Hard Rock Park

Hard Rock Park is America's newest theme park and the latest attraction to hit Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. For an area that is defined by its tourism industry, the $400 million project is the single largest tourism investment in the state's history and will presumably target some of the customers who would have frequented the Myrtle Beach Pavilion up until its closure at the end of last year.

Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world's greatest collection of music memorabilia displayed at its locations around the globe. The park's theme is not movies, fairy tales, animals or water shows but reflects the company's commitment to rock's culture, lifestyle, legends and irreverence. This rocking celebration of the history of rock and roll is set to help Myrtle Beach enter into a new level.

Located off Hwy 501 just over the waterway, the groundbreaking 55-acre park is a totally immersive, full-day attraction that features something for rockers of all ages, including roller coasters, live shows and entertainment as well as children's play areas, restaurants, retail stores and a multi-purpose live music amphitheater. Six custom-designed sections bring to life the genres from Rock 'n' Roll, showcasing the Beatles and artists from the British Invasion to artists like Led Zeppelin and the Eagles. All of the park's shops, eateries and attractions are blanketed in an ultra-modern sound system specifically developed for the project.

A giant Gibson guitar sets the tone to the rock & roll inspired Hard Rock Park after guests enter the All Access Entry Plaza and explore eateries like I Want Candy sweets shop and the Amp'd coffee bar. At the Gibson Vegas High Roller Plaza, guests can grab some souvenirs at All Access Merchandise or catch a bite and see a show at The Whammy Bar and Peavey Lounge. The entry plaza also includes the Origins Theater where guests can watch a 12-minute movie about the history of the Hard Rock Café.

The Cool Country area pays tribute to southern rock influences and features attractions like the "Just A Swingin' " swings, "Muddin' Moster Race" and the park's longest roller coaster, the "Eagles Life in the Fast Lane". This runaway mine coaster includes two lift hills, head-snapping turns and a very familiar Eagles tune blasting in your ears. Guests can get their fill of Southern food at the Rockabilly BBQ and follow it up with a rowdy country/rock show at The Icehouse Theater.

In the Born in the USA area, kids will get a kick out of the pint-sized rides at "Banana Splitsville" as well as have big time at the "Kids Rock! State Park playground. This giant romping area features forts, boulders and climbing bridges along with the "Slippery When Wet" treetop ride. Also included here are the "Shake, Rattle N' Rollercoaster" family coaster, the Gibson Guitar Gallery and the Live Amphitheater.

The British invasion area features the "Maximum RPM!" test track ride guests wait line in the world's first Karaoke Queue Line to test their skills as a British rock star. Dominating the brick and steel manufacturing plant-style building is a first-of-its-kind Ferris wheel structure that lifts riders up into place high above the plant. Other attractions include the "Punk Pit" bounce house at Piccadilly Circus.

Hard Rock Park's Lost in the 70's area is a blast from the past where guests can explore attractions like the Pinball Wizard" arcade, the "Roadies Stunt Show" and the "Nights in White Satin: The Trip" dark ride. Riders exit the dark ride into the Kings Road Boutique where retro memorabilia abounds. Kids will enjoy launching foam balls at the "Garage Jam" multi-level playground.

The theme park's flagship roller coaster, "Led Zeppelin: The Ride", is located in the tropical Rock & Roll Heaven area. The signature coaster features a three-quarter mile track that rises to more than 155 feet at its highest point and thrills riders with a six and a half minute experience, partially over water, reaching speeds of 65 mph and boasting six breathtaking inversions, the largest of which is a 120-foot loop. Kids can cool off at the "Reggae River Falls" sprayground or the "Colossal Guitar Fountain" while kids of all ages can catch a cool show at the Malibu Beach Party.

Hard Rock Park plans to be open 10 months a year and hopes to attract 30,000 visitors a day and about 3 million a year. Myrtle Beach has an abundance of area hotels along with an international airport, which makes reaching Hard Rock Park a quick trip in a rental car. With attention to detail, rides and attractions for all ages and a friendly and welcoming staff, you will want to visit Hard Rock Park on your next trip to Myrtle Beach.

Water Parks Make A Great Summer Family Outing

Quality family fun is what every parent looks for. And what better way to spend a relaxing day with your family then near the water. That’s why water parks make a great summer family outing.

Water parks have plenty of entertainment to offer including all kinds of water rides, arcades, outdoor games like miniature golf and go carts, and good food. All you need to do is show up to discover the excitement that awaits you.

There are slides for all levels and ages including water pools for the very youngest family members. So whether you like a real challenge or prefer a ride that’s relaxing, it’s there.

The larger parks have intertwined looping tube slides which are a blast; some starting 6 stories above the park and ending with a splash landing. There are a variety of tubes to choose from, so if 6 stories is too high you can play on one of the smaller ones. And who says a water park is all about the slides?

These days wakeboard and knee ski are growing water sports that many water parks are now offering. The courses are usually about ½ mile long and you can test your skills. Levels start at beginner and go right up to expert. And, if you aren’t ready to give it a try you can watch. It’s a great spectator sport too!

If you prefer to partner up with your buddy, there are usually some great two person water rides to check out. The inner tubes are one of the most fun. Or why not take a ride down a twisting turning slide reaching maximum speeds as you drop from an elevated shoot.

If that’s not your style why not try the Black Hole or the equivalent offered by most parks. Here you’ll jump into a raft and take an exhilarating journey down a twisting tunnel of darkness – whoo-eee fun with a capital F!

And if you’re lucky enough to visit Orlando’s Wet and Wild, be sure to check out The Blast which will have you screaming for more as you get soaked to the core in this stimulating ride complete with sound effects. You’ll twist and turn your way down through waterspouts and burst through pipes. What a ride! If you can’t get to Orlando don’t worry. Other water parks are offering similar rides.

When you need a rest from the water you can soak up some rays on the side. Grab a chair or relax on your beach towel. And then why not take the family for a game of miniature golf?

Don’t forget to enjoy a delicious burger and order of fries with a nice cold drink. And the day won’t be complete without an ice cream.

Water parks offer a full day of fun and relaxation for the entire family. So why not get out and enjoy it? You won’t be sorry!

The Best Theme Parks For a Family Holiday in France

So, you’re taking a family holiday in France, but have no idea where to take the kids? You can’t go wrong with theme parks, and thankfully France has got a fair few of them. Here’s the pick of the biggest ones, guaranteed to keep the kids quiet (or screaming loudly depending on the ride!) on your family holiday in France.

Any of these makes for a great excursion for all ages – just make sure you leave your hotel in France early, as they get busy quite quickly!

Puy du Fou

Puy du Fou is a bit of a curveball to begin the list - it has no slides, roller coasters or mini trains. Instead you get elaborate shows charting the history of the area, stunning scenery and a fun, educational day out. If the word “educational” is likely to make your kids run for the hills, perhaps you should sell them on the main event: a huge outdoor stage behind the castle-ruins recalls 700 years of the local history on the world’s largest stage with thousands of actors, hundreds of horses and around 400 fireworks per performance! Understandably this is quite costly, so is only on in high season – check it’s on in advance, but if it is don’t hesitate in making this a central part of your family holiday in France.

Parc Asterix

Parc Asterix is a theme park based around the comic book (and subsequent film) adventures of Asterix the Gaul. Despite the licensing deal limiting its scope, it’s actually an excellent theme park and a great alternative to Disneyland Paris (which is just 20 miles away). It has a wide range of rollercoasters, themed around characters and places from the books (the log flume takes the form of ‘Menhir Express’, for example.) Not only is it a great choice for fans of the comic books, but a terrific theme park in its own right for those who love big rollercoasters and thrills while in France. A hotel is on site for those who think they’ll spend more than a day there – easily done considering the park’s size!

Futuroscope

One of the most famous theme parks in France, and once again breaking the traditional grounds of rollercoasters and waterslides, Futuroscope is a theme park worked entirely around film. With many 3d cinemas and other attractions and shows (some of which are the only examples in the world), the park is an excellent choice for those looking to holiday further south of Paris. Although the films are in French, headsets with translations are available, but to be honest it’s more about the experience than the dialogue. The real pick of the attractions is the motion sensitive chairs, which react to the action on screen – just as thrilling as your average rollercoaster!

Disneyland Paris

The Disneyland Park needs no introduction. With an impressive array of rides and all your kids’ favourite Disney franchises represented, it’s no wonder it’s such a popular part of family holidays in France. The pick of the rides has to be Space Mountain – not for the weak of heart, with double corkscrews and 360 degree loop-the-loops in near darkness really testing your mettle! With shows, rides and an incomparable atmosphere, Disneyland is deservedly one of the most famous attractions in France. A hotel is on site, too so you can be within easy reach if you’re planning multiple visits.

Busch Gardens Theme Parks

Busch Gardens Europe and Africa are part of the Busch Entertainment chain of theme parks. With locations in Williamsburg, Virginia and Tampa, Florida, they are famous for their unique combination of daring rides, live entertainment and animal habitats. Each park is infused with cultural elements from its namesake continent and showcases the popular foods, landmarks, gardens, shops and entertainment of a particular country.

Both parks are famous or their landscaping, so famous in fact that Busch Gardens Europe has been voted the world's "Most Beautiful Theme Park" for 17 consecutive years. Park attractions are integrated seamlessly into lush landscapes, adding to the experience of each guest. There are a variety of rides and attractions for the whole family to enjoy that include several top-ranking roller coasters like the "Griffon" in Williamsburg and the "SheiKra" in Tampa.

While the types of animal habitats at BG Africa and BG Europe may vary from the exotic to the familiar, both parks allow guests to get up close and personal with the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales. These incredible horses are always crowd pleasers and have been entertaining visitors for decades. The parks also feature separate, seasonally operating water parks that are located nearby. The Key West-inspired Adventure Island is a 34-acre park located in Tampa. Water Country USA is a 40-acre park located in Williamsburg with a 50's and 60's surf theme.

It's important to start doing some homework when you're planning your trip. BG Africa is located about an hour away from other major theme parks in the Orlando area and BG Europe is located near famous Colonial Williamsburg. You may want to visit these nearby attractions so it's important that you plan your time and budget wisely. Here are a few free resources to take advantage of:

1. Visit all the major airlines and sign up for their weekly email specials. Southwest Airlines usually has great deals on airfare and has an excellent all-in-one online vacation planner with deals on Busch Gardens and other BEC theme parks. You also can book it all from air, rental cars, accommodations (even 5 bedroom rental homes), and park tickets - from their website. The BG website does offer a vacation planning feature that allows you to purchase park tickets and book accommodations in their approved hotels but it's not always the most cost-effective option.

2. Check out your local library to see which "unofficial" Busch Gardens vacation guides they may have. For BG Africa, I would recommend Beyond Disney: The Unofficial Guide to Universal, Sea World & the Best of Central Florida by Bob Sehlinger and Grant Rafter. It has several money-saving tips and the "must do's" section for each park to help you make the most of your time and also gets you familiar with the park before you go.

3. Have you already paid for a club membership? Sam's Club, AAA and AARP members often get special discounts on vacations and tickets to major theme parks. Be sure to check out each organizations website or just call the 800 number on the back of your membership card for details.

4. Busch Entertainment Corporation is offering all active duty and ready reserve members of the service one day's free admission along with up to three direct dependents to either Busch Gardens park or one of BEC's other parks. For more information on the Here's to the Heroes program, visit the official BG website.

This is a good place to start getting the information you'll need to save time and money on your vacation. You will need to budget for length of stay, transportation, accommodations, park tickets, food and souvenirs. With gas prices going nowhere but up, the task of preplanning a well-deserved vacation has never been more important. With a little forward thinking, you and your family can stay within your budget as well as enjoy a great trip to one of the beautiful Busch Gardens theme parks.

Mobile Home Parks

This country has experienced unprecedented gains in housing prices over the past five years. With some regional markets expanding at a phenomenal 25% annual average, the investors who got in early have created tremendous wealth. However, in my opinion, this wild roller coaster ride is about to stop on the way up and the people still in the car are going to come crashing down off the tracks.

I recently saw an alarming statistic. The hype and pandemonium of the real estate boom has created a stampede into the industry. More people than ever before are buying real estate strictly for investment purposes. Unfortunately, the majority are doing so with limited or no knowledge whatsoever concerning the pros and cons of owning rental property. Twenty-three percent, almost one-quarter, of all homes purchased in this country in 2004 were investment properties! Not owner-occupied, but pure rental homes.

Since the average buyer doesn’t understand the inherent risks and potential cash-flow problems with this property class, many are feeding cash into their investment every month. For those of us who make a living in the real estate business, negative cash-flow is the cancer of our industry and can lead to a slow financial death. However, the new and uneducated investor doesn’t see this as a problem since he is used to contributing monthly to his investment portfolio via his weekly paycheck. His only rescue from this negative cash-flow dilemma is an increase in value of the underlying property. In the simplest term, he is a speculator.

Professional speculators have made a ton of money in real estate and other industries for centuries. These superstars aren’t your ordinary people. They understand supply and demand relationships, market timing, growth patterns, and economic cycles. I dare say the overwhelming majority of people buying real estate today as an investment doesn’t fit into the professional category. As a matter of fact, the uneducated investor is often the customer who ends up lining the pocket of the professional speculator.

If you have been fortunate enough to experience the thrilling ride of the housing roller coaster, I encourage you to contemplate getting off and moving on to a more predictable, long-term investment. Find a real estate vehicle that will provide income as well as capital appreciation. Manufactured housing communities are in an asset class that can deliver both of these benefits.

Mobile home parks have slowly become the “step-children” of the real estate investing community. Due to the collapse of the mobile home financing industry over the past five years, many of the parks in this country have become neglected, highly vacated, and undesirable wastelands. Politicians are fighting to get rid of them due to the element of society they often accommodate and the eye sore the property becomes in the path of growth and development. Eliminating a mobile home park frees up valuable land needed for the current surge in the construction of stick-built housing.

So, you have an investment class that local governments are trying to force into extinction. On top of that, demand is currently low because so much money has recently been made in the single-family housing sector. Why would anyone want to move their investment funds into a mobile home park?

Affordable housing will always be required in this country. The average American must have shelter, it’s a basic need. When the housing crisis hits and interest rates rise, foreclosures will be at an all-time high and many people are going to be forced out of their current home. A destroyed credit rating will drive these people into the rental market or into some type of “owner financed” property. Not ready to give up on the American dream of home ownership, they will begin to look strongly at the manufactured housing alternative. Large living space and low pricing will be very attractive. I believe the demand will be tremendous and large lending institutions will begin to get back into the manufactured housing “game”. The interest rates for these loans will be higher than traditional mortgage rates and one or more large lenders will figure out how to turn a profit.

The mobile home buyer certainly needs a piece of land to place the home on. Parks provide the infrastructure and amenities to accommodate this need at a very reasonable cost. As home sales begin to increase, the demand for suitable mobile home park lots will heat up. The investors who own these parks will be in an ideal position as they can increase rents and still fill their empty lots. Unlike traditional housing projects, development barriers will be high and I feel this will create a huge shortage in available lots to place mobile homes.

You couldn’t ask for a better situation as a park owner. High demand, coupled with low supply creates a financial windfall for the astute investor. Cash flows will be tremendous and values will sky rocket, much like the feeding frenzy going on right now in the single-family home market. Cap rates will drop on this asset class and the large REITs will probably start paying unbelievable prices for the large, well-kept parks.

I’ve been in the business several years now and it’s a great time to buy. While the masses of park owners are crying, “sell, sell, sell”, some of us are quietly acquiring turn around parks. Most of the parks are initially at a break even or small positive cash flow position, but by implementing our system we are able to steadily increase cash flow and quickly increase value. But, even better than that, we are positioning ourselves to benefit from the potential flood of customers into our market.

Caribbean National Parks

With so much to do at the National Parks found throughout the islands of the Caribbean it's easy to get excited. Want to spend an afternoon underwater, swimming with the fish? What about a morning watching beautiful tropical birds awaken? Or an evening gazing at the sun setting over mountains? These parks have it all.

While most travelers are familiar with their own country's national parks system, the Caribbean's parks get relatively little notice. From the volcanoes in Costa Rica to Curacao's sunken ships, there are a wide range of nature-oriented activities and sights to delight all ages.

Unusual Terrain

With mountains, volcanoes, valleys, and plenty of other island terrains, doing a bit of island exploration is never dull. Travelers in search of a place to stretch their legs can find it among the Caribbean islands.

The Madre de Las Aguas protected area in the Dominican Republic contains the mountain range called Cordillera Central and the island's highest peak, Pico Duarte. At more than 10,000 feet tall, Pico Duarte is the tallest mountain in the Caribbean. Of course, mountains aren't all you'll find on the Dominican Republic. The ancient solenodon, a mammal which first appeared 30 million years ago, now lives only on this island.

Dominica's Trois Pitons offer picturesque splendor, and the geysers in the Valley of Desolation will delight visitors. Dominica is also well-known for its incredible nature and relatively untouched physical surroundings.

Rincon de la Vieja, or Old Woman's Corner, is another unique park in Costa Rica for vacationers interested in sights with heights. The volcano is said to be named for an old lady in Guatuso tribal lore who is, in some stories, angry, but in others is a kind old lady whose cooking fires send up the smoke for which the peak is known. This volcano is known to bubble and steam even now.

Puerto Rico offers an entirely different kind of terrain in its El Yunque Rainforest. Stop in at the only rainforest within the U.S. National Parks system. Puerto Rico's rainforest is unique and is known for its beautiful plants and animals.

The other end of the terrain spectrum includes deserts, and the most well-known is probably found in Aruba's Arikok National Park, an unusual sight on a tropical island. Vacationers can explore the desert and see sights like no other. Find divi divi trees, aloe, and unusual animals.

Aquatic Adventures

While some travelers may be content to stay on land, others want to explore beneath the sea. Luckily, the Caribbean is full of incredible underwater sights, like sunken ships and amazing sea creatures.

Hol Chan Marine Reserve in Belize is just one of many areas full of underwater treasures. Snorkel off of the world's second-largest barrier reef during your stay in this unique vacation hideaway. Make sure to check out the world-famous blue hole, where the bottom suddenly drops to more than 300 feet in a nearly-perfect circle.

Curaçao also has a marine park in which snorkelers and divers can take in picturesque shipwrecks covered in coral. With almost 1,500 acres of marine park to explore, it's hard to go wrong!

Saba's National Marine Park was established in 1987 to help preserve Saba's natural underwater beauty. This tiny island did not establish the park to repair an already-damaged environment, but to stop any damage from occurring. These pristine reefs offer something truly one of a kind.

Although Caribbean islands share many characteristics, each has its own terrain and culture, making the Caribbean a diverse place. When you're planning to explore the islands, take a look at what their national parks have to offer.

Birds By National Parks Of Tanzania

Bellow is very brief commentary on what birds you will expect to find in the more accessible and popular National Parks of Tanzania; that is from the birders point of view. You won’t find an exhalable list of birds as there is not room here and that would make for tedious reading. We have just the edited highlights here, what to expect and where and of course when to visit each area; the best time for game viewing and the best time for spotting birds can vary.

Northern Tanzania: Kilimanjaro National Park is extremely rich in birdlife on the lower slopes on the rainforest and the moorland region. It is possible to spend a day or two here just to explore and spot birds on the lower slopes of Africa’s tallest mountain.

Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Natron also in northern Tanzania; there many birds to be seen in the crater area and as it covers a relatively small area many species can be seen in one day of bird spotting. There are the thousands of flamingoes to see at Lake Natron and surrounding soda lakes and it is known as a flamingo hot spot. The best time for flamingo viewing is in January and February. The adjoining Serengeti National Park has sweeping grasslands that make viewing the many birds in the area a delight. The Tarangire in the dry season is a birdwatchers delight and should not be missed off your itinerary.

Mkomazi Game Reserve - North-eastern Tanzania has over 400 recorded species including hornbills, weavers and guinea-fowl which are all present in large numbers - as well as such striking species as the martial eagle and violet wood-hoopoe

Western Tanzania: Wembere Swamps is less accessible and more for the seasoned traveler. To make it to the western part of the country is worth the effort though as it is truly Africa away from the madding crowds. Watch out for large, breeding colonies of big wading birds like herons, ibis and storks. Uwanda National Park again claims many species of bird such as grey parrot, red shark and woodpecker. Katavi National Park is remote and receiving more attention as it is a park with plenty of big game [as well as birds] and enjoys the luxury of practically no lodges or tourists. More than 400 bird species occur here and the park is home to large flocks of pelican; as well as the go-away-bird, pale-billed hornbill, white-winged babbling starling and Tanzania masked weaver.

Lake Rukwa in Southern Tanzania is situated on a seasonally flooded plain which sees large numbers of various different bird species in the wet season. Ruaha National is known for its bird populations like Dickinson's kestrel, violet-crested traco, pale-billed hornbill, racquet-tailed roller and Eleonora's falcon. October to November and March to April are the best times to visit these areas.

Lake Victoria Rubondo Island National Park – this island has no roads and only one vehicle is allowed on the island with close to 400 species can be seen here, including fish eagle, heron, stork, ibises, cormorant, martial eagle, goliath heron, sacred ibis and kingfisher. The island serves as a breeding ground and stopover for fowl from east and Central Africa, Europe, and South America.

We have not mentioned the Udzungwa Mountains, the Selous Game Reserve or the Usambara Mountains all having a large number of migratory and endemic birds. Tanzania offers a friendly welcoming environment in a rather troubled continent ensuring its ever increasing popularity with overseas visitors.