Britain's Top 10 Picnic Spots

In the hope of a sunny August (fingers crossed, touch wood etc), here’s a list of Britain’s top picnic spots, as recommended by the Waitrose website.

1. Mottisfont Abbey Garden (Near Romsey, Hampshire )



Though Mottisfont’s pride – the National Collection of Old-Fashioned Roses – tends to be at its best in July, this year’s weird weather may have delayed their bloom somewhat. Even if you miss the roses’ prime, you will enjoy the gorgeous gardens and the beautiful house. Perfect for an evening’s Jane Austen re-enactment…

2. Bodiam Castle (Near Robertsbridge, East Sussex)



If you prefer Monty Python to Jane Austen – this castle is for you! It featured in the Python film The Holy Grail and boasts a splendidly well-preserved medieval castle complete with moat, battlements and all the trimmings. “Niiii!”.

3. Fountains Abbey (Fountains Ripon, N. Yorkshire)



A treat for the whole family! Borrow monks’ robes on site and join the “It’s a monk’s life” tour of this World Heritage Site.

4. Stourhead (Near Mere, Wiltshire)



Wander through the renowned landscape garden and enjoy your picnic by the lake with a backdrop of temples and rare trees. If you’re feeling energetic after lunch, climb King Alfred’s Tower and enjoy the magnificent view.

5. Avebury (Near Marlborough, Wiltshire )



This is one of Europe’s most impressive prehistoric stone circles – it even predates Stonehenge! Speculate about what the site was originally used for… and walk where centuries of lovers have walked before you. If you’re feeling didactic, there’s an interactive museum to enjoy.

6. Lyme Park (Near Diesly, Stockport, Chesire)

What girl can forget the scene in Pride and Prejudice (the ‘real’ BBC version) where Colin Firth emerges from the water? Well, Lyme Park is where it was filmed! With 1,400 acres of parkland to choose from, you’re bound to find your perfect picnic spot to play at being Mr Darcy and Lizzie Bennett.

7. Wimpole Home Farm (Arrington, Royston, Cambridgeshire)

This is one for the animal lovers! The working farm specialises in rare breeds of sheep, goats, cows and horses from the 1700s. The perfect spot for a traditional farmhouse picnic, followed by meetings with Shire horses and lambs. This spot is a favourite with families as there’s plenty to keep kids entertained.

8. Stowe Landscape Gardens (Buckingham, Buckinghamshire)

This is a picnickers dream – with over forty monuments, temples and secret nooks to explore you are guaranteed to find a secluded spot that suits your taste. The banks of the Octagon Lake near Palladian Bridge are a particular favourite.

9. Dinefwr Park & Castle (Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire)

A medieval castle, a park with deer, and bog woods – now that’s what I call picnic perfect! Newton House, dating back to 1660, is open Thursday-Monday throughout the summer.

10. Morden Hall (Morden, Surrey)

This proves that you don’t have to go far from London to feel as though you have! Explore meadow, wetlands, waterways and an exquisite Rose Garden. The latter is in bloom all summer and holds over 2000 plants.

Traveling with Kids - 5 Tips

Are you traveling with kids on a long awaited vacation? In order to make them happy and excited, include them in the planning of your vacation. Don't forget to let them help you pack. They get so excited even if it's one night away.

If you're unsure of where to visit, ask the kids what they really want. Once the destination is chosen, have the kids help plan some of the activities. Amusement parks, water slides, and general activities that entertain the younger crowd are a must. Also include downtime so that both parents and kids can get refreshed.

Driving

If you're driving a long way, make sure to stop every two hours. Kids can't stay in a car that long. Frequent stops will help stretch the body. Plan your trip around parks or swimming areas so that kids can get out and be active.

Another great idea is to leave early in the morning or late at night when the kids are tired and more likely to take a nap. You can also plan your trip around meals. Decide when and where to stop to eat lunch or dinner and leave so that you're in that area during that timeframe. Also, think about traffic. If you have to sit in rush hour traffic, kids get antsy. Make sure you're going through a major city during off hours.

Things to Do

Bring plenty of kid stuff in the car. It doesn't have to be large. When we go somewhere, my girls bring coloring items, craft items, sewing, knitting, dolls, books, etc.

• Sample of Activities to bring:
• Simple craft items are usually a hit
• Activity books
• Whiteboards and markers
• Magnadoodles
• Magnetic board games
• Deck of cards
• Ipods or MP3 players
• Gameboys
• DVD players and movies
• Books on tape
• Scrapbooks to collect mementos - they can create a page while in the car or plane

Games to Play

There are simple games that everyone in the car can participate. Just by looking around as your traveling, your imagination can run wild.

• Alphabetical words - Try finding words in alphabetical order. Someone can try to find a word that starts with A and the next person can find one that starts with B, etc.
• License plates - This is where everyone tries to find a license plate from as many different states as possible. I remember playing this as a kid. It was fun.
• Q - This is an inexpensive game you buy at the store or you can play it with two or more people without the electronic version. This is where someone thinks of something and the other person has to ask questions to help find clues to the answer.
• I Spy - One person can say I spy something green, then the others can try to guess what it is.

Things to Bring

If you're going to a beach, make sure you bring some beach toys: this includes, pails, shovels, little boats, forms to build castles, floats, boogie boards, goggles, snorkel gear. If you're going by car, much of this can be brought with you. If you're flying, you may have to buy it there or bring just a couple of things.

Don't forget to bring things to keep the baby occupied like rattles, squeaky toys, mirrors, things they can chew on, etc.

Once you're there, find something to do right away so the kids feel like the long travel was worth it and they won't be so whiny. Even if it means going to the beach at dusk, an arcade, hotel pool or mini-golf. That way the kids will be more willing to do what you want next.

Relax!

Remember, this is a vacation where you should relax and go with the flow. Try not to set a schedule because then it becomes stressful and not as enjoyable. Don't try to put too much in one day. The kids can't handle it. Make sure you get plenty of sleep and downtime. Kids love staying somewhere else. As long as there is a pool or beach, they're happy.

When the kids are happy, everyone's happy!

Visit The Coliseum In Rome - One Of The Newly-Elected 'Seven Wonders Of The World'

The eternal city of Rome provides the venue for many a romantic weekend or holiday break, offering a memorable mix of activities and sights guaranteed to keep even the hardest-to-please tourist happy! The capital of Italy is home to great designer shopping, a long impressive history and, of course, a gorgeous Mediterranean climate. Furthermore, Rome is currently in the news due to the election of the Coliseum - its iconic ancient stadium - as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.

The Coliseum is Europe’s sole representative in the new Seven Wonders list, for which 90 million people voted in an online poll. The results, announced during a star-studded ceremony in Lisbon in early July, also revealed the remaining six of the new Seven Wonders of the World to be: the Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu in Peru, the Taj Mahal in India, Chichén Itzá in Mexico, the Statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio, Brazil, and the ancient city of Petra in Jordan. The poll has attracted criticism in some quarters, most notably by UNESCO who has its own list of wonders and argues that a popular vote is not the way to determine the world’s wonders.

However, whether or not you agree with the poll results, Rome’s Coliseum is undeniably an impressive ancient wonder. In its heyday it could accommodate 50,000 spectators seated over three tiers, many of which were witnesses to the incredible gladiatorial contests held therein. Opened in 80AD, this marvel of ancient engineering still stands proudly in the centre of modern-day Rome and draws millions of visitors each year. The Coliseum bears witness to the sheer opulence and decadence prevalent at the height of the Roman Empire, and leaves many a visitor awed.

There are other notable sights in Rome from the same age worth a visit, such as the ancient Pantheon with its massive dome - an architectural and engineering marvel. Other sites in Rome from a later age that should be included on a ‘must-see’ list are the Vatican City and the Trevi Fountain. Indeed, if you leave the city without throwing three coins into the fountain, legend dictates that you will never return.

Rome offers a varied range of hotels from cheap and cheerful all the way to top 5-star luxury. Those wishing to visit the Coliseum on a budget but not wanting to sacrifice comfort should consider renting an apartment in Rome, as such an option can offer an affordable alternative to expensive city centre hotels and are certainly more comfortable than budget hotels. You can rent fully-furnished, stylish apartments in Rome for stays of as little as one night.

But, wherever you choose to stay in the world’s eternal city, you must visit the Coliseum: one of the new seven modern wonders of the world.

Summer Vacation - Booking Options For Your Summer Vacation

We continue to see a large number of individuals, couples and families wishing to take the ever popular summer vacation. We also see the same trends, ranging from some people wishing to return to their favorite resort to travelers who wish to try something exciting and new (to them).

Another perhaps obvious trend is the increase in accessing the internet. Again, this varies from searching for more information on a summer vacation destination to using online travel and vacation services to make actual vacation bookings. Certainly, for some types of summer vacation this can be beneficial due to the online discounts that can be available.

So, when it comes to booking a summer vacation, what are the booking options to consider?

I know this is going to sound 'stupid' but before making summer vacation reservations, you will have to select the actual summer vacation destination. Without a destination in mind, it is impossible to make any bookings. When selecting a summer vacation, however, what are the important factors we need to keep in mind?

Whenever possible, I like to encourage people to think of their summer vacation as starting from the minute they leave their home to the minute they return and, in doing so, consider…

• traveling with children
• the age of the children
• traveling with senior citizens
• traveling with disabled family members
• likes and dislikes
• absolute needs and 'nice to haves'
• total cost of travel
• the 7 out of 10 principle

The 7 out of 10 principle simply means that if we cannot match 100% of our needs to a summer vacation choice, the more 'boxes' we tick, the greater the chance that we can select the summer vacation destination that will best fit your needs, thus ensuring we can have the best summer vacation possible.

Now, we can think about actual bookings and reservations.

I suppose the one option is to not to book anything at all. Exciting and fun – maybe. Yes, there are parks, motels, hotels, camping sites where it is not always necessary to book in advance. Despite the fact that reservations may not be required, I would always encourage travelers to make their reservations. Highly popular summer vacation destinations fill up fast. Apart from that, whereas it may be fun dealing with the uncertainty when we are on our own or a couple, imagine looking after three young children or elderly family members and not finding a place to stay.

At the other end of the booking option choices, some people prefer to use professional services such as travel agents especially if they are known to cater for certain summer vacation destinations or specialize in catering for certain groups. Others will use them purely from the viewpoint of convenience – make a decision, book the vacation, now let’s get back to work!

The downside of this option is that these services can come at a price. So, for the budget conscious or for those looking for that something a bit different, this may not be the best option to take. If you have time, read some of the other 'summer vacation' articles which may help in deciding the best option for you.

With the availability of information online and the summer vacation booking facilities also available for anything from car hire and flights to bed and breakfast and five star hotels, more people are making their own reservations. For many it is a lot of fun doing the research, finding the best deals and developing their own unique summer vacation.

As mentioned earlier, as long as most of the boxes are ticked, it can then take no more than a few minutes to have the whole vacation from flights to accommodation booked within a few minutes.

Let's have a recap…

With overnight stays, most families may prefer the convenience and services provided by hotels and motels. Others prefer the outdoors staying in parks, camping sites. Although reservations may not be required, booking your preferred accommodation in advance, ensures that you are guaranteed a place to rest your family or set up your tent.

Researching online provides the opportunity to either develop your own unique summer vacation or to book a popular vacation destination at a discounted price. (You may want to weigh up this option against package deals where 'extras' may be included as part of the deal. These 'extras' may only be available to you at a price if organizing the vacation yourself). It’s always worth checking these things first before making a booking commitment.

So, whether you choose to use the services of a discount travel company online, a professional travel agent, or you intend you make your own vacation reservations, you are encouraged to take the necessary and appropriate steps. Please don’t assume that everything will just work out and run the risk of ruining your much deserved summer vacation. Book it!