Travel Ideas

by: Jane Stokes (courtesy of News Canada)

(NC)-Ask those who do it. Most people say it is a very special kind of freedom to cruise this continent’s most beautiful inland water routes in their own private family houseboat.
The 386-kilometre Trent-Severn Waterway of Ontario for example is a National Historic Site illustrating an extraordinary engineering feat of 36 conventional locks, a boat railway, and two of the highest hydraulic lift locks in the world. Pine forests and parkland surround the quiet coves and sand beaches of 20 lakes and at least a dozen rivers. Landmarks include Pigeon, Balsam, Sturgeon, and Stoney Lakes, as well as the communities of Buckhorn, Bobcaygeon, Rosedale and Fenelon Falls.
Houseboat vacations combine the advantages of cottage living with the adventure of travel and exploration. You can explore a different Ontario town or village every day without the worry of accommodation. Prepare your own meals on board, or enjoy dining out at countless restaurants. Stop for shopping, lakeside golf, swimming or fishing anytime you please. Soak up the sun, enjoy the scenery, make new friends at the locks, or find a secluded wilderness bay for relaxation.
To find out about houseboat rentals, go to www.ontariotravelguides.com. One of the better-known outfitters on the Trent-Severn Waterway is Eagan Houseboat Rentals, a family operation for 30 years. Eagan houseboats accommodate from one to three couples, or one to two small families. Rates range from $939 midweek, to $1,339 and $1,639 per week, depending on the vessel size. More information can be found at www.houseboat.on.ca, or by calling toll-free 1-800-720-3426.

About The Author

News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.
News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial “fill” items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.

by: Stephen Schochet

Once when he was a little boy in England, Leslie Hope (He later renamed himself Bob after a race car driver he idolized) wanted to pick an apple off a tree. Symbolic of his career, he didn’t want just any apple but the highest one possible. He lost his balance, fell and permanently changed the shape of his nose.
His big break in Hollywood was getting the part Jack Benny turned down in the Paramount film “The Big Broadcast Of 1938″. The director Mitchell Leisen could not stand the star of the film, the ornery WC Fields, who would run off the movie set and come back too soused to do the required scenes, flub his lines and scream for his lawyer. Liesen found Hope much more cooperative, although he was a nervous ham in front of the camera. Desperate to be a more traditional leading man like Fred Macmurray, Hope begged Paramount to pay for a nose job but they refused. It was in this film he got to sing “Thanks For The Memories” which along with his ski nose became Hope’s trademarks.
For his radio show when Hope found out that Jack Benny hired two writers for $1,000 a week, he in turn hired ten writers for $100 a week each and hated paying. At times he would gather the staff at the bottom of a stairwell and toss their paychecks down as paper airplanes. Other times Hope would interrupt his scribes intimacy with their wives by calling their houses very late at night to go over new material. For their part, the writers created the Hope movie character, egomaniacal, womanizing and cowardly, all but the last trait were true.
Hope’s relationship with Bing Crosby was love-hate. In one of their early road movies Paramount Studios filmed two endings in which each of the boys ended up with Dorothy Lamour, to see which result audiences preferred. They overwhelmingly chose Bing which annoyed Hope, who got his costar back by constantly reminding him that he wore a toupee. In one scene both had to lie on the same bed together (innocently, they were resting) and Bing refused to take his hat off. No amount of coaxing from Paramount executives could get Crosby to change his mind, he did not want to hear Bob’s toupee barbs. Hope later said the greatest acting performance he ever gave was smiling when Bing won his academy award for Going My Way (1944).
His frequent leading lady, Lucille Ball, was an even match for Hope in the ambition department. She lobbied the comedian to hire her little-known band leader husband Desi Arnaz for his radio show. She later regretted it when Desi slept with every showgirl who applied for a job, with rumors flying about Hope ending up with his second choices. Delores Hope was as long suffering as Lucy was. One time she was among a crowd waiting backstage for him after a live show. A reporter asked her,”Are you connected to Bob Hope in some way Miss?” “No, I’m just his wife.”
In the late 30s, Hope made fun of veterans on his radio show. Performing at army bases was a way to bring up ratings. Then came World War II with Hope and a number of other stars recruited by the government for a war bond selling, victory caravan tour. Unlike many of the pampered celebrities who complained about the cramped quarters on their shared train, the ex-vaudevillian Hope was exhilarated by the travel. It was no problem for him to go overseas to entertain the troops.
At first Hope found America’s homesick young fighting men to be the easiest audience he ever faced. Jokes that would die in the states would get uproarious laughter from the troops. In the beginning Hope stayed out of combat areas, but then he reasoned that those in actual battles needed him the most. Hope became addicted to the to the danger of flying in planes that might get shot down or performing in places that had recently been attacked. But he was greatly moved by the injuries he saw in hospital wards, and quietly help set up several of the soldiers he met in their own businesses after the war ended. Later he could not understand the Vietnam situation, getting in trouble when he repeatedly suggested we should bomb the enemy into submission. Hope’s love for the troops stayed constant, even in Nam when they booed him.
Hope got along great with all the Presidents he met, whether he agreed with them or not. He once said that Roosevelt laughed so hard at his jokes he almost voted democratic. He loved telling the story about a marine in World War II who was disappointed that he had not killed a Japanese soldier. At the edge of a jungle he tried to smoke them out, by shouting,” To hell with Hirohito!” It worked, a Japanese soldier came out and shouted,” To hell with Roosevelt!” But the marine lowered his weapon,” Darn it, I can’t shoot a fellow Republican.”

About The Author

Stephen Schochet is the author and narrator of the audiobooks Fascinating Walt Disney and Tales Of Hollywood. The Saint Louis Post Dispatch says,” these two elaborate productions are exceptionally entertaining.” Hear realaudio samples of these great, unique gifts at www.hollywoodstories.com.

by: News Canada

1. Embrace the place. Be sure to explore around the corners, go into the one of kind shops and meet the locals. Find out where the towns folk go for coffee and the newspaper in the morning and join them. DON’T have breakfast at the hotel.
2. Plan a trip with a theme and find an expert in that field to give you advise. For example an archeology trip, a wildlife safari, or a trip to discover local pottery and fabrics.
3. Read books written by authors from your destination. Go to a lecture on the country
4. Learn some language. Just knowing a greeting or two will endear you to the hearts of the people.
5. Pack lightly. Too much luggage will make or break your trip? and your back. Remember when you could get everything in a backpack? Check www.llbean for their travel clothes. Pack things that don’t need ironing and can be hand washed.
6. Take a small digital camera. It’s worth the investment. No film to buy or worry about and when you get home you can sort it all out on computer and make a great presentation for family and friends. Adobe and Fuji can help you get started.
7. www.hobotraveler.com has some fun ideas for the traveler who always wanders away from the tour group
8. Before you go, find a group or club with a similar dream ? and get some like-minded travelers to go with you. How about a group of white-water rafters who have always wanted to raft the Nile? A shared experience multiplies the joy.
For information on travel adventures of the heart, visit www.negstusa.com
- News Canada

About The Author

News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.
News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial “fill” items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.

by: Chere Deshayes

In today’s high-stress world, a visit to a spa can provide a much needed renewal for your mind, body and soul. If you don’t have the time and/or money to head to the nearest spa or resort, consider creating your own. Experience the benefits of a day at the spa by creating a near-professional spa in your own home. Here are some ideas for transforming you bathroom into a relaxing spa retreat.
SPA TREATMENTS
Widely used in spas, bath salts or salt scrubs made with sea salts are wonderful for their detoxifying properties. The Romans, Greeks and other European cultures have long believed in the benefits of healing through bathing in hotsprings.
SPA TOOLS
If you’re giving yourself a body treatment, have a body brush, loofah or sponge within easy reach. One of the best ways to revive skin is to exfoliate before you get in the shower. The ancient spas of Japan were known for their dry brushing techniques. Gently brush your body using circular motions with a soft body brush, starting at the feet and working your way up. This light brushing technique removes dead skin cells while stimulating circulation.
DRY OFF
Pamper yourself with classic and elegant spa garb - a luxuriously thick white terrycloth robe. If you don’t have a robe handy, find your fluffiest, softest towel. For an unmatched toasty treat, heat your robe or towel in the dryer before using.
MOISTURIZE
Water from the bath has a drying effect on the skin. To make the most of your skin replenishment, keep a special body lotion for spa days - one with an aroma that you enjoy.

About The Author

Chere Deshayes is the president of Bath Plantation, a company that specializes in handcrafted bath and spa products. Subscribe to her FREE newsletter at http://www.bathplantation.com/newsletter.html or visit her site at http://www.bathplantation.com.

chere@bathplantation.com