Sometimes, the best holiday celebrations aren’t the most famous or obvious ones.

This is especially true on Oregon’s coast, where one big secret is that this time of year doesn’t just mean the area’s notoriously stormy and wild weather, but that it has many days that are unusually dry and warm compared to the rest of the state. But the most delightful secrets lie in the realm of holiday celebrations, which make for some memorable discoveries along this famously pristine stretch of shoreline.

On the northern Oregon coast, the holidays begin not with the usual celebrations, but with a major wine event and loads of signature Lewis & Clark commemorations.

On November 7, it will have been exactly two hundred years since William Clark wrote “Ocian in view! O! the Joy!” as he spotted what he thought was the Pacific Ocean (it was actually a big bay just before the ocean). For the next five months, staring in 1805, the Corps of Discovery spent their time in this part of the Northwest. The Lewis & Clark Bicentennial marks this, and things kick off at Fort Stevens (between Seaside and Astoria) on November 11, with the “Opening Ceremony – Lewis & Clark Veteran’s Day Commemoration.” Oregonian and former Miss America, Katie Harmon (2002), will sing the national anthem, and the event will feature banners from local tribes and other remembrances of the Corps of Discovery.

November 14 brings the Dedication Of The Fort To Sea Trail at Fort Ctatsop (near Fort Stevens), marking the trail from the crew’s winter quarters to their time on the beaches of Seaside.

Fort Clatsop – the replica of the Corps’ winter camp – will feature various “Wintering Over Events” between the Fort and Cannon Beach. This replica tragically burned in early October, but the visitor center there is still the center of many of the winter events, including a living history program about their Christmas at the camp on December 25. On January 7, the celebration comes to Cannon Beach (some 25 miles south), marking the day that Clark, Sacegawea and others traveled to the ocean to see a beached whale.

The adorable resort town of Seaside – which boasts broad, immaculate beaches, the “million dollar walk” of Broadway Ave., and a cove famous for surfing – will be one of the few cities to host a major traveling exhibit on Lewis & Clark. From November 19 to November 22, you’ll find the “Corps of Discovery II, 200 yrs. To The Future,” with a mobile 250-seat auditorium showing multimedia programs on Lewis & Clark’s troupe of travelers. Free. 503-861-4403. www.destinationthepacific.com.

Also on November 19, Seaside will abound with the bounty of the vineyard with the holiday-themed Seaside Downtown Wine Walk. The now-annual event features hundreds of folks wandering throughout the downtown area and taste-testing Northwest wines. $5 for the wristband. 503-717-1914 or www.seasidedowntown.com.

By late November, Seaside really gets lit up with the “Yuletide at Seaside,” where the entire town is decked out in all sorts of light configurations. Highlights include the Holiday Gift Fair on November 25 – 27 at the Seaside Civic & Convention Center, the famous Holiday Caroling & Lighted Float Parade on November 26, the Holiday Lights Tour aboard a bus on December 10 and 11, and the Seaside Children’s Christmas Party at the Seaside Convention Center on December 11. Call 800-394-3303 for more information on all these, or go to www.seasideor.com.

If you want to stay in a castle on Oregon’s coast and enjoy some special holiday events, you need only look about 15 miles south of Seaside to St. Bernard’s Bed & Breakfast. This stunning beauty is built to look somewhere between a medieval structure and a Swiss ski lodge, filled with antique furniture and a spicy sense of romance and adventure – in an exceptionally upscale way.

Every morning means gourmet breakfasts made by the able hand of owner Barbara Dau. Thanksgiving means Dau’s talents will create a special traditional dinner with her artistic flair. It’s open to in-house guests only, and cost is $65, including fine wines as well. The highlight here, aside from the food and wondrous surroundings, is the engaging, convivial atmosphere created by gathering to dine with others you haven’t met before. This, and St. Bernard’s special New Year’s Eve traditions, are becoming an increasingly popular addiction for Oregon and Washington residents.

On New Year’s Eve, Dau puts together a six-course gourmet bash, which features dishes from around the world and matching wines for each. It’s a culinary and wine-tasting trip across the globe. It all ends with champagne by a beach bonfire that is breathtaking every year. www.st-bernards.com. 800-436-2848.

In Newport – the town with two lighthouses – the ancient Bayfront gets gussied up in an incredible array of lights. Nearby, the historic Nye Beach district (known as the “Honeymoon Capitol of the World” for various reasons) has an antique charm that’s somewhere between old Europe and turn-of-the-century America with its tiny cobblestone streets.

For those who want to celebrate with more than a little finery, the stunning bistro-style eatery Village Market & Deli goes into overdrive with its legendary cuisine, offering special holiday dishes to its partial ocean view, sometimes to the shimmering sounds of guest musicians. This pleasure, and the owners’ sister business, Blu Cork Wine Bar, are one of Newport’s hush-hush holiday knockouts. Blu Cork will feature a stunning sourdough bread pudding and chocolate cake for the season that contains a multitude of taste layers, as well as specialty holiday meats, spreads, terrines, pates and champagne – all surrounded by its famous wine-themed dcor and selection of memorable northwest wines. (541-574-9393 for Village Market & Deli).

Jutting into the Atlantic Ocean, North Carolina’s Outer Banks offer visitors plenty of sand, history, and recreational activities. This 100 mile long group of islands welcomed the first European settlers, witnessed mankind’s first winged flight, and is often the first place that hurricanes visit as they run up the east coast of the United States. Read on to see what makes the Outer Banks the first rate resort that it is.

As barrier islands, the Outer Banks are exposed to the whims of the Atlantic Ocean. Sand is pulled out and tossed away while the islands make a gradual westward move of approximately one to two feet per year. Indeed, many of the shipwrecks that took place several hundred years ago right off shore would be as much as a mile further out into the Atlantic today if they happened in the same spot.

In 1524, Giovanni de Verrazzano, the first European explorer to visit the islands, landed on the banks. Later that century, Sir Walter Raleigh sent two English explorers to Roanoke Island and the first settlement of Europeans was established.

During the ensuing centuries the area of sea just off the Outer Banks was coined by US Statemen Alexander Hamilton to be the “graveyard of the Atlantic.” Scores of ships were sunk and hundreds of lives were lost as storms marched up the coast as they crept past the islands. The American government, in an attempt to provide navigational assistance, constructed lighthouses along these shores. Even today four of these ancient watchmen continue to stand although their lights have long since been extinguished.

Much later, in 1903 to be exact, two brothers from Ohio, Wilbur and Orville Wright, attempted to make the first manned flight of an aircraft from Kill Devil Hills. Their twelve second voyage was short and sweet, and the rest is now history.

Other outstanding features of the Outer Banks include: Jockey’s Ridge State Park featuring the highest sand dunes on the east coast; the Cape Hatteras National Seashore; wildlife refuges and maritime forests; and a whole host of recreational activities including: kite flying, deep sea fishing, swimming, boating, and more.

Without a doubt, the Outer Banks has something for just about everyone and is well worth exploring. You will be enchanted the first time and everytime you visit.

Ibiza is famous around the world due to its amazing night life, although it offers several other things as well. This island is one of the most visited ones in the group of the Balearic Islands in Spain, and maybe the one which attracts the highest amount of young people as well.

From June to endings of October, Ibiza’s night life, as well as the rest of the attractions in the island, is at its best moment due to the fact that it is when the highest among of tourists arrive. This way, if you wish to meet the island when all pubs, discos, cafes, bars, restaurants, and all other spots are open, you should chose a date between those months.

Before planning a trip to Ibiza, it is important to consider the fact that during August, this island receives a great amount of tourists due to what prices tend to rise and it might be very difficult to find a hotel room available. This way, it is very recommendable to make sure of counting on a hotel room before arriving or trying to visit the island once it becomes less crowded.

There are several methods of transportation available for tourists in Ibiza. This island counts on an important amount of taxis as well as buses in such a way that going from one point to another should not be a problem. There also are several car rentals for those visitors who wish to rent a car, and in such case it is recommendable to make sure there will be one available at the time of visiting the town, especially if it will be during August.

Besides its night life, Ibiza also offers many other activities suitable for visitors of all ages and preferences. One of the main activities which attract visitors to this spot is going to its beaches. This island’s beaches are extremely beautiful and allow tourists to relax, sun bath, swim, dive, and surf among many others. Besides this, those visitors who enjoy sports would be able to choose from a wide range as well since Ibiza allows them to practice biking, tennis, golf, and karts among others.

Namibia is a largely arid country of stark rough-hewn beauty. The most vivid images are those of a haunting technicolor landscape of swirling orange dunes, shimmering mirages and treacherous dust devils. The apparent desolation is deceptive and plant and animal life and even man has adapted to this environment. The country is designed almost specially with the active and adventure seeker in mind. Timeless deserts, thorn bush savanna, desolate wind ravaged coastlines, majestic canyons, and sun-baked saltpans are the bounty that awaits the traveler.

Namibia’s top draw is the Etosha National Park, rated as one of Africa’s finest game sanctuaries. The birding experience in the country is truly superior. The range of activities you can indulge in the unsurpassable physical environment is truly impressive. Ballooning over the desert, skydiving over land and sea, paragliding, whitewater rafting and sand skiing along coastal dunes are good activities for starters. More fun games to pick from include abseiling – that most spectacular of rock sports, coastal and fresh water angling, desert camel riding, scuba diving, 4×4 desert runs, hiking and mountaineering.

Namibia has four distinct geographical regions. In the north is Etosha Pan, a great area for wildlife and heart of Etosha National Park. The slender Caprivi Strip is nested between Zambia and Botswana and is a wet area of woodland blessed with a few rivers. Along the coast is the Namib Desert, which at the age of 80 million years old, is said to be the world’s oldest desert. At the coast, the icy cold Atlantic meets the blazing African desert, resulting in dense fogs. The well-watered central plateau runs north to south, and carries rugged mountains, magnificent canyons, rocky outcrops and expansive plains.

Namibia, one and half times the size of France, is very sparsely inhabited and carries only 1.8 million souls. The people are as unique as the land they live on. The most intriguing are the San, otherwise known as Bushmen. These most hardy of people have a highly advanced knowledge of their environment. It is a marvelous thing how well they are adapted to their difficult habitat. Just pause and think that these are the only people in the world who live with no permanent access to water. In the Kalahari Desert, one of their domiciles, surface water is not to be found. Tubers, melons, and other water bearing plants as well as underground sip wells supply their water requirements.

In Namibia today, Bushmen number about 50,000. Historians estimate that they have lived, mostly as hunters and gatherers, for at least 25,000 years in these parts of the world. Bushmen speak in a peculiar click language and are very gifted in the arts of storytelling, mimicry, and dance. Namibia’s other people, who are indigenous to the continent, are mostly of Bantu origin. They are thought to have arrived from western Africa from about 2,400 years ago. The African groups include the Owambo, Kavango, Caprivians, Herero, Himba, Damara, Nama and Tswana.

The Africans aside, other groups comprise about 15% of the population and have played an important role in the emergence of the modern nation. White Namibians amount to about 120,00 and are mainly of German and Afrikaner heritage. Germans arrived in significant numbers after 1884 when Bismarck declared the country a German Protectorate. Afrikaners, white farmers of Dutch origin, moved north from their Cape settlements, especially after the Dutch Cape Colony was ceded to the British in 1806. This strongly independent people, whose ancestors had lived in the Cape from 1652 resented British control.

Two other distinct groups complete the spectrum of Namibia’s people – Basters and Coloureds. Coloured in Namibia and southern Africa refers to people of mixed racial heritage, black- white for example. They have a separate identity and culture. This makes sense considering that Namibia was run by South Africa after the First World War. Even in pre-Apartheid South Africa, racial classification was a fine art. The Afrikaans-speaking Basters, descended from Hottentot women and Dutch settlers of the Cape. Alienated from both white and black communities, they trekked northwards, finally founding their own town Rehoboth, in 1871. Baster is actually derived from “bastard”, but it is not derogatory, and the Basters are indeed proud of it.

Namibia’s barren and unwelcoming coastlines served as a natural deterrent to the ambitions of European explorers. That was until 1884 when the German merchant Adolf Luderitz established a permanent settlement between the Namib Desert and the Atlantic seaboard that afterwards took his name. Bismarck subsequently declared the territory covered by Namibia a German colony and named it Sdwestafrika or South West Africa. As German settlers moved into the interior, conflict was inevitable with the inheritors of the land.

The German occupation was a particularly unhappy experience for the Herero. The Herero resented the German’s harsh and racist rule and the effect of the encroachment on their lands on their livelihood and way of life. On the first day of the year 1904, the Herero led by Chief Samuel Maharero, rose suddenly and unexpectedly in arms against their colonial overlords. The Nama joined the insurrection and the authorities did not regain control even after six months of trying. Over 100 German settlers and soldiers died in the uprising. Historians now consider events that followed to constitute the first genocide of the twentieth century.

Lieutenant General Lothar von Trotha was furnished with a contingent of 14,000 soldiers and tasked to put down the rebellion. The governor general of the territory was then Rudolph Goering -the father of Herman Goering, Hitler’s right hand man. Lothar von Trotha was a generation ahead of his time and his kind of thinking was to become government policy under the Third Reich. He argued that the Herero must be destroyed as a people and he did not wince at the murder of women or children. At the end of it all, 100,000 Nama and Herero were killed. The survivors were herded in concentration camps where unspeakable things happened. The Herero fared very badly and 80% of her people perished. The population of the Nama diminished by 35-50%.

Windhoek, the capital of 165,000 people is the only true city in the country. For those traveling to more remote regions, this is where you settle practical matters. The positive aspects of the German period can be seen in the charming style of older buildings in the city. Places of interest in the city include the State Museum, State Archives, and the Namibia Crafts Centre. The Dan Viljoen Game Park lies 24 Km west of Windhoek on the gentle hills of Khoma Hochland. In this resort you find ostriches, baboons, zebras and over 200 species of birds. The Waterburg Plateau Park, located 230 km from Windhoek is popular with weekenders. This extensive mountain wilderness is home to cheetah, leopard, kudu, giraffe, and white rhino.

Etosha National Park is what brings wildlife lovers to Namibia. The park is comparable in size and diversity of species with the best in Africa. The unusual terrain of Etosha holds savanna grassland, dense brush and woodland. But it is the Etosha Pan, a depression that sometimes holds water and covers 5,000 sq km, that is the heart of park. The perennial springs around the pan, attract many birds and land animals in the dry winter months. The effect of this background is magical and some of the best wildlife photographs have been taken here.

There are 144 mammal species in the park and elephants are particularly abundant. Some other interesting wildlife here includes giraffe, leopard, cheetah, jackal, blue wildebeest, gemsbok and black rhino. The birding is great at Etosha and over 300 bird species have been recorded. You will get best value by spending at least three days here. There are excellent accommodation facilities at the three rest camps of Namutoni, Halali and Okaukuejo. The best time to see animals is between May and September, when water draws them in huge numbers to the edge of the pan. Etosha is 400 km to the north of Windhoek by road.

The Fish River Canyon is unrivalled in Africa and only the Grand Canyon in the U.S in larger. The Canyon runs for 160 km and reaches a width of 27 km and depth of 550 m. But size alone does not explain the appeal of the canyon. You experience incredible views at various points along the rim. Adventure lovers do not merely come for the views. Hiking through the canyon is the ultimate endurance adventure for hikers. There is an established 90 km hiking trail that will take you 4-5 days to cover.

The trail ends at Ai-Ais hot spring resort where you can unwind. You are allowed to hike between early May and end of September. The hike is quite strenuous and needless to say, you must be physically fit. The authorities disbelieve the capacity of most people to undertake the hike and will actually insist on seeing a medical certificate of fitness before allowing you to start off. Fish River Canyon is 580 km to the south of Windhoek.

The Skeleton Coast has been the graveyard of seafarers and whales and deserves that morbid name. The problem is the dense fogs. And woe to the ship wreck survivor who expects respite onshore! Ahead is the Namib Desert, one of the driest and most unwelcoming places. Adventure travelers love trekking along the coastline as they enjoy the stark beauty of the area. To the south at Cape Cross, you find a seal colony carrying tens of thousands of seals. The Skeleton Coast Park covers 16,400 sq km and begins at 355 km northwest of Windhoek.

The Portuguese explorer Diego Cao reached this part of the world in the year 1486. He is probably one of the people whose experiences discouraged Europeans from venturing ashore until the arrival of the Germans 400 years later. Further south is the Namib-Naukluft National Park, a vast wilderness covering 50,000 sq km. The landscape is very diverse and covers mountain outcrops, majestic sand dunes, and deep cut gorges. For really spectacular dunes, the Sossusvlei area is unsurpassed. Here you have dunes rising to 300 m! The orange tint giants extend as far as the horizon and the area has an unreal, unforgettable atmosphere.

To the northeast of the country, the well-watered Kavango and Caprivi Strip region offers an unspoilt wilderness suitable for rugged game viewing and camping. The area also promises a feast for bird lovers. Game reserves in the area include: Kaudom, Caprivi, Mahango, Mudumu and Mamili. Poachers did great damage to wildlife during the years of the civil war in neighbouring Angola. Animal numbers are however building up rapidly. Some of the wildlife in the region includes leopard, elephant, buffalo, cheetah, lion and various antelope species. The Caprivi Reserve falls in an area of swamps and flood plains. Here you have an opportunity to partake fishing, hiking, game viewing safaris and river trips in traditional mokoro boats.

In Namibia you can enjoy up to 300 days of sunshine. The coast is temperate and thermometers run between 5C-25C. Inland, daytime temperatures range from 20C-34C, but can rise to 40C in the north and south of the country. Winter nights can be quite cold and frost occurs over large parts of the country. The rains inland fall in summer (November-April) and are heaviest in the Caprivi region. Rains do not much affect travel, but beware of flash floods in the vicinity of riverbeds. The best time to travel is over the dry months of March to October, when it is easier to see animals at waterholes. It is best to avoid the Namib Desert and Etosha between December and March when it can get unbearably hot. Before you travel to this country, make sure you review our Namibia safari and tour offers.

You can get by wearing light cottons and linens in summer. Over winter nights and mornings, you need heavier cottons, warmer wraps and sweaters. Comfortable walking shoes are essential, as the ground gets very hot. Some useful stuff to pack includes: camera, binoculars, sunglasses, sun hats, sunscreen and mosquito repellant. Be ready for dusty conditions and carry your clothing, equipment and supplies in dust proof bags. Do not be tempted to buy items made of ivory. You may not be allowed to carry them through customs at home. And it also good that you do not encourage the trade in ivory products that keeps poachers busy.

Holland certainly has a reputation with travelers. Known for having a very liberal attitude on social issues such as prostitution and drugs, the reputation is not always deserved. Yes, marijuana and prostitution is legal, but there is so much more to the country. Many look at Amsterdam as Holland, but visitors know there is much more. If you desire to travel to Holland, also known as the Netherlands, dont miss these attractions.

Amsterdam

Simply put, Amsterdam has something for everyone. The city is an incredibly beautiful collection of old world European architecture elegantly partitioned by canals. In truth, the city is built on roughly 90 small islands, although you can hardly tell. Transportation is best undertaken on foot or by bicycle. With a cool climate, youll barely break a sweat.

Contrary to popular opinion, Amsterdam is not just a city of liberal policies. Yes, coffee bars sell things other then just coffee. Yes, there are women in windows that are awfully friendly. Still, there is so much more to experience in the city.

Van Gogh Museum

The Rijksmuseum Vincent van Gogh houses the world’s largest collection of the work of Vincent van Gogh. From his early work, the museum contains 700 artistic works and 850 letters. After moving to Paris in 1886, van Gogh entered an impressionist period, of which the museum contains a large collection. Perhaps the most interesting thing about the collection is the organization. The entire collection is arranged chronologically from the first to last work. As you walk, you can clearly see the evolution of this masters skill.

Anne Frank House

Who hasnt read the intense diary of Anne Frank? Hiding from the Nazis, she and her family lived in an annexed section of an apartment in Amsterdam for two years. In 1957, the house was donated to the Anne Frank Foundation and turned into a museum. A visit will send chills through your spine. The museum contains films, the annexed area and the original notes of Anne Frank. A must see for anyone traveling to Amsterdam.

Beyond Amsterdam

For those needing a break from Amsterdam, there is much to be seen in Holland. If you are looking for a color explosion, consider taking the bulb cycling tour out of Noordwijk. Windmills your thing? Head to the De Zaan district to see them in action. Prefer to spend a night in a castle? Try the Castle Hotel Engelenburg, which even lets you ruin a good walk by playing golf.

Travel to Holland and you wont regret it. Whether you want to investigate the countries liberal policies or simply bike through fields of tulips, Holland will satisfy.

Holland is the land of tulips. When it comes to seeing tulips, no place in the world outdoes the Keukenhof Gardens.

Keukenhof Gardens

The Keukenhof Gardens are located to the southwest of Amsterdam. I know this because I was visiting Amsterdam with an old friend and his wife. He and I had talked about taking the tour at the Heineken Brewery for days. Unfortunately, we only had two days in Amsterdam and had missed the tour on the first day. This was due to his wife having wet hair because of a blow drier, which meant we had to sit around until nature ran its course. This was not a woman willing to rough it.

I arose on the second morning with visions of beer mugs in my mind. I knew that I was in trouble as soon as he walked through the door. He had that look. You know. The one that says I have bad news, but am going to try to make it sound like good news. The powers that be wanted to go to the word famous Keukenhof Gardens.

This was disappointing for two reasons. First, I had never heard of the famous Kuekenhof Gardens, thus bringing into doubt the claim in my mind. Second, the weighing of the scales of justice were producing results decidedly in favor of a location that encompassed the word beer versus one that highlighted gardens. For the love of God, we were in Amsterdam!

An argument ensued and, of course, I lost. Off we went for a day in the gardens. Oh, fun.

As happens more often than not, I was wrong in my assumptions. In a one in a million occurrence, gardens definitely outweighed the beer option. The Keukenhof Gardens definitely deserve the fame moniker, even if youve never heard of them.

Keukenhof is perhaps the biggest collection of flowers I have ever seen. Located on 70 acres outside of the town of Lisse, the gardens are surreal. There are over 7 MILLION flowers on the grounds with Tulips in full display. The location was previously the home of a castle and accompanying lands, which gives you an idea of the layout. Essentially, you pay $20 to enter and just start strolling. It is like standing in the middle of a landscape painting. The place is so big, you can rent bikes to put around the grounds. To this end, the best time to go is in April when everything is in bloom.

Against all my inherent male attributes, I have to admit visiting the gardens outdid anything the Heineken Brewery could offer. I also felt a heck of a lot better the next morning!

Mexico beaches come in all shapes and sizes. Two of the most famous areas are Cabo San Lucas and Acapulco.

Acapulco

Youre probably already familiar with Acapulco if you ever watched the Wild World of Sports on ABC. Acapulco was exhibited frequently as the location of those sketchy cliff diving competitions. You know, the one where crazy men jumped a few hundred feet into a pool of water between rocks. Fortunately, you dont have to cliff dive to enjoy Acapulco.

Acapulco is located below and on mountains jutting on off of a beautiful bay. The place is visually impressive and the beaches are very nice. There is, however, one potential downside to Acapulco. The town is tailored to tourist in a big way. You arent going to find any authentic Mexican culture unless you head into the hills. Instead, you are going to be bombarded by people selling things and generally catering to the all mighty tourist dollar. Some people love Acapulco, but there are better places in Mexico in my opinion.

Cabo San Lucas

How times change. Cabo San Lucas used to be a sleepy beach town on the tip of Baja California. The airport used to consists of a single, large cabana. For better or worse, those days are gone.

Cabo San Lucas is quickly becoming the place to be among Mexican beach resorts. Rock stars, Sammy Hagar, own bars and sing songs about the place. The marinas have some impressive and expensive boats. Previously bare mountains are now covered by large and impressive homes. Heck, there are even traffic jams!

Still, there is a reason all this is going on. Cabo San Lucas is simply a top notch place to go on a vacation. The sun beams all day and there are activities galore. You can go deep see fishing, kayaking, surfing or just loaf on the beach. Cafes and bars populate the beaches, but you dont get the hectic feeling found in Acapulco. For nightlife, Cabo San Lucas cant be beat with legendary bars and quality restaurants.

If youre forced to go to Mexico on vacation, either Acapulco or Cabo San Lucas is a good spot. All and all, I prefer Cabo, but to each their own.