Cape Town is a lovely city. The central business district is quite picturesque especially with Table Mountain as its backdrop. There are many diverse places of interest and the people are welcoming and vibrant.

The beaches around the city are world class and there is a section called the platinum mile where the rich and famous often come to play in the sun. This is especially true in the case of Camps Bay and Clifton first, second, third and fourth beaches. The majesty of Table Mountain serves to frame this beauty perfectly.

Places like Simonstown and the southern suburbs beaches at Muizenberg add that rustic and European feel that draws in visitors by the thousands each year. Further along from Simonstown is the Cape Point Nature Reserve where the currents of two great oceans collide. The nature reserve holds many indigenous animals and plants that are not found anywhere else in the world.

For those more discerning guests that visit the city there are stunning wine farms to visit near areas such as Franschoek and Stellenbosch. The French Hugenots settled in this area when they escaped from Europe hundreds of years ago, bringing with them the knowledge of viticulture and through generations perfecting the wine making process. Today these wines compete on the international market and win many awards and prizes for their phenomenal quality.

For a more cultural and wholly authentic experience tourists may embark on a township tour. These tours depict the vast and diverse culture that exists in South Africa today. Tour guides take visitors into the townships where they are exposed to entrenched customs and rituals that are inherent in everyday life for the people living there.

Towards the end of the day when everything is settling and as the working day comes to a close many people can be found enjoying the peace and tranquility of the setting sun. Cape Town offers visitors amazingly spectacular sunsets that accompanied by the surroundings leave one in awe of the beauty that exists in this part of the world. A well stocked picnic basket along with right company will bring a perfect end to another perfect day in Cape Town.

Cape Town is beyond doubt one of the most prized possessions in the African continent’s chest of treasures.

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Are you someone that likes to stay active? If so, you will love the many opportunities for activity that are available in the Austin area. Whether you want to get closer to nature or you simply want an opportunity to enjoy some of your favorite sports, there are plenty of opportunities for activity in Austin. Here is a look at 18 great things you can do while staying active in Austin.

* Take a swim at the Barton Spring Pool. Barton Spring Pool is a favorite place for locals to take a dip. Even better, it is always open and is always a comfortable 68 degrees.

* Enjoy water sports along the shore of Lake Travis, then refuel at one of the many nearby picnic areas and restaurants.

* Climb the 99 steps it takes to reach the top of Mt. Bonnell and then soak in the scenery, as this is one of the best vantage points in Austin.

* Visit Town Lake and participate in one of the many recreational offerings – it is a true paradise for those that love activity.

* Climb up the stairs of the University of Texas clock tower and enjoy another great view of this landmark, which is finally re-opened after 25 years of being closed.

* Enjoy a game of Frisbee Golf at one of the three available courses, including Bartholomew Park, Zilker Park, and Peace Park.

* Hike the trails that meander through the Umlauf Sculpture Gardens as you look at the 130 different works created by Charles Umlauf.

* Take a walk, job, or bike ride along any of the 10.1 miles of hiking and biking trails available throughout Town Lake.

* Paddle along Town Lake in a paddleboat or canoe

* Play a round of golf at one of the many private and public courses available in Austin

* Take a bicycle ride on Loop 360 as you take in the beautiful sites

* Play water sports at Lake Travis

* Take a lesson in sailing at Windy Point, located on Lake Travis

* Spend the day mountain biking or swimming in Emma’s Long Metropolitan Park at Lake Austin

* Enter one of the 5K or 10K runs that are held in Austin every year

* Play a game of tennis at one of Austin’s numerous public courts

* In-line skate or ride your bicycle along the Veloway, which goes through 3.1 miles of beautiful Hill Country

* Bike, hike, swim, fish and more at the McKinney Falls State Park

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With so much happening in the city it is easy to fill a day in Buenos Aires. Hopefully this is not the only day you have to explore this unique destination, but one of many.

Spanish Crash Course for Urban Adventures There is no better way to increase those local experiences than by understanding a little of the language. Join this crash course Spanish class to learn the travel basics and common words and phrases. The final part of course involves you talking to shop owners as you are responsible for ordering the food for the group’s picnic lunch. A fun, entertaining and highly educational way to spend your day.

Buenos Aires by Bike The roads are flat and with the new bike paths touring the city by bike is safe. Accompanied by expert local guides bike tours travel along back streets and on segregated from the traffic paths travelling to many sightseeing highlights. Join locals in the parks of Palermo with a pedal around the lakes, or pick up a bargain in Chinatown before sitting for a well deserved drink in Plaza Serrano

Walking Tour Lace up your walking shoes and hit the pavement. Pick up a free map, take a guide book or simple walk the streets with no direction. Make sure to look up as some of the best architecture in South America is dotted around central Buenos Aires. The ornate carvings on turn of the century buildings are detailed and deserve a photo or two. Perhaps begin your exploration in the city centre before heading out to the colourful neighbourhoods of Recoleta, Palermo and San Telmo with their cobblestone streets and local plazas.

Hop On / Hop Off Bus If this is your only day to see as much of Buenos Aires as possible, try the tourist double decker hop on / hop off bus. Leaving every 30 minutes from Florida Street it includes audio commentary so you can learn a little about the sights as you are driven around. If an area is of particular interest you can always get off the bus, have a walk around and pick up the next one in 30 minutes.

Tango As the sun sinks and the evening begins it is the time to try a tango lesson. This is a great way to gain an appreciation for this unique Argentine dance style and an even better introduction if you want to dance away your night at a milonga, a local dance hall. If you don’t think you have the moves take a seat in a theatre and enjoy tango show, performed by expert dancers.

It will be a jammed packed day so maybe the best thing to do is to extend your stay in Buenos Aires and take the time to really explore the sights and hidden gems.

Learn Spanish in Buenos Aires at Vamos Spanish Academy. with Spanish language courses tailored to your needs.
Join an expert guide from Buenos Aires Urban Adventures on a bike tours to explore the sights in Buenos Aires.

Venice is the greatest architectural repository in the world. All six sestiere of the city contain palaces and churches in the three most impressive styles Europe has produced: Gothic, Renaissance and the baroque. What makes Venice even more remarkable is just how many of these buildings there are. Palaces are crammed against each other and churches appear around every corner. However, Venice is also a city of squares (campI) which means that buildings are displayed to best effect in a series of leafy outdoor “rooms” that crop up one after the other. There are no long roads in Venice unless you count the Canal Grande, the city’s high street, but even that curves like a snake so that new vistas are continually revealed. The canals of Venice divide the city into many manageable chunks and turn what might otherwise be a narrow dark alleyway into a luminous border down which float shiny black gondolas full of camera- wielding tourists.

The city of Venice occupies a special place in history. It was the first great republic since Rome. It had an elected head of state (il Doge) and an insatiable appetite for both making money and then spending it on ostentatious decoration. At its zenith, it had the most powerful navy in the world and a virtual monopoly on European trade with the Orient. As it declined, Venice became a byword for decadence, a city-state addicted to gambling, sex and intrigue. It was always stylish even if it wasn’t always beautiful. Nowadays, even the scruffiest campus is still distinctly and proudly Venetian. Its citizens remain in their hearts a truly independent people.

In 1797, this ancient Republic was dissolved by Napoleon, in 1815 their city was handed over to Austria and in 1866 they were absorbed into the new kingdom of Italy. But the mindset of Venice remains entirely Venetian. The people speak their own version of Italian and they resent interference from the mainland. Recently Venice’s first female gondolier started working for a hotel. There was an outcry among the other intensely chauvinistic gondolieri, not so much because she was a woman, but because she was not from Venice. For the traveller, Venice offers far more than one trip can achieve. You could easily visit ten times before you see all that is to be seen, and even longer to work out how to get from one place to another on foot. Venice is a maze, but one jam-packed with amazing treasures.

Fortunately, certain essentials can be covered in a day. Piazza San Marco, the Basilica, the Campanile, the Ducal Palace, the view across the Basin of San Marco to San Giorgio and a trip to Caffe Florian are all in close proximity to each other. Then the real fun begins as you follow a route, decide to explore everything there is to see in one area, use the public transport system to hop between islands in the lagoon or work your way through a personal must-see list of churches, palazzi, scuole and museums. At every stage of the day Venice will tempt you with delicious possibilities, whether you want to snack, drink or enjoy a long meal, the way Venetians do.

This is a city that appreciates the good things of life. Simple rules will help you enjoy this part of your visit more. Avoid restaurants where waiters invite you in. Avoid eating or drinking anywhere along the main shopping thoroughfares (the Mercerie) and be aware that if you choose anywhere picturesque to eat that you’ll be paying for the view. That said, you will find that certain views are worth the extra euros. It would be a crime not to have coffee in Piazza San Marco at least once and the view along the over- priced Riva del Vin is worth the mark-up. The legendary Harry’s Bar is small and expensive but it has that certain quality, to be found in very few places, of being something really special. Much the same rule applies to shopping. The further from the main thoroughfares, the better the price, but you may want to buy a carnival mask from a stall on the Riva for the thrill of having done so.

Carnival (Carnevale) is one of the high points of the Venetian year. This city-wide party is a gorgeous re-creation of 18th- century Venice that should certainly be experienced once, but the city in February is inevitably crowded and over-priced. Summer is also crowded and prices go up during the International Film Festival and the Biennale, so think about visiting Venice out of season. Whenever you go, you will find a city that is unforgettable, one that has been drawing tourists since the Middle Ages and one of the few cities in the world that genuinely deserves to be called unique.

Tour Venice online and learn about the great city of Venice by visiting http://www.GuidedTourVenice.com.

Tour Winnipeg online and learn about the great city of Winnipeg by visiting http://www.GuidedTourWinnipeg.com.

Antalya has become one of the most popular holiday resorts of Turkey with crystal clear waters on the Mediterranean coast. Name of the city is coming from Pergamene King Attalos, who is the founder of the city. Antalya city center lies between cliffs on the south coast and Taurus mountains on the north. Antalya has an ideal climate throughout the year, however it can be very hot in Summers, especially in August.

Old city center is situated within the old Roman defense walls. Roman walls surround the ancient Antalya harbour. Ancient harbour is one of the symbols of the city with its historic atmosphere. Full-day and half-day boat trips are available from old harbour. It is possible to have fascinating views of Duden waterfalls in boat trips. Beaches and bays of Antalya coast will also be explored with boat trips. Furthermore full-day boat trips offer many entertainments.

Kaleici (Old Castle) region lies between old harbour and uzun carsi street and surrounded by Roman defense walls. There exists many old houses restored as hotels and pensions. Historical atmosphere of Kaleici and old houses reflect the life style of old city. Many souvenir and antique carpet shops can be found on the narrow streets of Kaleici. Most of the historical structures of Antalya like watch tower, fluted minaret, Hadrian’s gate, broken minaret are situated in Kaleici.

Konyaalti beach is on the west of Antalya and very close to city center. It’s mostly pebbles, rather than sand, however beach is well maintained and clean. Behind Konyaalti Beach, there are some of the best hotels of Antalya. The beach is mostly preferred by locals in Antalya. Cafes, showers, sun umbrellas, beach chairs are available for a small fee. Lara beach on the other hand, is situated on the east of city. Lara beach is long beach with fine and darkish sand. All beach services including activities are also available in Lara beach. Lower Duden Waterfalls reach to Mediterranean sea at Lara. The beach is about 10 km from city center. Dolmus (small bus) can be taken to reach Lara.

In Antalya, you shouldn’t miss to visit Antalya Archeological Museum, located in Konyaalti region. It is one of the biggest archeological collections in Turkey. There are 12 halls and many exhibitions. Other than collections, there is a cafe and a bookshop in the museum.

Ali Yilmaz works as tourist guide in Turkey and is an author in Antalya Holidays