There are a number of places that you can go and visit in Brazil, South America. There is only one place that is truly unforgettable Grande Sert?o Veredas Park is that place. Its landscapes are covered with enormous amounts of bio and ecological diversity. Along with some of the local towns you can experience some of the historic buildings and cobblestone streets.

Along with visiting these places I do have a couple of suggestions for you.

* One of the premier places to visit is the The Amazonia National Park which is also known to the locals as ‘The Green Inferno’  It is named this because of the great expanse of natural ecological and biological diversity that covers a great majority of the Brazilian landscape.

* The Pantanal, is another location in the same area that is great for watching the local wildlife emerge from there hiding places. It is amazing to see, hear and experience wildlife in their natural habitat.

As you travel in brazil another place that is a must sea is the Atlantic coast and its beaches but be arned in the summer time the water off the coast can be notoriously rough and cold due to the currents and under-tones.

In most of the surrounding country you are looking at around 30 dollars for accommodations, about 20 for food, ect… so if you do plan to stay for awhile in Brazil a month or so it may be best to keep around 1500 on a credit card or bank account which you can remove via ATM as spending money. But if you go off the beaten track a little bit and stay away from the touristy spots you can expect to pay much less for the same services.  

Only carry as much as you are comfortable carrying with you in terms of money and valuables. You will need cash and not simply Credit cards, Travelers checques, ect… you can save quite a bit by using it. But Brazil in areas is still a small country and not everyone will take credit cards outside the cities. So make sure you do plan accordingly. Traveler’s cheques can be a hassle because there is only a couple of banks (Banco de Brazil, etc) in Brazil where you can exchange them commission free.

But these places and with a little planning you can have a experience of a lifetime in Brazil. If you would like more information regarding brazil. Places to see, visit, eat, or even move as an expat. Or just the local news please visit and book mark my website on brazil at  www.brazilgringo.com

Come to study Spanish in Mexico and discover the amazing city of Oaxaca, declared Humanity World Heritage by the UNESCO. Oaxaca portrays extremely natural beauty of untouched landscapes and rich indigenous past, as you study Spanish in Mexico you can interact with one of these local tribes. Oaxaca offers visitors a wide range of activities to connect with nature and relax while you study Spanish in Mexico.

If you come to study Spanish in Mexico you can’t miss the incredible beaches of Oaxaca. The most renowned are Puerto Escondido, Puerto Angel y Huatulco Bay along the Mexican Pacific with impressive sunsets and crystalline waters. Zicatela Beach is ideal to practice surf and have a break as you study Spanish in Mexico. For those who are more intrepid a place to go is Zipoliti Nude Beach unique in the world.

Study Spanish in Mexico and enjoy natural spas and spring waters in exclusive regions in Oaxaca. The most visited are the ones found in the towns of Lollaga and Magdalena Tlacotepec. White Creek and Vega del Sol Resorts are also worth a visit if you come to study Spanish in Mexico, since they are full of tourists and deviate from nearby rivers.

On the other hand, if you enjoy watching the power of nature you should go along the huge waterfalls found in Oaxaca as you study Spanish in Mexico. There are three different mountain ranges in Oaxaca that have given birth to astonishing waterfalls. Study Spanish in Mexico and visit La Guacamaya cascade and Hierve el Agua waterfall, the most important ones in Oaxaca.

Lagoons and Dams are also incredible places to visit in Oaxaca while you study Spanish in Mexico. Here you will have the chance to discover local flora and fauna by taking part in boat trips along the lagoons. Study Spanish in Mexico and learn about wildlife as you go through tropical dense vegetation, mangroves, swamps and coastal dunes. Manialtepec and Cacahua National Park offer incredible lagoon trips to enjoy as you study Spanish in Mexico. Regarding the Dams, you will enjoy outstanding architecture that has helped to the economic development of Oaxaca. If you come to study Spanish in Mexico you can enjoy water sports in the different dams as fishing or boat races. You must take a look at Yosocuta Dam as well as Miguel Aleman and Benito Juarez Dam.

Want more during your stay to study Spanish in Mexico? Oaxaca also offers visitors interesting tours along its many caves and caverns. Many caves are found underwater and are perfect to discover by practicing scuba diving. So study Spanish in Mexico and find remains of prehistoric life by walking around native caverns in Oaxaca. Apoala, Sotano de San Agustin and San Sebastian are some examples of cave regions you can’t ignore while you study Spanish in Mexico.

If you are interested in biological research and plant life, the perfect places for you are the Tule Tree and the Historical Etno – Botanical Gerden. You should visit these places as you study Spanish in Mexico so as to get specific vocabulary on this area. Oaxaca species sum up for the 5 % of the flora and fauna of the whole world. In the city there are some regions still unexplored, portraying a natural treasure you must appreciate while you study Spanish in Mexico.

Let me tell you a little about myself. I am 26. I grew up in East Cornwall; my parents ran their own business. Their business sold fuel saving devices for cars that were highly magnetic- that’s the devices that were magnetic, not the cars obviously. Over time some of the distributors who indirectly worked for the company selling the products began to notice that the dodgy knees, bad hips and other complaints they had been carrying around for years seemed to be feeling a lot better when they had been carrying the devices around in their pockets. This prompted my father to do some research.

Magnetic therapy, or magnotherapy, was nothing new, in fact its roots can be traced back to ancient china, but this represented an important milestone in the development and increasing popularity of magnotherapy in this country. His research into and increased understanding of the complex biophysical interactions between living cells and magnetic fields led to him receiving the prestigious BT Award for Innovation, while his magnotherapy company appeared twice in the Sunday Times/Virgin list of Top 100 Fastest Growing Privately Owned Companies. His original CRP magnet module became the world’s leading magnotherapy product and remains the only magnetic bracelet to complete a successful clinical trial under an approved medical protocol.

Though I heard many stories and examples of the products helping people and animals (including a male elephant at Whipsnade Safari Park who was not able to fulfil his duties as part of the park’s breeding program because of a bad back. After a jumbo sized magnetic strap was made, he was able to continue, much to the delight of the keepers and lady elephants) I never had any experiences of their benefits myself. That was until last year when I travelled to India.

I began my four month trip to India in the far north. I flew from Delhi to Leh, the largest town in the ancient former kingdom of Ladakh, a beautiful Buddhist region with its own unique culture nestled high in the Himalayas close to the Chinese border. It is in fact, the highest inhabited place in the world.

As you can imagine, flying directly from Delhi, averaging around 250 metres above sea level, to Leh, 3500 metres above sea level, is quite an adjustment for the body to handle, and most people suffer from altitude sickness to some degree when they arrive. I made three friends quite quickly when I arrived.

Of the three of us, I was the only one who did not have to put themselves to bed with a pounding headache, and I, of course, was wearing one of the magnetic bracelets sold by my father’s old company, which he had by now sold. One of my new friends was suffering so badly after during the first two days that after a glass of mint tea (supposedly good for the stomach) she was physically sick in the street. I lent her my magnetic bracelet, and in the morning she felt much better.

During a tough mountain trek a few days later, our entire party (besides our local guides) were suffering terrible from headaches and nausea after a very tough day’s trek. I however, whilst not without symptoms, was the only one who felt well enough to sit with our guides and eat dinner.

A new and improved design has now been produced, and represents a further development of the theories that made the earlier design so effective, successful and popular. It may not be the first thing that comes tom mind when you are deciding on equipment for your next adventure, but perhaps it should be on the list.

Having Visited Costa Rica, I have compiled a list of the best locations to
visit. This list is by no means comprehensive or complete, it is just a checklist
of all the places I would visit when I go to Costa Rica.
Monteverde Cloud Forest
Most famous for being associated with the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve,
the tiny community of Monteverde is a small village located near the
entrance of the cloud forest. Monteverde was founded by the Quaker community
that migrated from North America to Costa Rica in the 1950’s. In town, which
is actually Santa Elena, you’ll find banks, drug store, a local hospital,
book store, gas station, ATM machine, police station, post office,
supermarkets, internet cafes, restaurants
As the weather here is quite chilly and misty, due to the village being high
up in the Tilaran Mountain Range, you should bring some thick clothes and a
light jacket to stay warm. When here, do remember to try out the delicious
local cheeses, which are a treat to eat. If you are a bird watcher, this
village offers some lovely bird watching opportunities, even though you are
not in the cloud forest itself. However, if you prefer to do the more
touristy thing, visit the local craft centers, the women’s co-op center, the
butterfly garden and the Hummingbird Gallery in town.
Dominical Beach
Located on Costa Rica’s amazingly beautiful Central Pacific coastline, the
small village of Dominical is a surfer’s paradise where waves can reach over
10 feet high, a place rich in island biodiversity and amazing underwater
flora and fauna. It is the perfect combination between the extensive golden
coasts full of scenic beaches & luscious mountains.
Dominical is a 4 km long beach strip, with a few hotels, lodges, resorts and
restaurants in the area. While swimming here is near impossible with the
strong swells and rip tides, one can kayak off the coast or enjoy some
diving or snorkeling opportunities in the area. Horseback tours can also be
arranged to the nearby Nauyaca Waterfalls, or one can visit the Marino
Ballena National Park, which is home to a number of marine mammals like
turtles and whales that come here seasonally to mate and nest. If you like,
you can take a short day trip to the lovely Ca?o Island just off the coast.
This island is considered one of the best adventure diving spots in the
world and is home to an impressive array of underwater marine life.
Tortuguero
Tortuguero National Park is one of Costa Rica’s most biologically diverse
wildlife areas. Featuring one of the most verdant landscapes in the country,
the 26,156 hectare park was created with the main purpose of protecting the
green sea turtle nesting area. Tortuguero owes its very wet tropical forest
to the 5000 to 6000 millimeters of rain it receives per year. These climatic
conditions are favorable to more than 400 tree species, around 2200 species
of other plants and more than 400 birds, 60 amphibian and 30 fresh water
fish species, as well as several endangered animals including tapirs,
monkeys, ocelots, jaguars, manatees and sloths. Tortuguero is characterized
by beautifully scenic canals, lagoons and rivers that may be toured by boat,
canoe or kayak. In addition to the green turtle, three other sea turtle
species nest on the park’s beaches.
Arenal Volcano
The Arenal Volcano area is one of Costa Rica’s top attractions. Only 3 hours
away from San Jos?, in the town of La Fortuna, stands a majestic 1,633m
volcano, known to be one of the most active in the world. Despite its
constant activity, the volcano is very safe to visit as long as you stay
within the safety perimeter. In this area take advantage of the pristine
natural surroundings! Go fishing, horseback riding; take a canopy tour,
rafting or experience a tremendous canyon expedition. Whatever you decide,
be sure to visit the relaxing hot springs in the area, the most famous being
Tabacon and Baldi.
La Fortuna and Surroundings
Often simply referred to as La Fortuna, the town of La Fortuna de San Carlos
is the gateway to the magnificent Arenal Volcano. A charming and quiet town,
La Fortuna is easily accessible from the capital city San Jose, and offers
some panoramic views of the spectacular Arenal, Costa’s Rica’s most active
volcano. Sitting around 10 kilometers away from town and regularly spewing
smoke and ash for some time now, the Volcan Arenal is the country’s top
rated tourist attraction and is indeed a sight to behold.
Over the last few years in particular, La Fortuna has become quite a
bustling town. However, there are plenty of accommodations, hotels and
resorts here to suit every budget. A must try when in La Fortuna are the
amazing resort spas surrounding the volcano. On a clear day you can watch
the volcano erupt and if you wait for nightfall, the Arenal puts on a
brilliant show with bright red rocks tumbling down its sides.
Beside the volcano, this town has other great tourist attractions like the
La Catarata de la Fortuna, Tabacon Hot Springs, white water rafting, hiking
excursions, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, horseback riding, canopy tours and
Ca?o Negro Boat Tours are just some of the many activities that one can
enjoy while you are here.
Malpais
Malpais is situated on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica on the southern tip
of the Nicoya Peninsula.
Also known as the Hawaii of Latin America, there are several beaches to
swim, dive or snorkel though it’s main attraction is it’s unique conditions
for surfing and it’s pristine subtropical nature. Horseback riding,
sportfishing, canopy tours, scuba, and nature tours make up some of the
other popular activities nearby. Malpais is a community unlike any other in
Costa Rica with a strong surf culture and a the laid-back atmosphere that
maintains the type of earthy tourism that made Costa Rica famous.
MalPais boasts a great selection of places to stay and eat from camping on
the beach to luxurious resorts and a wide range of activities. Without a
doubt it’s a very attractive place to relax and enjoy the golden rays of the
Pacific sunset.
Turrialba Valley
With some stunning views of Costa Rica’s rural countryside, Turrialba is a
charming little town in the lush and beautiful Central Valley in Cartago
province. Famous for being a white water rafting hotspot and base camp, this
town lies 53 km east of the capital city San Jos? and is an excellent place
to tour the pre-Columbian ruins at Guayabo National Monument, or the rarely
visited but lovely Parque Nacional Volcan Turrialba. A quiet town, Turrialba
with its charming street corners and gorgeous surrounding sceneries is among
the few places in Costa Rica with direct access to a volcano’s crater. From
the summit of the volcano, you can on a clear day, see the Irazu, Po?s and
Barva volcanoes in the distance Botanists and gardeners will want to pay a
visit to the Center for Agronomy Research and Development (CATIE), which is
located 5km (3 miles) southeast of Turrialba on the road to Siquirres. This
center is one of the world’s foremost facilities for research into tropical
agriculture.

Corbett National Park

One of the most visited wildlife destinations of India, Corbett national Park is located in the beautiful state of Uttaranchal. Rich in bio-diversity, it also boasts of a picturesque landscape. Popular for its tigers, it is also a home to a variety of other wildlife. Wildlife lovers from all over the world come here to experience the wilderness. Leopards and crocodiles are the other highlights of the park. This park was established in 1936 and came under Project Tiger Scheme in 1973. The park covers an area of 520 sq km and is the oldest wildlife reserves of India.
The best time to visit: From November to June

Ranthambore National Park

This National Park is famous for its tigers and several other wildlife species. It was recognized as a Game Sanctuary in 1955 by the Government of India. And in the year 1973 it was covered under Project Tiger Scheme. And finally became a National Park in the year 1980. Located in the Swai Madhopur district of Rajasthan, it is a home to wildlife such as leopard, nilgai, dhole, wild pig, sambar, chital, Sloth Bear, Jackals, Marsh Crocodile, Jungle Cat, Sambhar, Chinkara, Leopard, Gazzelle, Indian Hare, Porcupines,Wild Boar and Monitor Lizards, gaur, Black Buck, spotted deer, jackal, Mongoose and Nilgai. It sprawls over an area of 392 sq km. The Park also boasts of around 250 bird species. The historic Ranthambore fort is another wonderful attraction of this park.
The best time to visit: October to March

Kaziranga National Park

It is a beautiful Park known for its endangered one-horned Indian Rhinoceros. Covering an area of 430 sq km, this park is a World Heritage Site where wildlife enthusiasts come from far and wide. A variety of other wildlife species are also found here. This Park is also famous for highest density of tigers among the protected ares in the world. This Park is also a home to a variety of colorful birds. Covering an area of 430 sq km, this park is located in the enchanting northeast state of Assam.
The Best time to visit: From November to May

Keoladeo National Park
If your world orbits around birds, then Keoladeo National Park is the best wildlife destination to visit. It is a World Heritage Site where both resident and migratory birds are found. More than 380 species of birds inhabit this Park. It is located in Rajasthan and is a World Heritage Site. Several other wildlife species are also found here. It is the most popular bird sanctuary of India.
The best time to visit: From August to February

There are absolutely loads of things to do in London and they need not cost the earth. With a bit of research you will have plenty of fun days out without paying a single penny.  Some of the best museums in the world are free and based in London.  Now you might think museums are boring and not entertaining, well you would be far from wrong.  Some of the best exhibitions and events are found in London’s Museums’ and the admissions are free.

The Science Museum is a great day out for the whole family. It houses the world’s most impresive movie experience at the IMAX 3D Cinema with many 3D films such the magical underwater adventure where you will be transported below the ocean surface to swim alongside some of the planet’s most unique and colourful creatures. If prehistoric is your thing check out the Sea Monsters and the Dinosaurs Alive films. The Space station will blast you off to space to see the building of the International Space Station. There are many more so make sure you get there early.

If you want to see the development of the modern industrial world from 1750 to 2000 the Science Museum has the most breathtaking gallery display in the world. Another gallery devoted to our Solar System shows the story of the space rocket. You can learn about the satellites orbiting Earth and find out how we are probing the rest of the Solar System and beyond. This is just a small amount of what you will see at the Science Museum in London, it really is worth a visit and it opens at 10am and the admission is free.

The Natural History Museum is a spectacular Victorian-style Italian Renaissance building which houses  fantastic collections from the middle of the eighteenth century.  It is now one of the most visited museums in London and the country and contains an unrivalled collection of exhibits.

Exhibits at the Museum include dinosaurs, human biology, marine invertebrates, mammals, reptiles and fish and much more.  Again admission to the Natural History Museum is completely free.

Another fantastic museum which also is free is the Victoria and Albert Museum. It homes probably the world’s greatest art and design collection spanning the last two thousand years. It has more than four million exhibits, spanning across four floors over ten acres and 145 galleries. Some of the collections include sculpture, ceramics, fashion, architecture, photography, textiles, metalwork and much more.

Those are just 3 places in London which are completely free and will keep you busy for hours, even days. There are many more and each month new events get listed which are free.  Type into Google “free events London” and you will find plenty of places to visit and things to do.  The only money you will need is for food and refreshments.

The cheapest way to get about in London is with the London Underground, with simple maps and day rates you can get about without paying the conjestion charge.  Also staying in London needn’t cost the earth as there are plenty of low cost budget hotels to choose from and some of them are newly refurbished will all the latest mod cons.  So get planning and enjoy some cheap days out in the best capital in the world London.  Ok I’m biased, I was born there, but let’s face it, apart from New York there’s no place in the world like London.

We’ve often described the Northern California Wine Country as a ‘Disneyland for Adults’, but that doesn’t mean you have to leave the children behind. For many people, visiting wineries is only one day of their trip to San Francisco. After all, with all of the attractions it has to offer, the Bay Area is a great destination for the whole family. A daytrip to the scenic counties of Sonoma and Napa provides an opportunity to enjoy a relaxed pace with stunning views, wonderful tours and interesting wineries. The wineries and their gift shops are admittedly more interesting to the adults than the kids, but they will still enjoy the trip because it is, after all, farm country, and what kid doesn’t enjoy that? Sonoma especially takes great pride in their agricultural diversity, so as you travel around you’re going to see a wide variety of plantings, orchards and livestock in between the vineyards. 
 
We’re seeing increasing numbers of children in Wine Country. While it is still a relatively small number, parents are finding ways to make it work. The secret to having a great time together in Sonoma and Napa is to realize that while many wineries are not suitable or enjoyable for children, there are many others that are. Sonoma and Napa have over seven hundred wineries, of which about half can be visited easily so there are plenty to choose from, as well as many other family attractions. 
 
One of the most kid friendly and adult enjoyable destinations is the Plaza in downtown Sonoma.  If you’re coming from San Francisco over the Golden Gate Bridge you’ll be at this historic and charming place in a little over half an hour. This is the ‘Philadelphia of California’, because it is the place where the Republic of California declared its independence from Mexico.
 It is helpful to know that there are the counties of Sonoma and Napa, and the cities of Sonoma and Napa.
Even though Sonoma is a small city of about nine thousand people, it is big on history. It is the only city in California that enjoys all three of these distinctions; it was an official Pueblo, or city under Mexico, it was a Franciscan Mission (the twenty-first and final), and it was the military headquarters for the entire West Coast under both Mexico and the United States. Around the Plaza, which is the largest in California, there are numerous historic sites as well as nice restaurants and shops. In the Plaza there are great picnic tables near the playgrounds and the newly restored duck pond.
The tourist bureau sits on the Plaza in an old Carnegie Library building and it can provide additional information for a great day with kids. A unique attraction called Train Town is just two minutes back down Broadway, the road that led you to the Plaza. This is a small old-style amusement park suitable for young children up to approximately age ten. There is a small train to ride and a traditional merry-go-round and it harkens back to a time before special effects were digital. There is even a petting zoo. 
 
Around the Plaza are several winery tasting rooms where you can taste some excellent wines without spending all day getting there. Then you can nip back to the playground before moving on to the next winery. Five minutes from the Plaza is one of the Sonoma originals, the Sebastiani Family Winery, with their great old barrel room, one of Sonoma’s best gift shops and some very nice wines for you to sample. They also offer a trolley tour of Sonoma that explains about its wonderful history. Just to the south of town is the Larson Family Winery, on the old Sonoma Rodeo site. This was where the champion race horse Seabiscuit stabled overnight when he was racing on the West Coast. It has a farm-like setting with llamas and sheep. Horse rides through the vineyards can arranged in advance, bocce courts and picnic areas round out the experience.  
 
From the Plaza you can head north on Route 12 up the Valley of the Moon, a scenic route. Voted Sonoma’s best tour, the Benziger Family Winery in Glen Ellen offers a wonderful mix of agriculture, education and fine wine. Their vineyards are tucked in a pretty little valley on Sonoma Mountain just down the road from Jack London’s old ranch, now a park.
 Their tour, aboard a tram attached to the back of a tractor, winds its way up into the vineyards where they explain the biodynamic approach to agriculture, a remarkable system that is increasingly popular with many high-end wineries. Next you visit the barrel caves and finish up in the winery for a tasting. Admittedly wineries are about adult enjoyment, but there are often children on the Benziger tour and they always seem to enjoy themselves.  
 
Please don’t make the mistake of bringing children to trendy wineries where they have nothing of interest for kids. They will spend the hour while you are tasting wine bored with nothing to do. The wineries that are kid friendly have made a big effort to be so. At both the Sonoma Plaza and Benziger you’ll find good picnic tables, so pick up some sandwiches either at the Plaza or at the Glen Ellen Market. 
 
Many of the wineries in the Valley of the Moon are kid friendly as long as you have an adult willing to keep an eye on them. The grounds are gracious and park-like allowing for a little outdoor enjoyment in beautiful surroundings.  Some of those that come to mind are B.R. Cohn, Imagery, Landmark and St. Francis. Chateau St. Jean and Ledson Winery both have deli markets and picnic tables on site. They are all within five miles of each other along Route 12, the main road in the Valley. Hint: Bring a soccer ball or a Frisbee. There are some great lawns in the Valley of the Moon. 
 
Visiting Napa with Children

 
Napa is a great place to visit because everything is close together. The whole valley is only thirty miles long by five miles wide, and while there are other wineries tucked up in the hills, the variety of wineries that are easy to reach is wonderful. However, it is not as agriculturally varied as Sonoma. Napa is another half hour farther from the Golden Gate Bridge, but the ride brings you through the beautiful Carneros district with its vineyard covered rolling hills that have a distinctly Tuscan feeling. Napa is closer to San Francisco via the less scenic Bay Bridge. 
 
Napa has a bit more of a city style than its country cousin Sonoma, but there are several places that children will especially enjoy. Everyone enjoys spectacular architecture and great views, something at which Napa excels. A classic example of this is the Artesa Winery, with its hilltop site overlooking Carneros and the Bay. Artesa is close to San Francisco and despite not being built with children in mind, the feeling is relaxed enough and the variety of places to explore extensive enough that everyone in the family will be charmed. They even have an elevator for those with strollers. 
 
Just to the north in Yountville is Domaine Chandon, one of Napa’s original makers of sparkling wine. This is a favorite for groups and people with children because the grounds are gracious and accommodating, with lawns, ponds and wildlife. Up on the patio, they offer snacks along with their elegant sparkling wines and the tables make it easier to keep everyone together. The springtime tadpole explosion in the ponds will keep any child entertained. 
 
One of the most enjoyable family wineries is Francis Ford Coppola’s Rubicon in Rutherford, about half way up the Napa Valley on Highway 29 (St. Helena Highway). He took the historic Neibaum/Inglenook building and surrounded it with gardens that have all of the graciousness of a southern Italian villa. The exhibits and old barrel rooms upstairs are enough to entertain most children. During the summer they provide model sailboats to send gliding on the fountain pool in front of the building. There is a small caf?, with outdoor seating, a great gift shop and of course some wonderful wines. 
 
Just to the north is the V. Sattui Winery which in this context is most valuable for their great deli offerings and large picnic area. Napa does not have a lot of picnic areas. On a Saturday in season it can get busy, but finding food, wine and picnic tables all together certainly makes the logistics of blending wineries with children much easier. The wineries have dramatically more traffic on Saturdays than Sundays. 
 
The Wilds of Calistoga
 
For the San Francisco-based traveler, unfortunately, two of the most interesting wineries for children are all the way at the northern part of the valley, just south of the ‘old west’ style town of Calistoga, which is a great, kid-friendly place to visit onto itself. These two wineries are not suitable for infants in strollers, but for children eight years and older they are a fun experience. First is Sterling Vineyards, famous for its aerial tramway that carries visitors to its hilltop winery. Many years ago it was the first large winery to charge for their tastings. The price includes the tram ride. Between the tram, the gift shop and the tasting you need to allow an hour and a half to enjoy the place. Get there early to avoid the lines. 
 
Just across Highway 29 is one of the newest, large wineries in Napa, although it was built to look old. The Castello di Amorosa is built like an authentic castle, from real stone and hand wrought iron. The vision, the forty million dollars and thirteen years it took to build produced a remarkable place. Children are restricted to the early morning tours so you should check their website for the schedule. The tour with tasting takes about two hours. The admission for Rubicon, Sterling and Castello di Amorosa all range between $20 and $25, although they offer discounts for children and young adults. 
 
Napa gets hot in the summer, but very dry, so there are very few flying bugs. During the Winter it gets rainy, but not very cold. Both Spring and Fall are gorgeous, and harvest time, from late August through mid-November, is a very busy, exciting time in Wine Country. 
 
Small, private wineries are often at people’s homes, so for the collector, traveling with children, you should ask your potential hosts if children are welcomed. If you want to get to the smaller wineries with children, consider hiring a guide with a car or SUV (avoid limos due to the need to sit sideways or backwards which increases the possibility of carsickness). While there are limo services in San Francisco, many of the experts live in Wine Country but they pick up clients in the city. Hiring a driver greatly reduces the stress and increases the enjoyment. Explain that you have children and ask them for a guide that is comfortable with that. Some guides are parents and actually like children. For them it’s something different and in fact we remember every tour we’ve ever done with kids. Touring with children is educational and a lot of fun, as long as you go to wineries that they’ll find interesting too. So enjoy your day with the kids in Wine Country.

Ayurveda is a holistic system of healing which evolved in India about 3000-5000 years ago. Fast food and easy meals coupled with little to no exercise equals weight gain and there are a number of medical problems overweight children and adults are at risk for, like diabetics, cholesterol, insomnia and many more. Obesity or overweight is the sign of imbalanced doshas- vata, pitta, and kapha. Obesity often, occurs when the food is not balanced by digestive and metabolism system of your body. Huge consumption of carbohydrates and fats are also reasons for obesity. Laziness, lack of physical work and exercise also contribute to excess weight. Till date Kerala is the only State in India, which gives the full fledged opportunity of medicine with absolute dedication. Monsoon is considered to be the ideal time for rejuvenation. From early time only monsoon was regarded as the best season for Ayurveda regimens.

Ayurveda regards the measures that have to be taken in routine life style as well as the treatment procedures for diseases. It is the science which is based on the Tridosha principle. Doshas are the representation/generalization of the biological functions of human body. Both health and disease are related to the balance or imbalance of these doshas. By having heavy fatty foods is the prime factor for obesity. Ayurveda has a very keen proclivity in maintaining the weight. Your weight should be according to your age and height. The body has to maintain proper weight as, overweight can cause many troubles. Obesity welcomes many diseases such as malfunctioning of liver, heart, and kidneys. It also leads asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes, and arthritis.  
Today we often saw that people are doing anything for being slim. Ayurveda is a perfect ancient science of life. According to Ayurveda, continuous indulgence in high fat food, fried items, etc., along with sedentary life-style leads to excess accumulation of body fat which gets deposited in the numerous body channels. Ayurveda treatment for this problem depends on individual’s dosha- imbalance system of the body. All people are designed with specific Ayurvedic treatment to control his weight. Ayurveda has different types of body massage for weight loss program with herbal oil for removing the excess fat from the body.  Udwardhanam is one the best method of heating the body with a powder massage and removing the excess fat accumulated on the body. You cannot apply any universal solution to this problem. But, definitely some remedies will help you to control your weight.  
Maintain your lifestyle with healthy diet, adequate sleep, and regular exercise.  
Have the food items which will relive your digestive systems, such as mango, papaya, ginger, bitter greens, pineapple, and bitter melons.  
Drink lots of warm water daily. It will be also good to have warm lime water; added with honey in the early morning. It will help you to flush out all toxic matter from your body. Also drink glass of boiled water after your every meal.  
You can also have ginger tea daily three or four times. It will be better by adding cinnamon or black pepper in it. You may also add cinnamon powder with a teaspoonful of honey. Take this mixture daily before going to bed. It will help you in digestion and controls gastric problems.  
Have lot of fresh green vegetables and juicy sweet fruits. They are full filled with vitamins and minerals which requires to your body. This veggies and fruits contain low calories which gives sufficient energy to the body. The water content in fruits and vegetables will keep the body hydrated.  
Ayurvedic Home Remedies

• Every day early morning drink lukewarm lime water with added teaspoon of honey and it will reduce salt and sugar of your body.
• keep yourself hydrated by having lots juices and drink hot water and ginger tea throughout the day
• Avoid junk foods. Increase intake of food that is high in vitamin C
• For controlling your weight peppermint is very much beneficial. You may add peppermint leaves to fresh green vegetable salad or include them in the juice. Drinking peppermint tea is also effective for obesity.
• Regular exercise will help to your maintain weight. Go early morning walk for at least thirty minutes. It will help to reduce your weight as well as enhance your respiratory systems. Yoga and aerobics exercise are highly beneficial.

Popular Weight Loss Medicines in Ayurveda

• Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) good for human immune system. It improves the functioning of white blood cells.
• Triphala Choorna benefits us through its detoxifying powers. It gives good digestion, and thus, aids in natural weight loss
• Shilajit is an Ayurvedic medicine that contains 83 minerals. Benefits of shilajit are many, other than weight loss; it also helps in controlling blood sugar, increases sexual capacity and has anti-aging capabilities as well.