Anthony Davis, Author at Freedom Channel

Don’t Let Depression Get the Best of You

March 23, 2016

Has depression been getting the better of you recently? For countless individuals, depression is their biggest opponent on a daily basis. While there are myriad of means to fight depression, not all those efforts prove successful.

In order to make you one of those successful patients, have you tried various methods to combat that what is making you depressed?

Taking the Fight to Depression

The first step to take in battling depression is realizing you have a battle on your hands.

For some people, they choose to try and sweep depression under the rug, figuring it only happens to other individuals and families. If that’s you, then you need to alter that mindset.

There are various ways to combat depression including:

Medicine – Different products on the market have helped many individuals in their fight with depression. The trick is finding the right medication that best suits your needs. In order to take control of your life once again, work with your doctor and/or psychologist to see what pill or pills are most likely to be effective in assisting you. It is important to note that everyone reacts differently to medication depending on the prescribed pill, dosage etc. If you do take medication to fight depression, make sure you closely follow the instructions from your medical specialist;
Support – One of the best ways to fight depression is having a support system to lean on. Whether it is family, friends or even a trusted co-worker, it just takes that one person (the more the merrier) to listen, offer advice, and be there for you when you need a helping hand. In some cases, those that are depressed feel like the support system they truly need is not there for them, thereby making matters worse. Even if you have limited relations with family, friends or even your co-workers, reach out to someone in those groups when you feel like help is needed. Too often, those who are suffering from depression think no one will listen to their problems. In retrospect, there is always almost an ear or two that will in fact listen, so don’t be afraid to ask for help;
Exercise – You may not think that a simple workout or two can help you in the battle against depression, but you’d be quite surprised. In fact, exercise can help you in several ways. One, it temporarily takes your mind off of that which is depressing you. Secondly, the physical benefits to your body via exercise are numerous. Lastly, exercise can oftentimes be done with one or more people, meaning you have someone to talk to while getting your workout in. Before beginning an exercise program, talk with your doctor or a fitness pro so that you can put together an exercise strategy that not only is good for you physically, but also is achievable, meaning you are less likely to quit;
Diet – How many times have you turned to food when depression has set in? Unfortunately, millions of people do just that. In turn, the depression becomes not only a mental issue, but also literally weighs on someone’s opinion of their physical appearance. If you’re turning to food in order to combat your depression feelings, make a change in your diet starting today. Instead of eating items that are high in calories, turn to more nutritious offerings. Also avoid overloading on food during the typical three meals a day. Instead, eat four or five smaller meals a day, that way you are less inclined to overeat at breakfast, lunch or dinner. Never turn to alcohol or smoking as ways to battle your feelings of depression. Both have negative long-term side effects on one’s health;
Wellness – Finally, do periodic wellness checks on both your mental and physical well-being. Just because you overcame depression this time around does not mean it won’t come back again down the road. If you see a sign or signs of your depression returning, don’t be afraid to reach out for help. You oftentimes know the warning signals, so get the jump on depression before it takes over your life. In the end, you and those in and around your life benefit from a happy and health you.

Come Home to Assisting Others in the Community

Business

March 23, 2016

Running a home business keeps many men and women busy for more hours than they might like at times.

That said having your own business out of your residence doesn’t mean you can’t reach out to help others as many small and larger companies do on a regular basis. While the latter oftentimes have more resources to help individuals and families both locally and nationally, those working out of their homes with a business can do many good things for people in need.

While you may think that you don’t have enough resources in place to assist others, there are myriad of ways you can do just that. It oftentimes just comes down to a little time and effort on your part.

So, are you ready to reach out to your community as a business leader and give a helping hand to others?

Put Your Business to Good Use

In order to do good things for those in your community, try these ideas as a home business owner:

Community – There are likely many fund-raising type events going on in your local community on a regular basis, so get active in them if you are not already. You can work with other business owners, the local chamber of commerce and so on to make good things happen for others. It is not uncommon for home business owners in communities to network with one another, so this is another avenue of outreach. Get together with other home business owners and do some brainstorming as to how you and others can assist individuals and families locally. If there are local fairs and other such events going on, make sure you register to attend. Not only are you showing others in the community that you are there to help, it is also good public relations for your home business;
Nationally – Many of the bigger-named brands are regularly active in doing good things for others on both a local and national level. Las Vegas Sands Corporation is a good example of a business that has done a number of outreach efforts for those in the communities it is present in and elsewhere for that matter. From a Las Vegas reading week – that is going into some local elementary schools to read to children and provide books for the kids – to embracing International Mentoring Day through a UNLV Partnership – the company has been an active player. While you likely do not have the resources of a brand like this or others that are active both nationally and worldwide, you can learn from their activities. Take a look and see how you can do likewise on a smaller and more local level;
Socializing – If you’re not already using social media to promote your home business brand, what are you waiting for? Social media is a great tool to use for your home business, one that can certainly be used when you want to do good things for others in your community. Look to blog posts or create your own that discuss fund-raisers, reading events, special runs and walks etc. on a local level. You can also turn to forums on local websites and even in your area newspaper/s or magazine/s that discuss events to help raise funds for others. Social sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram etc. are also good avenues to travel down. If you have a business Facebook page, put a post on there about a fund-raising event that your home business would like to sponsor and/or participate in. Share the post with as many people locally as possible. In a short amount of time, that post will hopefully circulate among others in your area, allowing it to get maximum exposure. Also look for similar posts that others running businesses in your community have posted, providing them with ideas and your participation in if you so choose.

While it will of course take up some of your time, helping others in need is a very rewarding thing that one can do in life.

In the end, it may also help drive some business your way, something every home business owner is sure to appreciate.

Facing a Lawsuit After a DUI? Here’s What You Need to Do

Auto

March 20, 2016

A car accident is an unexpected experience, and can be extremely emotionally draining on all parties involved. In the event you were involved in a car accident because of a DUI, you could be facing a court appearance or jail time for your decision to drive under the influence.

In many cases, if other parties were injured in the accident, you may also be facing a lawsuit. If being sued for driving under the influence, you may be wondering what you need to do next. For most people, this is unchartered territory and is an incredibly complicated process. Knowing what to expect in the coming days and months can help you resolve the issue as best as possible.

Are You Being Sued?

For those unfamiliar with the law, it can be confusing to decipher all of the jargon being used. However, if you are being sued, you should be served with a formal lawsuit complaint. Typically a police officer or some other court official will give you your summons to appear in court.

Insurance Company

If you have been served with a lawsuit summons, it is important you let your insurance company as soon as possible. In some cases, your insurance company will step up to defend you if the lawsuit is suing you for reasons that your car insurance policy covers. Most insurance companies will hire San Diego DUI attorneys, or DUI attorneys local to your area, to represent you well throughout the lawsuit.

However, in some instances, your insurance company may not defend you, especially if the situation falls out of the lines of coverage from your insurance policy.

Lawyer Up

Because insurance companies only cover an injury lawsuit if the accident is covered by the insurance policy, it is a smart move to hire a personal attorney if you were charged with a DUI. If you are being sued, it is important that you act quickly and respond to the lawsuit as soon as possible. One of the best ways to ensure you are doing everything correctly is to hire a good lawyer. DUI attorneys are well educated and experienced in these areas and can provide you with the stable foundation you need to settle the lawsuit amicably.

If You Don’t Have Insurance

While most areas require drivers to have insurance, or at least liability insurance, if for some reason you are not insured and are involved in a DUI car accident, hire a lawyer immediately. Not only do you need someone capable to represent you in court, you also need their expertise to file the right paperwork and prepare you for your court appearance. The court charges extreme penalties if there is any late or missing paperwork.

How Long Is the Process?

The lawsuit process can be a lengthy one, especially if the lawsuit was filed a couple years after the fact, as in some states, people can sue up to five years after the accident. While some lawsuits are over within a few weeks, it could take as long as years, depending upon the severity of the situation, the age of the accident, and other factors regarding the circumstances of the accident. When going through the process, your lawyer should be able to give you a timeframe.

Trial

Most car accident lawsuits are resolved by settlements that do not require you to go to trial. But, if the opposing party does not want to accept a settlement, or if the insurance company does not want to settle (your company or their company), you could be facing a trial.

Am I at Fault?

While it is illegal to drive under the influence, in some instances, the cause of the accident may not have been your fault. There are many factors to consider, including the other drivers involved. While you may be given a DUI for being over the legal limit, if someone else caused the accident, you are not at fault.

If you are faced with an injury lawsuit, these tips can help you defend yourself and resolve the issue as soon as possible.

Image Source: https://pixabay.com/en/drink-driving-drunk-alcohol-808790/

Organizing Your Office for Business Success

Business

March 19, 2016

Learning how to organize your business office can help you achieve long-term business success. The more organized an business is, the more productive it is, as organized businesses are efficient businesses.

When an office or business is disorganized, important documents can be lost, deadlines can be missed, and the whole business can slowly start to get behind, leading to loss of profits, dissatisfied customers, and potentially a business failure.

For those who are not naturally organized, or are feeling overwhelmed with the state of their office, here are a few simple organizational tips to help get things back in order:

Go Digital

Many small businesses do not use the technology available to their advantage. Whether the investment seems too hefty a price for a small business to make, or they simply do not realize the tools they need to help their business become more efficient, not going digital can be a huge mistake.

When it comes to keeping track of records, other important documents, and project files, store them digitally through a cloud storage system, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, or other similar systems. The benefit is that not only are all the documents in one accessible location, they will also never be lost. Moreover, they can be viewed from any location and from multiple accounts, making it easy to keep employees informed and do business on-the-go.

Lastly, depending upon your business, consider investing in the right software programs, such as salon software if you are a spa or salon business. These types of software programs help keep your business running efficiently, such as providing your business with the tools and help it needs to be successful and productive.

Paper Files

For the paper documents you do have, take some time to go through them and get rid of anything that is no longer relevant or out of date. Not only will these alleviate some of the clutter, it can also help you recall where certain files are when you need to find them.

A great way to free up space is to scan them, turning them into digital files that you can store in your cloud system. Paper invoices, bills, receipts, and other statements can be scanned as a record, allowing you the ability to throw away the paper files and free up space in your office.

Email

While email is digital, a cluttered inbox can be as chaotic as a cluttered file box. Many businesses and business owners receive hundreds of emails a day, and if they are not organized properly, it can be easy for an inbox to start overflowing, which can lead to emails getting buried in your inbox.

Letting your email get out of control can lead to important emails being lost in the hundreds of messages. This break down of communication can lead to a loss of profits, or a loss of customers, should a customer have a question or complaint that never gets answered. Moreover, be sure to regularly check your spam folder, as many legitimate emails get filtered as spam for one reason or another.

Finances

Being disorganized with your finances can leave your business in financial ruin. It is imperative that you are up-to-date with your books, bills, and other financial obligations. Many businesses, especially small businesses, do not keep track of their finances as well as they should, and find themselves in the red at the end of the year, or with money missing from their business.

Staying on top of your finances will allow you to see if a business never invoiced you, if a payment is missing, or if you missed a crucial payments and are accruing late fees. Additionally, keeping your finances in order allows you to be ready and organized for tax season. As a small business, it is critical you have all receipts, expenditures, income, and other business financial papers accessible for your taxes.

Before tax season arrives, check in with your tax advisor or accountant in order to make sure you have all pertinent information you need for your taxes.

Organization will help you be more productive in the office, allowing your business to run as efficiently as possible.

Image Source: https://pixabay.com/en/calculator-paperclip-pen-office-178127/

Trade Up for a Better Home Business

Business

March 19, 2016

If you sell products or services out of your home, what are you doing to make sure your customers get top-notch customer service each and every day?

For some home business owners, that task can be challenging given all they have to do as a one-person show. Others, however, are able to pull it off, knowing that their customers will always rank as the most important item on their to-do lists.

With that in mind, what are you doing as a home business owner to improve your brand?

More specifically, what are you not doing, and how can you correct that moving forward?

Give Consumers What They Want

Start out by reviewing your customer service procedures, including what information your website provides them before they might even have to talk to you by phone.

Look at your website to see if it covers the following:

Basic information – Your website should have basic company product and/or service information on it. Such things as what your brand offers, how long you have been in business, how to reach you etc. are all necessities your site needs. The information should be in areas on the site that are easy to find, meaning customers (current and potential) do not have to feel like they are surfing through a maze to find it;
Product or service instructions – If you sell a certain product, do you have information about it on your site? Products typically come with how-to manuals, giving customers the basic of how to put it together, how to operate it etc. Take an example from Trade Bit, who offers repair manual downloads on countless products. While you likely only sell one or a number of products, it is a good idea to download such manuals on your site, allowing customers access to them if they do not have the paper version handy. Doing so just makes for smart marketing tactics for your brand;
Error-free copy and links – There are many ways to make your home business website look professional, one of which is making sure it is free of errors and broken links. One of the more irritating things for customers (current and those you are hoping to convert) is coming onto sites where links do not work, copy is loaded with errors, and a simple search for this or that seems to take forever. As a home business owner, funds may be a little tight at times or seemingly all the time. That said it does not mean you shouldn’t be spending money where funds should be directed. Spending some extra money for a professionally-done website is certainly worth the investment;
Eye-catching imagery – Your home business website also needs to be appealing when it comes to imagery. If you have a dull site that is full of copy and very few images, it will more times than not bore viewers. This doesn’t mean go nuts on photos etc. but do have them strategically placed on the site for maximum exposure;
Social component – It shouldn’t come as a surprise that your website needs as much attention as you can possibly give it. One of the great ways to go about this is via social media. In the event you haven’t up to now, promote your site on social networking sites and allow consumers to do the same for you. For any web copy you have, leave icons at the top of the page so that visitors can tweet, share, pin etc. This will put your site and its offerings out in front of the eyes of countless others. Also be willing to share other’s copy, including those who you may invite to guest post on your blog. Once again, this sharing component presents you with more opportunities to market your brand.

Part of being a sound home business owner is being able to market your products or services to the general public without too much hassle and effort.

If your website has been on the backburner for some time now, take the time to get it up to speed.

Remember, your website is a key component of your overall marketing strategy, so make sure it is a fine representative of your brand.

Things to do in Berlin with locals

Travel

March 17, 2016

Heading to Germany’s most culturally adept city, but have no idea what to do beyond the typical tourist attractions? In this article, we will go over the many things to do in Berlin with locals that will have you appreciating this city in a way that the casual traveler simply cannot comprehend.

Check out an authentic market hall

Although there are only two market halls left in all of Berlin (down from the original 13), Markthalle 9 has benefited largely because of the recent move towards local food production. Open since 1891, It is now home to a farmers market, craft sales, and plenty of hot food stalls.

Be sure to keep your eyes open for sales of local craft beers, as the these ales, pilsners, and lagers represent the leading edge of German beer making in the present day.

Explore neighborhoods with a local

Berlin is a very eclectic city when it comes to its neighborhoods, and the best way to discover their hidden secrets is to hire a local guide. Websites like Withlocals.com give you a chance to hire knowledgeable and professional guides that will help you uncover parts of this metropolis that you would never think to explore on your own.

From food tours that help you discover the best Wienerschnitzel in the city, to a flea market crawl that will have you finding some of the most eccentric but interesting knick-knacks that you have ever seen in your life, signing up for a tour with a local is one of the best decisions you’ll make while traveling.

Spend a beautiful day outside at Tempelhof Park

When the Tempelhof airport was closed to make way for a bigger and more modern airport facility for the city of Berlin, the airfield left a big gaping hole in Berlin’s cityscape.

After careful deliberation, it was decided that this giant parcel of land would be converted into a park, part of which would be set aside for wildlife, but also with a part that would allow for recreational use by city residents.

To that end, avid kiteboarders use the old runways to reach untold speeds on windy days, while others use the grassy infield as a perfect place to have a picnic lunch on a beautiful day in the city.

Pay your respects at the Berlin Wall Memorial

If there’s one thing that you should do here that is not off the beaten track, it should be to head to the Berlin Wall Memorial and pay your respects to those that lost their lives in an attempt to reach the freedom that West Germany represented during the days of division in this city.

While most of the wall was dismantled in the days following its fall in 1989, this section was left intact for the purposes of remembering the social and human cost of the construction of this barrier. Guides will relay their personal stories of suffering and hardship that was caused due to this wall’s construction, which divided families for decades.

Invest in Your Financial Future Today

Finance

March 15, 2016

What would happen going forward if you lost your ability to work for the remainder of your life?

Would you have the financial means with which to survive? Have you spent years building up your “rainy day” fund? What “fallback” solution do you have in place to get through tough financial times?

These are all questions that you should be able to answer, yet many people simply have no answers for such important matters in their lives. As a result, major financial dilemmas can creep up on them in a hurry, leaving some with nowhere to turn.

So, have you invested in your financial future?

Put the Funds in Motion

For starters, take the time now (not when you are in a pinch) to see where you stand financially.

Look at the following if you reside in North America to see what is most applicable to your financial needs:

Resources – What are your current and projected financial resources whether you live in the States or Canada? Will you be getting an inheritance of any sort down the road? Are you in a relationship where you are both working full-time or is it just your income that you two essentially rely on? About how many more years can you and/or your spouse expect to work? Have you taken advantage of a company-sponsored retirement plan? These are all topics that you should have an answer for in order to better secure your current and financial future;
IRA – Have you been setting aside money in a regular or Roth IRA? The two best-known of the IRAs available, the former is tax-deferred as you put money in it, with taxes being taken out when you start minimal withdrawal of money (you must begin taking funds out at age 70 ½). Meantime, there is no age when you must start taking money out of a Roth IRA; however that IRA is grown with after-tax dollars, so you do not get taxed when you begin pulling funds from it. Once you’ve reached the age of 59 ½, you are allowed to take out funds from the Roth IRA minus any penalties. Just like purchasing life insurance, having a retirement vehicle or two in place for not only your well-being but that of your family makes sense;
401K’s – With a 401K, you can build up your investments through your employer. Unfortunately, too many employees miss out on the opportunity to participate in such workplace plans, plans that are even better when the employer matches a portion of the money the employee is investing (essentially this is free cash from your place of employment). If you are over the age of 50, you can put additional money in as you are essentially “catching up” in the race to fund your retirement. Another item to keep in mind is that you don’t necessarily have to be a full-time worker to become involved in a company 401K, so check with your company if they offer such opportunities in the event you work there part-time;
RESP’s – With a registered education savings plan (for Canadian residents) you can put away funds for a child’s education when they reach the post-secondary level. The money earned over time grows at a tax-deferred rate. It is important to keep in mind that the plan ends no later than when the individual it was taken out for turns 35.

Many Factors at Play

As you might imagine, there are many factors at play when it comes to determining your best financial scenarios.

The most important factor to remember is not making any rash decisions when it comes to your financial well-being.

Undoubtedly, changes will occur in both your professional and personal lives over time, so be able to adjust and plan accordingly.

That said starting sooner rather than later to plan for retirement no matter where you reside is a smart thing.

When you have a plan in place to manage your financial future (and take action if things go bad) is of the utmost importance.

Lastly, talk with family, friends and co-workers as to the choices they’ve made or will be making in their financial plans.

Getting feedback from them can be of great benefit to you as you invest in your financial future today.

Become More Social in the Fight Against Addiction

Health & Fitness

March 15, 2016

If you or someone you love has been battling a drug or alcohol addiction, you know how challenging the fight can be.

There are times when you think you are close to having it licked, only to see yourself fall right back into it. When that happens, climbing out of the hole of addiction can be 10 times more difficult.

So, where are some of the best places to turn for help when addiction seems to be getting the better of you?

Leave No Helpful Stone Unturned

While addiction may seem like it is winning, it can and has been defeated countless times.

Look to some of these areas for help:

Family and friends – Those closest to you are oftentimes the ones who can swing the pendulum in your favor when fighting addiction. With that in mind, never turn down the offer of assistance from a family member or friend. In some cases, you may be embarrassed to ask for help, feeling like your addiction is a problem you must tackle on your own. When you try and do that, you can be overwhelmed and even feel lost at times. In some cases, an individual fighting addiction can actually bond once again with a family member or members, along with drawing a closer relationship to a friend or friends. If you know of one or more people that have battled addictions and won, turn to them for support and advice. While co-workers may not be at the top of the list in your mind when turning for help, those you share an office space with are around you eight or more hours a day. As a result, they can be some of your best sounding boards when seeking help;
Social networking – You are probably wary of turning to social media to ask for help in fighting an addiction, but it can in fact be one of the best decisions you ultimately make. While social media does have its downsides, there are many positives that come from the world of social networking. One of these is people reaching out to others who are going through or have gone through similar health challenges over time. Engaging in social media with healthy boundaries can prove beneficial, allowing you to share stories and ask questions of others currently or previously battling addiction issues. If you have not already, start a Facebook, Twitter or Instagram page, Whether you use one, two or all three of these sites, start slow. One thing you want to avoid is that feeling of being overwhelmed by social networking. Start by giving a brief description of what you have or are currently going through with an addiction. Use hashtags such as #addiction, #recovery etc. to find groups of people in similar situations. As others converse with you, feel free to ask questions of these individuals as to how they recovered or are in the process of recovery. If social media seems at times to be a little too overwhelming, take a step back and go back when you feel more comfortable;
Recovery groups – Even though some individuals battling addictions are oftentimes too shy to sit and talk in front of others, this can be one of the best venues to help one move towards kicking their demons. If you decide to go to a recovery group meeting or meetings, you don’t have to sit-up and talk the ears off of people. Take-in what is going on and realize that such meetings are not to single anyone out with an addiction, but to help them recover sooner rather than later. Feel free to ask questions of others, gathering all the information and using what can best assist you in getting your health back, including your mental health.

If you have not delved into social media as you battle an addiction, give it a consideration.

Social media is something that millions of people engage in on a daily basis, much of which can be used for good.

As you find the best solution or solutions in fighting an addiction, social media may be the missing component that will ultimately give you a hands-up in your struggle.

Don’t Make Identity Theft Part of Your Lifestyle

Tech

March 15, 2016

When things are going great, life can be as good as it gets.

You have a good job, money is not an everyday worry, you live in a nice home or apartment, your family and friends are healthy and safe, and the list goes on and on. Sounds pretty good, yes?

Now stop for a moment and image how that ideal life can be turned upside down when you’re the victim of identity theft.

In just a short period of time, that life you so enjoyed can be turned on its ears, leaving you feeling helpless and potentially in a major financial hole.

Keep Identity Theft Thieves at Bay

So that you can keep those at bay who would do you financial harm, remember these tidbits:

Choose How to Protect Your Identity – Your first order of business is making sure your identity (particularly your financial well-being) is protected as much as possible. You may be at a lost how best to do that, but there are companies and services out there such as ITPBureau.com to assist you. When working with such businesses, they are experts in narrowing down the field of identity theft providers, giving you more knowledge of which one best fits your identity theft protection needs. By comparing a number of providers, they can match you up, giving you more peace of mind;
Don’t Be Careless with Your Identity – Having the best identity theft provider around won’t mean all that much if in fact you are careless with your identity, notably your financial persona. It is important that you always guard your financial identity (credit and debit cards, bank account info, your Social Security number, PIN numbers for important financial items etc.). As identity theft thieves become even better with compromising technology and using it to their advantage, it is all the more important that you avoid being careless with your data. If someone calls you and poses as a business owner, make sure you do not give out sensitive info like a SSN or other personal identification. In many cases, that “business” calling you is actually an I.D. theft criminal, hoping you will provide him or her with data they need to become a nuisance in your life. It just takes one slip-up on your end to give a thief or thieves an invitation into your financial world;
Public Places Can Be Dangerous – Never stop yourself from going out in public (see more below), but be careful when you do. Stop and think for a moment about how many times over the years you’ve likely exposed your credit card, left a financial receipt behind, and so on. You may have gotten lucky and not been the victim of an identity theft crime at the time, but chalk that up as just that, luck. If you’re out a restaurant, make sure your waiter or waitress takes the merchant’s copy of the receipt with them, avoiding having it sit on the table while other people are coming and going;
Careful When Traveling – You should never shy away from travel when you have the opportunity, but do it so carefully. Identity theft thieves oftentimes will target a hotel or motel, figuring there are golden opportunities awaiting them to catch travelers with their guards down. Even though you do not need to be obsessive about it, don’t leave your laptop (if you travel with it for business or personal reasons) sitting around with sensitive data on the screen. When out of your room, avoid leaving credit cards behind on a table or any information that leads to your bank account. While you’d like to think most individuals working in hotels and motels are honest, is it worth the risk of having your financial life turned upside down?

Your lifestyle should be one of hard work and lots of fun when the work day is over.

Don’t make the job easy for identity theft thieves; keep them working overtime in trying to penetrate your financial world.

If you want to live a lifestyle that is free of financial headaches from criminals, take the time to review what you’re doing right protecting your identity, along with seeing where you need a little reinforcement.

Exploring Belfast with the family

Travel

March 10, 2016

There’s a whole lot for families to do and see around Belfast, whether your kids need to be kept busy or enjoy relaxing and playing a couple games of Eurocup Game. When we traveled to Belfast recently, there was one attraction that really caught our eye – the Belfast Zoo.

Built all the way back in 1934, the zoo houses thousands of animals from around the world in beautiful, safe natural scenery, giving them an environment in which they can really relax. The zoo’s found a fair distance from the city itself (definitely better for the animals), but we didn’t have much of a problem getting there. We’d stayed at the Travelodge Belfast hotel, surprisingly cheap for something right in the city centre, and hopped on a Metro 1 bus from right outside straight to the zoo.

The buses don’t stop right outside the zoo – there’s about a 500 metre walk uphill (make sure you’re aware of this if you’ve got a pram) before you reach the zoo. Entrance to the zoo isn’t too pricey, with a family ticket coming at £23.20 at the moment. Once we actually got inside, we knew we’d made the right choice.

Across around 50 acres of nature, there’s more than a thousand animals, from natural inhabitants to a whole set of different visitors. We started off with a look around a few different types of monkey, from lemurs to gorillas and chimps (the kids recognised the ring-tailed lemurs from the Madagascar series).

Just walking around we saw everything from anteaters and kangaroos to capybaras (actually one of my favourite animals – they just look like they’re having a good time) and tapirs. The zoo’s taken animals from around the world and made sure that they’re all as comfy as possible, keeping them safe and happy.

As you might expect, a few of the animal enclosures get pretty crowded, with lions, elephants and tigers getting pretty packed around lunchtime. All in all, the Belfast Zoo really made for a great time, keeping the kids enthralled with some beautiful and rare animals.

The zoo’s actually part of a larger area, Cave Hill, which includes the famous Belfast Castle as well as a few more sights. With huge mountains and some really impressive natural sights, the park definitely looked impressive, but it’s really not the kind of thing the kids would enjoy. Maybe some other time.

Heading back towards our city centre Belfast hotel in the afternoon, we decided to stop off around something a bit more modern than the Belfast Zoo. Built a few years back, the W5 centre is a huge activity area designed for kids, with a whole lot of active attractions around. A bit more expensive than the Zoo, the W5 was definitely worth it – there’s hundreds of interactive things from a huge climbing frame to sciencey activities, music and way more.

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Author: Anthony Davis