Travel Towards - Travel articles and information from around the world

1. Tour, Hike, or Camp on a Volcano

   Spend an entire day at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Get your permits for overnight camping and spend some time on this beautiful park. Start your tour of Volcano with a stop at the Kilauea Visitor Center for some great information on volcanoes, maps and even a short movie. You must go on to Crater Rim Drive and also the Chain of Craters Road if you have more time.

2. Go Wine tasting:

   Do something which not many people know do in Hawaii – wine tasting! A small winery situated atop 4,000 ft on the volcanic slopes, produces two varieties Symphony wines and a bouquet of other tropical wines. You can taste as many as you like and take home a bottle or two as souvenirs.

3. Gaze at stars from top of the world

   From an altitude of 13,796 feet above sea level, the summit of Mauna Kea (White Mountain) is a brilliant place to have an observatory. While sitting above the clouds look from telescopes to see the infinitesimal stars of the night sky. If you are planning on visiting in winters, the snow covered slopes of this mountain are also a favorite for those who love to ski.

4. Tee off the golf course

   With 18 golf courses on the island you will not be disappointed with the quality of the golf courses in Hawaii. The great Jack Nicklaus designed Hualalai Golf Club especially for this island - Big Island is any golfer’s dream!

5. Take a dive to the bottom of the bay

   While most people enjoy water and love to go scuba diving and snorkeling in the blue waters, some are not so adventurous. For those who aren’t, there is always the option of a submarine! Reaching to a depth of 100 feet, this air conditioned submarine takes you to places only experiences by a deep sea diver previously. Also there are several glass bottom boat tours available for you to have a look what’s underneath you as you sail out in the sea.

6. They call me Ray, Manta Ray

   Dive in the night sea with a giant Manta Ray. Plankton eaters and completely harmless, these giant 8-10 ft sea creatures are quite used to humans and treat them like other fish. An experience to swim with them in the night sea is unlike any other.

7. Fly as high as a kite

   Soar above in the sky 800 feet, over the inky blue waters of the Kailua bay and feet the wind as your feet dangle in the air. Operated with all safety, parasailing is quite fun activity, designed to give you the freedom with fly with the gulls.

They’re rather touchy about calling Walt Disney’s Animal Kingdom a zoo. Well for one, it isn’t! Spread across a sprawling 500 acres, this exquisite theme park takes you on a journey like never before. The park is home to some 1700 animals representing 250 different species. A ride on the Kilimanjaro Safari will let you meet many of them, as you cross through the African Savannah. Slow moving jeeps let you experience this wonder from close angles, letting you have a good picture to put on your refrigerator later.

But the true wonder of this park is the mythical Tree of Life, a true work of art. Take the Maharaja Jungle Trek and feel the mysterious deep Asian jungles, teeming with life - bats, komodo dragons, deer, exotic birds and plenty of other wildlife. The Kali River Rapids let you go on a short but exhilarating ride on the river, at the same time also being informative about the evils of deforestation.

While you are venturing through the natural wonders of Asia at Animal Kingdom, take the Expedition Mount Everest. A one of kind roller coaster ride, complete with Yeti’s attacking you mid way and taking you the snow clad peaks of Mount Everest – the highest mountain on Earth.If you get tired and want to sit back and relax, there is always the McNuggets and Rainforest Café to satiate you hunger. You could just walk in and meet Simba and friends or watch Nemo perform in Nemo – The Musical.

Whatever you choose to do at Animal Kingdom, there is one thing you will have in plenty – Fun!

New Zealand is said to be the Adventure Capital of the world. Right from scuba diving to skiing and bungee jumping, a variety of adventure sports thrive here. The maritime climate, with a more dry and hot Northern Island and a relatively cooler Southern Island, offers the tourist a whole range of holiday destinations to choose from. The diverse climate has shaped the terrain such that, rugged mountains, rushing rivers, deep gorges and thick forests and the inhabited cities are all within reach of each other. English being the official language, rest assured - there would be no communication problems.

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Let’s have a look at the Top 15 places to visit, while you are in the land of the Maori.

• Abel Tasman National Park

The Abel Tasman national park, in the Southern Island boasts of golden beaches and offers a great walk on its coastal track. Other activities offered are Water Taxi’s and Sea Kayaking

• Fiordland National Park

Located in the Southern Island, it is New Zealand’s largest National Park. The park covers a varied geographic terrain from deep gorges, forests, mountains and waterfalls making it ideal for hiking.

• Milford Sound.

This is a world heritage area at the heart of the Fiordland National Park. The still waters of this fiord reflect the majestic cliffs, and the waterfalls rushing down the rock faces.

• Lake Taupo.

Lake Taupo is the largest fresh water lake in this region. Located in a volcanic region, its surroundings are home to volcanos and hot springs. The Maori rock carvings at Mine Bay are worth a visit. The Waikato River Valley in the vicinity is one of the best places for Bungee jumping.

• Poor Knights Marine Reserve.

New Zealand’s rich marine life could be explored by scuba diving at the Poor Knights reserve where the underwater currents and natural landscape sustain a wide variety of marine creatures.

• Great Barrier Island

Varied landscape with quiet beaches and high mountains, the island is home to a variety of flora and fauna.

• Stewart Island

Also known as Raikura, Stewart Island is known to be a hiker’s paradise. Most of the island lies within the Raikura National Park. It is an excellent site for birdwatchers with five penguin species being found on the island.

• Mount Ruapehu

A volcanic peak covered with snow, Ruapehu is a skiiers delight. There are 2 other smaller volcanic peaks alongside Ruapehu, Mount Ngauruhoe and Mount Tongariro. These peaks are located in the Tongariro World Heritage National Park.

• Kaikoura

A coastal village, close to the towns of Christchurch/ Canterbury, Kaikoura offers a scenic view of the mountains and the coastline. It is an excellent site for watching sea mammals including whales.

• Mountain Cook.

It is New Zealand’s highest peak; Home to majestic glaciers and calm lakes. Moutaineering, hiking, skiing and glacier walks are some of the activities available in this area.

• Omarama

Omarama is a small township close to Christchurch/ Canterbury. It is well known for alpine gliding.

• Hawke’s Bay Wine Country

Hawke’s Bay is one of New Zealand’s grape growing regions and the wineries are situated within reach from the nearest town or city. Guided tours to the wineries are available and the visitors are introduced to wine tasting sessions.

• Queenstown

Queenstown is the adventure hotspot of New Zealand where the relaxation of city life and thrill of adventure can both be experienced at the same place.

• Waitomo Glowworm Caves

Beautiful caves with water dripping down the age-old stalactites and stalagmites, lit by the light of glowworms, it is a sight to behold.

• Taranaki’s Surf Highway

Mount Taranaki and the Tasman Sea provide the visitor an opportunity to take in the beauty of the snow-clad peaks and that of the surf breaks within minutes drive from each other.

Be it the casual traveler looking for some relaxation or the enthusiast seeking the thrill of adventure, the scenic beauty of New Zealand is bound to make the trip enjoyable.

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Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom is perhaps one of those rare fun Theme Parks, where you will find magic in store for you – whether you are a child, an adult or just a teenager. Be it Cinderella’s Castle or just dancing with Mickey and Minnie on the road. There really is something for everyone here. While almost everyone just visits the resort and then keeps them as memories in a photo album, here are some interesting facts that not many people know about Magic Kingdom for you to enjoy your most favorite Theme Park even more:

1. Did you know that you can also get a haircut at Magic Kingdom? Harmony Barber Shop will do the needful if you feel that your hair a bit out of place for that perfect picture against Cinderella’s Castle.

2. Have you ever wondered how all the Disney characters just appear out of nowhere in the park, as if by magic? Well a series of very well connected underground tunnels, takes Mickey or Minnie all over the park without letting anyone know!

3. Guests under 16 years of age are not allowed in the under tunnel system because it would bother children to see two Goofy’s passing each other or Mickey without a head or just watching Donald chatting up with Snow White and ruin the magic.

4. Because of the under tunnel system and the underground complex, the entire Magic Kingdom is technically on the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd floors. On noticing carefully you will see that how Fantasyland and the castle are higher.

5. Once you’ve taken the The Great Bus Ride, one ends up at the main tunnel entrance underneath the Pinocchio’s Village, right next to Fantasy Fair and Small World in Fantasyland. Next to that exists a sub-tunnel which takes you to the costuming, and locker rooms. The tunnel has the costumes for all the characters and themed areas hanging for the Cast Members. With over 1.2 million pieces of clothing, this is the largest operating wardrobe department in the world. Each Cast Member has 3 costumes - one for wearing at the moment, one on the rack and on in the wash.

6. From the center of the castle, there is an elevator, which operates with a special key, this elevator takes you to famous “secret” apartment inside the castle.

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Peru is a country filled with contrasts because of the various layers of great ancient civilizations which make up this country. In Peru you have everything from colonial cities that have preserved the legacy of the Spanish conquerors, to tiny villages where you can really get a feel of the country and its people. Peru has numerous places for you to visit, explore and enjoy some of the most spectacular scenery anywhere.

1. Places to visit at and around Lima

Lima is the capital city of Peru. It is a major city that sparkles with living history and progress. It is a mixture of pre-Hispanic, colonial and modern elements. This city is surrounded by the sea, by islands, mountains, desert and plant life. Some very interesting places to visit while at Lima are

• Pantanos De Villa is a natural wetland which is a reserved zone for more than 150 bird species.

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• The Lunahuana valley is a hotspot for adventure sports. It lies in the Canete highlands and is 180 kms from Lima.

• The Lomas de Lachay is a national reserve in the foothills which is 105 kms from Lima to the north and features a unique fog-fed eco system of wild plant and variety of animal species.

• The temples of metropolitant Lima: Lima has left untouched dozens of ancient temples and archaeological sites which stand out against the full of life metropolis. These ancient monuments have been preserved, thanks to the efforts of archaeologists and the residents.

• Lima’s Cathedral: Built in 1625 in a very stylish way with splendid altars and is definitely the first stop on the tour around Lima.

• The real felipe Port: In 1747, Viceroy Conde de Superunda, tired of continual looting by some of the most famous pirates of the era, ordered the construction of an indestructible fort in the port of Callao, near the city of Lima. The fort was to be the fortress that would defend the Vice-regency of Peru from pirates and other invaders.

2. Machu Picchu:

Machu Picchu means “Old Mountain” in Quechua. (Quechua is a native language of South America; it was the primary language of the Inca Empire) The civilization at Mahu Picchu is an existing proof of the last remains of the Incan tribes. It has been elected as the Seven Wonders of the World in July 2007. The Spaniards had heard of this mountain but never found it. It was discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911. Machu Picchu was used as a place of worship and also as a private retreat for the family of the Inca rulers. Machu Picchu is divided into two zones

The agriculture zone: has terraces for farming and the food store houses.

The Urban zone: contains the sacred temples and royal tombs.

It is worth mentioning that throughout this archaeological site one can find the stone staircases and canals flowing.

3. The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

The Inca trail to Machu Picchu is Peru`s most popular trekking route and one of the most spectacular walks in South America. It is a part of the 23,000 Km of roads built by the Incas across South America. Each year, some 25,000 hikers from all over the globe walk the 43 km stone-paved trail, built by the Incas to reach to the unconquerable citadel of Machu Picchu in the city of Cuzco.

4. Lake Titicaca in Puno

Puno is one of Peru’s primary tourist destinations and it is also one of the most interesting spots on the South American continent. There are very few cities in the world like Puno, that lie by the shores of such an amazing body of water as Lake Titicaca. It is the world’s highest traversable lake. Scattered on the lake are dozens of islands, each of them with their own uniqueness and peculiarity. Legend has it that from the waters of Lake Titicaca emerged Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo, the legendary founders of the Inca empire.

5. The Nazca Lines at Ica

Ica is an area of sea, sand, valleys and oases. It is the cradle to Peru’s Creole culture.

The Nazca Lines, which were discovered in 1927, is the most astonishing legacy left by a culture that flourished in 300 BC. These lines are a series of difficult to draw designs up to 300 meters long which can only be seen in their true dimension from an altitude of at least 1500 feet. What confuses many archaeologists till date is how the ancient people crafted these lines, what technology was used and what purpose did these lines serve to them.

Apart from the above interesting places to visit in Peru, you have ample opportunities to enjoy and relax. From Mountaineering in the Peruvian Andes, mountain biking, varieties of water sports, freshwater fishing, hot air ballooning. The list is endless. Peru is very well interconnected by roads and air. Hotels and food in restaurants are quite cheap when compared to other countries. You have every reason to pack your bags and land in Peru for your next vacation.

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You might be a frequent visitor to Walt Disney World or at least visit this theme park once a year. You feel that you have seen all the best attractions available here. But what I have found that some attractions which are great, amazing and have an enchanting atmosphere to spend your vacation are often overlooked by many visitors. Below is a list of top 10 overlooked attractions at Walt Disney World.

1. Fairies of Fantasyland and Tinker Bell’s Treasures: Out here you will feel as if you are in Fantasyland and you could prove to your kids that fairies really exist. Make it a point to stop at Tinker Bell’s Treasures, where you will spot the erratic Miss Bell flitting among products for sale. You would need to be patient as it takes a few minutes to notice her. At the Sword in the Stone ceremony which is held right next to Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel, you kids have a chance to become the Queen or King of the day.

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2. Health & Fitness Centers: These facilities have been often overlooked as being offered by many resorts. The health and fitness centers at Disney world are not just for people who want to continue their exercise regime while on vacation and away from home. Each of the fitness centers offer state of the art fitness machines, you can also enjoy a massage at each centre. The massages are pretty cheap here. 3. The Fort Wilderness Cabins although it’s pretty expensive at $270 per night, yet it is worth the money you are spending. There is a one bedroom cabin which allows six to sleep, with a double bed and bunk beds plus a Murphy bed in the living room. The kitchen is equipped with a stove, microwave, refrigerator, dishwasher and utensils to cook and eat. You would save a lot of money, if you don’t mind cooking while on a vacation.

4. Exposition Hall: This is another place that often gets overlooked. This is a nice-looking place to visit on Main Street. It’s generally a stop to buy your film, print out pictures and such, but as you keep on walking towards the back, you see that there are some huge photos for you and your family to click. There’s lots of fun on Main Street

5. Disney Imaginers: Visitors tend to overlook these Imaginers who helped bring Disney world to life. You could find them as you walk down Main Street by looking at the second floor windows of the buildings.

6. Sleuth’s Mystery Show:: Out here it’s murder every night. It is a mysterious comedy show by professionals which also includes dinner, unlimited wine and beer, ice-creams and lots of audience participating in the show. Don’t miss it on your next visit.

7. Adventure land Antics: Did you know that there are about a dozen Hidden Mickey’s in the Pirates of the Caribbean alone? This is a good place for you to practice your Hidden Mickey spotting talent.

8. Restaurants in Epcot: The world is almost at your feet at Epcot. Out here the delicacies include mouth watering eateries and several cultural cuisines from around the globe, all arranged and served in some rather extraordinary settings.

9. Discovery Island: Once you have reached the Tree of Life, stop and truly look at the parks logo on it. Its not only impressive, but a closer look and detailed examination of the trunk will amaze you at the terrible pain workers went through while crafting around the 320 or so animals on it.

10. Disney quest at Downtown Disney is also an overlooked indoor theme park. This larger than life shopping arcade provides a welcome relief from the scorching Florida sun. It is five stories high. Here you can also pamper your kids and yourself with a lot of interactive games.

So, how may of them have you overlooked during your earlier visits?

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Shaped in the form of the letter “S”, the country of Vietnam lies in the eastern part of the Indochinese peninsula, with China and Laos and Cambodia as its neighbors. Tracing its rich heritage back to 258 B.C., Vietnam has been a center of activity for centuries owing to its location on the map.

Here are the top 5 places to visit in Vietnam:

1. Hanoi – Bordering the banks of Red River, the capital city of Vietnam – Hanoi, traces its long history back to 3 century B.C. Also, as the second largest city of Vietnam, this city has retained its French colonial charm and is dotted with lovely parks and lakes. The Son La Mountains, standing tall on the western edge of the city are home to several sanctuaries, grottos and pagodas. The tranquil haven of peace – Halong Bay on the north of Hanoi gives way to dramatic rock formations and harbours extensive grottos and caves. The Perfume Pagoda, The One Pillar Pagoda, The Temple of Literature, National Preserve of Cuc Phuong and Ho Tay Lake Water Park are some of the main attractions of this beautiful city.

2. Ho Chi Minh City – Formerly known as Saigon, this stunning city is located in the heart of northern Vietnam – between the northern edge of Mekong Delta and the south eastern region of volcanic red soil. This combination of geographical features ensures that Ho Chi Minh is made up of natural forests, vast plains, long coast and hundreds of rivers and canals. Once also known as the “Pearl of the Orient”, this city worked as an important trade route between China and Japan. Lined with stately trees and magnificent French villas, this is the largest city in Vietnam. The pagoda of good luck and happiness, War Remnants Museum, Museum of Vietnamese History and several other interesting attractions like the Saigon Water Park are some of major points of tourist interest.

3. Halong – Located in the northeast of Vietnam, this exquisite city is made up of about 1,600 island and islets – photographs of which have often made Vietnam quite popular. While most of the islands are uninhabited, they’re also protected UNESCO world heritage site. As the islands are a source of life for a host of flora and fauna, there are several caves within the islands which you can explore including: Thien Cung, Dau Go, Sung Sot and Bo Nau. The Bay of the Descending Dragon is often also regarded as the world’s eighth natural wonder.

4. Hue – Originally built in 1687, the city of Hue also served as the capital of Vietnam under the Nguyen dynasty. Once the cultural, religious and economic centre of Vietnam, in Hue charming women with elegant Vietnamese traditional dresses and conical palm leaf hats welcome you, into their world. While no one who has been to Hue can forget the humbleness and graciousness of the Vietnamese people, enjoy the local culinary delights like steamed thin rice pancakes and several other delicious dishes. As several dozen museums and mausoleums surround Hue, most notable are: Gia Long, Minh Mang, Tu Duc and Khai Dinh mausoleums and the famous pagodas worth a visit are: Tu Dam and Thien Mu on the left bank of beautiful Huong river.

5. Nha Trang – Capital of the Khanh Hoa province, Nha Trang has lots of islands, coastal climate, clean beaches and lots of sunshine. Discover the beautiful towers of Po Nagar Cham, built between the 8th and 13th centuries. World famous for their architecture and sculpture, you can also admire the beautiful landscapes of the coastal region of Nha Trang, once you are atop the hill you can gaze at the beautiful landscape of the costal Nha Trang. Long Son pagoda, Hon Chong Beach, Palace of the Ocean King, Hon Mieu Island and Ba Ho Stream are of the other popular tourist attractions.

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Do you love crowds or do you prefer to visit places of your interest which are less crowded? This article gives you an insight view of the busy times and the times when Disney World is the least crowded.

Walt Disney World is a famous destination that people from all over the world like to spend their vacations at through out the year. The best time to visit Walt Disney World is when the crowds are at their least. Lesser crowds will enable you to have a more relaxed and enjoyable vacation. Another best time to visit is the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The crowds are large but manageable and chances are that it won’t be warm enough during that period to visit a water park. I need to also mention that during this time you would be a part of the enjoyment the holiday celebrations bring. But at the same time the parks are open late into the evening giving you many hours to enjoy the enchanting environment and amazing attractions of the park.

The busy periods of the year at Walt Disney World are the dates around Thanksgiving, Christmas holidays, New Year’s Day, Easter weekend and while schools are on spring break. Apart from the above busy periods there are some important dates which if happen to be close to the weekend are quite busy and attract a lot of visitors to Walt Disney World.

These dates are:

January 19^th : Martin Luther King’s Birthday

February 16^th : President’s Day

May 31^st : Memorial Day

July 4^th : US Independence Day

September 6^th : Labor Day

October 11^th : Columbus Day

November 11^th : Veteran’s Day

An important factor which needs to be mentioned is that when the schools are out of session, at this time you can expect to face crowded situations. So customarily June, July and August are highly traveled and crowded dates at Walt Disney World and if possible should be avoided.

The least busy periods of the year are just after Thanksgiving Weekend right through the first week and sometimes the second week of December. Another off season time at the park is just after News Years Day till just before President’s Day celebrations. Also included in this category of least busy times are the months of May and October. Mid September the time when the kids are back in school is another ideal period to visit since it is still summer and so you can take complete advantage of the water parks. Another good period is from late April to early May as again at that time most kids are still in school and summers are on the verge of setting in.

One important factor to bear in mind is that if you happen to visit Walt Disney World during the parks “off season” you will not find the gates open till late hours as is the case during school vacation weeks or during the summers. Vacation periods are crowded, in fact at times the gates of the parks are closed for visitors because they intake capacity has reached its limits.

A vacation to Walt Disney World could be costly and complex. You need to plan your vacation carefully. With 4 major theme parks available for you to choose from, its necessary to plan your vacation, so that you don’t cross your budget, have enough time to spend and enjoy your vacation. The 4 parks for you to choose your vacation from are, The Magic Kingdom, MGM Studios, Animal Kingdom and Epcot.

Listed below are 10 Top tips to help you have a great vacation at Walt Disney World.

1. Choose the best time for your visit with care. This would need you to balance three major factors which are, the crowds, season and the park schedule. Its important not to overlook the park closing times.

2. Choose your park according to the extra magic hours available. Every morning, anyone of the 4 parks opens early for only the resort guests. Its advisable to either rush to the park as early as possible in the morning or avoid that park for the rest of the day.

3. Get to the parks early. This advice is in particular important for Disney’s water parks which are packed to their capacity by noon and Animal Kingdom which closes earlier than the other parks.

4. Take a break in the afternoon when the heat is unbearable. So go early to whichever park you choose, return to your hotel or resort in the afternoon when the heat is severe and return to the park in the evening at around 5 p.m.

5. Use Fastpass and Save time. Fastpass is free, simple to use and most importantly saves you time from standing in line for the most popular rides.

6. Carry your own snacks and drinks. This tip will save you a lot of cash taking into consideration the heat and humidity at Florida during the day time. You and your family would need to drink a lot of liquids and eat all day long.

7. Eat for fun and value. There is no doubt that food is quite expensive in the theme parks. At times you can explore some bargains, but its always worth at times spending more on a full buffet which is a better option and more fun especially if Winnie the Pooh or Cinderella are in attendance. A late breakfast buffet can serve as lunch and a huge late lunch could take the family right through dinner.

8. Use advanced reservations system for restaurant meals. It’s free, easy and above all allows you to get seated quickly instead of waiting in a queue.

9. The Disney Transportation System is the best. Its available at any hour of the day and well into the nights. Disney buses move people free of cost from one park to another and also to and from the Disney resorts. Monorail and boats are other ways to move inside the parks.

10. Keep yourself cool. By wearing cool cotton clothes, cool shoes, sunglasses, hats and do visit and enjoy the coolness of the water parks.

Imagine a melted ski resort in the middle of Florida, complete with bunny slopes to black diamonds! Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park is packed with downhill thrills and tones of ways to chill out.

Legend has it that Blizzard Beach was created by a freak winter storm which dumped a load of snow on the western side of Walt Disney World. This extraordinary water park also features one of the world’s tallest, fastest free-fall speed slide, one which is visible from anywhere in the park.

Blizzard Beach is any adrenalin junkies dream come true. Slush Gusher, Downhill Double Dipper, Summit Plummet and Chair Lift, they all send racing downhill, form dizzying heights at great speeds, with wind in your hair and water all around you.

Take a tube ride with Runoff Rapids and enjoy the slope and the slide down in 4 feet of water. Children specially love the Snow Stormers, lie face first on a toboggan mat and the ride takes down on a 350 feet long twisting and turning ride, descending from the mountain. And if toboggan is what you enjoy the most, go on the Toboggan Racers and slide down 250 feet waterway with fun dips.

While toboggan slides are the most popular rides in the park, don’t forget to experience Teamboat Springs or go on a CrossCountry Creek or Melt-Away Bay for a world of fun!

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