Panama Beach, Florida

Panama Beach, Florida is another popular destination for a beach vacation. Panama Beach is experiencing explosive growth. So, you may take a vacation there, and also decide to stay in Panama Beach. Take a look at this YouTube video on the growth in Panama Beach, Florida.

 

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This week was a bust, so I am going to discuss stress and its impact on weight loss goals. I’m sure that many of you would say that you are emotional eaters. I definitely am an emotional eater, and I tend to eat junk food when I am stressed. Admitting that weakness is the first step to a solution.

Today was a particularly stressful day. The paperwork was overwhelming. I had to drive downtown to get a vital document and when I returned with it the person who desperately requested the document had left (so I made the trip for nothing). I was under deadline pressure; I had to put huge files in order in a few hours and I was afraid that some of the files may have been incomplete. A co-worker brought a dish of chocolate candy Hershey Kisses. Another co-worker brought a bag of chocolate mint cookies.

After a few hours of a major chocolate binge, I had a sugar high out of this world. I almost called it a day and went to go get a fast food burger and fries — but I didn’t go that far. I let my sugar high wear off and went ate fish and cauliflower for dinner.

I have been jogging about three days a week and I know that I have lost inches because I can fit into jeans that are a size smaller than my size. I still need to work on my overall health and reduce body fat, though. I wrote this scenario to let you know that we all have bad days, and that you shouldn’t beat yourself up or compound the problem. When you recognize that you are stress, get away from any bad foods or take a break from the situation. I wish that I’d done that. Don’t give in to temptation. If you do slip, learn from the experience and move on. Don’t repeat your mistake. Have faith that you will reach your goal. Meditate and pray on it.

I am now in week four the the Couch to 5k Challenge. I jog for five minutes and three minutes and walk short distance. It’s been a difficult week, though, and I have gotten winded before the five minutes are up for the run. I’m still working on and will succeed! I will have a bikini body.

Here’s the scenario. The night before my trip to Mexico, I cut my finger while making dinner. I put on a bandage and everything was fine, or so I thought. Fast forward to the next day. I was in the airport, pulling my luggage along. I was in a hurry and hit my finger on something. It started to bleed again, badly. That would have been fine, except that I didn’t have a new bandage on the wound. So, I rushed to the restroom to get some tissue and put pressure on the cut. I then had to hurry out in search of a bandage. I asked about 15 million people for a bandage. Well, I asked people who looked liked they were somewhat knowledgeable about the whereabouts of a first aid kit in the airport. I was directed to about two restaurants in the Atlanta Airport. They didn’t have first aid kits! Finally, a young airport worker found and brought me a bandage. The moral of this lesson is: You don’t know when a slight emergency may occur, always carry bandages with you to the airport.

Medication
I’ve been in the situation where I’ve tried to get my medication from an out-of-state doctor because I forgot to bring my medication with me. There was a whole lot of drama, especially when I realized that my medication was difficult to get in the stat I was visiting. Please don’t forget your medicine, vitamins and anything that keeps you healthy while traveling.

Traveling to Third World Countries
If you are traveling to Third World Countries are likely to need shots or pills to prevent illness. For example, if you are visiting the continent of Africa, you may need to begin malaria medication before your trip. You may also need a tetanus shot. Did you know that there are doctors who specialize in travel? Visit a travel clinic to find out which medications or inoculations you made need for your trip. Do you have advice about keeping safe during a trip? Let me know by commenting!

The Florida Keys are tiny islands off the Miami coast. The largest island is called Key Largo, and it is the closest to Miami (about 45 minutes away). Key West is the farthest away from Miami and it takes a couple of hours to get there from Miami. A new bridge, the Jewfish Creek Bridge, has opened. The bridge enhances safety (driving to the Keys was a daunting experience). The new bridge is a sigh of relief to travelers who drove the stretch from mainland Florida to the Keys.

Key Largo differs from boisterous Key West. Key Largo is more like a family beach. You can vacation island-style without being totally secluded. There is a Walmart on Key Largo and the Walmart has swimsuits, bikinis, beach towels and logo items that you’d find in the boutiques. Therefore, if you want to get souvenirs or if you forgot to pack something, you can always head out to the Wal-mart.

Key Largo has been called the diving capital of the world. Other attractions in Key Largo include Dolphin Watching, Sunset Cruises, the theater, water sports and cultural events. The John Pennekamp Camp is one of the most popular destinations in Key Largo. In addition to lying out on the public beaches there, you can take a tour of the mangroves or a glass bottom boat tour.

Water sports are a popular activity in Key Largo. You may parasail, jet ski, or go kayaking. Jacob’s Aquatic Center has a pool and waterslides for the family to enjoy. The three pool complex has fitness programs and scuba certification.

Accommodations in Key Largo include chains like the Hilton, Holiday Inn, Marriott, and Ramada to boutique resorts, like the Azul del Mar. There’s even a Travelodge in Key Largo.

Key Largo isn’t really the place to go to party hardy, but it’s a nice getaway for a relaxing vacation or fun with the family.

Here is a collection of great travel links that I discovered by stumbling on the web.

 

Top 50 Resources for Getting A Cheap Flight

This is an excellent article for all of us who want to travel but need dirt cheap tickets for cheap travel.

 

Sleeping in Airports

When you get those dirt cheap tickets, you may end up having to take a nap in the airport. I’ve missed connections, ended up on standby, and other issues. Sleeping in Airports would have come in handy.

 

Roadside America

This site has weird wonders from around the United States.

Traveling to Europe? Hostels offer an inexpensive alternative to hotels. This is where you want to go if you want to learn about cheap travel. Check out some of the Hostels of Europe.

 

Backpack Europe on a Budget

Get cheap travel tips and advice for traveling around Europe on a budget. This site has excellent travel tips.

 

Maporama

Anytime that you need a map, go to Maporama to help you navigate. There are maps, traffic information and itineraries in one spot. With fuel prices so high, you need to have a GPS or know where you want to go and exactly how to get there for cheap travel.

 

Best Places to Live

Find Your Spot by locating the best place in the world for you to live and visit.

 

Couch Surfing

Couch Surfing offers a new way to locate places to stay during your trip. You connect with people online through the communities, chat with them and make contacts so when you are ready to travel you have friends and maybe even housing during your trip. This is an ultimate link for cheap travel. Meet new friends and sleep on their couch!

 

1,000 Places to See Before You Die

The name of this link sort of says it all, but here are the top places that you should see (select some) before your time is ended on this beautiful planet. You never know when your time may come, so make plans and get out there!

 

25 Beautiful Places to See

If you are overwhelmed by the larger list, here’s a shorter one to work from. They are only suggestions.

Swing your clubs, get out and have fund during this annual tournament. The event will take place at the Club at Crested Butte near the Crested Butted Mountain Resort in Colorado on Friday, June 13. There will probably be a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m., however tee time will be assigned at 11:30 a.m.  A barbecue dinner will start at 11:30 a.m.

Here are full event details and where you can register. The event is part of the Annual Colorado Ski Country USA annual meeting. During the meeting, industry experts will speak out the environmental impact associated with the industry. Markets in the ski industry will also be discussed. Association members and non-members are invited to participate in the golf tournament and the annual meeting. 

My official weight is now 127 pounds. I’ve lost about 6 pounds so far! This is the fourth week of my quest to have a bikini body. I am still following the Couch to 5k plan and I am now on week four for that plan as well. So far, this week, I’ve been climbing the stairs in my home for morning exercise. I don’t want to run alone early in the morning in the dark. In the afternoon I jog or do cardio on the machines at Bally’s. Don’t get all excited. I just started this twice a day work-out schedule. Actually, I’m following Dr. Ian Smith’s Fat Smash Diet. You may know Dr. Ian Smith from the popular show, Celebrity Fit Club. The diet plan includes a daily work-out schedule, which is usually  about an hour a day, divided up in morning and afternoon sessions. The Extreme Fat Smash Diet can help you lose 12 pounds in three weeks. I certainly feel better, more grounded, since I began eating the foods on the Extreme Fat Smash Diet plan.  Here is what I did today:

5:50 a.m. 20 minutes of stair climbing on real stairs in my home

6:15 a.m. Meal 1: Oatmeal, pure fruit juice (not from concentrate)

9:45 a.m. Snack 1: Baby Carrots (about 10)

12:35 a.m. Meal 2: Chicken, two servings of vegetables, a half of a cup of rice

3:35 a.m. Snack 2: Baby Carrots (about 20) on the way home from work, driving

5 p.m. Meal 3: Beans, brown rice, one serving of vegetables

Exercise:  jogging on a treadmill and running on a cross trainer at Bally’s for 35 minutes

Listen to Dr. Ian Smith talk about his Extreme Fat Smash Diet, the 50 million pound challenge and drama on Celebrity Fit Club.

You may have heard of the movie, Sleepless in Seattle. With so much to do and see in Seattle you’ll stay busy if you suffer from insomnia. Thank goodness that Seattle has a good transportation system. There is a free bus system downtown as well as trolleys, a monorail and the Seattle Waterfront Taxi. While in Seattle, remember that Avenues go from north to south and Streets are from east to west.  Use My Neighborhood, a mapping system to help you travel in Seattle’s neighborhoods.

The Convention and Visitor’s Bureau also has a map of downtown Seattle. Some places that you would want to visit in Seattle include:

• The Chinatown International District featuring an Asian museum, market and historical areas. The district is south of downtown, anchored by Yesler Way and Dearborn Streets. The Chinatown International District has Uwajimaya, one of the largest Asian markets in the United States. Chinatown Discovery Tours provides an extensive tour of Chinatown for both newcomers and natives.
• The University of Washington Arboretum, 230 acres with an internationally recognized plant collection.
• Pike Place Market, the oldest farmer’s market in the United States
• Science Fiction Museum Hall of Fame has artifacts from some names that you may recognize from the science fiction genre. A small sample of the science fiction geniuses that you’ll see represented include: Isaac Asimov, H.G. Wells, George Lucas, Gene Rodenberry, and Steven Spielberg. Imagine what you’ll find in Seattle.
• The Museum of Flight, Seattle’s contribution to preserving our flight history includes a museum dedicated to pilots like the Wright Brothers. You’ll have the chance to see more than 85 historic aircraft and your family will have fun with the interactive games at the museum. Get there early. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is open until 9 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month.
• The Underground Tour, offers visitor a view of old town Seattle underground. The tour will take you under Pioneer Square where you can see ruins of the life before the 1889 fire in Seattle. You’ll hear tales from the old days in Seattle, too.
• Argosy Cruises allow you to tour Seattle by water. Argosy Cruises range from 90 minutes to about 2 1/2 hours. Dinner, lunch and brunch cruises are also available. Some excursions have live music.
• Washington State Ferries are also fun to ride. If you are looking for great photographs of the Seattle, take a ferry and bring your camera or camcorder!

Photo Credit: Fddi1, Flickr Creative Common License

Welcome to the May 23, 2008 edition of destinations. I posted this carnival a bit early since I had so many great submissions and didn’t want to wait to share the knowledge. Thank you to everyone who participated. I am looking for submissions to the June edition!

Madeleine Begun Kane presents Planning To Travel With Friends? Are You Sure That’s Wise?
posted at Mad Kane’s Humor Blog

AdmirableIndia.com presents Nagarhole National Park(Rajiv Gandhi National Park), Karnataka
posted at admirableIndia.com

Sally Thompson presents 50 Best Sites and Resources for the Ultimate in Luxury Travel posted at Travelhacker.

Tip Diva presents posted at Tip Diva, saying, “When traveling, it’s not the best idea to carry around a lot of valuables with you. But there are situations when you have to, so here’s how to best protect yourself.”

attractions

Andy Boyd presents 18 Of The Best Places To Swim With Sharks posted at
ProTraveller, saying, “I would struggle to go swimming with sharks, but apparently it’s fast growing in popularity: Here are some of the best places to go swimming with sharks.”

Sara Ost presents Bright Green Spotlight Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture posted at Sara Ost.

Jeff Sullivan presents Six - Best New Shows In Branson posted at Branson Travel Attractions.

sarah presents Directory of NYC museum free/pay-what-you-wish days posted at >SARAHSPY.

destinations

Amy @ The Q Family presents A day in Helen and beyond! posted at The Q Family Adventure.

Marilyn Terrell presents Exploring Armenia posted at Intelligent Travel, saying, “what to see and do in Armenia”

Linda presents Interrail 2005 : Wien, part 1 posted at Mes crazy expériences, saying, “This is the description of a day in Wien (Austria) especially Schönbrunn during an interrail travel in 2005, with picture.”

Davexplorer presents The Five Most Unusual Travel Destinations posted at 5 Most Unusual

Davexplorer presents Five Most Unusual Buildings posted at 5 Most Unusual.

ThatsBlog presents Coorg, Madikeri posted at AdmirableIndia.com.

AdmirableIndia.com presents Talacauvery posted at AdmirableIndia.com.

Kristie presents Rome, Italy: Our Accommodations and Our Arrival posted at Norway - An American In Oslo.

Alison presents Carbon Offsets — Native Energy posted at Green Me.

Maryam Montague presents Zagora: and a desert tale posted at My Marrakesh, saying, “Our trip to the desert in Morocco”

Amy @ The Q Family presents Oh.. I’m jealous!!! posted at The Q Family Adventure, saying, “Amsterdam, Netherlands”

Alex Bo presents Dental Tourists Visit Mexico for Cheaper Dental Care posted at Worldental - world dental treatment guide.

Global Traveler presents Should You Rent A Car On Vacation? posted at Traveling Around The World, saying, “Whether you should rent a car or not on your next vacation.”

travelcat4 presents Costa Rica Vacation - Wow, Great From Day 1!! posted at Ultimate Vacation Guide.

Linda presents >Interrail 2005 : Praha, part 2 posted at >Mes crazy expériences, saying, “description of a da in Praha”

Neelakantha presents 100 Best Travel Journal Blogs posted at >Travelhacker.

Global Traveler presents Budget Traveling In The Caribbean posted at Traveling Around The World, saying, “The Caribbean is a great place to travel at any time of the year for a tropical island vacation.”

resorts

Global Traveler presents Packing For Your Budget Vacation posted at Traveling Around The World, saying, “Packing for your vacation is a delicate balance of bringing the necessities and handy extras without overpacking.”

Tip Diva presents Tip Diva | Top Ten Tips - Staying At A Hotel posted at Tip Diva, saying, “Staying at a hotel is supposed to be relaxing, but sometimes you are barraged with so many choices that it makes your head spin. Here is how to make a hotel stay easier and more enjoyable”

restaurants

Linda W. presents Eating Well On Your Budget Vacation posted at The Eclectic Female, saying, “Eating out cheaply while on vacation can be tough, but is definitely doable.”

Lokendra Rathore presents JAIPUR-A Fun Place-Even By Night « Karan’s Guest House posted at Karan’s Guest House.

 

Miami is my hometown, and this summer it’s certainly going to be hot in South Beach. Fast cars, beautiful people, if you are craving some summertime fun, take a look at this video. South Beach is a great beach for people-watching, but no matter which beach you plan to visit, go out and have a good time this summer! Don’t let the high fuel prices keep you out of the sun and away from the sun. Spend at least one weekend at South beach, another beach, or the park or even the mountains.