I’ve heard some interesting things about Palmdale, California from family members who live there. They told me that it’s a great place to vacation at and there’s plenty of hotels , golf courses, great nightlife and that they made the top 25 list for the fastest growing cities. So, they (my cousins, Aunt and Uncle) finally convinced me to come out for spring break. I know Palmdale wouldn’t be like Fort Lauderdale, or Galveston or Rocky Point, but I do miss my Mom’s side of the family, I haven’t seen them for almost 5 years, so off I went.

Image via Flickr

When I arrived, I was immediately struck by the small town charm and the quaint downtown area. I could tell that Palmdale is definitely a family oriented town and it lacks any major highways going through it, which is what they consider a major accomplishment. I pulled up to my favorite cousins home, and there was a big sign that plastered the garage ‘Welcome Stupid Cousin!’, yep…that’s why she’s my favorite. After getting all caught up with her, she drove me over to see my Aunt and Uncle, and it was great to see them too! My other cousins were there also, I swear cousins come in dozens!

We all headed to Hart Park to have a picnic, I can’t tell you how long it’s been since I’ve been on a picnic in the park! Hart Park is named after William S. Hart who was an actor in the silent film era and he donated this 260-acre part of his ranch to the city of Palmdale. After spending the entire day with my extended family, it was time for me to find my hotel. They insisted I stay with them, but I insisted that I stay by myself, I mean, I really love my mom’s side of the family, but staying an entire day and an entire evening with them would drive me nuts, really! They are the weirdest bunch of lovable people, but weird is as weird does.

So, after checking in, my favorite cousin and I checked out the El Dorado Restaurant Bar & Dancing club . I told her, that it is spring-break after all, and I needed to get in some partying before I head back to college. We danced and drank the whole night away. It’s been a while since she’s done that much partying, and she was too drunk to drive home, I was too drunk to drive back to my hotel, so guess where we both ended up staying the night? At my Aunt and Uncles, we called them from the bar and asked them to pick us up. We laughed to whole way to their house, we were so drunk.

The next mornings hangover and seeing that I woke up on a sofa bed down in the recreation room of my Aunt and Uncles reminded me of why I don’t like spring breaks.

Article provided by Starlight Investments

What emanates from the heart of the city of Budapest is a deliberate steadfastness despite its momentous past. There is substantial authenticity in a city that houses an array of historical hotels that acknowledge past cultural influences, exhibit classical elegance, and demonstrate collaborative innovation. This verity can be witnessed in how these hotels have transformed themselves throughout the centuries.

Relics Become Habitable
When Romans occupied the area where the city of Budapest now lies, around the 1st and 2nd Centuries, invigorating bathhouses or spas were built. Many of these ancient spas are still being enjoyed today. One Roman spa in particular is housed within the Corinthia Aquincum Hotel. While the hotel itself would not be considered historical, the spa that it espouses certainly is. In this way, modern conveniences are adorned with legendary luxury.

Another modern hotel, the Hilton Budapest, absorbed within its own framework a 13th Century Dominican Church and the baroque-style facade of a 17th Century Jesuit College. This hotel has brought the past into the present by combining what seems to be differing architectural styles and solidifying them into a present day facility. This is truly representative of how Budapest as a whole acknowledges its past, but keeps its eye on the future.

Interestingly enough, a true blast from the past comes in the form of the Hotel Citadella. This hotel is located within the confines of a 19th Century garrison. During Habsburg rule, this garrison would have sheltered soldiers and ammunition, but currently this same structure caters to the needs of 21st Century guests. The past is celebrated while a rebirth is taking place.

The 19th Century
Architectural styles of these exquisite hotels range from awe-inspiring Gothic to regal Art Nouveau. Built during a time of prosperity in the region, these hotels emit an ambiance of eloquence. Much of the splendor of the 19th Century can still be seen in these newly renovated accommodations.

Many of the great hotels from this era fell into disrepair during the 20th Century’s Soviet-enforced Iron Curtain. Currently, these hotels have reclaimed past grandeur. Their beauty and old-world style remain, but they are affixed with updated furnishings.

Classic Innovations
Function often gives way to form. With this in mind, a number of Budapest’s hotels blatantly reveal its colorful history. The elusive Hotel Romai was once a haven for Communist Party officials and The Hotel MEDOSZ is a former trade union hotel for agriculture workers. While these hotels may not be as ornate as an 18th or 19th Century baroque style structure, authenticity is unearthed.

Form, at times, gives way to function. Examples are guesthouses for two of Budapest’s public institutions. The Radio Inn is the official guesthouse of Hungarian National Radio. In a similar fashion, guests of Pest’s ELTE University lodge at the Peregrines ELTE Hotel. These guesthouses are quaint destinations that stem out of practical need.

Budapest, Today and Tomorrow
Around the 8th Century, two cities, Buda and Pest resided on opposite sides of the Danube River. Buda and Pest remained separate cities until they were united in 1873. Between the time of the original Hungarians to the 21st Century, Budapest has stayed loyal to its Hungarian culture despite the strong influence of its invaders.

Much culture does prevail in modern day Budapest. The city can boast about its fascinating museums, its fine concert halls and its educational institutions. The Hungaroring is a motor-racing circuit in Mogyoród, near Budapest home of the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix. Its hotels also radiate Budapest culture. Whether historical relic, magnificent structure, or of practical design, these hotels remain adaptable but rooted in legacy.

A magnificent video of traveling to Scotland.

Thirty miles outside of Boston, you’ll find Pawtucket Falls and the site where Pennacook Indians lived, fishing and growing crops, but when settlers from Europe arrived, sometime in the late 1600s, there was a need for more food than what the local means of agriculture could provide, so eventually two canals were built, Pawtucket and Middlesex, opening the path for various glassworks and mills, both saw and spinning.

The city of Lowell was founded in 1820, but begun by Francis Cabot Lowell, when he turned created power from the waterways and turned the textile industry on its head.  Boott Mill was the first textile mill Lowell built, and it’s now a part of the Lowell National Historical Park, where a number of these early days have been preserved for future visitors.  Lowell is also considered the first American factory town; when the Great Depression hit over a century later, the area fell on hard times, but today, there’s a number of sports teams and revitalization to the old mill buildings.  Lowell has had a rebirth as a tourist town, a national park, and a city filled art galleries, boutiques and restaurants.

If you make this place a vacation destination, you’ll see that the hotels lowell offers its traveling public are among the best available, and you’ll find great views of the Merrimack River.

The museums offer an excellent history of the lives of the people who used to work in the first factory town, but if you’re looking for Pawtucket Falls, you may not find exactly what you’re expecting.  The name of the falls means “Great Falls,” and the waterfall and rapids dropped 32 feet in under a mile; however, the falls impeded travel along the river and the new settlers to the area built the canals, which allowed Lowell’s residents to use hydropower, running the various textiles factories through a canal system.  In the 1820s, a dam was built at the head of the falls in 1820 and again twenty years later in the 1840s.  You can still see the work of that last expansion — a stone dam that channels much of the Merrimack River into the canal, which is why the Pawtucket Falls today are dry, although, when heavy water flow comes over the dam, the falls exist again, if only for a little while.

Article provided by Scott Tucker Kansas KS

In the summer, Americans basically live outside. From Memorial Day to Labor Day we grill our meat over an open flame, chill in our hottubs or by the pool.  Making the most of your outdoor living space is never a bad idea. Here are a few ideas to consider if you want to remodel your backyard and turn it into a backyard oasis.

If you have a pool in your backyard you should think about adding a hot tub spa to your outdoor repertoire. They are great for relaxing. Especially if you are an athlete or older and have any aches and pains, are working on weight loss or losing belly fat  – then a spa is a great way to help with those. In fact, that is what the technology was originally invented for. The inventor made a pump to attach to his son’s bath tub because he had suffered from rheumatoid arthritis from birth. After the technology worked for him, the inventors decided to manufacture it and make money off of it. That family was the Jacuzzi family. And you thought that was just a funny name for one.

Another great way to spend time outside with your family is with your grill. If you use your grill a lot you should consider getting a built in grill. They are great in making your outside living area more tailored to your needs. You can get all the bells and whistles to go along with these types of grills as well. If you grill often it could be a good use of your money to upgrade your outdoor cooking abilities. They have something to suit your every need depending on your lifestyle.

Taking to your backyard can be more fun and rewarding with a few upgrades. Nothing beats spending time with your family and if you give them a place to hang out together it will be easier to have fun.

BBQ Shrimp

Everything seems to taste better on the grill. Steaks and burgers are as classic as the hot dog, chicken is a favorite standard, and ribs are a long process that’s worth every minute. Shrimp, however, is one of the quickest delicacies to prepare, and has a relatively short commitment. Shrimp on the barbie is as classic as it gets. The grill brings out a very special flavor, and when the marinate is just right, these flavors all marry in a pretty spectacular way. The cooking time for shrimp is only about seven minutes, a very wonderfully short amount of time for any meal. This means that shrimp just might have the market cornered for their level of return for the investment. The secret, then, is in the marinade, since the cooking time is easy and reasonable.

The marinading process, likewise, isn’t very complex, just a bit time-consuming. With this, it’s going to be an addictive habit to experiment with the flavors. A short cooking time means that you can play around a lot with ingredients, and there’s little time lost, because almost anything is going to be pretty delicious. Barbecue sauce is one possibility, and for that there’s no preparation. Brush it on before putting it on the grill, again, for about 7 minutes on a medium to medium high flame, turning halfway through. Other favorite ingredients, and here is where it gets very juicy, are butter, oil, garlic, lemon juice, as well as basil and parsley. Try melting butter and mixing with olive oil. Add a little lemon juice, and a generous amount of crushed garlic, and let the shrimp soak in this mixture for at least two hours. These are some of the finest flavors that shrimp connoisseurs love, and it’s fun to experiment with marinading times. The cooking process here, is also the same. 7 minutes, and turn once halfway through. The shrimp are done when the color of the meat starts to change. Fantastic and reliable!

Recipe courtesy of Money Mutual

Spring is traditionally the time of year when a young man thinks about love and a young woman thinks about how she will look in a swim suit.  It is the time when diet commercials abound and magazine articles are filled with tips for losing weight and getting in shape for the beach. Health professionals, nutritionists and fitness experts all agree that crash dieting to fit into that bikini is the worst possible idea.

Here are a few suggestions for getting your body beach ready in a healthy manner.

1) Set realistic goals

If you want to avoid the fatigue, anxiety, and sugar cravings that accompany a crash diet, don’t try to lose 30 pounds in six weeks.  Instead schedule regular, moderate exercise combined with a balanced, low calorie/low fat diet. You can expect to lose 1-2 pounds a week without over stressing your body or your mental health.

2) Focus on strength and weight training

Contrary to popular belief, cardiovascular exercise is not the best way to lose weight. A number of studies have proven that cardio can leave exercisers feeling tired and hungry and they end up making poor food choices or overeating to refuel their energy levels.  Weight training builds lean muscle mass which increases the amount of calories you burn. It also helps sculpt your body into the shape you desire.

3) Eat protein AND high fiber carbs

Remember that fat and sugar are the culprits and not all carbs are bad.  High fiber carbs, such as those found in whole grains, fruits and vegetables, are a necessary part of a balanced diet because fiber helps slow digestion and stabilize blood sugar.  This means less sugar cravings. Dietary fiber also helps you feel fuller, with virtually no additional calories. Start the day with a simple breakfast including protein such as yogurt or low-fat milk, high fiber cereal and maybe a few berries or other fruit and you’ll reap those rewards along with avoiding the mid-morning hunger cravings.

4) Keep a food & diet journal

Use the journal to plan out your meals and exercise and then reward yourself with a checkmark or star when you stick to the plan.  Recording everything you eat makes you more conscious of your food choices and seeing the progress as you lose weight and inches will be the perfect inspiration to help you look great on the beach.

A trip to La Jolla can be an amazing mix of urban and beach life. Whether you’re traveling to the area for a relaxing vacation or to scout  houses in anticipation of relocating, there will be plenty of things to do and see during your visit.

La Jolla itself has a collection of stunning beaches that offer breath-taking views as well as a variety of water sports. The city is also home to world class golf courses and tennis courts and is perfectly positioned for sailing and yachting. Diners can choose from a variety of eateries ranging from quaint cafes to five-star gourmet restaurants. Shopping is equally eclectic, with major retail outlets as well as local artisans and crafts people offering their wares. It’s a great place for leisurely shopping, dining, or strolling along the beach.  Nearby is the Barona Speedway is a banked clay oval, located in Lakeside California, near San Diego popular racing – similar to Leawood Kansas motorsports.

Those who want to experience a more exciting city life can travel the short distance over to San Diego for even more top restaurants and shops as well as theater, music, and other cultural attractions. Families can visit the city’s parks and museums or head to Sea World or take a safari through the San Diego Zoo.

Checking Twitter this morning only to realize that all my followers were gone. Actually, this also was the case for a few other people I knew, and had therefore heard about it before I checked twitter. There were still people’s status updates, but the profile said there were no followers. It turns out it was a glitch and it probably shouldn’t be worried about. Twitter claims that they were fixing a glitch that allowed you to make anyone accept your friend request so that celebrities would have to follow your feed. It was a large glitch, discovered and published by Gizmodo. In order to fix it all twitter profiles can not follow or unfollow people, as well as the profiles all claim that no one has any followers. They are claiming it will be back up and running soon.

Brought to you by Starlight Investments

Singapore is a vibrant city and is full of major historic landmarks as well as contemporary entertainment and dinning opportunities. Tourists who come to this city-state and stay in one of the best Singapore hotels are often times attracted to the shopping opportunities as well as the cultural and entertainment aspects. The Orchard Street area is one of the most popular sections of Singapore and attracts hundreds of residents and tourists daily.

Orchard Street is commonly considered to be the main retail, and even entertainment, hub of the city-state. It encompasses the major business district in the central region. This extends into the surrounding area, which is known as the Orchard, though it takes its name from the prominent historic street. Orchard Street itself is named after the many fruit, nutmeg and pepper orchards that lined it during the early 1800s. The major economic development, for which it is now known, occurred predominately in the 1970s. One of its major landmarks is the Orchard Hotel, which is a prime place for shopping oriented visitors to stay. The Istana building, located at the southern end of Orchard, is probably the most elegant of those lining the street.

Every year during the Christmas season, the street is lined with a beautiful light display. This makes the already vibrant and beautiful area even more festive and celebratory. Other major buildings, landmarks and facilities include the Botanic Gardens on the north end of this one-way road. The Goodwood Park Hotel is on the near by street of Scotts Road. This monument serves as a primary example of colonial architecture. TANGS department store is situated at the junction of Scotts Street and Orchard. It is the first of the upscale department stores in the area. Next to the historic Emerald Hill is the Cold Storage supermarket. This is one of the oldest surviving stores in the area. A trip down this historic street offers great landmarks, elements of Singapore’s cultural heritage as well as great shopping opportunities.  Singapore is one of the great travel destinations.

So, F1 is ramping up and there are tons of races to attend all over the world. China, Malaysia, Spain, Monaco, India, Abu Dhabi, the US—you could really spend a lot of dough getting to any one of these, much less all of them. Naturally there are tickets that have to be bought and other incidentals, but the logistics of traveling abroad and seeing races like these are a little more involved than one may think at first.

The first step is actually seeing which race you want to attend. F1 is a worldwide series, and because of the prohibitively expensive nature of international travel for most people, it’s likely that you will only be going to see one race. If you can afford to see more than that, then power to you, you probably don’t need this guide!

Once you know where you want to go there is the matter of buying tickets for the event. They can be expensive, and a lot of the more popular venues go fast, so it’s important to buy as early as possible. Prices vary based on how popular various events are. Monaco, for example, is a part of the Triple Crown, and tends to be more expensive than the Circuit of the Americas. From there it’s finding airfare and accommodations.

Flying to different countries, especially across an ocean or two, costs a lot, so it’s important to shop around. Airfare to Europe from the US is usually around $1,000 round trip per person, though you can get to East Asia for less. The pricing is great if you don’t care to see Le Mans, but do want to visit the Suzuka Circuit.

Accommodations are a great way to take an expensive trip and make it cost even more. This is definitely something which’s price depends entirely on location; the Circuit of the Americas is in Texas, which isn’t exactly known for tremendous property prices, meaning that you won’t break the bank for a decent to nice hotel. However, staying overnight at Monaco, especially in a room that overlooks the track, can cost a princely sum.

Traveling to see Grand Prix events is definitely the experience of a lifetime, but it is something that requires a lot of planning and a little means to do right. Whether you’re going to Texas, France, Brazil, or Japan, the excitement is palpable, and the party is fantastic. With a little shopping around and foresight, you can visit the race of your dreams and save a little money without sacrificing comfort or good seats.

For those of you who cannot make it here is a video of the some of the highlights from the 2013 Malaysia race.

Contribution from  James Ryan author, travel writer and Scott Tucker ALMs sports commentator