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The air was heavy as I woke up on the morning of my last day in the Nam Kan National Park. Typical in the rainforest, a dense fog hung to the treetops and mountain ridges, obscuring the forest below it. Nearer by, the song of tropical birds rang out as they made their morning rounds.
The Hoh Rainforest is one of the most spectacular temperate rainforests in the world. Old growth forests of spruce and maple, enveloped by imaginably green mosses and ferns, adorn the forest floor as far as the eye can see and the majestic Hoh River runs through, bringing life to forest, its inhabitants, and the Pacific Ocean beyond. It is no wonder it has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve.
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New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill is where art meets earth to create the most beautiful of garden spaces. One of the oldest botanical gardens in Massachusetts, this 171-acre garden space is a must see for anyone traveling through central Massachusetts.
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Looking for the perfect holiday gift for that traveler in your life? Buying for travelers can be a hard task. What do you get for someone that is always on the go? In my experience, most travelers like to pack light and we like to only take those things that are useful or will make our trip easier.
So, skip the money belt this year and buy your modern nomad something they will actually love and use. Here is a list of the best travel gifts for wanderlust travelers, no matter what your budget.
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Colonial Williamsburg bring history to life. Once the capital of Virginia, Williamsburg is arguably the birthplace of the American Revolution. This historic site is the country’s largest outdoor history museum and quite literally a theater in the streets. Where historic figures like George Washington and James Madison tell you about their lives, where cobblers make colonial shoes from scratch, and the buildings that surround you date before the American Revolution.
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Mount Greylock State Reservation is not only home to Massachusetts tallest mountain but also to the state’s oldest wilderness park. The summit of Mount Greylock itself sits at 3,491 feet and awards views of 5 states on a clear day. Known as one of the best hiking locations in Massachusetts its 50-miles of trails offer amazing views of old growth forests, waterfalls, overlooks. It is during the Fall season that the park really shines; when its trees turn a vivid array of colors and its rolling mountain sides become a scene made for poets.
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Jaco is the closest beach town to the capital city of San Jose making it a popular destination for both locals and tourists alike. Beachgoers flock for some fun in the sun, surfers are lured by its great waves, partygoers are attracted by the bars and nightlife, and families go for a convenient and budget friendly getaway from the big city. If you are looking for an off-the-beaten-track beach location, Jaco is not your spot. But, if you are looking for a fun, energetic town with a great beach and atmosphere, Jaco might just be the place for you.
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Old Québec City has 400 years of history and culture in its cobble streets, French style architecture, and fortifications. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this walled city might be small, but packs a lot of amazing sites and experiences in its tiny size.
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Home to dense forests, rugged terrain, and the world’s highest tides, Fundy National Park is in a place of its own. Its northern area is made up of Canadian highlands and home to plunging waterfalls, deep forests, mountain lakes, and a 3,000-year-old bog. While its southern territory is home to coastal cliffs that dive into the Bay of Fundy. All this beauty, along with the over 100 km of trails, make Fundy National Park a hiker’s paradise and a place everyone should explore.
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Colorado is known for its mountain peaks, stunning views, and year-around adventure. Skiing might rule the snow-covered slopes in the winter, but, when the snow melts away and the mountain passes open, there is a whole host of new adventures to be had. A popular activity during the Summer and Fall months is to explore the many backroads that wind their way through the mountain passes.
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Travel can sooth the soul, open ones' eyes to a new culture or way of life, and create memories and experiences that last a lifetime. Even so, many people think that travel is expensive and out of reach. Travel doesn’t have to be expensive to be memorable. There are many things you can do to save money while traveling and bring down the overall cost of your trip; without jeopardizing the experience. Here are 5 great ways to save money while traveling.
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Georges Island is the star of the Boston Harbor Islands. Dominated by Fort Warren, Georges Island sees visitors throughout the summer to tour the Civil War era fort and picnic on the grassy shores overlooking the harbor.
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Adams National Historic Park is a small but prominent national park just outside of Boston, Massachusetts. The park encompasses five generations of the Adams family; including that of two presidents, three US Ministers, historians, and writers. A tour of the national park takes you to the birthplace, home, and resting place of the families most prominent members, Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams. Boston is often referred to as “the birthplace of the American Revolution” and no trip to Boston would be complete without a quick trip down to the Adams National Historic Park.
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Wachusett Mountain State Reservation owes its claim to fame to its name sake Wachusett Mountain’s for being the highest peak (at 2,006 feet) in Massachusetts east of the Connecticut River. The park is also home to the largest old growth forest in the state, east of that same river. It may not seem like much, but this ring of forest supports trees that are over 370 years old.
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Mauritius is also home to the world’s third largest coral reef, beautiful turquoise waters, an abundance of aquatic wildlife, and some of the most unspoiled beaches in the world. It is easy to see why Mauritius is considered one of the most beautiful island nations. Whether you are looking to bathe in the sun, soak in the warm waters, swim with the fishes, or adventure into water sports, Mauritius has a beach for you.
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Flights can be long and boring. They can leave you feeling gross, thirsty, and hungry. But there are items that you can pack in your carry-on to combat all of these issues. When I am flying, I have a list of items that I always set aside first as my primary carry-on items. They help me pass the time, clean up, and fight the hangery beast. Here is my list of 10 small items that are a must when packing your carry-on.
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Mauritius might just be the most underrated tourist location for an island nation. Located 500 miles east of Madagascar, the small island of Mauritius has a rugged interior of craggy mountains and lush forests, all ringed with lapis and turquoise blue waters and white sandy beaches. Mauritius is considered the most peaceful country in Africa and its people are some of nicest and helpful that you find anywhere. Four centuries of colonization have brought a mosaic of cultural influences to the island; coupled with the beautiful landscape, Mauritius truly is a diamond in the ruff.
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Mdina is one of Europe’s finest examples of a medieval walled city and has an extraordinary mix of both medieval and baroque architecture. This ancient city is a popular tourist destination in Malta and it is easy to see why.
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Summer is almost here and, if you are like me, you are probably already planning your next trip and trying to figure out what you need to pack. In my experience, most travelers like to pack light and we like to only take those things that are useful or will make our trip easier.
If you, or someone you care for, are getting ready to travel this summer, then you are probably thinking about what new items would be useful to have or what needs to be replaced. From my own experience I have put together a list of the essential travel items you will want for yourself, or that wanderlust traveler in your life, no matter what your budget.
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Valletta might be Europe’s smallest capital but it packs a punch for its tiny size. Sometimes referred to as an "open-air museum," when it was a named an UNESCO World Heritage site, UNESCO described Valletta as 'one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world.’
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For the quintessential Colorado vacation, look no further than Colorado Springs. This year around destination has created a reputation for being a must visit on everyone’s Colorado bucket list. Sitting on the divide between the Rocky Mountains on the west and the Great Planes in the east, this iconic city has inspired the famous patriotic song, “America the Beautiful.”
Traveling can broaden your mind, soothe your soul, and give you a much need break from your regular routines in life. When you take your next trip you want to know that you have everything you need in order to enjoy your vacation to its full potential. No matter where you travel, there are a few things that you should do before you depart on your trip. These 5 things will help reduce the stress of travel and help you travel more easily.
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Ouray, Colorado is an old mining town nestled in a box canyon on the slopes of the San Juan Mountains of Southwest Colorado. Wrapped by snow-capped mountains, this small Victorian Era town is surrounded by some Colorado’s most unforgettable scenery. Nicknamed the ‘Switzerland of America,’ as well as the ‘Outdoor Recreation Capital of Colorado,’ Ouray, Colorado has made the turn from mining town to tourist destination.
Famous for its ice climbing in the winter, hiking and jeeping in the summer, and year-around for its hot springs, Ouray has made itself the place to be in any season. Ouray is easily one of my favorite spots in Colorado and one that my family returns to year after year. There is so much to see and do, not only in Ouray itself, but also in the area that surrounds it. Whether you are looking for a relaxing holiday, want an outdoor adventure, or to explore once booming ghost towns, Ouray has something to offer.
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The historic city of Ayutthaya, with its ruins of ancient temples and palaces, is an essential travel experience for all travelers; not just those who are history inclined. By all reports, Ayutthaya was a magnificent city. Flourishing from the 14th to 18th centuries, Ayutthaya grew to be one of the world’s largest and most cosmopolitan cities and was a center of global diplomacy and commerce.
Bangkok is easily one of the best places in the world to get street food and as a foodie it is a delicious paradise. It is often said that food is the way to the heart (for me this is most definitely the case), but it is also one of the purest ways to get in touch with the local culture. Food is life and street food is an expression of that life through taste. Eating street food is a quintessential part of the Bangkok experience.
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Bangkok has long topped most travelers must-visit bucket list and for good reason. It is the gateway city for many backpackers starting the adventurous journey across Southeast Asia and for others the final destination before they return home to the ‘real world.’ Bangkok is a place where the familiar and exotic collide. A place that draws people for the amazing street food scene, the rush of the endless nightlife, the splendor of the temples, and the buzz of the markets. Bangkok is a place with so much to offer that it is hard to take it all in. Here's my comprehensive travel guide to help you plan your Bangkok experience!
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Saguaro National Park East is a beautiful expanse of wilderness covered in a forest of saguaro cactus as far as the eye can see. Formally known as The Rincon Mountain District of Saguaro National Park, this section of the park makes up, by far, the largest area of the two units, but it also has the largest difference in ecology. Starting in the lower desert landscape it quickly climbs to an elevation of 8,664 ft.
I, like many people, love my morning coffee – or late
morning…afternoon…evening coffee. It seems to be a staple in my
morning daily routine. Whether for you it’s a simple pleasure or a
chemical dependency, there are few things that get you going than a great
cup of coffee.
Making a great cup of coffee is easy to do when you’re at home, but when you’re on the road it can be a much harder task. Fortunately, there are ways to make your own coffee so that you don’t have to settle for that really bad gas station coffee or expensive name brand when you are traveling.
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Chiricahua National Monument is truly a ‘Wonderland of Rocks.’ Once the homeland of the Chiricahua Apache, this ‘Land of Standing Rock’ has an extraordinarily unique landscape found in few other places. Hike through the forest of hoodoo rock spires as you marvel at the exceptional landscape of rolling mountains and rock formations.
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The gateway for the temples of Angkor, Siem Reap is a tourist hot spot in Cambodia. Most know it only for the renowned temple of Angkor Wat, but the Angkor Archeological Park is teaming with temples that equal (or surpass) the magnificence of Angkor Wat.
Siem Reap is not only temples. The city has much more to offer the would-be tourist or traveler between their temple visits. With a lively tourist district, fantastic food scene, and great day tours, you are likely to find yourself staying longer than you planned.
The traveler in all of us can be just as explorative when moving to a new city as it is when we travel to some far-flung destination. One of the most exciting parts of moving to a new city is the opportunity to explore what makes it special. All cities, from small towns to big cities, have something unique to offer. Being new to the area, just like when traveling, puts you in a unique vantage point to discover what that is.
Make it a point to engage with your new community. Making an effort to explore your new city will ultimately make you feel more at home. Make it a weekly thing to discover something new about your new home and soon you be local while never losing that traveler wanderlust. Here are 9 tips for how to explore your new city like a traveler.
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Phnom Penh may no longer be the ‘Paris of the East,’ but under its rough exterior it still retains its former charm. Much of the city still shows some evidence of its French colonial influence, but it is the Cambodian cultural heritage that shines the brightest in this capitol town. Most known for its dark past with the Khmer Rouge, Phnom Penh has so much more to offer both tourist and visiting travelers.
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Imagine miles upon miles of open desert, with windswept brush and wild west vibes. Think of rocky, bolder laden mountains covered in forests, where bears and mountain lions still roam wild. Envision a river flowing through canyons, a landscape so vast it was once inhabited by the largest dinosaurs to ever live, and open skies so immense and dark the cosmos come to life at night. This is Big Bend National Park.