After you’ve decided to go to Amsterdam, you have a few more decisions to make before your holiday. First, you must find a deal on Amsterdam flights. It is wise to book your flight well in advance to ensure a lower rate, especially if you are going during the busy season. While you may be able to find accommodations after you land, it is ideal to make your reservation in advance as well. After you have secured lodging, it’s time for the fun part – deciding what to do.

A view of the Reguliersgracht on the corner with the Keizersgracht, in Amsterdam, The Netherlands by Massimo Catarinella

The Seven Best Things to Do

The below top seven things to do in Amsterdam will help you decide which attractions and activities you cannot miss during your trip.

• De Pijp – This neighborhood is referred to as “Quartier Latin” due to 19^th-century architecture that reflects a collision of many different cultures. This eclectic neighborhood features ethnic restaurants and one-of-a kind shops to satisfy the food enthusiast and shopaholic. It is also home to Albert Cuyp Market, a famous street market with international vendors. This is a great place to meander around and take in flavors and experiences from all over the world.

• Vondelpark – As a well-maintained park that is home to ponds, playgrounds and winding paths, it is an ideal spot for an evening bike ride or roller blading adventure. There is a plethora of sculptures and statues to appreciate throughout the park. Vondelpark is open from sunrise to sunset and is an excellent free way to enjoy an evening in Amsterdam.

• Anne Frank’s House – Anne Frank’s universally respected and somber house is widely considered a must-see attraction. Visitors are able to see where Anne Frank hid for two years and wrote her diary before being taken to a concentration camp. As one of the most popular attractions in the city, visiting very early or very late in the day is the best way to avoid long lines. The House is open daily and charges a reasonable price for admission.

• Van Gogh Museum – Home to a collection of prints, paintings and etchings from the respected Vincent Van Gogh, this museum is a must-see for any art enthusiast. With over 200 paintings on display visitors can spend an entire day taking in Van Gogh’s work. Admission is more than other museums in the area and is often sold-out. Reserve your tickets well ahead of time to see this unique museum.

• The Heineken Experience – Located on the site of the company’s original brewery, this renovated attraction offers a self-guided tour of this famous brewery. The ‘experience’ entails a unique multimedia exhibit in which you actually become a beer. Visitors are shaken, sprayed and heated. Don’t worry, you won’t be drank at the end. However, you may do some drinking yourself.

• The Red Light District – Many travelers have called the Red Light District a can’t-miss attraction. Being home to many bars and clubs, this district is known for its legalized prostitution and is most alive at night. Even if you will not be a patron, visiting the district offers a unique perspective not found anywhere else in the world. Leave the camera at your hostel, as taking pictures of prostitutes is expressly prohibited.

• Di’Vino Wijnbar – The Jordaan district is home to this dedicated wine bar for the sophisticated tourist. Enjoy a candlelit experience filled with quality Italian wines paired with divinely arranged cheese plates. The flickering candles and comfortable seating create an idyllic environment for a romantic evening in a quiet part of town.

Make the Most Out of Your Amsterdam Trip

Planning a rough itinerary before your trip is the best way to make the most out of your Amsterdam holiday. While there is value in an unstructured visit, if you are on any sort of time constraints making a schedule is advised. Creating an itinerary of attractions and activities will help you optimize the time spent in this wonderful and historic city.

Jonathan M. Scott is a contributing writer and travel enthusiast. He makes regular trips to Europe and Asia to explore new countries and cultures. 

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Photo by Elliott Brown

Camping at Lake Garda

One of the best ways to experience the beauty of Lake Garda is to camp on the lake. There are numerous campsites such as those offered by Eurocamp and Keycamp, which are situated right on the edge of the lake. You can simply step out of your tent and head to the beach for a swim whilst camping at Lake Garda. Here are a few of some the best campsites near Lake Garda.

On the Lake: Fontanelle is a peaceful campsite that is set on the shores of the lake and is also close to some of the area’s main attractions. The facility is well-maintained and offers a swimming pool; fishing and a children’s play area.

Family-Friendly: While not situated directly on the lake, Altomincio Family Park is still close enough for travellers to easily visit the lake. This park is a popular choice amongst families with swimming pools, waterslides, boat trips, twelve playgrounds and a cinema.

Luxury Camping: SelectCamp Camping Weekend is a lovely campsite for both children and adults. The site offers something extra for those who like to camp in comfort. The luxurious lodge tents are spacious, and fully equipped with showers and toilets. On-site amenities include a laundry, swimming pool, children’s pool, Internet café, two playgrounds, satellite TV and a pizzeria.

Gardaland – Italy’s number one amusement park / Spencer Wright

Things to Do at Lake Garda

The large lake offers plenty of activities for those who are adventurous. If you are an outdoor enthusiast, you can spend your time at Lake Garda exploring the beaches, windsurfing, hiking, canoeing and horseback riding. If you want a more peaceful holiday, you can spend time taking in the scenery as you stroll along the beach, or you can explore the vineyards and nearby villages.

Nearby Attractions

Some of Italy’s best attractions are located near Lake Garda. Both adults and children will enjoy visiting Gardaland, which is Italy’s number one amusement park. There are plenty of rides and various shows offered throughout the year that are perfect for entertaining children of all ages. Aqua Paradise Park is another popular attraction with families. This water park offers an exciting day in a tropical setting, with waterslides, an erupting volcano and an entire fishing village. While there are plenty of lively attractions close to Lake Garda, there are also quaint villages for exploration and cosy restaurant for dining. Don’t forget to stop at one of the local restaurants for a slice of pizza, cappuccino or ice cream sundae.

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Photo by admin

What is air traffic control?

Air traffic controllers are ground-based staff, operating from a control tower. They co-ordinate and organise the movements of aircraft, making sure that they fly within a safe distance from each other, thus avoiding any collisions.  They also direct flights during take-off and landing, relay information to pilots and direct them around bad weather.

How does air traffic control work?

Air traffic control is a complex system.  A controller uses radar screen systems to display all the aircraft flying in their particular sector at a given time – airspace is divided into zones and each zone is divided into sectors.  The airspace that they work in is called controlled airspace.  Although the systems they use display information in 2-D, the air traffic controllers have to think in 3-D; what may look like two aircraft nearly colliding on the screen, may in fact actually be a thousand feet apart from each other in reality.

Modern aircraft also have collision avoidance systems that serve as a backup to an air traffic controller’s radar system, but pilots still rely on air traffic control during a flight.  Although air traffic controllers are responsible for emergency monitoring, the pilot has the final call for the safety of the flight, however, and may deviate from instructions given in an emergency.

Departure

The air traffic controller uses visual observation before a flight departs, to assess whether the runway is clear for a flight to taxi into position.  They also use radar to check that the departing aircraft won’t get in the way of landing aircraft.  The air traffic controller then gives the aircraft clearance to depart.  Once the flight has taken off, the pilot activates a transponder in the cockpit, which sends a radar signal with the flight’s number, altitude, airspeed and destination to radar towers located along the plane’s route.  The airplane will appear as a dot on the air traffic controller’s radar screen systems.  As the aircraft travels through various airspaces, the plane is passed from one air traffic controller centre to another, until it finally reaches its destination.

Arrivals

The signal of a descending aircraft gets picked up by the air traffic control centre, at the arrival airport.  The air traffic controller can see the number of aircraft in the airspace surrounding the airport and the number of planes on the ground.  With this information, the controller safely guides an arriving aircraft into the airport and may relay instructions to the pilot depending on the weather conditions.

When we’re off on our travels, it’s quite easy to take for granted how we get from A to B, but a lot of careful co-ordination is going on behind the scenes, to make sure we get to our destinations safely.

This post was written by James Harper on behalf of Lee-Dickens who provide emergency monitoring software and other systems comonly used in air traffic control and industry. Photo: dno1967b

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Powerscourt Waterfall is situated on the River Dargle and is 121 m high. Near the waterfall, there is a learning trail, which guides you through the park with mature redwoods, oaks and beeches. In the trees you can see for example, cuckoos and finches. The area around the waterfall is also a popular place for family picnics. There are even a playgrounds.

You can visit Powerscourt Waterfall in January, February, November and December every day from 10:30 to 16:00. In March, April, September and October, it is open daily from 10:30 to 17:30. In May, June, July and August is open daily from 09:30 to 19:00. Tickets cost €5 for adults and €3.50 for children (under 16). Children under 2 years are admitted free. Students pay €4.50.

View Powerscourt Waterfall – the highest waterfall in Ireland in a larger map

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Photo by Claire (Europe Explored)

Located just beside the Holiday Village Tatralandia, countless people make their way to the aquapark every single year in order to relax in the pristine hot mineral waters which abound within the park. In order to ensure that your trip is enjoyable, there are also a number of resorts, hotels and boarding houses that can be found in or around the village. However, most people who choose to visit the aqua park tend to stay in the nearby town of Liptovský Mikuláš which offers even more amenities and accommodations.

Not only are there a number of pools to swim in, there are also toboggans and other nearby attractions that will keep you busy for days. It is also interesting to note that there are several pools that can be found within the Aquapark Tatralandia that also contained seawater. There are also lots of playgrounds for kids and adults as well as Relax centre with Sauna World.

Photo by Claire (Europe Explored)

The area in which the Aquapark Tatralandia is located, is known as one of the most mountainous regions in all of Slovakia. As such, while you are relaxing in the warm waters of the park, you can overlook the picturesque landscapes of the surrounding foothills and peaks. But don’t worry if you get tired of swimming, because there are plenty water slides, deck chairs as well as cafés that can be found in and around the area. For your safety, each one of the pools is monitored by a certified lifeguard.

So whether you are a resident of Slovakia, or just visiting the country for the summer, choosing to stop by and check out the Aquapark Tatralandia will be a very rewarding experience for any traveller with or without kids of any age.

The basic whole-day admission is €19. You can find more information on the official site of Aquapark Tatralandia.

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