Festooned with giant Douglas-fir, Sitka Spruce and Western Red cedar trees, it seems only fitting that Vancouver's Stanley Park is one of the largest urban parks in the world. Each year over eight million visitors come to Stanley Park to be explore over 200 km of trails webbed between the forested area. Located only minutes from downtown Vancouver, Stanley Park has something for everyone. A seawall runs almost 14 miles around the park perimeter, which is popular with walkers, joggers and cyclists, especially in the summer. Spanning from Canada Place in downtown Vancouver, through Stanley Park, around English Bay Beach and False Creek, the Stanley Park seawall is actually apart of the world's longest uninterrupted waterfront walkway. A walk along the Stanley Park Seawall is ...
Rising high above the River Thames, and set against iconic architecture that has stood for centuries, the London Eye has provided spectacular panoramic views of London for over a decade. With 3.5 million riders boarding its thirty-two capsules annually, “The Eye” has established itself as the UK’s most popular paid tourist attraction. Situated in Jubilee Park in the South Bank area, the London Eye Ferris Wheel was built as part of London's millennium celebrations. Truly European in construction, the London Eye used mechanical contributions from six countries. Electrical components came from the UK, as was the steel (although it was fabricated in The Netherlands). The cables and glass came from Italy; bearings from Germany; spindle and hub were cast in the Czech Republic; and the ...
Champagne region, specifically Épernay, France is beautiful. A pleasant break from Paris, you can see for miles around, without having your view obscured by a myriad buildings. The main draw, of course, is the Champagne. Drinking Champagne in Épernay is simply something one must do when in France. France is the birthplace of Champagne and Benedictine monk Dom Perignon. Quoted as saying “Come quickly, I'm drinking stars!,” when he first tasted Champagne, Dom Perignon is immortalized in the prestigious cuvée of Moët and Chandon for his advancements to the Champagne making process. Épernay rivals Reims as the center for Champagne production in France. Travelers looking to taste stars and learn the origins of this drink synonymous with celebration and luxury, need only drive an hour ...
Far removed from the bustle of Denpasar and the beach parties of Kuta, the volcano Mount Batur sits in northern Bali, large and looming, and tempting travelers to conquer its steep slopes. Mount Batur is home to the popular “sunrise climb” – an early morning trek that brings you to the volcano’s summit just in time to watch the first few rays of sunshine slip over the horizon. It’s an intermediate-level hike, and doesn’t require anything more than some decent stamina and a pair of sturdy hiking boots. The Mount Batur sunrise climb to the top starts at 3:30 am when, in the darkness of night, guided only by flashlight, you begin the ascent. It starts easy enough along a dirt path, but quickly turns ...
As the bow of the river boat cuts gently through the water, you might have a hard time placing that those waters are actually that of the largest, most feral waterway in the world, The Amazon River. Locked between the Ucayali River and the Maranon River, the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve forms the mouth of the Amazon River. As one of the largest protected areas in Peru, Pacaya Samiria National Reserve cradles abundant eco-diversity in its lush rainforest canopy. One of the biggest lures of an Amazon River cruise, aside from the convenience of a mobile luxury location amidst wilderness, is the wildlife. Spanning over 6,475,000 sq. km, the Amazon Basin represents 54% of all remaining rainforest on the planet. Although it is sparsely populated ...
The Citadel in Cairo, Egypt was built by military genius Saladin, a man who retook the Holy Land from the Crusaders, as a means to protect and unite the cities of Cairo and Fustat. Saladin planned to build a massive wall around the two cities, using the Citadel as its centerpiece, but was unable to complete it before he died in Syria in 1193 A.D. The huge wall was ultimately finished in 1238 A.D. with the Cairo Citadel prominently set on Muqattam Hill, overlooking the city. Saladin knew the hill was a great strategic location as it offered a commanding vantage point of the surrounding area, but it was also endowed with another powerful gift, wind. It was here, long before the wall or the ...
The seaside temple of Pura Tanah Lot is probably the most famous and most photographed place in Bali. Every hotel offers sunset tours out to the temple, and every visitor has seen photos of it before they’ve even visited. There’s really only one reason for its iconic status: it’s beautiful. Of course, such a popular tourist attraction is bound to fall victim to commercialization, and at Tanah Lot, a flea market of vendors and warung (food stalls) greets you as soon as you enter the property. It’s a bit jarring at first to hear the calls of salespeople and to see the swarms of tourists, especially when you consider that Pura Tanah Lot is one of the most sacred Hindu temples in the country. But ...
Roughly 200 years ago a group of geniuses decided it would be fun to chase a wheel of cheese down the steepest hill they could find. Although there is no concrete information describing how this tumble derby began, or why the Double Gloucester wheel of cheese is its coveted prize, one thing is for sure, the Cooper's Hill Cheese Rolling Festival is one of the UK's most anticipated annual events. Before the rest of the world discovered the Brit's idea of fun it was attended only by locals, but over the years the popularity of Gloucestershire's cheese rolling has grown immensely and now attracts crazy cheese chasers from around the world. Every May long weekend a bunch of people (drunk, crazy... most likely both) take ...
The outdoor gallery of Caminito Street, Buenos Aires is an area reminiscent of the Italian city of Genoa, from which much of the population emigrated, with its brightly painted buildings. The La Boca barrio (neighbourhood) in which Caminito Street is nestled, emits a certain European air, as the people of Caminito have transformed it by brightening the housing projects and surrounding area with vivid colors, splashes of pastel, and other artworks all their own. The Caminito Street outdoor gallery is owned by the residents who created it and continue to develop the 100-meter-long street, named in homage to the popular 1926 tango song of Penalosa and Filiberto. Gentle colors of red, yellow and green wrap the buildings around Caminito Street, and the Tango is openly ...
Hong Kong is one of the world’s most vibrant cities, and for the uninitiated can seem overwhelming. The crush of crowds in Causeway Bay, the polished skyscrapers in Central, the local eateries where servers rush to and fro shouting in Cantonese, the never-ending rush to shop, shop, shop – it all begins to blur a little after a day or two of sightseeing. One excellent way to enjoy local culture and experience a moment of serenity in the middle of the city is to take the Star Ferry across Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour in the evening. One of the city's icons, the Star Ferry ride is cheap, has local flair, and offers a great view of the Hong Kong skyline and harbur front illuminated at ...
