Vacations saving money in the smoky mountains

You may discover how easy it can be to save money when you spend time at one popular vacation destination.

Here are eight ways to save in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., gateway to America's most visited national park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

1. Ride a trolley or walk in town.

Pigeon Forge Fun Time Trolleys cost only 50 cents; walking is free. Take the trolley to Dollywood to bypass the theme park's parking fee. The many attractions along the city's main street, the Parkway, make walking fun.

2. Get a Value Card.

Discounts on lodging, entertainment, restaurants, shopping and attractions (even indoor skydiving) are on the Pigeon Forge Value Card (free at the Welcome Center). Shopaholics can get a real buzz by using the Value Card for discounts at Belz Factory Outlet World, one of six malls in town.

3. Find new discounts on the Web.

Check the city's Web site, MyPigeonForge. com, for new discounts and coupons.

4. Get a free day at Dollywood.

Tennessee's most visited attraction has a deal with its "Arrive After 3, Get the Next Day Free" program. For a sense of extra value, visit on Wednesdays and Thursdays, generally the lowest-attendance days.

5. Buy a Dollywood season pass.

If you're returning to Pigeon Forge later in the year, a Dollywood season pass pays for itself on the second visit. Many visitors come in the summer, again in the fall and then at Christmas. If Dollywood is on their agenda, a season pass is a true bargain.

6. Get a theater combo.

Pigeon Forge has more than a dozen musical theaters and more than 20 different shows. Look for discounted combo tickets if you want to see more than one show.

7. Buy a vacation package.

Packages that combine lodging, shows and attractions into one purchase save you money. Numerous packages are on My PigeonForge. com.

8. Enjoy the outdoors.

Pigeon Forge is located at the foothills of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and its hiking trails, picnic grounds and magnificent scenery. Admission to the park is free.

Credit card web-acceptance the basics

For every new and existing virtual marketer who has put up their very own website, payment methods quickly becomes a reality you can’t afford to ignore or resist. Unlike a traditional walk-in establishment, doing business over the internet requires you to reconsider any preconceived notion of getting checks, cash, and money orders – all in advance of sending your valuable products out. Long gone are the days when potential customers have the patience to wait until their check arrives, shipment or download authorization happens, etc. Simply put, some means of debit/credit type acceptance is a must for doing business via the web in today’s internet market place.

Truth is, the expectations of customers demand more and more sophistication in our order, billing, and payment exchange. An increasing amount of potential customers fully expect to use a shopping basket that mimics a traditional shopping experience. They proceed to checkout for payment, get immediate response feedback for delivery information or in many cases with e-download materials, are taken to a download page, ready for exchange of the materials or products.

For those unable, or unwilling, to give them this, they simply are seeking other alternatives for their buying needs. After all, shopping via the internet is about the convenience and ease of use and

capabilities. If you can’t provide it, they will find someone else who can.

Fortunately, the options for gaining this capability are readily available. Payment processor providers (PayPal for example) can be simplistic and reasonably priced. There are many, so make sure to shop around for a provider that fits your specific needs. Also, there is a multitude of merchant account software programs available, though generally speaking, this option is more expensive that a turnkey payment processor activity.

Using the PayPal example, once you sign up, you can either link to their servers or incorporate their payment methods directly into your website via web query forms. The html language generated via the PayPal site can be pasted directly into your webpage, thereby making the transaction less apparent and intrusive, though not entirely seamless.

Irrespective of the method chosen, one area of concern involves the issue of charge-backs. Charge-backs occur when a customer who previously purchased an item requests a refund of an amount – where you have already been paid. The reasons for this are long and varied, ranging from non-receipt of goods, damage in shipping, “not as described” claims, and of course the ever present fraudulent claims. The point being, make sure you understand up front how these charges will be handled, what fees (if any) you will be charged when (not if) they occur. These fees can get out of hand if you are not careful. Make sure you know what you are getting into with these fees.

As a bottom line, there are lots and lots of alternatives for getting your website capabilities “up to speed” in today’s internet business environment. Make sure you do some research about what is available and what it will cost you. A little up-front homework will save you hundreds, if not thousands, later on. Either way, do not miss out on sales and revenue by not having these capabilities.

Holidays with children don t always mix

It’s not a politically correct topic to talk about, but not everyone wants to go on a cruise with a bunch of little ones running around underfoot. Even worse are some of the bigger kids who are up to no good. But how do you go on a cruise and make sure it will be a vacation you love, instead of a prison sentence you loathe because of the under aged attendees?

You know what you want in a cruise. You picture a wonderful relaxing time at sea, with those you are close to. You want to be able to dress up at night, enjoy quiet and romantic moments on the deck, and maybe just have some time to sit back, relax and read a book.

Now enter someone else’s kids, that they don’t want to deal with so they’ve let roam free about the vessel. They are running around screaming and chasing each other on the deck. They are jumping into the pool, splashing you with their cannonballs, not to mention all the pranks they may see as a lot of fun to play on unsuspecting cruise passengers. Your sparking holiday image has just become a nightmare.

There is a way to make sure this doesn’t happen to you. It all has to do with doing a little research and careful cruise selection.

First, when considering a cruise to take, remember that not all cruise lines are as kid-friendly. Some of them fail to offer any sort of kid and teen-related activities, and chances are, there won’t be as many kids on board. While parents don’t always keep an eye on their little ones, they do tend to be drawn to cruises with programs geared towards kids. Think about the cruise lines you have looked at. All the advertising for cruise lines such as Disney, Carnival, and Princess show a number of programs geared towards the youth population. Essentially these programs let parents think it’s ok to bring their children along on a cruise, because they will be able to send them away to these programs while they still enjoy their cruise. The problem with that is that the kids don’t always stay in the program offerings, and choose to spend their time being noisy and causing trouble as you’re trying to enjoy some peace and quiet. Instead you may want to consider cruise lines such as Radisson, Celebrity or Crystal Lines, which do not offer child or teen programs, and therefore are less likely to have passengers in those age groups onboard.

A final consideration is the time of year you are planning on traveling. If school is out, there is a much larger chance your cruise will be overrun by children and teenagers. If they’re out of school and mom and dad want to go on a trip, they’re going along. Instead try to gear your holiday towards times when the children are still in school. Most parents will not pull a child from their studies just to go on a cruise.

Preventing hair loss with herbs

According to Ayurveda, proper hair care involves nourishing the hair follicles from the outside and inside. Herbs hold an obvious appeal for many people because they support the body's natural healing mechanisms to target the cause of the problem, as opposed to merely tackling the symptoms.

It would be wrong to present herbal hair loss remedies as a miracle solution for all sufferers - there is however growing evidence to support the view that some herbal remedies offer real hope to many people.

Green tea is thought that catechins found in green tea may inhibit the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase that converts testosterone into hair-unfriendly DHT. It is therefore believed to be effective in preventing and treating male pattern type baldness. Try drinking several cups of green tea each day or take it in capsule form as instructed by the manufacturer.

Saw palmetto is the current treatment of choice for many men due to its ability to protect the prostate, slow hair loss and encourage hair re-growth. It forms the core element of many commercially prepared hair loss treatments but can easily be obtained in its pure form. The recommended dose is a 160mg capsule twice each day, but make sure the ingredients are made from the berry extract not the dried berries themselves.

Hair Rejuv is one of the industry’s excellent herbal hair loss remedy. Regular use of Hair Rejuv gives the hair the nutrition it needs. This herbal combination is an excellent source of vitally important nutrients for healthy, shiny, vibrant hair as nature intended. It's never too late to rejuvenate lifeless, thin or brittle hair. Results are guaranteed after 2-3 months of continuous use. This formula uses herbal extracts, which are about 8-10 times stronger than taking raw herbs. An excellent herbal hair loss remedy.

Bring back the shiny glow to your hair!

The abc s of boating equipment

Boating is a great sport that can be enjoyed all year round in most parts of the country. Taking the boat out on the lake, a river or into the ocean is one of America's favorite pastimes, full of fun and adventure. However, boating is serious business and any boater will tell you that you need adequate boating equipment to make sure that your outings are as safe as possible, for you and your passengers.

Everyone knows that there are a few essentials of boating equipment, like life preservers and other personal flotation devices. But did you know that there's so much more that should be stowed on every boat? Let's start with the basics.

The law requires that any passenger under the age of 12 must wear a personal flotation device while on an open boat deck of any kind. When it comes to purchasing personal flotation devices of any kind for your boat, there are several things to consider.

First, everyone on board must have a flotation device, child or adult, and those devices must be within easy reach. These flotation devices must be approved by the Coast Guard and bear their seal of approval. Lastly, these flotation devices must be in good condition.

Other kinds of essential boating equipment consist of a throw-able flotation device such as a floating donut or some buoyant item that can be used to keep a person afloat for an unlimited amount of time. Every boat longer than sixteen feet in length must have one of these on board or face fines. Ski belts don't count.

Some flotation devices are designed to turn an unconscious person around in the water so that they are face up instead of face down, and are also effective for all types of water. Some flotation devices protect the wearer from hypothermia, while others are meant for sporting activities like skiing, sailing and fishing.

Another valuable piece of boating equipment is a fire extinguisher. While many don't think such would be necessary, with so much water around, engine fires require a certain type of extinguisher while cushions or interior cabin materials might require another. Boats more than twenty-six feet long are required to have at least one fire extinguisher on board.

There are additional requirements for the installation of fire extinguishers on board, so check with state boating regulations to determine what those are before taking your boat out on the water. Another boating equipment must for boats with inboard mounted gasoline engines is a flame arrester that is fitted onto the carburetor for backfire flame control.

Again, check your state boating laws to determine whether your boat needs such an adjustment if it doesn't already come with one. Also keep in mind that boats with gasoline engine compartments must also be properly ventilated.

A sound device is also a necessary piece of boating equipment, most especially for boats that are over thirty-nine feet in length. Some sort of distress signal flare gun is also a good piece of boating equipment to have on hand, as is a first aid box and extra bedding and blankets in case of emergency. Boating is great fun, but can be dangerous if you don't plan properly and carry the right kind of boating equipment that ensures the safety of both yourself and your crew or passengers.

Stress out the stress demon

Do you feel as if the world is tumbling down on you and that you’re running out of time? Are you losing sleep and eating less due to many responsibilities and too much pressure because of the demands from your family, friends or from work? Well, you are not the only one, kids and adults alike experience this feeling, it’s what we commonly call stress.

It is what we experience when we respond to a particular challenging, troublesome and uncomfortable event. It’s a normal occurrence in our life, everyday most of us are under stress but what is important is how we cope up with such situations.

Stress is an emotional feeling or physical tension. It occurs when we are under tight situations we have no control of. It comes in many names like tension, anxiety, uptight feeling or apprehension. What we consider stressful may not be to others.

There is good and bad stress. Good or positive stress happens during emergency situations or when we anticipate an exciting situation. Did you wonder why you were able to carry your refrigerator alone when there was fire in the neighborhood or what made you run faster when you thought someone was after you? But there is worse than good stress.

Stress can be acute, episodic acute and chronic. The most common is the acute stress. It is the result of pressure and demands of the past and expected probable to happen in the future. Episodic stress happens to individuals who are always in a rush but always late and disorganized. Chronic stress devastates the mind and body and eventually your life. It’s the result of poverty, unhappiness, dysfunctional families and hatred. What’s ironic is that people get used to it and even forget that it is there.

What’s important is how to combat stress. There is what we call Stress Management. These are ways to fight stress. But first you have to take an inventory of yourself, think what’s making you stress out. You have to learn how to manage some stress-inducing situations. The best way is to have a balanced life, avoid excessiveness in everything.

Try some relaxation techniques like yoga, include exercise in your daily activities, take healthy nutritional food and take vitamins. Be prepared and be organized always in all you do. Lastly, take active part in religious activities. You might be amazed that it really works.

How to get a uk or any other website online and have it making money

When building a UK or any other website there are many things that you have to consider. These include where you are going to host your website, how much money you have to spend on building and designing your website, how long is it going to take to build your website, how you are going to make money from your website and how are you going to promote your site.

Designing your site

When building a website it is best if you learn how to design your own website by learning simple html, php and mysql programming languages. By doing this it will save you thousands of money in the long run and will benefit you a lot. A good site where you can get started in learning the basics of html is htmlgoodies. com. If you already know the basics of html, php and mysql then a good place to turn to when you have slight problems in some of your php scripts is to ask others that already have experience in php coding. You can do this by using online forums that deal with php and other scripting languages.

Hosting your website

Getting a site hosted in the United Kingdom is just like getting a site hosted elsewhere in the World. You should always check the background of a web hosting provider before you actually host your website with them. By doing this you can get a better picture to how reliable they are and how good their customer support is when anything ever goes wrong. A good place to find a web hosting provider is by using a web hosting directory like 1hostseeking. com/webhost/30000613/1.html . Once you find a web host that offers the services that you need then you can always use a forum after to get more information on that particular web hosting provider. Also, just because you have a UK website, it doesn’t mean that you have to have a UK web hosting provider. You can easily host a UK website from anywhere around the World just like any other site.

The cost of building and getting your website online

The cost of getting a website online depends on how much knowledge you already know about html and other website programming languages. It also depends on a lot of other factors as well. The more you know about how to create a website, how to manage a website and also how to promote a website cheaply online, the less money it will cost you to run your site in the long run, which will then result in more profit for you.

Making money from your website

There are many online opportunities for making money from your website. One way is to use affiliate programs on your website. The best place to look for affiliate programs is by using an affiliate programs directory as these normally list some of the best affiliate programs online and they also normally list them in categories so that you can easily find the right affiliate program for your sites needs. For example, affiliateseeking. com is an online affiliate programs directory that includes a lot of programs that can be used for US and UK websites.

Although, affiliate programs is a good way of make money from your site, just by adding a lot of affiliate programs to your site won’t earn you very much. You have to try to join the affiliate programs that best fit your site and it’s audience plus you also have to tweak your affiliate programs on your pages so that you can improve your CTR and also your Sales from each affiliate program. There are many of affiliate programs to choose from. You can promote products and services on your site and get paid by CPM, CPC, CPA, CPL or CPS. There are also other programs that pay differently to this, but the ones mentioned above are the main ways that most affiliate programs pay their affiliates.

Promoting a website

Promoting a website is a very crucial part in an online business. If you don’t promote your site at all, or promote it very well, then you won’t last online for long. There are millions of sites online that all are trying to get a slice of the online visitors that use the Internet every day.

The main ways to promote a website is by doing SEO. This is where you optimise your site so that it ranks well within the search engines. You can also promote your site by using some of the following techniques:

1. Exchanging links with other sites that are on the same topic as yours

2. Adding your link to your forum and email signatures

3. Giving away free stuff with your sites link attached to it

4. Doing word of mouth advertising

5. Buying advertising from top sites that receive a lot of traffic

6. Advertising on PPC networks like Adwords and Overture

7. Writing articles on the same topic as your site and add your link to the resource box at the end of the article. Once you have done these things you can then submit your articles to the reprint articles directories so that other webmasters can reprint them on their own websites and in their newsletters. If you have UK related articles then you can get them listed on articles. simplysearch4it. co. uk for free. This site focuses only on UK related articles and other UK content and sites.

8. If your site is making a lot of good money and you want to advertise further then you can also use Radio and TV advertising.