Compare and contrast - Essay Example

Compare and Contrast Essay Planning to take a vacation can be a sticky for some people. This is because different people have different preferences about what is the best place to go. While some people think the mountains are the best option, others have dreams of sun-baked sand with the relaxing sound of rhythmic waves lulling their cares away. Of course, both mountains and beaches have a great deal to offer visitors. The best way to choose which one is right for you is to compare the similarities and differences between these two vacation destinations.

To begin with, both mountain locations and beach locations are accustomed to having a large number of visitors each year so there are plenty of good hotels and restaurants to go to. Mountain locations will have hotels that cater to their environment, meaning more chalet-style architecture and an attempt to create a sense of isolation within the woods. Decorations are often dark because of the blinding white of winter snow, their busiest time of year, but this can sometimes feel oppressive during the summer months and the world is shaded by the leaves of giant trees.

Beach locations have the opportunity to perfect their look as a tropical retreat since their weather stays relatively similar all year through. Decorations are often light on the outside because of the tendency of the sun to bleach out colors and as a means of keeping things cooler inside, but interiors are often full of color and life, always making it seem ready for a party. Restaurants in both places will offer good food, but mountain restaurants will tend more toward beef and a mixture of food while beach locations tend to offer more seafood because they can get it fresh.

Although beach locations can offer many of the same activities year-round, both beach and mountain locations need to work with the seasons to offer widely different activities. In the mountains, the seasons will very strongly dictate what you can and cant do. You cant go skiing in the summer in most places and its very difficult to find wildflowers in winter. In the mountains, you can also go hiking, mountain biking, snowmobiling, hunting, freshwater fishing, or just enjoy the services provided by the hotel of your choice.

At the beaches, activities are also limited a bit by the seasons, but less so. It might be cold, but you can still go swimming in the ocean in winter and it might be hot, but you can still go sailing in the summer. At the beach, you also have the option of going water skiing anytime as well as kite-boarding, wind-surfing, diving, snorkeling, boating, fishing, or just lounge around at the resort hotel enjoying the pool, the massages and the other amenities provided by the hotel. Each location also has something to be concerned about while visiting, although these things are very different.

In the mountains, people must be aware of the possibility for snow storms, becoming snow bound, avalanches, mudslides, earthquakes in some areas, and high altitude sickness or weariness. Most people are not aware that the body reacts differently at high altitudes and they are surprised by the fatigue that takes over them the first day. With the exception of snow storms, most of these dangers occur at a moments notice, so preparations are difficult to make or plan for. At the beach, dangers include hurricanes, ocean-dwelling life-forms (jellyfish, stingrays, sharks), rip-tides, heat stroke and sunburn.

Most of these are not too serious and can be avoided with a little planning. When making vacation plans, it is best to go to a place that is going to give you the ability to relax like you want to. If all you want to do is hike, then the mountains will be the best option for you, but if youre looking for a place to go any time, that will almost always deliver the kind of peace and satisfaction that only a care-free vacation can give, the beach should be your answer. Whether you want to relax and recharge or let go and get loose, the beach offers numerous possibilities and gives you plenty of warning if problems such as hurricanes might arise.