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Creating Memories on Vacation: Helpful tips

While vacation may be the perfect time to relax, if you’re going to invest a lot of money into your next vacation, it’s also important to focus on making the most of your trip by trying to create as many special memories as possible. Especially if you plan on spending your vacation with loved ones such as a romantic partner, your family, or a group of friends.

Be open to being spontaneous:

Even if you’re the type of individual who loves to plan out every moment of their vacation in advance, if you’re not open to being spontaneous, you could miss out on making memories of a lifetime. For example, while you may want to research local restaurants in advance, you may walk past a family-run restaurant that looks really busy and that is off the beaten tourist track which may offer the most authentic, delicious food in the city that you’re visiting. Or you may end up making friends who invite you to try out a fun activity with them such as beach volleyball, wine tasting, rock climbing, or taking a dance class. Alternatively, you may happen to walk past a local festival or fair, which you’ll be able to explore.

Purchase hand made souvenirs that will remind you of your vacations:

While you may not want to spend a small fortune on souvenirs, it’s a lovely idea to purchase at least one special, hand-made souvenir from every country that you visit. As every time that you look at your carefully chosen souvenirs, you’ll be reminded of the day that you brought it. For example, if you have a custom shirt made for you at a tailor in Thailand, you’ll remember your trip to Thailand. Or if you buy a Venetian mask in Venice, you’ll always remember your time in bella Italia.

Make sure that you have a portable battery for your phone:

As the last thing that you want to have happen on vacation is for your smart phone to run out of battery while you’re exploring a new destination, it’s a wise idea to make sure to pack a portable battery pack for your smart phone. So that when your phone only has 10% battery left, you’ll be able to quickly charge your smart phone back up to 100% battery. Which will allow you to continue taking photos and videos of your adventures. Which will help you look back at the special memories which you made overseas. Even if you plan on going camping, you can purchase solar-powered portable batteries, that you’ll find convenient.

Sign up for an online journal:

There are many online journals that will allow you to upload digital diary entries and photos that you’ll be able to look back on for years to come. All you’ll need to start writing your first diary entry is an account that is linked to your email. So you won’t have to worry about losing access to your online travel journal if you forget your password. As you’ll easily be able to reset your password.

So if you don’t want to forget the incredible memories which you’ll make over a lifetime of travel and adventure, it’s well worth remembering all of the useful hints and tips that are listed above.

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Everything that you need to know about Cortes Bank

Cortes Bank is an island which is located off the coast of California which is well worth reading about as there have been several shipwrecks next to Cortes Bank as well as a publicized treasure hunt. To discover a few fun facts about Cortes Bank and its history, simply continue reading.

It was originally charted on maps as San Juan Island:

Historically Cortes Bank was charted on maps as San Juan Island.

It is a shallow sea mount:

If you’re not sure what a shallow sea mount is, a shallow sea mount is a barely submerged island. Although at various points of history, Cortes Bank was less submerged by water and was more of a traditional island.

Bishop Rock Cortes Bank:

Today there is a buoy that warns seafarers about the location of Bishop Rock, in order to avoid collisions with the rock. If you’re curious about how the rock got its name, it was named after the Stillwell S. Bishop which was a ship that crashed into the infamous rock back in 1855. Luckily the crew of the Stillwell S. Bishop was able to mend their ship in order to continue sailing on to San Fransisco in California.

A widespread treasure hunt took place on Cortes Bank:

In 1957, a treasure hunt led by Mel Fisher took place on Cortes Bank. As Fisher was certain that there was a wreck of a lost Spanish galleon lying on the seafloor, close to Bishop Rock. The treasure hunt was unsuccessful much to the disappointment of Mel Fisher and his supporters.

In 1966 two entrepreneurs tried to turn the island into a constitutional monarchy:

In 1966 two creative entrepreneurs tried to turn Cortes Bank into their own constitutional monarchy, which they planned to name Abalonia. However, the duo’s dream of running their own constitutional monarchy on Cortes Bank, ultimately never eventuated.

Historically surfers would try to surf off Bishop’s Rock:

Tragically many surfers almost lost their lives trying to surf next to Bishop’s Rock. As an example, in 1973 a world famous surfer Ilima Kalama who was the father of professional surfer Dave Kalama almost lost his life in a fishing boat next to Bishop’s Rock. As he tried to use his fishing boat to get close to the rock to go surfing.

Today surfers still try to surf off Bishop’s Rock despite the obvious dangers. For example, back in 2004 Sean Collins who visited Bishop’s Rock with Billabong Odyssey counted 12 boats in the water and over 40 surfers.

It featured in the 2015 film Point Break:

Bishop’s Rock was one of the locations where the 2015 remake of the Point Break film was filmed. So if you want to check out Bishop’s Rock in a blockbuster movie, it’s well worth watching the 2015 version of Point Break.

In conclusion, if you enjoy discovering exciting facts about the Channel Islands which are located off the coast of California, hopefully, you enjoyed learning a few fun facts about Cortes Bank.

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The Best Travel Spots in America

Whether you’re fascinated by the US’ history, would love to see a natural wonder with your own eyes, or are keen to visit the birthplace of modern-day surfing, simply continue reading to learn about the 3 best travel spots in the US.

Salem, Massachusetts:

Salem which is located in Massachusetts is best known for being the location of the infamous Salem witch trials which took place in 1692. During which numerous locals were executed for being deemed witches. If you’re fascinated by the history of Salem, you’ll be able to visit Witch House, a 17th-century abode that once served as the home of one of the judges who deliberated on the witch trials. If you’re brave and don’t scare easily you can also choose to book a haunted tour of Salem.

However, Salem has a lot more to offer than haunted tours and witches and is also home to the inspiration for one of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novels “The House of Seven Gables”. The House of Seven Gables, for which the novel was named is a colonial mansion that was built back in 1668 and actually predates the Salem witch trials.

Salem is also well worth visiting as it’s a charming, picturesque seaside town and is home to the oldest candy store in the United States, Ye Olde Pepper Companie, which specializes in serving old-fashioned and novelty fudge and candy.

Niagara Falls State Park, New York:

Niagara Falls is one of the world’s most impressive natural wonders and is well worth ticking off your bucket list. If you choose to view the world-famous falls from the United States, you’ll get to explore the oldest state park in the country, Niagara Falls State Park. Which is home to the American Falls, part of Horseshoe Falls, and the lesser-known Bridal Veil Falls. What you may not know about Niagara Falls State Park is that it has a lot more to offer than waterfalls alone and offers miles of hiking trails that are just waiting to be explored!

Oahu, Hawaii,

The beautiful island of Oahu is the most visited island in the state of Hawaii and is home to the most famous surf beach in the world, Waikiki Beach. Which is regarded as the birthplace of modern-day surfing. In fact, if you visit Waikiki you’ll see an impressive statue of the godfather of surfing Duke Kahanamoku.

If you don’t fancy a surf lesson, you’ll still be able to taste fresh pineapple Dole whip at the Dole plantation, visit Kualoa Ranch where countless movies and TV episodes have been filmed, tour the only royal palace in the United States, snorkel in a protected reef at Hanauma Bay and shop up a storm at the largest outdoor mall in the United States, the Ala Moana Center.

So no matter whether you’d prefer to learn to surf in the birthplace of modern-day surfing, to see one of the natural wonders of the world, or to tour Salem, it’s well worth picking one of the destinations listed above as your next travel destination!

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