Every year, hundreds of adventure seekers make their way to Zion National Park. Many of these travelers come to the park to enjoy mountain biking. The park offers a wide range of trails, all of which have different levels of difficulty. If you are planning a trip to this beautiful part of the country, there are some things you will need to know. Before hitting the trail, you will need to prepare yourself, especially if you are a first-time rider. Below you will find some helpful tips that will make your trip enjoyable.

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Hire a Professional Mountain Biking Tour Company

If you are planning on mountain biking near Zion, it might be a good idea to hire a guide. Companies like Bike Zion and others who know the trails will provide you with an expert mountain biking guide. He or she will go along with you on the trail and ensure your safety. This is the perfect way to see the park, especially if you are a first-time rider. Also, you will learn many tricks of the trade that will help you improve your riding skills. Guided trips are perfect for families and will provide new adventures for those old enough to ride.

Bring Along a First-Aid Kit

While your guide will be carrying a first-aid kit, it’s a wise idea for you to do the same. First-aid kits can really come in handy and can safely treat minor cuts, scrapes, and bug bites. These kits are your first line of defense against injury. There are many different types of kits on the market so finding one to fit your needs won’t be hard. Choose one that is big enough to handle basic first-aid care but small enough to fit on your bike. For more information on choosing a first-aid kit, please check out this link.

Drink Plenty of Fluids

Mountain biking can really take a lot out of you, so it’s important to replenish your fluids while on the trail. Dehydration does not take long to set in and if you don’t pay attention to the warning signs, you could be in a lot of trouble. Before you get on the bike, make sure you pack enough water for your trip. The length of your ride and its difficulty level will determine how much water you will need to bring. For a short ride that is easy to navigate, a standard size bike water bottle should be enough. But if you are going on longer rides with a lot of uphill obstacles, a water bladder backpack will probably be needed. For more information on hydration, please visit this website.

These simple and easy to understand tips will help you have a wonderful time while bike riding. Remember that guided trips can help you learn more about the sport and you will be safer biking with a professional. Before you leave, make sure to pack a first-aid kit and plenty of water to keep you hydrated. By doing so, your trip will be a success!

In some parts of the world, the school holidays are fast approaching–is there ever a time when they are not? It feels like the kids only went back to school last week! As it looms closer, parents, other relatives, family friends (and whoever else can pitch in with the childcare) will be turning their minds to how they will manage to keep the kids entertained.

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This can also be a time where you wonder where you are going to get the money to be able to keep them entertained, as many activities such as trips to the cinema or theme parks can end up costing large sums of money. Therefore, we have rounded up some ideas that you can try out to try and keep your costs fairly low.

1. Look out for vouchers

In the run-up to the holidays, you can be hunting for any deals that pop up related to fun activities for the kids. You might get cheap cinema tickets or tickets to the zoo at massively discounted rates. It might be worth your while signing up with all of the voucher companies that you can find, and most of them will let you set up alerts for certain categories so that you don’t get ones that are completely irrelevant to you.

2. Get the adrenaline pumping

Kids like to fidget, and although all the rage is pointing towards a fidget spinner, it may not cut it. Therefore, if your children are adrenaline junkies and love to be outside, purchase a stunt scooter for them to learn tricks on. Blunt Scooters, are known worldwide; with their decks becoming increasingly popular in the UK. With a Blunt Scooter, you’ll get a solid, well-built scooter which is perfect for a learning scooter rider. Aimed for street and park riders, Blunt is also the leading brand for freestyle scootering. This multifunctional scooter, is, therefore, perfect for impressing your kids. Who knows, their hobby could morph into something much more, and become a future career move. There are many scootering world champions out there, and one day, scootering may become an Olympic sport. Scooters, skates and more, can inspire your children to practice, persevere and strive to become the next best thing.

3. Check out the free museums and local community activities

While they say you don’t get anything for free, they obviously weren’t talking about keeping the kids entertained. There are loads of fun, free museums to visit wherever you are. Search on the Internet to see what is happening near you, and you might be surprised at how many events are available that are completely free of charge. You can also find funded initiatives for many sports camps and similar activities that run locally.

4. Create a list

Having a list of things you can do depending on the weather will help you avoid making last minute decisions. It is usually the last minute decisions that tend to cost the most amount of money, as parents get desperate for ideas. Save up the ‘rainy day’ activities until you truly need them rather than using them all up at once.

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Not everything costs money, so be prepared and have a good schedule with backup plans and you might find you can save yourself a lot of money these holidays.

Whether you’re thinking about a loved one or trying to kick start your retirement in a positive way, everyone can agree that looking after health in later life is important. A balanced diet, regular exercise, and looking after your general well-being are keys to a good quality of life in later years and can help reduce the risk of more serious medical problems.

Heart disease and cancer are the biggest killers in the over 65s, but the risk of both can be reduced by looking after your body. It certainly doesn’t need to be boring or difficult; in fact, it’s a great opportunity to try a whole host of new things.

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Photo by Mid Autumn Moon

What gift can you buy for a person who has everything? You’ll probably think not a lot. In fact, you might have even resigned yourself to the fact that you cannot possibly buy a present they need or like. However, do not be deterred, because we are providing five unique gift ideas they will love.

If you are following me on Instagram (Wait, what? You're still not? It's not yet to late, click HERE! Haha!), you've most probably seen #KriskasMealPreps. And I'm sure you've noticed how in most of my meal preps, grilled chicken breast is present. Yup, you bet! Chicken breasts never run out from our fridge. It's what Mark's muscles are made of. Haha!

Photo by Judy

Has your other half got their birthday coming up, or perhaps an anniversary? Oh, Valentine's Day is just around the corner! Have you already thought of what gift to give? If your other half is hard to buy for and you want to give them something different, making them a gift yourself can be a great idea! It’s meaningful and can save you money! Below are just a few ideas on how to get started.

If you are planning a UK break with your family for half-term this October, there are many great reasons to choose Cornwall. Although Cornwall is a UK seaside destination which is usually associated with the summer holidays, there are plenty of great reasons why you should wrap up a little bit warmer and visit Cornwall during the colder winter months. For those planning to visit Cornwall during the October half-term, you’ll definitely be met with a great range of things to see, do and experience during your holiday. We’ve listed some of the best things for families to do in Cornwall this half-term.

Heartlands
Kids will love Heartlands, the biggest free adventure playground in Cornwall which offers a range of state-of- the-art exhibitions, a giant adventure play area for kids, climb-on sculptures and epically diverse gardens. Along with this, families can also take part in the range of art and craft studios available, and have lunch in the funky café located in an old carpenter’s workshop. If you’re looking for family-friendly accommodation in Cornwall that’s close by to Heartlands, visit Away with the Kids.

Halloween Events
Visiting Cornwall during the month of October means that you and your family will be able to attend some of the many National Trust events held for Halloween. This half-term, Godolphin is hosting ‘Halloween Happenings’, where kids can join the wicked witches and creepy crawlies in a whole range of different activities throughout the garden. Or, there’s a spooky Halloween trail to be joined at Lanhydrock. If you have older kids, a visit to the haunted house and paranormal activity is in order at Cothele.

Go to the Beach
Who says that you can only visit the beach during the summer time? Cornwall is home to a large number of great beaches, many of which are open to the public all year round. During your October half-term stay in Cornwall, you might want to visit one of the beaches which are great for playing with kites, footballs and other games even if it’s too cold to sunbathe. Many beaches in Cornwall are the perfect destinations for family walking adventures, games and picnics.

Eden Project
Visiting the Eden Project in Cornwall is a great idea for families who are staying over the half-term. This October, Halloween is definitely the theme of the Eden Project, and kids can participate in a whole range of different spooky activities such as making protection charms and potions, learning about creatures of the night and pumpkin carving. The Eden Project is also hosting a Halloween themed event for kids, the Little Monsters’ Ball, the day before Halloween, which will have a disco and ice rink.

If you’re planning to go on a family holiday during this October half-term but travelling abroad simply isn’t in your budget, there are many reasons to choose a UK destination. Cornwall is traditionally a UK destination visited by families during the warmer summer months, but there are many great reasons to visit during the autumn as well.

Your daily commute can be extremely stressful, as well as uncomfortable, but if you follow the five tips below, you can reduce your stress and anxiety while feeling more at ease inside your vehicle.

1. Always Reserve Your Parking Spot in Advance
One of the main reasons why a lot of people hate their commute is because they have to find a parking spot in an often crowded city at the end of the ride. If you’re commuting into a large city, it can be nearly impossible to easily and quickly locate a good parking spot where your car will be safe and you’ll be close to your destination. Thankfully, though, you can reserve your parking spot in advance so that it’s right there waiting for you to simply pull in and be on your way. Check out www.yourparkingspace.co.uk to learn more and to start reserving your parking spot.

2. Position Yourself Correctly
Do you find that you feel uncomfortable during your commute because you start to feel achiness or muscle tension along the way? Perhaps you feel stiff even when you get out of your car once you’ve arrived. The key to preventing this discomfort is knowing how to properly position yourself in your vehicle. Start by placing your body in the middle of your seat. Make sure that the backs of the knees don’t hit the front edge of your seat, as that will restrict circulation. Also, you shouldn’t ever have to scoot your body forward in order to reach the pedals with your foot.

3. Keep the Car Clean for Optimal Visibility
In addition to keeping the interior of your car free from debris that could make you feel stressed just looking at it and knowing that you have to clean it up, you should make it a point to increase your visibility by cleaning the mirrors and the windshield regularly. Once you have a better view of everything that surrounds you on the road, you’ll be more confident, less stressed, and more comfortable behind the wheel.

4. Listen to Relaxing Music
Relaxing music could be the ideal way to clear your mind of stressful thoughts that can actually cause tension throughout your body. Remember, the way that you feel in your mind can have dramatic effects upon how your muscles feel. To keep your muscles relaxed, you should relax your mind, and you can do that by listening to soothing music, such as classical music, or by listening to a guided meditation that will increase your mindfulness while allowing you to stay concentrated on.

5. Maintain the Optimal Temperature
Finally, you can increase your comfort during your commute, particularly during cold weather, by checking for any draughts that might be causing chilly air to enter your vehicle. Point all the vents away from you and close them completely to find the location of any draughts, and then check your car’s weather stripping, particularly on the inside of your door, to see if it needs to be replaced.

With the five easy tips above, you should be able to make your commute as comfortable as possible. :)

There are plenty of advantages to booking your hotel online. Whether you’re looking for a long holiday abroad, a fun weekend away in the city, or need to find accommodation for a business trip, booking hotels online means that you can do so from the comfort of your own home or even on the go with your smartphone. Booking your hotel online also makes it easy to compare different hotels and deals, read customer reviews and view hotel photographs before you finally make up your mind as to where you want to stay. If you’re planning a trip, here’s what and what not to do when you’re booking a hotel online.

Do Use Comparison Sites
When you’re looking for a good deal on a hotel room, comparison sites are a really good place to start. You can view hotels in the area that you’re looking to stay, and enter a number of criteria which you want from your room, for example breakfast included, double bed, free parking and even the hotel’s star rating. Comparison sites make it easy for you to see all of the hotels which fit your criteria in the area easily so you can find which one has the best price and is the most suitable for you.

Don’t Buy From a Comparison Site
Even though it’s a great idea to use a comparison site to find your perfect hotel, you could end up being charged more if you pay for your booking through them. This is because comparison sites will take a commission for each booking, so many hotels which advertise on them will charge extra in order to cover this expense. Instead, to make sure that you’re not paying any more than you need to, go directly to the hotel’s website and see if you can get a better price there.

Do Read Reviews
When looking for a hotel to stay in during your trip, it’s essential to read reviews and see what other visitors have thought of the hotel. Even though the pictures might look amazing, it’s good to note that hotels will always show their best side in photographs and advertisements, and you’re going to get a much more realistic, honest description of the place by reading about the experience of other guests. Sites such as TripAdvisor are great for reading reviews of hotels and you’ll also be able to see photographs of the hotel and rooms taken by previous guests, rather than a professional photographer.

Don’t Be Misled
Although it’s essential to read customer reviews before booking your hotel room, keep in mind that there are fake reviews out there which you could fall foul to. The online review system may be honest a lot of the time, but recognize that it is open to abuse and that not all of the reviews you read may be strictly true. If a review seems a bit off or too good (or bad!) to be true, it probably is!

Booking online can be an easy and convenient way of getting the best hotel room. Use these tips to make sure you choose the perfect place to stay!

If someone asked me to name my top 5 most memorable holiday destinations, the entire list would consist of islands. There's something about island hopping that makes you feel like you're really on an adventure. Maybe it’s the enveloping coastline that wraps around a mini-eco system, the ocean breeze that sweeps in, the combination of beaches and forests, or maybe it's the secluded atmosphere that does the trick. But not all islands are the same (some aren't that great, actually), so here's my top 5 for the world's best islands for a relaxing escape:

1. Bali
If you're talking scenic beauty and the diversity of the landscape, there are few islands that can compete with Bali. Fantasy world beaches, volcanic mountains covered in lush greenery, Sumatran elephants, and amazingly majestic pagodas give this heavenly Indonesian island a unique look that is hard to forget. The best time to visit is between the months of April and October, if you intend to stay dry, as the rest of the year is considered the wet season. However, the climate varies between 80 and 95 degrees year-round, so if you don't mind the precipitation you can find cheaper flights during the wet season. I packed my Salsa Rimowa suitcase full of rainwear and had a great 3-week holiday in Bali during the off season for a fraction of what I would've paid had I gone in mid-April.

2. Bora Bora
Contrary to the phonics of the name, Bora Bora, is anything but boring. When you're approaching the island, either via plane or boat, it literally looks like you're traveling back in time to the land of the dinosaurs. This exotic island in the Southern Pacific is home to some of the world's most relaxing beaches lined with thatched-roof huts that sit suspended over the turquoise clear waters below. White sand beaches combine with jungles and mountains to make this place a must see.

3. Santorini
Of all the islands in the Mediterranean, I'd have to say that Santorini is my favourite by far. The people here have done an amazing job of preserving their culture and architecture for thousands of years, and the local Greek cuisine is on par with the best food ever. Red sand beaches, stunning views of the Aegean Sea, and the ancient remains of Akrotiri and Thira make this place a popular honeymoon destination.

4. Maui
If you're thinking of taking a trip to Hawaii, the island of Maui would be your best bet for relaxation without complete isolation. Unlike Lanai, there are enough accommodations scattered about to keep you comfortable, yet it's not as busy as Oahu. Snorkelling, nature tours, and walks on the beach in Maui are some of the most relaxing and enjoyable things you can do on this planet.

5. St. Kitts
The twin islands of Nevis and St. Kitts in the Caribbean are some of the most luxurious tourist destinations on Earth. Nevis is the more relaxed of the two, while St. Kitts is home to more hospitality and entertainment venues like hotels and restaurants. It's nice to have quick access to the hustle and bustle of St. Kitts while still being secluded enough to relax on Nevis.

Everyone is getting ready for summer vacation and while many will choose to stay at home getting some of those odds and ends seen to that kept getting pushed aside throughout the year, many are looking for some place new and interesting to explore. While national parks and camping grounds are big on the list, most vacationers like to go somewhere with a bit more action and certainly more services to enjoy. Here are the top 7 travel destinations in the USA for those looking to visit bigger cities with an active nightlife.

1. New York City, New York
What can be said about New York? From Broadway to the site of the Twin Towers to the Statue of Liberty and Times Square, there is so much to do and see that you would need a lifetime of vacations to take it all in.

2. Denver, Colorado
Since they have legalized marijuana in Colorado, a growing number of young people come here from non-legal states. Those reading marijuana industry news will know just how many ways in which visitors can buy pot for recreational purposes and until more states go legal, what was once a vacation spot for winter sports is enjoying visitors every month of the year.

3. Las Vegas, Nevada
There are only 24 states in which some form of gambling is legal which leaves 26 states, the District of Columbia and the territories with no access to gambling. Las Vegas is still the king in this country and only one city in China is said to host more visiting gamblers yearly.

4. San Francisco, California
Since the 1960s San Francisco has led the world in counter culture activities and those wanting to relive the days of Flower Power when Haight-Ashbury was at its prime will surely want to spend a vacation here riding the trolleys and getting a look at the world famous Golden Gate Bridge.

5. Miami, Florida
South Beach is the new Hollywood (California that is!) and not a day goes by when you can’t see literally dozens of big name celebs making the rounds of shops and clubs. Those traveling to Miami are probably looking to rub elbows with some of the leading musicians and actors from around the world.

6. Orlando, Florida
Home to Disney World on the East Coast, there are a number of other attractions in or near Orlando. Epcot Center, SeaWorld Orlando, Universal Orlando, Discovery Cove, Islands of Adventure and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park are just some of the major attractions that draw literally millions of visitors a year.

7. Washington, D.C.
Although Washington, D.C. also draws millions of visitors every year, being the nation’s capital and home of the Senate and Congress, during a presidential election year the traffic more than doubles. If you are looking to visit the nation’s capital this year, make your reservations early because there is no telling how heated the presidential campaigning will get as we draw closer to that first Tuesday in November.

Visit one or go on a road trip and visit a few, but be assured you will enjoy your stay in any one of these top 7 travel destinations in the USA. Have fun, learn a bit of history and get refreshed for the year ahead. Just keep these locations in mind because next year you can hit the ones you missed in 2016.

As a parent, you will want to ensure that you do not give your children anything that could harm them in any way. However, when it comes to fluoride, deciding whether or not to give it to your children could be a tricky decision. Generally seen as safe and proven to be useful for dental care, fluoride is actually a toxin, which can cause illness if consumed in too large an amount. There has also been a lot of controversy surrounding fluoridation of drinking water and a possible link to cancer, resulting in many people switching themselves and their children to bottled spring water instead. So, should you really be giving your kids fluoride?

How Fluoride Can Be Beneficial
So, is fluoride good for your kid, or is it bad? Fluoride science and plenty of research has proven that fluoridated toothpaste can be hugely beneficial to dental care, with the potential to reduce cavities in kids from fifteen to thirty percent. Fluoridation of public water supplies has also been proven to reduce the risk of cavities in both kids and adults by around forty percent. However, if you look at the back of any conventional toothpaste tube, there is a warning to call Poison Control if more than a small amount is swallowed. Because of this, many parents are switching their children’s toothpastes to non-fluoride and natural varieties.

Fluoride Risks
Although it’s definitely true that fluoride can have a range of benefits for your kids’ oral health, there are also many risks involved that a lot of parents are unaware of. Experts on environmental health have often pointed out that whilst topical exposure to fluoride such as those from toothpaste and mouthwash products can appear to be relatively safe to use, ingesting high levels of fluoride in order to treat teeth from the inside out can come with a number of risks. Evidence backs this up, with a recent Harvard study revealing that fluoride ingestion can affect children’s cognitive development and abilities. Additionally, a National Academy of Science report in 2006 declared that it was apparent that fluorides have the ability to interfere with bodily and cognitive functions when ingested in too high amounts.

Reducing Fluoride Intake
Overexposure to fluoride can cause more harm than good, which is why the Obama administration is currently working to lower drinking water fluoride levels in the seventy percent of U.S.A. water supplies that are treated with the chemical. Even so, however, studies have found that the risks are minimal with the levels of fluoride currently in such mediums. Ultimately, it is up to parents to decide whether or not to attempt to limit their children’s fluoride intake, either by consuming more natural and non-fluoridated foods or sticking to bottled, spring water. When it comes to oral care, there are a range of natural alternatives to fluoridated toothpaste that work just as well.

When it comes to fluoride intake, there are both benefits and risks to weigh up, making it an important parenting decision.