In these trying times, it is easy to forget how important it is to reaffirm our love for our mates. One of the best ways to show someone that you really care about them is by taking them on one of these romantic weekend getaways. A change of scenery can be just what the doctor ordered to break you out of a love rut, and with the global recession traveling is cheaper than ever. In this article, I will spotlight my favorite romantic weekend getaway destinations, with some suggestions for couples activities when you get there. There�s one couples activity that I will leave to your imagination, though. So without further ado, let�s get it on.

The San Juan Islands � Nestled to the north of Seattle rests a string of islands whose natural beauty is unmatched by just about anywhere else on Earth. The San Juan Islands are just a ferry ride away from Victoria, Canada, and are easily accessed by small plane. Once there, take your pick of several top-notch spas and resorts, or just share the natural splendor with your loved one. Romantic weekend getaways don�t usually include whale watching, feeding eagles, or hiking through gorgeous old growth forests, but the clean air and friendly people will make you feel more loving not just toward your partner, but towards all of humanity.

The Spa At The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans. After the traumatic events of Hurricane Katrina, you probably weren�t expecting to see Louisiana on a list of romantic weekend getaways. But the Big Easy still holds a lot of charm and passion, and the time is certainly right to head on down. One extremely amorous destination in New Orleans is the legendary Spa at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Decked out in classical 19th century style, you and your mate can be pampered all day by professionals before retiring to your room at night. Adventurous couples should spring for the Marie Laveau Voodoo Love Massage which begins with a hydrotherapy bath and ends with a full-body Swedish massage.

Ice Hotel, Quebec. If your tastes tend towards the chilly, there�s no better romantic weekend getaway than spending the night in a hotel made from solid ice. In Quebec City�s legendary ice hotel, visitors stay in unbelievable ice rooms with 18-foot celings and all the amenities. Activities include skiing, dog sledding and just relaxing in one of the resort�s two outdoor hot tubs. It will be a vacation your lover will never forget.

I hope this guide to romantic weekend getaways has sparked some ideas in your head � may you rekindle the flames of love in your relationship and bring the fire, like an Olympic torch, back home.

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What does it mean to take a class? In days past it meant having to prepare the night before, to do your homework, pack your papers and books in your backpack, and catch a bus or drive yourself through morning traffic to your school’s parking lot. You were confined to attending only the schools in your vicinity; one hour commutes were not uncommon. Finding a parking space, you’d walk to a lecture hall, find a seat, perhaps greet a few friends, wait for the instructor, and then attend to his or her lecture for an hour. Throughout the lecture, you’d take notes that you would try to decipher in the evening. Perhaps your instructor would do a demonstration, show a movie, play some sounds. You might get handouts to study later, but your instructor would always end by telling you what you had to read and study until the next meeting. This was short distance learning on site.

With the maturation and prevalence of educational opportunities, with online access, taking a class has acquired a new meaning. You are no longer spending time traveling to and from class. Instead, you’re doing distance learning online. You no longer have to pack those books, drive the distance to a school, find a parking place, walk to the lecture hall, and find a seat. You no longer have to do the drive back home. You no longer have to keep paper copies of your handouts. You don’t even have to worry about your wardrobe � no one will see you curled up in your jammies! With distance learning online, you never have to leave your home. Using the online education venue saves you lots of time and money.

With distance learning online, you get almost everything you did with short distance learning on site. Instead of being on time for a class, with many distance learning programs, you can attend the lecture at any time. Lectures have been previously recorded as videos that you can download and play at any time. The lecture room scenario remains the same. A lecturer, a podium, a black board, graphics. The lecturer can even have you view a movie with your computer’s video player. While much of the text material of the class may also be accessible through the net, most programs of distance learning online will still require you to purchase textbooks. More than likely, the textbooks you require can be purchased online as well.

Distance learning will have about the same material costs as learning on site. In addition to textbook costs, you may have to also lay out some money for lab material or work kits. These you will use as if you were in the class lab, but instead, your kitchen table or garage might be your lab. Whereas the use of kits or lab material without supervision is feasible, such as for a computer building class, your online school may require that you purchase these materials. Distance learning online will always attempt to give the student a class experience equivalent to the one you would get on site.

Distance learning is quickly replacing the concrete, physical classroom experience. Thousands of schools can be attended online, from elementary education programs, high school degrees, to accredited, bachelors and masters programs, along with a few accredited PhDs. Distance learning online only promises to grow. Very likely, in the future, going to class will mean, for most people, distance learning online.

There are many advantages to getting an online education. Not only can you arrange your work schedule with your educational goals, but getting that degree is more affordable.

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Now that I’m retired, I plan on traveling a lot. I’m not going to go so far as to buy a huge motor home and essentially live out on the road for months at a time, but I do plan on logging hundreds of miles behind the wheel. Driving to the various destinations on my list of must-see places is not only more economical than flying, but will also give me a chance to go on last-minute detours if I come across anything interesting. Plus, it’s easier to bring my dogs along with me — provided I can find pet friendly hotels to stay at along the way.

I know some people think that traveling with pets is a hassle, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I would just be too lonely if I didn’t have my pooches keeping me company 24/7. Besides, I just don’t think I’d be able to enjoy a vacation knowing they were locked up in a boarding kennel somewhere back home. Dogs love the open road just as much as people do, and now that there are more and more pet friendly hotels popping up, I can bring them along.

Still, vacationing with dogs takes quite a bit more planning than doing it solo. For instance, I can’t take it for granted that I’ll find pet friendly hotels all along my route, so I have to search the Internet first. Before I even get in the car, I calculate how many miles I think I can put in per day, and then try to find pet friendly hotels in the area I expect to end up in. Then I book a room, and repeat the process for every other stop on my upcoming journey.

I also call each of the pet friendly hotels I’ll be staying at to make sure that their policies haven’t changed. It would be a big mistake to rely on an old travel guide or website with outdated information, as many lodging houses regularly revise their policies based on guest feedback. So just because a particular hotel accepted dogs three years ago, that doesn’t mean they still do so today.

And remember to ask about extra fees prior to booking your rooms. Most pet friendly hotels charge something like $20 to $30 per animal, usually depending on size or other variables. I always like to know exactly what I’m getting into up front so I can make sure I have enough cash to cover all my expenses.

If you feel the same way I do about bringing your four-legged companions wherever you go, then finding pet friendly hotels for your next vacation is an absolute must. Check out a few online guides or grab a relevant reference book from Barnes & Noble before you embark on your next journey. Your furry friends will love you for it!

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