Sharon Hurley Hall » Travel

Taking Off Travel Blog – Post Update December 2009

Sharon Hurley Hall — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:23:57 +0000

I’m still posting on travel on the Taking Off Travel Blog. Here are more of my recent posts:

November 2009

October 2009

September 2009

August 2009

27: What Kind Of Packer Are You?
25: Time Lapse Travel Moments
20: Travel Planning With GoPlanit
18: Traveling To The Hurricane Belt?
13: Traveling The Blogosphere – August 2009
11: Exploring Anchorage, Alaska Airport (ANC)
06: Couchsurfing Revisited
04: Carnival Celebrations Around The World

July 2009

Taking Off Travel Blog – Recent Posts

Sharon Hurley Hall — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:52:04 +0000

Well, recent is a relative term. The posts I’m going to list cover the period from November 2008 to June 2009. I enjoy writing about travel and these posts give a flavour of the topics I can cover:

June 2009

May 2009

April 2009

March 2009

February 2009

January 2009

December 2008

November 2008

27: Queen Of The Road
25: Offsite Airport Parking Tips
21: New Indy Park Ride & Fly Opens – Travel News
19: Stress Free Vacation Travel
13: Track Business Travel With Dopplr
11: Layover In Detroit (DTW)
06: A Mini Florida Eco-Tour
04: Layover In LaGuardia Airport (LGA)

Travel Posts

Sharon Hurley Hall — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:36:52 +0000

I’ve been a nomad all my life, which is one reason why my latest gig at ParkRideFlyUSA is such a boon. In between client jobs, I’ve written up a few of my travel experiences on my Writing Lab blog. Here’s what there is so far.

Venezuela

Germany

General

Caribbean Magic

Travel Blogging Gig – First Post

Sharon Hurley Hall — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:09:06 +0000

I’ve been a nomad all my life. It’s my parents’ fault, really. They had itchy feet and took us with them to the UK and the Caribbean. When I was older, I travelled in America, South America, Europe and saw even more of the UK. I love visiting new places and meeting new people, so a travel blogging gig is a dream job for me.

I’ve just started blogging for the Eclectic Rebel travel blog. My first post looks at things to do on a layover in LAX. Visit, bookmark and don’t be afraid to show some social media appreciation. I’ll be blogging twice a week at first, but who knows what may happen? I’ll keep you posted.

Living It Up On Lake Anna

Sharon Hurley Hall — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:56:24 +0000

Here’s one of my latest pieces on Lake Anna, Virginia. It’s part travel piece, part real estate piece and it’s on the home page of a new site on this beautiful area. I’ve never been there, but that’s what research is for. I should be writing more content for this site in the near future.

A Place Of Honey – Mount Coot-tha

Sharon Hurley Hall — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:54:23 +0000

Here’s a travel piece that I never used. It’s about an attraction in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

If you’re looking for something to see when you visit Brisbane, Queensland, then look no further than Mount Coot-tha. This mountain, which has given its name to the suburb that surrounds it, rises 287 meters above sea level. You can see it from most parts of Brisbane, and it’s a distinctive feature of the city’s landscape. Mount Coot-tha is about seven kilometers west of the city centre and is part of the Taylor mountain range. At its base is a 220 hectare nature reserve of the same name, as well as the 52 hectare Brisbane Botanic Gardens. Mount Coot-tha makes a great day out for anyone visiting this bustling city.

History

Mount Coot-tha was once home to the Turrbal Aboriginal people who occupied this part of Australia for tens of thousands of years before European settlement. Some time after settlement the summit was cleared, leaving a single eucalpyt tree. This gave rise to the name One Tree Hill, which remained in force until 1880, when the area became a public recreation reserve. The name Coot-tha (also known as Kuta) comes from name given to the area by the Aboriginal inhabitants. This was an area where the Aboriginal people collected honey from the stingless bee which is native to the area. Coot-tha means ‘place of wild honey’.

Attractions

Getting to Mount Cooth-tha is as simple as catching a bus. There are regular buses from the corner of Adelaide and Albert Streets, and there’s a daily City Heights tour in the afternoons. Once you get there, you’ll see why this mountain is a must-see. The lookout gives you a panoramic view of most of Brisbane – you’ll never get a better chance to see how the city flows around the 214 mile long Brisbane River. On a clear day you can see as far as Moreton Bay in the east and the Glasshouse Mountains in the west.

There are equally great views from many of the walking trails that cover the area. These vary in difficulty, so make sure you’re ready for an uphill walk. Check out the Aboriginal art trail to see stunning examples of rock paintings and tree carvings. Before you head down the mountain, check out the gifts available in the Kuta gift shop or relax with an ice cream in the café. The Summit Restaurant provides fine dining.

Back at the base, there’s still more to see. The Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium, which opened in 1978, includes a planetarium theatre and an observatory. And don’t forget to check out the Botanic Gardens, the best subtropical botanic gardens in Queensland. When you visit you can go for a wander, or benefit from a guided walk to learn about the plants. See bonsai, cacti, ferns, herbs and much more. Explore the rainforest or relax in the bamboo grove. It’s the best that nature can offer, and it’s at Mount Coot-tha.