Poperinge, a quiet little town a short drive from the Channel Ports, 175km from Brussels, is Belgium’s hops capital, and famously linked to WW1’s British war effort – it was well known to Allied soldiers who fought in the Ypres Salient. Other than its war memorials, the town also draws tourists for it’s Hops Festival each September.
The historical town square, surrounded by neo-Gothic mansions, has an assortment of taverns serving local brews and creative …
The world is full of beautiful beaches, but some places are better than others to spend your vacation. Think about what you really want to do on that trip before deciding where to go. You will find more to do than lying by the ocean at the best beach destinations.
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Perfect blue water, white sand and beach beds (not just chairs) everywhere. It’s hard to match Punta Cana. There are many …
The rivers and canals of Europe are open for travel. As many as 20,000 total miles of inland waterways let travelers absorb European culture at a relaxed, leisurely and up-close pace. The waterways of Austria, The Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal, Russia and others now have many options to meet the growing demand for river cruising.
No longer an obscure way to see old Europe, travel by river is …
It’s always the weird sights that grab my attention on holiday.
While other tourists are admiring a gaudy temple in Ho Chi Mihn City, I’m fascinated by a frog.
He’s supposed to be compliantly waiting for death in a metal bowl in a pavement market. But this is Adventure Frog. He suddenly springs clean out of the bowl and starts hopping for freedom down the street. The stallholder leaps up and gives chase, plonking him …
Ireland is one of the best backpacker destinations in Europe. First of all, it is small and compact, yet extremely varied. There are also great transport links around the country and, best of all, the people are super friendly. The country also has a wealth of budget-friendly accommodations options, such as hostels, and of course Ireland’s nightlife is basically unparalleled, so whether you want to sip a quiet pint of Guinness in an old man …
The poet Robert Browning said that “Everyone soon or late comes by round Rome.” True to Browning’s word, the Eternal City has seen its share of visitors. Whether it was the ancient empire that made Rome a household name in the four corners of the known world or the church that adopted the city as its home, a tour of Rome’s historic structures is the best way to see how each civilization that adopted Rome …
If you love nature and enjoy getting a great workout, a hiking tour may be for you. Hiking tours, or trekking tours as they are sometimes known, are about much more than just walking. The most intensive treks can take days to complete, and they take you to exciting places only reached by foot. With trekking tours, you can explore caves, remote mountain peaks, and villages seen by only a handful of travelers – you …
I stood on the edge of the boat peering into the water in full scuba diving gear, hoping to catch a glimpse of what I knew lay below the surface – sharks and lots of them. Sharks were the reason I had made the 36 hour journey to Cocos Islands, located 600 km off the west coast of Costa Rica. But all of a sudden I wasn’t so sure this was a good idea. Before …
Any summer vacation has got to include a visit a theme park or water park. With hundreds of park to choose from it can be a challenge finding one to suit your time and budget. So many rides, so little summer! Here are five top locations for kids of all ages to ride, slide, fly or float and have family fun in the sun.
1. Schlitterbahn, New Braunfels near Austin, Texas has been voted the …
Maybe you’ve heard. New York recently became the largest state to legalize same-sex marriage. Previously, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont, as well as the District of Columbia provided gay and lesbian couples with the opportunity to have their unions recognized as legal arrangements. With the momentum of a mainstream acceptance of same-sex couples as families, the travel industry has begun to consider the ramifications of a new market for honeymoons, anniversaries and vacations. …
Autumn is my favorite season. Its cooling winds bring an end to the scorching summer sun. Three months of perfect weather before winter starts to show its fury. Fall also signals the beginning of soccer and football seasons, to the excitement of millions of eager fans. The best thing about autumn, however, is the changing of the leaves. Fall foliage is part of the beautiful way nature signals to humans that the season has begun. …
Lunch with Jaws: Diving with Sharks, South Africa
There’s nothing quite like a dinner invite when you feel like part of the meal rather than a fellow guest. As fascinating as it is terrifying, you’ll get about as near to the teeth of a Great White as possible as you’re lowered underwater in a metal cage that suddenly seems incredibly flimsy now that you and the ocean’s greatest predator are eye-to-eye.
How-to: Gansbaai (a 2.5 …
I love animals and decided to devote the better part of my summer vacation volunteering with animals, which was how I found myself on a marine conservation voluntourism holiday off the west coast of Scotland through the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust. Its website promised that volunteers would conduct cetacean studies using scientific methods off of a yacht. It sounded good to me so I signed up immediately.
Conduct cetacean studies we did – 8 …
