A Chocolate Vacation

March 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

If you are a confirmed chocoholic, there are numerous places you can go to enjoy your favorite hobby. Here are just a few great places you can go:

  • Hershey, Pennsylvania: This famous spot is for people who are devoted to the classic Hershey’s Kiss. The unique, slightly sour flavor of Hershey’s chocolate is achieved by formulating the chocolate with buttermilk. Not only can you enjoy chocolate on your trip to this capital of American chocolate, but you can go on amusement park rides, too. Hershey Park is a family-friendly place to see chocolate being made where you can also go on different roller coasters and water rides.
  • Scharffen Berger Factory: If artisanal chocolate is more your interest, the Scharffen Berger chocolate company may be more up your alley. This company, which was acquired by Hershey’s in 2007, offered factory tours in its Berkeley facility until recently, when it closed to the public for economic reasons. The company still produces chocolates in a painstaking way and offers expert chocolate recipe advice on its website, as well as information about how they produce their products. They occasionally have contests for devotees, such as the cupcake contest that invited people to submit their special recipes that included Scharffen Berger chocolate.
  • Ghirardelli Square: This attraction overlooking the San Francisco Bay is famous for its free samples. You can see how chocolate was made at the Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop, where you can view all the original equipment through a glass wall. Don’t miss out on the delectable hot fudge sundaes or the hot chocolate that are offered here.
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Avoiding a Travel Nightmare

February 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Traveling abroad is a dream for many people. However, it can quickly turn into a nightmare if you’re in a foreign country and things go awry. With a little bit of preparation, you can avoid a plethora of potential problems by answering these questions before you leave

Where is the embassy?

The embassy is a building that houses officials of your own government. If you run into problems, the ambassador and the officials at your embassy should be able to provide you with information and support to help you out. It’s important you know where your embassy is in relation to your hotel before you arrive in the foreign country.

Where are your important documents?

If you set your bag down in order to capture a brilliant photo opportunity, you could potentially lose all of your important information. That’s a risk you can’t afford to take, so it’s important to take the time to create and store backup copies of all your information. If it’s an important document, you can keep paper copies in your room or you can keep digital copies stored on a disk. You may also keep a backup copy at home; someone you trust can retrieve it and send it to you if you need it.

How can you get money if you need it?

If there’s a financial emergency and you need cash fast, consider a short-term loan from a place like GreatPlainsLending. A loan like this allows you to get your hands on the cash you need quickly, then you can pay it back when you return home.

The truth is, your trip will likely be fine and you won’t need any of this information. However, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Take a little time to prepare and you can ensure a smooth vacation… even if there are a few bumps along the way.

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Travel the Central California Coast

February 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Aerial view of southern Santa Clara Valley, in...

Image via Wikipedia

On business in Silicon Valley? You’re close to one of the most beautiful regions of the United States-not that you would know it from the bland glass-faced tech buildings and the drab brown hills all around. If you have the weekend off, there are plenty of great attractions to enjoy within easy driving distance. Here are just a few:

  • Henry Coe Park: This park is located in the town of Morgan Hill, just outside of San Jose. Once you wind your way up the twisty roads to the park entrance, you will forget that you were just in the technology capital of the world. There are miles of hiking trails, some of which are accessible for bicycles. You can choose an easy one with little elevation or a more difficult one that involves quite a bit of uphill climbing. Your hike will take you through several diverse areas that include redwood trees, madrone stands, chaparral, and rolling grassy hills topped by majestic Live Oaks. If you go in late February or early March, the hills will be green and the wildflowers will be in bloom.
  • Santa Cruz: Only 30 miles or so from the heart of San Jose, this eccentric seaside town has great natural beauty and a lot of character. If you have children, they will love the old-fashioned Santa Cruz Seaside Boardwalk, which has a wooden roller coaster, a hand-painted carousel, and a variety of entertainments from days past. Don’t miss the fried oreos or the other (ahem) healthy amusement park fare.
  • Beaches: The town of Santa Cruz is in competition with the Southern California town of Huntington Beach for the title of “Surf City.” The Monterey Bay sure is cold, but people flock to this area to surf. You can travel further north to Half Moon Bay for the occasional Maverick’s surfing contest, which draws big crowds to watch the derring-do of big-wave surfers. If you want a quieter day with a long expanse of uncrowded sandy beach, your best bets are south of Santa Cruz, in Aptos or Watsonville. Enjoy!
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