Travel

And the main reason why Valencia is famous for its nightlife is the sheer diversity offered to the intrepid tourist. Check these nightlife hotspots if you really want to make the most of your trip to Valencia, or the entirety of Spain for that matter:

Carmen

If you want a whole lot of varied pubs jam-packed into a single place, from punk to goth to gay, then Carmen is the place for you. The pubs are mainly for wining and dining, and are not really meant to be as juiced up as the bars and clubs in other locations around Valencia. What you can appreciate, though, is the diverse flavor of the area. Hang around Carmen if you want a different flavor from the traditional pub and bar fare.

Blasco Ibanez

Blasco Ibanez is a lot like Carmen, except chock-full with a younger generation of students that are pubbing and clubbing everywhere. The area is widely known as the indie and rock scene of Valencia, with a little R&B mixed in here and there. Mix that in with the cheap but energetic entertainment, and you literally have a honey pot for attracting students from all over the place.

Canovas

If you are looking for a place to dance away all your pressures, then the Canovas area of Valencia may just appeal to you. There are no themes weighing down the nightlife in Canovas. It all boils down to a rockin good time with a whole lot of boozing and grooving to get you through the night. Cutting loose and getting a little crazy is the business card of Canovas, which attracts plenty of party animals who just want to have fun.

Juan Llorens

Juan Llorens is where bars and discos cater to the Latino groove and the locals converge to let off a little steam after work. Casual smart is the usual attire for strangers to the area, and is the smart choice to stick with if you want to explore the area. The experience is best if you have a friend who knows the local scene and is familiar with the crowd, while the commercial house vibes helps keep things fun but not too out there.

The Beach

If you want a little more room to work around in and the smell of saltwater to add to the experience, then the beach is your best bet.

Though the selection is not as diverse as its urban counterparts, the beach and port of Valencia is still a great place to cut loose. There is a difference, though. The beach area caters to more traditional nightlife air, while the port will appeal to the trendier crowd. Find your niche, and you'll fit right into the seaside nightlife.

Also, prices in Cyprus have increased, which makes the island less attractive. A bad drought last year in Cyprus probably made some tourists stay away as well.

Cyprus is an island that lies between the continents of Asia, Africa and Europe. The history of the island can be traced back thousands of years and has been invaded and conquered by many different civilizations. This results in a rich culture that is an amalgam of several separate ones. Ancient buildings still stand on the island, including temples from antiquity and architecture designed by many conquering nations.

Some of the many architectural attractions on the island are religious in nature. The Church of Avios Lazaros is a legendary building dedicated to Lazarus, who is believed to have lived on the island after his resurrection. The oldest monastery on the island is the Stavrovouni Monastery, perched on top of a mountain. This monastery, founded by Constantine the Great's mother in the fourth century, contains a fragment of the Holy Cross. Unfortunately, only male visitors are welcome inside the monastery.

Many museums feature displays of the islands rich history. The Byzantine Museum, located in the Old City of Nicosia, contains the largest collection of icons on the island. The Ethnographic Museum, also in Nicosia, proudly displays Cypriot fold art of the last few centuries. The building is a former Benedictine Monastery which also served as the palace of the Archbishop.

The Old City Walls are also a popular attraction during holidays in Cyprus - with a circumference of three miles, these walls show visitors how a city was protected just a few centuries ago.

The island is divided by the Green Line. In the North, visitors find the Turkish experience, while the south is dominated by Greek culture. This causes a fascinating mix of the two near the line.

Cypriot cuisine is a blend of Greek and Turkish cuisine, with a healthy sprinkling of French, Italian and Lebanese cuisine, as well. Seafood is obviously popular, with calamari and sea bass being staples. Potatoes, beets and cauliflower are regularly eaten with meals, using olive oil or pickling as a preparation method.

Cyprus is always a great place for young partygoers. Relax and enjoy the beaches during the day. At night, visit one of the many open-air clubs. Sip a great cocktail while listening to the waves of the sea hit the shore. There are clubs with live music as well as clubs featuring dancing and DJs. There is nightlife of every kind on the island for you to find and enjoy.

Whatever your reasons for visiting the island of Cyprus, you're sure to enjoy your stay if you let the culture take you for a ride. Take the time to understand the influence of different civilizations through the years, and you'll see Cyprus as the anomaly that it is during your summer 2009 holiday.

For a new twist on your vacation, why not try vacationing at a dude ranch? It can be adventurous, fun and exciting. The Dixie Dude Ranch in Bandera, Texas is just right outside San Antonio, in the hill country. The ranch is an old time stock ranch that offers vacations. The dude ranch is still in operation and has been for five generations.

Visitors at the dude ranch can enjoy hiking, horseback riding, swimming, fishing, dancing, hayrides and much more. The ranch offers 20 different units within duplex cabins, cottages and a two story bunkhouse. All of the cabins have air conditioning, private baths and a few even have fireplaces for those who love sitting in front of a fire. All the accommodations are rustic, but very comfortable!

The dude ranch has a fishing pond for its guests to fish in, only rule is it is a catch and release pond, the ranch will even provide the gear you need to fish!

Each day when the dinner bell rings, visitors are treated to a real dude ranch feast! All meals are cooked from scratch, just like they did it in the old days.

Visitors can also hike the trails and hunt for fossils, arrowheads and even check out an old Range War cemetery.

There are many attractions around the dude ranch for your family to see. The Frontier Times Museum is located in Bandera. There is the Cowboy Artists of America Museum just down the road in Kerrville. If caves are your thing, you may want to visit the "Cave without a name" in Boerne. Take the family for a day in the park at Sea World or Fiesta Texas, just down the road in San Antonio.

There are plenty of fun things to do at the dude ranch. It is a unique vacation idea, and something that gets you and your family away from the big city and fast pace.

Spending time with your family outside, without bright lights, loud music and cars could be just what your family is looking for.

Roast marshmallows over a campfire and telling stories, whether it is ghost stories or just old family memories. Take a family ride on horseback and enjoy the great outdoors and all of the beauty that the hill country has to offer.

If you're tired and sore after your long horseback ride, take advantage of one of the two massage therapists the ranch has on hand. They can be very therapeutic and relaxing.

If you love animals, Dixie Dude Ranch is the place to be. They have cattle, horses, goats and everything a working dude ranch needs. There is also lots of wildlife to see. Everything from deer to coyote and maybe a bob cat or two!