Author Archive: peter

With its incredible coastal beauty, Myrtle Beach is a city in South Carolina that regularly attracts tourists from all over the world.

Myrtle Beach is particularly ideal for families for its beautiful beach, variety of attractions and accessibility. The jewel of this American city is its vast expanse of white sand called the Grand Strand. With over 90 kilometers of beach and overlooking the sparkling Atlantic Ocean, Grand Strand begins in Little River and extends to Winyah Bay in North Carolina. It’s the hub of places like Garden City, Georgetown and Murrells Inlet.

Myrtle Beach Waste Management

With so many people visiting Myrtle Beach, you can imagine you much waste they are generating. This is why the city takes special care to make sure the beaches and streets remain as clean as they can!

They have zero tolerance for junk laying all over the place and they make sure recycling and waste disposal best practices are in place all days of the year. In particular they make sure dumpster rentals are available to anyone, so that businesses, residents and communities can discard they junk easily.

The waste is then treated in the local recycling and waste storage facilities, some of it ending in the landfills of South Carolina.

Grand Strand Myrtle Beach

The “Strand,” as the locals call it, is an ideal beach area for swimming, sunbathing, seashell hunting and strolling.

Here you can enjoy a range of water sports such as sailing, kayaking, windsurfing and fishing. Myrtle Beach’s passion for fishing is on display at the annual Grand Strand Fishing Rodeo hosted by the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.

Myrtle Beach rodeo

The rodeo, which lasts from April to October, attracts fishing enthusiasts of all ages to participate in events for a chance to win cash and prizes worth over $20,000.

Myrtle Beach is also a great place to practice your golf swing as there are over 120 golf courses to explore. In fact, the area is home to many of the best golf courses in the southern United States, which has earned Myrtle Beach the nickname “Golf Capital of the World”.

Some of its courses are designed by famous golfers like Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. For families, beginners and enthusiasts, there are also great mini-golf courses.

Beach, fishing and golf aside, Myrtle Beach has grown to be a center of total entertainment! It has it all: seafood restaurants, museums, shops, art markets and nightlife.

This seaside town is the perfect destination for a family vacation as it has several entertainment facilities like aquariums and water parks that cater to people of all ages.

Myrtle Beach in South Carolina

Run to the Sun Car Show is an annual event in Myrtle Beach where thousands of vintage American car enthusiasts gather with their favorite cars and trucks. An event that takes place in March if that interests you.

Wonderworks is an amusement park for the mind with 4600m2 of “culture”. The attraction combines education and entertainment with exhibits that challenge the mind and spark the imagination. With the ceiling below your feet and the floor above your head, go through the inversion tunnel to reorient yourself and begin your adventure!

Inside you will find six wonderful areas for lots of family fun! You can find out more on their website! WonderWorks is also an outdoor adventure with zip lines that soar 50 feet above the water and The Ropes Course ’, sets 40 feet high in three levels.

Myrtle Beach SkyWheel

One attraction that has become an icon in the city is the SkyWheel located on Ocean Boulevard.

The SkyWheel has a special place in history as it is the first observation wheel of its kind in the United States. The large structure, which rises 60 meters above sea level, offers you a breathtaking view of the Atlantic Ocean. SkyWheel is the centerpiece of the Oceanfont Boardwalk and Promenade, which stretches for half a mile, and is part of the North

Myrtle Beach area, just off Hwy 17 from Myrtle Beach. The promenade is an attraction in itself with beautiful shops, restaurants and other exciting shopping facilities.

Myrtle Beach kayak

You can also explore North Myrtle Beach by kayak or stand up paddleboard with J&L Kayak. Their kayaking eco-tourism experience is unmatched and their guides are very knowledgeable about the area and the wildlife you are likely to encounter on your guided outing. Several types of excursions are offered, by paddle or kayak.

The ideal time to enjoy Myrtle Beach in South Carolina is from June to August.

But expect to have rain showers a few days during this time, so be sure to bring an umbrella just in case. Spring is generally the cheapest season to visit Myrtle Beach.

Hotel prices remain low until April. Accommodation choices in Myrtle Beach are quite varied. You can choose to stay at classic beachfront resorts and hotels, located throughout the Grand Strand area.

But if you’re planning on staying longer, you can also choose to rent beach homes or vacation villas, most of which are in North and South Myrtle Beach.

All of the major waste carriers are looking to take the weight away from the general waste bins of their clients by having food waste collections and recycling the waste stream as opposed to landfill.

Florida hotels, restaurants and bars are big producers of food waste and are some of the main clients of the large waste companies and are now prime targets to have their food waste collected and recycled.

With upto 80 % of the weight in a $1100 bin being food waste it is no surprise that they want to reduce the weight especially with the landfill tax due to rise to $56 per tonne on August 1st.

Specialist food waste collection and recycling companies are also finding that many of their clients are totally surprised as to how much weight was previously being sent to landfill.

By offering a monthly report detailing the exact weights collected they can actually see their landfill diversion figures.This information can then be used to reduce the amount of food waste that is being produced and reduce costs.

They offer a food waste collection and recycling service to businesses of all sizes in Florida whereby all food waste collected is 100 % recycled. The cost of recycling food waste will become cheaper year by year for any food waste producers.

Food waste collections

Food waste collections have always deemed to be expensive when compared with general waste collections destined for landfill sites but specialist food waste collection companies are reaping the benefit of the government increases in landfill tax.

Of course this was always the intention by not only our current Florida government but by its predecessors beforehand as taxing businesses as a preventative measure to landfill seems to be working.

With commercial food waste collection and recycling still an untapped market, mainly because the landfill option was always cheaper, and there not being enough reputable food waste carriers the specialised food waste collection companies are in great demand.

The hospitality industry in particular, which includes restaurants and hotels in abundance, are all looking to increase their recycling rates.

With cardboard/paper, glass and plastics already being recycled the addition of food waste to their recycling regime means that very little is left to go into general waste and ultimately landfill, which means that not only are they helping the environment but more importantly there is virtually a “cost neutral” factor to recycling food waste.

Some Daytona hotels are about to commence food waste recycling in an effort to reduce the amount of waste that is going to landfill and increase their “green credentials” within their group.

The very first hotel to start this program is housed in the fine architecture of one of central Daytona’s most important Georgian buildings dating back to 1775. The smallest hotel within the group, with 24 bedrooms, enjoys an intimate ambience in the cosy bistro, and delightful walled garden.

Food waste will be collected from the hotel using special bio-degradeable food waste bags and taken to an in vessel composting facility in the vicinity where it will be turned into compost over a prolongued 12/14 week period. Previously the food waste collected would have gone into the general waste bins at the hotel and taken to a nearby landfill site.

No more food waste in the landfills

Daytona dumpster rentals will be providing exact figures for the hotel as to how much food waste has been diverted from landfill. The hotel is regarded as Daytona’s finest and are in high demand because of the standards that are set.

Open seven days a week, and under the tutelage of head chef, Adam Smith, the restaurant is at the heart of the hotel, a classic, French styled, elegant and informal setting for lunch, dinner, to meet, celebrate or simply pass the time. You can dine on the finest produce that Daytona Beach has to offer.

Daytona dumpster rentals have been introduced to the hotel group because of their expertise within the food waste collection sector and there values of 100 % recycling the food waste that is produced.

This is yet another very high profile client that adds to the list of shopping centers, theme and leisure parks, hospitals, hotels, restaurants, universities and schools, corporate companies and food producers that they service of all sizes.

They have increased their commercial food waste collections by taking extra sites on board for one of the largest waste management companies in Florida. The major bar and hotel chains use them to handle all of their waste management issues including the collection of food waste from their Premier Inn Hotels and associated restaurants.

With the next “roll out” of sites commencing towards the end of January, they have turned to this specialist food waste collection and recycling company, to collect the food waste from a number of new sites.

The Daytona based food waste collection company are already servicing many sites. Environmental services have been using them for many months. They found the service provided extremely reliable and professional.

Their dedication to drive food waste away from landfill within their operating area’s has enabled us to increase recycling with some of our key customers in the area. The proactive nature of the after sales service is second to none and they would have no hesitation in recommending their services to others.

They are currently collecting commercial food waste and have been accepted by all of the major players in the waste management industry as they look for specialist food waste collect companies to assist with their clients. They offer a commercial food waste collection service, whereby all of the food waste collected is 100% recycled, in Florida.

Last Fall, we spent two days in Rhode Island, the smallest state in the United States. We arrived in Providence on Friday evening with downpours, remnants of a tropical storm coming up north from the East Coast.

Fortunately, the next day, the weather was bright and we crossed three districts of the city. Federal Hill is a neighborhood undergoing redevelopment. In two centuries it went from super chic, to super rotten, then hyped again. College Hill is the hill where the prestigious Brown University is located, and the RISD super museum (pronounce Rizdi) downtown of the city.

It may well be the state capital, the city can be easily explored on foot, and in the evening we took advantage of Waterfire, a light and sound show on the canals (similar to Jean-Michel Jarre from the 90’s).

Contrary to what its name suggests, Rhode Island is not an island, but it is still by the sea. Rhode Island is one of the six states of New England. Providence is only an hour’s drive from Boston, and there are even direct trains going there.

The city’s attraction is Brown’s University. You may say, why visit a college campus? Because here in New England, the universities, especially those in the Ivy League, are super hot. It’s like walking around a beautiful historic neighborhood, with brick houses and parks where people are young and beautiful.

Providence is the capital of Rhode Island, and who says capital says capitol, with a dome – besides it is one of the largest marble domes in the world, useless info but a guide told us. The downtown has a few big buildings, but also small narrow streets rather well animated, it changes from the fairly deserted downtown of Boston at night.

One of the city’s attractions during the summer is the Waterfire show. One Saturday a month (we happened to come at the right time, thank the god of tourists), braziers are lit on the canals and people are slowly watching the logs crackle. It started in 1997, during a New Year, where a passionate (and wealthy) guy organized this event to make the center look pretty and revitalize. It rained so much that it has been organized every year since.

When a friend told me about it, I imagined something quite intimate, like little candles floating on the canals, with not many people on the quays, all in a semi-dismal atmosphere, just a few lanterns around the corner streets. But it’s super popular and crowded. There are concerts, hot dog stands and historical reenactments with disguised soldiers and pipers.

We still learned something about the history of the American Revolutionary War. It was believed that it all started in Boston, the Tea Party, the battle of Concord-Lexington, but apparently it was in Providence that the first scuffle with the English took place: locals would have burned a boat to them before anyone else , that’s called the Battle of Gaspee. Every time you visit the city, you get a slightly different version of the official story.

The neighborhood that surprised us most was the one that, as the expression goes, was off the beaten track. West of the city, Federal Hill was supposed to be an Italian neighborhood, but it’s as Italian as the pizza I make at home with melted Swiss cheese as a topping. Formerly it was a district of immigrants, first Irish, then Italians, but it is ancient history.

This dubious-looking sculpture symbolizes the entrance to the neighborhood, the pine cone representing abundance. This Atwells street did not really appeal to us, but going to the parallel street, Broadway, it was much nicer.

On Broadway, there are lots of old Victorian houses. Some are barricaded and in the process of becoming squats, others are undergoing renovation. We also came across this old armory, a huge building, which is now a firefighter training center. It seemed completely incongruous this kind of fortified castle in the middle of the city.

We were taking pictures of one of these Victorian houses when a guy came out and started telling us that he was doing interior work. He praised the incredible pieces of this house that has been neglected for several decades. And then he offered to come back. It could have been a serial killer trap, but we weren’t at all suspicious, he looked nice.

We followed him, and he took us around the house, a little wonder, certainly in great disrepair, but one could imagine the past beauty of the place … and to come, since he works with a whole team of workers to retype it and make it a hotel. They are using the help of Providence Dumpster Rentals Center to remove the construction debris and other junk materials as they want to keep the area clean.

Providence is trying to carve out a reputation as “the hippest city in the United States”. The competition is fierce, between Austin in Texas, Portland in Oregon (and others if you have suggestions!). Who says hype, says super food. And it’s true that the restaurants tested at Providence weren’t bad at all.

Farmstead is a restaurant that makes only local, fresh and seasonal. We drank excellent wine, ate tip-top cheese and original cool bistro-style dishes. 186 Wayland Av. Julian’s is a pretty rock’n roll place where we serve an American breakfast. According to the host we stayed with, it’s the best in town. We found it classically good, with everything we want to eat for 100% USA – Benedict eggs, hash, pancakes, etc. Noisy, lively, crazy and hearty. 318 Broadway. Flan ajo is a mini tapas restaurant that almost reminded us of Andalusia. It was super good and with some locally inspired tapas (with clams). 225 Westminster St.

Are you tired of your less than enjoyable experiences at the airport and being stuffed in a plane seat designed for a leg-less 3 year old? Are you frustrated with driving long distances missing your nap time and dodging semi-trucks? If so, you may want to consider AMTRAK in your travel plans. Travelling by train does take longer, but if you embrace the mindset that the journey itself is part of your vacation experience, you’ll do just fine.

Consider this short article a primer. There is so much to experience on the rails, that it warrants more than this one brief look.

AMTRAK has several long distance routes that cross the country coast to coast at several points. I recently traveled by train from Albuquerque, New Mexico to New York City. The first leg of the trip was on the Southwest Chief, which traveled from Albuquerque to Chicago, then transferred to the Lake Shore Limited to arrive in New York City.

How long did all of this take? I departed Albuquerque early afternoon on Sunday, and arrived in New York City early evening on Tuesday. Although coach seats on a train are large and put to shame first class on a plane, for overnight travel I strongly recommend sleeper car accommodations. This does cost quite a lot more, but your trip enjoyment is enhanced by more than the additional cost.

Rates for sleeper car rooms includes all meals in the dining car, coffee, bottled water and juices available right by your room at no charge, and the assistance of a steward. You also have your own private room with locking door, privacy curtains and bed for sleeping.

The most economical sleeping car room is the roomette. Take the ‘ette’ part seriously and do not be surprised by how tiny this is.

Essentially, you will get two seats facing each other with total room size being 3’6″ x 6’6″ (in a Superliner room which are what the two level rail cars are called). The two seats slide down to make a bed and a bunk comes down from the ceiling to make the second bed. Clearly the maximum people count in this room is two.

A larger (much more expensive option) is the bedroom, which is still only designed for two, but has dimensions of 6’6″ x 7’6″ and includes more spacious seating as well as in room shower, toilet and sink facilities.

Other than the Superliner, on northeastern routes you may end up in a Viewliner single level car, since bridges and tunnels and the like were not originally built for the much taller Superliner. A roomette in the Viewliner will be 2 inches longer but in my opinion feels smaller. Why you ask? There is a tiny toilet and sink in each Viewliner roomette… with no curtain dividing it from the seats. I found this very odd, but maybe that is just me.

Needless to say I prefer the Superliner with its many restrooms located both upstairs and down and utilized only by other sleeping car passengers.

As I noted earlier, all your meals are included in your sleeping car fare, and you can enjoy the dining car or have your steward bring you your meals in your room if you are feeling less sociable. During train stops you are allowed to step off and take in a bit of fresh air and walk a bit, which breaks up the trip nicely and prevents any claustrophobia you might worry about.

Also included with sleeping car fares is the ability to use lounges in several key cities (Chicago, Washington D.C., New York and Los Angeles). These staffed and comfortable lounges provide free beverages and snacks, couches and tables, televisions, quiet corners, luggage storage if you wish to explore, and assistance in boarding your next train.

I one had a stopover at Jacksonville to see my cousin who works in waste management in North Florida. He is very busy with his junk removal company Jacksonville Dumpster Rental Brothers and we only had time for diner. He gets involved in recycling, landfills hauling and all sorts of rolloff container hauling and making use the cities stay clean.

The best selling point for travel by train is the views. Train routes tend to go through large areas of unspoiled and undeveloped land, so if you want to see America close up and personal, not on a commercialized interstate, and not at 30,000 feet, then the train will provide you with wonderful scenery from sea to shining sea. All aboard!

If you have any questions about train travel, or wish to speak with me about any travel needs you may have, please contact me at nancy.julian@mousetalestravel.com

Lake Michigan is the third largest of the Great Lakes and the sixth largest lake in the world. Bordered by Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin it is the only one of the Great Lakes that lies completely within the borders of the United States.

Chicago boasts 29 miles of shoreline and 15 miles of beaches along Lake Michigan, which warms up for swimming in July and August. Our picks for the most entertaining locations are Ohio Street Beach, small, among the least-crowded and near Navy Pier, and North Avenue Beach with bustling crowds, a retro beach house that resembles an ocean liner, and proximity to Lincoln Park and the zoo.

Lake Michigan Resorts

Because sometimes, you’re simply too relaxed to make yourself leave your hotel, lucky you are. Chicago greeted thousands of adventurers in the last year, and you can find their suggestions on beach hotels in the review section. Universally, beach hotels in Chicago furnish everything you could want for the best beach vacation ever.

Whether your preference is a hotel room with a view of Lake Michigan, a cabin in the Shawnee National Forest or a historic Lodge room just a short hike from a waterfall in a magnificent, glacier carved canyon a visit to one or all of Illinois’ eight State Park Lodges is a must.

Stay at one of the top Chicago beach hotels, and you can walk to the sand with morning coffee in hand. What are the best restaurants in Chicago with a view of the water? Chicago is brimming with eateries that spoil you with views of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan while you dine.

The lake is so huge, it looks like an ocean. You can enjoy Lake Michigan view from multiple points. You can go to the side near Millenium park and near the planetarium for a fantastic panorama.

In fact, a great many prefer the peace and tranquility of lake resorts compared to the frenetic pace of popular beaches on the West and East coasts. In line with that, some websites have compiled below a list of the ten most luxurious lake resorts in Illinois that may help you decide on your next vacation destination.

Chicago is a prime vacation destination with its access to the Great Lakes, a few big cities nearby and lots of pristine wilderness. It’s got beaches and forests along the edge of Lake Michigan and a flourishing wine and craft beer scene throughout the state.

What makes Lake Michigan hotels standout is the setting and amenities – immaculate grounds, expansive views of Lake Michigan from every room, two private decks and a private beach on the shore. Best of all is the private beach access with a fabulous deck that has been recently expanded and fantastic sandy beach .

Online there are easy to search resort directories featuring hundreds of Michigan Lake Resorts. You can book the perfect Lake Michigan vacation, family reunion or business event by browsing a complete list of Lake Resorts featuring detailed property descriptions, reviews, photos, video, rates, number of rooms, amenities, activities and much more. Or check Kale Realty if you need a reputable local Chicago real estate agent.

How about the Illinois Beach Hotel? Experience a destination unlike any other at Illinois’ only hotel on the shore of Lake Michigan. Tucked away into a scenic state park, Illinois Beach Hotel offers guests a true escape into nature, just forty minutes north of Chicago.

Step out of the lobby and onto the shore of Lake Michigan at Illinois Beach Hotel. They offer a one-of-a-kind location, cozy accommodations, and onsite features that are both convenient and indulgent, such as a business nook, a gift shop, and a fitness club with an impressive atrium-style pool and hot tub.

LakehouseVacations is a nationwide advertising service for vacation rental properties on lakes all over the US and Canada, waterfront homes, lakefront cabins, lakeside cottages, condos, log homes, riverfront, lake access, lake area homes, lake shore or any type of real estate for rent on public and private lakes, reservoirs and rivers all over the United States and Canada.

Lake Michigan Real Estate

What’s amazing, though, is that this gentrified vacation spot (140 miles north of Grand Rapids) feels even more like a small town during the fest. Lake Michigan glitters behind a packed lineup of parades, country-fair-style contests and teddy-bear teas. People here love their town—and they love to share it, even with huge crowds.

The Grand Beach and Sugar Beach Resort Hotels of Traverse City blends casual, friendly, and efficient service to create an experience to delight family and business travelers alike. The Traverse City hotels and condominiums include pristine sugar sand beach, a fitness center, and a heated indoor pool and hot tub.

That’s what so beautiful about Chicago and the area, if you live there you can benefit both from the advantages of a big metropolis, and from the nearby natural wonders. So if you are considering moving there, check with a good Chicago agent that will be able to show you properties within your budget.

There are many things to do in San Jose, CA. San Jose is known for being a tech capital of the world, attracting some of the brightest minds in the world. It is also a city with rich culture and plenty of fun things to do.

Vibrant, diverse and accessible, San Jose shines with 300+ days of sunshine that assures indoor and outdoor activities for every inclination. Whether it’s nightlife and fun or a weekend hike, San Jose has inclusive and endless options of things to do.

San Jose is a melting pot of cultural diversity and plays host to California’s oldest Spanish civilian settlement. Watch the night come alive in dazzling lights and a vibrant nightlife. Bountiful in sunshine and fun times, San Jose is also the perfect spot to fall in love, rekindle lost love and nurture your love with your partner.

The city of San Jose is the third largest in California and the tenth largest in the whole of the United States based upon population. The area is now known for its booming high tech industry and has gained the nickname ‘Capital of Silicon Valley’.

After Los Angeles, San Jose is the second largest city in California, but for years it didn’t have a vibrant city center to match. Over the last decade, with major efforts by the city to attract investment and build a walkable downtown, Downtown San Jose has grown into a lively urban community with lots of things to see and do.

There are so many things to do in San Jose, from museums to shopping and wineries, with plenty of places to visit. You would be surprised at how much there is to see in and around San Jose.

Let’s start with the San Jose Flea Market. On Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, the San Jose Flea Market is the place to be if you believe in turning trash into treasure. Wander through colorful aisles dominated by shopping stalls, and then stop for a bite to eat at one of the food vendors.

Waste management and recycling are on top of the priority list for the residents of San jose and they do not take junk removal lightly, hence the popularity of the flea market. If their old junk cannot be resold there or if they cannot be recycled, they will then rent a dumpster to remove their waste materials. San Jose roll-off rental companies are there to help people dispose of litter and garbage conveniently so that it can be treated at the landfill.

For a cultural experience, head to downtown San Jose and check out the city’s many museums and art galleries. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the many walking trails around the city with gorgeous sceneries. If you’re looking for a park with all of the regular amenities you’d normally see available in a park, you’ll want to check out Alum Rock Park, one of the oldest parks in California. It was founded in 1872. It offers approximately 13 miles of different trails that you can walk, hike or run at your pace.

Here is another great sight to visit around San Jose, it is a 10-minute drive from downtown San Jose to California’s Great America, 100 acres of family entertainment on the Great America Parkway (off U.S. 101), in Santa Clara (tel. 408/988-1776; www.cagreatamerica.com). A pretty cool place to lose your lunch, the park includes such favorites as the gardens and waterfalls.