Experience The Quest: Yukon Quest Sled Dog Race
Known as the ?Toughest Sled Dog Race in the World,? the annual Yukon Quest Sled Dog Race annually covers over 1,000 miles between the Yukon and Alaska. Alternating starting and finish lines between Whitehorse, Yukon Territory and Fairbanks, Alaska, this sled dog race is not for the faint of heart! The terrain is some of the most difficult on the planet and the demanding trail constantly keeps sled dogs and their mushers on their toes as potential disasters wait around every turn. This race takes place each February, with the date exact date wavering depending on the weather conditions of the brutal Yukon winter. The trail for the Yukon Quest Sled Dog Race is as historic as the sport itself. Originally part of the original Gold Rush trail and the Mail Delivery trails dating back to the turn of the Twentieth Century, the trail is steeped in lore. Most of this trail cuts through untouched wilderness, thought to be some of the last on the entire continent. Lasting approximately two weeks, the mushers enter the race with his or her 14 dog sled team, striving to reach Fairbanks first. The field is diverse and features entries from all over the world, but all the entries have one thing in common?they came to win! If you find yourself in the great state of Alaska or in the beautiful territory of the Yukon this February, do not miss an opportunity to attend the Yukon Quest Sled Dog Race! Individuals of all ages are sure to enjoy this unique experience and will remember seeing the running dogs, hearing the crunch of snow, and feeling the overall air of excitement for years to come. Whether you send off the competitors in the tiny town of Whitehorse in Canada?s Yukon territory or welcome the heroic mushers and sled dogs into lovely downtown Fairbanks, Alaska, there are many opportunities to see this race. Many of the race?s checkpoints are accessible by major roadways, allowing visitors from all corners of the globe to experience this race first hand. Discover what goes on behind the scenes at a major dog sled race. This race requires a whole crew of individuals to work diligently while the competitors fly over snow banks. From veterinarians to care for the sled dogs to doctors to care for the mushers to talented chefs to provide all competitors?both animal and human?with quality food, it truly takes a village for the event to get off the ground. Make a trip to Alaska to experience the nonstop action and excitement of the Yukon Quest Sled Dog Race! Bring the entire family to cheer on all the competitors and watch as one talented musher and his (or her!) sled dog team crosses into Fairbanks first to be declared victorious! A lifelong Alaskan, Ron Richards invites you to come and see Alaska. Consider visiting Alaska to experience unique adventures. A great way to see Alaska is by taking an affordable <a href="http://www.findanalaskacruise.com">Alaska Cruise</a>.
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A Guide To Traveling London Through King?s Cross Station
For visiting London, proximity to King?s Cross is the perfect location. An intersection of six tube lines, including the Northern, Picadilly, and Circle Lines, to name a few, can get you virtually anywhere from King?s Cross. King?s Cross is also a train terminal, in the case that you are planning to visit the north of the UK. But let?s not get off track and get back to seeing London via King?s Cross. London, the cultural melting pot that it is, offers amazing and varied shops of anything you could desire. Located near the major shopping zones of London, both commercial and artisan, King?s Cross is a convenient place for a shopping tour in London. The city is also a magnet for great and creative minds, as is well known by all the thinkers, writers and artists who both came to and from London. The wide range of museums and galleries reflects this intellectual breeding ground, and again, King?s Cross is a skip, hop and a jump away from many of these world-class museums. Less conventional tours to start from King?s Cross could include a round of the city?s parks, exploring the wide web of the tube itself, or the nearby nightlife hotspots. So, whether it?s shopping, rich culture, or any fun explorations that you?re after, King?s Cross will guide you there quickly and efficiently. For the shoppers! Have an early and hearty breakfast (you will need the energy) and put yourself on the Northern Line, heading for Camden Town, where you will find open air markets selling art, crafts, clothes, accessories and much more. It?s best to spend time here in the morning, as the area isn?t the safest at night. After you?ve stocked up on original craft gifts at the market, head back to your hotel, drop them off, and back on the tube! Via the Picadilly Line, head towards Covent Garden, a famous indoor market, and the surrounding area, full of boutiques, shops, and nice cafes. This picturesque market makes a nice lunch stop, with some cozy restaurants nearby. Picadilly Circus comes next: very commercialized, with many well-known brand stores. Picadilly is a fun place to return to at night, as the lights and pubs draw partiers to them like moths to the flame! Head on to Knightsbridge to see the world famous Harrod?s Department store. After this detour, it?s on to Oxford Circus to join the crowded throng admiring and buying the riches of Oxford Street, which is equivalent to New York?s Fifth Ave, a street of fancy department stores interspersed with chic shopping boutiques. If your spending needs are still not satiated, check out other markets, such as Portobello, or just by walking through London, you will find hidden gems of stores throughout the city. If, however, Oxford Street sums up the shopping day nicely for you, head back into the Oxford Circus tube, and the Victoria Line will conveniently take you right back to King?s Cross. For the culture seeker, you will start your day heading in the opposite direction of the shopper. Head south on the Picadilly Line to Russell Square, and just a few blocks south of the shady square is the British Museum. After your explorations, you may also enjoy Covent Garden for its history and theater ? check out the listings as they may draw you back in the evening. Nearby is Trafalgar Square, home of the National Gallery. From here, continue on to Green Park, and gasp at the size and beauty of Buckingham Palace. Changing of the Guard takes place nearby, so check the season?s schedule if you are interested. Slide down the Jubilee Line to Southwark, and enjoy the neighboring Tate Modern and Globe Theatre. Make your way back north of the river to Tower Hill, and explore London?s Tower. Take the Circle line back to King?s Cross to conclude the cultural loop. The adventurer who wants to learn the city by randomly coming across the interesting things may enjoy traveling from park to park, always great for people watching and discovering the wide variety of London?s inhabitants. Regents, Hyde, Green, and St. James Parks are the main ones, each with distinctive personalities. The Tube itself is extremely interesting, and it?s worth reading the entertaining advertisements of the tube, listen to some talented and not-so-talented musicians, pick out who the tourists are and who the natives are? the tube can be really enjoyable during your voyage. Take advantage of being in this unique London sub world! King?s Cross is also nearby to Leicester Square and Picadilly, both popular night out areas. Or try traveling round Circle line and seeing how many pubs you can manage to stop at? after which, see if you manage to find your way back to King?s Cross on this concentric line! King?s Cross, recently made famous through Harry Potter?s platform 9 3/4, is more than a fictitious train platform. It?s a station that literally will get you anywhere in London (and beyond) very conveniently. If you?re visiting London to shop, to learn its culture, or just to explore it for face value, King?s Cross is the best starting and ending point. You will get to where you need to go quickly, and at the end of the long day, you won?t have to wait long to be back at your London home, sweet home. This article was written by Pat Stevens with support from The Jesmond Dene Hotel, an inviting bed and breakfast conveniently located in close proximity to King?s Cross station. To learn more about how bed and breakfasts can add to your travel experience, please visit <a href="http://www.jesmonddenehotel.co.uk/" title="http://www.jesmonddenehotel.co.uk/" target="_blank">http://www.jesmonddenehotel.co.uk/</a>
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The Unspoilt Wilderness in Paphos, Cyprus
I have lived in Paphos for a few years now and after the euphoria of living in the sun, going to the beach, seeing the sea every day and watching fabulous coastal sunsets every night, had settled to an acceptable level, I then discovered that Paphos has so much more to offer. Don’t get me wrong, all of the above still excite me beyond belief and the Med lifestyle is all it is cracked up to be, but behind the mask of simply being a tourist attraction, offering all that the discerning holiday maker could be looking for, there is another face to Paphos. Not many visitors will see or experience this face because they are taking a break from their daily lives and looking for fabulous beaches, water sports, great restaurants and total relaxation. But, I have found out what is going on in the background. Cyprus is an extremely interesting place for nature lovers. Paphos is home to a very rare and very shy wild sheep called the Moufflon that has magnificent curving horns. These heraldic animals, although roaming wild, can be seen at the forestry station in Paphos forest (Stavros tis Psokas). Another delight is that the island has visiting Loggerhead and Green turtles that come ashore to nest every year on the sandy beaches around Paphos. These marine turtles are strictly protected and if you do decide to venture further afield than the local sunbathing beaches and seek out the areas of unspoilt wilderness, you may come across frames on the beach which warn you of a turtle nest and kindly ask you not to disturb. I have also found that many University students studying marine biology spend their holiday time here helping out with the research into these fabulous marine creatures. What a holiday! Cyprus is also heaven for bird watchers. The island has become a stop over for many migratory birds on their travels from Europe to Africa during the autumn and back again in spring. More than 300 different bird species have been seen and recorded and the island has two endemic species which are often seen in the coastal regions, which are the Cyprus Pied Wheatear and the Cyprus Warbler. One of the islands larger varieties of bird is now very much under threat and conservationists battle hard to save it from extinction. The Griffin Vulture was once a common sight on the island but now their numbers have dwindled to less than 50. So to those of you that have visited before and enjoyed your summer holidays in Cyprus, why not try an autumn or sprint visit. Most of the tourists have returned home and the beaches once again become the domain of our wildlife. You will of course have to make an effort as not all these areas are easily accessed and the areas around Paphos, namely the Akamas Peninsula, can only be accessed by four wheel drive. This will be a unique experience that you will take home and treasure. Imagine walking a beach with no sun beds, no shops, no noise apart from the surf and often nobody else but you! Enjoy the fresh air, the scenery and the forests and keep an eye out for the elusive Moufflon. Then, before leaving our wonderful wilderness find yourselves a comfortable place on the rocks or lay that blanket on the beach and experience some of the best sunsets in the Mediterranean. Paphos behind the mask is a memorable place!Lynda Burke owns and operates the website <a href="http://www.rent-a-villa-in-paphos.com">www.rent-a-villa-in-paphos.com</a> and now lives and works in Paphos, Cyprus.
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