Dubai: the Perfect Vacation Destination

The revamped Dubai may be young but it is full of everything tourists want from a great vacation. The finest shops and restaurants line streets of Dubai and there are so many things to do that a week or two will not be enough to get to them all. Dubai has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

Ride the Dunes

If you have ever taken a ride in a dune buggy, you have experienced a small taste of what is awaiting you in the desert of Dubai. When you get in an SUV driven by a specially trained desert driver, you are embarking on the experience of a lifetime. Dune bashing, or riding up and down the dunes at high speed for several hours and then ending the evening with dinner and dancing is the perfect way to combine adventure and romance. If dinner and music is not to your to your liking, you may continue to ride the dunes well into the evening. Dune bashing is a favorite attraction in Dubai.

Ski the Great Indoors

Who ever would have thought there would be skiing in Dubai? Who ever would have thought there would be skiing anywhere that is located inside a building? But there is and it is a fabulous experience. The Mall of Emirates contains one of the largest ski centers and rents out all the equipment you need. The temperature in the ski area is -4 degrees Celsius - enough to keep the snow from melting and the fun from ending. As if that were not enough, a new indoor ski center opens up this year -- the Dubai Sunny Mountain Ski Dome in Dubailand.

From Snow to Sand - Dubai's Beaches

If warm sand, water and beaches are more to your liking, Dubai offers unbelievable beaches. The water temperatures average 22 degrees Celsius in the winter and 35 in the summer. Be sure to use sunscreen when spending time on Dubai's beautiful beaches. If diving is on your mind, Fujairah, Sharjah and Khor Fakkan are less than two hours away. Dive the coral reefs and spend time mingling with the marine life living off the coast of Dubai.

Cruise the Creek

Shipping once defined the very existence of Dubai. Ports that once served African, Indian and Middle Eastern trading ships are now viewable from a fascinating cruise down Dubai Creek. It is not just the ports that are interesting. The Dubai Creek Cruise will take you past numerous historical buildings that go back hundreds of years.

Sand Golfing

Don't let a lack of green grass stop you from enjoying a round of golf. Dubai thumbs its nose at convention and offers tourists the chance to play golf in the sand. Other golf courses penalize for balls that land in the sand. Here, landing in sand is par for the course - so to speak.

Up, Up and Away in a Beautiful Balloon

Who hasn't dreamed of taking a ride in a hot air balloon? A sunrise or sunset ride through the skies above the mountains and deserts of Dubai can be a dream come true. After a day of fun, experience beautiful Dubai from the skies.