Aberdeen is Scotland’s third largest city, in relationship to populous numbers. Since the mid eighteenth century Aberdeen’s buildings have been built using local grey granite and the city is well known for its sandy coastline. This has led to the city being nicknamed the Granite City and also the Silver City. However in recent years the city has also gained the nicknames of the Oil Capital of Europe or the Energy Capital of Europe due to the discovery of oil in the North Sea. The city has benefitted greatly from the revenue generated by the oil industry and the support industries. Today the city is thoroughly modern and incredibly vibrant with a lively nighlife.
Aberdeen hotels are often inhabited by business visitors but also by various other types of visitors wishing to take advantage of the many visitor attractions Aberdeen has to offer. Below you will find details of 3; Satrosphere Science Centre, Aberdeen Maritime Museum and Duthie Park Winter Gardens:
Aberdeen Maritime Museum
The Maritime Museum in Aberdeen is situated close by the harbor, at the legendary Shiprow. There are awe inspiring panoramas of the harbour from the museum. The Maritime Museum resides in a small number of buildings, which include a former church and one of the oldest dwellings in Aberdeen. The museum has exhibits that cover everything relating to the oceanic environment, from the oil industry to the fishing boats. In essence, the museum conveys the story of the city’s epic relationship with the ocean. Some of the collections contain models, ship plans, photographs and paintings from the foremost shipbuilders of Aberdeen.
Duthie Park Winter Gardens
Lady Elizabeth Duthie of Ruthrieston,in 1881, gifted to the council, 44 acres of land. The land for the park was purchased, as a lasting memorial to her brother and uncle. In 1899, the gardens were ready, and were opened to the public. However, in 1969 disaster struck and the greenhouses had to be knocked down and rebuilt. This was due to horrendous storm damgage. Today, one of Scotland’s favourite garden attractions are the David Welch Winter Gardens at Duthie Park, and also the largest indoor gardens in the whole of Europe. Each greenhouse has an important collection such as, the Tropical House, Japanese Garden, Fern House, Victorian House, Temperate House and Corridor of Perfumes.
Satrosphere Science Centre
In Aberdeen, the Satrosphere Science Center was one of the first science and discovery centers in Scotland. This interactive, hands-on science center, has over 50 exhibits and live science shows, and opened its’ doors to the public in 1988. Although the center is aimed at school age children, the appeal of the exhibits is universal. The center is situated in the old tram sheds, close to the sea front, on Constitution Street. The aim is to inspire youngsters to become scientist’s, as entry into science courses in universities, is in decline. One of the favorite exhibits at the center is the famous giant soap bubble, where each child can be encircled in a magic bubble.
There are a great many more tourist attractions in the Aberdeen area which are well worth visiting and the above three were chosen randomly. If you are planning to take a vacation in Aberdeen, Scotland then you will discover numerous quality hotels in Aberdeen, or various other forms of accommodation, available to book online.
Puerto Rico embraces all visitors with its 300 mile long beaches in the Caribbean, tropical rain forest, more million year old vaces and a dry forest full of cacti. As one of the oldest and most diversified cultures in the world, Puerto Rico is a vibrant, modern, bilingual, multicultural society influenced by Spanish, African, Indian and U.S. influences.
The second thing that makes Puerto Rico different from other Caribbean Islands is that it remains undeveloped, except for the coastal region around its capital city, San Juan.
There are at least 11 attractions that no one should miss when visiting Puerto Rico.
Here is the list of these Puerto Rico attractions:
1. The Castillo de San Felipe del Morro, is Old San Juan’s most recognizable landmark. It has protected San Juan and the shipping route from the New World to the Old for over 400 years,
2. The Vieques Biobay: Go to this bay on a moonless night when there is little light and kayak through mangrove tres out into Mosquito Bay on Vieques Island, you might wonder what all the fuss is about then you’ll notice that your oars are glowing green in the water. Fish streak away from you like underwater lightning…
3. Camuy River Cave Park system is the third largest one on Earth. Taking a tour through the caves takes you to subterranean ravines to the edge of caves over 600 feet deep and to an underground river. You can take an eco-excursion out there including rappeling down the mouth of one of the caves, mud-sliding, body rafting, and free jumping through this subterranean world
4. Arecibo Radio Telescope and Observatory is a radio telescope which can be found close to the city of Arecibo in Puerto Rico. The Arecibo telescope is distinguished by its enormous size: the main collecting dish is 305 m in diameter. The Angel Ramos Foundation Visitor Center opened in 1997 features interactive exhibitions and displays the operations of the radio telescope, astronomy, and atmospheric science.
5. El Yunque is home to the tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System. It take only two hours to get to San Juan by car. Its terrain consists of mountains. People come here to walk among the rainforest’s flora, to hike along one of several trails ranging from easy walks to difficult climb, and to dive under a waterfall
6. Casa Bacardi Rum Distillery: Tourists to the home of The BACARDI rum can take part in an interactive tour through history, observe the production process and experience the party spirit of BACARDI brand.
7. Hacienda Buena Vista is a farm where you can experience a journey into the past. The plantation is still at working recapturing rural life in 19th century Puerto Rico.The huge machines are once again in work. Farm animals roam the grounds and the completely furnished rooms appear prepared for their inhabitants to return. The scent of freshly roasted, freshly brewed coffee fills the air.
8. On Gilligan’s Island you can be ruler for a day and rule over white sand beaches, mazes of mangroves, and crystalline waters. Sometimes it is nice to get away from civilization and enjoy a little bit of island paradise.The activities on the island usually take place in one of a lot of mangrove cays that can be found on the island. Here the water is clear and the sand is white. There is also a cool current which runs through the mangrove canals, so you can cool off quite easily by just taking a swim
9. Luquillo Beach is one of Puerto Rico’s most well-known attractions. The sights from the beach is extraordinary. It features a long gold crescent of sand lined by innumerable coconut palms with the mountains of the rainforest in the distance. Luquillo Beach’s offshore reefs keep the waters calm and tranquil so that families can enjoy the water knowing that the lifeguards are on duty and that rough waters are far away
10. Toro negro Forest is virtually uninhabited tropical jungle with highmountains that you can look down on the clouds. From these heights you can see clouds drift between the peaks and you’re surrounded by wild bamboo, banana trees, hibiscus, enormous ferns, impatiens, elephant ears, flamboyan trees, and seemingly millions of sierra palms, distinguished by their long straight trunks and pale green foliage towering 30–50 feet high
11. Culebra Island, is a tiny island just off Puerto Rico’s eastern coast. Culebrita is an isolated place with unspoiled beauty and beaches
Before you become a visitor in Puerto Rico make sure you have a proper Puerto Rico vacation rentals. There are a number of villas in Puerto Rico that offer a unique taste of Puerto Rico.
The Gold Coast in Australia is known as the day spa and massage capital of Australia. With over 100 massage and day spa providers, the Gold Coast is home to some of the best companies for relaxation beauty and massage treatments in Australia. These vary widely in style and structure.
For example many of the larger hotels will have day spas attached, including steam rooms, saunas, spas and a wide variety of massage treatments. These are often more costly than other companies – but granted – they do boast the luxury of often plush surroundings and treatments like float tanks, where the client’s body is suspended in high salt water in a darkened tank, designed to relax and soothe.
Day spas also can offer a variety of massages not otherwise available on the Gold Coast, such as hot stone, pregnancy and Indian Head Massage. There are also smaller businesses that offer Gold Coast massage services. These are usually independent therapists that work in their local region, sometimes unqualified and uninsured. Usually they are cheaper than the larger day spas – however – they offer a much more limited range of services.
These massage therapists typically offer remedial or relaxation Swedish massage treatments, often out of smaller rooms attached to a hair dressers or beauty salon. An excellent alternative to these are mobile Gold Coast massage therapists like Ripple, who offer a wide range of day spa treatments to clients in the privacy of their hotel rooms.
Ripple Massage’s website has much information on Gold Coast massage and is the one mobile massage therapy business in Australia that also offers specialised pregnancy massage to its clients.
Some companies only offer the standard one hour Swedish or Remedial massage treatments in the Gold Coast region. However Ripple Gold Coast Massage is different – it offers styles of massage you do not find in other places in Australia, such as chocolate, Russian, Vietnamese Four Hands and Sea Shell massage.
The Gold Coast has long been known as a region for relaxation, so it is not surprising that massage and day spa is popular here. The Gold Coast was a fabulously popular holiday destination for servicemen returning from World War II. In the 1950’s the Gold Coast Region had grown and the 1960’s and 1970’s saw the developers undertake a lot of high rise development.
Surfers Paradise was also known for its ‘Meter Maids’ in gold bikinis who fed parking meters by the beach to prevent holiday makers from getting parking fines. The hi-rise boom continued right through the 70s and soon the Gold Coast became Australia’s premier family holiday destination. It was then that the day spas started to be built, along with the world-famouse theme parks and it became well known for its massage treatments.
Today the Gold Coast remains one of Australia’s favourite holiday destinations for families looking to visit the theme parks, escape to the beach and indulge in some relaxation day spa treatments.
There´s a huge amount of things to do and see on the small Canary Island of Lanzarote. Despite only measuring just 60km by 40km. Boasting over 100 great beaches, a host of natural wonders, the creations of local artist César Manrique and plenty of picturesque towns and villages.
Lanzarote is the fourth largest island in the Canaries – and is a hugely popular hot spot with tourists from across Europe. Welcoming in the region of 1.5 million visitors every year – the majority of them from the UK, Germany and Eire.
The island has been welcoming tourists for over forty years and enjoys great weather all year round. Thanks to Lanzarote´s location just 100 miles off the south west coast of Morocco.
Accommodation standards are high – with lots of good options available across the island. During the winter months the best weather can be found in the south – where visitors will also find a good range of hotels and holiday villas in Playa Blanca to choose from.
Exploring the island is easy – as the roads are quiet outside of the main resorts.Whilst car hire is cheap – starting at around €13 per day. Petrol is cheap too – at around €0.80 per litre.
1) The Timanfaya Volcano Park
No holiday in Lanzarote would be complete without a tour of the Fire Mountains.Which was forbed by huge eruptions during the 1730´s.
These wiped out many villages and destroyed farmland.Leaving spent volcanic peaks and fields of solidified lava in its wake.Creating strange and surreal scenery that very much resembles the surface of the moon.
2) The Jameos del Agua
This huge collapsed tunnel in the lava flow was being used as a rubbish dump by locals until César Manrique transformed it into a breathtaking underground concert venue and grotto. Complete with bars, restaurants and a swimming pool reserved for the sole use of the King of Spain.
This was Manrique´s first major creation on the island and I helped to establish Lanzarote as a hot new holiday destination in the early 1970´s.
3) The Valley of 1000 Palms
Lanzarote is a dry and arid island with little in the way of greenery. So the Valley of 1000 Palms provides a real surprise – as it is packed with thousands of Canarian Palms.As locals maintain a tradition of planting a palm tree for every new born baby. Creating a stunning oasis.
4) The Mirador del Rio
This former naval gun battery was converted by Manrique into an incredible look out point.Which is situated around 450 metres above sea level at the northern tip of the island.And offers great views of the neighbouring island of La Graciosa.Thought to be the real location of Robert Louis Stevenson´s classic novel Treasure Island.
5) The Cactus Garden
This celebration of the plant world’s spikiest species is another Manrique creation. Located in the heart of what was once the islands cactus growing country and regarded as one of the most comprehensive collections of cacti in the world. With over 10,000 plants on show.