Top Niche Ideas

We all have that image of Las Vegas where on every

corner there is a casino with bigger and better

attractions than the last one, but take another look

and you may be surprised at what you find.

Red Rock Canyon, one hour drive from Las Vegas, has a

13 mile scenic adventure where every bend in the road

rewards you with yet another superb vista – great

photographic opportunities here.

If you want something a little more strenuous then you

could park the car and hike through this incredibly

beautiful countryside.

Or what about taking a day trip to Hoover Dam and take

in Lake Mead at the same time? The lake boasts many

water activities including paddle steamers and

cruises.

If it is water that you are interested in but you want

a bit more of the “white knuckle “kind of adventure,

then check out the Colorado River. You can river raft

down this mighty waterway – but perhaps the organized

tour would be safer since equipment and instructions

are provided.

Of course there is also the ubiquitous helicopter ride

- another heart stopping experience – over the mighty

Grand Canyon and Death Valley.

All of the places mentioned are within driving

distance of Las Vegas whether it be under your own

steam or on an organized tour.

Whichever combination of sites you choose to visit,

you will truly be astonished at the array of

adventures available and all from that place where

you thought gambling was the only thing Las Vegas had

to offer!

Summer is coming again and you know you want to do

something different but just what is that you are

looking for?

One of the fastest growing vacations is the kind where

you learn to do something totally out of your normal,

everyday life. Perhaps you would like to try

scuba-diving?

These courses are offered in most areas but why not

learn it in some exotic far-flung place and have a

great adventure at the same time? Places are far apart

as Zanzibar or Turkey, Kenya or Israel and the like.

Maybe you are not into the watery sports, so what

about belly-dancing or rock-climbing? Again, all on

offer near you whether itís in the local community

college or at the mall.

More exciting though when, for example, some dusky

eyed maiden is swiveling her hips for you in some

balmy Mediterranean hotspot.

If the more active holiday is not for you – try out a

cookery course. Think of the shock on your friends or

family’s faces when you invite them to that gourmet

meal that wasnít delivered by the local eatery. Or

display that water-color you produced yourself on the

shores of the Indian Ocean.

That is not to say that you can’t have that” lying in

a hammock with cold drink and a good book “kind of

vacation but there is nothing more rewarding than

mastering a new art.

It may be time to impress your friends, and yourself,

with that latent talent you never knew you had!

The kids are staying with the grandparents, the summer

is here, and you have two whole weeks of nothing in

front of you. What do you do?

A truly superb treat for yourself is to try out a spa

vacation. Take time to recharge those batteries and

get back in touch with you and/or your loved one.

This could be a time to kick back, leave your worries

at home and be rejuvenated by the many treatments

available. How about a specialized massage with sweet

smelling oils followed by a fruity facial? Then off to

the sauna to sweat out those toxins that have been

accumulating all year.

There are virtually hundreds of these spas all around

the world and most have something unique to offer.

Perhaps your idea of “recharging” your batteries is to

lie in a hammock reading a good book whilst sipping

exotic drinks from a coconut.

Or perhaps you would like to nibble on mangoes and

papaya after the early morning yoga session? Whatever

your desire, it is on offer.

Choosing this type of holiday may be one of the best

decisions you ever made. If your life is full of

stress – and who doesn’t have that kind of life these

days – this could be the time you take for yourself to

evaluate and consider where your life is leading you.

It may seem a little self indulgent but didnít you

work so hard this year? Go on – you deserve it!

We, the human race, are becoming more sensitized to

the needs of the planet and its environs. With this in

mind, many places are offering vacations with a

difference. A place and time to learn what we can do

to lessen the impact we make on the earth itself.

Some places even offer courses up to master’s level

for those individuals interested in ecology. Many of

these places are running farms capable of sustaining

themselves as well as those in the local community.

All fruit and vegetables, for an example, are grown

without the use of chemicals and sometimes without the

use of machinery! – a very “hands-on” approach not

usually seen in this day and age.

One of these ventures in particular is trying to

re-introduce the concept of local people connecting to

the food supply being grown literally in its own

backyard instead of buying everything in plastic bags

at the supermarket.

Accommodation is sometimes on the farm itself or in

the local community giving the holiday-maker a chance

to revisit rural America in a rather unique way.

Children are given a small taste of what life was like

before computers and designer labels took over.

This may not be everyoneís dream holiday, indeed it

may take some kind of persuasion from parent to child,

but I canít help feeling that we should take a chance,

perhaps once in a while, to experience something

completely different.

This is certainly one for the more adventurous amongst

us!

These terms may sound as if they are at odds with one

another but both are on offer, and in the same place,

in the United States.

Gone are the days when dude ranches were the place to

go to get down and dirty with the horses. These days?

You can ride out and do all those horsey things like

rounding up cattle and helping with the branding, but

when the day is over you will find what is on offer is

far removed from the franks and beans from days gone

by.

Gourmet dinners served with fine wines are the order

of the day. What better way to ease those aching

muscles and tired bones after a hard days riding than

to be pampered by fine dining and excellent service?

Today’s urban cowboy demands more than your old time

cowboys. Imagine you have spent the best part of the

year cooped up in an air conditioned, environment

controlled, building dealing with noisy telephones and

tight deadlines.

What better way to get away from it all than to spend

the day under deep blue skies, riding the range, and

coming home not to a camp-fire – although I am sure

they will be there! – but to exquisitely cooked food

and perfectly chilled wine?

The kids can come too! There are many ranches that

cater for the youngsters with riding lessons thrown

in. Let them help with mucking out and feeding the

young animals. They will love it!