March 21, 2018 The most precariously perched hotels These hotels are not for those with a fear of heights, but you'll be rewarded with some incredible views—they're on the sides of cliffs, on top of glaciers, and even high up in the trees.
March 21, 2018 World's top 5 best off-road routes for seeing wildlife Whether it’s watching iguanas sunning on rocks in the Galapagos or catching a glimpse of the rarely-spotted quetzal in Panama, spotting wildlife on a vacation can be a welcome surprise and may even be an unexpected highlight. When we venture in the open air -- by biking or by hiking -- into a destination, we often find ourselves face to face with some magnificent creatures. The noise of cars is long gone on a highway somewhere and the resulting quiet encourages animals of all kinds to reveal themselves if only for a moment. Here are 5 of the best off-road routes around the world that we’ve found for spotting wildlife great and small:
March 21, 2018 40 day hikes to do this summer In its simplest definition, a day hike is a wilderness walk you can complete in a single day. That means you can go fast and light, unencumbered by tent, sleeping bags, cooking pots and other trappings of overnight camping. It's a short, glorious booster shot of nature to tide you over through yet another work week. And, at its best, a day hike gets straight to the essence of the place. It takes you inside the canyon, beneath the waterfall and delivers you straight to the wildflower-strewn clearing at the mountain's peak. We've rounded up a collection of some of the greatest day hikes in a nation that's crisscrossed by tens of thousands of miles of trails. To be fair, we picked 20 in the East and 20 out West (OK, we cheated—three are up in Canada, another country spanned by untrammeled wilderness and chockfull of trails). For the most part, the West—with its high altitudes, rugged peaks and generally chill, outdoorsy vibe—has quietly claimed the reputation of quintessential hiking milieu. But for those who would write off everything east of the Mississippi, the seemingly endless wilderness stretches along the Ozark Highlands, North Country Scenic Trail and Appalachians have some surprises in store. There are miles of quiet singletrack trails, panoramic views and majestic peaks. The hikes we've chosen include national parks gems, as well as more than a few you've never heard of. They run the gamut from easy, two-hour jaunts among wildflower glades and berry thickets to all-day, hope-you-brought-a-headlamp slogs that serve as one-day highlight reels for entire mountain ranges. So, whether you're an expert or a first-timer, we've got the day hike for you. Not sure how to judge your time out on the trail? First of all, know yourself and the rest of your hiking party—a group is only as fast as its slowest member. Next, apply Naismith's Rule, an old rule of thumb for judging hiking time that was developed in the 1800s by Scottish mountaineer W. Naismith. It's as simple as this: Add one hour for every three miles covered. Add at least an additional 30 minutes for every 1,000 feet you'll ascend and, in steep terrain, the same for every 1,000 you descend (I know it sounds crazy, but it usually takes roughly the same amount of time coming down). Also, understand that Naismith was an old-school badass, who probably strode easily over almost any terrain, and that Scotland is, for the most part, very open, unbroken terrain. If you're hiking over tricky territory, it'll take you more time. With enough practice, you can come to know your hiking speed and more accurately judge future hikes.
March 21, 2018 Eerily beautiful abandoned places A ship graveyard in Mauritania, a picturesque 16th century Italian village, a once-grand train station—we can't help but be mesmerized by these mysterious and beautiful abandoned places around the world.
March 21, 2018 10 most iconic places to photograph Recently I was asked if I could name a “bucket list” of iconic places in the world for photographers. It didn’t take long. Certain places attract photographers like magnets attract iron filings; we are drawn to them without quite knowing why. Nor do we absolutely have to know. For some of us it will simply be the joy of collecting the trophy pictures we’ve always wanted to take. But for others, myself included, the exercise has something more to do with understanding both ourselves and the world. Here is my list (not terribly original, I’ll admit), with my reflections on why these places are iconic to me. I’m absolutely sure that everyone will have a different top ten. But just as going there and taking the pictures was a deeply rich experience, so too is the simple act of asking which ones—and why?
March 21, 2018 World's craziest water slides These crazy water slides will send you free-falling into swimming pools, spinning in circles, and hitting speeds as high as 65 miles per hour.
March 21, 2018 Top 10 extreme hotels in the world Tired of cookie-cutter hotel rooms? Check out our list of the top 10 extreme hotels in the world. Here you'll find unique offerings across the globe, including a converted bullfighting ring in Mexico and an underwater hotel in the U.S.
March 21, 2018 Top adventure trips for dad this Father's Day Hardly anyone wears ties anymore, and dad can buy himself new utensils for the grill. This Father’s Day get your dad something he’d really enjoy—a special experience on your next vacation based on his interests, of course. Here are five we think are guaranteed to please:
March 21, 2018 5 places to go sandboarding Love the thrill of downhill sports? Lose your woolly socks and thermal fleece and get ready for sandboarding—arguably the coolest new way to have fun on a beach or desert getaway. Kids have long been sledding down sand dunes on pieces of cardboard and plastic snow sleds. But in recent years, surfers and out-of-season snowboarders have taken it to the next level with sandboarding—riding down dunes on boards and sleds made out of a slicker material that glides on sand. Want to try sandboarding or sand sledding on your next getaway? A waxed snowboard or snow saucer will probably do. If your kids are up for serious careening, then you’ll want to rent boards and sleds made specifically for sand. While this emerging sport is a natural fit for beach destinations, some of the best places to try sandboarding and sand sledding may surprise you. (Michigan and Colorado? Who knew?) Here are five of the best dune destinations in the United States:
March 21, 2018 Breathtaking gondola rides around the world Those in need of a pick-me-up could do a lot worse than to consider these incredible cable cars, which take in some of the most awesome panoramic views on the planet.
