ASTools » Adventurous Life

Wyoming Dude Ranches Are a Mainstay of Small Communities

admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:03:06 +0000

Many small Wyoming towns have little economic activity apart from tourism. Ranching used to be far more labor intensive than it is today and provides much less employment. The number of ranches has shrunk dramatically over the last 80 years and only a few giant ranches survive except for the small ones kept mainly as a hobby by people who earn the majority of their income in the oil fields or some other non-agricultural activity. Cowboys are mostly doing their riding and roping on vacation time.

Wyoming dude ranches still attract thousands of guests to remote little communities like Dubois in the Upper Wind River Valley which brings business not only to the ranches, but also to the local gift shops, museums and bars. The biggest problem is that the season is very short and is really only booming from June through Labor Day. This is fine for the high school and college kids who can only work in the summer, but it is tough on those who seek year round employment. Some of those working on dude ranches will head for Arizona and New Mexico during the winter months as the seasons are reversed. Even some of the horses used at dude ranches are transported back and forth so that they can be used most of the year.

Inner-City Adventures in Brisbane

admin — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:39:07 +0000

Regardless if you’re just visiting Brisbane or are a permanent resident, you can’t go past what’s on offer at Riverlife. Located at the base of the Kangaroo Point Cliffs in the heart of Brisbane, Riverlife provides an adventure experience without having to leave the city.

Looking for a cultural experience

Meet the local Brisbane Aboriginal Tribe, Riverlife Mirrabooka and experience the fascinating culture of Aboriginal life by just watching or getting involved in activities such as:

Traditional song and dance passed down to them from previous generations
Playing traditional Aboriginal musical instruments, like the didgeridoo
Share in the stories of Aboriginal life and the history of this ancient land
Learn to throw a boomerang… properly
Traditional aboriginal face painting
Taste traditional foods of the Indigenous culture

The Yuggera Aboriginal Dancers have performed for audiences both in Australia and around the world, including the UK and Europe, once performing for Queen Elizabeth II.

Climb or drop

Experience the Kangaroo Point Cliffs first hand with Rock Climbing sessions, at various times through-out the day or night. The 20m high weathered cliff face is the perfect setting for a great outdoor adventure where the term rock climbing is literal, because you actually climb real. From the top, you can take in breath-taking views of Brisbane city and the river. Climbs for all levels are available, from novices right through to the most advanced climbers.

Prefer descent to ascent? Then try Abseiling instead. The extreme rush of abseiling down the glorious cliffs, will put a smile on the face of any lover of adventure. If it’s your first time, don’t panic! Qualified, experienced instructors will help you from start to finish.

For water enthusiasts

If you rather water activities, book in for a guided Kayak tour and enjoy the city from a different angle. Paddle your way up or down the river and see some of Brisbane’s most impressive features from the water. Kayaking is available both day and night, and Riverlife offer special packages such as Friday Night Paddle & Prawns and Saturday Night Paddle & Riverside BBQ. If you’ve done all this before and are a frequent paddler, then hire a kayak and take it out by yourself or with an experienced group of friends or family.

Article by Car Rental in Brisbane – BrisbaneRentACar.com.au

New Caledonia

admin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:19:20 +0000

New Caledonia is a hidden gem in the western Pacific Ocean that offers tranquil surroundings and plenty of exhilarating activities for visitors. The island is mostly untouched which creates an ideal environment for visitors who wish to experience and try out different water activites on offer such as wind surfing and scuba diving. French food and French language abounds all over this beautiful island, so you should consider learning a little French ahead of your visit. In the capital city of Noumea, they speak French, English, and Japanese at most hotels, restaurants and shops.

While in New Caledonia, a favourite honeymoon destination, honeymooners can go for long dreamy walks on the beach, arrange a tour of the Jean-Marie Tjibaou Center, or wander through the beautiful botanical garden. Some honeymooners go so far as to hire a yacht while staying here. With a yacht, they can sail the tranquil waters encircling the main island of Grand Terre or explore one of the smaller islands. Who knows they may discover a small private beach on Isle des Pines, known for white-sand beaches and an emerald lagoon, where they can have a romantic lunch and swim.

Another great way to discover New Caledonia is to join one of the hiking tours, which will allow you to see the fantastic countryside instead of the usual tourist spots, without the worry of getting lost. They could also hire a taxi boat to take them to one of the neighbouring islands in the area. Grande Terre has the worlds largest coral lagoon making it a must see. Imagine the thrill of finding a marine treasure while diving amongst exquisite coral, tropical fish, turtles, sea snakes and sharks or the enchantment of seeing dolphins playing and whales spouting while you relax on the beach of this lovely vacation location.

New Caledonia guests can experience the divine French food or local cuisine. While there try the Bougna, a traditional meal of the native Melanesians, which has meat and roots, such as yams and sweet potatoes, wrapped in banana leaves and then cooked under hot rocks heated in a fire.

Hayling – the Charm of the South English Seashore

admin — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 05:15:16 +0000

Hayling Island is to be noticed on the scenic southern coast of England on the rural shores between the well known cities of Chichester and Portsmouth.

Hayling Island had 2 churches, St Peters, dating from the 12th century and St Marys, dating from the 13th century.

Hayling Island is a traditional coastal resort that has suffered as a result of the decline of the traditional seaside vacation.

Hayling Island Sailing Club enjoys a high reputation for its organisation of World and National Championships, Olympic trials and open events; the choice of sailing waters ensuring that, barring the most extreme weather conditions, events can be completed and enjoyed.

A small passenger ferry relates Hayling Island to the neighbouring island of Portsea where the city of Portsmouth is located.

The Island is also said to be one of the optimum Wind Surfing areas on the South Coast.

Haylings beach donkeys are a joy for the young whilst the young at heart stand by and see the pleasure on their faces

Destination Hayling Island will see the refurbishment of the whole seafront, centered on the creation of a new landmark conceptual “modern pier” building, which will be the centerpiece of a re-invigorated seafront.

If you could make the decision to take a holiday and come to Hayling island then a special place to abide would be Cockle Warren Cottage Hotel – it is pretty much on the beach and you will be wrapped in the becharm of the cottage with the warm sea snap knocking on your chamber windowpane.

Bacardi Supports Caribbean Underwater Researcher

admin — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 18:36:07 +0000

Ocean explorer Gilles Fonteneau has been a long-time champion of the sea and its inhabitants. He was as a member of Jacques Cousteau’s Calypso ocean exploration team for many years before setting out on his own. On his first maritime mission in 2001, Fonteneau measured the movement of the tectonic plates of the Caribbean. With such information gathered, he was hoping it could be of use in preventing a tsunami disaster in the area, such as the one that devastated Southeast Asia in 2004. Although he was met with resistance at first, Fonteneau was able to accomplish his mission of planting GPS devices on the area.Fonteneau’s second maritime study involved the support of NASA and the Bacardi Family Foundation. His mission was to study the erosion of the coral reefs in the Caribbean waters, which produced adverse and devastating effects to the marine life all over the world. The study also proved that coral reef erosion also has its own sets of negative impacts to the economies of the surrounding Caribbean countries.The Bacardi Family Foundation has been a strong supporter of Fonteneau’s maritime research in the Caribbean waters and has heavily funded his scientific underwater expeditions. With financial aid from the Bacardi Family, Gilles Fonteneau has been able to fit his 45-foot catamaran, Prince de Vendée, with the latest technological equipment.Fonteneau’s third expedition has proven that fishes do communicate by sound and this was later confirmed by the New York Times. His findings have proven to be valuable in the field of maritime study.Fonteneau has written all his experiences as an ocean explorer in a book titled Murmurs from the Deep.Sources:With the backing of NASA and the Bacardi Family Foundation, he and his scientific crew members set out to study the erosion of coral reefs in the area, which is slowly devastating not only fish populations but all marine life, and has enormous consequences for the economies of Caribbean countries.With backing from the Bacardi Family Foundation, he outfitted a catamaran with plenty of technological equipment and, it seems, bottles of rum.