Archive for January, 2012

Top ‘Destination Wedding’ Locations

Posted on: January 30th, 2012 by paul

Many spouses-to-be dream about saying their vows with the sand between their toes and the ocean at their backs. Some of the most picturesque weddings take place in tropical island locations and the possibility of having this dream wedding is becoming more and more accessible.  Many major Caribbean resorts are adding one more aspect to their repertoire: a destination wedding planner. With so many resorts jumping on the destination wedding band wagon, how can you be sure you are getting the location you want without even having been there?

Here are a list of do’s and don’ts when planning your destination wedding.

(more…)

Rome in the Off-Season

Posted on: January 27th, 2012 by paul

There is never a bad time to visit Rome. However, if you dislike large crowds, there are some important guidelines to follow when booking your trip to Italy’s capital.

(more…)

Caribbean Golf Resorts

Posted on: January 25th, 2012 by paul

As Canadians, I think we can all agree that besides hockey, golf is definitely one of Canada’s favourite sports. Even though some provinces have only 2-3 months of good golfing conditions, we Canadians find a way to squeeze in as many rounds as possible and spend many warm summer days on the links.

With the popularity of golf increasing, and because our ‘golf season’ is so short, more and more people are incorporating golfing into their winter vacations. Why not mix in a couple days on the golf course to brush up for next season?

If you are interested in a winter golf getaway, here are some great Caribbean golf courses worth looking into.

Bahamas:
Grand Bahama Island is the perfect blend of international glamour and tropical ease. Sunny skies and very few days of rain make this a perfect island for many golfers from around the world.

Lucayan Course: (more…)

Beach Yoga for Intermediates

Posted on: January 22nd, 2012 by paul

Whether you are an exercise enthusiast, or just enjoy the pleasures of being outdoors in a new location, it is always a cathartic experience to exercise in a beautiful environment. If you are looking for a relaxing yet challenging exercise routine for your beach vacation, try this intermediate beach yoga routine. It will not only awaken and strengthen the muscles of your legs, arms, upper back and core, but it will invigorate your senses and allow you to take in and appreciate your surroundings. So, grab a beach towel or a yoga mat and hit the beach nice and early in the morning before it gets too crowded for a relaxing workout.

(more…)

Keeping the Kids Active on Vacation

Posted on: January 20th, 2012 by paul

Childhood obesity is on the rise in North America. In Canada, childhood obesity has tripled over the past three decades. On average, 7% of young people attain the recommended level of 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day. These soaring numbers, along with the increasing waistlines of our children, present a major problem when it comes to the health of our future. We have to start teaching our children to be active and remain active, whether they are at home, at school, or on vacation.

(more…)

A Different Kind of Cardio

Posted on: January 17th, 2012 by paul

When we are traveling (or at any time for that matter) we don’t want to fall back into the same monotonous workout routine. The stationary treadmill or elliptical is a great way to escape the cold weather back home, but when in a new place, why not try something different? And when I say different, I mean completely different. Jogging and other repetitive motion cardiovascular exercises are one-dimensional and do not mimic how the body moves. Here are some exercises that will not only challenge your cardiovascular system, but will also play with different planes of movement which will in turn engage many muscle groups.

(more…)

Your ‘Lucky’ Vegas Vacation

Posted on: January 15th, 2012 by paul

The lights, the strip, the casinos, the exciting vibe, and the general grandeur of Las Vegas have be luring people to this city for years. Although, once thought of as strictly a gambling and party city has now become a place for not only casino and bar hopping, but also for an entertaining family vacation. The city is now designed to keep visitors busy even if they don’t gamble much – or at all.

If gambling is your thing, and you’ve come to Las Vegas for that purpose, your trip will not be complete without visiting at least one of these top casinos:

(more…)

Working Out in Your Optimal Heart Rate Range

Posted on: January 12th, 2012 by paul

Whether you are working out at home, at your gym or on vacation, a good tool to monitor your level of exercise intensity is to calculate your optimal heart rate range. By knowing your target heart rate range, you can determine your exercise intensity to achieve your exercise goals.

The first step is to calculate your maximum heart rate. This can be done most easily (although not always accurately) through the age-predicted maximum heart rate equation. The reason it is not always accurate is because if we are testing an elite athlete, they will always exceed these numbers. Therefore, for extreme groups, a lab test must be used in order to calculate more accurate results. However, for an average individual, the following equation will work just fine:

(more…)

Drink this, Not that

Posted on: January 9th, 2012 by paul

The swim up bar, the beach tiki hut, and the bracelet that allows unlimited access to both. This, my friends, is what all-inclusives are all about!

If your mentality is anything like mine, then this guide is for you.

Usually on vacation, we throw caution to the wind and load up our plates with breakfast sausages, bacon, French fries, and whatever else we feel we must take advantage of on the buffet table. However, not only do we tend to eat what we want, we drink what we want as well. Without hesitation, we order margaritas, pina coladas, and other sugary drinks that we just love to indulge in while basking in the sun.

The question is, if you were properly informed, would you still make the same decisions?

Here is a list of drinks that are commonly ordered as well as suggestions for some alternatives, along with their calorie counts. You might be surprised at what you are allowing yourself to sip on.

(more…)

A Tour of Northern Italy

Posted on: January 6th, 2012 by paul

Many people come to Italy to explore the tropical south of the country without ever realizing how many gems that northern Italy has to offer. No trip to Italy is complete without venturing north as it arguably has it all. It has beautiful mountain ranges, world class wineries, magnificent large cities, sleepy smaller cities, Italy’s largest fresh water lakes, and has coastline on the Ligurian Sea in the west and the Mediterranean in the east. Here are some ‘must see’ destinations when venturing to the north of Italy.

(more…)