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For many hardworking Americans, especially those that own their own businesses, it can be hard to slow down and take a break once in a while. The current recession that doesn’t seem to be getting any better doesn’t help the situation. But if you want to keep working hard and be able to someday, in the ever more distant future, retire healthy and financially comfortable, then taking a break now can help.

It may seem contradictory to say that stepping away, albeit briefly, will help you and your business but there are many associated benefits.

The biggest benefit is to you yourself, the business owner. No matter what industry you are in, running your own business –large or small–is stressful. It often requires long days with rare days off just to keep the business going. But over time that stress begins to have a negative impact on your health and your relationships. A nice long vacation relaxing and doing something that you enjoy either with those you love or by your self would be the ideal, but for many it’s just not possible; financially or time wise. If you can’t make it work at least take weekend to get out of town. It’s amazing what some time away can do to your perspective. It rejuvenates you and gives you a fresh look at the situation. Your family and friends will also benefit from some uninterrupted time just having fun.

Now I know what you are thinking. There is no way that your business will survive without for a few hours much less a couple days. But if you plan a head you really can make this happen. Delegation is key. Take a few trusted employees aside and explain the situation and what you need them to do while you are away. If possible have them shadow you for a few days so that you are sure they are comfortable and able to handle the tasks. If you don’t have anyone to turn to, don’t underestimate your clients. Informing a few loyal clients of your need for a short reprieve will more than likely be met with understanding and you can slip away for a couple days. You can also delegate outside your business to companies like Elixir Interactive that specialize in digital marketing so your online reputation will be managed while your away. You can relax know that with Elixir Interactive complaints online will be closely monitored.

We all need a break now and then; a chance to get away, clear your head, and gain a fresh perspective on life. This is just as true for business owners. Taking a break from work can give you a new perspective on yourself and your business; a catalyst to the next level.

The recession may be officially over, but most people are still feeling its effects on their bank accounts. Some people are beginning to see improvement, but even they are behaving very cautiously. Those that are able to consider planning a family vacation for the first time in years are scouring the internet for any deal they can find. They are determined to have a great vacation, but they are equally as determined to do so for as little cost as possible.

One of the first places to save money when planning a domestic vacation is on transportation. This means researching both discount air travel and cheap car rentals — and sometimes both. Those taking shorter trips may find that using a rental car is better than adding wear and tear to their own vehicle or that they can get a larger vehicle to accommodate all family members and luggage. Those flying to a faraway destination will probably choose to rent a car in order to save money on taxis and to avoid the hassles of public transportation in an unfamiliar city.

Travel savings shouldn’t stop there. Many popular travel destinations offer discounted admission. For example, most museums have a free day each week and theaters and other performing arts venues oftentimes release discount tickets. There are also travel passes that offer admission to multiple attractions at a discount as well as provide savings on shopping and restaurants. It is also possible to plan an entire vacation entirely around free attractions, such as parks, beaches, and tours of a city’s architecture — though there may be parking fees involved.

Imagine your perfect New York vacation. Maybe it’s all about shopping and eating at world class restaurants. Maybe you’re heading there for theater, music, and other performing arts. Perhaps you’re designing your own personal tour of the city’s amazing architectural heritage or its plethora of historic landmarks . The Big Apple is the iconic American city not for any one reason, but because it exemplifies the best in pretty much everything.

If you’re going to NYC for the generic tourist experience, then consult a standard guidebook or “top ten attractions” list and plan accordingly. You can even join a tour group that will hit the “must see” sights. However, a truly memorable experience can only be had by creating a visit around your own interests and passions. In a city that offers everything, pick the things that are most meaningful to you and you’ll be guaranteed a visit that exceeds your expectations.

No matter what you plan to do in New York, you’ll want to have some sort of guidebook along — even if it’s a digital one that you access from your smartphone or iPad. You may want to consider getting a New York Pass to gain access to the sites you choose along with discounts on shopping and dining. Or work with a specialty tour guide to create the trip of your dreams.

The one thing that can spoil an overseas trip before it even begins is worrying about potential accidents and illnesses. Anyone traveling to third world countries has to think about vaccinations and health advisories, and even those traveling to more modern countries will consider the possibility of losing prescription medicine, getting injured during recreational activities, or even what to do if they get food poisoning.

The best way to combat these worries is to purchase visitor insurance . Policies will cover individuals whether they are traveling for business, school or pleasure and it doesn’t matter if the trip is a few weeks, a few months, or even longer. The best part about visitors insurance is that it covers policyholders in practically every country in the world.

These visitor policies cover everything from medical and health problems to travel issuse like trip delays, lost baggage and even losing a passport or other identification papers. Special policies are available for students, senior citizens and families traveling together or separately.

Investing in a comprehensive insurance policy for international travel is the best way to eliminate all those little niggling “what if” scenarios so that travelers can enjoy their time away from home.

Montreal is a truly blended city. It brings together old world charm with contemporary urban life and unites French and English culture into a city that defines and symbolizes French Canada . While Montreal is one of the largest French-speaking cities in the world, its citizens actually speak numerous languages and claim ancestry to over 40 separate countries.

The third most popular convention destination in North America, the hotels in Montreal as as likely to be filled with businesspeople as artists, musicians, and tourists attracted to the city’s many world-class festivals and celebrations of culture. In fact, Montreal is known by many as the City of Festival hosting everything from the International Jazz Festival to the Fete des Neiges, a variety of film festivals and an annual Fireworks competition and festival.

The city recently surpassed New York City to become the second best food destination in North America. It offers world-class eateries in a variety of old and new culinary traditions. The city is also home to an abundance of shopping, cafes, and theatres as well as a university. Museums, parks, galleries, and historic monuments are everywhere. Whether eating poutine at a local diner, attending a performance of Cirque du Soleil, or walking through the Old Port the experience will be uniquely Montreal.

Miami never shows signs of cooling down. And while it’s not hitting the high temperatures of its western coastal cousin Los Angeles, which by the way recently hit a September high of 113 degrees, the heat in Miami is as metaphoric as it is climate related. There is always something going on in Miami, and while the official tourist season may be based in the summer, a great deal of the action in this city doesn’t get started until sometime in October. Of course this is partly due to the fact that a number of the main cultural institutions like theatre , opera and the symphony traditionally begin their seasons in late September or October, but the NBA and NFL get into full swing at those times. And in Miami this years, things are really looking Heat-ed.

The Miami Dolphins have already begun their season and the Miami Heat has been igniting controversy and stirring interest all summer, though they are only now in training camp and are getting ready for some preseason games. Meanwhile, great water sports continue to be enjoyed and the beaches are still full of people having a great time. So, as far as anyone can predict, Miami won’t be cooling off anytime soon. And don’t let the summer tourist season fool you. Any Miami hotel can be full of guests during any month of the year, and some people even prefer to visit it during this alleged off season.

City maps for major urban centers like Melbourne, Sydney and other great Australian cities are excellent resources for visitors. It can be somewhat daunting to find your way around a major city for the first time, and while directions to a specific destination are always helpful, an overall map of the place is even more beneficial. They help to orientate your overall location and put you in context with the area. In addition, it is extremely common to venture off in new directions and follow signs and billboards that lead to exciting new attractions. People have found themselves lost by doing this more times than not.

And this is when an Australia map or even smaller individual city and regional map can be essential. Also, most people who travel to Australia plan to spend the bulk of their time in a specific city and almost always end up exploring some of the great countryside and local terrain. It is nearly impossible to resist the wilderness and Australia is full of amazing geographic elements and beautiful views. In addition, animals like the koala and kangaroo are incredibly intriguing to visitors who have never seen them live before, and in such an abundance. So if you plan to visit Australia, make sure you give yourself the most resources and allow for great unexpected exploration opportunities.

Seattle is one of the beautiful coastal cities in the United States. It is the most northern of the major west coast cities and it is also the largest of the cities in the state of Washington. In addition, it is the state’s most popular tourist destinations and receives millions of visitors to the Seattle hotels every year. These visitors are attracted to some of the famous cultural attractions as well as the beautiful geography and amazing views that are part of existing off the coast of the Puget Sound .

Some of the main attractions are associated with the Sound itself, and part of them are on land, while others are on the water. There are a great variety of ferry rides and charter cruises available and these are extremely popular ways of getting great views of the city while enjoying the wonder of the water.

Meanwhile, back on shore the coast line itself is lined with piers and many of them are popular hangout locations. Pike Place Market has been in operation since 1907 and is extremely popular with locals as well as tourists. There are fabulous restaurants and of course coffee shops along the piers and some excellent shopping opportunities. In addition, the neighborhoods around the piers have some excellent dining and shopping opportunities of their own and some of the city’s popular entertainment options are located there.

Boxing is one of the most interesting sports, with its own band of supporters whose fanaticism can sometimes rival that of soccer fans. Rarely, however, are the venues large enough where the crowd can get out of control, but there is a level of energy that’s higher than most other spectator events. Las Vegas in particular is a place where the fans are more worked up than most cities, due to the high energy of the town itself. It’s not minimized at all by the money that can be at stake.

In fact, the combination of gambling and boxing together is itself something that can be very exhilarating, and there’s no feeling quite like it. Imagine, then, watching a match at Caesars Palace , where the unexpected can always happen, and often does.

The year is 1993, and it’s a fight between Holyfield and Bowe . The fight has already been as exciting as these things can get. In the 7th round, however, a man came in on a parachute, powered by a large fan, and landed right in the middle of the ring. He was making a public protest about violence in sports, and thought this would be a good moment to get attention. He was right, and he also suffered a few blows from the onlookers, who decided this was a good moment to get his attention.

There’s not always this kind of excitement happening at Las Vegas hotels , but every night of the week there’s something interesting happening. It’s enough to keep people coming back, and sometimes a boxing match is better without the parachute.

Miami’s Biscayne Bay, there is a great place to visit, the Deering Estate . This 444 acre is located along the edge of the Bay and is an environmental, archeological and historical preserve. From the Tequesta Indians to the pioneers of the 1890s to the Deerings, this area of Cutler was considered a prime spot for settlement back in the day.

This unique, natural setting is home to many endangered land forests, plants and tropical hammocks. Today, you can tour the historic Stone House and the Richmond Cottage. Or you can take canoe tours to butterfly walks and guided nature hikes; the Deering Estate has enough diverse activities that the entire family will find something to enjoy.

The Estate is part of the Miami-Dade County Park and Recreation Department, so there are many boutique Miami hotels nearby to accommodate any needs required. The Deering Estates offers daily tours not only of the Stone House and the Richmond Cottage, but of the lush natural areas where 50,000 year old fossilized bones have been found. It also features cultural and educational facilities that offer classes and programs for children and adults. Most of the classes involve learning about botany, history, and the environment.

General admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children under 15. There are special tours that have additional costs, but highly recommended. You’ll find the Deering Estates at 16701 Southwest 72nd Avenue. This is a ‘must-see’ for anyone visiting Miami.