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Truth About Nude Vacationing

Discover the Truths About Nude Vacationing

Vacationing at nudist resorts is the one of the fastest growing segments of the travel industry. It is a booming niche market with over $400 million in annual revenues. A recent Roper poll showed 25 percent of American adults have gone skinny dipping. If nude recreations interests you, but you’re a little unsure of it read these seven myths that may just lead you to making your next vacation as bare as you dare.

Those high walls and locked gates seem just so imposing. Everyone knows there are nudist colonies in America. Yet, everyone also wants to know, "what really happens inside the walls of a modern nudist resort?"

Swimming Nude at Terra Cotta Inn

To dispel some of the myths about nude recreation, Tom and Mary Clare Mulhall, the owners of The Terra Cotta Inn Clothing Optional Resort and Spa located in sunny Palm Springs, California share some of the secrets about nude resorts. The Terra Cotta Inn Clothing Optional Resort, was reported by AOL.com to be one of the top 10 "world's best clothing optional resorts." More importantly, The Terra Cotta Inn is considered one of the most mainstream nudist resorts in America and perfect for couples trying nude sunbathing for the first time.

Once you learn about the top seven myths about vacationing at nudist resorts, you will want to pack the sunscreen, some good books or magazines, your iPod, sunglasses, and if you have kids at home, pack them off with the grandparents. Because it will be time to experience your most fun, romantic, relaxing vacation ever.

Myth #1 All nudist resorts are the same
As experienced naturists know, all clothing optional resorts are unique and different. They have their own personality and character. Most cater to families and their kids. Many are charmingly rustic campgrounds and parks. Others like Terra Cotta, which appeal to first timers, are not for kids. That way you can have a nice relaxing, pampering, romantic vacation. It is very important for your first nude sunbathing experience to find the nudist resort that is right for you. If you go to the wrong place, you will probably never try nude recreation again. [Full story]

 

2012 Cadillac CTS Sedan Review

2012 Cadillac CTS Sedan Road Test Review

By Bob Plunkett

We're scooting down narrow and winding Old Talking Rock Highway through the hills of Georgia while putting the pedal down on a new sports touring sedan that's well equipped for the task of tracking quickly but adeptly through so many curves.

Our vehicle -- the 2012 Cadillac CTS 3.6 Performance sedan cast with a new V6 engine pumping top-of-class power below a chiseled hood -- behaves itself superbly on this dicey road, rear wheels throwing torque muscle into each turn as the 245/45R19 Continental SportContact3 summer tires claw for traction.

Tap flanking finger paddles posted behind the suede-wrapped steering wheel to play the upshift/downshift game when slicing apexes in the curvy stuff at a swift clip.

Or put your foot into the pedal on the rare straightaway but hang on because this thing leaps to action.

At its debut in 2003 the car made history as the first rear-wheel-drive (RWD) vehicle in Cadillac's fleet since 1979 and the first to offer a manual transmission for a RWD Caddy in half a century.

In 2008 a make-over for Generation 2.0 of CTS brought fresh package styling and a wheel track two inches wider with traction in conventional RWD or on-demand all-wheel-drive (AWD) and two powertrain choices.

For 2012, a lighter and more powerful V6 applies to the top two trims of the 2012 Cadillac CTS and all editions wear a new shield-shaped front grille bearing Cadillac's Wreath & Crest emblem. [Read full review]

 

Prepare Your Home Before a Road Trip

 

When you are getting ready to go on a long road trip, you have a lot of preparations to make. First, of course, you have to plan out your trip – the stops you’ll be making, your ultimate destination, etc. You also have to prepare yourself, your family, and your car for the long trip. As you surely know if you have attempted it before, a road trip vacation without careful planning can quickly turn into a tedious affair. However, it is also essential to remember other aspects of preparation, in addition to planning your trip. For example, if you are leaving your home for an extended period of time – particularly in your car – it is necessary to set up your home with the best security possible in your absence.

The first step to take when leaving your home, with regard to home security, is to give your home every appearance of being occupied. This is where it becomes a slight concern that you are taking your car with you, as the presence of a car in the garage or driveway gives outsiders the impression that you are at home. If your family does have a second car, try to be sure that it is positioned in a way that outsiders can see it. Additionally, you should leave a light on somewhere in your home – preferably somewhere further inside, so that it gives off light but it is not apparent which rooms are lit. Finally, you should also tell your neighbors to be aware that you are out of town, so that they might report any suspicious activity they notice around your home.

Even more important than disguising your home to give the impression that it is occupied is to have actual security prepared to defend your home. If you have an up to date security system, you can activate it before you leave, setting up an alarm system, and possibly more, to guard your home in your absence. With modern systems, you can actually monitor your security from just about anywhere through your cell phone or wireless smart device, meaning that you can be in control of what’s happening at your home even when you are gone.

The best thing about these preparations is that they are relatively simple! It is easy to become overwhelmed by your to-do list as you prepare to take your road trip, but you can greatly increase the security of your home with just a few easy steps, as described above. This can give you the peace of mind of knowing that your home and possessions are safe, which can in turn allow you to enjoy your vacation more thoroughly, and with a stress-free attitude.

Katie M. is a writer and blog contributor.

Tips for Taking Car to College

Tips for Taking Your Car to College

by Cameron Sloane

When you’re deciding what to take to college, one of the most important things to figure out is whether you’ll need a car. Having a car in college offers a lot of conveniences: You won’t have to rely on public transportation or ask friends for rides, so you’ll be able to come and go as you please. But before you head off to campus with a car, here are a few things to consider. 

Parking on campus
If you’re going to live on campus, find out what your college’s student-vehicle policy is. Colleges often don’t allow first-year students to bring cars on campus.

If you are allowed to bring a car to your college campus, find out what parking options are available. You’ll probably need to get a parking permit, so make sure you budget for the cost. Also, familiarize yourself with – and follow – your college’s regulations for parking on campus to avoid tickets.

Sharing your car at college
You’ll probably make friends who didn’t bring a car to college. Before the situation arises, think about whether you’re willing to lend your car or give them rides. If you don’t want to share your car or drive your friends around, you can offer to take them along when you’re already making a trip somewhere. Thinking through these scenarios before you take your car to college will help you avoid being put on the spot and making a decision you aren’t comfortable with. [Full story]

 

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 Test Drive

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 Road Test Review

By Bob Plunkett

Heat waves ripple off black asphalt in Pit Lane at Homestead-Miami Speedway spread across swampy Florida marshes, where the high-revving engine of a sleek 2012 SLK350 two-seat sports car from Mercedes-Benz of Germany purrs at idle as a driver straps into the contoured driver's bucket for some hot laps on Homestead's spaghetti-wiggly 2.1825-mile infield road course.

The new styling for this car looks hot too.

It hunkers low on big alloy wheels capped by speed-rated 225/40R18 (front) and 245/35R18 (rear) low-profile tires below a sleek package that suggests swift movement even when parked in the pits.

An aggressive prow on the 2012 SLK350 -- a design homage to the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG supercar -- focuses on a large grille studded with the tri-star Mercedes emblem and flanked by a horizontal bar and optional adaptive bi-xenon headlamps posted on the front corners.

Body lines are classic for a roadster with a long front hood that sweeps up the steep rake of a windscreen and over the two-seat cockpit to a brief boot in back. [Full review]

 

Guide to Lightweight Luggage

A Guide to Must-Have Lightweight Luggage
by Denise McCluggage

In the days of steamer trunks, grand tours by rail and an abundance of porters, nobody cared about the weight of the luggage (except perhaps the porters). Rugged durability and good looks were what counted in those days. That meant sturdy leather, brass fittings and locks worthy of a bank vault.

With the norm now being air travel and do-it-yourself toting, weight ranks high on the list of considerations when choosing luggage. Covering long gate-to-gate dashes with your bags is relatively painless when they are on wheels, but lifting is involved when you encounter stairs, a common occurrence if a commuter flight or international travel is involved. And even if you roll your bag directly on board there's that lifting it into the overhead.

What is lightweight?
Don't just see the word in the blurb and believe it; look for the actual weight. I put the top limit to qualify as lightweight at nine or ten pounds for a maximum-sized carry-on (21- 22 inches long). [Full story]

 

The Azamara Quest Cruise Ship Review

By Ben Lyons

As the cruise industry has exploded over the last twenty years, so, too, has the size of an average cruise ship. What was considered a megaship a little more than a decade ago has now become a medium sized ship, with 70,000 ton floating hotels now the norm rather than exception. This dramatic growth has brought about numerous changes to the cruise experience, and for many, the newer, supposedly better ships seem to be nothing more than flashy floating resorts.
 
Happily, there are a few companies that have bucked the trend of the bigger is better rule. At 30,000 tons and carrying only 694 passengers, the Azamara Quest and Azamara Journey of Azamara Club Cruises blend the amenities and positives of a big ship experience, including multiple dining venues, numerous balcony cabins and a spa, with some of the spirit and personalized service found on smaller ships. There aren’t long, bustling lines at the buffet or the gangway, and forget an incessant string of announcements exhorting you to the belly flop contest by the pool. Instead, Azamara focuses on destination rich itineraries to many ports larger ships haven’t yet found or can’t reach. Straddling the line between luxury and mainstream companies, they also offer one of the best deals in the cruise industry. [Read full story]