Tag Archives: Travel

The 7 Most Beautiful Forests in the World

Forests are wind-blocking, sound-muffling, toxin-pulling powerhouses: they gobble up carbon dioxide, turning it into twisted trunks, knobby knees, and braided branches.  Three trillion trees strong, forests cover almost a third of the Earth’s surface. They also tie 1.6 billion people and 4.3 million species together—and we often don’t appreciate them until they’re teetering on the brink of extinction. Ready to rewild and reconnect with the natural world? Try immersing yourself among ethereal green bamboo, umbrella-shaped Dragon blood trees, or J-shaped pines. From Colombia to Namibia, these are seven of the world’s most beautiful forests.

 

Cocora Valley

Quindío, Colombia

In the rolling green foothills of the cloud-capped Andes, there’s a valley where 200-foot wax palms tower like the Truffula Trees in Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax.  Slender, shag-topped, sturdy, and wax-covered: Cocora Valley’s wax palms—Colombia’s national tree and the world’s tallest palms—scratch the wispy underbellies of rain clouds. During the Monsoon Season, they bend, almost to the point of being horizontal to the ground, but never break, spinning like floral pinwheels above muddy fields of grazing cows and horses.

Dragon’s Blood Forest

Socotra, Yemen

With their umbrella-shaped crowns, straight trunks, and deep-red resin, Socotra’s prehistoric Dragon blood trees look like something straight out of John Wyndham’s The Day of the Triffids. After breaking through beds of limestone and granite, the 32-foot-tall trees channel sea mist, drizzle, and fog into their tightly-gnarled limbs and wax-covered leaves. Then they sprout small, fragrant, white flowers which, over five months, produce berries that turn from pale green to pitch black to neon orange, oozing “blood” as they ripen.

Crooked Forest

Gryfino, Poland

In West Pomerania, Poland, there’s a forest of pine trees that’s become famous because of one little “twist”: all 400 of the trees that were planted there, sometime around 1930, buckle out 90 degrees, creating bark-covered potbellies that drag just above the earth, oddly, all pointing in the same direction—north. No one is certain exactly how or why the trees were bent, but the Crooked Forest is generally thought to be the result of human intervention. The most common theory suggests that farmers manipulated the trees when they were 7-to-10-years-old to create naturally bent timber for furniture or ships. Others blame strong snowstorms, gravitational pull, or Nazi tanks.

No one knows why these trees all bend in the same manner. . While we were strolling around we ran into a man who said he had been working in this park for 15 years and he thinks furniture makers trained the trees so they could be later harvested into benches and sleds. . One thing is for certain he told us – over the years the number of crooked trees has diminished and one day this will just look like any other forest. . So go out and explore now because you never know if it will still be there tomorrow… . . . #crookedforest #poland #polska #polandsights #polandways #polandphotos #igerspoland #europe #ig_europe #nikon #travelphotography #sheisnotlost #beautifuldestinations #beautifulplaces #nationalpark #travelstoke #optoutside #artofvisuals #aov #natgeotravel #bucketlist #dametraveler #traveltheglobe #instatravel #travelgram #passionpassort #darlingescapes #sorel #wanderingwheatleys

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Rockefeller Forest

Weott, California

The Rockefeller forest—located in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, which is almost twice the size of San Francisco—has the largest remaining contiguous old-growth coastal redwoods in the world.  While the average redwood in Rockefeller forest is roughly 600 to 800 years old, it’s widely known for having trees of all ages. There are “dog hairs”, young, thin redwood trees that cover the ground in patches, and 2,000-year-old redwoods that are covered with spider webs that almost look like beards and have so-called “goose pens”, which are burnt-out caverns in the base of the trees that are as big as playhouses. Oldest of all are the decaying stumps, who shallow-roots were ripped from the fertile earth by high-winds. Rockefeller’s most-famous fallen redwood is the Dyerville Giant.  Weighing in at 1 million pounds and standing 362 feet high—that’s two feet taller than Niagara Falls and comparable to a 30-story building—it was considered the tallest tree in the forest before its fall in 1991.

Have you ever wondered what the roots of a massive redwood tree look like? A few huge specimens from the Saddler Grove in Humboldt Redwoods State Park were blown over in a violent windstorm many years ago and they now lay horizontal, exposing their huge undersides. . Check out the new category “Giant Tree” on my website for pictures of enormous trees from California and Washington State! http://www.lucascometto.com/#/giant-tree/ . . #tree #hugetree #giant #forest #redwood #SaddlerGrove #HumboldtRedwoods #HumboldtRedwoodsStatePark #RedwoodNationalPark #coastredwood #California #championtree #natgeo #nationalgeographic #awesome_earthpix #picoftheday #wanderlust #earthoffical #wow_planet #ourplanetdaily #earthfocus #awesomeearth #nakedplanet #fantastic_earth #igworldclub #discoverglobe #earthfever

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The Amazon

Named after the female warriors of Greek mythology,  the Amazon is itself a place of nearly mythical status.  The largest tropical rainforest in the world, covering a size approximately equal to the lower 48 United States, it spans across eight rapidly-developing countries: Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Venezuela, and Suriname.

Considered “the lungs of the world”, the Amazon supplies 20 percent of the world’s oxygen, stabilizing the levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. It’s also home to 10 percent of the world’s known species. However, if you’re expecting to see scarlet macaws perching at the top of every tree and pink river dolphins peeking over your canoe, you’re going to be disappointed. In fact, the Amazon’s true beauty lies in the little things: listening to the otherworldly cry of Howler monkeys, swinging in hammocks, and canoeing on the world’s largest river.

 

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

Kyoto, Japan

One of Kyoto’s top attractions and one of Japan’s most recognizable landmarks, the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove has seemingly-endless emerald stalks. They’re so thick that the city’s noise completely disappears. All that remains is the creaking sound of the wind blowing through bamboo—a sound designated by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment as one of the 100 Soundscapes of Japan.

Let’s play bamboozle! 🎋#guessthetvshow

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The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove’s main path, located between Tenryuji Temple and Okouchi Sanso Garden, is only 1,640 feet, but it accommodates pedestrians, bicyclists, and rickshaw rides. Admittedly, on weekends, national holidays, and Kyoto Hanatouro, camera-clutching foreigners and the city’s best artisans, who handcraft bamboo baskets, coasters, and chopstick sets, pack in like sardines. Though, the slight-suffocating crowds are well worth it, because on sunny, breezy days, you can experience komorebi: a Japanese word used to describe soft, dappled light as it filters through leaves and branches.

 

Deadvlei

Sossusvlei, Namibia

Cradled between the tallest sand dunes on Earth—some 1,312 feet high, which is almost as lofty as the Empire State Building—there’s a forest where nothing has bloomed since the First Crusade. Deadvlei, which means “the place where everything ends”, was once a fertile desert claypan.  However, some 1,000 years ago, it began drying up after encroaching sand dunes cut it off from the Tsauchab River. The camel thorn trees that lived within the marsh eventually died, and even though a millennium has passed, they’ve yet to decompose. Set against a striking blue sky, fiery-red hills, and bleached white clay, these carbon-black, mummified trees are hauntingly beautiful.

The 9 Best Fried Chicken Destinations

There’s nothing quite like a plate of heaping fried chicken. It’s the ultimate comfort food indulgence. In the South, fried chicken is religion and everyone has their favorite place or their favorite Aunt that they swear makes the best you’ve ever had. But fried chicken isn’t actually southern.  It’s Scottish.

The Scots have been frying chicken for centuries and Scottish immigrants first brought the dish to the United States, where it’s continued to evolve. Whether you want fried chicken and waffles, hot chicken, or traditional, you’ll find a plate or two to fall in love with in one of these nine states.

Nashville, Tennessee

If you can’t stand the heat, fried chicken in Music City might not be for you. Nashville is known for its iconic hot chicken, basically your traditional buttermilk-fried chicken doused in hot sauce. According to legend, Nashville hot chicken started in the 1930s, when the girlfriend of a man named Thornton Prince III got so frustrated with his philandering ways she taught him a lesson by adding cayenne pepper to his fried chicken. Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack was born where you can still get hot chicken today.

Must-trys: Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack, Hattie B’s Hot Chicken

San Francisco, California

Best known for sourdough bread, San Francisco has been having a bit of a love affair with classic Southern food in the past few years. A number of chefs have been opening up eateries featuring good ole’ fashioned comfort food, especially fried chicken. Here you’ll find everything from swanky supper clubs serving up chicken served with mashed potatoes, gravy, and -wait for it- a house-made chive biscuit, to laid back family joints serving chicken and waffles and more.

Must-trys: Frisco Fried, 1300 on Fillmore

Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta takes its soul food seriously and there’s no shortage of restaurants in the city serving up fried chicken. Some have been around for nearly a century; others only a few weeks. But it’s almost impossible to have a bad dish of fried chicken in the city. Granted, as there’s only so much fried chicken you can eat during a stay you’ll want to head to the cafe that’s been dishing it up for more than 70 years, or, if you’re in town on a Wednesday night, the restaurant that only serves fried chicken on that night and often sells out. Get there early.

Must-trys: Busy Bee Cafe, Watershed on Peachtree

fried chicken sandwich

Louisville, Kentucky

Banish the words KFC from your mind. Yes, Kentucky may have introduced much of the world to fried chicken by way of KFC, but that’s not where Louisville locals go when they’re craving some comfort food. For fried chicken the way your grandmother made it (if she was the fried chicken-making type) you want Shirley Mae’s Cafe, whereas locavores will favor Harvest, where all the ingredients are sourced from within 100 miles. Both go well with a weekend of bourbon tasting or a trip to the Churchill Downs.

Must-trys: Harvest, Shirley Mae’s Cafe

New Orleans, Louisiana 

The Crescent City may be best known for chargrilled oysters, beignets, and gumbo but its chefs know how to whip up mean fried chicken too. The city even has an annual fried chicken festival in September. But no matter when you visit New Orleans you’ll find places serving up crispy, spicy battered, Cajun fried chicken and more. Perfect for a day after dancing, drinking and listening to music in the French Quarter.

Must-trys: Willie Mae’s Scotch House, Dooky Chase Restaurant, Willa Jean

New York, New York

The Big Apple may be a world away from the south but that doesn’t mean they don’t know how to do fried chicken right. This is in large part thanks to both southern and international chefs who now call the city home and are leaving their own mark on soul food while creating new twists on the classic. Take, for instance, Virginia native Keedick Coulter who brines his free range birds overnight at the Bobwhite Lunch & Supper Club. One bite of the crispy, flaky, fried chicken and you’ll forget you’re in the middle of a bustling city.

Must-trys: Sylvia’s Lunch Counter, Bobwhite Lunch & Supper Counter

Portland, Oregon

From beer to coffee and everything in between, foodies know that Portland, Oregon is its own type of eater paradise. That reputation extends to fried chicken as well, even if the city is thousands of miles away from the South. Here you’ll find indulgent fried chicken being served up with waffles and on sandwiches piled high with other fried goodies like green tomatoes and more. Fuel up before you spend an afternoon wandering around the city taking in the street art.

Must-trys: Pine State Biscuits, Simpatica

Multiple Cities, Virginia

Rumor has it the first printed U.S. recipe of fried chicken came from Virginia. Today, you’ll find delicious fried chicken options in every part of the state. You’ve heard of chicken and waffles but what about doughnuts and chicken? That’s what you’ll find in the metro Washington, D.C., area, whereas over in Charlottesville you’ll find a traditional fried chicken from a recipe dating back generations. And in Newport News, it’ll be melt off the bones, Korean fried chicken.

Must-trys: Astro Doughnuts and Fried Chicken, Chic N Fish, Wayside Chicken.
 korean fried chicken dish

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The city on Lake Michigan may seem like an odd place to find fried chicken but, trust us, this up and coming travel destination deserves a spot on every foodie travel list. Surrounded by farms, Milwaukee is a locavore’s dream. Chefs have been moving to the city in droves in the past few years, re-shaping the Milwaukee’s food scene and adding some great options for fried chicken. Here you’ll find traditional fried chicken, wings galore, and even Korean BBQ style.

Must-trys: TomKen’s Bar & Grill, Lazy Susan

Into the Badlands in South Dakota

Southwestern South Dakota is home to 244,000 acres of towering tawny pinnacles and buttes overlooking one of America’s largest protected prairielands. Established as a national monument nearly 80 years ago, the wind-ravaged, eroded formations were named “Mako Sica,” or “land bad,” by the Lakota Sioux Native Americans who reside primarily in the Dakotas. Badlands National Park is considered one of the world’s richest deposits of mammal fossil beds, where the remains of ancient carnivores, reptiles, and marine life rest indefinitely in the otherworldly veins of Chadron and Brule rock. Living mammals are in equal abundance – the park is a fountainhead of bison, prairie dogs, pronghorn, endangered black-footed ferret, and more than 200 kinds of bird. Maybe your first experience with the park was on social media, where it inspired the Alt National Park Service, a vocal and rogue defender of environmental protections and conservation under the Trump administration.

Politics aside, the rugged beauty of Badlands National Park transcends discourse and facilitates respect for a history beyond our years. If you’re looking for a summer of unstinted travel, explore these suggested hikes and sights for an emotionally refreshing sojourn.

 

The Door Trail

This facile, one-mile hike takes you into the heart of the Badlands, where dramatic views of ravines and gullies follow you to the edge of the park’s famous “Wall,” and lets you walk through it. A short boardwalk winds along the perimeter to a viewing deck of broken, prepossessing landscape. Continuing past the Door Trail, you’re rewarded with more challenging terrain deep into the canyons and up into the spires of the Badlands. This trail is marked with daffodil-colored posts to keep you on track.

Sunset along the Door Trail, Badlands National Park, South Dakota
Sunset along the Door Trail, Badlands National Park, South Dakota

 

Castle Trail – Medicine Loop

One of the park’s most strenuous hikes, this multi-junctioned looped trail winds through extensive prairie, rolling hills, carved buttes, sod tables, and washes pressed against the north edge of the Badland Wall. It bends southeast to the Medicine Root Trail – Saddle Pass Trail junction, allowing hikers the option of hiking up to eight miles through various landscapes. These trails are best for wildlife viewing, especially at dusk and dawn. These trials offer the most comprehensive views of the park’s topographic features.

Sunrise over Castle Trail, Badlands National Park, South Dakota
Sunrise over Castle Trail, Badlands National Park, South Dakota

 

Fossil Exhibit Trail

For an intimate encounter with the park’s expansive fossil beds and geological anomalies, this brief, well-trafficked boardwalk trail is unparalleled. Although a popular tourist attraction, the trail offers prehistoric remains, wildflower fields, and birding opportunities.

badlands national park
Badlands Exhibition

 

Pinnacle Overlook

A photographer’s paradise, the short walk up to Pinnacles Overlook yields staggering views of the rocky pinnacles, overhangs, and chimneys that compose Badlands National Park. Once you arrive at the overlook, find the observation area below the parking lot along the Badlands Loop Road for views of the park’s most unlikely collection of Rocky Mountain juniper trees. Compression caused by fallen rocks allows the trees to thrive in the dry region. Views of the nearby Black Hills are also visible from Pinnacles on a clear day.

pinnacle overlook badlands south dakota
Pinnacle Overlook, Badlands National Park, South Dakota

 

Mount Rushmore National Monument

If you missed that class field trip to Mount Rushmore, your excursion to the Badlands region is a good excuse to make up for lost time. Located roughly 80 miles from the park, this national monument in South Dakota’s Black Hills is a manmade marvel. Massive carvings of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln rest in the mountain’s granite stone.

mount rushmore black hills south dakota
Mount Rushmore, Black Hills, South Dakota

Lake Baikal: A World of Wonder and Water in Siberia

Mention Siberia and there are immediate thoughts of a kingdom of ice with bone-rattling wind and unrelenting snow. Yet, in this toughest of tough terrains, Lake Baikal, the deepest and oldest lake in the world, is a beautiful contradiction to Siberia’s stereotypes.

Often mistaken for a sea, “the Pearl of Siberia” holds roughly 20 percent of the world’s fresh water, meaning this Russian giant has more water than all of the North American Great Lakes combined.

Surrounded by lofty mountains, mixed forests, and wind-eroded rocks, Lake Baikal has the most transparent water in the world—in some areas of the lake, tourists can see its bottom at a depth of 131 feet. Bigger than Belgium, Haiti, Israel, and Qatar, the banana-shaped lake is home to approximately 1,800 endemic plant and animal species.

lake baikal frozen tourists

At Lake Baikal, the sun shines roughly 317 days a year. So, whether you’re diving underneath its surface to see floating snowflakes, gobsmacking through its 70-degree water in the summertime, or learning about Mongolian Shamanism and Tibetan Buddhism, we think you’ll agree Siberia doesn’t get better than this.

Wander Through Khoboy Cape

The northernmost point of Olkhon, the fourth-largest, lake-bound island in the world, Khoboy Cape resembles a“fang” or “molar” when viewed from Lake Baikal. According to local legend, a dragon flew over the sacred body of water and dropped its fang, which plummeted into the earth like a meteorite and turned into rock. A cataclysmic event, it unleashed a powerful output of astral energy.

cape Khoboy - Olkhon island - Baikal
Morning at Cape Khoboy, Olkhon island, Lake Baikal

Residents claim that they can see the souls of their dead ancestors, their past-life incarnations, and the White Shaman, a famous water ghost that’s believed to bring good fortune.  If you want to ward off things that go bump in the night, locals suggest finding a serghe (a pole that symbolizes the tree of life with colorful ribbons tied around it) and appeasing the spirits by sprinkling it with a White Russian or cow’s milk.

Try Baikal Omul

From pressed omul, that’s made of layers of salt and slightly-fishy, light-gray meat that’s stacked lasagna-style, to sweet omul, that’s spread open on skewers like a flasher in a trench coat—you can’t say you’ve been to Siberia if you haven’t tried Omul. One of the major gastronomic attractions of Lake Baikal, locals love this melt-in-your-mouth fish fried, dried, smoked, baked, grilled, salted, or stuffed.

omal fish lake baikal
Prepared omul (fish)

Usually smoked on wood shavings of alder and aspen until its cellophane skin turns golden, they’ll eat it with and without internals, with and without scales, and even slightly decayed with “an odor”.  To a tourist, the whitefish’s main selling point isn’t its taste but its price—two pounds costs roughly 200 rubles, which is about $3. “[A juicy and delicious fish], you can take it anywhere,” one merchant said. “It’ll basically last forever.”

Hike the Listvyanka-Bolshie Koty Trail

The ever-growing Great Baikal Trail links Listvyanka, a winter wonderland with ice castles, sculptures, and slides, to Bolshiye Koty,  a secluded town where less than 100 people live in cozy log cabins and Buryat-type yurts.  Located in the Pribaikalsky National Park, which covers more than one million acres, the Listvyanka-Bolshie Koty Trail is a 14-mile hike that can be completed within five to eight hours. A world heritage site, its trailhead goes uphill for almost three miles (the most physically challenging part of the course) before descending to the shoreline.

The Great Baikal Trail in the Pribaikalsky National Park
The Great Baikal Trail in Pribaikalsky National Park

A living cathedral of larch and pines, you’ll be able to see Caspian deer, polecats, and nerpas: earless, freshwater seals endemic to Lake Baikal. “There are several stretches where the trail traverses steep cliffs,” says Elena Chubakova, a local ecologist and biologist. “Travelers should be prepared for encounters with Lyme disease-carrying ticks and the moderately venomous snakes that live in this region:  vipers and moccasins.”

Nerpa, a Baikal seal
Nerpa, a Baikal seal

Visit Russia’s Largest Buddhist Temple

Possibly the last person that you’d expect to back the building of a Buddhist Temple was Joseph Stalin—in the 1930s, he launched a campaign to completely eradicate religion— but in 1946, permission came from the Kremlin to erect Ivolginsk Datsan, the epicenter of Russian Buddhism. “I do not understand how it could happen,” Dalai Lama ХIV said, “but this fact has helped me to realize that spirituality is deeply rooted in the human mind, and it is very difficult, if not impossible, to uproot it.”

Ivolginsky datsan monastery lake baikal
Ivolginsky Datsan Monastery (Buddhist Temple)

Nestled in snow-capped mountains, Ivolginsk Datsan is a monastery complex that includes seven temples, monks’ quarters, a museum, a library, a hotel, and even a greenhouse. Before entering Ivolginsk Datsan, pilgrims usually walk around it clockwise, placing coins in collection boxes, listening to prayer drums, and spinning mounted prayer wheels. At 9 a.m., they flock to the main temple, Sogchen. A riot of color with dragons spiraling up columns and painted tigers leaping from its walls, it holds more than a thousand Buddhas. It’s also home to a number of national treasures: including a rare collection of Tibetan Buddhist silk manuscripts, a holy Bodskhva tree, and the preserved body of the 12th Khambo Lama, Dashi-Dorzhi Itigelov.

shaman totems Burhan Cape Baikal Lake
Wooden shaman totems at Burhan Cape, Lake Baikal

Believed to be the reincarnation of the first Khambo Lama, Itigelov was exhumed in 2002. Though he died in 1927 at the age of 75, he was found sitting in lotus position, miraculously preserved as if he only died yesterday. Dressed in bright orange and gold robes, many locals believe that his body has healing powers. They press their foreheads near his scarf, leaving their crutches and wheelchairs behind as signs of healing.

Explore Frozen Lake Baikal

From late-January to late-April, Lake Baikal sleeps under five feet of ice. Its ice is crystal-clear and sprinkled with sparkling blue or blindingly white air bubbles. As mammoth blocks of ice form on its surface, the legendary Siberian lake becomes like a prehistoric beast who’s fallen asleep but from time to time sighs, emitting sounds that are reminiscent of thunder.

While it’s uneven and covered in two-to-three mile-wide cracks, it’s still possible to tame Lake Baikal. You can dive beneath its surface for an opportunity to see underwater winter architecture. You can also play a round of ice golf, participate in the world’s only ice marathon, or race an ice boat—driven by sarma, the coldest and the strongest winds in Baikal region, motorless boats are attached to skates, speeding up to 62 miles per hour.

 

Get Lost in the Magical Beauty of the Faroe Islands

Halfway between Norway and Iceland lie the magical Faroe Islands, where cliffs rise up from the sea, fog gives way to rolling green landscapes, and tiny villages seem to appear out of nowhere. This is a place you need to witness to truly realize its beauty.

With its location in the North Atlantic, the 18 volcanic islands that make up the Faroe Islands archipelago can feel incredibly remote and yet they’re a short flight from the United Kingdom. Less than 50,000 people call the islands home, the majority of whom live on the island of Streymoy. And while you’ll encounter more sheep than people in many spots, the bridges and tunnels that connect most of the islands make them easy to explore. Plan to spend a few days at the end of a European vacation wandering about the islands or make them your whole destination and spend a week hiking, dining, and sightseeing.

færøerne: koltur
The island of Koltur | Photo: Jacob Eskildsen via Visit Faroe Islands
Village on the Faroe Islands | Photo: Daniele Casanova via Visit Faroe Islands
Village on the Faroe Islands | Photo: Daniele Casanova via Visit Faroe Islands

Adventure

Adrenaline seekers can spend their days on the Faroe Islands biking, diving, and fishing. There are opportunities to fly fish as well as go deep-sea fishing, where you can try your hand at catching cod, halibut, and even shark. Diving tours offer the chance to immerse yourself in the seabed fauna; just plan a trip for the winter when visibility is better if diving is the main focus of your vacation. Biking is becoming one of the best ways to explore the islands and cyclists will appreciate the accessibility of the roads and bike trails.

faroe islands
Photo: Gabriel Nivera via Visit Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands
Photo: Sergio Villalba via Visit Faroe Islands

Hiking & Birdwatching

For those that want to take a break from the sports while still being outside, the Faroe Islands are full of hiking spots. You’ll feel as though you’re walking through middle earth as you hike up to the waterfall of Múlafossu or climb to Slættaratindur, the highest peak on the islands. While you stand in awe of the landscape, make sure to spend a few minutes paying attention to the various species of birds. Birdwatching is one of the most popular pastimes on the Faroe Islands and no trip is complete without a visit to the island of Mykines where you can get up close and personal with puffins.

Faroe Islands
Photo: Gabriel Nivera via Visit Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands
Group of puffins | Photo: Absalon Hansen via Visit Faroe Islands

Dining & Shopping

Foodies know Faroe Islands cuisine even if they don’t think they do. In the past few years, Leif Sorensen has made Nordic food mainstream in the United States and you’ll see similarities on the Faroe Islands. Expect many dishes to center around seafood as at any given time you’re only three miles from the ocean. Other traditional Faroe Islands cuisine you should try includes fermented lamb, blood sausage, and stewed vegetables. Ask one of the locals, who all tend to be very friendly, for their recommended spots.  After getting your fill of local food there’s plenty of shopping to be done, especially near the capital, where you’ll find art galleries where local artisans have captured the beauty of the islands. Save room in your suitcase.

Faroe Islands
Photo: Høgni Heinesen via Visit Faroe Islands

Sightseeing

Around every bend is something to see on the Faroe Islands. Walk up to the Kallur Lighthouse or explore the ruined Fort Skansin to take in the medieval center of the Faroe Islands home to stone houses and St Olav’s Church built in 1111. Keep your itinerary lose and you’ll discover something new at every turn and return from your vacation with memories of a place unlike any other.

Leitisvatn
Leitisvatn | Photo: Hans Juul Hansen on Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Faroe Islands
Photo: Christoffer Collin via Visit Faroe Islands

Featured image: TJØRNUVÍK via Visit Faroe Islands

Dive the World’s Most Stunning Caves

Pitch black. Trapped. Tethered by a thread. Cave diving is a physically demanding sport with considerable risks. For this reason, people believe that cave divers have to register the cold scorch of fear every now and then in order to feel truly alive.

For most underwater explorers, however, cave diving has little to do with an adrenaline rush. There are many reasons why people would want to journey through the deepest and darkest paths of the underworld. While few animals can actually survive inside underwater caves, the ones that can tend to look more like animals plucked from the pages of science fiction novels. The caves are also otherworldly scattered with water-worn rocks that look like they’ve been placed in front of carnival mirrors.

cave diving

Underwater caves are living history – places that few get to experience. Extremely technical, requiring a level of underwater proficiency and control much greater than most other forms of diving, when you emerge from the darkness, from the unknown, you feel fulfilled and are ready to “just keep swimming”—no matter what life throws your way. There are hundreds of thousands of underwater caves in the world, and we’ve rounded up five of our favorite. Get ready to swim, scuba dive, and spelunk—if you dare.

 

Bubble Cave – Maui, Hawaii

One of the Hawaiian Islands’ most unique diving destinations, Turtle Town—a sanctuary for Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles, considered guardian spirits by some ancient Kanaka Maoli—is sometimes referred to as five caves, sometimes as five graves. Its Bubble Cave is located on a small, semi-protected rock cove off Makena Road. “You’ll walk by a small graveyard (with seven graves that we counted and probably more in the faint lava rock outlines),” says Andrew Doughty, the author of Maui Revealed: The Ultimate Guidebook.

Once you reach the shoreline you’ll see the entry point: two rocky fingers. Missed by most divers on their first attempt, the Bubble Cave’s opening is low and wide at a depth of about 15-20 feet right along the shoreline. An ancient lava tube, it extends 50 feet back and ends in a large cave that holds roughly five divers.  “[The Bubble Cave’s] air pocket…is sealed, and the ocean’s surge constantly changes the pressure, causing your ears to flux and cloud of pressure-induced haze to form and dissolve instantly with every surge. Real cool.” A non-technical dive—where you don’t have to worry about decompression issues or narcosis—its in relatively shallow water, less than 40 feet deep. So, you’ll be able to encounter spotted moray eels, frogfish, white tip sharks, puffers, and octopus.

 

Piccaninnie Blue Lake – Wye, Australia

Piccaninnie Blue Lake, affectionately called “Pics”, is a freshwater marvel unlike any other in Australia. Created by erosion, it’s fresh, crystal clear, and cool—almost always 58°F.  Designated as a Ramsar site on December 21, 2012, it supports a number of nationally threatened species, from the orange-bellied parrot to the Australasian bittern. Every year more than 20,000 people visit this nature reserve to snorkel at the Chasm: a 115 foot-deep walled underwater canyon that continues on into a very narrow restriction at the bottom called the ‘Cork Screw’.

Underwater explorers prefer the Cathedral, a monolithic underwater chamber with pure white, scalloped limestone walls. A mecca for divers, you can literally look 90 feet down and see the clouds in the blue sky above. Though, you’ll want to dive before monsoon season, which generally lasts from December to March, because rain causes sediment runoff that affects visibility. After a series of non-qualified diver deaths, you’ll also need a permit to book your one-hour time slot.

 

Emergence Du Ressel – Marcilhac-sur-Célé, France

One of the primer cave diving locations in the world, France has over 20,000 underwater caves. Starting in the bed of the River Céle,  the Emergence Du Ressel  (Emergence of Ressel) is its most famous cave and a reference in the world of cave diving. Nearly 500 feet in length, the cave splits into two tunnels with a cross-section that’s at least the size of a double-door garage.  The first tunnel stays shallow at 32 feet while the second tunnel drops repeatedly to a depth of around 60 feet. Roughly 1,000 feet from the entrance, the two passages rejoin—making an almost 5-mile round trip—and then impressively plummet 150 feet. While water flow decreases and visibility increases, the dive becomes increasing technical and the water hovers at only 54°F. The whole trip is a serious expedition that’s only been made by a few people. Even if you can’t complete the five to six-hour dive, on your return trip you’ll be welcomed by a beautiful green light at the cave’s entrance.

 

Cenotes Dos Ojos – Quintana Roo, Mexico

One of the most extravagant diving sites in the Yucatan peninsula, the Cenotes Dos Ojos (meaning “two eyes”) is made up of two 230-feet sinkholes connected by a 1,300-foot passageway—the world’s deepest underwater cave passage.  Discovered in 1986, the Cenotes Dos Ojos is part of the world’s largest underwater cave system and is the Riviera Maya’s most filmed and photographed cave. A cavern full of crystal clear water and glittering stalactites where the light plays hide-and-seek and the temperature is a toasty 77°F, the Cenotes Dos Ojos has achieved cult status. One of its most interesting features is its pools of air that resemble puddles of mercury. Though, it does have a dark-side: a 10,000-year-old, pitch black bat cave that was once used by Mayans for ritual human sacrifices.

 

Merritt’s Mill Pond – Marianna, Florida

Wedged between rocky slopes, beds of eelgrass, and moss-draped cypress trees, Merritt’s Mill Pond has turquoise waters, making it a waterway unlike any other in Florida. It may have produced state and world-record breaking redear sunfish, but the four-mile, man-made lake is also a cave diver’s paradise that’s popular with underwater explorers because it’s open 24/7, year round. Located just east of Marianna, it’s fed by the Jackson Blue: a limestone cave close to 5,000 feet in length that many divers consider the most beautiful cave they’ve ever seen.  Low-flow, it still pumps out roughly seven-million gallons of water per day.

Roughly 500 yards from it are the Twin Caves that have a 60-foot opening called the “Subway Tunnel.” Accessible only by boat, its first jump is claustrophobic and only recommended for divers with good buoyancy while the second can easily be silted out.

Three hundred yards from the Twin Caves is the “Hole in the Wall”.  After dropping 80 feet from a large chimney, you’ll find two caves—one upstream, one downstream. In the winter, it’s usually submerged underwater. The Hole in the Wall is also home to Georgia blind salamanders and Dougherty Plain cave crayfish. Merritt’s Mill Pond has four other caves: Shangri-la (Sidemount), Indian Wash Tub, Gator Hole, and Hidey Hole.

Take a Roadtrip Through Magical Scotland

All the ingredients for a dreamy getaway are in Scotland. For its size, roughly that of South Carolina, it packs a wallop. There’s history at every turn, bustling modern metropolises, breathtaking open spaces, and so many more treasures.

Don’t try to cramp too many sights into one visit. You could spend a month traveling throughout the country and still feel like there’s more to see. Instead, spend some time savoring Scotland’s biggest city before hitting the open road to explore one of the country’s famous national parks and one of its mystical islands. Fly into Glasgow in the spring or fall for the best weather and get ready for fairytale vacation. Here’s our guide to a Scotland road tip that you could do in a long-weekend or stretch out over the course of a week.

Days 1-3: Start Your Scotland Getaway in Glasgow

Handsome old Victorian buildings, stylish bars, amazing whiskey. It’s no wonder Glasgow made The New York Times “52 Places to Go in 2018” list. Fly into Scotland’s largest city and, depending on the length of your stay, plan to spend two to three days exploring.

glasgow scotland
Glasgow, Scotland

Wander up and down Byres Road, popping in and out of the various boutiques. If museums are your thing, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in the West End is not only free but full of more than 8,000 works housed in gorgeous buildings. The stunning architecture will almost make you forget to look at the art. And then there’s the whiskey. It would be hard to visit Scotland without having at least one glass. Take a whiskey walking tour of Glasgow or create one of your own at one of the city’s pubs, almost all of which will have whiskeys from across the country.

Days 3-4: Get Familiar With One of Scotland’s Many Lochs

After a couple of days in the city it’ll be time to get in touch with Scotland’s stunning nature. Roughly an hour from Glasgow lies Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. Loch Lomond is the largest freshwater lake in all of Scotland and together with the Trossachs National Park covers more than 700 square miles.

loch lomand scotland
Two Highland calves chilling out in Loch Archay in Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.

Depending on how in touch with nature you want to get you could spend anywhere from an hour, on one of the shorter trails, to a full day, that even includes a night of camping in the park. If you prefer a nice cozy bed to a tent, stay at the Queen of the Loch Hotel in the Loch Lomond Shores area which is home to many shops and restaurants. For Instagram-worthy snaps of the Loch Lomond area, visit the pier on the loch near the Village of Luss. After marveling at the loch, walk around the village full of adorable stone cottages. If you only do one thing in the area, though, make a tour of the loch on the water; there are kayak rentals and also boat cruises that will take you by the islands within the loch.

Days 4-6: Indulge in Delicious Seafood While Exploring the Isles

After a day or two of Scotland outdoor adventures get back on the road for a 90-minute drive north to Oban. Climb McCaig’s Tower to take in views of the bays and Scottish isles before touring Oban Distillery, which dates back to 1794. They offer several types of tours, including a basic which includes a tour of a distillery, tasting, and an overview of the whiskey making process.

After your tours, indulge in seafood. Oban has a long history as a fishing village and is known as Scotland’s seafood capital. Almost every restaurant will have delicious seafood dishes. Walk up and down the small village (it’s all accessible on foot) and pick the one you want.

McCaig's Tower in Oban, Scotland
McCaig’s Tower in Oban, Scotland

Oban is a great base for exploring the surrounding area and taking in the views of the castles that seem to spring up out of nowhere. After a night in Oban, take a ferry to the Isle of Mull. The Scottish isle is full of history. It’s been inhabited since the Ice Age, there’s plenty of wildlife to see, including whale watching tours, and there are even golf courses and basket willow weaving courses. You’ll leave Scotland already planning you’re next trip back.

 

 

Isle of Mull, Scotland
Isle of Mull, Scotland

*Featured image at top: Carsaig Arches rocks formation captured from inside cave, Isle of Mull, Scotland

7 U.S. Places to See the Aurora Borealis

Flashes of green, purple, and yellow light up the night sky as you stare in awe, immune to the cold. Experiencing the majesty of the Northern Lights first hand is one of those things that should be on everyone’s bucket list, but don’t think that seeing the Aurora Borealis in person requires a flight to Europe. While the views in Norway, Sweden, and Iceland are no doubt unbelievable there are incredible spots to watch the Northern Lights in the U.S. From Alaska to Maine here are seven of the top U.S. locations to take in the Aurora Borealis.

 

Fairbanks, Alaska

Alaska is without a doubt the U.S. locale with the most options for Northern Lights viewing. And in Fairbanks, you have a shot at seeing the Aurora Borealis almost any time of year thanks to Fairbanks’ location within the Auroral Oval, the huge ring around the Earth’s Geomagnetic North Pole, above which the Northern Lights display. Whether you want to camp out under the lights or rest your head in a boutique hotel you’ll find plenty of options in Fairbanks as well as enough other activities from outdoor sports to shopping to eating to make a visit a weeklong vacation.

Photo: Aaron Hockly on Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
Photo: Aaron Hockley on Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

 

Acadia National Park, Maine

New England might not be top of mind when you think of places to see the Northern Lights but there are actually a few spots in Maine where views of the Aurora Borealis are truly breathtaking, if your timing is right. Heading to Acadia National Park is the easiest; there’s little light pollution and the town of Bar Harbor is only a few miles away meaning there are plenty of places to rest your head at night that don’t involve camping in freezing weather. All you need a clear night, moonless night, and it helps if there is a solar flare occurring.

acadia national park
Photo: Mike Lewinski on Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

 

Idaho Panhandle National Forest, Idaho

You’ll need to bundle up for one of the most extraordinary views of the Northern Lights in the U.S. The Idaho Panhandle National Forests contain three forests stretching out 3,220,000 acres across three states. In Idaho the forests border with Canada and it’s there you want to head to Priest Lake where two campsites on Bartoo and Kalispell Islands (accessible only by boat) are two of the most remote places to see the Northern Lights in the U.S. The campsites accommodate only 10 to 30 people so make your reservations well in advance.

 

 

Cherry Springs State Park, Pennsylvania

If you’re thinking Pennsylvania is way too far south to see the Northern Lights, you’d be correct most of the time. However, roughly every 11 years, it’s possible to see the Northern Lights much further south as the magnetic poles of the sun switch places. Cherry Springs State Park is on the low end of visibility right now with the height around 2012 but give it a few years and the views will be spectacular.

Upper Peninsula, Michigan

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has something for every type of Northern Light seeker. City dwellers should head to Marquette where nestled along Lake Superior the area’s largest city offers plenty to do during the day while at night lower night pollution and miles of public coastline make it an ideal place to see the lights. Slightly more remote, the Keweenaw Peninsula, also along Lake Superior, has plenty of activities including dog sledding, hiking, and camping for adrenaline seekers looking to combine a vacation with a chance of seeing the Northern Lights.

Photo: NOAA Photo Library on Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
Photo: NOAA Photo Library on Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

 

Cook County, Minnesota

On the other side of Lake Superior, Minnesota’s Cook County offers the chance to see the Northern Lights anytime of year thanks to the area’s northern location and dark skies. For the best viewing, though, plan a trip in the fall or winter, rent one of the many cabins along the lake, spend your days exploring the artsy, harbor town of Grand Marais or enjoy outdoor activities like snowshoeing and at night watch the skies and be patient.

Photo: Jason Carpenter on Flickr (
Photo: Jason Carpenter on Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

 

Pawnee National Grassland, Colorado

Roughly two hours outside of Denver, Pawnee National Grassland’s vast wide open spaces and little light pollution make it a good place to see the Northern Lights, if you’re there at the right time. Similar to Cherry Hill State Park, Northern Light viewing peaks roughly every 11 years at Colorado’s Pawnee National Grassland. The last big years were 2013 and 2014 so you’ll want a wait a bit to plan a trip.

Photo: Bryce Bradford on Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Photo: Bryce Bradford on Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

The World’s Most Beautiful Libraries

When was the last time you stepped into a library and enjoyed a view other than simple rows of books and desks perfect for hours of research? Since the 17th and 18th centuries, libraries have been built to hold the most treasured volumes and historical texts, and were historically designed to welcome aristocrats and scholars. Due to their high place on the societal ladder, many were built fit for kings, and around the world a few of these architectural masterpieces can still be enjoyed today.

A picture is worth a thousand words, but the world’s most beautiful libraries may leave you speechless. This is only a small sample from a much larger pool. Most are centuries old, one on this list is very new, and all are breathtaking.

1. Admont Abbey Library in Admont, Austria


Who has always wanted to visit the library from Beauty and The Beast? The largest monastery library in the world so closely resembles Disney’s portrayal that it has earned a reputation as the “real-life” version.

Built in the 1770s, the Abbey’s library hall was designed in dedication to wisdom and reason. If you ever have the opportunity to visit, take a break from perusing the 70,000 books stored along the three bright chambers (and the sculptures along the way) to look up: Seven cupola frescoes (watercolor artwork on the ceilings) are completely dedicated to the Enlightenment Era and depict the course of human knowledge from the beginning of time to Divine Revelation.

2. The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.


The library with the second largest collection in the world (over 158 million items in over 460 languages) is located in none other than our very own Washington, D.C. The global resource as we know it today was influenced by Thomas Jefferson, who believed in the importance of all resources (regardless of origin or language). Located in the aptly named Thomas Jefferson building, the interior design elaborately reflects the American Renaissance period.
Library of Congress

3. Bodleian Library in Oxford, UK

Courtyard of the Bodleian Library, Oxford
This academic library is so beautiful that Hollywood seems to snatch each opportunity to film there. You may recognize various locations in three of the Harry Potter movies, as well as the beginning of The Golden Compass, in addition to other films. Serving as the main knowledge base at the University of Oxford, this English Gothic treasure is the second largest library in England.

Bodleian Library - Oxford 2015

4. The Royal Portuguese Reading Room in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil


The dramatic architecture and 19th century neo-Manueline styles of this reading room is a feast for the eyes that may make your jaw drop. Light filtering through a stained-glass ceiling and a wrought-iron chandelier illuminate the panoramic floor-to-ceiling of books, artwork, and sculptures (that reflect the Portuguese Age of Discoveries). Started by Portuguese immigrants in Brazil, it was given the title of Royal Portuguese Reading Room by Portugal’s King Manuel II in 1906.

5. Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Alexandria, Egypt


This location is the youngest library on this list (having opened in 2002) but stands as a living memory of the first library in Alexandria, which was one of the most notable in ancient history where scientists and thinkers once met. The new contemporary-styled building is a slanted disc on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Outside, the curved wall is inscribed with calligraphy, and above, the roof is speckled in skylights so natural light can filter through.
Bibliotheca Alexandrina (2007-05-030)

6. George Peabody Library at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD

George Peabody Library
Would you love to get married inside a library? If the answer is yes, check out this American 19th-century library in Baltimore, which is so beautiful that it is regularly scheduled as an event venue in addition to acting as a traditional research facility. Here you will find six levels in cast-iron and gold-leaf, reaching a height of 61 feet from the marble floor.
George Peabody Library

7. Biblioteca Joanina in Coimbra, Portugal

biblioteca-joanina-coimbra1_580x458.shkl

From the pictures, you may expect this to be the private reading room of a noble family instead of a resource for a university. The three grand reading rooms (each dedicated to specific subjects) are lined with beautifully ornate wooden bookshelves and separated by narrow hallways containing the institution’s coat of arms. Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful libraries in the world, the Baroque architecture adds an element of mystery. Or perhaps that feeling is due to the academic prison below the main level, where historically the university rule-breakers were confined.

_BRK1217

 

Travel Hack: Tips to Eat Healthy at the Airport

The struggle to find something, anything, healthy to eat at the airport is all too real. Whether you had to leave for your flight so early that there was no way you could stomach anything besides coffee or you disembarked from the first leg of your journey starving with a three-hour layover, there’s nothing like airport food to make eating healthy feel like an insurmountable challenge. Yet, while traveling it’s almost more important than normal to stay hydrated and eat well. It helps you feel better physically while en route and when you arrive at your destination.

To crack the code of eating healthy at the airport we spoke to flight attendants from Hawaiian Airlines, Travel Guidebook author James Kaise, Director of the Nutrition and Weight Management Center at the Boston Medical Center, Dr. Caroline Apovian, and Certified Health & Nutrition Coach Caryn O’Sullivan. Here are their tips and go-tos.

 

Before You Go To The Airport

With a little planning you can sidestep the challenge of eating healthy while traveling. Apovian and the Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants recommend bringing food along whenever possible. Apovian suggested fresh fruit and nuts and a low sugar protein bar with plenty of fiber. If you want to hack your breakfast, the frequent traveler flight attendants said to pack a ziploc bag with dried oatmeal, nuts, and berries that you can add hot water to for a ready-made breakfast. And don’t forget a piece of dark chocolate to compliment a cup of coffee during mid-flight.

packed lunch sandwich

At The Airport

Sometimes you’re just going to have to buy something at the airport. If you know you’ll be in that situation try to find out what your dining options are at the airport ahead of time and check out the nutritional information. Avoid anything with lots of added sugars or a low calorie snack that doesn’t have much protein. Kaiser, while not a vegetarian, tends to avoid meat at airports as it forces him to find meals with more vegetables.

dubai airport restaurants

Look For

Look for things that contain healthy fats and proteins. You want to choose foods that won’t leave you hungry.Think Greek yogurt, string cheese, hummus cups, salads with hard boiled eggs, or grilled chicken.  At some of the more popular fast food restaurants opt for items like an egg white veggie wrap, spinach and feta wraps, and turkey sandwiches. And don’t forget to stay hydrated. O’Sullivan recommends consuming fresh juices and smoothies as they will help keep you hydrated and alert on the go. The fruit can also help you ward of jet lag. Just be cautious and try to choose vegetable and fruit smoothie combinations, as all-fruit smoothies contain a lot of sugar.