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Who needs sand or even sun for a day at the beach? This Memorial Day weekend, pack the family in the car and head to LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Schaumburg for a three-day indoor LEGO® Beach Party - complete with the opportunity to build sandcastles out of sand-colored LEGO bricks imported just for the occasion.

From Saturday, May 29 through Monday, May 31, Schaumburg's biggest box of LEGO bricks, LEGOLAND Discovery Center will be transformed into a summer getaway from top to bottom. A LEGO beach will be set up for young LEGO architects to let their sandcastle imaginations run wild. The Center's popular MINILAND Chicago skyline will feature a beach scene starring Lake Michigan as the latest local landmark to be recreated LEGO-style. Beach bumming  staffers will be dressed in summer garb. Kids' finished sandcastle creations will even be photographed as mementoes of their fun in the LEGOLAND sun.  And you can also get a souvenir photo of your visit to LEGO Beach. Kids ages 12 and under will receive one free admission when accompanied by one paying adult* if they bring in a photograph of a past family vacation to add to the Center's collection.

Partygoers will also have access to all of the attractions in this two-story LEGOLAND Discovery Center. There's an eye-popping 4D Cinema where LEGO stories come to life, a Jungle Expedition populated with LEGO animals (and a few surprises), and a Dragon ride through a medieval castle filled with animated LEGO models. There's also a high-flying Technicycle ride driven by kids' own pedal power, a LEGO Factory tour where visitors 'make' their very own brick, ample opportunities for hands-on LEGO building including lessons from the Center's Master Model Builders, and much more - all providing hours of interactive family fun.

All attractions are included in the entry fee ($15 for children, $19 for adults at the door, with discounts for advance purchases, group visits and annual passes). Memorial Day weekend hours are 10 am-7 pm (last admission at 5 pm). For advance ticket purchases, regular hours or more information, visit www.LEGOLANDDiscoveryCenter.com or call 847-592-9708.

Springtime is a period of renewal and rejuvenation, and it is the perfect season for all ages to celebrate at sandestination. This popular vacation destination is located on Northwest Florida's Beaches, recently named one of the top 12 international destinations by Frommer's. Sandestination visitors will discover a unique combination of beach and bay front activities, shopping, dining, recreation, events, spas and a variety of accommodations ranging from national brand hotels to expertly-designed estates for families, leisure travelers, business travelers and groups. This destination offers guests everything they need, so visitors can enjoy their stay without needing to leave sandestination.

Accommodations

Cooperatively, sandestination offers nearly 2,500 accommodations, including Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa, Courtyard by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard and Residence Inn Sandestin at Grand Boulevard, with a variety of comfortable suites, condominiums, villas and townhomes that will suit every person's preference and budget. A variety of accommodation atmospheres are available such as beach front, bay front, poolside, and golf course views. Visit www.sandestination.com for descriptions, contact information and Web sites of all sandestination properties to discover the perfect place to enjoy this spring.

Activities

Activities in sandestination are plentiful in the spring as the warm weather returns, such as the exhilarating water sports of parasailing, boogie boarding, sailing, surfing, Yolo boarding and swimming in the Gulf of Mexico or the beautiful Choctawhatchee Bay. The pristine sugar-white beaches and emerald green waters of sandestination delight guests, and the beach service staff is prepared to enhance a visitor's stay. Golf courses and tennis courts are available for athletic options, and bicycles are accessible to explore sandestination's beautiful landscape. Fitness Center facilities at the accommodations offer a great way stay in shape while experiencing the premier destination.

Since sandestination welcomes families, junior programs are available for recreation and daily activities. Boondocks Family Arcade and Baytowne Adventure Zone in the Village of Baytowne Wharf have exciting activities such as the miniature remote-control rowboats, Zipline, a Ropes Course, a Coconut Climb and the EuroBungy. Also, for some creative fun, sandestination offers watercolor workshops at the Donna Burgess Art Gallery and glass art demonstrations at Fusion Art Glass Gallery in Grand Boulevard, as well as pottery and jewelry workshops at Paint'n Place and magic shows at Rick Moore's Magic Shop in the Village of Baytowne Wharf.

For some much needed relaxation, guests will enjoy the high quality spa treatments of massages and facials, salon services and more at Sandestin Day Spa & Salon at Sandestin(R) Golf and Beach Resort, Serenity by the sea at Hilton Sandestin(R) Beach Golf Resort and Spa and Fusion Spa Salon AVEDA in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin(R).

Shopping

The shopping venues at sandestination offer great diversity and value. Visitors may power shop this spring at Silver Sands Factory Stores, the nation's largest designer outlet center, and enjoy over 100 retailers that will satisfy all shopping needs, including Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH, Coach Factory, Lacoste and Polo Ralph Lauren, just to name a few. Guests will enjoy eclectic stores with unique gifts, clothing, décor and home furnishings in The Market Shops at Sandestin(R) and in the charming atmosphere of the Village of Baytowne Wharf. Grand Boulevard at Sandestin(R) is a pedestrian-friendly Town Center with a unique mix of nationally recognized retailers including Chico's, J. Crew-at-the-beach, Billabong, The Orvis Company, J. Jill, Coldwater Creek and more.

Restaurants

From casual to fine dining, sandestination offers ample restaurants and eateries to satisfy every guest's craving. The variety of dining options include P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Tommy Bahama's Restaurant & Bar, Marlin Grill, Bistro Bijoux, Smoke House BBQ, Another Broken Egg, Seagar's Prime Steaks and Seafood, Finz Beachside Grille, Mitchell's Fish Market and Cheeseburger in Paradise. From Caribbean flair, retro-style diners, a Greek taverna, Mexican gourmet, seafood delicacies, bakeries, and ice cream and candy shops, sandestination is sure to delight all visitors.

Visit www.sandestination.com for complete details.

sandestination is located on Northwest Florida's Beaches near Destin, Florida and is a 3 1/2 mile stretch along Emerald Coast Parkway. Sandestination is a four-season destination for people of all ages and all occasions and offers the most complete and memorable resort experience in North America. Visitors will discover a unique combination of beach and bay front activities, shopping, dining, recreation, events, spas and a variety of Destin accommodations ranging from national brand hotels to expertly-designed estates.

SOURCE Sandestination

UK home buyers and investors looking for an affordable property with strong long term potential need look no further than the Thalassa Beach Resort on the Karpas Peninsula in North Cyprus. With its undisputed and internationally recognised land title, this development is a fantastic opportunity to buy in one of the Mediterranean's most stunning beachfront locations. Prices start from just GBP59,950.

Thalassa Beach is the largest and most prestigious beachfront development in Northern Cyprus and the last scheme in the area with permission to build right up to the shoreline. There is a selection of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, ranging in size from 65 square metres to 150 square metres, some with balconies and some with private pools.

The development boasts an Aqua resort with large communal pool, private beach with water activities, children's activity area, lagoon with water sports, spa, gym, Turkish bath, massage area, sauna, restaurant/beach bar, management offices and a retail/commercial area.

Thalassa Beach Resort is set in the stunningly beautiful conservation area of Bafra. This region is renowned for its unspoilt beauty with glorious sandy beaches, clean blue Mediterranean waters and a ruggedly spectacular coastline all framed by the Besparmak mountain range. The development is also just 20 minutes drive from one of the largest yacht marinas in the Mediterranean which will accommodate 300 berths.

Bafra is quickly becoming a world famous hideaway due to increasing tourism at the quality end of the market. One of its major draws is the five-star Kaya Artemis Hotel which is conveniently located near to Thalassa Beach.

Tim Morgan, Managing director of Emerging Real Estate, commented: 'Northern Cyprus is a stunning country and offers huge long term potential for both investors and holiday home owners thanks to its fantastic climate, scenery and people. There have been a lot of problems with land issues but we are pleased to say that this development is fully recognised and is a safe purchase.'

Tim concluded: 'We have sourced all the relevant paperwork and legal documentation for added piece of mind. Our team is on hand to talk clients through all of this so they know their dream investment in the sun is secure.'

For full details and an information pack on Thalassa Beach, interested buyers should contact Emerging Real Estate on T: +44(0 )1924-364754/ E: info@emergingrealestate.com" target=_new>info@emergingrealestate.com/ Website: http://www.emergingrealestate.com