October 2020 – wilburys

Grand Canyon Rafting Tours Make Father’s Day Really Special!

Oct 20, 2020 wilburys

Looking for a great way to treat dad this Father's Day? Surprise him with a trip to the Grand Canyon to take a smooth-water rafting tour of the Colorado River! That sounds like fun for everyone.

The water in this portion of the river are quite calm and there are no whitewater dangers, so this means you can bring along kids as young as 4 on your trip.

These tours are available at the West Rim and the South Rim. The West Rim is just 120 miles from Las Vegas, so it is a good choice if you will be staying on the Strip. If you're staying in Flagstaff, Grand Canyon Village, or another city in Arizona, the South Rim is more convenient.

Raft Tours From Las Vegas

The West Rim float tour begins with a helicopter tour down to the floor of the canyon, something you'll miss out on if you take a South Rim tour. Next, you hop on a bus for a short ride to the base of Hoover Dam. That's where the water portion of your tour begins, and you'll meander along the clear, smooth waters of the river for 11 miles.

Along the way, you'll pass through dramatic Black Canyon. Local wildlife will be all around you, and a lot of folks on float tours are lucky enough to spot bighorn sheep clinging to the canyon's cliffs. Willow Beach is the end of the line, but it's a nice spot for you and Dad to take a dip.

Raft Tours At The South Rim

The South Rim is often considered the "real" Grand Canyon, and it is the perfect backdrop for a fun rafting experience. The standard trip begins with a motor coach ride to Page, Arizona, where Glen Canyon Dam is located. At the base of the dam, you'll board your pontoon boat for a scenic 15-mile cruise to historic Lee's Ferry.

You can opt for a tour upgrade that includes plane transportation to Page, and a 4x4 ride through the slot canyons in Antelope Canyon. After that, the river portion of the tour carries on as usual.

The trip will knock Dad's socks off, especially when you get to beautiful Horseshoe Bend and its red sandstone butte and turquoise waters. And just wait until you see the wildlife ? deer, California condors, bighorn sheep and wild burros.

Everything is Included!

These tours are all-inclusive so charges for equipment, river guide, park fees, and taxes are paid for in advance. The tours even include lunch. You'll want to dress appropriately too, wear a shirt with long sleeves, a hat with a brim, sunglasses, river sandals, and sunscreen. Don't forget your swimsuit and a change of clothes since you won't be able to resist taking a swim in the cool river water.

Summing Up ...

Father's Day is coming up fast (June 15th). All the raft tours of the Grand Canyon operate on a regular schedule that day. It is a good idea to book your tour now because tours in the summer, especially on holidays, fill up fast. To be on the safe side, I wouldn't wait to book much past a week ahead.

You'll get the lowest price on your tour when you book online. When you buy your tour directly from the tour operator's website, you get their low Internet rate!

Top Five Fun Activities to do while in Beijing

Oct 13, 2020 wilburys

Aside from being China’s Capital city, Beijing is also the heart of Chinese Culture. No doubt, this is what makes this city such a magnet for tourists, both international, and those from local Cities like Hong Kong. From dizzying skyscrapersto historically revered monuments like the Great Wall of China, you can never run out of things to see here.

So,if you’re toying with the idea of flying from Hong Kong to Beijing, here’s a of top five fun activities you must fit into your schedule! And again, you might want to book that flight from here as well;

https://www.cathaypacific.com/destinations/en_HK/flights-from-hong-kong-to-beijing

‘Trespass’ into the Forbidden City

As soon as your flight touches down in Beijing, the Forbidden City ought to be your first stop. The well-preserved Chinese palace hems in treasures that will steal your heart at first sight. Once a home to Chinese powerful emperors, its massive complex attracts millions of visitors annually. We can accredit this to the fully immersive Chinese architecture, and hands down, the glorious tales of the emperors’ personal lives.

You’ll also get to understand what inspired the name, “Forbidden City” and why it isn’t forbidden anymore.

Mingle with Locals at The Temple of Heaven.

Are you curious about the Chinese’ mystical religious heritage? Everyone is. The temple of Heaven, widely known as the altar from where 22 Chinese emperors (of Ming and Qing dynasties) worshipped the heavens, is a great starting point.

Fun fact: This is the only ancient Chinese City built away from the axis of Beijing. Also, Its size eclipses that of the Forbidden city, by up to four times!

If you’d love a peek into the Beijing Locals’ outdoor morning rituals (including exercises and playing chess), you should have booked your flight by now.

Enjoy the Spectacular Views of The Great Wall of China.

If you’ve set foot into a History class, you’re certainly familiar with the Great Wall of China. Once built to protect the Chinese people from the Mongolian invaders, it has found its way to the heart of many tourists around the world. This wall holds rich historical value as the longest wall in history, and as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Besides that, it offers an aesthetic night view that is to die for.

Granted, you won’t be the only visitor taking selfies and snapping every little thing in the Badaling and Mutianyu sections. Buckle up for fun, adventure, lofty views, and everything camping!

Enjoy the Summer Palace.

The summer palace is another fun place you can’t afford to miss in Beijing. Hailed as the most preserved imperial garden in the world, it expresses Chinese garden design brilliantly. Rarely will you come across plants, hills, architecture, and lakes co-existing as peacefully as they do here.

Of course, summer is the best time to soak in all the goodness of this place. If you have some fancy, walking shoes at your disposal, this is the place to show them off. The visit here involves a modest amount of walking and boat rides. Also, when you eventually fly from Hong Kong to Beijingmake sure you visit the Summer palace’ Kunming lake, Longevity lake, and the Opera recital area.

Cruise local lakes and visit local parks.

If you loved the immaculate parks in Hong-Kong, Beijing is no different. The city sheathes parks from where you can reconnect with nature and take a breather from the bustling city life. Particularly, Chaoyang and Beihai parks are a favorite among many.

A snow park during winterand water back during summer, Chaoyang blends into all seasons. Additionally, there’s a ton of activities to immerse yourself into while at Chaoyang park. You could huddle up with other travellers and hop onto the grand party bike or rent a boat and enjoy a fun cruise.

Talking about cruising, we have three man-made lakes at the heart of Beijing for this purpose. All three are collectively referred to as Shichahai. Get to enjoy a leisurely ride around the lakes while sipping sweet beers and snacking on Chinese delicacies.

Those are out top picks for the 5 fun activities and places to visit in Beijing. Book your flight to Beijing tickets at affordable prices today and get to immerse yourself in all these fun activities!