Recently, I’ve been considering beach vacation destinations. I love the water. Having only a short time frame, I was searching for 5 day vacation trips and stumbled upon a great little travel website… www.5daytrips.com.

I’ve made a bucket list of all my beach vacation destinations that are pretty easy for my family to get to from the US. There are 10 of them in all, but I know some of you could add some really great suggestions to hang out at.

My picks for a fun and fantastic beach vacation destination-

Trunk Bay, St. John- Trunk Bay in the U.S. Virgin Islands is high on my list because I’ve actually spent time there. I lived in St. Thomas for eight years and Trunk Bay was one of our favorite weekend  anchorages. With easy access by car or safari bus, you’ll find some of the most modern park facilities on St. John. By boat, you just navigate around the north eastern coast and follow the coast around Cruz Bay, past Caneel Bay and then into Trunk Bay. There are mooring balls on a 1st come basis.

St Thomas Vacations

St. Maarten- For a great 5 day trip your family will enjoy the awesome white sand  of the St. Maarten beaches.. The beaches stand out in beautiful turquoise-blue waters and offer tranquility day after day. Explore the Philipsburg Boardwalk along glorius Great Bay Beach, Experience on-the-water excitement piloting your very own two-man yellow inflatable Watercraft, visit the  many local and historical museums, art galleries and beauty spots, excursions that leave several times a day to many of St. Maarten/St. Martin’s neighboring islands.  Caribbean_St. Martin/St. Maarten

Torrey Pines State Reserve, San Diego- Put this beach on your list and spend time on a sunny day at Torrey Pines State Reserve in San Diego, California. Take in the breath taking views from the top of the cliffs, the expansive sandy beach and the cool surf. Torrey Pines State Beach runs for three miles between Carmel Valley Road and the Glider Port at Torrey Pines Scenic Drive. The Beach is administered by the state’s park system and offers day use parking. Bathroom and shower facilities are found at the north end of Torrey Pines State Beach, near the Penasquitos Lagoon. Dolphins and whales can occasionally be spotted from the trails.

San Diego Vacations

Riviera Maya, Mexico- The Riviera Maya extends along the Caribbean coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula from Puerto Morelos to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. Taking a stroll along a Riviera Maya beach in Mexico, you can’t resist the beautiful images of the coastline and the wind blowing through the palm trees. Carretera (highway) 307 traverses the length of the Riviera Maya with roads shooting off at right angles to various beach side resorts, vacation communities, undeveloped beaches and lagoons. Truly a fun and exciting place to visit for the entire family. Ruins, eco tours, beaches, bars and spas await and provide memorable activities for everyone.

Mexico_Riviera Maya, Mexico

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic- “What is a great beach destination?”  If you’re asking this question, then you have to make reservations for Punta Cana, Dominican Republic… and then check it off as one of the best beach vacation destinations you’ve been to. With flights from just about every major city, the Dominican Republic is easy and relative quick to get to. There’s a great places to stay to fit any budget. March April and May bring the coolest weather, but there’s really not a big temperature change during other months. Golf, diving/snorkeling, tours, spas, fishing are just many of the activities that attract so many people year after year.

Punta Cana Vacations

There are 5 additional sunny beach vacation destinations that we will add to this post. To book a flight or read more about planning a 5 Day Trip Click Here. Read the rest of this entry

Insomnia, or trouble falling asleep, is a condition that millions of people have. For some people, insomnia happens only occasionally, while others struggle with this as a chronic condition. Whether dealing with it occasionally or constantly, there are some insomnia steps which can help you to fall asleep easily at night. Use these five steps to help overcome instances of insomnia.

1. Try taking a warm bath. This accomplishes two things. First, it creates a calming environment which can help you to get in the mental state for sleep. Second, it actually works to relax your muscles, getting them ready for a full night’s sleep. When you take a warm bath, be sure that the water is at a moderate temperature, but avoid taking one that is too hot or too cold.

2. Drink warm milk. This may seem like an unusual tip, but warm milk contains compounds which are a natural cure for insomnia. If you’re not crazy about warm milk by itself, try adding in a few teaspoons of honey. Herbal tea without caffeine is also a good way to encourage drowsiness. Look for tea that is advertised as helping to promote sleep. This will help you to calm down both your mind and body.

3. Exercise during the day. One of the reasons why people have trouble falling asleep is that they never really wake up. Just half an hour of moderate exercise can help you to feel tired enough at night to fall asleep easily. Go for a brisk walk, run, or play a sport for half an hour during the day. You’ll see the benefit when you feel tired in the evenings. Read the rest of this entry

Review: TV surround sound system

I don’t hear so well and was doing some browsing around. I went to my favorite shopping site, Amazon and was looking around for a good home TV surround sound system. I’m not sure which is best, but settled on two different systems. One was the Samsung HW-E450 Wireless AirTrack Sound Bar and the other was the Sony BRAVIA DAV-DZ170 Home Theater System. There’s about $100 difference in price, but still in my price range.

The features I liked for the Samsung Sound Bar  are:

• Slim design matching with 40-50 inch TVs
• Wireless solution with Bluetooth connectivity
• Wireless solution with Bluetooth connectivity
• Surround and 3D Depth sound

As I’ve mentioned, I don’t know much about choosing a TV surround sound system, however there were over 297 reviews with a total 4 Star rating by Amazon consumers so we feel that overall buyers liked it and felt it deliver on most of it’s advertised promises. Here are a few of the typical reviews for the Samsung HW-E450 Wireless AirTrack Sound Bar. Read the rest of this entry