Travel Blog

The Fashion View Mall in Las Vegas is a must to visit and explore. You cannot miss this mall since it is right on the strip located across the street from the Wynn Hotel, TI and across the corner from the Palazzo Hotel & Casino which is part of the Venation hotel and casino. Located on the strip is a huge saucer like structure that dominates the strip in this area. If you see this saucer, you know you have arrived at the Fashion View Mall in Las Vegas.

The mall is huge with well over 200 stores of all kinds. There are many clothing stores for women and let’s face it is a place for the ladies to shop, but there is something there for the men as well. There are a number of gadget shops which the writer likes to visit every time I am in Vegas. Brookstone is one of my favorite places to spend half an hour in to see what new gadgets they have added to their selection. I also like to sit in one of their comfortable chairs and enjoy a massage.

Fashion View Mall

The other store that draws a lot of people is the Apple Store. I have never been there when there was not a crowd of people in the store. Either making a purchase or talking to a sales associate about some problem that they may have. These guys are great at providing advice. They can help for any issue you might be trying to resolve with your Apple products.

The Fashion View Mall really has something for everyone. If you are looking for an inexpensive place to eat there is a fast food court on the 3^rd level that provides ample seating both indoors and out.

The only complaint that we have is that the music they play on the mall area outdoors is far too loud and repetitive. They could subdue it a little and provide more variety if they want patrons to be attracted to this particular area.

For posts about Las Vegas and area hotels, click here.

Save

Should you purchase your CPAP supplies from a CPAP store or should you go online and purchase your accessories from an online store? Everyone is looking for the best price and for the best service at the lowest price. At a CPAP store customers can walk into the store with their old accessory and speak to a customer sales person regarding their needs. They can compare the items that would like to replace and make sure they receive exactly what they need. Some people feel that when you purchase items of this nature at a CPAP store prices are going to be higher than online and they might well be.

CPAP Stores – Compare Prices

The only way to confirm this assumption is to compare prices online with the prices that are listed in the CPAP store. Customers should always compare the full price which includes the price of the unit, any discounts offered by either place, the taxes applied and the shipping cost for online orders. Only then will you have a valid comparison to make a decision.

Other factors to consider when making a decision to purchase from an on line store or from a CPAP store is the level of service that you receive. Can you return the item easily if it is defective? If by accident you have ordered the wrong part, can they be returned easily? If you need help assembling the mask for example with the straps, what will you do if it arrives in a box from an online store? These questions basically boil down to the level of service you need and may or may not receive from either the online store or the brick and mortar CPAP store.

Why Not Just Purchase the Items, Why Worry about Price

We have found prices for some of the accessories to be in access of $200 from online stores. These prices are high and we have not yet compared prices for the same item at a CPAP store. However, if we can save 10 or 20% or even more by shopping around that could amount to $20 0r $40 in savings. Definitely worth taking the time to shop around on the internet for online CPAP stores. Also to call regular stores to compare prices.

Consumers should always know exactly the name or manufacturer of your machine. The model number of your machine and the accessories that you have purchased with the machine. Armed with this information, consumers can quickly compare prices, shipping and taxes before they make a decision to order equipment.

If service and support are very important to you regarding this type of equipment, then you probably want to go to a regular CPAP store to talk to a service representative and be properly fitted with the new accessories that are available.

Verification of Your CPAP Pressure Setting

Another advantage of going to a CPAP store is that they will read the data stored on your machines memory card. This card stores a surprising amount of information about your sleeping habits. Most importantly whether the pressure is set properly to deal with your sleep apnea. Some times after using a machine for upwards of a year the pressure may need to be adjusted. It should be optimized to do a better job of managing your sleep apnea.

Your sleep professional can read this data and make any recommendations necessary. They can adjust the pressure. In addition managing other problems that you might be having with sleeping. In addition there are new products available. They may be able to show you how these products might benefit you more than the current products.

All of this is a valuable service. However I would still encourage readers to compare prices. If the online store is only a few dollars different that the regular CPAP store then purchase your accessories at the store. If there is a significant difference in prices, then it is time to negotiate. Hence if that does not work, I would order from the online CPAP store. There is a price for everything and service levels are valuable. However so are my dollars and service or not, I would try to save money if it is a significant difference. For more information about buying online and CPAP Stores, click here.

Save

Puerta Vallarta Rentals of hotel rooms, time shares, condo’s and homes are all available in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Depending on the location desired and the whether you want modern North American or rustic Mexican, just about all types of rentals are available in this Mexican city by the coast. The weather is fantastic during the late fall and winter into spring. The summers are hot and humid with lots or rain, but prices for Puerto Vallarta rentals are much lower at this time.

Puerta Vallarta Rentals

Make Your Reservations for Rentals Early

The city of Puerto Vallarta is busy during tourist season and Mexican citizens are employed in many different enterprises and businesses that serve the tourists when they come. They offer really great service, polite with great quality of food at inexpensive prices. These Puerto Vallarta rentals can be reserved months in advance and many people will book their place a year in advance before they leave.

We have seen condos for rent along the ocean that have lots of beach front as well as hot tubs and huge pools to spend your days by relaxing. There are single family homes for rent that are part of a golf course resort. There are original Mexican homes available in old town Puerto Vallarta as well as in other areas of the city.

Learn Spanish

It really helps if you know a little bit of Spanish. Mexican citizens really appreciate the attempts that are made by visiting tourists to learn their language. Most people working in the service industry will know some degree of English. Also other languages so you will never be lost and unable to find help while in Puerto Vallarta. We spent two months in PV as it is known and had a great time. We do not speak Spanish, but had no problems making ourselves understood.

The prices for meals and alcohol are also very reasonable. As long as you eat at traditional Mexican restaurants, or sitting under a palapa on the beach. Beer is usually around a $1.00 a beer. They will sell them in buckets, 6 to a bucket packed in ice.

For lots more posts about this great vacation area, click here.

We frequently go to the outdoor mall at what used to be the Ottawa train yards. This entire area has been converted to an outlet mall with lots of parking and many outlet style shops with sale prices on just about everything. There is also a Wal-Mart at this location along with several restaurants and of course a Starbucks at the Train Yards in Ottawa.

We included a picture on the right of this Starbucks location and as you can see it occupies a corner of the building giving much more space to sit outside at tables to enjoy your morning coffee and pastry. There is also lots of room inside. They have the usual free WiFI connection as well. There is probably around 20 places for seating at tables inside and comfortable leather chairs at this location. There are another 20 or so seats outside as well which is great during good weather.

Starbucks at the Train Yards in Ottawa

We really enjoy this spot. Although you look out onto the parking lot, there is not a lot of traffic going by. It is relatively peaceful compared to some others that we have visited. On a sunny summers day, it is a really nice spot to do some work on your computer or just relax in the sun.

I find it a great place, because I can sit and enjoy a coffee. While my wife goes shopping and enjoys herself. If you are looking for an out of the way place for a coffee and do some shopping this is the place. There is lots of free parking as well. This is perfect for a husband and wife team when the husband does not want to shop. He can relax and enjoy a coffee at Starbucks at the train yards.

Comments appreciated. For more Ottawa related posts, click here

We have written numerous articles about components of how to white water raft on this website. We have covered a variety of topics. Such as white water safety, white water etiquette, white water gear. We have many review posts about various locations that you can go white water rafting. The one thing we want to emphasize above all else is safety. Follow the instructions of your guide and if they tell you to paddle, then do it.

If you are stopped at some point for lunch or supper and they tell you to stay out of the water, then follow their instructions. It could mean the difference between life and death.  You can die from hypothermia very quickly in the cold water from rivers running high from snow melt. Before you know what is happening to you, you can lose your footing. You could be swept away in the water, dash your head on a rock etc. Follow the guidelines that your rafting guide gives you always.

How to White Water Raft

We have found that most locations have a variety of white water rafting excursions that cater to both the novice as well as the seasoned and expert white water rafting enthusiast. If this is a first time for you or someone with you, most tour operators will recommend that you take them on a milder rafting trip to get them used to the idea of rafting, how the raft works,  paddling techniques and safety measures. This is so important when you are learning how to white water raft!

Some of the more challenging tours have specific requirements about raft handling, dealing with challenging rapids and being able to swim out of rapids when the raft has dumped some or all of their occupants into the water. If there is a high probability of being dumped into the water, even though you have a life preserver and possibly wearing a wet suit, participants must have the stamina to swim out of some of these ferocious rapids. Make sure you can swim!

Take an Easy Trip First

A gentle trip drifting down the river might be all that most people want to participate in as a first trip. There maybe some relatively gentle rapids which are just find for the first trip. Consider this a training trip and as you learn more about rafting you may consider more challenging trips. White water rafting in late summer can also mean that the water is warmer and you may even be able to go swimming as well. White water rafting can be a great past time and enjoyed by the entire family under the right conditions. Like all sports, training is important and preparedness is also important. Don’t get over confident, follow the instructions of the guides, have fun and stay alive.

Trio Palm Springs restaurant  uptown on Palm Canyon Drive just two blocks north of Amado road. This picture shows the patio for the Restaurant Trio where you can enjoy a happy hour glass of wine for $3.00. Pinot Grigio which is not normally a house wine in many restaurants and bars. We spent several afternoons wiling away the time at this restaurant chatting and enjoying the weather. On this particular day the temperature was over 90F so they have the mist going to cool off their patrons. If you have not experienced this before, you should. It really works and will keep everyone cool even on the hottest days.

Trio Palm Springs

Uptown is a bit less popular than the downtown area of Palm Springs, however the restaurants, coffee shops and bars are adding to the antique shops that have been in this area for years. If you like to browse and look at many unique pieces, this is the place to visit and then relax afterwords with a glass of wine. You do not have to deal with the crowds of tourists that typically are in the downtown area. There is time to browse the art shops without having to jostle with people. You can usually get into a restaurant with no problem and no need to wait in line for any length of time. Uptown is definitely worth exploring.

There are lots of great restaurants in Palm Springs, Click here for more restaurants.

Save

Spencers Restaurant at the Mountain
Spencer’s is a very nice restaurant is attached to the tennis club. It has a lot of traditional members and is part of the Palm Springs social scene. We recently had breakfast at Spencer’s outside in the courtyard area. It has an inside bar as well as an inside restaurant and you can see the pool area and the tennis courts from the restaurant. As you can see there is lots of trees providing shade which is important on the warmer days. The sun can get pretty intense.  You do have to put up with leaves occasionally falling on your table and on you. Not a huge problem, unless it falls into your food.

Our rating of this restaurant is as follows., the ambiance is fantastic, the quality of the food is average, the service of the food is average. The overall value for the money that we spent at this restaurant I would say is below average due to the cost of the breakfast we had. For example, three eggs, scrambled, toast, hash browns and a small amount of fruit the cost was $6.99 Add to that coffee at three dollars and your bill plus tip for one breakfast his well over $10.

This is more than in other locations. I guess you are paying for the location, the name and the ambiance if you like that sort of thing.

Spencers Restaurant at the Mountain

There are better meals at other locations. Some may not have the ambiance that this one has, however it really has to be something that appeals to you.

We did not like the occasional leaf that dropped into our food or coffee. I am not kidding when I write this. I had to fish a leaf out of my coffee several times. There is something that is not just hygienic about removing a leaf from your coffee.

We would not go back to this particular location, however, many people do enjoy eating there. I am sure it is very nice in the evening under the stars with soft lighting among the trees.

Friends of ours go to Spencers twice a week because they enjoy it so much. It is not for us due to pricing and the leaves falling all of the time.

For more Restaurants in the Palm Springs area, click here.

Visit the Living Desert in Palm Desert and feed the giraffes at the living desert at feeding time.

Feed the giraffes at the living Desert at 10 o’clock every morning. Game wardens will open the gate to visitors to come through and feed the giraffes. Each visitor is given a twig for the giraffes which is one of their favorite foods and all you have to do is hold it up in the air and the giraffe will reach down with his long tongue and grab the twig from your hand. It can be pretty exciting for the kids.

Feed the Giraffes at the Living Desert

Sometimes  the giraffe will slobber all over you but that’s just part of feeding the giraffes. Everyone will get a chance to feed the giraffes so don’t worry you don’t have to rush or crowd around.

The kids especially enjoy this part of the visit to the Living Desert.  If it is not too busy, you can also go back to the end of the line and go through a second time. When the food runs out, that is the end of the feeding the Giraffes activity. They all seem to know when it is time to be fed and when time is up. They just wander off in search of more sustaining food for them to eat.

For more things to do in the Palm Springs area, click here.

Borrego springs desert

Anyone planning to go to Borrego Springs can follow these directions. To get to Borrego springs take highway 10 E. from Palm Springs, Los Angeles, or the other Desert cities and then take Highway 86 S. towards Borrego springs. You will see the turn off on Highway 86 for the road towards the town of Borrego springs. This road takes you through the Badlands in the desert which are some of the pictures shown above and below.Tthis is a beautiful area of the desert and there’s lots of off roading opportunities in this part of the desert.

The trip to Borrego Springs California is a nice drive taking about an hour to two hours depending on where you are coming from and also how often you stop like us to take pictures. There are also specific locations for those people in RV’s to pull off the road and spend the night with no services. There is also an RV park in Borrego Springs California where you can park for the night and also obtain some services for your RV. It is within easy walking distance of the town of Borrego Springs California as well, although some people might want to take the  car or bike into town.

Borrego Springs California – Views

The view on the road to Borrego Springs California is absolutely beautiful if you enjoy the desert. There is a small golf course, a nice housing development and several small hotels. There are not many services such as bars and restaurants. This is a place to chill out and relax in the pure desert air. There are also lots of places to hiking, there is a desert museum and interpretive center as well to visit.  Anyone planning to stay in Borrego Springs California, should plan on spending a very quiet vacation.  If you need to go shopping for major groceries, or other items, plan on taking the entire day to drive into Indio or one of the other desert cities in the valley.

For more information about Borego Springs California, click here.

Borrego Springs state park is a wonderful place to visit if you love the desert. There is camping available for those hardy enough to brave the dry desert and the hot sun. Anyone planning on camping in this area must make sure they have lots of water with them to avoid dehydration.

Dehydration can really sneak up on you and we cannot urge people enough to  make sure that they have water with you.  The picture below really gives you an idea of just how arid the area is and why you really need to take the proper precautions when camping or even driving in the areas.

Borrego Springs State Park

The town of Borrego itself is a nice little quiet village with a couple of small restaurants, a golf course and a community of homes around the golf course. They have a school and the other usual small town support, however do not expect too much excitement in this small town at night.

People come here for the quiet and solitude, the clear air and the environment. It is also a long way to any major stores such as Walmart or a supermarket. Gas can also be more expensive, but then you will not be driving too much in the area either.

For more things to do in the Palm Springs area, click here.

Save

The Salton Sea, California shown in the distance is located in southern California. It is south of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. The Salton Sea is actually below seal level. The largest land locked sea in the USA. Unfortunately it is not a place were you would want to spend a lot of time going to the beach or swimming in. There are few nice beaches and the water level has been declining for the past few years. Which has become a concern to local residents as well as local farmers.

Salton Sea  – Swimming

Chemicals foul the water. Most people will not even put their boats in the water. It remains a beautiful sea to look at in the middle of the desert. When sea levels were higher and the land was actually lower. The water level is continuing to get lower due to the extensive evaporation.

This picture was taken from the parking lot of the Red Earth Casino. It is a small Indian Casino along highway 86.  click here for more information. For more information about Borego Springs California, click here.

Save

This Papaya Tree in Palm Springs was planted from seed in the backyard of someone’s home in Palm Springs along a golf course. The conditions are excellent for papaya’s with the warm sun and lots of water. They are watered from both the golf course as well as the watering from the persons property. They get the hot western sun every day and lots of sun. Palm Springs receives more sun than just about any other location in the US.

Our friend had no idea if they would grow or not since they were planted from seed. They are not native to Palm Springs and they are not generally grown in the area. They grow in areas were there is a lot of natural rainfall and lots of sun which usually means more of a rainforest type of climate.

Papaya Tree in Palm Springs – Sex

These trees can be either sex, change sex and have both sexes on the same tree. This makes it ideal for this plant to actually have fruit growing on the tree. We have not found out how many fruit each tree will have each year and they only last a couple of years. This one has 42 papaya’s on it which is a lot more than any of the locals have ever heard of.

The fruit will be ripe once the skin begins to turn yellow. We cannot wait to give these gigantic fruits a try. We originally wrote this post when the papaya was green. Since then we have been able to actually try one of the papaya’s and found it to be excellent. Sweet, firm with lots of juice and no seeds. We ate the fruit in pieces as well as with cereal and mixed with other fruit. It was all good and we a re looking forward to trying a few more before we have to leave to head home.

Save

A magnificent view of the Coachella valley with a picture of a road runner in Palm Springs in the foreground. It does not get better than that! This was taken in march 2013, on the hiking trail that starts at the west end of Ramon road. You do not get chances like this very often and this guy was very nervous of us. It seemed as if he was protecting his nest, although we could not see a nest, but then it would have been very protected and difficult to see.

This particular trail is just one of many that can be found in the area. Some can be accessed easily within the city of Palm Springs and others are further a field and must be driven to by car. There are hiking books covering all of the hiking trails in Palm Springs available.

Road Runner in Palm Springs – Trails

In the same general area as this trail that begins on Ramon Road, there is another trail. It starts in the parking lot of the Museum in Downtown Palm Springs. This particular trail ends up at the same place at the top of one of the ridges where there are picnic tables to sit on and relax, have your lunch or a snack and enjoy the view.

This hiking trail that begins at the museum, is a more difficult trail to go up and down. it would be considered difficult for most people unless you are an experienced hiker. This trail is well traveled with lots of people going up and down it every day.

Always take  water with you regardless of how long you plan to be hiking. You never know when a bottle of water will come in handy especially if it takes longer than you planned.

For more things to do in the Palm Springs area, click here.

Save

A friend of mine recently came to Laughlin Nevada and stayed at the Pioneer casino hotel. He did not like it at all and referred to the Pioneer as a dump. I have to agree with him and told him it is at the bottom of the list as far as hotels go in Laughlin Nevada. He should have asked us for a recommendation on where to stay before going. One of the reasons they stayed at this hotel is that they allow pets in the rooms. They have a large dog that goes everywhere with them and most of the other hotels do not allow pets.

Laughlin Nevada – Stay at the Aquarius

It is just down the road from the Pioneer Hotel within easy walking distance and also facing the Colorado River.

We always stay at the Aquarius Hotel and casino hotel. It is by far the best hotel in Laughlin Nevada although not up to Vegas standards. They do not allow pets in the rooms so this would not have worked for my friend. Nice rooms with a view of the Colorado River and the mountains and now some areas in the casino are nonsmoking. You can have rooms that are nonsmoking as well on floors that are entirely nonsmoking. For more information about the Aquarius Casino in Laughlin, Nevada, click here.

Laughlin is not Las Vegas, but they do have nice hotels in a nice environment with the Colorado River flowing by their back door. It is scenic and a nice place to visit once in a while. It also does not have the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas. If you are looking for a relatively quiet place to spend a few days gambling, having a nice meal, and getting away from everything, this is a great place to go.

There are about 10 hotels and casinos in the area to choose from. Some are better than others and we happen to think that the Aquarius is the best of the bunch. We enjoy Laughlin and will likely keep coming back for two-day visits.

For more details about Laughlin hotels, click here.

Save

Many people living in the northern US and also in Canada, head south every year to spend the winter months in a warmer climate in the southern US, Mexico and the Caribbean islands. These are the snow birds. There are literally millions of people on the move every winter. They head south by airline and driving by car.They book many Rental Condos for Snow Birds

Tourists bring many dollars to economies in the south. They literally transform some cities and towns from sleepy environments to busy places. The restaurants are filled and hotels, motels, condos and homes rented for the season.

Rental Condos for Snow Birds

Having been one of these snow birds for many years, we have learned that there are some basic things to take into consideration. Especially when you are booking trips and planning to be away for several weeks or months.

Basic Things you Need to Take

Every person should make a checklist of what they want to bring with them. Among the most important items that you must have are your passport and your money. Bring all of your other identification and a place to stay when you arrive wherever you are going.

This may seem pretty elementary, but you would be surprised at how many people forget these simple things when they travel. All of the other stuff can be replaced at some cost. Which is frustrating but these are minor issues compared to passports and identification items.

Rental Condos for Snow Birds – Staying a Condo

We have stayed in quite a few condos over the years. Most have been well equipped and they have been reasonably clean. It is difficult to tell just how clean and how well equipped from pictures. If you can visit the place ahead of time do so to confirm what is there and how clean it is.

Several couples have literally spent the first two days cleaning the carpets and all of the linens and cutlery to get it somewhat clean that they could be satisfied. While this is no a happy situation, sometimes you just have to take it on and clean it yourself. The alternatives are not pleasant when you think about it.

The landlord is not going to do anything and probably cannot get someone in quickly enough even if he was interested in do so fast enough. Beside you would have all of that confrontational stress of dealing with the landlord and trying to persuade them to do something?

One thing for sure you will not return and will not recommend the place to anyone. We have seen places were the pictures looked great. That is because they were taken when the place was new and before it got that used less than clean looking look to it.

Ask for references when you can, about the condo unit and about the owner. Anything at all will help you make a decision. We have found that many people are reluctant to say anything because they do not want to lose their unit to another snow bird.

Book Your Condo in Advance

In fact many people once they find a condo that they are happy with will book it a year in advance.

That’s right we have seen it time and again were someone is staying in a unit. They decide that they want to come back the following year. So before they leave they will book the same unit with the owner. They provide a down payment and reserve it. If you are looking to change, you do not even have the chance to move because they already have it booked.

Pack your Own Things to Take With You

We are now at the stage where we travel by car. We pack a box of things that we like to have with us when we move into a condo. For example we bring our own coffee maker, frying pan and juicer. The juicer is unique and not many places will have one of these. We are particular about our coffee so we bring our own. This particular condo does not have good frying pans so we just buy some or bring our own.

There are lots of little things like these examples that many snow birds will add to their lists as they travel and become more experienced. Just remember to not fret the small stuff and enjoy what life throws at you.

For more details about snow birds, click here.

There are many luxury hotels Puerto Vallarta Mexico. After spending two months in this wonderful resort city, we would recommend it as a great place to visit. So far the issue of drugs has not become a big issue in Puerto Vallarta Mexico and tourist still feel and are safe in this beautiful city along the coast. The best time of year is from Jan through May, when it is their dry season. Almost every day is sunny and hot with few clouds and light winds. The humidity is higher than southern California, but still very bearable. During the summer months and into the fall there can be a lot of wind and a lot of rain. Not the best time to come to PV.

Puerto Vallarta Mexico – Hump Back Whales

During the spring hump back whales can be seen in the ocean along with many different kinds of fish and dolphins. The weather is hot and dry during the winter and pretty muggy and wet in the summer and early fall. Choose your best time to be in Puerto Vallarta Mexico based on the weather and the prices at the luxury hotels .

Beach Front Hotels

All of the luxury hotels Puerto Vallarta Mexico has to offer are located along the ocean with most if not all having beach front to enjoy in addition to their salt water pools. These hotels offer time share as well as regular rooms for lease along with restaurants and activities to participate in. Tourists can book many different trips around the bay, to other cities and to other beaches in the area. We spent two months there and were never bored.

We will update this post about luxury hotels in Puerto Vallarta Mexico in a few weeks. For now rest assured that the best areas are near old town Puerto Vallarta, the marina area and also in Nuevo Vallarta. These three areas offer modern hotels and restaurants. There are other small villages along the coast that are more rustic and actually quite interesting.

Save

Consumers looking for discount CPAP supplies have a variety of sources to find these items and compare pricing.  Your CPAP machine should last for 5 years or more with little problem. Although occasionally a machine will stop working or begin to have problems of some sort. The vast majority just keep on working day after day with little problem.

The only real maintenance you need to do is to make sure that the filter is cleaned once a week. This is to ensure that sufficient air is being drawn into the machine. You do not want the machine having to be over worked to provide you with the pressure that has been prescribed and set on the machine.

Discount CPAP Supplies

The accessories do not last as long and will need to be replaced more often. I have heard varying estimates from 6 months to a year. After using my machine for 4 months, my accessories seem to be in good shape. I do not expect them to need to be replaced anytime soon. The accessories we are talking about are as follows:

• Mask
• Straps holding your mask in place
• Covers for the straps were they touch your face
• Short feeder tube
• Long flexible feeder tube
• Humidifier tanks

Whenever you need to replace these items, many consumers will look online for discount CPAP supplies. You can compare the prices with what they can find from their local medical supply store. Readers are always urged to compare prices. Don’t forget to include the cost of shipping for these accessories to make sure that they always get the right prices.

How Long Should Your Accessories Last for Your CPAP Machine

you take care of these items they should really last longer than a year. The plastic flexible hoses will become brittle over time and may crack from continuous flexing. The same is true for the mask that you are using. The mask is a soft flexible rubber that fits to the contours of your face and will deteriorate over time from age and from the body oils that are on your face. If you use any kind of facial cream, make sure you wash this off prior to using the mask at night. In fact the book recommends that you should always wash your face prior to placing the mask against your face.

The straps will also age, however for most people who take care of their accessories they will last over a year. The humidifier tank should also last the full life of the CPAP machine unless it is dropped for some reason and is cracked.

How to Make Sure Your CPAP Accessories Last as Long as Possible

My instruction booklet suggests that the mask should be washed every day to remove any body oils that might have accumulated on the mask during the night. Wash with warm water and mild soap. The remainder of the accessories should be washed with warm water and mild soap at least once per week to ensure that they are kept clean. The filter should also be washed and rinsed as well.

If for some reason users are unable to wash the accessories as mentioned above, two things are going to happen. First the accessories will deteriorate more quickly and you may not be able to get more than a year’s use out of them which is going to cost you money. Secondly and more important in the writers mind is that the mask and straps are going to begin to smell. No one wants to put on a mask at night that smells. This is very uncomfortable and really unpleasant. By washing the mask every day and the rest of the accessories once per week, you should be able to avoid this unpleasantness.

Make Sure You Purchase the Correct Discount CPAP Supplies

If you are purchasing these supplies at a discount store, there should be little problem since you can bring your old one in to compare. Buying online from a discount CPAP supplier can be more difficult. Always take the time to accurately compare and if in doubt, most suppliers have a contact number that can be called to help you figure out which accessory is the correct item for your machine. For more information about CPAP supplies, click here.

Rafting Colorado tours are some of the most exhilarating and exciting white water tours available. In the spring the snow melt cascades down the mountain streams to collect in the tributaries of the Colorado River. There are some really interesting and challenging tours available. Anyone planning to book one of these tours should do their homework. Read up on the rivers, their rating levels, the associated requirements and the planned trips offered by various tour companies.

River Ratings Change with the Season

River ratings can change depending on the season and the amount of water that is melting from the winter snows, storms in the area up-stream. Even water allowed through dams that are managing the water levels of lakes above them. If you are a novice or someone concerned about the skill level required for a particular rafting trip, call ahead to confirm. There is no sense booking a trip and then deciding not to go. Or worse not being allowed to go on the trip because you do not qualify for the river level rating.

The water can be very cold, especially in the spring with the air temperature is still cool. The spring runoff temperature is near freezing. Hypothermia can set in easily. All rafters are encouraged to wear wet suits to protect them from the extreme cold of the water. Some companies will provide wet suits as part of the package. Always bring extra clothes to change into in case everything gets wet from your trip.

Preparing For Your Rafting Trip

The rafting Colorado tour guide will provide you with a list of things to bring with you for your trip. These items will be transported to the landing point where you finish your trip to change into warm clothes. These are exciting excursions and everyone can find a rafting trip in Colorado to meet their skill levels as well as wait for warmer temperatures in the summer time.

Your guides have been down the river many times and know the dangerous points to be careful around and those that are safe. They also know how quickly the river can cause a person to have hypothermia. If your guide tells you to not go swimming in the evening or to stay out of the water, there is a really good reason why you should follow their advice.  People have died because they did not follow the directions of their river guides. They know what they are talking about and should always be listened to. In fact the guide may have you evicted from the trip rather than risk someone dieing on his watch.

Dinner at The Falls Palm Springs restaurant in Palm Springs sitting on one of their balconies over looking Palm Canyon street is one of the best ways to spend an evening! Unfortunately you cannot have dinner at the Falls restaurant any longer. It closed in 2017. Of course, you may still enjoy reading this post. It really was a great restaurant to spend an evening and enjoy dinner. It was one of the best we ever had. Hence we still talk about it with couples that we have been there with.

We ordered Caesar salad which is made from scratch in front of us and tastes excellent. Then we dined on filet Mignon steak that was cooked to perfection. Add to that a baked potato, Brussels sprouts and spinach. You have an excellent meal with fantastic ambiance.

Dinner at The Falls Palm Springs

A trifle on the expensive side. But when you add the location, the ambiance and the company you have a wonderful evening. The restaurant is in the heart of downtown within easy walking distance for many residents. If you drive there is also street parking in front. In addition there are several parking lots available, with one immediately behind the restaurant.

Our evening often starts with a drink in the bar area which is open to the sky. There is  a small waterfall at the back of the bar and happy hour prices for the drinks. Subsequently we proceed into the dining room which is very nicely appointed and out to one of the three balconies that look out onto the street.

One of the balconies is in front of a large sign which we would not recommend. Of course the other two are fine and will seat four people very comfortably. On a warm evening, these are the tables to dine at with the view of the street, the palm trees and the lights.

For other restaurants, click here.

Save

Can you imagine sleeping in your bed and waking up as a sink hole opens up and swallows you, your bed and your house! The sink hole swallows man and house in Florida. This is what happened to one man and his body has not been recovered. In fact his house and the house beside it has been condemned because the sink hole threatens to engulf both homes as it continues to expand.

No one will go into the sink hole to recover the body because it is too dangerous! Most likely the family will erect a memorial nearby. As a result they have lost everything including their family member! More information to come as this story develops.

Sink Hole Swallows Man and House in Florida

Turns out there are many different kinds of sink holes. The one that swallowed this man was formed by water seeping thought the limestone under his house for many years. This apparently a pretty common thing in Florida. There are many sink holes of this type every year in the state.

Sink holes are formed by broken water mains. They may go undetected for months or years. They may have a small leak which gradually undermines the area around the leak. Eventually the surface gives way suddenly.

Sink holes also form when flooding undermines roads and parking lots. These are sudden and easily anticipated due to the massive amount of flooding that usually takes place from storms.

For more General travel information, click here.

This is Goldie Hawn’s Palm Springs home. We walked past this home one spring morning. You cannot help but admire the nice clean lines of this property and the surrounding landscaping. There was no sign of Goldie Hawn on this day. You would have to be really lucky to actually see her out around her home. If she was in Palm Springs, chances are she would show up in a black windowed car were you could not see anything. They would drive straight through the gate. You would not know if it was Goldie in the car or just the body guards on a run to the grocery store. Sometimes the stars will go out to an event or to a restaurant in the area. Many have been seen about the city from time to time, however you really need to be there at the right time.

Goldie Hawn’s Palm Springs Home

Still it is neat to have walked past her house and admired her home in Palm Springs California.  The majority of these homes are walled and gated to prevent passers by from looking in or even entering the property. With the paparazzo and the general public who can sometimes be quite bold, we cannot really blame them for wanting their privacy. Although it would be nice to see her or see her home, it is really nonce of our business.

Palm Springs is a perfect location for Goldie Hawn’s Palm Springs Home, with great weather, more than 330 days a year of sun and heat as well as a location that really caters to the movie set. Many of the newer stars are taking up residence in some of the other desert communities, but Palm Springs is still the main location for many stars.

We have a number of other stars homes listed on this web site with more coming. Hope you enjoy.

Save

Hiking the Shannon Trail in Palm Springs is a fun thing to do when you are staying in the city. The views from the top of the Shannon trail are truly fantastic whether you are looking at the snow covered mountains or the desert around Palm Springs. The first picture is looking west towards the mountains surrounding Palm Springs. On this particular day it was a bit cloudy, however you can still see the snow covered mountains quite easily. On sunny days the views are spectacular and well worth the time and the exercise. In addition hiking is one of the best exercise things to do and you are rewarded with scenery like this in the picture.

Hiking the Shannon Trail in Palm Springs

The second picture is looking towards the valley of Coachella where the cities of Palm Springs, Cathedral city, Rancho Mirage, Indio etc are located. This is a great view of the valley and the mountains on the other side of the valley. The Shannon trail is a popular trail for many hikers in the Palm Springs area. This trail is approximately four miles in length and has an elevation increase of 800 feet. It is an easy to moderate trail and is named after an equestrian rider, Shannon Corliss, daughter of a past president of Desert Equestrian Riders named Ray Corliss.

On a clear day you can literally see for almost 100 miles. On the day this picture was taken visibility was down to around 50 miles. It is still a spectacular view from on top of this trail. Next time we head up to this area, we will make sure that it is a clear sunny day. It will be hot, so we will take lots of water with us, hats and sun screen lotion.

For more hiking and things to do information in the Palm Springs area, click here.

Save

We have been coming to Palm Springs for many years and feel that it is a really healthy place to visit and enjoy. We rent a condo close to downtown and are able to walk to almost everything. No need to be concerned about drinking and driving, since you can walk to hundreds of really good restaurants. We have a pool that is at least 75 yards in length to swim in and I can do 40 lengths every day. The water temperature is kept at 83 degrees all year round which makes it really pleasant in the wintertime when the nights are cool. there are lots of things to do in the valley.

List of Things to do in Palm springs

There is lots to do for people of all ages. Here is a brief list of things that people of all ages can do in Palm Springs:

• Swimming
• Sun Tanning
• Hiking
• Biking
• Dine at many restaurants
• Living Desert
• The Tram
• The Windmills
• Casinos
• Golf
• Scenic walks
• San Andreas Fault
• Many more!

Visit our travel site for more detailed information about the area. Select the category Palm Springs or Palm Springs restaurants for information about Palm Springs. Click Here

Hiking trails

There are at least a 100 hiking trails to hike on and so far I have been averaging twice a week going on various trails in the area. There are also various trails for people who like to bike and the streets are great for biking on as well. Regardless of how wide the streets are, you still must be really careful of drivers.

For some reason, they just do not seem to see you and unless you make eye contact, there is a risk of being hit at corners and intersections. There are really wide streets making it safe to bike on. There are lots of bike trails as well to go on.

Sunny Days

Then there is over 350 days a year of sunshine as well. What more could you ask for? The weather is fantastic all year round and there is something for everyone to do and enjoy. There are many really great restaurants to go to, with different foods to try to enjoy. We enjoy spending time in Palm Springs.

For more details about what to do in Palm Springs, click here.

Save

The AVI hotel and casino are located on the Colorado river south of Laughlin, Nevada. They have a large beach area on the river with lots of sand, a really nice pool area with lots of palm trees, and a large lawn area for your pets to run off some steam. They also have an RV park and golf course nearby. It is a bit isolated in that you must drive a few miles to either Bullhead Arizona or to Laughlin Nevada. It is a nice place to visit, although the casino can be very smokey at times due to all of the people who still smoke and play the slots.

AVI Hotel & Casino Resort

The AVI casino is a relatively small casino, but still has all of the popular machines that people look for. They have a  really great buffet as well with reasonable prices. The only issue for the writer is the amount of second hand smoke that exists in the casino. They really need more air circulation.

There is also a golf course and a large RV parking area as well. There seems to always a lot of people with RVs staying here. So it must be reasonably priced and have all of what they need. Many people will spend a week or so in their RV’s parked near the casino and use the casino facilities. It is a nice place to spend some time especially along the beach at the Colorado River.

They also have a farmers market going on as well. Not sure what days this runs. Perhaps someone can comment.

Note that in the summer time the temperatures can rise well above one hundred during the day and remain in the high 90s at night. If you are planning to spend some time in these areas in the summer make sure you have access to air conditioning. Otherwise, you may be quite uncomfortable trying to sleep at night.

For more posts about casinos and slot cards, click here.

Grape Vine canyon in southern Nevada is a really great place to go hiking and enjoy the scenery of the desert. This particular canyon is located not far from Laughlin Nevada. It is just off route 163 leading to route 95 and Las Vegas. The turn off is about half way up the mountain on your right as you head up the mountain from Laughlin, Nevada.

The road is a dirt road and there are signs leading to the parking lot for the Grapevine Canyon Trail head.  You can continue on further on the dirt road to Christmas tree peak, however it is really not for cars. SUV’s and jeeps are better suited for this terrain. It is just a bit too rough for a normal car with a lower suspension compared to an SUV or a jeep.

Grapevine Canyon Nevada

The hike is a nice easy hike and there is some shade, but not a lot. Take lot’s of water with you and make sure that you have applied sunscreen as well. Since you can easily burn in the hot sunny blue skies of southern Nevada. We spent about half a day enjoying this hike. It is suitable for most casual hikers  who want to get out in the desert. But not too strenuous. We enjoyed our day very much before heading back to Laughlin and the Aquarius casino hotel were we were staying.

Anyone going for a hike in the desert should always take lots of water with them. they should also wear a hat to protect them from the sun. Of course sun screen should be applied liberally. Wear proper clothes and hiking boots. Every year some people get into trouble by not being properly  prepared to hike in the desert. They need to be rescued due to dehydration or getting lost in the desert.

Always tell someone where you are going whether it is to Grapevine canyon Nevada or somewhere else. Let them know when you will return so that if needed rescue efforts can be expedited to the right location.

Save

At the Village Pub Palm Springs, the beer is cheap during happy hour, $2.00 for draft beer all day long, except after 7pm on most nights when it gets busy unless you go upstairs to the bar. The atmosphere is also ok with subdued lights, fire pits and heaters to keep you warm outdoors on cool evenings. Yes, it can get quite cool in the desert.

You may need to actually dress warmer in the winter time. This location has existed in Palm Springs for many years and always seems to be busy with people dropping in all the time for a beer and something to eat. It is located at the extreme south end of the downtown core of Palm Springs. In fact it is the last major pub on the street and I guess that is why it has to compete a little harder for customers, but the deals are well worth it.

Village Pub Palm Springs – Menu Items

Some items are ok, but then again it depends on the chef that evening. The nacho’s are not good at all and are priced way too high at $8.00. Little cheese, few jalapenos and not many olives. Stay away from this item on the menu!

The Atmosphere is pretty good, with heaters to keep you warm if you are sitting outside on their open air patio. The service is not bad either, about what you might expect for a pub. It gets pretty busy around happy hour, so if you want a table outside, you will have to get there early!

Save

The Pacifica Restaurant Palm Springs is a great little restaurant in palm desert along El Paseo. The restaurant is located upstairs above the shopping area. Patrons can enjoy a view of the street. Or sit at the bar or in a secluded booth for a more private rendezvous. There are many great restaurants in the Palm Springs area. This one although actually not in Palm Springs, is another absolutely great place to try. My wife loves to shop and after spending a few hours shopping we headed upstairs to the Pacifica Restaurant Palm Springs for a glass of wine and a snack. What a great way to spend an afternoon.

Pacifica Restaurant Palm Springs

If you have not been to El Paseo, and love to shop at some of the best and most exclusive shops in the area, then you are missing an opportunity. They have golf carts to bus you from one end of the street to the other. Only the best shops are located here.

Be prepared for high prices and high quality. Although personally I am not sure that some of these things are actually worth what they are asking. But you do once in a while find a bargain item that has been marked down a great deal.

Personally I like to go to the Apple store and either play with some of the display machines, talk to one of the store consultants or just use the free WiFi to update my mail and catch up with what is going on in the world while my wife shops. When we are finished we can always meet up at the Pacifica Restaurant for a cold beer.

For more Palm springs restaurants and restaurants in the area, click here.

Save

McCormick’s Classic Car Auctions takes place every February.  They set up the auction just west of the casino in the casino parking lot. There was a a tent to hold the auction and stage the cars during the auction.  Inside the tent there are tables and chairs. As well as food stands where you can grab something to eat while you are waiting for your car to come up to be auctioned off.

With over 600 cars were to be auctioned over a three day period in Palm Springs, this is a really busy time for the auctioneer’s and also for the various car dealers and individuals who are selling or buying cars.

Auction Well Attended

Thousands of people attend every year to buy cars and dream about cars they would like to buy. Admission is free during the first day and you can browse the cars and talk to some of the owners of the cars that are for sale. there is always a story behind these cars. Most are in mint condition and people are parting with the lover of their lives when they sell their cars.
Once couple we spoke with had a beautiful jaguar for sale. He loved his car and really did not want to sell it, however he had an accident with another car and now had a lot of medical bills to pay for. He was selling his car to help pay for the medical bills which were piling up. There are probably a thousand stories about the cars, who they belonged to and why they were selling their car.

We felt sorry for this couple, but since we were not buying, there was nothing we could do to help them. I would have really liked to buy his car. It was immaculate as most of the cars are and it would have been a good buy.

Johnny Carson’s corvette was also for sale with his name emblazoned across the windshield. This would have also been a great collector car to have as well. We are looking forward to going to next years auction as well.

For more posts about the Palm Springs area, things to do and restaurants, click here.

Save

Lulu’s  is one of the best restaurants in Palm Springs. virtually any day of the week, this restaurant is busy with many satisfied customers. They have an all-day happy hour at the bar and at the high tables around the bar. If you are sitting at one of the tables anywhere in the restaurant you will pay regular price for drinks and appetizers. They have an extensive patio situated along the sidewalk on Palm Canyon Drive where you can dine in comfort and also people watch as residents stroll along the sidewalk.

Even better on Thursdays when the street fair is taking place, there are thousands of people on the street to watch. Customers can sit in the comfort of the restaurant sipping on their favorite beverage and enjoy the warm evenings.

Palm Springs restaurants – Lulu’s

Lulu’s also has mist sprayers on the patio to keep you cool on those really hot nights when you are sitting on the patio. Surprisingly the mist blowing on you really does cool you off when the temperatures are in the 90’s and above.

Most restaurants have this feature to keep their patrons cool when the weather gets too hot to be comfortable. It can really make a difference particularly when the sun is beating on you.

Lulu’s also has various specials during the day and evenings. When we went for supper at this restaurant, for $19.95, they offered a three-course meal which included a salad, the main course, and dessert. There were several choices that all were excellent.

Although this is a very busy restaurant,  it is an excellent place to dine. If you are looking for something a little more quiet and romantic, you may want to try another restaurant down the street from Lulu’s in Palm Springs.

For more things to do in Palm Springs, click here.

Save

We went to the Acqua Pazza Restaurant in Rancho Mirage recently and enjoyed a very good meal with some friends of ours. This restaurant is located on Highway 111 in Rancho Mirage in what is called the River. There is a small man-made lake with several restaurants around it with both indoor and outdoor seating. Although it was a cool night we sat outside at tables in an area that was surrounded by glass walls so that we could see the water and the scenery while still protected from the wind. The night was cool so they had the heaters turned on as well to keep us pleasantly warm.

Acqua Pazza Restaurant

They have a full menu and label themselves a California Bistro. With everything from soups and salads, to pizza to full course meals, there is something for everyone. Our group had soup and salad, pasta, fish, pork chops, and Filet Mignon with dessert. In fact, they had a special on for $19.95 which included soup or salad, a main course, and dessert. I had a salad, the filet which was 10 oz’s with mashed potatoes and beans. For dessert, I also had cappuccino ice cream to complete our meal. Everything was excellent as far as the food and decor were concerned.

The service was very good as well providing everything that we needed. However, the waiter was a bit fast and did not hang around very much to confirm our orders. We felt a little rushed when ordering our food and he actually left in the middle of one order assuming we were finished with the order. In the end, everything was fine and we enjoyed a very good meal. With so many places to try, we may not be back for some time to this restaurant, only because there are many in that area as well as in the valley to try yet.

For information on a lot more restaurants in the Palm Springs area, click here.

Save

Save