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Adventure Awaits Around the Next Corner   

If you are looking for some place different to visit, somewhere a little less tourist-crowded, there are many sites throughout the United Kingdom just waiting for you.

In Shropshire, England, near the Welsh border, you will find an area the English and the Welsh battled over for centuries. You can still visit the ruined castles and fortifications as well as the sleepy little towns and cozy pubs.

To travel back in time a little further, make a stop in Dartmoor. The remains of the village of Grimspound dates to the Iron Age. You’ve been to Stonehenge but they wouldn’t let you touch anything? Try Avebury. It’s just a bit north, but you are free to explore the stone circles that almost enclose the village.

If your destination is London, save one evening for the Chelsea Embankment. A recessed walkway by the river is not as busy as the road and will lead you to a beautiful, lighted bridge. Also, make time to view the Kensington Roof Garden at 99 High Street. Established in 1938, the three themed gardens cover 1 ½ acres of rooftop and include fountains, palms, ducks, flamingos, a fish pond and a bar and a restaurant.

For one of the best views in this part of the country, visit Broadway Tower and Country Park. This vantage point allows you to see up to 13 counties. If the conditions are right, you can even see the Welsh mountains. Go to broadway-cotswold.co-uk/tower.htm for more information.

In Ireland, rent a boat from the landowner to row out to Doon Fort, a ringfort on an island in a lake. Located between Rosbeg and Portnoo, the privately owned fort dates from 3,000 B.C.

At Ballymaloe Cookery School in Shanagarry you can take a cookery class with culinary experts or just stroll through the gardens. Visit ballymaloecookeryschool for more information.

The John Wayne movie, The Quiet Man, was filmed in Connemara. If you stop by the town of Cong, you can even see the cottage used in the movie. The area also offers plenty of places for walking or hiking.

In Wales, walk down to a quarry made from a glacial hollow at Cwm Idwal. It’s easy to get to and a beautiful site. If a 13^th century castle seems more interesting, near Llandeilo at the edge of Brecon Beacons National Park, you will find Carreg Cennen Castle. There is an amazing view and a cave under the castle to visit.

Over in Scotland, you might want to try the villages along the west coast. While they might not be as pretty as other places in Scotland, they are not as commercialized. To view the wildlife of the country, hop on the ferry at Anstruther to the Isle of May in the Firth of Forth. From May to August, you may watch puffins, guillemots and gray seals.

Wherever you travel throughout the United Kingdom, you are bound to find history, beauty and adventure.

Take Precautions While Surfing

There are certain things to be careful of when communicating online. Too often, we tend to drop our guard because the online mentality is so convenient, however, there are certain things you should never do.

• Never give your password away, even to your best friend. You never know where it could wind up next, just by a simple mistake.
• Use only your login name or e-mail address when chatting. Never give out your personal name, address or phone number.
• Always delete unknown attachments. They could contain a destructive virus.
• Nothing you write on the Web is private. Whether Big Brother behind the firewall actually has time to read all the e-mails is another matter, but it’s important to remember.
• People are not always as nice or sincere as they represent themselves on the Internet. Be careful and bring along a friend for an in-person meeting with a cyberpal.
   

— Adpated from Disney Online