The toboggans are lined up and released in groups of four or five. The road ahead is a smooth metallic ride of twists and turns with occasional straights for momentum gaining speed. The air is crisp, the view is hilly and like any downward ride, the end comes about way too quickly and you just want to go back up and go again. The difference is, there is no snow capped peaks or even ski resort landscape, in fact the location is China and I am tobogganing down the Great Wall. Well not literally, but close enough. The Mutianyu Great Wall crosses the mountain ridges connecting Juyongguan Pass to the west and Gubeikou to the east. It is located in the Huairou County northeast of ...
Every national park needs a crown jewel. Hawaii's Volcanoes National Park has it's red-ruby Kilauea Volcano, Malaysia's Kinabalu National Park has it's green-emerald Mount Kinabalu, and Taiwan's Yushan National Park is beautified by it's lofty Jade Mountain, so named because of her snow-capped peak which glistens in the sun like white-jade. Many of us picture high-rises and concrete madness when we think of Taiwan. After all, it made its place on the world scene in the 1990's as one of the "Four Asian Tigers." But with over 79,000,000 acres of Taiwan's landmass set aside and preserved as National Parks, this Asian province is as much a mecca for campers, hikers, adventure trekkers and nature lovers as it is for world-class business men. One of Taiwan's ...
The Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming, best known from Steven Spielberg’s 1977 hit UFO movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind, is becoming an increasingly popular destination with mountain climbers as they descend on the area to ascend a challenging icon. Each year hundreds of climbers scale its almost perpendicular rock walls in an attempt to reach the pinnacle of the column. A stunning 360-degree view of the western side of the Black Hills awaits those up to the test. It’s not for everyone though, especially as American Indian legend has it that a mighty bear couldn’t reach its prey at the top. Several Native American tribes hold the Devils Tower National Monument as sacred, still performing various ceremonies on location each year. The ...
Depending on whom you ask, there are 54 “fourteeners” (mountains over 14,000 ft. above sea level) in the state of Colorado. This constitutes the densest collection in North America. These mountains have become an obsession for peak baggers the world over, making the centennial state a premier destination for those looking to lace up their hiking boots and set out for a stroll toward the sky. Rising a mere 14,115 ft., Pikes Peak is ranked 31st and has risen above its peers to become the most visited mountain in North America; and the second in the world behind Japan’s Mt. Fuji. Either by train, automobile, or on foot, over half a million visitors find their way to the summit house annually. Ten miles west of ...
The terms "mountain biking" and "Moab" are almost synonymous, and it's difficult picturing the one without the other. This wasn’t always the case in the Utah city of Moab, in Grand County, U.S., which is now known for its adventurous mountain biking trails. It's only in the last couple of decades that the western U.S. city of Moab has become such a hotbed for outdoor enthusiasts. Quickly becoming one of the best mountain biking areas in the world, Moab offers more the just incredible off roading, it puts visitors right in the middle of beautiful red rock mesas and buttes. Comprised of versatile terrain that spans the likes of Arches and Canyonland National Parks, it's not hard to see why Moab has become so popular ...
One of the most amazing experiences during a journey across the east coast of Australia—is going to Fraser Island. It is a World Heritage site 120 km long and 24 km wide, making it the largest sand island in the world. Its name comes from Eliza Fraser and her husband, Captain James Fraser, who were shipwrecked on the Island in 1836. Fraser Island consists of rain forests, swamps and sand dunes, making it accessible by 4WD only. Although Fraser Island 4WD can be expensive, it’s well worth it if you can afford it. You can get to the Fraser Island via a ferry from Hervey Bay, and upon arrival you will be blown away almost immediately by the scenery. Driving through a small but luscious ...
One of the most notable Brazilian exports to have taken root globally is the martial art/dance tradition of Capoeira. Organized into academies like Karate or Tae Kwon Do, Capoeira schools are peppered throughout Europe and the U.S. For many people, Capoeira dance is their first introduction to Brazilian culture. Increasingly, many of them decide to make a pilgrimage to Salvador de Bahia in Brazil, considered by many to be the cradle of the art. The story goes that during slave times the African and indigenous slaves were forbidden to fight or organize. Cleverly, they masked their battle practice as an African tribal dance. The overlords were happy that the slaves were pacified, and their slaves stayed fit and ready to resist when the opportunity arose. ...
Kong Lo Cave in central Laos is set in the remote wilderness of Phu Hin Bun, creating a naturally dramatic background for this eerily spectacular place. The Nam Hin Bun river flows through the 7.5 km cave where only small boats can travel for tourism in addition to transporting locals and small goods. In some places, the Laos Kong Lo Cave is up to 100 meters high, and the most confusing part of this caving experience is wondering how to get started, and where to pay your fare. When you arrive, there will be several boys and men sitting around chatting. They are your guides, and few, if any, speak English. Money is an international language, so once you have paid whomever may be sitting ...
Found on the border of the twin cities—Niagara Falls Ontario, and Niagara Falls New York—the Falls has fascinated all who have witnessed it. Although there have been many documents suggesting who discovered Niagara Falls, the bottom line is, the only thing they deserve credit for is writing about it in their journal and giving themselves a pat on the back. The Niagara Falls we see today started forming itself over 10,000 years ago (meaning lots of time for people other than the Europeans to "discover" it). Over these thousands of years, Niagara Falls has been moving ever so slowly. It's believed to have started approximately six miles down river, where currently the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge connects the U.S and Canada. Each year the Falls recede roughly ...
