Explore norfolk as part of your great yarmouth holiday

Norfolk is one of the UK’s leading holiday destinations, with an excellent array of places to visit and things to do and see, welcoming visitors of all ages.

For holidaymakers staying in Great Yarmouth, the resort is well positioned to explore some of best bits of the county, including the stunning Norfolk Broads, the unspoilt beaches and the many, varied attractions.

If you’re holidaying with small children Norfolk has a good selection of places to visit that are both fun and educational. The attractions range from searching for dinosaurs through woodland to learning about Shire horses, along with play barns and animal farms for really young children.

For older children and teenagers Norfolk also has something to offer with a good range of activities, such as adrenaline fuelled rides at amusement parks, shopping, cinemas and mountain biking. Yet, if it rains during your visit then the county is fully prepared for the unpredictable British weather too with good indoor attractions including the Sealife Centre in Great Yarmouth, and great family activities such as swimming and bowling.

Alongside the attractions and outdoor adventure activities the county has a wealth of museums and historic houses that bring the area’s history to life. Nestled in the beautiful countryside, majestic stately homes and parkland, including picturesque Somerleyton Hall and Blickling Hall, owned by the National Trust, are waiting to be discovered. The historical seaside towns of Great Yarmouth and Cromer also have a great range of museums that document Norfolk’s maritime history.

Make the most of today and the past with a day out in the historic city of Norwich. For shopping, sightseeing or just simply exploring, the city is just 20 miles from Great Yarmouth and is definitely worth a visit. Now one of the top ten places to shop in the UK with not one but two shopping centres, plus a Norman Cathedral and impressive castle, museums, art galleries, and much more, there’s plenty for everyone to do whatever their passion or interest.

Out of the town and into the countryside, there are numerous ways to explore Norfolk with the county having some fantastic steam railways, cycle routes and walks. The best of these include the North Norfolk Railway, based on the coast in Sheringham, and the Peddars Way and Coast Path that are part of the National Trails network. And of course with the Norfolk Broads, there are opportunities to take to the water either on a cruise or by hiring a boat.

Not surprisingly the varying habitats in Norfolk are a haven for nature and birds of all sorts, so birdwatchers and nature lovers should definitely bring their binoculars. The long stretch of Norfolk coastline is home to some of the most protected habitats in the UK, with fragile ecosystems such as heathland, salt marshes and tidal wetland. An internationally recognised stretch of coastline, it is home to some of the UK’s most important bird reserves, including the RSPB site at Titchwell, which gets over 100,000 visitors a year. Further down the coast it is possible to either walk, a good 4 miles over shingle, or catch a boat from the village of Morston, to see the seal colony at the end of Blakeney Point.

So whatever you want from your holiday Norfolk has a great range of attractions to offer to all age groups and audiences – with Great Yarmouth providing an ideal base from which to explore.

Shopping online for the holidays don t get ripped off

We are quickly approaching that time of the year where the Internet pays off in spades – the holidays. Here’s a primer on protecting yourself while buying online.

Avoiding the Malls

I hate going to the malls during the holidays. They are packed with people, elbows are flying and I inevitably get in line behind the person who needs a price check or lost their checkbook. Thankfully, the Internet has largely solved this problem.

Millions of people now do most or all of their holiday shopping online. Frankly, it is hard to imagine how many brick and mortar stores stay in business. While shopping from your desk is great, you need to keep in mind the following legal cautions.

Don’t Buy Off An Email

In a few weeks, you are going to get bombarded by emails from businesses. Unfortunately, there is no way to be sure the email messages are actually from the business in question. Phishing scam artists have become masters at kicking out email messages that look extremely authentic. If you get an email message and want to visit a site, do not click the link in the email message. Instead, type the site domain name directly into a browser or find it through a search engine. Doing so will get you to the real site, not a fake.

Credit Cards

Most people have multiple credit cards and use them willy nilly. When shopping online, try to limit all of your charges to one credit card that doesn’t have a massive credit line on it. Also, print out all receipts. If a scam artist gets a hold of your credit card information, this should limit the damage. When you receive the credit card statement, make sure to check the charges against your receipts. If you find unauthorized charges, report them immediately.

Delivery Times

Sites selling products online have to comply with “prompt delivery” rules. To this end, sites are encouraged, but not required to tell you how long it will take to deliver products. In addition, they absolutely must deliver within 30 days unless stated otherwise on the site. When ordering gifts, make sure you note how long it is going to take to receive the item. If you are going out of town, make sure you keep the departure date in mind before you leave.

The Internet is a godsend when it comes to avoiding the stress of holiday shopping. Just keep an eye on those credit card statements!

Christmas gifts - is it really the thought that counts

Indeed, the very first thing that comes to your mind whenever you think of Christmas is Christmas gifts. They come in great sizes, big or small, cheap or expensive, but probably the most important is the thought that goes into picking a gift. A gift that shows you put a lot of thought and care into your decision will be appreciated even if cheap or homemade much more than an expensive gift with little thought or regard to the recipients personality or tastes.

You may consider buying some high-tech gadgets for the geeks on your shopping list. These state-of-the art Christmas gifts are truly built for tech-savvy people. These Christmas gifts ideas range from mobile phones to PDAs, from higher processors personal computer to modern entertainment systems, from digital camcorders to high-tech wrist camera watches.

However, if you're not wanting to break the bank on the pricey features of these super technologies, you might well opt for simple yet practical Christmas gifts. But before you go out and do some shopping, you may want to give some thought first on for whom the Christmas gifts are intended.

If you have a girl friend, a wife, a mother, a sister, or a special someone you may want to consider jewelry as an ideal Christmas gift. As they say, jewelries are a girl's best friend, even if it's not a diamond.

On the other hand, if you are thinking of for-him Christmas gifts this time of the year, then the best things worth considering are sports paraphernalia. These may range from gadgets to sports jersey‘s.

And because many contend that Christmas is for children, then picking that perfect Christmas gifts for kids could just be as rewarding. Looking for Christmas gifts for kids is not that hard because most children would vie for toys.

There are still thousand of gift ideas that can help you pick the best Christmas gift ever. But remember, it's important that you consider the person's personality, interest, and the lifestyle as well. Making extra effort to take these demographic details into account will definitely make your receiver feel deeply valued.

Do keep in mind that giving Christmas gifts are not mere matters of the physical aspects. It's the concept of giving without expecting something in return that establishes the very essence of Christmas gifts.

In fact, gift giving was first manifested when the three kings found the new born King cuddled with hay on the manger. What they offered were variety of things, not as mere gifts but symbols of offerings reflecting their unified adoration to the Lord.

So, when you're done with your Christmas gifts and have all the names of the person who will receive them neatly tucked in place, the next you have to do is head for your wallet. Keep in mind that your gift doesn't have to be expensive. As they old adage quips, it's the thought that counts.