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A Taste For The Unusual At Virginia Craft Fairs


Just like most other states, Virginia hosts many craft shows on an annual basis. The events held in Virginia, however, are unique because of their varied focus. While some of these craft shows are what you'd normally expect from a fair, and there are also those with a category all on their own. Let's take a peek at some of these events so that you get an idea of what I'm talking about:
Each year, there is a convention for anime, manga, and otherwise Japanese culture that occurs in Crystal City, Virginia. It is traditionally held at the weekend before Thanksgiving Day, it usually has no place for local craftspeople. Although, as I have made my way through this particular event, I noticed some people who have taken it upon themselves to adapt. They make sculptures of popular anime characters, and it sells well during this time of the year.


Another interesting craft show that may seem different to the classical ones is the MAGfest; short for Music And Gaming Festival. The main feature of this event is the group of large open video gaming rooms, as well as loud but talented bands who draw inspiration from the video games they play. Like the anime convention, these events prove to be a successful venue to sell custom-made sculptures and figurines.
Now we go to another convention, but this time it is the preferred event of science-fiction fanatics. As the blending of futuristic events and fantasy gets more popular, RavenCon's science fiction convention gets a constantly increasing attendance. Space ship models take center stage here, with the sci-fi inspired miniatures getting only middling attention. Why get a figurine when you can have an autograph from the actors present, after all?

I find these events to be quite interesting, but I also understand the sentiments of people who find it too different from a standard craft show. And while yes, the crafts are not the main focus in these events, there are still plenty of opportunities for those like me who have an artistic streak. Whatever the case, you can always search for craft shows in Virginia if you prefer the classical craft shows.

Witness Nature’s Sprawling Beauty with Car Rental in Italy


Touted as one of the world's most sophisticated destinations, Italy recreates the essence of what a true Mediterranean country should be like. With exotic destinations, suave locations, brilliant architecture and a vibrant culture, Italy is one of the most preferred tourist destinations. It boasts of fashion designers, architects and planners that have changed the face of the world. Italian cuisine is revered by the world as one of the finest. The culinary delights have long tickled the taste buds of people across the globe. The capital city of Rome has a great history associated with it, spanning two and a half thousand years. The city is also known for its amazing castles and palaces that depict the rich architectural sense of the past. There is no better way than opting for car rentals to cater to the needs of the travelers. Wind your way through the roads as you embark on a picturesque road trip through the villages and towns to reach Amalfi. The place is a notable resort filled with cafes and restaurants overlooking the coastline in picturesque Southern Italy. Continuing further, it is possible to reach the Vallone di Furore, home to one of the most impressive gorges situated near the coast. The road finally paves the way to the villages of Praiano and Positano which are a must visit.

The grandiose beauty of Sicily can only be seen by car. You can make a trip from Palermo to Sicily by availing car rental services. Going from Florence to the picture-perfect town of Tuscany serves for another great weekend getaway trip. Travelling in the country is worth a lifetime experience and there is no better way to travel than through the extensive road network of Italy. Car Rental Italy services assure you of a great road experience, meandering through every nook and cranny of the place. It is a smart choice to book Car Rental in Italy right from the time of the arrival at the airport to enjoy the benefits it provides. These services have an advantage over public transport and guided tours when you're visiting a country like Italy that has so much to offer. The agency provides the best travel experience, flexibility and is worth every bit of penny spent.

The best-price guarantee is upheld to assure that it provides you with more for less. The website allows you to insert details pertaining to the renting of the car including other benefits like discounts and offers that can be availed with ease. The vehicle guide allows you to select the vehicle of your choice. The rental company also has a provision to reward the customers in terms of preferred membership deals which can be redeemed on future endeavors. You can visit the website and choose the deal best suited for your road trip with family and friends.

Best Family Holiday Accommodation in The Scottish Highlands


The Scottish highlands are an ideal place to spend your holidays. Especially the Inverness, it is a place that provides easy access to the Loch Ness,Isle of Skye, Castles, Distilleriesand many other nearby places. The Inverness airport provides easy links to Birmingham, Bristol, Gatwick, Manchester, Orkney, apart from being easy to connect Inverness plays host to loads of holiday accommodation in the Scottish Highlands.Most of these holiday accommodation are peaceful cottage near loch ness. These Inverness self catering holiday cottages though situated in the heart of a bustling tourist city offers you the privacy, relaxationand peace you look forward to when on vacation. You can find modern cottages or even cottages situated in old mews.The holiday cottages in Scottish highlands are very well known for their hospitality and comfort. Statistics show that many people prefer the self catering accommodation Inverness rather than the bed and breakfast. This is so as here one gets the choice of either making their own food or eating outside. Such self catering accommodation Inverness is specially preferred by people who choose to vacation with children.These self catering accommodation Inverness offers a fully furnished kitchen with all modern amenities like fridge, microwave and washer/dryer .

A welcome pack with beverage of your choice and some of the essentials is provided at this holidayaccommodation in Inverness to help you settle in. This holiday accommodation in Scottish highlands welcomes children. Most holiday cottage in Scottishhighlandshave special attractions for kids like games, DVDs and books, and a play area to make them feel at home. These cottages near Loch Ness have a separate lounge area with comfortable sofas, flat screen TV,The bedrooms are freshly decorated. All the linen is provided and these are washed and maintained hygienically. The holiday cottage in Scottish highland y provides toiletries in the bathrooms..Almost all the holiday accommodation in Scottish highlandshas the facility of independent parking.

The Inverness self catering cottages gives you the freedom to spend your time as per your choice as the Inverness has a huge scope for outdoor activities. There are loads of museums, art galleries, retail therapy centres and so on. Many of these cottages in Inverness themselves are close to golf courses and a swimming pool.To conclude we can say that the holiday cottages in Scottish highlands are the perfect spot for enjoying your holidays with your family as you get a homely atmosphere with peaceful surroundings in a very beautiful tourist attraction.

Manchester Stag Night – Things To Consider When Organising A Memorable Stag Do In Manchester


If you think that Manchester is nothing but factories and organisation, think again. It may seem like a sincere money oriented location during the day, but there are enough games to keep even the most active colleagues of a stag night enthusiastic. And once evening falls, this is a city where the action never stops.

Getting Around Manchester
Manchester is a big city and quite spread out. Public transport in the form of buses and taxis is easily available, but in a city with so much packed into it, the greatest way for enjoying a stag night out with the lads is to select a locality like The Triangle, The Printworks or the Northern Quarters and head to the places in one area before moving on to the next, presuming you're still capable or interested by the time you've been to all the bars.

Things To Do In Manchester
Can a employees of lads on a stag night head to Manchester and not play football? Unless you're totally anti sports or too hung over to move, attempt your hand, or rather foot, at indoor 5 a side football in the new complex. Besides this the city provides stags looking for daytime activities just about anything they could ask for from indoor karting, off road driving, rock climbing, kayaking, archery and much far more.

No matter how you wish to spend your day, there will be something to interest you. It makes sense to look up all the games in advance, and choose which of your employees is going to do what or if you're all going to stick together for a real stag night activity like paintball games. The point is with so many options to select from, wasting time once you arrive, trying to choose what you're going to do, does not make much sense.

Manchester Entertainment
Bar, clubs, restaurants, comedy clubs and greyhound racing, Manchester has both the options and the number of places to make it a good stag night location. The bars are good places to meet ladies and find the right organisation for a evening on the city.

But if you're in the mood for a real stag night, a head to to a lap dance club must be part of your evening. Spare a thought for the poor stag amongst you. This may be the last time he gets to one of these places! So take him there and make the majority of the stag night in Manchester.

Manchester Food and Drinks
Manchester has become one of the most fashionable cities in the country and the variety of food and beverage available here reflects that. From fish and chips to get you started on a long evening, to ending it with spicy curries there is every format of food available here. And all kinds of places to eat it in - from the most sophisticated to the caf??s where anything goes. Literally. It all depends on what format of food and action you're looking for.

Cheapest Flights in India


Traveling different regions and cities in India; my experience of flying within India has been changed since last few years; I have redefined my share of flying by the methodology of making sure that I always get the cheapest flight tickets available. In today's scenario, there emerged a lot of travel portal sites which provides you tickets on behalf of the respective airlines available. Since there are so many players in selling air-tickets this days, you barely have to run searching through a number of sites.

There are basically two types of airfare websites Throughout my experience, its better to go with the travel portal sites which provides variables to your trip to get the lowest airfares every single time rather going for the Airline own website. My recommendation is to how to get the cheapest flights in India every single time would be: -Feel free to share your flight booking experience in the comments or give some travel tips of your own.

A Quick Travel Guide To Rome


Rome is an enchanting place that has been attracting tourists for its rich cultural heritage and brilliant historic monuments. In the ratings of Cond? Nast Traveler?s 2004 Reader?s Choice Awards, Rome grabbed the coveted second spot on the list of top ten European cities.

Some quick helpful facts about traveling to the city. You need to have a valid passport to enter Italy though you do not need a visa if the duration of the stay is less than 90 days. However, there is an exception to this rule for some specific countries. Since the summers are hot and dry, you should visit Rome between October and March. Book yourself at a hotel that is close to the historic district. The ideal place would be Hotel de Russie, situated between the Piazza del Popolo and the Spanish Steps that are worth seeing.

Plan your itinerary well in advance, especially the places you definitely want to visit. The ideal mode of discovering Rome?s heritage is on foot, as it gives you the flexibility of covering the locations at your own speed. The other option to save cost is to use the Tram Bus system that links the entire city and also the nearby areas. And if you are looking at convenience, you can always opt for a private tour. Make sure you have taken a pair of comfortable shoes. Carry minimum weight while going around the city. The city has many eating joints around the tourist attractions so you can appease your hunger pangs any time you want.

The city is full of tourist attractions and it is a real tough task to decide which of them are a must see. Your local sightseeing plan for a given day could look like this. Start with the Coliseum that is a popular tourist attraction. Since the visiting hours change through the year, make sure that you confirm the timings beforehand. To make this awesome experience more realistic, they have an hourly conducted tour by guides in the guise of gladiators. The next important stop, the Roman Forum or Foro Romano, is just across the street. The Roman Forum, the heart of the Roman Empire, is standing tall even after 2000 years! You would be fascinated by the involutions of the Roman architecture. There is no entry fee here and you can also avail the facility of guided tours.

The next stop, The Pantheon or ?The Temple to all Gods?, was built around 125 AD and is one of the best-preserved buildings in Rome. Built by Emperor Hadrian, many famous personalities like Vittorio Emmanuel II and Umberto I (the kings of Italy) and the one and only Raphael are buried here. There is a nine meter opening in the concrete dome which the only source of light in this monument. It takes you back in time to the glorious days of the Roman Empire and you cannot stop imagining being a part of the Romans, as it existed then. You would get goose bumps dreaming of the kind of clothes they would have worn, their language, gestures etc. You can have this extraordinary experience through the year except Christmas when the Pantheon is closed.

By the end of the day, there is just one more place to see that cannot be missed. You can easily spend three hours visiting The Vatican and its collection of artifacts that chronicle the Catholic Church?s history. If you have time, you should let Michelangelo?s Pieta, which is housed in St Peter?s Basilica, amaze you. The Vatican museum has even more splendid antiques, including the Egyptian mummies. You should not miss Sistine Chapel that has The Bible painted on the ceiling by the legendary Michelangelo himself.

Well, whatever you chose to do, get to befriend your hotel concierge first since he can be the best source of updated information.

Nightlife In The Dominican Republic


For many people, vacation is one of the few times they can unwind and have a great time. Because of that, there is a focus on nightlife when someone is visiting a new area. If you are getting ready to go to the Dominican Republic, you will be pleased to know you will be able to participate in an amazing nightlife. There are parts of the DR that light up after hours, and you will be able to spend hours out on the town.

There are many options when it comes to nightlife in the Dominican Republic. You can go dancing, listen to live music, or hit the casinos. You will be able to fill up your nights doing exactly what you want to do. There are truly options for everyone.

If you want to have drinks by the beach, the Aura Beach House in Juan Bolio is a must. This is one of the most popular bars in the area. It attracts a diverse crowd, from wealthy people to young people just looking for a good time. With the perfect atmosphere and talented DJs, this club is a must. You will be able to dance the night away, or sit and have drinks. Since it caters to many different age groups, it also caters to different styles. You can relax or go wild.

If you want to have a wild time without limits, there is a club you can visit that is certain to deliver. Occidental Grand Punta Cana is the home of the Disco Mangu. This is a great place to go if you like a wide variety of music and you love to dance. You will be able to have a night full of drinks, dancing and fun when you go to this club.

Santo Domingo is another great place to spend the late hours. You can go to the Atlantis World Casino to try your luck at gambling. After you get done there, you can go to one of the many clubs in the area.

La Masia is one of the best clubs in Santo Domingo, thanks to the live music. When you visit the club, you will get to hear music from actual musicians instead of watching a DJ spin a record. You can listen to jazz music, along with other music. You will get to have a taste of the Dominican Republic and its musical culture when you visit this club.

If you are traveling to the North Coast of the Dominican Republic, you might want to try the Crazy Moon. This dance club is one of the most popular in the area, and for good reason. This club has a lot to offer. You will be able to dance the night away with throbbing beats, and you can hang out at the bar and get a little rest in before you start dancing again.

IF you want to travel from one club and restaurant to the next, Boco Chica is the perfect place to go. You can go to Calle Duarte, which is the main street, and wonder through the area. Bars, restaurants and shops line the street and you will be able to have drinks, grab a bit to eat, or get some shopping in.

The Dominican Republic is the place to go if you are looking for a fun nightlife. You will be able to pack your nights full with all of the fun you can find in the area. You will be able to go to exciting bars and clubs, and also take in some great casinos. If you love to go out at night, you are sure to find something you will enjoy in the Dominican Republic.

Come To Kerala ? God?s Own Country


Curving along the Arabian Sea along the South West Coast of India lies a great land of natural beauty Kerala. Kerala is one of the smallest states in the sub-continent of India. It has an area of about 1 % of the total land area of India. The great land of natural beauty, Kerala occupies around 40,000 sq km of land. Kerala is considered as one of the most beautiful state in India.

The state of Kerala is surrounded by the state of Tamil Nadu to the east, the state of Karnataka to the north and the Arabian Sea to the west. The capital of the state is Tiruanantpuram (Trivandrum). This city is situated at the southern tip of Kerala.

Mythically Kerala?s bond with the sea is that of a child and its mother. A fable says that Kerala sprang forth from the sea when Parasurama threw his battle axe into the sea to atone for his sin of killing thousands of Kshatriyas. The sea forgave and receded bringing into existence the fertile green enchanted land of Kerala.

Blessed with natural beauty, Kerala is one of the most important tourist destination in India as well as abroad. The state is predominantly famous for its beautiful beaches, backwaters, beach resort and scenic beauty. Kerala has some of the finest and beautiful beaches and picturesque places of tourist interest in India. Kerala is also famous for wild life sanctuaries and national parks. The state has two bird sanctuaries, two national parks and ten wild life sanctuaries.

To make your travel in the state of Kerala easier, you may opt for
Kerala Tour Packages which are offered by various travel agencies or tour planners in India. When you will be in your Kerala tours, you will be surely surprised by its stunning views, golden beaches and beach resorts. One of the famous beaches in the state of Kerala is Kovalam. Kovalam is a quiet and small resort. Crystal blue water, miles of white sand and a lip-smacking platter have made Kovalam one of the preferred destinations for holiday makes and also for honeymooners. No doubt, why the state is called God?s own country?

Three decades back Kovalam was an unknown, tiny remote fishing village. Only some fishermen?s family lived there. But today Kovalam is reckoned as the most trendy beach resort in India. Kovalam consists of five beaches. Kovalam beaches with palm fringed coves create a soothing ambience for tourists to enjoy its natural beauty.

Kerala is also considered as the paradise for honeymooners because of its lovely beaches, stunning beach resort, lovely lakes, houseboats, enticing hill station etc which create a romantic paradise on the earth for the honeymooners. I think you can?t find such excitement and romantic ambience in any other tour as you will find in Kerala honeymoon tours. Once you come here, I bet you, you definitely want to come here again or second time.