Let’s take a quick tour around the Philippines and enumerate the best-kept secrets of this archipelago.

For beaches, Boracay, Palawan and Cebu are popular choices. However, the Filipino nation still has a lot of tricks up its sleeve in this category. One is Camarines. It is an island on the western side of the country facing the Pacific. Its beaches are surrounded by numerous rock formations making it a sight to behold. On top of that, its pristine shoreline offers authentic white sands much to the delight of visitors. What makes this destination cheap is that its tourism industry in not yet in boom. It is still an area in the Philippines yet to be discovered, flocked and abused by tourists. Another perfect beach destination is La Union. La Union boasts of the perfect waves for those into various water sports. It is the perfect venue for wakeboarding, surfing and parasailing.

For nature trips, the best destination is Cagayan de Oro. The province is slowly becoming known for the famous canopy walk. Here, you literally swing from one open canopy to another open canopy. Can you imagine what Tarzan does? You would be able to do that too only a lot safer because harnesses come with every swing. Another feature of this province is its white water rafting. Shooting the rapids in this part of Mindanao is truly a magical experience for both swimmers and non-swimmers. Its distance from the capital makes this destination a lot cheaper because goods are fresh off the farms.

One more undiscovered wonder of the Philippines is Donsol. It is in the southernmost tip of Luzon right in the province of Sorsogon. Have you ever heard of pating-bulik or the whale shark? It is one of the largest mammals in the world. In the months of April to May, these gentle giants flock the seas and oceans of Donsol. Can you imagine having to have a close encounter with an animal more than a thousand times your size? That sure is an experience worth a try. To top it all, this face to face with a whale shark doesn’t even cost you more than two thousand pesos!

One can never sufficiently describe the wonder that is the Philippines. Yet, these few options offered are really worth the travel. Visit the Philippines and be spellbound by the overflowing reserve of natural wonders!

Have you and your soon to be spouse recently decided that you would like to honeymoon in California? If you have, have you decided what you would like to do on your honeymoon? While you may be concerned about making your travel arrangements, like your overnight accommodations or your airline reservations, you may want to take the time to plan your honeymoon activities. When doing so, you may be pleased to know that California is home to a number of fun, exciting, and adventurous activities, including whitewater rafting.

While on a honeymoon, many newlyweds prefer romance. While romance is popular, others want to make their honeymoons as memorable as possible. That is why some also choose to go with adventure. If you are one of those individuals, you may want to examine California rafting. Whitewater rafting is often referred as one of the most exciting activities in the world. In fact, some say that there is nothing like the rush you experience when whitewater rafting. What better way to get that experience than with the one that you love?

If you are interested in California rafting, whitewater rafting to be exact, you will need to make your arrangements to do so. When it comes to making California rafting reservations, you will find that you have a number of different options. For instance, there are half-day tours for you to choose from, full-day tours, as well as extended California rafting tours. If you would like to do more on your California honeymoon than just go California whitewater rafting, it may be a good idea to stick with a half-day or a full-day tour, but the decision is yours to make.

If you would like to make reservations for a California rafting, whitewater rafting to be exact, tour, you will need to find a California whitewater rafting tour company to do business with. To do this, you may want to think about doing your research from home, preferably online. Yes, you can make reservations for a California whitewater rafting tour once you arrive in California, but you will likely find that the best tours are already filled up with reservations. To find a California whitewater rafting tour, you may want to think about performing a standard internet search. That search will likely lead you to the online websites of California whitewater rafting tour companies.

In addition to performing a standard internet search, you may also want to think about visiting online travel websites, particularly adventure travel websites. Adventure travel websites are a great way to learn more about California rafting, whitewater rafting included, tours. In fact, you may even be able to make your rafting reservations online, through an online travel website. You may also be pleased to know that some online travel websites offer you discounts or vacation packages, which can allow you to make multiple honeymoon reservations all at once!

Henry Cobb is a writer for Adventure Brat . com where you can find accurate information about California Rafting Whitewater and other related information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Henry_Cobb

Whitewater rafting is an enjoyable and challenging sport. A whitewater rafting vacation is just the thing for people who love challenges and being in the great outdoors.

If you want some of the best whitewater rafting locations, then California is where you need to go. You see some of the most popular whitewater rafting destinations are located in California.

By far the most popular is the American River. The American River runs from the Sierra Nevada Mountains right into the Sacramento River. It splits into three forks, (North Fork, Middle Fork, and South Fork) before it converges.

Depending on your skill level, you will want to plan which fork you’d like to plan your trip around. If you’re a novice at whitewater rafting you might want to take a stab at the South Fork. It’s one of the most popular rapids for beginners and considered by many to be the best place for families to enjoy California whitewater rafting since it offers a variety of rapids ranging from Class I through Class III.

If you’d like a bit more of a challenge, then take up the Middle Fork. The Middle Fork provides some ofthe most popular Class III and IV rapids in California. The scenery here is simply breathtaking. Another great part about these rapids is that you don’t have to rush to make plans. The Middle Fork rafting period runs from April through October, so you have ample of time to enjoy the river.

And for the adventure seekers, California offers the North Fork of the American River. Since it’s fed from the runoff of the Sierra Nevada and mixes with the slender canyons downriver, it makes for some exhilarating and testing Class IV rapids. But you do have to act quick on this one because the prime time of year only runs from April to the early summer.

Whitewater rafting can be one of the most invigorating experiences of a lifetime. You get to see magnificent surroundings, get a great work out, and experience a remarkable venture. There are great places to go whitewater rafting all over the world, but as you can see, California is a great place to be.

The Grand River Rafting Company of Southern Ontario offers guided whitewater rafting for everyone on the Nith River near Paris. The little known Nith offers one of the best whitewater experiences in Southern Ontario and is one hour west of Toronto, fifteen minutes off Highway 403.

The whitewater rafting trips are 3 to 4 hours in length culminating with a 3 kilometer run of splash. The whitewater rafting trip starts in the hamlet of Canning. About half ways down the rafts pull over at Bus Beach for lunch and a washroom break… and then on to the final destination, Bean Park on the Grand River in Paris.

These guided trips start out in a wilderness setting banked by high clay bluffs treed with the Carolinian Forest. This narrow river brings the shoreline close creating excellent wildlife viewing opportunities of deer, fox, beaver and wild turkey. Further downstream are cascading drinkable springs at Devil’s Cave surrounded by limestone rockery. From this point the Nith River gathers speed creating standing waves and waterslides as it rushes to join the Grand River.

These whitewater rafting trips are a safe and exhilarating experience for families, schools and corporate rafting adventures. Size, age, agility and skill level do not matter… the self-bailing 8 man whitewater rafts offer a trip of stability and safety with splash.

The cost for the four hour whitewater rafting trip is $65 per person which includes guide, paddle, lifejacket and upstream shuttle ride. There are also guided fast water canoe and kayak trips available for small groups of one to six people.

For those wishing overnight accommodations in the area, the River Ridge Bed & Breakfast is available and can host up to twelve people. This B&B has an outdoor hot tub overlooking the Grand River Valley and offers an excellent country breakfast. The elegant Arlington Hotel in Paris is also available for overnight accommodation and includes fine dinning. Restaurants in Paris vary from fast food to Camp 31 with its award winning southern style barbeque.

If looking for a whitewater rafting experience in Southern Ontario… where river time exceeds traveling time… a spring day trip on the Nith River is worth the visit.

Garth Pottruff teaches and guides fastwater kayaking and canoeing on the Nith river. He has introduced rafting because the Nith offers a spring rafting experience that anyone can safely enjoy and yet experience the beauty and the thrill of the river.

If rafting is not your cup of tea Garth does guided canoe and kayak Nith River trips for one to six people. For more information you can visit his site Grand River Rafting Company: www.grandriverrafting.ca

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Garth_Pottruff

If you are wondering where to take your family this summer or how to spend your spring break, whitewater rafting may just be an ideal vacation that will provide escape and rejuvenation for even the most reluctant adventurer.

Whitewater rafting is also commonly referred to as river rafting and has gained tremendous popularity over the years, not just in the United States but in several other parts of the world. It is an exciting outdoor sport and even if you have never tried it, there is no reason that beginners can’t enjoy the thrills of river rafting. River rafting is particularly enjoyable when performed in groups rather than when done individually.

River rafting involves the paddling of boats or rafts (that are inflatable) and steering them down a river in the midst of swirling waters. Usually the rapids are classified based on the conditions of the water, ranging from 1-5. These grades indicate an increase in the intensity and difficulty as the numbers go up. Rapids categorized under 1 are mainly recommended for children and beginners and those above 5 are dangerous and not meant for leisure rafting.

As rafting has gained popularity as a recreational activity, there have been some improvements in the equipment and several new options are now available for white water rafters. The rafts need not be necessarily paddled or rowed, as there are motorized rafts available. Another popular variety of the raft is the hybrid raft that consists of the oars as well as the paddles. This enables passengers to distribute the tasks of paddling and oaring among themselves.

Rafting is generally supervised by a qualified professional guide and all his instructions must be strictly adhered to. To prevent any risks, it is required that all passengers must wear life jackets.

Whitewater Rafting provides detailed information on Whitewater Rafting, Whitewater Rafting Trips, History of Whitewater Rafting, Whitewater Rafting Terminology and more. Whitewater Rafting is affiliated with Mediterranean Yacht Charters.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Max_Bellamy

It is interesting to note that whitewater rafting was one of the earliest forms of transportation. It was not only used for carrying people but also for transferring goods from one place to another. However, it became quite popular as a form of leisure activity in the 1980s.

In 1811, the first recorded attempt to navigate the Snake River in Wyoming was planned by the Overland Astorians. While attempting to boat the stretch below Jackson Hole, the river was found to be too treacherous and it came to be called ?Mad River.?

The rubber river raft is believed to have been invented in the early 1840s. It was first made by Lt. John Fremont, who was then serving in the U.S army and Horace H. Day. They invented the rubber raft with the intention of surveying the Rocky Mountains and the Great Plains. Although the raft was invented in the mid-nineteenth century, it was not until the turn of the century that the first ever commercial whitewater trip was undertaken. At first, surplus military rafts were used as boats and it was only much later that inflatable rafts were used.

Private companies played a major role in augmenting the rafting business. In 1956, one of the members of the most affluent business families of America, John D. Rockefeller built a resort that introduced one of the first floating trips in the country. However, it only evoked a lukewarm response. Later, in the 1960s and 1970s, exclusive whitewater rafting companies were formed. These include the Becker-Cooke Expeditions, Hatch River Expeditions and Slickrock Adventures.

Rafting was first included in the Munich Olympic Games, 1972. Subsequently, it was included in the 1992 Barcelona Games and the 1996 Atlanta Games. In 1996, the Ocoee River in Tennessee Valley played host to the whitewater events of the Summer Olympic Games.

Ever watch footage of those crazy folks winding down the wild rivers of the world with nothing but a yellow raft between them and what appears to be certain death? If so, you’ve probably experienced the second-hand thrill of whitewater rafting. But if you’ve never done it yourself, you might wonder “What is Whitewater Rafting?” What are the ins and outs of the sport and can anyone do it? Where do you go to enjoy whitewater rafting excursions and how does a beginner get started?

The Origins of the Sport

Whitewater rafting has been around for a long time. Records show whitewater runs as early as the first decade of the 1800s, but as a recreational sport, this unique activity began to gain popularity in the 1970s.

Indeed, the rubber raft was invented in the 1840s and used by the U.S. Army for surveying purposes. However, the first actual commercial whitewater trip didn’t take place until early in the 20th century. By the 1940s and 50s, resorts near certain rivers began to offer rafting expeditions to their guests, but outfitters that specialized in the sport really didn’t begin springing up until the 60s and 70s. The inclusion of whitewater rafting in the 1972 Summer Olympics caused people to stop and ask “What is Whitewater Rafting?” and prompted them to do more research into the sport. Many of those people become instant fans.

Today, whitewater rafting is best defined as a recreational activity that uses multi-passenger, inflatable rubber boats to travel down rivers that contain numerous rapids or “whitewater,” often navigated by an experienced guide, allowing for a thrilling ride that leaves you soaking wet and screaming for more. Many people simply refer to it as “the most fun they’ve ever had!”

Whitewater Rafting for Beginners

If you’ve always wanted to try your hand at this wet and wild sport but never quite knew how to get started, it isn’t difficult, say the experts. The number one concern of most individuals, say whitewater guides, is the safety of the sport. There’s always some risk, they’ll tell you, but if you’re rafting with a reputable company that employs experienced guides, the risks are minimal and managed.

Even non-swimmers and children without much swimming experience can travel safely on certain whitewater trips, as the life vest is an essential part of any whitewater equipment. Some outfitters offer special family-oriented trips on mild rapids, suitable for small children and seniors. You should, however, be in good health and free of any problems which may be aggravated by this or any vigorous activity before you give it a try.

Choosing the Right Whitewater Rafting Trip

After you’ve answered the questions “What is Whitewater Rafting?” and “Can I Do It?”, you’ll want to determine which trips are best for you and your companions. Choosing the right excursion can make or break your love for the sport, so start off slow, even if you’re anxious to dive into the wild stuff!

Rapids are divided into four classes – Class I through IV – and these classes determine the attitude of the ride. When researching rides, the class of the rapids will be part of the information provided. Note, however, that the rapids aren’t always the same for a particular river. While rapids may be a mild Class I or II during the season when the river is low, the same body of water may experience Class III or IV rapids when the runoff from the mountains is at its peak.

If you’re just starting out, take time to ask your outfitter which runs are best for you so that you’ll be initiated gradually into the world of whitewater. Booking an intense, nail-biting trip the first time out may cause you to hesitate to try the sport again.

Want to know the Top Ten Whitewater Destinations? Discover the exciting world of Whitewater Rafting Canoeing and Kayaking at Best-River-Adventures.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_Hartwell

Whitewater rafting is simply a blast, pun intended. This brings us to the river of no return, an excellent challenge in Idaho.

Idaho is an incredibly beautiful state, a place with no massive cities or the resulting urban sprawl that comes with them. It is a Rock Mountains state sitting on the border of Canada and part of Yellowstone National Park sits within its boundaries. With so much uninhibited nature, rafting opportunities are plentiful and all variety of categories of rapids can be found.

The Salmon River is located in the central area of Idaho and known as “The River of No Return.” If that doesn’t get your whitewater rafting juices flowing, nothing will!

The Salmon is 425 miles long and drains over 14,000 square miles of land. It drops a whopping 7,000 feet in elevation from its headwaters to its final merger with the Snake River. With an elevation drop like that, you just know the rafting is going to be good.

The top rafting area is on the middle fork of the Salmon River. The prime area is a 100 mile stretch running through the Frank Church – River of No Return wilderness area. This section cuts through the second deepest canyon in North America. It is makes for spectacular viewing and a hair raising adventure.

Constriction, elevation drops and plenty of obstructions make the middle fork a top rafting destination. Rapids fall in the category three and four range, making it an adrenaline rush without major risk. One and two day trips can be arranged for the middle fork and there are plenty of rafting companies offering services. Kayaking is also excellent, but you need to have mastered your rolling technique.

Taking on the river of no return is an absolutely blast that you will remember for years. Keep in mind it is a popular destination with over 10,000 people giving it a go each year. Enjoy!

Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of writing journals. Visit us to read more articles about the great outdoors and white water rafting.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Chapo