About a thousand million Euros is the turnover - 1 million of horseman, more than 400 thousand horses and more than 50 thousand people employed. These are the dates of the AIA (Associazione Italiana Allevatori) and of the UNIRE (Unione nazionale incremento razze equine).

This means an entire army of lovers of this sport and the horseback tourism which generates in Italy a turnover of around 6,5 thousand millions of Euro.

In the Italian region Veneto, precisely in Verona, the wolrds most important international fair, the Fieracavalli, takes place every year at the beginning of November in a space more than 1.800 m².

Italy's tourism has a huge amount of offers addressed to horseman. In all over Italy there are the farmhouses, the so called agriturismi, which are located in the countryside, where it is possible to take part in the every day's life of the farmers. They teach for example, how to produce bread, honey, marmalade and much more, and many of them have a riding school.

In Tuscany for example, there is the Regional Park of the Maremma where it is possible to explore it in a very nice and exciting way on a horseback trekking tour. There are many tours offered for both, experts and non experts, to explore this protected area.

During this excursions very often it is possible to get near animals like wild boars, fallow deers, cows and Maremman horses. A two hours trekking tour is a quiet horseback walk through the oak wood and it is suitable for non experts. For who has more time, there is a tour of three hours in which they reach the Abbey of San Rabano. For great experts there is a one day tour of approximately 6 hours which leads through diverse areas of the Regional Park: the agricultural area, the Mediterranean landscape, the pine forest, the marsh until reaching the river Ombrone.

Also near Pisa, in the surrounding hills, there are plenty of tours offered to get in contact with the still intact nature of the area. As well as in the area of San Gimignano for example the farmhouse Il Meletto, or in the Chianti area the Fattoria la Presura or Santa Maria a Poneta.

But not only in Tuscany, in all over Italy there are so many nice places to be discovered, and why not on back of a horse? In the Region of Lazio there are some very nice farmhouses like Borgo il Ducato, or in Piedmont the La Piccola Fattoria, La Collina degli Scoiattoli, or Red Wine where they offer horseback riding.

In Umbria there is the Madonna delle Grazie, L'Elmo, Relais Il Cantico della Natura, in Veneto the Tenuta Goro Veneto and the Castle of Lispida. Concerning Sicily there can be found Colle d'Oro and Gigliotto where to explore the area like the knights did. Visit Dream Destination Europe for more accommodations for your Italian horseback vacation.

1. Which state is the largest in the union?
A. Alaska
B. Texas
C. California
D. Hawaii

A. Alaska
TOPICS: That's with a land area of 570,374 square miles!

2. What is Alaska's position relative to the United States?
A. It lies along the northern boundary of the 50 contiguous states
B. It is separated from the other mainland states by British Columbia, Canada
C. It is an island like Hawaii
D. It lies in the exact center of mainland United States

B. It is separated from the other mainland states by British Columbia, Canada
TOPICS: Gosh, I certainly hope no North Americans guessed it lies in the exact center of the U.S.!

3. In 1959, Alaska was admitted to the Union. What state was it?
A. 50th
B. 49th
C. 40th
D. 1st

B. 49th
TOPICS: It was admitted as the 49th state in 1959

4. Who did the United States buy Alaska from in 1867?
A. Spain
B. Britain
C. France
D. Russia

D. Russia
TOPICS: The territory was purchased from Russia in 1867 for $7,200,000. At different times, the Russians, the Spanish, the British, and the French all tried to lay claim to part or all of Alaska.

5. What is the capital of Alaska?
A. Anchorage
B. Sitka
C. Juneau
D. Nome

C. Juneau
TOPICS: Juneau is the capital and Anchorage the largest city. There are plans to move the capital to Willow, near Anchorage.

6. When the Alaskan territory was purchased from Russia in 1867 for $7,200,000 it was known as Seward's Folly (after Secretary of State William H. Seward, who negotiated the purchase). What changed that perception?
A. Gold
B. Fur
C. World War II
D. Free land

A. Gold
TOPICS: The territory was purchased from Russia in 1867 for $7,200,000 and was known as Seward's Folly (after Secretary of State William H. Seward, who negotiated the purchase) until gold was discovered in the late 1800's.

7. Who originally discovered Alaska?
A. Russians
B. Danes
C. Siberians
D. English

C. Siberians
TOPICS: Experts agree that America was discovered by Siberian hunters, ancestors of most of the present-day Native Americans, who were following Ice Age mammals into Alaska.

8. The name Alaska is believed to be derived from an Aleut word meaning...
A. Cold
B. Light
C. Dark
D. Mainland

D. Mainland
TOPICS: The name Alaska is probably derived from an Aleut word meaning "mainland."

9. Of the major volcanoes active during the 20th century in North America, how many were located in Alaska?
A. 0
B. 7
C. 27
D. 100

B. 7
TOPICS: That's right, there are volcanoes in Alaska! It seems the Alaska Range is full of them.

10. What is a bidarka?
A. A kayak
B. A sled
C. A dog
D. An alcoholic drink

A. A kayak
TOPICS: A one- or two-hole kayak used by the Aleut and various Alaskan Eskimo groups.

11. When was the first Idiatrod Trail Sled Race run?
A. 1888
B. 1901
C. 1956
D. 1973

D. 1973
TOPICS: The inaugural Idiatrod Trail Sled Race was won by Alaskan Dick Wilmarth, who covered the 1,158 mile course from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska in 20 days 49 min 41 sec.

12. The Malaspina Glacier, at the foot of Mount Saint Elias, in Alaska covers an area larger than what state?
A. Rhode Island
B. New York
C. Kentucky
D. Texas

A. Rhode Island
TOPICS: The Malaspina Glacier, at the foot of Mount Saint Elias, covers an area larger than Rhode Island.

13. After the United States acquired Alaska how was it governed?
A. The law of the wild
B. Frontier law
C. Military rule
D. Civil law

C. Military rule
TOPICS: General Jefferson C. Davis, the U.S. Army commander in Alaska, became the virtual ruler of the new acquisition. Congress extended the laws governing commerce and navigation to Alaska and prohibited the importation, manufacture, and sale of liquor. Nothing was done to establish a civil government, and for 17 years, until 1884, Alaska remained under military rule.

14. Alaska was organized as a territory on Aug. 24, 1912, but when did it enter the union?
A. Aug. 25, 1912
B. Jan. 1, 1913
C. Aug. 24, 1913
D. Jan. 3, 1959

D. Jan. 3, 1959
TOPICS: This might be a hard question unless you knew Alaska was one of the last states admitted to the union-49th in fact!

Even if you have recently purchased a new recreational vehicle and it is in good condition, you will eventually need supplies to keep it running just as it was the day you took if off the showroom floor. By knowing exactly what you need and where you can locate these supplies, you will be fully prepared for your next trip.

The best place to buy the supplies you need for your RV is from the store in which you bought the RV. Makes sense. If you bought it at an RV showroom then they will most likely be able to order the supplies you need or at least recommend the best place to buy everything for your RV. Also, your RV will have a warranty if it is new, so you can bring it in for little-to-no cost to you.

Another good place to check for supplies you need is a specialty shop online that deals strictly with RV's, or even through classified ads. For tires you could check your local tire shop to see if they sell the larger sized tires; if not, they should be able to recommend a great resource. Oil and other fluids you need can be purchase from a local gas station or discount store.

If you bought a used or pre-owned RV, then you may run into a problem of it being outdated. Newer models of RV's are produced each year, and there is a chance that supplies you need for your RV are no longer being manufactured or are difficult to find. If this is the case, you should search through online RV sites that cater to people with older or outdated models.

You might also join an RV club with members who are looking to sell or exchange some of their old parts. With a little bit of research you should have minimal trouble finding what you need, but you do need to inspect the products thoroughly to make sure that all are in good working order. Trade shows are another excellent source for obsolete supplies. Check the Internet to find out if one is coming to your area, or talk to an RV showroom which is likely to have that kind of information.

It isn't just the supplies you may need to make your RV run well. You might also require a new oven or other appliance that only fits the RV you are furnishing. You can try to repair it on your own or instead tap into the skills of a mechanic. However if you need to replace specific parts, trade shows and RV clubs are excellent places to investigate.

RV's have a considerable life span. So although it may take a bit of time, you should nevertheless be able to find the supplies you need to keep your RV running well for a long time to come.

Japan is a country of striking natural beauty that will make for a memorable sightseeing vacation. Situated on the east coast of Asia, it's varied selection of cultural, environmental and urban settings offer so much to any traveller.

Geologically, Japan is very active due to the plates that it sits on and there are over one hundred and fifty volcanoes on the islands with half of them active. It consists of over three thousands islands many of which are very mountainous. Most of the Japanese countryside is covered in forest, but due to its economic success, a large amount of natural plant species are nearing extinction.

When travelling to Japan, plan and research the best time of year to go. The climate differs considerably in different parts of the islands. It gets extreme snowstorms in the north of the country during the winter months. In the south of the country the weather is more tropical and humid. Tsunamis and typhoons are a very popular occurrence during the year.

Japan's history dates back for thousands of years. The countryside has stunning old temples and castles along with great museums that show the traditional art of warfare that the Japanese are famous for. Temples are also a place of worship for the Japanese.

Western style foods are very popular with most of the more popular chain restaurants established there. Traditional dishes tend to be served in small portions with many dishes being served raw. Rice is served with most meals and the most common drink is green tea.

Through the years, Japan has played an important part in the arts, more notably in printmaking and in garden design. Classical and rock are popular forms of music, but the traditional styles remain widely played. It is well worth visiting some of the art centres, where they will show you how the traditional arts were made.

Shopping in the capital, Tokyo, and the main cities will be a pleasant experience. Every thing you need - you will find. For many years, the Japanese have been to the forefront of electronic creation. Great electronic gadgets can be bought at a reasonable price. The currency used is the Japanese Yen.

If time allows, you should try to take in some of the national games. Traditional sports, such as archery, judo and karate are extremely common and in some regions samurai sword fighting is popular. Sumo wrestling is the most popular of the traditional sports, drawing huge crowds and large television audiences. Baseball, football and rugby are the most popular modern sports.

The Japanese people are extremely pleasant and will go out of their way to make your holiday special. English is not widely spoken, so you should buy some sort of translation book to make your travel experience more enjoyable.

Japan is an ideal location for a long vacation - and to be honest, very little will be seen on a weekend break. If you are planning a holiday there, give yourself at least three weeks to see and enjoy this charming country.