Vancouver, A haven for Adventure Enthusiasts

Vancouver has almost everything a vacation maker would ask for. The city is known for its diverse cultural life, excellent shopping areas, heavenly cuisine and a vibrant nightlife. The city is also surrounded by lush mountains which offer abundance of recreational activities on one side and other miles of soft sanded beaches. 

 

If you are looking for a place where the outdoors are just minutes away from all the comfort and luxury of a big city, Vancouver is the answer to your prayers. For outdoor lovers and adventure seek, Vancouver has abundance of recreational activities to offer.

Biking

In Vancouver you don’t have to go outside the city to enjoy biking. Explore the Seaside bicycle route, a 10 mile bike route which starts from English Bay, crossing False Creek and University of British Columbia. If you are looking for some serious biking route, head to Mount Fromme, a haven for mountain bikers.

At the Beach

Blessed with miles of soft sanded beaches, visitors can engage in variety of water sports. One can pursue various water sports, wind-surfing stands as one of the most popular activities among locals as well as visitors. Jericho and English Bay beaches are a hot spot for wind-surfer. Even if you don’t have a board, you can easily rent one here.

Snow Sports

When it comes to snow sports, Vancouver is second to none. Whether is skiing, snowboarding or snowmobiling, you will have it all. Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort, Grouse Mountain Resort and Mount Seymour Provincial Park are some of the best areas to indulge in your dream winter vacation.

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Marvelous Montreal

A city that can give grandest European cities a run for their money, Montreal is a vacationer’s paradise. City’s heart beats both for tradition and youthful exuberance. Go on a date with city’s superb architectural feats at the Second Empire architecture which is based on wide boulevards and monumental buildings of Paris.

Beyond structures, Montreal’s dedicated park space covering more than city’s one-tenth land area, lets vacationers feel absolutely laidback. Visit hilltop Mont Royal Park to gaze at city’s splendid skyline. Music lovers can’t ask for anything more from a city which hosts 40 major music and theatre events annually including the globally acclaimed Montreal International Jazz Festival.

For a taste of city’s vintage fashion quotient, head to the stores on St Denis Street and Mont Royal Avenue. Marche Bonsecours in Old Montreal is a must visit for art lovers. After seeing Montreal’s shopping scene, it’s time to regain the calories which were burnt during shopping. Means, time for some appetizing food.
The food in city is very much multi-cultural, thanks to friendly English and French population. Experience fabulous French dining with a Quebecois twist as seafood is added in French cuisine.

With so much to offer in shopping, dining and sightseeing, Montreal is indeed a dream destination for every vacationer.
                              
                           

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Tokyo for kids

Taking a vacation in Tokyo with your family? Tokyo has so much to offer to family vacationers. Whether you are looking forward to an action packed vacation or to spend some quality time with your kids, Tokyo is just perfect for all.

While you are here, treat your kids to a day at any of the attractions below. They will surely have a blast.

Tokyo Sea Life Park

Tokyo Sea Life Park displays marine life of not only the Tokyo Bay but also of Pacific, Atlantic and the Indian Ocean. They have huge donut-shaped tank for bluefins tunas. Other creatures are ocean sunfish, penguins and puffins. This park also includes a beach, a bird sanctuary and a small Japanese garden. Some of exhibits there are The Seas of the World, Life of the Deep Sea, Life on the Shoreline, the Sea of Tokyo, and Life in Freshwater.

Hours: 9:30am. To 5:00pm (Every Wednesday Closed)

Admission: ¥700 adults, ¥350 seniors, ¥250 children 12-14

Edo-Tokyo Museum

Edo-Tokyo Museum is a wonderful place for visitors to take a trip back in time. The museum features both permanent and temporary exhibits. Permanent exhibitions include replica of the Nihonbashi, the bridge leading into Edo; the Nakamuraza theatre; scale models of town. Visitors can learn about various aspects of earlier Tokyo, like way of life of people, Edo Period architecture, cultural heritage and much more. The museum also hosts traditional dance and drama performances are every weekend varying from rakugo (comic story) to koto (13-stringed Japanese zither) performances.

Hours: 9:30a.m.-5:30p.m (Monday Closed)

Admission: 600 yen

Tokyo Disneyland

Similar to Disneyland of United States, Tokyo Disneyland has seven themed land and seasonal decorations and parades. Themed lands includes World Bazaar is a shopping arcade with shops and restaurants. Tomorrowland explores the themes of outer space and future technologies. In Toontown your kids can meet their favorite cartoon characters like Mickey, Donald Duck and Chip n Dale. Fantasyland has beautiful Cinderella's Castle at the center of the park and rides such as Peter Pan and Snow White which your kids would love to have. Other themed lands are Critter Country with Splash Mountain log ride, Westernland with rollercoaster Big Thunder Mountain.

Hours: Daily 9am to 10pm

Admission: ¥5,800 adults, ¥5,100 seniors, ¥5,000 children 12-17, ¥3,900 children 4-11

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Shopping in Tokyo

You can buy items including electronics, funky fashions, antique furniture and kimono, the traditional Japanese dress worn by men, women and children. You can also get some special Hello Kitty goods, animations and comics for your kids. For gadgets buffs, Tokyo is a treasure trove waiting to be explored.

Check out the famous shopping areas like the Akihabara, Tokyo’s electronic town and stores like the Chuo-dori selling anime and manga i.e. animations and comics. You can also buy these things in Nakano and Broadway shopping arcade. People interested in antiques can head towards Antique mall in Ginza or Antique market in Omotesando. The Antique festival at Tokyo Ryutsu Center is held some 5-6 times in a year.

Looking for funky fashion clothes and accessories, then Shibuya and Harajuku are best known shopping areas for clothing. Also there are many departmental stores and boutiques which carry the latest in trend. For this the famous Ginza and Ikebukuro’s giant Seibu and Tobu are some good options. Nakamise in Asakusa and Oriental Bazaar in Omotesando has stock of kanji-emblazoned T-shirts, foreigner sized kimonos, ninja outfits for kids and samurai swords which you will not find anywhere else.

Tokyo has been an ideal place for buying electronics and cameras. You can find electronics stores in Akihabara which has many duty free shops selling export models. You can find camera stores in Shinjuku. There are also many shops selling cheap local models.

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