Wednesday, August 06, 2014

10 Best Places to Visit in Morocco

Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman may have given the world Casablanca, but there is much more to see in Morocco than its largest city. This Atlantic coast country gives travelers the opportunity to experience life in an ancient Arabic culture, sunning on beaches or snow skiing in the mountains. Whether rambling through ancient medinas, sampling cuisine at a local souq or relaxing in the sun at a white-washed seaside town, the past is always present in this diverse and colorful country. An overview of the best places to visit in Morocco:

1.Marrakech

Marrakech, Morocco
Marrakech, Formerly one of the country’s imperial cities, Marrakech is sometimes referred to as the Red City because of its sandstone buildings. During the 1960s, Marrakech was known as a “hippie mecca,” attracting famous celebrities such as The Beatles, Yves Saint Laurent and the Rolling Stones. Comprised of beautiful old architecture and courtyards of orange, palm, apricot and olive trees, Marrakech today is still one of Africa’s most popular tourist destinations. The best way to sample its charms is to take off walking through the medina: watch a snake charmer, haggle over an old carpet, eat local delicacies such as sheep’s head or have a massage in a public bath. Other possibilities include strolling through the Jardin Majorelle, a botanical garden that blends art deco and Moorish features, and sipping mint tea at a traditional tea house.
____________________________________________________________
2.Merzouga

Merzouga, Morocco
Merzouga is a small village in southeastern Morocco not too far from the border with Algeria. It’s on the tourist route because of its proximity to Erg Chebbi, sand dunes created by winds that reach up to 150 meters (500 feet) high. Travelers looking for a unique experience might want to take an overnight camel ride through the wavy, deep reddish-orange dunes. Most group tours end up at a pre-setup camp at the base of some very large dunes, where the various tour operators have their Berber tents set up. Dinner will be cooked here, perhaps some music played, and visitors can frolic on the sand dunes under zillions of stars. 
____________________________________________________________
3.High Atlas

High-Atlas, Morocco
The High Atlas is a mountain range that runs from the coast of Morocco towards Alergia. The range includes Toubkal National Park, which contains the Morocco’s highest peak, Jbel Toubkal (4,160 meters/13,670 feet). The Berber village Imlil is a good place to start the climb of Toubkal. The tallest mountain range in North Africa, the High Atlas offers outdoor recreation opportunities year round, from snow sports in the winter to hiking in the summer. One of the best places to visit in Morocco is the Todra Gorge in the eastern part of the High Atlas, near the town of Tinerhir. Both the Todra and neighboring Dades rivers have carved out steep cliff-sided canyons through the mountains. The last 600 meters (2,000 feet) of the Todra gorge are the most spectacular. On the edge of the High Atlas Mountains is Aït-Benhaddou, a traditional Mud Brick city that has appeared in many movies including Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator. 
____________________________________________________________
4.Fes

Fes, Morocco
Fes, or Fez, is a former capital of Morocco that is now the country’s third largest city. Home to University of Al-Karaouine, the world’s oldest university, Fes is an ancient city that still retains two old medinas. Travelers may want to begin their visit by walking through the Fes el Bali medina, where goods are transported by donkeys and handcarts. With a population of about 150,000 inhabitants, the medina is the largest carfree urban area in the world by population. Traditional adobe homes and courtyards ornamented with mosaic tiles line a maze of narrow streets and alleys filled with souqs and shops. Fes is also famous for dyed leather goods. Several places are limited to Muslims, but just viewing the striking exteriors makes the trip worthwhile.
____________________________________________________________
5.Essaouira

Essaouira, Morocco
Situated on Morocco’s Atlantic coastline, Essaouira is one of the nation’s most popular beach destinations. White-washed homes sporting cobalt blue shutters provide a scenic backdrop for breezy seaside adventures, which include kitesurfing and windsurfing. The city’s medina features crafts made using centuries-old techniques, including thuya wood carving and cabinet making. Essaouira, formerly called Mogador, is a natural port. It’s been prized as such since the 1st century, when the protected bay provided anchorage for Romans trading for the purpura shells.
____________________________________________________________
6.Asilah

Asilah, Morocco
Now a popular seaside resort town, Asilah has a glorious history that dates back to when it was a trade center for the Phoenicians in 1500 BC. In the 19th and 20th centuries, pirates used it as a base of operations. Fortifications from these bygone eras remain, surrounding the restored medina. Asilah is located on Morocco’s north coast about 30 km (20 miles) from Tangier. It’s a hot summer spot for Moroccans; travelers who want to avoid crowds had best visit in spring or fall. Whitewashed buildings complete the picturesque scene. It has a good selection of budget hotels and restaurants, and a growing art scene. About 2.5 km (1.5 miles) south of Asilah lies Paradise beach, a wonderful wide stretch of sand, popular with locals and tourists. 
____________________________________________________________
7.Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen, Morocco
Chefchaouen might just as well be called the blue city because it’s filled with – what else? – buildings in various shades of blue. Located in northwest Morocco, Chefchaouen is close to Tangier, making it a popular tourist destination. It’s popular with shoppers who can find Moroccan handicrafts, such as woven blankets, not found elsewhere in the country. Goat cheese also is popular, but most likely doesn’t top the popularity of kief, a part of the cannabis plant, that is openly sold in shops. 
____________________________________________________________
8.Meknes

Meknes, Morocco
Meknes is one of the four Imperial cities of Morocco and its name and fame are closely linked to that of Sultan Moulay Ismail. The sultan turned Meknes into an impressive city in Spanish-Moorish style, surrounded by high walls with great gates. While Meknes is an imperial city with a lot of historical monuments and natural sites it is also the nearest city to the Roman ruins of Volubilis
____________________________________________________________
9.Rabat

Rabat, Morocco
Rabat, located on the Moroccan coast, is the country’s capital and a top tourist destination – CNN named it one of the top travel destinations of 2013. The new portion of the city is pleasant, with wide boulevards and outdoor cafes. Most travelers will gravitate to the old town, or medina, with its fortified walls. Here, they can shop for carpets and leather, while soaking in the atmosphere of another culture. Also worth seeing is the Kasbah des Oudaias that sits on a bluff overlooking the ocean. 
____________________________________________________________
10.Sidi Ifni

Sidi Ifni, Morocco
Sidi Ifni is a small fishing town of about 20,000 inhabitants that is located on the Atlantic coast of southwest Morocco. It is a former Spanish territory that still retains that heritage. Sidi Ifni is popular with surfers. Temperatures average 22°C/71°F year round, making any time a good time to visit; it is a haven for Europeans seeking respite from cold winters to the north. Sidi Ifni is bigger on atmosphere than on things to do, but it does have a lively fish market as well as a Sunday market at the old airfield.
____________________________________________________________
-Source: http ://www.touropia.com/best-places-to-visit-in-morocco/
Take a look on other Tourist Attractions At : https://www.facebook.com/Ivisittheworld

Tuesday, August 05, 2014

Five Family-Friendly Beaches of Snowdonia

You could argue that any beach is family-friendly, really: as long as there's a bit of sand, some rock pools and plenty of space to run around, most children will be happy to just be there.
But from a practical point of view, what makes the perfect family-friendly beach?
In our book, as well as the usual suspects - sand, sea, rock pools and the like - the perfect family-friendly beach has plenty of handy facilities, too. Like somewhere to eat, public loos, easy access for pushchairs and wheelchairs, and perhaps a shop or two. Oh, and hot, sunny weather with only the gentlest of breezes and a warm sea to swim in - but that sort of thing is unfortunately beyond our control!
1.Abersoch
The Willows Abersoch, Gwynedd, UK
There's not one, but three excellent sandy beaches at Abersoch - Main Beach, Quarry Beach and Town Beach. Abersoch itself is a lively, trendy village with a strong surf scene and great places to shop - not to mention great places to eat and drink. Head for the beaches and you'll find plenty in the way of facilities: parking, toilets, a cafe/shop, and watersports galore. Being one of Snowdonia's most popular beaches, in the peak summer season the beaches at Abersoch can become quite busy - but if your little ones enjoy making new friends, they'll see this as a benefit, not a disadvantage!
Find Near Hotel!
____________________________________________________________
2.Dinas Dinlle
Dinas Dinlle Beach, Gwynedd, UK
The beach at Dinas Dinlle is popular with locals from the Caernarfon area as well as with visitors. Once you've parked your car you can walk along the long promenade, which has an Iron Age hill fort at one end and an air museum and small airport at the other. Step down from the promenade onto a pebbly shelf, then everything below that, at low tide, is sand with the occasional rock pool (don't worry if you've forgotten your shrimping net - there are several gift shops back at street level which sell these, as well as all the usual beach paraphernalia). Dinas Dinlle is a great beach for swimming and watersports; at the end of the summer the sea has some nice warm 'pockets' that are very pleasant to swim in. There are several places to eat and drink, and an excellent ice cream parlour. There are also public toilets and a small playground to keep the children entertained when they've finished making sandcastles.
Find Near Hotel!
____________________________________________________________
3.Barmouth
Barmouth, Gwynedd, UK
Barmouth is the quintessential seaside experience, with everything you could ask for in a family day at the beach. Soft golden sand? Check. Sand dunes to roll and tumble down? Check. Funfair, toilets, cafes, shops and amusements? Check! It's Southern Snowdonia's most popular seaside resort, but don't worry about overcrowding; the beach at Barmouth is vast, so there's plenty of room for all. Barmouth also has a fantastic harbour, where you can take boat trips or simply take a stroll and enjoy the beautiful scenery. And on those days when the beach seems less appealing (like we said, we can't guarantee the weather) there are plenty of indoor attractions which together form "On The Quay at Barmouth" - so there's plenty to do even on those days when the weather's misbehaving.
Find Near Hotel!
____________________________________________________________
4.Llanfairfechan
Llanfairfechan, Conwy, UK
Another popular seaside resort, Llanfairfechan has been a hit with families since the Victorian era. Like many a Victorian resort, Llanfairfechan has all the traditional ingredients for the perfect British seaside holiday: a vast, sandy beach, promenade, pavilion, beach shops and plenty of entertainment. There's a children's playground with paddling pool, plenty of free parking, a skateboard park, a boating lake for model boat enthusiasts, two beachside cafes and public toilets. Phew! And all backed by the stunning sight of Penmaenmawr Mountain. What more could you ask for in a family-friendly beach?
Find Near Hotel!
____________________________________________________________
5.Porth Oer (Whistling Sands)
Porth Oer, Snowdonia, UK
Although the access isn't amazing at Porth Oer - it's a fairly steep walk down from the car park, which isn't too bad, but it's pretty tiring on the way back up - we couldn't write about family-friendly Snowdonia beaches without including this perennial family favourite. It's nicknamed Whistling Sands thanks to the peculiar quality of the sand, which squeaks when you stamp on it - so kids absolutely love it. There's plenty of parking thanks to the large National Trust car park, and on the beachfront there's a cafe, shop and toilet facilities which are all open during the main summer season. Porth Oer is definitely one of the more picturesque beaches in the region, and despite the shop and other facilities is very unspoilt. It's fairly off the beaten track so it tends not to get overly crowded, which means it's pretty peaceful as well as very beautiful.
Find Near Hotel!
____________________________________________________________
Source : http ://EzineArticles.com/8648710
Take a look on other Tourist attractions on : https://www.facebook.com/Ivisittheworld