Travel

The United States offers a wide variety of amazingly beautiful places where you can choose to live. You can choose a cottage by the ocean, a big farmhouse surrounded by open fields, or a log cabin in the mountains. Each option comes with unique benefits that connect to the heart of the people who choose to live there.

While everyone has their preferences, there are definite advantages in choosing to buy a log cabin in the heights of a mountainous state like North Carolina. Here are five reasons to buy a log cabin in North Carolina.

The weather is fantastic all of the time

While North Carolina still experiences all four seasons and will get snow in the winter, the weather is otherwise moderate year-round. The summers are not overly hot, and the winters are not cold.

The mild climate and the energy efficiency of log cabins ensure the utility costs stay low. You won’t experience the extreme storms you may experience living near the ocean or in the central plains.

The Great Smoky Mountains are majestic

The Great Smoky Mountains run through North Carolina and offer some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. These mountains are lush with vegetation and animals that add to the overall beauty and appeal of the region. While you can build a log cabin anywhere, they naturally fit into the beauty of the mountains.

Home maintenance is easier with a log cabin

Log cabins are ideal because they’re low maintenance. Log cabins do not need insulation, painting, or finishing. While they are not without maintenance entirely, they require significantly less than other types of houses.

They last longer than other forms of homes, and they are more energy-efficient. Signs of damage are easier to identify early and repair than different types of structures and materials as well.

Additionally, log cabin manufacturers usually follow green building standards, ensuring the practice of sustainable harvesting practices. For those who love the region, it’s essential to know that you are not damaging the area with a large carbon footprint.

Perfect place for outdoor activities

From your cabin, you can go bicycling, fishing, hiking, backpacking, picnicking, and wildlife watching. You can cook over a fire and check out the scenery including waterfalls, rivers, peaks, and endless skies. Living in a log cabin also helps you feel more connected to your natural surroundings by offering a constant reminder of what the land is providing you.

 

Choosing a log cabin can make your dreams come true faster than ever

 

The process of building a log cabin is far more streamlined than more traditional houses and housing materials. The cabin can be built in different weather conditions, so the process will not be slowed down like it would with a conventional frame house. From start to finish, a log cabin can be framed in two weeks. While the interior will take longer to finish, the frame will go up significantly faster than other housing options.

There is something beautiful about living in a log cabin that connects you to not only the land but a simpler way of life. Looking for log homes for sale in NC can allow you to slow down, breathe, and appreciate the natural world around you that you can’t do in densely populated areas. There is a quietness in the mountains that you won’t find anywhere else.

Living in a log cabin doesn’t mean you have to go off the grid. You can still enjoy all the amenities of modern life but do it in a more tranquil atmosphere.

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Traveling can be costly, especially if you want to see as much as possible while you are on vacation. But how do you keep the cost down, without compromising on fun and special memories? Here are three tips to stay on track with budget while you’re on vacation.

Plan & Book in Advance

You might think you’ve got a long time to wait until your vacation, but if you start getting organized now, you will reap the rewards later. If you know exactly where you want to go and what you want to do – perfect! You can start writing an itinerary now and booking tickets in advance. According to gocompare.com, it’s been proven that the early bird really does catch the worm when booking ahead. Apparently, the cheapest time to book a vacation is 11 months in advance, but this may not be possible for everyone if you have kids or other responsibilities. In terms of travel, last-minute deals are a lot harder to come across nowadays.

Budget for Everything

Before you’ve even booked the vacation, it’s helpful to save as much as you can to pay for it. Save a portion of your wages every month and place in an account, so you can’t touch it. Once you know where you want to go, it’s time to write a budget that allows for the necessities and fun activities too. Impulse purchases can happen more frequently on vacation, so figure out your budget for the whole trip and create a vacation budget planner. You can then plan what you are doing each day, and split the cost of activities, food, and accommodation.

According to Natalia Lusinski, who was interviewed by Business Insider, it’s quite simple to create a budget for travel. As a digital nomad, Natalia works remotely and has been traveling the world for more than 2 years. So when it comes to making a living and working abroad, she knows how to travel and budget for it too. She claims it’s better to pay in cash so you can track your spending better and research goes a long way. Look up travel options and destination tips in advance. It’s also worth visiting tourist hotspots in the off-peak season.

Take a Staycation

Staycations are fast becoming the new trend for people who want to explore more of the country they live in. A lot of people have turned to staying closer to home for many reasons, such as cost, fear of flying, and responsibilities like pets and children.

With the idea of home comforts, more and more people are finding ways to finance a leisure vehicle so that they can travel and explore their own country. You can take an amazing break and unwind in the comfort of motorhome or caravan.

We’ve all had the dream of packing up and driving off to explore wherever you want. In the long run, it may be well worth the investment, as you will save money on eating out all the time, traveling to the destination and accommodation, which can be a chunk of your budget while you’re on vacation.

 

When travelling to Florida for a family holiday, you want to make the most of the limited time you have in the Sunshine State. You may be on holiday for a week or a month, but when the trip is finite, you want to get as much in as possible without breaking the bank. Here are some ideas you may want to explore.

Book Your Travel Plans Early

One thing you should really know before planning a family holiday to the State of Florida is that rates are seasonal. Not only are flights in and out of the state cheaper off-season, but so is just about everything else. From accommodation to attractions, there are peak-season and off-season rates, so if your budget is as finite as your stay, you will want to book everything as early as possible, and off-season travel is the best deal you’ll get.

Get Advance Tickets for Florida Parks

Even off-season, some of the theme parks are quite expensive, so it pays to get advance tickets on a site like American Attractions in the UK, where you can choose between every major attraction in the Orlando area. This way, choosing Florida park tickets is a matter of browsing the theme parks available (and finding the best deals!). Be forewarned, though, that there are lots to choose from, so have the family there to get input as to what everyone would like to see and do!

Spend Time at the Many Beaches in the Sunshine State

Stepping away from those attractions for just a moment, you wouldn’t want to visit the Sunshine State without taking in some of that glorious sunshine, would you? There are many beaches both on the Atlantic Coast as well as on the Gulf side and most are open 12 months of the year. Actually, they are always ‘open’, but some amenities may be closed, and lifeguards may not be on duty. Even so, if it’s sun you’re after, Florida beaches are a must!

Odd Things You Won’t See at Home in the UK

No matter where you go in the world, there are going to be theme parks – that’s a given. However, Florida does have some amazing attractions you simply won’t find elsewhere. Take, for example, Gatorland, which is located quite close to Walt Disney World. Here, you will be able to see gators up close and personal, but don’t get too close, because they are still alligators after all! You will see live shows, watch gators eating out of the hands of their keepers, and enjoy the themed rides all inside this one attraction. Now, that’s something you wouldn’t see at home!

Even on a budget, you can enjoy much of what Florida has to offer on your family holiday, because there is plenty to do at no cost, such as visiting those glorious beaches, as well as the availability of advance ticketing and off-season pricing. Take the time to plan well, and this will be the best family holiday ever.

 

Vacations are wonderful things. They’re a chance to break out of your daily routine and leave your stress and worries behind. They’ll expand your horizons, improve your health, and leave you feeling rested and recharged. Long after you come home, you’ll still treasure the memories that you made when you were on your big trip.

Hopefully, you’re already looking forward to your next vacation. As you’re planning your trip, you should think about these three ways to make your next vacation safer, more memorable, and all-around better than your last.

Keep your planning materials in one place

Vacations reduce stress, but planning vacations can increase them. Plus, even once you’re at your destination, you may find that juggling appointments and finding reservations that you made months ago can be frustrating and take you out of that wonderful vacation mindset. So streamline your vacation planning and keep everything in one place. That can mean using a spreadsheet or a folder, or it can mean downloading one of the many handy mobile apps that exist for precisely this purpose.

When you can tell at a glance where you’re supposed to be next and when, you’ll be able to relax and actually enjoy the moment. Plus, keeping things in one place will be a big help during the planning phase, because you’ll be able to tell easily which things you’ve already booked and worked out and which things remain to be planned. Since planning a vacation is easily the most stressful part of the whole vacation process, every little bit helps here. While you’re at it, try to remember to start planning early. The more time you give yourself, the less stressful your planning will be.

Share photos securely and wisely

For many people, a vacation is a chance to post fun photos on social media. You need to be careful about this, though, because the wrong post could put you at risk. Crooks know that their potential victims have a weakness for advertising their vacations on social media, and they keep an eye out for hints that you’re out of town. If you post a bunch of photos of yourself on the beach in Florida, you may come back home to find yourself a victim of a break-in.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t post photos on social media after your vacation. And, in fact, it doesn’t even mean that you can’t share photos with friends and loved ones in real time — it’s just that you need to be smart about it. The best way to share photos online privately is to use cloud photos storage solutions. Using cloud photo storage is also a great way to back up your shots, so that you won’t lose all your wonderful vacation photos if you drop your iPhone in the water during that sunset cruise.

Do something you’ve never done before

When you’re heading off on a relaxing vacation, it’s easy to focus on the simple and familiar. What will you do at the beach? Ah, you’ll relax; you’ll lie on the beach, swim a little, and maybe dine by the waterside. That’s all well and good, but why not do something totally out of the ordinary?

Why not go jet skiing in West Palm Beach? Why not go parasailing off of the Florida coast? Why not take a surfing lesson or a scuba-diving lesson? With the time that you have off from work, you have the chance to do something meaningful and memorable. Add a little adventure to your vacation and, not to worry, you’ll still have plenty of time to lie on the beach.

Taking small kids to London can be an expensive day out. Taking them to the biggest attractions, shows, and entertainment venues can really take a hit on your wallet. However, equally, you don’t want them to miss out on everything that this ancient city has to offer. So, if you want to give your kids a vacation to remember, here are some ways to ensure they see the city at the best without breaking your bank.

Make your money count

If you want to maximize your budget while in London, the easiest way to do this is save some money for the biggest and best sites. Asking your kids what they want to see in London will also help you gain a sense of what you should be prioritizing in terms of paid exhibitions. Obviously, places such as the Tower of London will be ticketed, as will some parts of the Natural History Museum. However, even some of the biggest attractions have free exhibits – the Natural History Museum is largely free. They may also want to stand on London Bridge – also an entirely free attraction.

Enjoy interactive exhibits

While some kids are inquisitive and patient enough to go to museums where you are required to stop and read, some children benefit from interactive or immersive experiences. London’s Planetarium is just one example of this; it’s not only educational but perfect for kids who want to expand their imagination. Museums such as the National Maritime Museum specialize in entertaining children and have plenty of hands-on exhibits.

Picnic or get it to go

Picnics are one of the most cost-effective ways of enjoying a meal in London. Packing sandwiches and a drink before you head out could save you plenty of money on restaurant meals. Alternatively, ordering a noodle box from nedsnoodlebar.com will give you the special feeling of a meal you didn’t have to make, without having to pay the cost of a sit-down meal.

Just in case

Walking around with children all day can be incredibly tiring – both for you and them. Packing useful items in advance will not only prevent you from having to buy them while you’re hitting the pavements, but it will also make your day much easier. Here are a few items to pack to save you time and money:

• Reusable water bottles: staying hydrated all day is important. Packing water bottles that you can re-fill at venues at the hotel will cut the cost of constantly buying plastic equivalents.
• Raincoats and umbrellas: while Britain does enjoy warm summers, let’s face it, it could still rain. Umbrellas are incredibly expensive to purchase new, so packing them will save plenty.
• First-Aid kit: plasters, painkillers and antiseptic wipes are all safe and useful to keep on the go.

Maximizing your budget with kids isn’t always easy. You will need to stay fed, hydrated and entertained for the whole day, which will always come at a price in a major city. Finding smart alternatives and packing a bag before you go will help you to make the most of what’s in your wallet while keeping everyone happy.

To read more on topics like this, check out the travel category.