I have to admit, I am not the world’s best packer. I have a hard time not packing all of my shoes, purses and jewelry because you just never know what might come up. About one year ago I took on a new position at work which involves some travel and I was forced to take a good, hard look at my packing habits to come up with a new game plan. I found that the best way to pack on my trips is to pack light.

Ok, you are probably thinking ?no kidding, what kind of tip is that?? When I say packing light, I mean literally pack light weight stuff. This means one purse, one pair of shoes and plenty of jewelry to accessorize. The only other thing you need is on pair of jeans, one pair of shorts and a bunch of white or neutral colored shirts. Think about this concept. How often have you noticed a person’s jewelry, shoes or purse before you noticed their clothing?

Let’s start with shoes. I live in the south so most of the time shoes means sandals. I have found an awesome pair of sandals called Onesoles. They are literally one pair of shoe soles with over 100 tops to choose from. I have purchased some printed tops but mainly solid colored tops. When I travel, I wear the shoes and pack 4 or 5 tops in my bag that take up less room than a t-shirt. All I have to do is snap on a new top and it looks like a whole new shoe.

I also found an awesome purse when I was traveling that helps me pack light. It is reversible with solid black on one side black and white checks on the other. Around the top of the bag on each side are coordinating belt loops. You can thread ribbon or scarves through this loop and it looks like a whole new purse. Again, I use the bag when I am going and pack 4 or 5 scarves that coordinate with my shoe tops. With 5 scarves and a reversible purse it is like I have 10 bags with me.

Since beaded jewelry is in at the moment. I have made coordinated earrings, necklaces and bracelets that all fit neatly in a small box that is thinner than a pair of folded jeans. I also through in a silver and gold set as well. This way I can change out my jewelry during my trip.

With just these three items, I have saved a ton of time packing and always have plenty of room in my bags for clothes. When I travel, people don’t know my secret, they just think that I must have brought a ton of clothes with me. Between lunch and dinner I have just changed my shoe tops, purse scarf and jewelry and it looks like I have put on a whole new outfit.

These tips have helped me to be able to pack light when I travel. There are plenty of packing and travel tips online that can help make your trip stress free. Find what works for you and you might actually look forward to packing for your next trip.

The Hunter Valley stretches from the Goulburn River and Wollemi National Park in the south to the Barrington Tops National Park in the north. Most of the Hunter Valley’s many vineyards are located in the Lower Hunter Valley, with the centre of grape and wine production being Pokolbin, located north west of the town of Cessnock. Although some wineries specialise in particular wines, Chardonnay, Semillon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Verdelho can be found at most vineyards. The best vintage years for both red and white wines in the Hunter Valley include 1979, 1983, 1996 and 1999, although several other good years were seen during both the 1980s and 1990s. Great wine is accompanied by great food in many restaurants, including a selection of fresh local grown vegetables, locally bred game, delicious seafood from Port Stephens, bread and pastries, cheeses and chocolates.

The Upper Hunter Valley also has several vineyards, and is also home to a thriving horse breeding and racing industry. The centre for thoroughbred horse breeding in the Upper Hunter Valley is the town of Scone, although horse breeding is popular throughout the area. Scone has a range of quality accommodation options and several excellent restaurants, although the main attraction for many is probably the race course. Numerous race meetings are held throughout the year, so chances are good of being able to catch a race when you visit.

Prior to European settlement, the Hunter Valley was inhabited by the Darkinjung people for many thousands of years. The area was cleared for farming during the 1820s and grape vines have been grown there since the mid 1850s, making it the oldest wine region in Australia. In the 1900s coal was discovered in the area, giving the Hunter Valley a new lease of life. The mines eventually closed down to be replaced by wineries and a thriving tourism industry, with over 4500 acres of the Hunter Valley now covered with vines. The region today is a veritable mecca of holiday resorts and activities suitable for families, couples, corporations and international tourists.

The Hunter Valley’s excellent range of wineries, shops, restaurants and other attractions make it the most visited wine region in Australia today. Home to several leading Australian wineries including Lindemans, McWilliams, Wyndham Estate and Tyrell’s, the Hunter Valley is also home to many smaller boutique wineries. In total, the Hunter Valley is now home to over 80 wineries, most of which offer celler door wine tastings and many of which also have quality restaurants. Hunter Valley grape growers do not specialise in any one particular grape variety or wine style. While classic varieties such as Chardonnay, Shiraz and Semillon are popular, newer styles like Verdelho and Chambourcin are also commonly found.

Excellent wine and food aren’t the only attractions offered by the Hunter Valley. Outdoor activities are available to suit every taste, ranging from horse riding and golf to hot air ballooning and sky diving, all set amongst wonderfully picturesque landscapes. The Hunter Valley is also a great location in which to enjoy music and entertainment during one of its many festivals. During October you can enjoy music and Australian wine with the Opera in the Vineyards and Jazz in the Vines music festivals. Many fascinating buildings can be found in the Hunter Valley, along with several galleries and museums. Speciality shops and small businesses abound, with galleries displaying antiques, crafts, glassware, jewellery, paintings, sculptures and wrought iron.

The many small towns nestled around the Lower Hunter all offer the visitor something unique. The rural community of Wollombi still lives in the 1930’s, the time in which it was settled. You can wander along taking in the historic atmosphere, go horse riding, or even explore the nearby bushland. Branxton and Greta are popular for their markets and festivals. Cessnock has a range of accommodation as well as modern shopping areas, set amongst its heritage buildings and craft shops. Kurri Kurri hosts several heritage country pubs as well as a mining museum. It is also popular for a mixture of sports including bowls, golf, squash and tennis. For wonderful views of the Brokenback Range head to Broke, or for museums and antique shops go to the old river port of Morpeth.

The ideal location for relaxing time out, Port Douglas is an easy-going tropical paradise with a small friendly village atmosphere and sophisticated creature comforts. The warm reef waters of the Coral Sea, the glorious palm fringed sands of Port Douglas Four Mile Beach, and the crystal clear creeks of Mossman Gorge are the place to refresh, restore and revitalise both body and mind. Seductive, balmy days slip seamlessly into tropical evenings under a canopy of clear starry skies. The sights, sounds and tastes of the tropical environment are a feast for the senses; the stunning array of nature and wildlife is awe-inspiring.

The Port Douglas region has become increasingly aware of the value and uniqueness of its natural environment over the past decade. As a result, ecotourism products which focus on the area’s pristine World Heritage rainforests, marine environment and ecosystems are now a major component of the Port Douglas and Daintree tour industry. Ecotourism balances the requirements of tourism and conservation, and has been defined by Ecotourism Australia as ?ecologically sustainable tourism with a primary focus on experiencing natural areas that fosters environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation?.

Ecotourism in Port Douglas offers an authentic ecotourism experience. This includes interacting with the local population, learning meaningful information about the locations you visit, and leaving the lightest possible footprint on the environment as you depart. Port Douglas tour operators are firmly committed to sustainable tourism and are licensed and accredited to conduct operations in national parks and other sensitive protected areas. They have a high degree of local knowledge, employ local people, and support their local economy and community.

There are ample opportunities for outdoor activities in Port Douglas, ranging from walks and safaris through the breathtaking pristine Daintree and Cape Tribulation Rainforests, horse riding, river cruises and white water rafting to swimming, diving, snorkelling, fishing and sailing on the the reef and waterways. Tours are available across the Daintree to Cape Tribulation, and further afield to the Mareeba Wetlands, the Tropical Tablelands, Cairns and Kuranda. Other local attractions include various historical sites, weekend markets, world-class restaurants, nightlife, a fruit winery, indigenous cultural experiences, 4WD safari adventures, world class golf courses, spas, aerial tours by seaplane, helicopter & hot-air balloon, and outdoor cinema and theatre.

At 140 million years old, the Daintree National Park contains the oldest living rainforest on earth. The Park is divided into three main areas, Daintree, Cape Tribulation and Mossman Gorge. Daintree National Park lies between Mossman Gorge and the Daintree River, is known for its long stretch of lush tropical rainforest, and is home to unique bird life and crocodiles. Cape Tribulation is where tropical rainforest and coral reef meet in a scenic coastal setting north of the Daintree River. The area is home to glorious sandy beaches and mangroves environments abounding in wildlife viewing. Mossman Gorge is a steep-sided valley on the Mossman River containing lush tropical rainforest and crystal clear creeks. An excellent location for viewing birdlife and other wildlife. Guided walks visiting Aboriginal heritage sites are provided by members of the Kuku Yalanji Mossman Gorge Community.

Originally founded in 1876 as a service port for the North Queensland goldfields, Cairns is today the international gateway to North Queensland. With a population of 100,000, the Cairns region offers a healthy, relaxed lifestyle with the local economy based on tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, mining and fishing industries. The Cairns International Airport provides a first point of entry for both Australian and International travellers.

Cairns is surrounded to the north, west and south by magnificent rainforests, many of which are protected by World Heritage listings. To the east is Great Barrier Reef and the Coral Sea. The wealth of natural beauty in the Cairns region provides the perfect setting for a huge range of activities including swimming, snorkelling, diving, sailing, jet-skiing, white water rafting, bushwalking, fishing, hot air ballooning or simply enjoying the fantastic scenery on a drive out of town to Mossman Gorge, Port Douglas, Kuranda or the Nandroya Falls.

The Esplanade in the centre of Cairns, is where restaurants, cafes, markets, nightclubs, pubs and shopping arcades are located, and is also the departure point for most reef tours and island cruises. Accommodation is plentiful in Cairns, with the Esplanade and surrounding areas offering quality accommodation ranging from luxury apartments and five star hotels to caravan parks and camping areas.

Set in a lush tropical environment, the water-based activities available in Cairns are endless. Whether sailing the beautiful waters of the Great Barrier Reef and the islands, canoeing or jet-skiing on the bays and lakes, taking a casual cruise or a dynamic jet boat ride, there are adventure tours available for every taste. If fishing is your passion, Cairns is a brilliant destination at any time of the year. Offering excellent angling opportunities for all areas of fishing. Cairns is famous for its Black Marlin fishing and hosts fishing tournaments September to December. Barramundi and Mangrove Jack abound at Trinity Inlet, while freshwater fishing is available further inland on the Atherton Tablelands at Tinaroo Dam. Further afield, the Gulf Savannah and Cape York offer anglers an almost limitless variety of spectacular locations in which to enjoy the fishing experience of a lifetime.

The Rainforests of the Cairns region are another major attraction that simply should not be missed. Home to an amazing diversity of flora and fauna, waterfalls, rivers, lakes and national parks, the rainforests are magical environments containing 200 year old palms where everything seems larger, more colourful and healthier including trees, leaves and seed pods. The rainforests were World heritage listed in 1988 and cover almost one million hectares of lush tropical vegetation. The tropical wet season from January to March is a special time of regeneration and restoration in the rainforest. The rainforests have excellent bushwalking and 4WD tracks, and 4WD Nature Safaris are available. As most rainforest animals are nocturnal, a night excursion can provide the opportunity to view a rich variety of animal life including green tree frogs, pythons, tree climbing kangaroos, geckos and rare possums.

The Great Barrier Reef is located off the Cairns coast to the east in the Coral Sea, and consists of 344,000 square kilometres of warm, clear waters in which an amazing array of sea life abounds, from sea slugs to migrating whales to coral. The many wonders of the Great Barrier Reef can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, including snorkelling, scuba diving, kayaking, sailing, or a plane or helicopter flight.

The Great Barrier Reef includes many magnificent locations for day tours and longer expeditions, including the Hinchinbrook Channel, Mission Beach, Palm Cove, Port Douglas, Cape Tribulation and Cooktown, and Green and Fitzroy Islands. Green Island is a tropical island paradise perfect for a day trip from Cairns where you can enjoy activities such as windsurfing, rainforest walks and snorkelling. The best reefs for snorkelling and diving are Arlington, Elford, Agincourt, Oyster, Michaelmas and Upolu Reefs.

About 180 kilometres south of Brisbane and 800 kilometres north of Sydney, the Byron Bay area is Australia’s eastern-most mainland coastal region. Byron Bay enjoys a mild sub-tropical climate, with summer temperatures averaging 25 to 30 degrees Celsius and average winter temperatures only slightly lower at 20 to 25 degrees Celsius. The area’s economy is based mainly on tourism and agriculture, with an estimated 1.7 million tourists visiting each year. Thriving small businesses focus on alternative, cultural and knowledge industries, and the area is home to a steadily growing population of writers, artists and filmmakers.

The town of Byron Bay is renowned for the rich diversity of its weekend markets, restaurants, shops and fashion outlets. The Byron Bay area including the hilly hinterland is also known as something of a mecca for alternative lifestylers who have enriched the local culture and economy with an enormous variety of small alternative food, art, craft, health and natural therapy industries. An area of spectacular natural beauty and glorious beaches, outdoor activities abound in Byron Bay, ranging from bushwalking and climbing in the nearby hills to surfing, diving, snorkelling, whale watching, gliding, hang-gliding, horse riding and bike riding.

The north coast of New South Wales is the traditional country of the Bunjalung people. Two sub-groups of the Bunjalung frequented the Byron Bay area, the Arakwal in the south and the Minjunbal in the north. Aboriginal people lived in and visited the Byron Bay area for over 20,000 years. They knew the area as Walgun (The Shoulder), a place of plenty with sheltered sandy beaches, abundant seafood, wildlife and rainforest fruits, and permanent clean spring water. Unfortunately, many coastal Aboriginal sites have been lost to sandmining and development, but the remaining sites provide strong evidence of a vibrant and versatile culture that thrived in an abundant natural environment. Middens, ceremonial Bora rings, burial sites and specially marked trees have all been recorded in the area. The surviving midden and camp site at Cape Byron’s Palm Valley is definitely the oldest of its type in the region at over 1,000 years old.

Cape Byron is one of Byron Bay’s main natural attractions, and is located just 3 km from the Byron Bay Post Office. Cape Byron has a well-deserved international reputation as one of the most beautiful locations in the world, boasting lush rainforest, rocky cliff faces, magnificent views of the Byron Bay hinterland and ocean, and excellent vantage points for watching whales and dolphins from the Cape Byron headland. At least two hours should be allowed for a comfortable walk around Cape Byron’s 5km walking trail. The trail passes through coastal heath, littoral rainforest, banksia forest and many beautiful vantage points. Cape Byron’s Aboriginal heritage lives on today, with members of the Arakwal clan, traditional custodians of the Byron Bay area, playing an active role in the preservation of traditional sites.

Well, what do World War II veterans have in common with Singapore? Very long lasting, unforgettable memories that you can share with fellow family members and friends. Especially those who had survived or had served in Singapore back in the year between 1942 to 1945.

So, if you travel to Singapore again with your family or friends or loved ones, would you like to walk down the memory lane? (Some memories are painful but some still brought back a smile. Do you agree?) Well veterans, if you happen to travel back to Singapore in your next holiday, make your travel a memorable one. These are some things worth visiting to bring back those dark years.

The Battle Box

The Battle Box is the largest underground command center of the British Malaya Command Headquarters in Singapore during World War II and tucked into the hillside of Fort Canning. This bombproof complex comprises of 22 rooms linked together by a corridor and capable of recycling its own air supply. Today, the Battle Box has undergone extensive restoration. Visitors will be able to relive the morning of February 15, 1942 when Singapore fell to the Japanese.

Reflections Of Bukit Chandu

Back in 1942, 1400 soldiers of the Malay Regiment fought with courage against 13000 Japanese soldiers. They chose death over dishonour. Pepper?s Ghost will bring you through the Battle of Pasir Panjang and you will be able to walk through the Galleries displaying maps, photographs and information regarding the Malay Regiment and the Defence of Malaya.

Fort Siloso

The British built Fort Siloso in the 1880s to protect Singapore harbour?s western entrance. During the Japanese Occupation (1942-1945), it became concentration camp for POWs. Fort Siloso serves as an important window to Singapore?s colonial past and as reminder of the war years.

Changi Chapel & Museum

This place, called a beacon of hope for the hopeless. Built by Changi Prison inmates, the Changi Chapel stands as a monument to those who maintained their faith and dignity during the Japanese Occupation. More than 50 000 civilians and soldiers were imprisoned during those days. Some exhibits that you can find and relate to their agony are letters, photographs, drawings and their personal effects. However, their main attraction is a replica of The Changi Murals, a series of wall painting recreated from the originals painted by Stanley Warren.

Old Ford Factory

On February 15, 1942, Lt Gen A.E.Percival then Commander of the British Forces in Singapore surrendered to the Japanese Army. The ?ceremony? took place here, the Old Ford Factory. On February 16, 2006, Singapore Minister for Defence Mr Teo Chee Hean officially opened Memories at Old Ford Factory. Here, you can find the exhibition ?Syonan Years: Singapore Under Japanese Rule, 1942-1945?.

Kranji War Memorial

Kranji War Memorial honours the men from Britain, Australia, Canada, Sri Lanka, India, Malaya, the Netherlands and New Zealand who gave their lives for freedom in World War II. Here you can find 4000 servicemen?s graves stand in neat rows. For about 24 000 soldiers and air force men, whose bodies were never recovered, their names were inscribed on 12 columns. Besides that, it is also a burial ground for Singapore?s first two presidents.

Civilian War Memorial

Located in the Padang, the Civilian War Memorial is dedicated to all those who perished during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore between February 15, 1942 to September 12, 1945. Every year on 15 February, a memorial service is held here to remember the victims of the war. Here you can find four identical vertical pillars rise to a pinnacle of 92.5 metres, symbolising the shared experiences of the four major races of Singapore – Chinese, Malay, Indian and other races. The remains of the unidentified war victims are buried beneath the monument.

Washington DC is the place to go if you want to have fun yet you don’t want to put your mind on idle the whole trip. Or if you want your kids to learn something, not just ride roller coasters and eat cotton candy. And you don’t want to max out all your credit cards to do it.

Best Time to Go
If your schedule permits, the best time to visit Washington is either the spring or the fall. Springtime is especially inviting as you may get to experience the annual Cherry Blossom Festival an April tradition which draws thousands of happy tourists in often beautiful weather.

Things to Do
From the Capitol to the White House to the Supreme Court to the Smithsonian there’s all kinds of ways to stimulate your mind and help your kids learn things the could never learn in a classroom. From the National Zoo to the International Spy Museum there are more fun things for both adults and children to do than it seems possible to pack into just one city.

First stop, the National Mall. You won’t find a Gap or an overpriced cookie store in this Mall. This is where all of Washington’s famous monuments reside such The Washington Monument, The Lincoln Memorial and The Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial.

Not to mention the nearby Smithsonian Institute. You could spend weeks just browsing through it’s various museums. I almost forgot the best part. Most of this stuff you can see for free. Gratis. No charge. Complimentary. In other words, you ain’t gotta pay nothing.

For after dark fun you can see a show at the Kennedy Center, check out some basketball, hockey, or music at the MCI Center, or dance the night away at one or more of Washington’s many sizzling nightspots.

Others
For more ideas on hotels and restaurants in Washington DC, check out Last-Minute-Vacation-Guide.com for more ideas and deals on last minute getaways for the weekend!