They claim to be the biggest wildlife park in Scandinavia and I actually hope that it’s not the truth, because I found it to be smaller than I remembered. Of course the last time I went there I was really young and now when I’m old (lol) everything seem smaller to me…

Description of the wildlife park features:

• Around 750 wild attractions
• The world’s first Safari Wildlife Park gondola
• Marine World including the dolphin show Life
• Tiger World with Siberian tigers
• Gorilla Island
• Childrens Farm
• Aquarium (outside the entrance)

The main reason for us going there again was the new dolphin show called Life, which took them 1.5 year to get ready, filled with facts about dolphins and with a message about the life at the earth and the environment, matched with music from ET, Superman, Lejonkungen och Titanic.

I recommend going there when it’s not so very hot summer weather since then the animals are getting too lazy and hide in the shadows to keep comfortable. In the end of July there was a little elephant male born for the first time at Kolmården, so if you go there now you get to see the little one.

The one thing that impressed us the most was the rather new Safari Cable Gondolas with digital guiding in different languages which went around all the park (2640 m) making the best view to see animals up close from above. The only way we did see the lions and the bears, so that was great. You also get really close to the Giraffes since they are so tall!

Kolmården Zoo have had several serious incidents with wolf attacks and even one of the caretakers of the wolfs killed in 2012, so they stopped letting visitors in to the wolfs. Earlier it was possible to buy a wolf visit as a birthday gift. I was even considering it myself once since I got a giftcard that was valid for it.

You do have the opportunity to book a closer meeting with the dolphins instead, but of course that is a more expensive alternative and you are not actually allowed to swim with them, just to have close contact.

If you are going there with kids, I recommend taking a day extra and either stay over the night at the nearby Vildmarkshotellet (Wildlife Hotel) for your own comfort or choose the more adventure way for the kids: the Safari Camp with it’s African style inside Kolmården, bringing your own sleeping bag. That way you get closer to the wildlife – if you are there under the right time during the summer.

If you want another budget alternative; why not stay at another camping area…? You can find campings around Kolmården at the Swedish Camping Map.

How to get there:

if going by car you have about 1,5 hour driving to do from Stockholm, you can follow signs from the E4. Or you can take bus or train, the InterCity train stops at Kolmården station. How to book the best train tickets, have a look at our Ultimate Train Travel Guide.

If flying directly nearby, you have the Stockholm Skavsta Airport or Norrköping Airport which offer good connections to Kolmården.

Be sure to check the opening hours, because it’s shifting depending on the time you go there. The Zoo is mostly open in the summer time or early autumn.

TIPS! Save the entrance ticket to Kolmården since it gives you 30% off at any of the other Parks and Resorts in Sweden – comes in handy if you as an example want to go to the Gröna Lund Tivoli or Aquaria in Stockholm.

You can see more of Lifecruiser Kolmården photos at Flickr.

©Lifecruiser Love Wildlife Parks
 

I usually get contacted rather often with promoting emails of all kind of services, sites or apps. Not every one makes it through to my writing, but Pablo Grandinetti’s (co-founder of Urbita/Travel Videos) email did. Read why below…

Being the first search engine for travel videos organized using Urbita’s database of around 180,000 cities/towns, it sure did catch my attention fast. On top of that they also categorize the videos by location and add other information of interest like available tours, music festivals or sports events.

This approach is of course very useful for us travelers, gathering much of the info we want for our research for any city we plan to visit. Not only that, but the info we get is like insider-info, local knowledge of a place which is essential for any traveler that wish to plan the best holiday at that particular place.

I like the fact that I can get a search result with better videos than just searching for videos generally in different common video sites. Travideos.com is after all, specialized in travel videos, making it more suitable as a travel planning tool. Try it out!

©Lifecruiser Love Travel Videos
 

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West Palm Beach also sometimes referred to as Orchid city is the county seat of Palm Beach County in Florida, United States. It is a perfect example of contemporary and modern lifestyle in the county. This place has an international airport and hence is well connected to the other parts of the United States and the globe.

This city, with its lush green surroundings, spotless beaches, immaculate waters, chic lifestyle and above all magnetic charm has been alluring tourists for an enchanting experience. It is also a hot destination for celebrities, who fly down with their families for a blissful and rather peaceful vacation.

Wildlife sanctuaries to parks, museums, malls, botanical gardens, clubs et al, there is a lot more for one to explore within the county. McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary is an absolute fun place for animal lovers. The home to over 170 varieties of white tigers, African lions, snakes, parrots and other species, one should expect a thrilling time within its premises.

South Florida Science Museum and Dekelboum Planetarium is another spot frequented by curious little visitors along with their guardians. The aquarium, dinosaurian and planetarium is enough for one and all to put on their thinking caps and encounter the true marvels of nature within the closed spaces.

This county is considered to be a haven for die-hard shopaholics. Malls, shopping centers and boutiques, there is so much for the shoppers to choose from. One can find a diverse collection of high-end brands and stores of jewelry, clothes, cosmetics and other items to satisfy their cravings and never get tired of doing that anyway!

Entertainment is to be found in abundance in this southwest Florida county. A city that hosts millions of holidaymakers everyday has leisure to offer to them in return. Fun is the mantra here. Restaurants, pubs, coffee houses and dance clubs readily provide solace to youngsters who’ve had a hectic day of sightseeing. Dance, music, drinks and food are available in plenty and awaiting your company for a glittering and glamorous evening overlooking the ocean.

If you are in a party mood and wish to crash away into the sparkle and dazzle of West Palm Beach over the weekend, all you need to do is book your cheap tickets right away and get rewarded with special discounts. You can make your weekend getaway more special by reserving yourself on a flight to this city immediately and letting your friends and the special one awe in disbelief at your impulsive gesture!

A real jewel of a place, anyone flying down to the US must not miss a chance to drop in at this Florida county. A glimpse into the city life and you will surely be thrilled enough to come back wanting for more.

Lifecruiser Love Palm Beach
 

Of course, it is almost impossible for even the most disinterested visitor to the capital to ignore the imposing bulk of Edinburgh Castle, which dominates the skyline in the middle of the city itself. The site is clearly a strategic one, and has been a place of human habitation since at least the 9th century BC. The castle itself was built in the 12th century, and was a royal residence until the Union in 1603. Following that date, it ceased to be an important residential complex, and was transformed into a fortress. Given its dominance of the high ground, and its position in one of the most important cities in Scotland, it is perhaps no surprise that it has been besieged on a number of occasions, with the catastrophic Lang Siege of the 16th century levelling most of the medieval buildings through artillery fire.

Despite the loss of much of its original medieval architecture, Edinburgh Castle is still an extremely popular tourist attraction. In fact, with 1.3 million visitors a year, it is the most popular destination in Scotland, and it hosts the Edinburgh Military Tattoo each year. Whilst visitors might not be able to experience the same buildings that David I erected in the 12th century, they can still see the fortifications which defied Bonnie Prince Charlie in the 1745 second Jacobite Uprising, which was the last time that the castle was involved in a military action.

Unfortunately, the fame of the castle at the centre of the city tends to mean that visitors to the capital do not travel to the many other historical sites which are a brief drive away from the capital. The nearest of these, Craigmillar Castle, is situated in a suburb of Edinburgh and is a mere 3 miles south-east of the city centre. Dating fro the 14th century, this fortification is best known for its association with the tragic Mary, Queen of Scots. She arrived to convalesce at the castle in late 1566, and before she left the infamous ‘Craigmillar Bond’ was made. This was an agreement to dispose of her then husband, Henry Stuart, who was the father of James I. As one of the best preserved medieval castles in Scotland, Craigmillar provides a unique opportunity for tourists to experience the same builds that touched Mary’s life.

For those tourists who are willing to stray a little further from Edinburgh, Tantallon Castle will provide a more epic and romantic setting for a historical visit. Sitting atop an impressive promontory which looks out over the Firth of Forth, this ruined 14th century fortress is the last traditional curtain wall castle to have been constructed in the country. It has seen significant military action over the years, having been besieged by both James IV and James V. Neither of them, however, did as much lasting damage as Oliver Cromwell, who left the site in partial ruin after his siege in 1651. During that action, almost 3,000 men fought a mere 91 Royalists, who nevertheless managed to hold out for twelve days. After that event, Tantallon was left abandoned, and now serves as an astonishing vantage point under the care of Historic Scotland.

Of course, to reach such attractions, private transport is required. Fortunately, car hire in Edinburgh is a popular choice for just that reason, and it should pose no problem at all for visitors to rent any vehicle necessary for exploration of the further reaches of the capital and East Lothian.

Guest Author: Ryan Johnson
 

We will also escape Stockholm city, this year we will take a roadtrip up to Hälsingland around 250 km from our dear capital city of Sweden. For once the weather forecasts look very promising too. Usually at Midsummer Eve it’s unsteady weather, both sun & rain, making it difficult to sit outdoors eating in peace without getting wet…

If you are in Stockholm and not invited to a Swedish Midsummer Festive event by Swedish friends, it’s still possible to celebrate it either in different parks like Vasaparken and Tantolunden in the city or outside the city by going out in the Stockholm archipelago. You will find Midsummer celebrations in Fjäderholmarna at 1pm, Vaxholm at 2pm, Sandhamn at 3pm and Grinda at 2pm.

Another late option is to go to Skansen.se, the outdoor museum where a lot of traditional celebrations is held. Take the short ferry trip from Slussen to Djurgården. A safe choice, since there will be the traditional midsummer pole and dancing around it as always. Only the dancing could be a tourist attraction in itself, since we look rather silly during some of the dances…

There are some restaurants open too accoarding to the tourist office:

- Oaxen Krog & Slip, Beckholmsv.26
- Sturehof, Stureplan 2
- Villa Godthem, Rosendalsv.9
- Wärdshuset Ulla Winbladh, Rosendalsv.8
- Berns, Berzelii park
- Hermans Vegetariska restaurang, Fjällgatan 23B
- Fåfängan, Klockstapelsbacken 3

Happy Midsummer folks, please sing a snaps song (traditional Swedish singing to go with the alcohol) extra loud – for us!

©Lifecruiser Love Swedish Midsummer

Earlier posts about Swedish Midsummer:

Happy Midsummer 2012
Typical Swedish: Midsummer Strawberries
Swedish Midsummer 2011
Midsummer night light sight
Swedish Midsummer festivities Bromma Church Stockholm
Happy Midsummer Stockholm
Our Midsummer celebration trip 13 facts list
Thursday Thirteen Midsummer
Midsummer flower power love
 

Tuscany Photo by AJanssen, Flickr.com

Tuscany, Italy
The sunflowers seen during July are incomparable to anything I have ever seen. Although the Sunflower is native to the America’s they have become a symbol of summer in Italy. If you associate summer with bright yellow colors you will not be disappointed. Of course there are many other things to see in Tuscany, but today we are talking flowers.

San Diego, California
Spring in San Diego comes with beautiful weather and people to match. One special attraction to this time of year is The Flower Fields® at Carlsbad Ranch. With more than 100,000 visitors every spring, this 50 acre rainbow of flowers overlooks the Carlsbad, California coastline. I kid you not; you will be breathless strolling through the array of flowers. The best time for this trip is March-May, as this is when the flowers are at their peak. Pack a picnic, bring a camera and enjoy a beautiful serene day.

Namaqualand Desert Region, South Africa
Africa is filled with beautiful landscapes and an incredible culture to match. Between the months of August and October, desert flowers are at their peak. You can walk among 4,000 different species of flowers and plants, all of which are awe-inspiring. This is ultimately a small portion of what nature has to offer when it comes to South Africa, but it is one that my green thumb was envious of.

Lake Tekapo, New Zealand
There aren’t many experiences that can compare with a trip to New Zealand. The truth is there is so much beauty everywhere that it is hard to pack your bags to come home. Unlike Africa and San Diego, you will not find a beautiful array of colors. What you will find is a lot of purple against a backdrop of a crystal clear lake and the Alps. The image is remarkable. The colors mix so perfectly so long as you are visiting between November and January.

Tokyo, Japan
Cherry blossom trees are in abundance during March and April in Japan. This may be the main draw as there aren’t many places you can experience pink and white displayed in such a beautiful setting. However, with the many other flowers that line the streets of Japan during this time you will find several photo opps.

These are bucket list places for most people. If you are lucky, you may have the opportunity to visit more than one of these places in your lifetime. Sometimes dreaming about it is the closest we can get to reality. Of course, you can always find flower attractions more close to you too.

For those of you who love flowers and look forward to living among them everyday, FloristExpress.com has some seasonal flower arrangements that can make you feel as if you are in any of these countries all year long. If you have the opportunity to visit any of these places, I am sure you will want to be reminded of your travels. Incorporating the colors seen in a beautiful vase can give you the perfect amount of inspiration to keep on trucking until the next vacation.

Lifecruiser Love Flower Trips
 

For couples with an action-packed activity trip in mind for their Dominican Republic holidays in 2013, you’ll find plenty of mangrove forests, rocky riverbeds and diving adventures. A honeymoon here can be anything you want it to be, but here are five of the best things to do.

Get lost in Los Haitises National Park

The Dominican Republic is home to several worthy national parks but the sheer variety of natural bounty makes Los Haitises unmissable. Skim along rivers and pass through dense mangroves spotting subtropical plants and birds like the pelican and Stygian owl. Breathe in scents of mango and coffee bean, before visiting the caves where native Taino drawings line the walls.

Whale-watching at Samana Peninsula

Though Playa Rincon’s palm-fringed shore is reason enough to come here, the main attraction is undoubtedly the humpback whales. The prime season is from January to March (perfect for those of you getting married early next year) and it’s wise to book a tour, as witnessing the incredible mating dance of these mammals is understandably popular.

Tour Santo Domingo

This centuries-old colonial city makes the perfect backdrop to a romantic stroll. A fascinating history surrounds it, brimming with ‘firsts’ – the first cathedral founded in the New World, first university, even the first streets – while a contemporary energy crackles as the sun goes down and the Spanish Square comes alive with the sounds of merengue and good times.

Climb a Damajagua waterfall

The northern coastline of the D.R. boasts not one but twenty-seven waterfalls, along the Rio Damajagua. Couples up for a challenge can try their hand at canyoning, clambering over and skidding down some incredible natural water-slides, but there are also tranquil pools for those who just to want to chill and enjoy the rugged scenery. Day tours are available from nearby Puerto Plata.

Jet off to Saona Island

If it all gets a bit too hectic and you’re just craving some quality time together, there’s hardly a better way to spend it than taking a catamaran out to lonely Saona Island. If you’ve ever dreamt of a desert island, this is the real deal and also promises some of the most colourful snorkelling waters around these parts.

Whether you’ve already booked your honeymoon, or you are looking for inspiring destinations, the Dominican Republic could be an excellent bet. Why not find further inspiration from some of the top wedding blogs?

Lifecruiser Love Honeymoon Trips
 

The Spaniards really are very creative, whether it comes to stone layings, architecture, clothes – design of any kind, don’t you think…? It’s a tourist attraction in itself. I really, really love it!

(Yes, it’s my shoes you see there in the bottom of the picture)

©Lifecruiser Love Spain

Other Alicante related posts at Lifecruiser:

Boat Lover Perfect Vacation View
Spanish Beaches: Postiguet Beach
Bad Weather Causes Travel
 

Just sitting there, listening to the sea and the seabirds, enjoying the sunshine after a very long winter back at home, could not be anything else than pure rehabilitation for both soul and body…

©Lifecruiser Love Boats
 

5. Trip to the Beach
–You knew this one was coming, but the beaches in Rocky Point are without match. Check out all the amazing beaches throughout the region, while trying out some fun beach activities such as horseback riding, banana rides, boogie boarding, and the tried and true classic, sun bathing under the amazing Rocky Point sun. Trust us; you will enjoy it!

4. Sunset Cruise
–Cruises here are a major tourist attraction and are the best way to relax and unwind from your daily duties. Hang out on the deck while sunbathing, or take some time to play shuffleboard with the other cruise patrons. Whatever you decide to do, even if you decide to do it on a sailboat, cruises in Rocky Point are fun and relaxing. This is definitely a “cannot miss”.

3. Fishing Trips
–The fishing in Puerto Penasco is above and beyond what almost any other coast based city can offer, and is among the main reasons some even decide to come. No matter what your age or skill level, there are tons of opportunities for you to fish to your heart’s content, all while catching some exotic fish. This is definitely a major highlight here in Rocky Point.

2. City Tour
–If you are looking for an awesome way to learn more about the city and discover some other fantastic activities, the City Tour is certainly a great way to do so. Grab your binoculars and your camera, and hit the town with your professional tour guide—it’s fun, educational, and, most importantly, a major part of Rocky Point’s culture.

1. Scuba Diving
–Scuba diving is our number one activity on this list and for good reason too. For years, people have enjoyed seeing the incredible ocean life on organized scuba trips, and it still isn’t any less fun. The majestic view of the thousands of sea creatures which call these waters home is something you will never forget, and is sure to put that extremely tasty cherry on top of your already amazing Rocky Point Vacation.

If you want any more ideas, feel free to contact us at any time on our website www.puerto-penasco.com we will help you plan the vacation of your life! Good luck!

(Guest post)