, a kitchenette and a sofa bed. It is located at #901 Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach.

-Atlantic Sand Oceanfront Hotel – This luxurious Atlantic Sand oceanfront hotel is a contemporary eight story hotel with 110 oceanfront rooms with a private balcony. Their guest rooms are comfortable. The decoration reflects the resort location also. All guest rooms have a dramatic panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean and beach. The Atlantic Sand Oceanfront Hotel is the perfect place for your friend or family vacation. It is located at #1101 Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach.

-Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hotel – This unique hotel features rooftop recreation areas, a heated indoor pool, a bar, snack restaurants and an outdoor pool where its horizon seemingly meets the sea. On the ground level of the hotel, catch 31 Fishhouse and bar allows you to pick a piece of a hand carved fish. The guest rooms are also equipped with modern 32 to 42 inch flat-screen televisions and high-speed internet access.

A beach wedding may be the most romantic and unique style of celebrating and personalizing your wedding, which will be remembered throughout your life time. A beach wedding can simply be a traditional affair with a completely a nautical theme. Some of the planning for a beach wedding may be a little complicated than a traditional ceremony but worth doing it.

A beach wedding decoration cannot use natural materials that are used in a normal wedding. For a beach wedding decoration, materials would be already present in the beach. Seashells, sea glass, and corals are some of them for implementing creative colors to the materials.

Sea shells, by far represent the most versatile decorating option, particularly for the design of the reception table’s center pieces, linens, table top accents as well as other components that make a well decorated reception not only memorable but also visually appeal able and complimentary. Also, work with the florist to capture the look and feel of the theme. Large seashells may be suitable idea not only to decorate the tables, but also to serve the wonderful purpose of candy containers. Exotic pieces of seashell decoration serve dual purposes are both equally attractive and cost-effective.

Twig votives and starfish paper confetti also can be used to dress up the reception table. Wedding arches can be made in a very special way using palm trees. A Polynesian style of genuine bamboo, tiki wedding hut can also be arranged. Colored sand can also be utilized for decoration or making theme drawings, which symbolizes the blending of lives and heart.

Tropical flowers like hibiscus, anthuriums, or plumerias are also used as decorations. Large glass bowls can be filled with colored sand and assorted seashells can be placed on the top to support the theme. Tint water blue and pour over pebbles or small rocks in a small bowl and fish shaped floating candles can be used to make the place a real hit.

Even the theme can be made more colorful and creative by arranging everything in the shape of the things which are found in the beach for example boat shaped wedding cake, light house shaped candle holders fish shaped candles and so on. Fabric used for the backdrop of your decorations may be used blue through out to match the color of the sea.

Placing a variety of shells in a transparent glass vase makes an easy reception table decorative piece. With a little bit of creative ideas, the beach side atmosphere can be carried on to maintain the theme, throughout the area.

Albania has a long coastline on the Adriatic and Ionian seas. Much of it is very pretty with many sandy beaches, virtually untouched by main stream tourism. Identifying beach resorts in Albania and obtaining sufficient information about them to plan a vacation is still not easy. The Albania beach holiday travel tips that follow are intended to help identify and describe three of the country’s beach resorts.

Himara

The small port of Himara is situated at the foot of the Keravnia mountain in southern Albania, about eighty miles north of the Greek border and nearly opposite the Greek island of Corfu. As well as its close geographical proximity to Greece, the local inhabitants are mainly Greek speaking and the general atmosphere of the area provides an insight into how Corfu must have been in the days before mass tourism arrived.

Himara Travel Tip:

You will find several travel web sites listing accommodations in Himara. If you feel insecure about making your own arrangements in such an undeveloped country, holidays in this resort can also be booked through Sunvil, an ABTA tour operator.

Dhermi and Drymades Beaches

Several spectacularly beautiful beaches can be found in the Dhermi and Drymades area. There is even an over-sized, open air club called the Havana Bar on the main Dhemi beach. But otherwise the beach has made few concessions to tourism. The sea here is crystal clear and must surely be amongst the cleanest on the planet.

Between Dhermi and the next major beach at Drymades, there are numerous pebble beach coves located between picturesque, rocky outcrops. They are all totally deserted and most are ideal for swimming or snorkeling.

Drymades Beach is enormous, yet even at the height of summer, there are usually very few people to found on it. It has one relaxing little beach bar and behind it is a campsite and beach bungalows. There is also a holiday village complex offering good accommodation in the form of villas, cottages and hotel rooms. The complex has been developed tastefully and does not in anyway spoil this beautiful area.

Drymades Beach Travel Tip:

Consider staying at the Drymades Beach Complex if you are looking for a high standard of accommodation at very reasonable prices.

Golem Beach Mali Robit Resort

Mali Robit is a resort, situated on the Adriatic coast at Golem Beach. It is situated about 30 miles from Tirana, the capital of Albania and six miles from the port of Dures. The beach here is sandy and provides safe bathing. It is a resort with a spectacular backdrop of rugged mountain scenery but it has made more concessions to tourism than most, with its beach being one of those long, straight, sun-bed and parasol types you find all over the Mediterranean. The major provider of accommodation is the Mali Robit resort hotel. This offers modern facilities, forty five apartments and five villas. There are other modern hotels at Golem beach and plenty of other types of accommodation.

Golem beach travel tip:

Although there is plenty of unspoilt places to visit in the surrounding area, only consider this resort if you priorities high standards of accommodation and tourist facilities over staying in the “Real Albania”

Go to Albania now before it is spoiled.

Albania remains one of Europe’s poorest countries and it may take some time to develop its tourist potential to the extent where it becomes a mass tourist attraction. However, development of beach resorts in a country that is desperate for income can often occur haphazardly and without official sanction or well thought out planning. A picturesque village one year can be turned into a mess of half built concrete shells the next. Sadly, there are already plenty of examples of this having occurred. The best travel tip for enjoying the tranquility and beauty of Albania’s coastal areas is to go now before it is too late.

This summer, there will be more beauty on the beach than ever before. More couples are choosing to go with beautiful beach weddings and every summer wedding has a charming flower girl. This year’s styles for flower girl dresses will definitely put more beauty on the beach.

Depending on individual preferences, beach weddings can be informal or formal occasions. Flower girls can dress in a casual cotton sundress or an elaborate organza gown. Except for paying attention to the length of dresses for walking in the sand, the sky is the limit when it comes to choosing beach flower dresses.

Some brides prefer the flower girl dresses to match the ocean theme and they select blue, aqua, or turquoise shades. They might choose a white/blue embroidered cotton dress with taffeta waistband and bow or a turquoise chiffon dress. Other brides might prefer to have fun with ‘coral’ and select soft shades of pink.

A pink charmeuse with flower embroidered mesh and organza trim is a perfect summer dress. With taffeta that boasts a shimmery floral print throughout, finished with a bubble-cut style skirt, this pink dream is fit for every pink princess. Imagine an evening beach wedding, a pink sunset, a beautiful bride, and a lovely flower girl in pink charmeuse – a picture-perfect setting!

Of course, beach weddings do not have to be about pale pastels. ‘Bold and beautiful’ can be the theme of your beach wedding! Bold prints on sundresses or bright orange halter top gowns can add a beautiful splash of color. A fuchsia double ruffle georgette dress with sequin trim and removable flower is a fantastic choice for a summer dress.

Do not be afraid to introduce color with beach flower girl dresses. The outdoor environment is full of jewel colors and vibrant shades. Even an increasing number of Indian weddings are celebrated on the beach but the brides still wear the traditional red. If a bride wants to bring an intense shade into her wedding, a red halter top organza dress is a hot style and yet a cool choice for a girl’s summer dress

This season’s most popular styles include casual as well as more formal dresses. In fact, some fashions combine both styles in one dress. A pink metallic gingham poly-cotton sundress with a tie-back sash has just the right touch of elegance. This dress fits perfectly into a beach wedding.

A pink flower girl dress with taffeta shirred gathers and a sleeveless bodice is a cool but classy girl’s summer dress. A white all over laced dress will provide a traditional touch at a modern beach wedding. All types of cool fabrics will show up at this summer’s beach weddings.

Gorgeous georgette is a lovely, sheer, lightweight fabric that is creating a buzz this summer season. Soft charmeuse and lustrous chiffon are always favorites for summer flower girl dresses. Pink taffeta is looking hot for this season and organza gowns always overwhelm with their subtle elegance and outstanding style. Beach flower girl dresses – beauty on the beach!

Looking for beach real estate in the Charleston, SC area? You’ll find 6 beaches in Charleston to choose from, and each one has a different feel to it.

Folly Beach is one of the most popular for residents and tourists. This is partly because it’s the most accessible beach to downtown Charleston. It’s also the most affordable for vacation rentals and for buying real estate. Overall, Folly Beach has a laid back feel to it, and it’s the most popular beach for students and surfers. You’ll find plenty of restaurants, bars, and beach shops along Center Street, so there’s no need to leave the island to go out. But, if you want to drive to downtown Charleston, you’re only about 15 minutes away.

Isle of Palms also sees a big demand from home buyers. It’s the main beach that Mt. Pleasant residents visit, and it also sees a good deal of tourism. So, if you’re looking for vacation home that you can rent out for vacationers, either of these beaches would be good for getting this additional income. Part of the island belongs to Wild Dunes Resort (see below), so not all of the island is accessible to the residents. Isle of Palms is 15-20 minutes from downtown Charleston, so you can easily go downtown for entertainment. Mt. Pleasant is about a 5 minute drive, so there are a lot of things to do within a quick drive of the beach.

Wild Dunes Resort is a private beach resort located on the northern end of Isle of Palms. Wild Dunes has great amenities, including several golf courses. You’ll find a few restaurants (like a grill and a deli), but for the most part, residents leave the resort and go to either Mt. Pleasant or downtown Charleston. If you’re looking for high end beach real estate with a close proximity to downtown, Wild Dunes may be a good option for you.

Sullivan’s Island is located just south of the Isle of Palms, so it also is conveniently located to Mt. Pleasant and downtown Charleston. It’s the most historic beach in Charleston, and it’s mostly made up of houses. You’ll find only a few condo buildings on the island. There are some beautiful older homes – some date back to the early 1900s. You’ll also see newer homes, and these can be found more on the beach side of the island. There are only a couple of restaurants at the entrance of the island, so most residents and visitors leave the island for entertainment. Although Sullivan’s Island has public beach accesses (like Folly Beach and Isle of Palms), it has a nicer feel to it. It’s also considerably more expensive than these two beaches.

Kiawah Island is one of the most exclusive beaches in Charleston. It has the best amenities of any of the beaches – world class tennis facilities and golf courses, pools, a spa, and upscale restaurants. There is one public access on the southern tip of Kiawah. It is part of the Charleston County Parks, and has paid admission. Besides these park-goers, access is restricted to property owners and vacationers who are renting homes on the island. Kiawah is located further out from downtown Charleston – it’s about a 30 to 40 minute drive.

Seabrook Island is very similar to Kiawah in that it’s a private beach resort, and it’s located directly south of Kiawah. It also has great golf and tennis amenities, but it also has an equestrian center. This is one of only a few community equestrian facilities in all of Charleston. Kiawah and Seabrook have the priciest beach real estate in Charleston and have a high status associated with the areas. They are also the most natural of the beaches. They have very strict building guidelines in an effort to preserve the wildlife and natural beauty of the islands.

Anyone fortunate enough to own beach front property should consider building themselves a beach house for the enjoyment of their family and friends. Beach house floor plans should follow the slope of the lot towards the beach and provide a panoramic view of the ocean. A clever design will exploit lot orientation, topography, gravity, direct light and spectacular views.

One type of floor plan arrangement for a beach house is based on a tri-level design. The lowest level encompasses the garage and utilities, the top level is designated as the integrated guest house with the remaining main level denoting the master and secondary bedrooms. Living and dining areas are also featured on the main level of this beach house floor plan.

The layering of living levels and slope of the land allows for a stair system from which one can enter externally, with the guest unit being independent, or via the traditional internal type staggered system. The external stair system gives the opportunity to add either a secluded terrace or patio on any level. A private footbridge with adjoining patio into the master suite would also be a welcome reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the main living area.

In keeping with the maritime feel of the beach house floor plan, interior walls of the main living area should be kept to a minimum and the oceanside end should be lifted high into the air and surrounded by glass to extend the view as much as possible. Many panoramic views are the key to maximizing the advantage of natural light.

Evenings and nights can be cool or even cold on the beach depending on the season. If your budget allows, a fireplace in an outdoor living area can be the perfect solution. Fire against the backdrop of the ocean is a classical allusion and can add to the beauty of your beach house floor plan.

Make Sure Your Garden Beach Pebbles Come From a Sustainable Resource

Beach pebbles can look great in any garden. Unlike gravel they look smoother and rounded and gentler overall. However, if you decide to place beach pebbles in your garden, make sure they are specifically for the garden and from sustainable resources, and not from a source that will gradually deplete, leaving the area poorer as a result.

It may be tempting to simply set off with you car, a shovel and some sturdy sacks to a nearby beach or nearby river bed to dig up your own supply of pebbles. It’s also likely that you could do this easily as there probably won’t be anything there to physically stop you.

However, don’t! It’s very likely that the stones you find lying on a beach are protected by a local government protection order. Taking them without permission will almost certainly lead to the possibility of you being fined heavily, so it’s not worth doing.

Instead, find a good reputable supplier, one that uses a sustainable resources. If your chosen supplier is one that gets their pebbles wherever they can, and doesn’t care how depleted beaches get as a result, it’s time you changed supplier.

An interesting case in point comes from a news item highlighting the problems faced at Chesil Bank in Dorset, part of the Jurassic Coast world heritage site. Following a popular television programme about how stones from the beach could really liven up any garden, amateur gardeners started taking stones, rocks and pebbles off the beach at Chesil Bank by the truck load.

The 18-mile stretch of unique pebble-banked beach, which had lain intact as a naturally occurring protective habitat for thousands of creatures for over 10,000 years, suffered considerably as a result of their thoughtless stupidity. Their illegal action was simply not sustainable.

While these pebbles and other stones can create a wonderful low maintenance garden, and they look so good too, it has to be said that to see them placed miles from the nearest beach, is not entirely natural. But, if you feel that is the only choice you want to make, get your stock from sustainable resources.

Coastal erosion is an unfortunate fact of life. The sea does sometimes eat away coastal stretches, but it also creates them. All the pretty stones that can be seen lying freely on any beach were washed up there by the action of the sea, usually in stormy conditions.

If stones are removed in quantities that are manageable for the beach, they will, in time, be replenished by the actions of the sea. This means that to some degree beaches can be a sustainable resource. It’s a fine balance though, and removing too many, too quickly will soon create a situation whereby the beach cannot recover very easily.

There’s no doubt though that a garden that uses beach pebbles, perhaps of different colours and different sizes, in an original and artistic way can be the pride of any street.

There has always been something extremely appealing about clean shiny rocks and stones, and coupled with their low maintenance qualities, they have always been a winner with gardeners. So use them in your garden by all means, but make sure they come from sustainable resources.

A Day at the Beach

What could be better than a relaxing day at the beach? A relaxing day at the beach for two, of course! Enjoying the warm sun, the sand and the smell of hot dogs in the air is even more enjoyable on a beach towel for two. These large blanket-like towels are perfect for all types of beach fun. You might enjoy a game called “Beach Blanket Bingo” inspired by the classic 1965 movie or maybe even play a game of chess. You can both lay out together in the sun to work on your tans and then pull out the picnic basket and enjoy dinner for two with the sound of waves for a romantic interlude.

Keep One at the Ready

A cozy beach towel for two is the perfect accessory to keep packed in the trunk should the opportunity for a quick getaway at the beach or even the local park become possible. Happy, peaceful moments in life are rare in today’s fast-paced society and you must be ready to seize the moment when an opportunity presents itself. Keeping a soft beach blanket in your car means being able to lay out for a tan on your lunch break or grab some carryout on your way home from work and meet your sweetheart at the park. You could even picnic in the backyard with your soft beach blanket on a beautiful sunny day.

A Great Gift

Once you see how much fun you are having with your beach towel for two you will realize what a great gift a luxury beach blanket would make for all the couples in your life. In fact, even a single person will enjoy being able to claim a larger space for themselves at the beach with this extra large soft beach blanket. Who wouldn’t enjoy the quality and comfort of a luxury beach towel?

Summary

A day at the beach is better when shared with someone special and the best way to share it is on a beach towel for two. A luxury beach blanket makes a great gift and will bring other couples closer together. Even if you are alone, a wonderful luxury beach blanket makes your day at the beach more comfortable and fun.