travel and meet friends

Life on the Road: A Virtual Seminar for RV Nomads

2009-07-24T15:22:00.001-07:00

A comprehensive collection of facts, tips and ideas from some of the world’s foremost RV travel experts, presented in ‘seminar style’ by Aussie author and fulltime RVer, Bill Revill. Advice contained in this eBook represents a combined total of over 200 years experience across 12 subject areas of interest to RV lifestylers, ‘grey nomads’, campers, and outback travellers alike

India Tours & Travel: Visit India For A Great Adventure Holiday

2009-07-24T15:21:00.002-07:00

India Travel & Tours has reached great heights. Around 2.75 million foreign tourist arrivals in the year 2001 prove India’s potential of becoming a top global tourist destination. India Travel & Tour operators offer everything you could ever want in a holiday.

Camping Prepare and Enjoy the Great Outdoors

2009-07-24T15:21:00.001-07:00

Preparing for camping or any holiday is essential for an enjoyable holiday for everyone. This camping ebook includes information about main equipment, extensive checklist, before you Begin, setting up Camp, camping with Kids, camping tips and photos from my photo album.

Beginners Guide To travel

2009-07-24T15:20:00.000-07:00

Everything you need to know to enjoy a safe wonderful camping holiday

How many hours by plane from Arizona to Lebanon

2009-06-05T23:59:00.000-07:00

Well it all depends on how many stops you are willing to take..
2 stops is around 34 hrs im in Tucson, AZ and when i go i usually have to fly to LA then from there to Paris, then from there to Beruit. Like 18 hours total I think

What do you think happened to the airfrance flight

2009-06-05T23:55:00.000-07:00

"This is the third version of my list of speculated causes of the accident. Please contribute by adding theories, evidence, or suggesting revisions to the conclusions for existing ones. And I would like to thank everyone who has posted speculations, evidence, and arguments in these threads. The information below is entirely based on your input.

For currently known facts about the accident, please see the Wikipedia

A. Terrorism or other malicious use of explosives

A bomb explodes in the cargo hold, crippling the aircraft's control systems or starting a structural break-up that eventually leads to loss of control.

Supportive evidence: According to Wikipedia, a bomb threat had been made on an earlier flight. Lack of communications from the flight crew indicates either a sudden event or something which lead to significant problems that the crew had to focus on. This would be consistent with the effects of a bomb. The automatic messages about computer system failures sent by the aircraft could be interpreted either as indications that the aircraft's movements have exceeded the limits that the systems can handle, or as indications about direct damage to the systems. A flash of light has been seen by other aircraft in the area.

Evidence against: While terrorist organizations exist both in France and Brazil, there has been no recent activity. No organization has claimed responsibility for the act. There is no specific evidence about a bomb. Nothing is known about any individuals or organizations who would have non-terrorism related reasons for malicious acts. It seems too big of a coincidence that a bomb would go off at the same time as the aircraft flies through very rough weather. Finally, what we know about the sequence of ACARS messages indicates that loss of cabin pressure was the last message in the sequence. This appears to rule out an explosion, unless it was contained in the hull and only damaged internal structures and components. This seems unlikely. The flash of light was apparently seen from too far to be caused by AF 447 related problems.

Open questions: Where are the cargo holds that are used to carry the passengers' luggage? Are they physically close to the computer and navigation systems that ACARS messages reported as failing? And obviously, physical evidence would be useful.

Verdict: Can most likely be ruled out

References: A flash of white light has been reported by other aircraft in the area: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/0...o... Distance calculation for the flash of light and AF 447 was in Pihero's post in thread 9: http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo...g...

B. Explosion or other rapid, harmful reaction from the cargo

The sequence of events is as in the terrorism theory.

Supportive evidence: The sequence of events fits this theory, as it does the terrorism theory. The cargo might have shifted at the time of turbulence, initiating the reaction.

Evidence against: See the evidence regarding the malicious use of explosives. In addition, there is no information that the cargo could have contained something harmful.

Open questions: More information is needed about what was in the cargo, and who cargo was taken from.

Verdict: Can most likely be ruled out

C. Fire

Fire starts in cargo hold, in systems, or somewhere else in the aircraft. Eventually the fire either disables a sufficient number of aircraft systems leading to a loss of control, or incapacitates the crew.

Supportive evidence: Systems turning themselves off one by one could be caused by fire. Cabin pressure warning might have been generated through the crew's actions to let the air out of the cabin in an effort to put out the fire. The location of the debris indicates that the crew might have turned back in an effort to get to the nearest airport (but it has now become uncertain if any debris has actually been found). The long duration of the ACARS messaging (4 minutes) seems to indicate a slowly progressing event like fire, as opposed to sudden event like a bomb or structural failure. The fire might have been initiated when the aircraft hit heave turbulence 10 minutes before the problems began.

Evidence against: It seems unlikely that the fire could have spread fast enough that the crew would not have notified air traffic control. Why would fire happen exactly at the same time as the aircraft flies through extreme weather? Wouldn't a cargo hold fire lead to an ACARS message?

Open questions: More information is needed about the ACARS messages and whether they could have been caused by fire.

Verdict: Possible, but there are several open questions

D. Weather

D1. Turbulence

Turbulence breaks up the plane, or causes it to enter an uncontrollable dive.

Supportive evidence: Very high winds and turbulence were detected in the area. Tim Vasquez's analysis indicates that the

Source(s):

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums...

Airplane enroute ifr for gps?

2009-06-05T23:52:00.000-07:00

does gps of garmin 430w has the ability to provide the guidance of glideslop when making approch? Does it haave ability to use airway enroute as assigned by atc? does ndb approach approved for gps use with same minimums at any airports? does ils 24 approach at university park pa require adf if gps is had? does glideslop provide virtical guidance at college park?

How do you pass through airport security with baby formula

2009-06-05T23:48:00.000-07:00

You can either take the baby milk ready made up to serve (in which case you must be prepared to drink some of it in front of the security staff). Alternatively, take the powder without any problems.

You cannot take the cooled bolied water, but you can buy bottled water in the departure lounge once you are through security. Also, the cabin crew can supply you with high quality water

Cheap Car Hire; Essential Strategies by Thomas Pretty

2009-05-15T06:48:00.000-07:00

Car hire is an extremely useful way to get around and an ultimately practical form of travel. People utilise car hire services for all manner of reasons, from those going to business meetings to those visiting family and friends. For many however finding a cheap price is the most important factor in the process. This is understandable with prices seemingly rising all around us and the depths of a recession finding a cheap price is a natural instinct. But what can the consumer do to find cheap car hire? It is hoped that this article will highlight some of the methods that will make renting a vehicle more affordable.

The first decision that has to be made is the size of vehicle that will be hired. This requires a detailed look at your own needs, for example while the luxury saloon may offer comfort, style and prestige, will it really relate to a cheap price? The answer is no, for those on a budget it is far more sensible to rent one of the smaller cars in the range; while comfort and style may be sacrificed, the price will almost certainly be cheap. This applies to a range of issues. For instance you must ask yourself if it worth paying extra for the car with air conditioning when opening the windows will suffice.

It is also worth considering how long the vehicle will be required. Many companies have specific opening times meaning that the picking up and dropping off of cars is limited. An example of where this could be a problem is when an early flight is booked and the rental desk will not be open to drop the car off. Understandably in this instance it is worth dropping the car off the day before and relying on public transport in the meantime. That said, many companies do offer twenty four hour services, particularly at the larger airports.

Airports however can be the most expensive places to hire a car. Airport owners charge hire companies a levy for housing their services and hence these charges are passed onto the customer. For a cheap price it can often be advisable to avoid airport locations and inner city outlets, instead finding one that is slightly more remote. In this instance you are paying for convenience, if having to travel to the outlet is too much, it may be worth paying the extra.

Hopefully this article has given a brief introduction into finding cheap car hire services. Ultimately the consumer can find an affordable price by sacrificing their own comfort and convenience. For the customer the decision needs to be made on how important these aspects are and whether it will be worth the sacrifice.

Travel expert Thomas Pretty studies the key considerations needed when trying to find cheap car hire services.

Vadodara Budgeted Hotels: Offering Standard and Decent Prices by David Urmann

2009-05-15T06:46:00.000-07:00

Vadodara is the capital city of Gaekwar, located southeast of Ahmedabad. It is the home of almost 1.6 million people. The cultural and commercial aspects of Vadodara are visited by many tourists, resulting to the emergence of hotels that offer necessary amenities and satisfaction. Most cheap hotels are modestly with decent standards and comfort.

Below are budgeted hotels that you may want to stay in:

Hotel Airport Hotel Airport is one of the incomparable budgeted hotels in Vadodara, offering consumer friendly services. It is located opposite the airport and Harni Road. The hotel has 41 adorned rooms and suites categorized into Chambers, Presidential Suites, Club Select and Executive Suites. Room service is available for 24 hours.

Business travelers and guests can conduct business affairs at the hotel facilities along with a well-equipped conference hall. It can seat up to 30 persons at a time. A travel desk also aids the visitors for their booking arrangements and sightseeing programs. Other facilities include a medical facility, laundry, front desk, car rental and complimentary pick-ups. Computer and data connectivities on rooms are available upon request.

The hotel hosts two restaurants, particularly for those who enjoy fine dining accommodations. The Garden Restaurant and AC multi-cuisine restaurant offers Chinese, Indian and Punjabi fares.

Hotel Sagar Hotel Sagar is one of the popular budget hotels that redefines Indian hospitality and provides worry free travels. It is located a few kilometers from the main transit points of Vadodara. The hotel offers a number of furnished rooms and complimentary amenities. Rooms are equipped with colored television as well as cables and telephones having ISD-STD connections.

Dining has never been a problem at the Hotel Sagar. It has numerous vegetarian dishes and delicacies. Hotel dining is an ideal place for relaxation, offering Chinese, Continental and Indian cuisines.

Business facilities include high speed Internet, fax, STD, courier, ISD and 100% power back up. Other facilities are spacious parking spaces, in-house laundry, doctors on call, car rental and credit card acceptance. The hotel rates are approximately 150 INR.

Hotel Utsav Hotel Utsav is a reputed budget hotel with decent personnel. The hotel is close to the main transit points along with well-furnished rooms. These rooms are well illuminated with telephones having ISD and cable TV for a price of 400 INR.

Delicious foods are offered at their restaurant. There is a good selection of mouthwatering Chinese, Continental and Indian food, and ranging from vegetarian to non-vegetarian dishes.

Business amenities consist of high speed Internet, STD, ISD and power back up. Recreational activities can be planned with the help of their friendly travel desk. Other services are car rentals, doctors on call, parking spaces and laundry services.

Sayaji Hotel Sayaji Hotel is one of the very popular hotels among other cheap hotels in Vadodara. It is just 5 kms away from the airport and 0.5 km from the railway station. The hotel offers 53 rooms that come in different categories; 1 suite, 12 double rooms, 16 deluxe rooms and 24 single rooms. All rooms have centralized air-conditioners, TVs, hot and cold running waters, tea or coffee makers and a telephone.

Their three hotel dining facilities offer international and local cuisines. Hotel facilities like their three banquet halls can seat 25 up to 100 people, in theater style. Others services include station transfers and money changers.

Hotel Shavshanti Towers Hotel Shavshanti is the most well known budget hotel situated in the midst of the business and commercial areas. It is just 5 km from the airport and 3 kilometers from the railway station. Hotel rates start at about 500 INR.

Business clients and travelers can enjoy the comforts of their 33 fully air-conditioned rooms. Personalized services can be rendered by the hospitable staff of the hotel. All rooms have modern amenities such as cable TV, ISD-STD facilities and a telephone. The hotel offers a multitude of different amenities and great dining experiences.

Other budget hotels are the Hotel Revival, Gateway Hotel and Ginger Vadodara Hotel. Most cheap hotels offer a fine standard at a reasonably low price. Commercial activities have made this place an attraction to most tourists, especially business travelers from all over the globe.

For more information on Vadodara and Vadodara Online Hotelsplease visit our website.

Varanasi: The City of Fairs and Festivals by David Urmann

2009-05-15T06:41:00.000-07:00

Varanasi is known as the oldest living city in the world. It is also the culture capital of India. The place became the center for fairs and festivals by virtue of their cultural and religious importance. Festivals are celebrated almost every month. The celebration symbolizes life at its best with the dedication of Varanasis beliefs.

Varanasi is commonly known as Banaras or Banares. The city became the center for learning and civilization over 3000 years ago. Its culture is greatly associated with the rivers religious traditions. It has been the symbol for Hindu renaissance and devotion to the gods. People believed that the Ganges River has the power to wash away the sins of mortals. Hence, a person who dies on Varanasi would achieve freedom and salvation.

Many festivals are celebrated in high spirits. A huge number of foreigners visit the place in order to witness the significance of each fair.

Bharat Milap at Nati Imli Bharat Milap is celebrated from October to November. The festival is held in regard of Lord Ramas (the chief protagonist of Ramayana) return to Ayodhya after his 14 years of exile and his reunion with his brother, Bharat. The festival attracts millions of devotees in a whole day fair following Dussehra. The festival shows the profound love of the Lord Rama and Bharat and the victory of good over evil.

Buddh Purnima in Sarnath Buddh Purnima is held in May celebrating Lord Gautam Buddhas birth. This festival connotes the birth and death of Buddha on a full moon day. The relics of Buddha are taken out to view by the public on procession. Sarnath is the place for the large fair celebrated with rare abandon.

Ramlila of Ramnager Ramlila is a month long feast with regards on Goswami Tulsidas Ramcharitmanas. A live show of ancient rituals or pantomime is presented in the form of Surpnakha Nasika Chedan, Dhanush Bhang and Ram Janmotsav. The two performances tackle the story of Lord Rama.

Dhrupad Mela Dhrupad Mela is held every March. It is a 5-day musical festival performed by renowned artists. Tulsi Ghat is a popular place among tourists that come to experience the musical extravagance.

Hanumat Jayanti Janmotsav Hanuman Jayanti Janmotsav is celebrated at Sankat Mochan Temple. It is a 5 day cultural and musical affair by Indian artists. The fair is based on Hanuman Charitra, Saraswati, Ram and Krishna Lila. It commemorates the birth of Hanuman (mythical character).

The Nakkatayya and Nah Nathaiya are other festivals in Varanasi which is dedicated for Rama and the Lord Krishna.

Nakkatyya-Chetganj A stage play is reenacted showing the story of Ramayan during this festival. This is a story wherein her sister Surpnakha insisted to attract Laksman and Ram. The cutting of the nose of Surpnakha was enacted in a beautiful way onstage. Decorated lags are taken out for the occasion.

Nag Nathaiya Nag Nathaiya is part of the Krishna Leela ceremony. It is a mythological tradition depicting the life episode of Lord Krishna jumping into the Ganga River for Nag Nathan. Nag Nathaiyas origin can be traced back to the Mahabharata. The festival is held at Tulsi Ghat during the month of November to December.

Mahashivratri Mahashivratri is dedicated to Lord Shiva where a marriage procession of Lord Shiv is presented from Mahamritunjaya temple to the Kashi Vishwanath temple. Around 50,000 to 60,000 people gather here to see this much loved festival. All the temples are decorated and devotees offer milk, songs, bhajans and hymns to create a sacred atmosphere.

Other fairs and festivals are the Panch Koshi Parikrama and Dev Deepavali (festival of lights). The pure and divine ambiance of the festivals attracts many people. The blessed city of Varanasi captivates many devotees, expressing their cultural tradition.

About the Author

For more information on Varanasi and Varanasi City Servicesplease visit our website.

Theme Park Advice For Families With Small Children by Art Gib

2009-05-15T06:33:00.000-07:00

Going to a major theme park like Disneyworld is sure to be a major adventure for the whole family! If you have small children, though, you may be worried about how to keep them safe while you are there and making sure they have a good experience. Here are some tips.

Parents: adjust your expectations

The vacation is for them too, and not just for you. If you are going to a theme park for the first time since having children, you may be shocked at what a different experience it is! You will no longer have the freedom to move about at an adult pace and you will probably bypass the "big" rides altogether. Get yourself mentally ready to NOT do everything you may have planned: little kids slow the pace down considerably.

Plan your days

Make a realistic plan for each day you will be attending the park and map out an itinerary. There will always be unexpected detours, but each day can be outlined fairly well.

Knowing what you are going to do ahead of time not only saves you the hassle of having to make decisions while dealing with crowds, it is also reassuring to your children. They like a certain amount of structure, even when they are on vacation!

Make sure to plan for quiet time every day: whether you return to the hotel for a nap, or spend some down hours at the pool. If children are pushed beyond their physical limitations, no one has a good time.

Have an emergency plan

If your children are old enough to understand the idea of having a rendez-vous point in case they get separated, make sure you choose a place that is easily visible from anywhere in the park. Instruct them to get help only from uniformed employees with badges if they need it. For very young children, use the self-service dog tag machine at your local pet store to make custom i.d tags! Engrave them with your cell phone number and strap them to your toddlers' shoe laces or have them wear them around their necks. Many families choose to wear matching bright colored t-shirts to help with instant visibility in a crowd.

Keep everyone's bodies healthy

Limit the amount of junk food you and your children consume while in the park. Not only is such food expensive, but you will be dealing with sugar highs and their ensuing crashes! Wear a back pack and carry a ready supply of healthy snacks and fruit for everyone to enjoy. Make sure everyone has his or her own water bottle too and have regularly scheduled "hydration breaks." Slather on the sun block to ward off sunburns on a regular basis also.

The most important thing to remember is that you should relax and don't push yourselves and your children too much. Accept that there is no way you will be able to do everything you want to do: just stay in the moment and get busy making memories.

About the Author

If you are planning on going to an Orlando theme park soon and are seeking Windsor Hills rentals, visit the professionals at Signature Vacation Villas (http://www.signaturevillasorlando.com) who can help find you the perfect place. Art Gib is a freelance writer.

How To Find Affordable Italian Cooking School Tours by Margaret Cowan

2009-05-15T06:30:00.000-07:00

Many frugalista foodies and wise wine lovers are now taking advantage of cheaper airfares and traveling to Italy despite the strong Euro. They want to indulge this year in an Italian cooking school tour but at an affordable price.

How? Here are two tips.

1. Ask for what you want.

If you see a cooking school tour you like, but the price is wrong for you, ask the tour operator for what you want. Their yes answer may surprise you!

Here's a true story. A Canadian couple was attracted to a four day cooking, wine and walking tour in Piedmont's Barolo wine country in north west Italy. Even though the tour was based at a historic hotel and was for just the two of them, the price of 1620 Euros a person (about $2187 U.S.), was beyond their budget this year. They told the tour operator they liked the tour but wanted to pay half that price.

The tour operator asked them what was most important to them on their tour. She redesigned the tour so they stayed at a simple B&B, didn't take a cooking lesson they weren't interested in anyway, and ate their farewell dinner at the B&B instead of an elegant restaurant. Their new price came in 40% less at 1045 Euros (about $1411 U.S.). This time they said yes!

2. Take cooking school tours with local Italian families

Look for cooking school tours where you stay and cook with families in their country or city homes. You get a far better taste of genuine Italian life and you usually spend less than for a comparable cooking school tour with a top chef based at an elegant villa.

Here's a comparison of two cooking school tours in the Chianti area in Tuscany, one at a lovely villa hotel and one at a family's farm house.

You can indulge for six nights at a luxurious, four star villa hotel and enjoy three full menu, hands on cooking lessons with a top professional chef in a state of the art kitchen for $2800 (March, November and December) to $3500 U.S. (May to October). The tour also includes transfers from Florence, welcome dinner, three meals after cooking lessons, picnic lunch, wine tasting, one light dinner, castle visit, half day walking tour and drive to Siena and San Gimignano where you explore on your own.

On a family style Chianti cooking school tour for five nights, you can stay in a family's beautifully renovated farm house in a hill top hamlet in "at a friend's home" style rooms. With the daughter you cook five multi course lunches in their big kitchen with magnificent views over herb gardens, roses, olive trees and vineyards. At noon every day you gather around their dining table with your cooking teacher and her charming 80ish dad.

Price for five nights all year round is 1555 Euros, about $2099 U.S. at current exchange rates and includes five full menu, hands on cooking lessons followed by lunch of your creations, welcome dinner at a restaurant, four light dinners at home, two afternoon excursions with your cooking teacher to Chianti towns with wine tasting, and transfers from Chianti town of Greve to and from the family's home.

The Chianti villa tour costs $466 U.S. a night (off season)to $583 U.S. a night (May to October) while the Chianti family tour costs about $420 U.S. a night all year round at current exchange rates. Both offer similar excursions but you get more meals with the family tour.

Is a family style cooking school tour more expensive in a major city? No.

For example, for six nights in Bologna, you can learn to cook with a mother and daughter, both excellent cooks, in their apartment home in the historic centre and live like a local in your independent apartment right next door.

In their cozy kitchen in three hands on cooking lessons you cook multi course dinners together. Each evening you share your creations of appetizers, two kinds of pasta, meat, vegetables and dessert with local wines and chat and laugh with their family around their dining table. You feel like old friends have invited you to dinner that you helped to cook.

The rest of the time you tour Bologna's colourful food market in an ancient warren of narrow streets in the centre and learn about local ingredients, enjoy a guided day trip to Florence or Venice and have time to hang out in the piazza soaking up local life. Price is 1395 Euros, about $1880 U.S. ($313 U.S. a night) at current exchange rates.

By asking for what you want and choosing family style cooking tours in Italy, frugalista foodies can afford to make their dream of indulging in an Italian cooking school vacation come true this year.

About the Author

Since 1995 Margaret Cowan has owned a cooking and wine tour company, Mama Margaret & Friends Cooking Adventures in Italy.

For a free report on finding the right Italy cooking school tour for you, see http://www.italycookingschools.com

Who offers the cheapest flights?

2009-05-15T06:16:00.000-07:00

Who offers the cheapest flights? by Jez Rourke

votes

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The idea of a low cost airline was born in the UK around fifteen years ago and has now changed the way people travel in Europe. With weekend breaks to Dublin and Barcelona costing as little as one pound, many travellers flew on impulse.

Budget carriers such as Ryanair became popular and they grew rapidly soon becoming the largest airlines in Europe, carrying double the passengers that British Airways did.

With such fierce competition, the traditional carriers fought back by cutting back on luxuries such as assigned seats, meals and free drinks in return for cheaper fares.

In July last year it looked like the days of the budget holiday were coming to an end as airlines set to raise their fares by ten percent due to rising fuel costs. This of course led to fears that many carriers would go out of business, whilst also causing concern to holidaymakers who had become comfortable using budget airlines such as EasyJet and Ryanair.

The media bandied around with ideas that the budget carriers would achieve fare increases by charging extra for priority boarding and checking baggage, that they may have to cancel unprofitable routes. For a while airlines like EasyJet and Ryanair who were offering the cheapest flights appeared to be cutting capacity.

Reports of stranded passengers following the collapse of a number of airlines soon began to hit the news. Among others, Denmark based Sterling Airlines and the long haul budget, Zoom were forced into bankruptcy.

However the big budgets have survived as they have proven to be more affordable than other operators and the larger airlines like British Airways have introduced budget brands of their own. Naturally the question, "which airline offers the cheapest flights?" is to some degree dependent on the route, although EasyJet, BMI Baby, Flybe, and Ryanair are just some of the more important names to keep in mind.

It is fair to say that the Internet and cheap flights have changed to way we travel. In the past we were inclined to shop around for the cheapest package from a tour operator, but with so many flight and hotel comparison websites it is now a better option to plan your own holiday tailored to individual specifications.

Although the UK airline brands dominate they don't have it all their own way when it comes to offering the cheapest flights, as Air Berlin and Germanwings fly from Stanstead to the main cities in Germany, Norwegian and Iceland Express fly from Stanstead to Norway and Iceland and Sky Europe and Wizzair compete for Gdansk, Warsaw and Budapest.

If you are planning a ski holiday, the one low cost airline who operate out of Heathrow and worth considering is Swiss, who offer London to Geneva for less than eighty pounds and Manchester to Basel for just under seventy pounds. These prices include free carriage of snowboards and ski equipment.

To find the cheapest flights, use the Internet and be prepared to be flexible with times and dates. Consider midweek flying and book early. It's always a good idea to check the cost of travelling to and from the airport, as flying from one close to home can save money.

Weekend Getaways

2008-12-30T07:41:00.000-08:00

Because many great outdoor adventures are so far off the beaten path, they may seem unattainable in a long weekend. However, given some advance planning, even the wilderness will offer itself up in convenient bite-sized chucks.

Paddling With Pods

There's nothing quite like seeing a bald eagle snatch a fish from just off the bow of your boat, or happening upon a harbor seal pup cavorting with its mother. Unless, of course, it's paddling among a pod of orcas -- also known as killer whales.

Sea kayaking tours off the San Juan Islands in Washington state, like those offered by Sea Quest Expeditions, are designed to visit the favorite feeding, traveling and play areas of resident pods of orcas - easily among the most awe-inspiring creatures you'll ever likely encounter close up and personal, in the wild. The company's half-, full-, two- and three-day outdoor adventure tours promise to reward weekend warriors with convenient and relatively predictable gratification.

Sea kayaks are swift, sturdy and comfortable crafts, perfect for paddling around the twisting shorelines of several hundred islands, rocks and reefs that comprise the rural archipelago of the San Juans. The best part: you can pack a lot of stuff into the hulls before battening down the hatches; more than enough to see you comfortably through a long-weekend excursion.

Best time to go: Killer-whale watching is most reliable from late April through early October, with activity peaking mid-May to mid-August.

To increase your chances of witnessing the abundant marine wildlife here, choose a guide who not only is experienced in sea kayaking, but also has a handle on environmental science.