Moms Travel TipsTravel Tips and Vacation Ideas for the Whole Family

Located approximately 60 kilometres south of Queensland’s capital city of Brisbane, Tamborine Mountain is a volcanic plateau set within Australia’s Gold Coast hinterland.

An outpouring of lava from nearby Mount Warning – many millenia ago – created Tamborine Mountain’s lush, forested plateau which is approximately 8 km long by 5 km wide and now sits 600 metres above sea level.

The many attractions of the Mount Tamborine area and its picturesque villages include craft and antique shops, cafes and restaurants and numerous galleries which attract thousands of tourists every season.

The area is also known for its award-winning wineries with many offering tours, free tastings and affordable meals in beautiful surroundings. If you enjoy walking, nine National Parks within the region await you. Shady walking tracks lead through magnificent subtropical rainforest and past breathtaking waterfalls, natural swimming holes and rock pools. Sun dappled picnic, BBQ and rest areas pepper the way and spectacular lookouts offer stunning views towards the ocean as well as to the West over the hinterland.

The Rainforest Discovery Skywalk is one of the latest Tamborine Mountain attractions and was completed in early 2009. Set on 30 acres of magnificent rainforest and alongside a tumbling creek, the Skywalk consists of an eco walking trail that leads to a 40m-long platform set 30m above the rainforest canopy. A short drive away, another popular attraction are the Glow-worm Caves that offer guided underground sightseeing tours through two spectacular man made caves filled with thousands of glow worms.

The rich volcanic soil of the area supports a diversity of horticulture which can be enjoyed on nature walks as well as by visiting the local Botanic Gardens. The bounty of many Tamborine Mountain residents’ gardens is also on display at several roadside stalls that abound with kiwi fruit, rhubarb, avocados and macadamia nuts quaintly displayed around an ‘Honesty Box’.

This small plateau also thrives with animal and bird life. Platypus, green tree frogs, scrub turkeys, wallabies and of course koalas form part of the Mountain’s varied range of wildlife and in the morning, the calls of lorikeets, kookaburras and lyrebirds can be heard.

The state of Queensland is known as Australia’s ‘Sunshine State’. On Tamborine Mountain, you can enjoy abundant sunshine year-round but without the heat and humidity that the more northerly parts of Queensland often endure.

The surfing beaches, shopping malls, theme parks (including Warner Brothers and Sea World) plus many other Gold Coast attractions are a comfortable 40-minute drive from Mount Tamborine while Brisbane is one hour away, making the Mountain the ideal ‘base-camp’ location from which to explore south-east Queensland.

 The nearest international airport is Brisbane, however national travellers often land at Coolangatta (Gold Coast) airport, a mere 45-minute drive from Tamborine Mountain.

Whether you are parents-to-be seeking a tranquil Babymoon destination, a newly engaged couple looking for that perfect Honeymoon location or if you are simply looking for the best Mt Tamborine Bed and Breakfast you will delight in the serene privacy of Mount Tamborine’s Witches Falls Cottages.

Witches Falls Cottages offer an idyllic retreat to nature and consist of private cottages tucked away along rainforest pathways in one of Tamborine Mountain’s  and perhaps  even Australia’s most secluded and peaceful locations.

The city of Stirling has played an important role in Scotland’s history, especially during vitally important times. The city and surrounding area has an incredible number of superb visitor attractions and a multitude of photo opportunities. In article that follows I discuss three places to visit in Stirling; Stirling Castle, Stirling Old Town Jail and Argyll’s Lodging:

Stirling Castle

Two hundred and fifty feet above the city of Stirling, standing guard, and surrounded on three sides by steep cliffs is Stirling Castle. Stirling Castle is incredibly important in Scotland’s history, there have been many coronations within the castle, including Mary Queen of Scots coronation in 1543. Stirling Castle was also witness to a shocking murder in 1452. The 8th Earl of Douglas was victim to James II in 1452. Stirling Castle is the home of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, although they are, unfortunately no longer stationed there. However, the regimental museum of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, can be found inside the castle.

Stirling Old Town Jail

The Stirling Old Town Jail of today was not the first jail in Stirling, for four hundred years, Stirling’s prisoners were housed in the Old Tollbooth Jail. This jail was shockingly overcrowded, and smelt foul, with 24 prisoners per cell, and zero toilet facilities. The Tollbooth jail was condemned, because of the awful living conditions there, and in 1847 the current jail was opened. Although the jail was classed as a custodial jail, from 1888 to 1935, it was also the only military jail in Scotland. Today the Stirling Old Town Jail is a tourist attraction, and was only renovated in the 1990’s. As well as guided tours, there is a glass paneled lift that rises to a viewing platform at the top of the jail. From commanding viewpoint a person is able to gaze out across the Forth Valley, and soak in the atmosphere of the Highland mountains.

Argyll’s Lodging

Argyll’s Lodging is on Castle Wynd, located in the middle of Stirling and is Scotland’s finest existing renaissance house. The house was erected circa 1630, by Sir William Alexander, founder of Nova Scotia and Viscount Canada. Sir William Alexander who became Secretary of State for Scotland, and then became the first Earl of Stirling. Argyll’s Lodging became the property of the Argyll family on his death and was extended by the ninth Earl in 1666. The rooms which include the dining room, drawing room, bed chamber and laigh hall, have all been sympathetically restored and furnished, as they would have been when the ninth Earl lived there, around 1680.

If you are thinking about having a short vacation in Stirling you will find a large amount of online Stirling hotels and guest houses and you will discover a broad selection at http://stirling.hotelreservationhelper.com/

Perth in Scotland a former royal burgh is situated at the head of the Tay estuary. Between the C12th and C15th the city competed with Dunfermline for the right to be the capital of the nation of Scotland. In the following article I introduce three places to visit in Perth, Scotland; Huntingtower Castle, Elcho Castle and Scone Palace:

Scone Palace

At this time, home of the Earls of Mansfield is Scone Palace, and a immensely popular attraction to travelers from all over the globe. The palace is an important part of Scotland’s history, as the kings of Scotland were once crowned there. In 1306, Robert the Bruce was crowned at Scone Palace, as well as Charles II when he took ownership of the Scottish Crown in 1651. There is a beautiful and mysterious atmosphere to the palace, which is rightly so.At one time the site acted as an important gathering place of the Picts and there was also an early Christian church situated there.

Elcho Castle

Located approximately 3 miles from Perth, with awe inspiring vistas across the River Tay, is Elcho Castle. The castle is one of the prime examples of Sixteenth century constructions in Scotland today. The Wemyss family commissioned the erection of the castle in the 1570’s. The land had been in the family since 1468, when it was assigned to them by King James III. In 1633, the leader of the family was given the titles of Earl of Wemyss and Lord Elcho. Elcho Castle and it’s lands stayed in possession of the Wemyss family until 1929. At this time, the 11th Earl of Wemyss, granted the castle to the nation of Scotland. The castle has recently been renovated and is now in the hands of Historic Scotland.

Huntingtower Castle

Situated just west of Perth is the medieval pile of Huntingtower Castle. Although the structure is medieval in origin, it has been significantly redeveloped throughout the majoprity of it’s history. The Ruthven family were occupiers of the lands and castle from the 12th to 17th century. During this time the castle consisted of 2 separate towers, built 3 meters apart. When the Murray family took possession, later on in the 1600’s, they decided to merge the two towers, making the house look more like a conventional country mansion. The bridging work between the two towers is still clearly visible today, on both the outside and the inside.

If you are considering a short break in Perth you will find a large selection of online Perth hotels and guest houses and you will find a huge range at http://www.perthhotelscotland.com/

Glasgow is Scotland’s largest, and most lively, city with excellent shopping and an incredible nightlife. For the more artistic visitor there are numerous places to visit in Glasgow’s West End which features boutiques, cafés, tea rooms, bars, restaurants and clubs as well as some superb Glasgow bed and breakfast accommodation. In the following article I will describe three tourist attractions in Glasgow which will be of special interest to those people who have an interest in the world of art; the Burrell Collection, the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and the House For An Art Lover:

Burrell Collection

In 1944 The Brurrel Collection was gifted, by Sir william and Lady Burrell, to the city of Glasgow and the collection can be seen at Pollok Country Park in the south of the city of Glasgow This magnificent collection of works of art is made up of over 9,000 items. The collection is incredibly diverse containing some modern art sculptures and a superb collection of Islamic art. There are paintings by artists such as Cezanne and Degas. Besides paintings and sculptures visitors is able to enjoy the beautiful collections of tapestries, alabasters, stained glass and English furniture. On top of all this, the Burrell Collection also has an incredibly important selection of medieval art plus collections from ancient Egypt & China.

House For An Art Lover

The House For An Art Lover is one of the most popular visitor attractions in Glasgow. The house is of an Art Nouveau design originally designed by Glasgow’s most famous architect, Charles Rennie Mackintosh plus input from Margaret Macdonald, his incredibly talented wife.

In actual fact the design was made for a competition of 1901 to make plans for a ‘House for an Art Lover’, but, the entry by Charles and his wife was disqualified because it was submitted after the closing date. Luckily, more than one hundred years later the house stands completed in Bellahouston Park because of the efforts of the architect Professor Andy Macmillan and the engineer Graham Roxburgh. Building commenced in the year nineteen eighty nine, ceased for a short time but started again in nineteen ninety four thanks to the collaboration between the Glasgow City Council and Glasgow School of Art.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

The Kelvingrove Art Gallery is home to one of Europe’s great civic art collections and one of Glasgow’s, and Scotland’s premier museums and art galleries, but also it is one of the most popular free to enter tourist attractions to be found in Scotland.

You will discover Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum on the banks of the River Kelvin, on Argyle Street, in the West End of Glasgow. The gallery was built in a Spanish Baroque styleusing the traditional Glaswegian material of red sandstone. The gallery was designed by Sir John W. Simpson and E.J. Milner Allen and opened for the first time in 1901. The collections in the museum were originally from the old Kelvingrove House Museum in Kelvingrove Park and the McLellan Galleries.

If you are considering having a weekend break in the city of Glasgoiw you will find plenty of online hotels and guest houses providing Glasgow bed and breakfast. You will find a huge range of Glasgow guest houses and hotels at http://www.glasgowhotelscotland.com/

The ‘Fair City’ of Perth is also frequently called to as the  ‘Gateway to the Highlands’. Situated on the banks of the River Tay, the town of Perth was, for centuries, the capital of Scotland and during medieval times the bustling small town was locally known as St. John’s Toun (St. John’s Town). Perth’s name, or Peairt in the Gaelic language, derives from a word of the Picts which has the meaning of a copse. Nowadays  this idyllic small town is an excellent location as a base for a touring vacation with lots Perth bed and breakfasts to choose from.

Whether you choose to stay for a single day or longer you will very quickly realise that there is a large choice of exciting things to do and see in and around the town of Perth. attractions range from; historical attractions, restaurants, sport and leisure pursuits and shopping and many other entertainments. It was not too long ago that the town was a prosperous port dealing with exports of whisky, leather, bleached products and linen. In more modern times tourism generates income and much appreciated jobs for the area’s youth who keenly take up employment in the increasing number of hotels in Perth and similar enterprises.

Probably the most visited visitor attraction, nearby Perth, is Scone Palace, one of the nation’s finest historical homes. Here tourists can explore the highly interesting history of the palace, the place where at one time, Scottish kings were crowned for example, Robert The Bruce who took to the throne in 1306.

About 3m away, from Perth, one can find the 16C Elcho Castle, which features the most glorious vistas over the River Tay. Elcho Castle can be dated back to the year fifteen seventy when the Wemyss family commissioned it’s construction who remained in possession until the year 1929. The Castle is now cared for by Historic Scotland.

Just a little distance west of Perth is found the fine medieval structure of Huntingtower Castle. Constructed in stunning Huntingtower has undergone many minor alterations and redevelopments over the centuries. Huntingtower Castle began life as two separate towers but located rather close together.

As well as the tourist attractions discussed earlier Perth has many more, meaning that it is a perfect town for a vacation for the family. Visitor attractions and places, worth seeing, found in Perthshire include the following; Kinnoull Hill, Perth Ice Rink, Perthshire Visitor Centre, the Crannog Centre and Loch Tay.

If you are planning to have a city break in Perth you will discover a large amount of online Perth hotels and guest houses and you will discover a broad range at http://www.perthhotelscotland.com/

The city of Bradford is located in West Yorkshire, a county in England in the United Kingdom. Lying near to the mountain range known as the Pennines the town of Bradford was ideally placed to thrive during the time known as the industrial revolution. In truth, during the 1800’s, Bradford was at the forefront of the Industrial revolution and the city quickly became a major international textile manufacturing centre, especially in the wool industry and the town of Bradford gained the name of being the world’s wool capital. As a result of the ample supply of raw materials of coal, iron ore and soft water the town witnessed extremely quick growth of its manufacturing base and an equally quick population growth. Unfortunately the textile industry in Bradford fell into decline in the mid 20C. Ever since then Bradford has emerged as   a rather popular tourist destination with a a surprising number of hotels and guest houses offering Bradford bed and breakfast accommodation.

Bradford’s industrial past has left behind a legacy of excellent Victorian constructions, which include; the former Wool Exchange, St. George’s Hall, old mills and the City Hall with it’s gothic extension to the rear. The most ancient construction to be situated in Bradford is the Cathedral, which can be dated to the medieval period, and was, for much of its life, a simple parish church. Regrettably only a few buildings of this time survive, except for Bolling Hall. Bolling Hall is now a museum, situated round about 1m in distance from the centre of Bradford. Sited in a leafy garden, it takes you on a wondrous journey, to a time dating back roughly 5 hundred years, through the lives and times of the folk who once had Bolling Hall as their home.

The city of Bradford is the home of the National Media Museum, which is one of the most popular museums to be found outside the nation’s capital city, London. Previously called the National Museum of Photography, Film & Television, the highly entertaining National Media Museum is free to enter which is suitable for visitors of all ages. The museum contains a total of three cinemas, one of which is said to be the best in the UK. Folk are able to discover the past, present and future of television in Experience TV, relive your favourite moments in television in TV Heaven, muck around with colour, light and lenses in the Magic Factory and investigate the fascinating world of animation and also watch a real animator at work in the Animation Gallery. At weekends and during holidays the Media Museum has an exciting packed schedule of talks, activities and free tours.

If you are considering having a city break in Bradford you will discover a large amount of online hotels and guest houses providing bed and breakfast in Bradford. You will find a huge selection of Bradford hotels at http://bradford.hotelreservationhelper.com/

Staying on the beach for the majority of my summer vacation has never really been the type of thing I would do. Please do not get the wrong idea, I do enjoy a relaxing visit to a sandy beach, but, I like to travel inland a little too. I really like to spend time just soaking in the atmosphere of the place, I also like to experience the local food and culture. In truth each year I enjoy visiting new places and I try extremely hard trying to find something 100% unique. This is the most probable reason why I enjoy visits to the Hebrides island called the Isle of Harris and why I regularly choose to book a Harris self catering cottage.

The Isle of Harris is a tiny island situated just off the Scottish west coast. Harris is one of over 300 of little islands  which are known as the the Outer Hebrides, although strictly speaking the UK postal address is the Western Isles. Known as either/or the Western Isles or the Outer Hebrides the islands are extremely beautiful and incredibly unique. For those tourists who need to spend time relaxing on a beach with golden sands the island of Harris has a multitude to choose from and all are incredibly picturesque and nearly always deserted. It would seem as though beyond turn you are greeted by an awesome sight. The roads on the Isle of Harris are drastically different to those experienced on the Scottish mainland you commonly come across stretches of single track road and you will often be forced to used passing places to safely let oncoming traffic past and also let traffic from behind to pass too. Simply come to a halt on the left. But, If the vehicle wishing to pass is large and cumbersome and the passing place is to the right of the road you can carefully pull over into to it to allow the big vehicle pass more easily but at all time take care not to drive off the road too much.

One of the main reasons folk visit the Isle of Harris is to enjoy the islands landscape and culture. The culture of the Isle of Harris has, over hundreds of years been strongly influenced by the English, Scottish, Celtic and Norse races. These days Gaelic is the most widely spoken language and though many speak English, it is more often than not their 2nd language. The folk of the Isle of Harris are amongst the most friendly on the planet earth and the hospitality is extremely well known. The people of Harris are justifiably proud of the immensely beautiful Harris countryside and go to great lengths to keep the island very tidy so it is crucially important not to leave any litter behind.

On the Isle of Harris you will find some of the most stunningly beautiful sandy beaches in the whole of Scotland, and many folk say the whole of Great Britain. The waters are extremely clear and it is true to say that the beaches on Harris are lovely and clean. Unfortunately there is no way to avoid debris washing up from Atlantic shipping but surprisingly there isn’t much.

If you are currently deciding about taking a vacation Harris the why not think about hiring a self catering house on the Isle of Harris please visit http://www.isleofharrisselfcateringhouse.co.uk/

Dundee has been the site of a settlement ever since the time of the Picts. Dundee, the fourth largest city to be found in the Scottish nation, has long been associated with commerce and trade. The three primary trades, in Dundee, were “journalism, jam and jute”.  Even though the city can be described as city which is post-industrial it has an economy which is mixed and a large proportion of its inhabitants are still employed in the manufacturing industry (compared to the rest of the country), about 13.5 percent. Over recent decades tourism has begun to become a rather important part in the city’s economy and there are a growing number of guest houses and hotels providing bed and breakfast in Dundee and in the following text I introduce the reader to 3 tourist attractions in Dundee; Sensation Science Centre, Verdant Works and Discover Point Visitor Centre:

The Discover Point Visitor Centre

Discovery Point is a highly interesting and award-winning visitor attraction in Dundee that introduces the story of one of the most heroic  exploration voyages ever, the tale of the world famous Antarctic explorer, Captain Robert Falcon Scott, and the first ship he used,  RRS Discovery. On March the twenty first, nineteen hundred and one, the Discovery was launched at Dundee’s Panmure Shipyard. Captain Scott and his crew set off for Antarctica on 6th August nineteen hundred and one, reaching there in January nineteen hundred and two. The RRS Discovery is the most prestigious element of the visitor centre having been fully renovated inside and out. Steep stairs and narrow passageways can create problems in getting around for some, fortunately, visitors will find that there is an audio visual presentation at the dockside.

Sensation Science Centre

If you are looking for an attraction which will provide enjoyment for the family, then Dundee’s Sensation Science Centre is the ideal place to go. Sensation Dundee is the Britain’s only science centre which is based on the five senses of the body. You are able to discover the wonders of sciences  through the human body’s senses through over 80 hands-on exhibits. Visitors will also find live scientific experiments and demonstrations, which demonstrate how everyday ingredients found in the home can be used to to create fascinating effects. Folk interested in surgery are able to have an attempt at trying keyhole surgery. Sensation brings science to life in a number of interesting ways.

The Verdant Works

Verdant Works  was, once, a fully working jute mill. At it’s peak, in the 1860’s and 1870’s, the jute industry in Dundee employed about fifty thousand workers in more than sixty factories across the city of Dundee. These days,  Verdant Works brings the jute industry to life, by utilising a variety of displays which include, interactive computers, film shows and original machinery. This incredible museum was once home to three immense steam engines which ran 70 looms and two thousand eight hundred spindles.  There was also a workforce of some 5 hundred people, spinning and preparing jute for it to be weaved over the road in  a different factory. Renovation of the mill began in nineteen ninety two and it opened its doors to the public for the first time on September the sixteenth, nineteen ninety six.

If you are planning to have a city break in Dundee you will find a large amount of online hotels and guest houses offering bed and breakfast accommodation in Dundee. You will find a massive listing of Dundee guest houses and hotels at http://dundee.hotelreservationhelper.com/

Cardiff is not only the Welsh capital city, but it is also the most popular tourist destination in the United Kingdom outside London. The city of Cardiff is also the largest city in Wales, however it was only but a pretty small town until it reached the start of the 19C. It was during the early eighteen hundreds when the small Welsh town saw itself develop into a considerably large port involved in the transport of local coal, and also various other heavy and light industry. It was not until 28th October nineteen hundred and five that King Edward VII of England granted the small town of Cardiff city status, but, strangely, the city only became the capital of Wales on the twentieth of December 1955. Following this Cardiff very quickly became the perfect place for many national institutions, for example the National Museum of Wales, the Welsh National War Memorial and the University of Wales Registry Building. Through the last few decades the Cardiff businesses involved in Information and Technology have seen dramatic rates of growth along with, although to a lesser degree various other areas of industry, most noticeably in service industries. Tourism has also seen dramatic increases and there are now large numbers of places supplying bed & breakfast in Cardiff.

Cardiff Tourist Attractions Worth A Visit

Although Cardiff has only had city status for 100 years, interestingly Cardiff has been the site of a castle for nearly 2,000 years. The Cardiff Castle we see today is one of the most popular attractions in the city which can be located in the very heart of the city centre. Tourists can take a guided tour throughout the castle’s interior, and, take a pleasant wander around and about the amazingly picturesque castle gardens. At the castle there is also a recently opened Interpretation Centre which displays the various stages of development, of the castle,  across the ages from the Roman period right up to the present.

Cardiff also has a fair number of modern attractions including the wonderful Techniquest, one of Britain’s most popular Science Discovery centres. At the Science Discovery centre you will be presented with more than 100 hands on exhibits, designed to entertain and fascinate all age groups. The centre is home to a planetarium, a laboratory, a hi-tech Science Theatre and a Discovery Room.

There are many many more attractions to see in the Welsh city of Cardiff, so, if you are in the process of deciding upon taking a vacation there it is crucial that you reserve your  lodgings at the earliest opportunity as, unfortunately Cardiff hotels and guest houses tend to be amazingly busy and are frequently fully booked for weeks or even months in advance. If your group is large you may find that Cardiff serviced apartments turns out to be a more affordable alternative compared to bed and breakfast accommodation.

Blackpool is an amazingly popular seaside resort residing on the North West coast of England, which is incredibly popular with tourists from the nearby cities which include Warrington, Liverpool, Warrington and more. Blackpool is also fanatically popular with Scottish folk who turn up in large numbers in a similar fashion to the hordes of factory workers of the past on their factory vacation. Occasionally it seems as though the town is awash with vacation accommodation and tourist attractions and although there is an incredibly amount of bed and breakfasts in Blackpool it is better to book ahead to avoid disappointment. Guest houses varies from the cheerful and cheap to classy five star. You will find many on the sea front and, if you would rather stay something less lively there are some in the suburbs.

Blackpool began to see its first visitors in the 18th century who arrived to enjoy the new craze of sea bathing. With the advent of the railway, in 1846, the town saw an increase in the number of tourists to”take the cure” as sea bathing was called then. These days you can get to Blackpool by air, rail or road arriving there much faster than the Victorian workers who could take as long as 48 hrs from as nearby as Manchester.

The Famous Blackpool Pleasure Beach

The main attraction in the seaside town of Blackpool, in Lancashire on the north west coast of England, which manages to receive approximately seven million customers every 12 months, is Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach is an enormously sized funfair with mind blowing big rides, just a few are Grand National, Valhalla, the Big One, Ice Blast, Zipper Dipper and Wild Mouse, as well as many more thrill rides, roller coasters, children’s rides, sideshows, entertainments, sidestalls and games. The most recent addition is Infusion, the world’s first to have a suspended looping coaster all of it over water.

 Please remember: If you are visiting the Pleasure Beach as a group or family it is possible to save pennies by buying a wristband for unlimited rides especially if you will going on every ride as the cost of each ride soon amounts to serious cash.

How To Get There And B&B 

Blackpool is, as said earlier, very easy to get to nowadays as it is possible to get there by air, train or automobile. If you are traveling by rail you will, more than likely, be arriving at the main station in Blackpool, which is called Blackpool North on Talbot Road. Not that fat away, just a little bit further down the road is situated the Blackpool National Express Coach Station. The other Blackpool train station, Blackpool South, is at Waterloo Road, which is closer to the Pleasure Beach. Blackpool’s airport is located approximately two miles from the centre of town and was known as, Blackpool Squires Gate Airport, One of the oldest airports in Great Britain.

Blackpool bed and breakfast is often available cheaply. Accommodation is frequently cheaper off season and not very cheap on Saturday and Sunday. Hotels in Blackpool are at their most costly while the Blackpool Illuminations are on, which is really peak season for the resort.

A handy tip: Some guest houses can be extremely busy and rather noisy especially those between Central Pier and North Pier. If you rather stay in a less busy location try booking a place past the North Pier.