Have a Mosquito Free Vacation

Your wardrobe is planned, suitcases are ready, and your flight leaves tomorrow for your next vacation. Have you remembered everything? Not if you haven’t packed mosquito repellant. No matter where you are going, mosquitoes are there! They are found on every continent, except Antarctica. In many tropical places, they are year round pests. Yet there are some things you can do to protect yourself and have a safe and comfortable trip (airline seats excluded). Some useful traveler’s tips are: If there is a vaccination for a mosquito borne disease, like malaria, consult your doctor about getting one. Some malaria parasites are resistant to the vaccines so be sure to get medical advice. Pack plenty of a really good mosquito repellant. You have no way of knowing if you can buy the kind you like at your destination. And, in some less developed areas, you may not be able to buy any at all. Bring light colored clothing. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark clothing. Bring some long sleeved shirts and long pants. The less skin area exposed the better. If appropriate, wear boots and socks and tuck pant legs into them. Try to stay indoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. Stay in climate controlled hotels and inns when possible. Air-conditioned lodgings afford better mosquito protection. If you can’t get enclosed lodging (or you are camping or roughing it), be sure to pack some mosquito nets. There are some good ones made for individual use that don’t take up much room. If you use nets, be sure they are tucked under the mattress. Treat all fabric articles with repellant. Using it on shoes, clothes, bedding, nets and other personal objects can help keep mosquitoes away. If you are going to be near a beach, stay close to the ocean breezes. Mosquitoes are poor flyers and will avoid windy areas. Many mosquito diseases are seasonal. Try to plan to travel to heavily infested areas during the mosquito “off season”. With just a little advance planning, and some common sense, you can avoid being plagued by mosquitoes in your travels. Take these few steps before you go and then get back to the important thing: having a pleasurable trip.  by: Scottie Johnson

Block Island – Memorable Vacations Are Made of This Block Island is a seaside jewel lying 12 miles off the southern coast of Rhode Island. This is a place where nature clings to every pond, stone-walled trail, beach, and everything in between. It’s a paradise for cyclists, and a haven for those ready to leave the trappings and demands of the mainland behind. Most people take the ferry from Port Judith, which takes one hour and plants you in the hub of Block Island at Old Harbor. A Seasonal ferry service also runs from Newport RI and Montauk NY.  Coming to the Island is a shift in time, with its rugged undeveloped reserves… and open field farmlands… and narrow roads lined with stone walls and wild roses. Block Islands invites you to relax in dress and time. It’s a chance for you to rediscover nature again. Here’s suggested destinations to help you enjoy Block Island to its fullest… THE VIEW FROM MOHEGAN BLUFFS… You don’t want to miss the view from Mohegan Bluffs. Take the Mohegan Trail from the village of Old Harbor out to the Bluffs. Mohegan Bluffs overlook the southern coast of Block Island, and on a clear day you can see Montauk, NY on Long Island, about 18 miles away. The cliff’s tower 200 feet above the shoreline and offer stunning views of the landscape and the Southeast Light. A steep set of wooden steeps leads down to the beach below. THE BLOCK ISLAND LIGHTHOUSES Block Island has two lighthouses: Southeast Light and North Light. Southeast Light sits atop Mohegan Bluffs and was moved back from a perilous position on the cliffs in 1993. This is an attractive redbrick lighthouse built in 1875, and contains a museum inside for you to explore. North Light is at Sandy Point on the northern tip pf Block Island. This is the fourth lighthouse in this location and was built in 1867. Two of the previous lights were washed away and the third was dismantled because its position did more harm than good. North Light is within the boundaries of the Block Island National Wildlife Refuge, and that’s where we were heading anyway… BLOCK ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Located on the North End of Block Island the refuge is now a 127-acre habitat for wildlife and for visitors to enjoy the wonder of this natural environment. If you’re a bird-watcher then the fall season offers a spectacular opportunity to view migratory birds, especially songbirds. Bring your camera and binoculars for a very special trip to a very special refuge. The shoreline area runs from Settler’s Rock to Sandy point and the North Light, and then from here to Great Salt Pond. This is an ideal area for walking, bird watching, and breathtaking views. BLOCK ISLAND BEACHES & PONDS Block Island beaches are the first stop for many first time visitors. The choices are many and varied. It has 17 pristine miles of gorgeous beaches. The two-mile Crescent Beach area consists of four beaches: Frederick J. Benson Beach, Scotch Beach, Mansion Beach, and close to the ferry landing is Ballard’s. These tend to be the most popular, but don’t forget just a few minutes bike ride away are deserted beaches, where you can enjoy your own spot of peace and harmony. For such a tiny area, Block Island boasts an amazing 365 ponds – that’s right… one for every day of the year. So as you bike and hike around the island, it doesn’t matter where you’re at… you’re only a few feet away from water. Permits are required to fish the freshwater ponds. Other things to do on Block Island include: visits to Manisses Animal Petting Zoo, Settler’s Rock, located at the end of Corn Neck Road near a beach on Rhode Island Sound - the rock marks the landing point of European settlers of Block Island in 1661, and kayaking in New Harbor. While Block Island is a great place to visit for the day, you’ll get more time to enjoy the island if you stay overnight, or even longer, at any of the varied lodging available. But advanced booking is a must. Inns and bed and breakfasts abound on the island, with many located near the village of Old Harbor and nearby New Harbor. For more information on inns and bed and breakfast accommodation check out www.blockisland.com.  By Cliff Calderwood About the author: Cliff Calderwood is the owner and contributing writer of www.new-england-vacations-guide.com. You can read more about Block Isla