Mackinac Island US - A City Without Cars

In Mackinac Island, US, cars have been banned since 1898. Located just offshore of mainland Michigan, in Lake Huron, Mackinac Island and its namesake city have long been a favourite spot for a relaxing getaway.

When automobiles first began to arrive, moving along the island's once-quiet roadways, startling horses and spitting out smoke, it became clear to locals that this new invention was not for them. In 1898, the Mackinac village coucil moved to outlaw the automobile before the monsters had a chane to take over.

Although the small island is home to only around 500 people, in the summur, that number swells to 15,000 as tourist flock to the island. However, aside from a couple of emergency vehicles, there's never a car to be seen. Transportation on Mackinac is limited to walking, horse-drawn carriages, and bycycling,

Getting around on the island is very easy and people here save a lot of money which would otherwise be spent on cars. Mackinac is home to the nation's only careless highway, the M-185, offering easy access to its coastline, uncluttered by parking lots or gas stations.

Kashmir In Autumn

Golden-brown rice fields, streams bringing down crystal-clear water from the mountains, cicada insects “singing”: these are the indicators of the breathtaking beauty and grandeur of the autumn in Kashmir.

As farmers in the countryside prepare to harvest paddy, trees laden with apples show signs that the fruit is waiting to be picked.

In the hilly areas, the maize crop and walnut trees are also maturing for the harvest.

“Kashmiris living in the villages and along wetlands, where willow plantations abound, are familiar with the sound produced by cicadas. Autumn and singing of the cicada insects have always been synonymous in the Valley,” says a local zoologist.

Besides apples, grapes, for which north Kashmir’s Lar area in Ganderbal district is famous, are also picked in the beginning of the autumn season.

For anglers, Kashmir’s mountain streams with trout are like a treasure trove during the autumn months.

Interestingly, trout was introduced in Kashmir by the British rulers early in the 19th century to address the nostalgia they felt for the fish.

In fact, one of the major attractions for foreign anglers has been the high quality brown trout found in Kashmir.

For anglers, trekkers, water sports lovers and also for those who come to just lounge and relax, autumn is the best season to visit the Valley.

A nip in the mornings and evenings and the gentle warmth of the autumn sun are so refreshing.

Towards the end of autumn in November, the chinar trees change their colour from green through crimson to yellow. It is a spellbinding spectacle that holds the viewer in awe.

While some believe that the chinars were brought to Kashmir from Iran, others say they came from Greece. One Persian visitor during yore is known to have exclaimed, “Che Nar” (What Fire!) after seeing the fiery leaves of the tree in autumn.

And, as the autumn advances, thousands of migratory birds from far off Siberia, China, the Philippines and eastern Europe start arriving to spend the winter months in the local water bodies that host the avian visitors.

Whichever way one looks at it, autumn is undoubtedly the king of the Valley’s seasons. If you haven’t been to Kashmir in autumn, you just don’t know what you are missing.

Vacation Rentals in Los Angeles In The Summer

Having been born and raised on the East Coast, I was pretty disappointed when my son decided to take a job in Los Angeles—several thousand miles away. My husband and I decided that the best way to have a long visit with my son and his family was to look into vacation rentals in Los Angeles.  In the summer was when my son could take the most time off and, with his small house and two kids, we knew our three-week stay would be most enjoyable in a comfortable, affordable, furnished space, near our son, his wife and our precious grandchildren.

OMG.Travel declares Los Angeles, the City of Angels, as “vacation rental heaven.” We were amazed that we could find a two-bedroom, furnished cottage near our family that gave us the opportunity for a nice long visit but that also felt like a vacation for us. We definitely didn’t need to choose from OMG’s luxury vacation rentals in Los Angeles in the summer, but we had no idea that we could find somewhere with a tiny courtyard garden on a quiet street.

We really lucked out with our choice for vacation rentals in Los Angeles in the summer. We were even able to have the grandkids over, to stay with us on a weekend so their parents could have some grown-up time. OMG. Travel seems to have the best listing choices. I think they have built up quite a good reputation for vacation rentals in Los Angeles in the summer, because it seems that many housing owners choose to list with them.

Somatheeram : The Place of Enjoyment and Well Being

Bored? Tired of the 9 to 5 routine? Yearning for a break, a bit of rejuvenation and looking for a way to get out of your everyday systems? Well, a holiday is just what should ideally be on your way. But times have changed, and just being away from the daily grind isn't enough; for a truly refreshing and rejuvenating holiday, you have got to let the healers work their magic on you.

This place - Somatheeram is for rest, you rest your mind and spirit, but not your body, if you want, there is a lot of things to do while you there. the beach is amazing, you can walk for hours or just be seated there watching the waves show. or the fisherman's coming and going in their boats. all together pushing the nets. you can walk in the village, go to the temples or, ask for Aji (9567119497) he is a local driver and he can take you everywhere, go to the lighthouse, take a view from the port, visit the church.

The therapists is really good, You can get great treatment in very professional hands. The doctors are there all the time and they are very attentive and concern about your well being. They take as long they need to give you the perfect treatment accordingly your need.

The food is Ayurvedic as well, but good and health enough and they serve 2 non vegetarian dishes in all meals and if you really need to jump out of the diet, you can go to Kovalan or Trivandrun for a day.

So, relax and refresh yourself with yoga, ayurveda, aromatherapy, hydrotherapy and more of the kind at none other that the Somatheeram Ayurvedic Resort near Kovalam in Kerala.

Somatheeram, welcomes you to the world of authentic Ayurveda. It is a serene ayurvedic resort by the sea in south India. Here you can benefit from traditional ayurvedic therapy as well as yoga in a blissfully peaceful environment. Being the world's first ayurvedic resort, it is one of the best tourism spots in Kerala. spread over an area of 15 acres of greenery all around.

Ayurveda is the soul and essence of Somatheeram, which has been providing ayurvedic treatment in the traditional way for more than 20 years and has rightfully earned the name The Ayurveda People.

This resort is unique in every aspect. A complete resort with 'tradition, culture, history, ayurveda, yoga, beach and nature'. Take pleasure in the breathtakingly beautiful landscape. Rejuvenate your body and soul with 'ayurveda, yoga and meditation'. Not just this, it is a place to shed all your worries, anxieties and illness. It is a complete holistic experience with a wide range of ayurvedic treatments and therapies, with the expert hands at the resort that make sure of it in every minute detail.

Also there would not be any lack of entertainment with Somatheeram's expressly put together cultural performances. Indeed, Somatheeram Ayurveda Resort is one place where enjoyment and wellbeing go hand in hand. 

The Living Bridge in Cherrapunji

Quite a different experience from other camping tours and trips is camping under the living bridge in Cherrapunji. Right across torrential streams of Meghalaya, you would find the living bridge. These living bridges are made from the roots of the Ficus elastica tree. This tree produces a series of secondary roots from higher up its trunk and can comfortably perch atop huge boulders along the riverbanks, or even in the middle of the rivers themselves. Famous name given to this living paradise is Jingkieng Nongriat, also known as the Double Decker. The area is filled with terrains, rugged and challenging, and very deep gorges and valleys, making trekking here ideal and exciting.

The Living Bridge in Cherrapunji a beautiful bridge which is worth the time and effort that it takes getting there. From Sohra (Cherrapunjee), you just have to take a cab (which cost us 40rs each) to another village from where you begin a hike downwards into the valley. This hike will take a 2 or 3 hours but we took our time appreciating the other bridges on the way and the river and all the nature. It's an amazing hike as well and some of the other root bridges along the way are also fabulous.

I am giving you few tips in case you are planning for this trip:

1. Carry a raincoat. The light one will be more useful.
2. Sunday is closed. You might not find any shop opened in Shillong or Cherrapunji. Its a dry day every Sunday.
3.Carry mosquito repellent cream with you. Do not avoid this advice trust me.
4. There is a place near the living bridge where you get Cold drinks and Maggie but that will be the last point and no shops in the middle of track.
5.Carry water or at least bottles but small ones avoid carrying 2 liters or 1 liters. There are drinking water taps on the track.
6. You might feel dead when you are coming back but you will feel a sense of achievement.