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laraehrlich-blog · 6 years ago

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I was a voracious reader when I was growing up, typically reading two books a week on average.

My lower-middle class family didn’t have the money to do much in the way of traveling, outside of the occasional camping trip in North Georgia. Both my parents worked, and my dad worked multiple jobs to support his family of five.

The furthest we ever traveled was a trip to visit my godparents in Treasure Island and Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Books to Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea.

It was through Henry David Thoreau’s Walden, John Muir’s Our National Parks, and Ralph Waldo Emerson’s that I developed a passion for the environment. Without them, who knows if I would’ve become the advocate for Jon Krakauer, Bill Bryson and Paul Theroux greatly influenced the way I did it.

But the first classic quote I remember having a significant impact on me came in the form of a Robert Frost poem: “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by. And that has made all the difference.” This idea influenced many of my choices, setting me on the path to becoming a full-time READ MORE: The Best Travel Books to Inspire A Love of Adventure

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about Adventure Travel

Travel

1. “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” –Marcel Proust

2. “Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quietest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey.” –Pat Conroy

3. “Travel does what good novelists also do to the life of everyday, placing it like a picture in a frame or a gem in its setting, so that the intrinsic qualities are made more clear. Travel does this with the very stuff that everyday life is made of, giving to it the sharp contour and meaning of art.” –Freya Stark

4. “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” –Mark Twain

5. “Travel is more than the seeing of sights. It is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” –Miriam Beard

6. “Tourists don’t know where they’ve been, travelers don’t know where they’re going.” –Paul Theroux

7. “One of the gladdest moments of human life, me thinks, is the departure upon a distant journey into unknown lands. Shaking off with one mighty effort the fetters of habit, the leaden weight of routine, the cloak of many cares and the slavery of home, man feels once more happy.” –Sir Richard Burton

8. “I travel around the world in a way that tries to open my mind and give me empathy and inspire me to come home and make this world a better place.” –READ MORE: Why Responsible Travel Matters (& Greenwashing Sucks)

About Adventure Travel

11. “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” –Andre Gide

12. “We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” –Jawaharial Nehru

13. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” –H. Jackson Brown Jr.

14. “To move, to breathe, to fly, to float, to gain all while you give, To roam the roads of lands remote, To travel is to live.” –Hans Christian Andersen

15. “In the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn

16. “If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine; it is lethal.” –Paulo Coelho

17. “Adventure isn’t hanging on a rope off the side of a READ MORE: Water Wonders (A Father-Daughter Story of Adventure)

Travel

21. “Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.” –Anonymous

22. “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” –Helen Keller

23. “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” –Saint Augustine

24. “Travel brings power and love back into your life.” –Rumi

25. “Only one who wanders finds new paths.” –Norwegian Proverb

26. “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” –Lao Tzu

27. “Make voyages! Attempt them… there’s nothing else.” –Tennesee Williams

28. “We travel, some of us forever, to seek other states, other lives, other souls.” –Anais Nin

29. “Your feet will take you where your heart is.” –Irish proverb

30. “Until you step into the unknown, you don’t know what you’re made of.” –Roy T. Bennett

READ MORE: NatGeo’s Don George on Travel Writing & Blogging

Travel

31. “To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a

36. “We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors. We borrow it from our children” –Chief Seattle

37. “We must go beyond textbooks, go out into the bypaths and untrodden depths of the wilderness and travel and explore and tell the world the glories of our journey.” –John Hope Franklin

38. “Two of the greatest gifts we can give our children are roots and wings.” –Hodding Carter

39. “When you travel with children you are giving something that can never be taken away… experience, exposure, and a way of life.” –Pamela T. Chandler

40. “A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.” –Tim Cahill

READ MORE: 7 Important Life Lessons I Learned in the Galapagos Islands

Travel

41. “The further I go, the closer to me I get.” –Roman Payne, The Wanderess

43 “I am convinced that the jealous, the angry, the bitter and the egotistical are the first to race to the top of mountains. A confident person enjoys the journey, the people they meet along the way and sees life not as a competition. They reach the summit last because they know God isn’t at the top waiting for them. He is down below helping his followers to understand that the view is glorious where ever you stand.” –Shannon L. Alder

44. “A person susceptible to ‘wanderlust’ is not so much addicted to movement as committed to transformation.” — Pico Iyer

45. “How will I know who I can become if I don’t give myself the chance to try new things, to push myself beyond my normal boundaries? Who might I be if I am away from the things that I currently use to define myself?” ― Eileen Cook, With Malice

46. “Two roads diverged in a wood and I– I took the one less traveled by… And that has made all the difference.” –Robert Frost

47. “To get away from one’s working environment is, in a sense, to get away from one’s self; and this is often the chief advantage of travel and change.” – Charles Horton Cooley

48. “Through travel I first became aware of the outside world; it was through travel that I found my own introspective way into becoming a part of it.” – Eudora Welty

49. “Travel only with thy equals or thy betters; if there are none, travel alone.” — The Dhammapada

50. “All I wanted was to live a life where I could be me, and be okay with that. I had no need for material possessions, money, or even close friends with me on my journey. I never understood people very well anyway, and they never seemed to understand me very well either. All I wanted was my Empty Roads & Broken Bottles: In Search For The Great Perhaps

READ MORE: 45 Pieces of Advice I’d Include in a Letter to My Younger Self

Travel

51. “As soon as I saw you, I knew an adventure was about to happen.”—A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh

52. “Believe in a love that is being stored up for you like an inheritance, and have faith that in this love there is a strength and a blessing so large that you can travel as far as you wish without having to step outside it.” —Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet

53. “A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it.” – John Steinbeck

54. “And if travel is like love, it is, in the end, mostly because it’s a heightened state of awareness, in which we are mindful, receptive, in dimmed by familiarity and ready to be transformed. That is why the best trips, like the best love affairs, never really end.” — Pico Iyer

55. “The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.” — Shirley MacLaine

56. “Actually, the best gift you could have given her was a lifetime of adventures.”– Lewis Carroll

57. “Traveling is like flirting with life. It’s like saying, “I would stay and love you, but I have to go; this is my station.” — Lisa St. Aubin de Teran

58. “What we find in a soulmate is not something wild to tame, but something wild to run with.” — Robert Brault

59. “Love is the food of life, travel is dessert.” – Anonymous

60. “To lose yourself: a voluptuous surrender, lost in your arms, lost to the world, utterly immersed in what is present so that its surroundings fade away. In Benjamin’s terms, to be lost is to be fully present, and to be fully present is to be capable of being in uncertainty and mystery.” — Rebecca Solnit (A Field Guide to Getting Lost)

READ MORE: Bret & Mary, A Story About Love (& How GGT Was Born)

Travel

61. “Once in a while it really hits people that they don’t have to experience the world in the way they have been told to.” -Alan Keightley

62. “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, ‘Wow! What a Ride!'” — Hunter S. Thompson (The Proud Highway: Saga of a Desperate Southern Gentleman, 1955-1967)

63. “If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion, and avoid the people, you might better stay home.” – James Michener

64. “What you’ve done becomes the judge of what you’re going to do — especially in other people’s minds. When you’re traveling, you are what you are right there and then. People don’t have your past to hold against you. No yesterdays on the road.” -William Least Heat Moon

65. “Traveling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all the familiar comforts of home and friends. You are constantly off balance. Nothing is yours except the essential things– air, sleep, dreams, the sea, the sky– all things tending towards the eternal or what we imagine of it.” – Cesare Pavese

66. “READ MORE: The Country of Jordan, the Middle East & Our Culture of Fear

Travel

71. “It’s not what you look at that matters. It’s what you see.” -Henry David Thoreau

72. “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson

73. “Not all those who wander are lost.” –J.R.R. Tolkien

74. “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” –Neale Donald Walsch

75. “Don’t tell me the sky’s the limit when there are footsteps on the moon.” – Paul Brandt

76. “Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” – George Bernard Shaw

77. “Wandering re-establishes the original harmony which once existed between man and the Universe.” –Anatole France

78. “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” –St. Augustine

79. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” —H. Jackson Brown, Jr. in P.S. I Love You

80. “I find the great thing in this world is not so much about where we stand, as in what direction we are moving… We must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it, – but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor.” -Oliver Wendell Holmes

READ MORE: The World’s Best Small Ship Cruises

Travel

81. “Stop creating a life that you need a vacation from. Instead, move to where you want to live, do what you want to do, start what you want to start, and create the life you want today. This isn’t rehearsal, people. This is YOUR life.” –Dale Partridge

82. “To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.” –Bill Bryson

83. “Every dreamer knows that it is entirely possible to be homesick for a place you’ve never been to, perhaps more homesick than for familiar ground.” ―Judith Thurman

84. “Travel is the antidote to fear. It makes you see the similarities and differences that exist around the world, and it opens your eyes– and mind– to new and different approaches.” –Julia Cosgrove

85. “I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” ― Robert Louis Stevenson

86. “Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we find it not.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

87. “The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.” —Christopher McCandless

88. “Travel while you are young and able. Don’t worry about the money, just make it work. Experience is far more valuable than money will ever be.” — Anonymous

89. “If I’m an advocate for anything, it’s to move. As far as you can, as much as you can. Across the ocean, or simply across the river. The extent to which you can walk in someone else’s shoes or at least eat their food, it’s a plus for everybody. Open your mind, get up off the couch, move.” –READ MORE: How to Start a Travel Blog (& Build a Successful Business)

Travel

91. “Look deeper into John Muir, The Mountains of California

95. “When the blood in your veins returns to the sea, and the earth in your bones returns to the ground, perhaps then you will remember that this land does not belong to you– it is YOU who belongs to this land.” –Native American proverb

96. “Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.” –Cree Indian Proverb

97. “I went to the

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randyk1m-blog · 6 years ago

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The Emerald Coast is one of our family’s favorite places to visit. The beaches with their sugar white sand are fabulous and there are countless things to do in Destin, Florida. We’ve visited four times in 4 years on the road, which says how much we love it!

We stayed in Destin for an entire month and we were lazy for the first 3 weeks. We didn’t do much other than spend time at the beach and the pool. And that was OK by us! Hanging out at the beach or heading out on the town we always have great family fun in Destin, FL.

Things to do on the gulf coast range from hanging at the beach, water sports, eating at yummy restaurants and more! Without further ado here is our list of Things To Do In Destin, FL:

Things to do in Destin Florida

Destin Attractions

If you are a mover and a shaker and you start twitching thinking about doing one of the beach days, do it anyways. It will be good for you and your family 🙂 But do not fear, there are plenty of Destin Florida attractions for families to keep you busy! Here are our recommendations for your Destin Beach Vacation:

Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park

They had dolphins, tortoises, sharks, sting rays, alligators, birds, and more! Plus they have a touch tank where you can pet hermit crabs and hold starfish. And if you want you can pay and sign up to help with the animals or swim with the dolphins and sting rays.

We also enjoyed watching the dolphin show! Since it is a smaller facility you are able to get a close seat for the shows. They offer shows throughout the day so you could spend all day there if you wanted to see all of the shows.

They had an obstacle course area for the kids to play plus a sandbox area. They have a snack stand where you could get popcorn, drinks, and much more. I loved that it was right on the water so as you were walking around you were able to look out over the ocean as well. The Gulfarium is located on Okaloosa Island just outside Destin. It is part of Destin’s Fort Walton Beach area and well worth a visit.

Click here for a great deal on Gulfarium tickets!

Dolphin Sunset Cruise

You see all the advertisements for the Dolphin Cruise and my first thought is always: how are they going to guarantee you see a dolphin? I don’t believe it. I was wrong. We saw so many dolphins! It was crazy!!! Some of them were playing together in the waves while others swam right next to the boat. It was a really cool experience. Again I wasn’t sure about bringing kids on another boat tour, this time it was for 2 hours. We came prepared: lots of snacks, treats, and drinks. You can bring all your own stuff on the boat, including alcohol. Plus they have a snack bar if you want to buy anything.

While on the boat they had food we could feed the seagulls. The seagulls took chips right out of your hand! They also have a glass bottom, but to be honest we never really saw much through it. The highlight for the kids was getting a chance to drive the boat! We saw a ton of dolphins and a beautiful sunset. The kids had a lot of fun and since we had the snacks everyone was great the whole time! Another one to add to the list.

Click here for a great deal on the Destin Dolphin Cruise!

Pontoon Boat Rental with Destin X Watersports

How have we been to Destin so many times and never rented a Pontoon or visited Crab Island?!!! This is now on the top of our must do list when you visit.

When you rent the pontoon at the Destin harbor ask the people getting your boat ready how to find Crab Island. Then take a nice boat trip around the bay for a few minutes before finding a place to put your anchor down at Crab Island.

What is Crab Island?

It is a sandbar out in the middle of the ocean that has floating restaurants or what I like to call Food Boats – like Food Trucks but on water. The water level is about waste high for adults and after putting an anchor down on your pontoon you can hang out in the boat or spend hours jumping off the boat into the beautiful clear water.

Before walking over the Food Boats to get some drinks and food! Be prepared it is usually really busy and I am sure can get wild. But with kids go early in the day and it will be fun for everyone.

Recommended things to bring: Snorkel Gear Paddle Board Floaty Football SunScreen Sunglasses A cooler full of food Water

Click Here For A Great Deal On Pontoon Rentals!

Catamaran Sailing Trip With Sailing Moby

If you being the captain of the pontoon doesn’t sound fun then leave the driving to the Sailing Moby team and bring your family (max of 6 people) onto their sailboat. Then sit back, relax and let them take care of everything!

What I loved about their boat is they have an inside area. So if you have little ones that need to take a nap or get out of the sun there is a perfect place for this.

They will take you to Crab Island to just hang out there if you would like. Or they have some other great recommendations on places to go based on the weather and what your crew would like to do.

For us we opted to sail to a couple islands where the kids got out to snorkel by the beach and then were able to jump off the boat – their favorite part of the trip!

Recommended things to bring: Snorkel Gear (they do provide it – so if you are OK with that you can use theirs) Sand Toys Beach Toys Towels Food – you are welcome to bring a cooler on board Sunscreen Sunglasses Water Bathing Suits – just wear these – it will make it easier

They also have a bathroom on the boat which is super helpful when you travel with kids or plan to have a couple beverages on your trip.

Maximum Magic Show

We were so excited to take the kids to an actual magic show! If your kids are like ours they love seeing magic tricks and being able to go to a live show that was family friendly was a great way for them to see their first magic show.

Click Here For A Great Deal On Magic Show Tickets

Golf Garden 9 Hole Executive Course

Looking to get away for a quick round of golf? This is the perfect place to go. There are a variety of golf courses in the area but this is a nice course that isn’t too big so you can knock a round of 9 out pretty quickly. Then head back to hit the beach!

Wild Willy

Looking to get out of the sun and away from the beach and water then head to Wild Willies where you can play arcade games, see a 4D movie, play laser tag. Then head outside for mini golf and a ropes course.

After days covered in sand this is a nice way to get out and do something different!

Click here for combo deals at Wild Willy’s

Parasailing

If you have never gone parasailing we highly recommend it. All of our kids love it and it is another great way to get a different view on the beach and ocean. With how clear the water is in Destin I bet there is a good chance you could see some bottlenose dolphins or sting rays in the water while you are up there!

Click here for a great deal on Destin Parasailing!

Kayaking

You can rent 1 or 2 seater kayaks to explore the harbor and bay, and even paddle yourself out to Crab Island, if you’re up for it! Other renters have even seen dolphins and other wildlife while kayaking the area. This is a great activity to burn some extra energy while enjoying the great views and wildlife!

Click here to book your Kayak rentals!

Check out our time in Destin:

Indian Mound Museum

Want to learn about the history of the area? Then check out the Indian Mound Museum where you can learn about the Native Americans that lived in the area and see a variety of artifacts found here as well.

Destin History and Fishing Museum

Visit this museum to learn how a small fishing town (termed the “luckiest fishing village”) turned into a huge vacation destination. It really is quite amazing.

Click here for great deals on these Destin attractions!

Uncle Bucks FishBowl and Grill

This is not your typical bowling alley! This is an underwater experience! You can choose to eat your dinner at the restaurant; where you sit at a table with sharks hanging from the ceiling, or you can eat while you bowl. Whatever works for you!

The bowling area gives you the feel of being underwater – from the sights and sounds, it is an underwater experience! We had a lot of fun and it was great with the kids since they had bumpers and also a bowling ball ramp so the kids could roll the ball right down it. We loved the extra touch of the bowling balls being covered in sea creatures too! The food was good, the drinks awesome, and the atmosphere was great! If you are looking to get out of the sun and into the air conditioning or looking for something to do at night when it gets dark out Uncle Bucks is the place for you!

HarborWalk Village

The HarborWalk Village is loaded with restaurants and shops and is the place where a lot of the water activities in Destin (Pirate cruise, Dolphin cruise, pontoon rental) take off from. They also have a variety of different activities available.

Big Kahuna’s Water park

If you are visiting in the heat of summer and looking for a water park to cool off check out Big Kahuna’s waterpark!

Kids Fishing Trip

Destin – known to have the worlds luckiest fishing is a great place to take the kids out fishing! We have not done this with our kids yet (they weren’t interested the last time we were there). But if you and your family are into fishing then be sure to check it out!

I also love how this trip is geared towards kids as anyone with young kids knows spending time on a boat with kids can be a challenge!

If your kids are older you can check out a variety of fishing charter boats here.

Book your Destin Charter Fishing trip here!!

Pirate Cruise

We had a great time on the cruise. I wasn’t sure at first how it was going to go. Four kids on a boat, but from the minute we walked onto the boat they started entertaining the kids and it didn’t stop until we docked about 90 minutes later. We don’t even know where they took the boat since we were so in to what was going on 🙂

They did everything from squirt gun fights and sword fights to having the kids swab the deck (which they loved! I need to buy one of those mops!) to face painting and pulling a real treasure chest out of the ocean, like for real! Plus they “shot” the cannon twice.

It was a great time and I would recommend it for kids ages 3 and up! And if you have any pirate gear make sure to dress up. It makes the experience even better. My Mom has an awesome pirate costume so she wore it on the ship and fit right in! Actually, she almost got a job!

Check out the Pirate Cruise for more information.

Banana Boats

Take a private ride on the banana boats! This is a one hour trip where they take your private group (minimum 4 people, maximum 6 people) out in a boat and pull you behind on the bouncing banana boats! A great opportunity to cool off, have some laughs and excitement, enjoy the water adventure and potentially see some wildlife while you’re out. Riders must know how to swim!

Click here to book your Banana Boat Ride!

Destin Commons

This is an outdoor mall located in Crystal Beach that makes shopping so much more enjoyable than having to be inside walking from store to store. At Christmas they have an awesome tree and holiday display. There is also an outdoor play area for the kids to play. There are a lot of great stores and restaurants so you can eat, shop, play, and/or people watch!

Village of Baytowne Wharf

A great area for dining, shopping and nightlife. Plus there area lot of activities and festivals that go on here. The village is not on the beach so if you are looking to get away from the sand and surf for a while this is a great place to go.

Hiking

Hiking in Florida! Not quite the same as hiking to the top of a mountain in Yellowstone but it was still a fun hike. In the Emerald Coast you can find nature trails and hike at the following parks: Henderson Beach State Park, James Lee County State Park or John Beasley Beach Park. Or you can just go for a nice walk on the beach.

The Sunset

Looking for a FREE Destin Attraction that you can do every night?! We highly recommend making it a nightly ritual to get a glass of wine for the adults and some juice boxes for the kids and heading out to see the sunset out over the water. It was amazing how every night the sunset looked different and amazing. After watching it one night it seemed impossible that it could be any prettier and then it would amaze us again!

When you are staying on the Emerald Coast, make it a priority to see the sunset every night! You won’t be disappointed! Even if there are clouds – the sky still changes to an amazing color.

There’s quite a few other things to do in Destin Florida with kids that we didn’t get to, remember we were lazy and totally beached it for 3 weeks 🙂 Depending on when you are coming make sure to check the schedule. Their prime season is from May to September. So in the off season things may not be open.

The Beach

If you want you can literally do nothing, but beach it. Swim in the ocean, play in the sand, and hit the swimming pool for a few hours every day. To be honest I can’t think of a better family vacation! Plus the white sand beaches on the emerald green waters of the Gulf of Mexico are so beautiful.

A beach vacation can be all about focusing on your family and deepening your family bond since you aren’t running off to a bunch of activities. Instead you are taking life slow and enjoying that non-rushed feeling.

What I love about the Emerald Coast is when you are at a resort, condo or RV park on the beach, you don’t even realize all of the hustle and bustle that is going on out on Hwy 98 and all the attractions Destin has to offer.

Tips for having a great beach vacation:

Buy some breakfast food to have ready so you don’t have to rush out in the morning and so you don’t have hungry kids.

Sit out on your balcony or head out to the beach to sit and enjoy your coffee while the kids either play, eat breakfast, watch TV. No seriously, let them watch TV or do their own thing while you take in the views and enjoy your morning coffee!

After everyone has eaten breakfast head down to the sugar white beaches and build sand castles. They have the perfect sand for it! You may have to mix in a little water if it has been dry, but once you get the right consistency you are good to go! Swim in the water, play frisbee, just hang out.

Head back for a nice slow relaxing lunch. If it was hot out, take some time to relax in your room or RV. Play a card game, watch a movie, read a book as a family and enjoy the fact you have no where to be!

Head out to the pool (if where you are staying has one) or else head back down to the beach!

As a family, cook and prepare dinner and then eat it outside.

Finish the night up by watching the sunset and going for a walk on the beach.

Go to bed and wake up the next day and repeat steps 1 – 8 again!

For a great place to stay and enjoy your Destin vacation, check out the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. This resort is beautiful and right on the white sand. Enjoy the pool and beach while soaking up the sun on your ultimate beach vacation!

Click here for great deals on Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort rooms from TripAdvisor!

BONUS Activity!

If you happen to be in Destin in the month of October and you love salt water fishing you may really enjoy the Destin Fishing Rodeo! There are all kinds of prizes daily, weekly and monthly during October and any child who brings in a fish over 1lb gets a free rod and reel! Fishing may even be free if you hop on one of the boats on the chartered fishing fleet for the event. Check out the rules and info here.

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Where To Eat

LuLu’s Destin

It’s hard to categorize a restaurant as a thing to do in Destin with kids, but we absolutely loved LuLu’s! Any time the kids have somewhere to play while we wait for our food is a great restaurant and LuLu’s has that and more!

There is a nice sand/beach area that has 2 containers filled with kids sands toys. Plus a palm tree for them to climb on, cornhole, and hula hoops! While the kids played we were able to sit at our table and listen to the live music. Their food selection is awesome with a focus on food allergies. With a town filled with seafood it is nice to have an option where they are on top of food allergies and give you lots of options.

When you are done eating they have some great desserts including a Krispie Kreme bread pudding or natural homemade popsicles! The kids loved the root beer and sea salted caramel flavor. And so did we!

Small Cakes of Destin

You know we love our sweets and when we couldn’t find a local donut place we headed out for Cupcakes! As you can see they were super yummy and the kids loved them. I did too! They had lots of great flavors and I had to stop myself from coming here every day to try a different flavor.

Beach Restaurant – Surf Hut

There are a variety of restaurants on the beach so depending on where you are staying you can look into what is in your area. We loved walking down the beach to a restaurant for happy hour and appetizers or dinner or lunch.

We really enjoyed The Surf Hut. We were also told that the The Back Porch was a great spot! We will have to save that one for the next time we are there.

Dewey Destin’s Seafood & Restaurant

Dewey Destin currently owns two restaurant locations with family friendly atmosphere serving fresh-as-can-be fish daily! There is also a snowball location that serves New Orleans style snowballs to help you beat the heat and a third restaurant location coming soon!

Fun Fact: Dewey Destin’s Seafood & Restaurant is owned by the great, great grandson of the founder of Destin, Leonard Destin!

When To Visit

The Emerald Coast is an amazing vacation destination. We have never visited during prime time (May to September). So we can’t speak for what it is like during that time. But I have heard it gets busy but the weather is beautiful.

We have always visited in the off season and we do we miss out on some activities (that aren’t open) but we love that it is less busy and that the weather isn’t super hot. We have been there in November and December and normally had weather in the 60’s with sunshine making it feel much warmer.

Where to Stay

Airbnb

Zula Life Vacation Homes

We stayed at this amazing vacation home that was a short walk to the beach (it saves you a lot of money if you aren’t right on the beach!). The house had plenty of room for multiple families to stay along with a long Kitchen table, big couch and plenty of outside sitting. Plus our favorite part was the hot tub and pool. We spent a lot of time just hanging out back there.

The house is located just a couple minutes from Hwy 98 where you have all the stores that you would need. Yet is in a quiet neighborhood without a lot of traffic. The driveway was also large enough that we could park our 21 foot travel trailer there when we stayed – it was so nice not to have to leave the rig somewhere plus we didn’t have to pack since everything was right there in the driveway!

Honestly it was hard to leave the house to go do anything! If you are coming with your family (and dog – yes they allow pets!) or planning a multi family trip be sure to check out Zula Life or any of their other properties: Zula Dreams and Zula Beach.

Click HERE to book now!

Hotels

Hilton Sandestin Beach, Golf Resort & Spa

If you’re looking for luxury at it’s finest, check out the Hilton Sandestin Beach, Golf Resort & Spa. The resort is located right on the white sand and emerald water. You will be in paradise with a fantastic pool and a great beach bar overlooking the ocean.

Click here for great Sandestin deals on TripAdvisor!

Holiday Inn Fort Walton Beach

If you aren’t going to be traveling in an RV we recommend the Holiday Inn Fort Walton Beach. We were able to tour the hotel and spend a day swimming in the pool. The facility is amazing! It is very new, clean, and comfortable.

They offer a kids room that has bunk beds and an Xbox in the room! Plus the rooms have an amazing balcony that looks out over the pool and the ocean. Here is the view:

The kids LOVED swimming in the pool. It has a zero entry end, which was great for our little ones and also has a lazy river! Plus there is a hot tub and an indoor pool if the weather is cooler when you are there. We loved that you could walk right out to a beautiful beach too. So you could spend your morning at the beach, head in to eat lunch at their restaurant and then head out to the pool in the afternoon.

This hotel is perfect for families but would be great for couples as well! Click here to check out the Holiday Inn Resort Fort Walton Beach!

For other amazing hotels in the Destin area, click here!

RV Parks

Rent an RV

Have you ever considered renting an RV?! It would be an awesome way to stay in Destin and you can get a spot right on the beach or stay a quieter State Park like Grayton Beach or Henderson Beach State Park.

Click here for great RV Rentals in the Destin area.

Camp Gulf RV Park

This is one of our favorite campgrounds in all of North America. Seriously, it is so cool to be so close to the beach! Our RV spot was literally 20 yards from the beach. Yes, there was a row of RV’s in front of us for most of the time, but it didn’t matter. (We couldn’t stay in those spots because pets aren’t allowed in those sites).

There is a couple rows of RV spots that are right by the beach. If you are someone who prefers not to have sand in your RV everyday. There are also spots that are farther back and away from the beach. Some of these spots are closer to the pools at the campground.

There are 2 pools and if you go in November they put a big tent over the back pool so that you can still swim even if it is colder outside. Being in North Florida it does get colder in the winter months.

Every day we opened our door to the smell of the surf, the feel of the ocean breeze, and stepped out into beautiful white sand. Yes, we slept with sand in our bed and I don’t think we will ever get all of the sand out of our car. But we don’t care. It was worth it!

If you don’t have an RV you can rent one! This campground is worth it!

We stayed at Camp Gulf, which is in Miramar Beach. We love this campground because of how close the sites are to the beach. We definitely recommend checking this campground out! We’re total beach fans!

Grayton Beach State Park

This is probably our all time favorite state park. It’s in Grayton Beach, which is east of Destin, away from all the craziness, and tucked back in a private little spot perfect for quiet camping. While you’re not right on the beach like at CampGulf, you are just a short walk, bike ride or drive away from it. This is the kind of place where you don’t really do anything but beach bum it!

Want more ideas on things to do in Destin, Florida?! Check out this great post from 365AtlantaFamily: https://365atlantafamily.com/things-to-do-in-destin-fl/

If you are looking to fly in there are some regional airports in the area or else you will have a drive from some of the larger surrounding cities/airports.

Also, be sure to check out our Florida Road Trip as this Northwest Florida location is a stop on the route!

Looking for more adventures in Florida? Check out our following posts:

4 Favorite Florida Beaches – From a near native Floridian

The Best Place to See Turtles in the Florida Keys

Top 10 Florida Keys Beaches

Hawks Cay: The Best Resort In The Florida Keys

16 Reasons to stay overnight at Legoland Florida

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Disclosure: A big Thank You to TripShock and the Emerald Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau, area attractions, and restaurants for hosting us. All opinions expressed are our own. Truth.

The post 25 Epic Things To Do In Destin, Florida [Including Where To Stay] appeared first on Crazy Family Adventure.

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wenminliang-blog · 6 years ago

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On my recent study abroad trip to Florence, Italy, I was able to travel all over the country, and I tried my best to live like the locals. However, like all travelers, there is a little thrill in finding gems in each new place and learning about mini-cultures. In this article, I’m going to share the well known, and not so well known, authentic souvenirs from Italy that I have discovered on my own travels, or have heard about through friends. If you have anything to add from your own experience, feel free to comment below!

The Best Authentic Italy Souvenirs

What to buy from Milan

Of course, Milan, the fashion capital of Italy, is one of the best places to find unique and stylish Italy souvenirs. One accessory known to Milan is the gloves. Extremely soft, and always stylish, gloves make a great gift for friends and family, or as a nice treat for yourself.

What to buy in Venice

Ah, Venezia. Venice is known of course for its canals, bridges, and its gondola rides. But some of the best Italy souvenirs can be found in Venice. Though it can seem quite touristy, Venice is a worthwhile destination with a couple of must-see hidden gems.

The first is the Murano Glass. Murano is just out of the main tourist area in Venice, and as a former trading port, it fuses Roman, Greek and Asian cultures. Since the 1200s, the crafter glassmakers of Murano have perfected their skill, creating beautiful jewellery, chandeliers – you name it.

The second is Venetian masks. Typically worn during the Carnival of Venice, known as Carnival, and many other occasions, these were originally used to hide identity and social status.

READ: Find out how to eat like a local in Venice

Get to know Venice like a local with private, customised experiences with Wanderjack. Here’s how I sailed a Bacaro and went pub hopping for Cicchetti and wine with them.

Best souvenirs from Florence

Florence is one of my favourite places in Italy. Okay, I admit, I might be a bit biased, but after spending six weeks in Florence, I was able to figure out the best souvenirs, (and also importantly, the best gelato)!

Florence, of course, is a cultural centre of art and history, but what you may or may not know, is that you can find some of the best leather products in all of Italy here. One of my favourite places was the Leather School in Santa Croce, where you can watch artisans hand-stitch leather products.

Another must-have Italy souvenir from Florence can be found on a visit to the Ponte Vecchio. On the bridge, you can find jewellers everywhere selling beautiful rings, necklaces and anything else you can imagine.

Lastly, don’t forget about ceramics! You can find beautiful handmade ceramic pieces all over Florence. The best are the small shops where you see them making the pieces!

READ: Find out the best way toexplore Florence – on foot

Como

Put aside the beautiful lake views, and pay attention to some silk! One of the best Italy souvenirs comes from Como. In 1400, the Duke of Milan started planting mulberry trees. Lake Como’s silk industry boomed after this, due to all of the silkworms. Silk production became refined and the economy boomed. If you’re looking for great quality silk – Como is the place.

Best Souvenirs to get from Rome

Okay, I know how cheesy this sounds. But, think about it. If you were to get an engraved marble tablet, wouldn’t Rome be the best place? The answer is yes. I found them all over the city and even ended up buying one myself. They’re often engraved with old Roman proverbs. Mine says, “In Vino Veritas”, which means “In wine, there is truth”. You can find tablets like this throughout the city, and they make great decorations for your own home or gifts for others. One of the best choices of Rome souvenirs.

What to buy from Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi Coast will always hold a piece of my heart. Here, you can find the most delicious limoncello made from the biggest lemons I have ever seen. Sorrento, in particular, is known for its lemons and limoncello. You can find it all throughout the villages of the Amalfi coast as well.

READ: Along with the stunning Amalfi Coast, make sure to check out some other beautiful Italian destinations

Sicily

Though I didn’t get the chance to visit Sicily, I was lucky enough to meet some Sicilians who gave me some insight into the best Italian souvenir gifts to get from Sicily. Each of them had great things to say about Caltagirone pottery. You can find it all over and its designs and colours are stunning. The other recommendation was to get something made with Etna lava stone. Etna is an active volcano in Sicily, and there are many products and jewellery made with its lava stones. Some of the more popular, like tables, are hard to travel with, but the smaller jewellery and souvenirs are great for travel.

Honourable Mention: Parma

Unfortunately, it’s a big no-no to take meat through customs, but give the incredible meats in Parma a taste if you get to go! I highly suggest visiting a Parmigiano Reggiano factory or a Parma ham factory. They’re very generous with food samples, and some are available to purchase (of course to be finished before your next flight).

And of course, there are some things that you can buy anywhere in Italy. You can find beautiful scarves all over, as well as extra virgin olive oil and wine. I personally think Tuscany has the best, but I might be a bit biased.

If you’re lucky enough to visit Italy, these are the best souvenirs from Italy you can get, and don’t forget to make sure to check your country’s customs restrictions before purchasing anything to bring back home!

READ: Check out the most drool-worthyvegetarian dishes from 24 countries in Europe!

And here are some ideas for a2 week Italy trip for you.

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The post The Best Authentic Italy Souvenirs – Forget the Touristy Gifts appeared first on Europe Diaries.

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rachdyer-blog · 6 years ago

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Barbie is like by all girls and they like to get dressed up like them with bright colors. You can throw a party in such a way that will unforgettable for your daughter. For throwing a party you can opt birthday party organisers in Gurgaon and enjoy the party. If you want to throw in your way then you can choose a pink and purple color for the theme. Nowadays you will find lots of pictures and movies related to Barbie and then you can choose the favorite one of your daughters.

Decoration

Decoration of the venue is very important through it you can attract kids. You can use large and small cutouts of the Barbie and paste them on walls, doors, and hang them from the ceiling. You can also go to a birthday party organisers in Delhi and decorate the place according to your choice. With this, you can decorate the table with the use of Barbie dolls with a different variety.

Dress Girl with Barbie Outfit

The most amazing and interesting part of the party when all the kids dressed according to the party theme. While preparing the invitation you can mention about dress up so that all come in their favorite Barbie look. The invitation can also be prepared by the birthday party organizer in Ghaziabad and you can feel relaxed. With this, you can also request parents to dress like Barbie as it will make the party more attractive.

Organize the Barbie Fashion Show

For entertaining kids, you can arrange a fashion show in which all kids will ready their Barbie. With this, you can also arrange a photo shoot in which all children will get ready and with different poses clicks photos. So they can remember the day for this you can also appoint a birthday party organizer in Faridabad and could make all the kids happy and excited.

Food

Without a cake, a party is boring and meaningless. In this, you can opt for the cake which is given the shape of Barbie with her favorite color. For eating you can also go for cheddar popcorn in the cute pink color box. For having the best quality in the food you can hire birthday party organizer in Noida and they will provide all variety on time. With this, you can also get a strawberry smoothie with a lovely cupcake.

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nhouvang-blog · 6 years ago

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Nidhi and Varun first met at a music festival but long after the festival ended, the romantic background score played on. A few years later, they decided to celebrate their wedding at the Jai Mahal Palace. The festivities, orchestrated by WeddingSutra Favorite – Indian Wedding Planners, were a sight to behold! Co-founder Anant Khandelwal says, “Our vision for this wedding was to create regal magnificence and we spared no effort in trying to achieve absolute perfection. Right from palatial venues and magnificent decor to captivating couple entries and other unique details, everything contributed to this royal theme. This indeed was a once in a lifetime celebration that will be cherished not only by the two families but also their gusts.”

The groom tells us their story and shares highlights from their wedding.

“Soon after the engagement, our families decided on a destination wedding in Jaipur. We wanted the venue to be very regal and Jai Mahal Palace stole our hearts! The 280-year-old, 18-acre property has three large lawns that are frequented by peacocks and various species of birds. Not only was this hotel undeniably majestic but even the staff were incredibly warm and hospitable.”

Indian Wedding Planners and it was a pleasure working with them. They did a fantastic job of bringing everything that we wanted to life using their expertise. The team was patient, cooperative, willing to understand our needs and eager to work with us as a family. We are grateful to have had them by our side through this journey.”

“We kicked off the wedding with a smashing pool party in shades of blue, yellow and white. At the entrance, we had trellises decorated with oversized paper flowers along with wooden ladders decked with fresh blooms. The canopies featured origami birds while colorful paper lanterns were suspended from the trees. The vibrant color palette we chose was perfect for this bright day!”

Rambagh Palace under the starry sky. While the decor designed for this function further enhanced the regal appeal of the venue, the stellar performances put together by our family and friends made this night absolutely unforgettable.”

“For the Sufi Night, Nidhi and I made our entry to the song ‘Azeem-O-Shaan Shehenshah’ in a horse-drawn chariot. The dress code was red and gold. The décor was filled with Moroccan-inspired elements – metal water jugs decorated with flowers as centerpieces, large Moroccan lamps at the entrance and sofas with bright rugs and cushions set the stage.”

Jai Mahal Palace to life. I arrived with my baaraat on an elephant for the varmala. This was followed by a beautiful ceremony conducted by a priest who explained the significance of each ritual. These were some of the most poignant moments from all the festivities and are sure to be etched in our memories forever.”

Venues: Jai Mahal Palace (Pool Party, Mehendi, Sufi night and Wedding), Rambagh Palace (Sangeet) Wedding Planner: Indian Wedding Planners Makeup: Zorains Studio and Khowsalya DJ: DJ Ronnie Choreography: Vijay and Zafar

Photography: The Candid Pictures

The post This bride’s bidai in a regal doli made for an exit that was was both nostalgic and memorable appeared first on WeddingSutra Blog.

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shannrussell-blog1 · 6 years ago

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If you have been following at home, you would have seen A Quick Trip to Dalhousie Springs – Part 1 last week. It covered the journey from Adelaide to William Creek. Well, here’s Part 2, where I travel from William Creek to Dalhousie Springs. Enjoy the journey – and do it someday!

South Australia’s Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources’ map of the Witjira National Park. Available as a PDF here.

William Creek to Dalhousie Springs

We had been travelling all day and were looking for a nice place to camp. We did find one spot beside a dry creek bed amongst some trees, which would have been perfect, but the remains of an old broken windmill as it squeaked and groaned with the breeze would have kept us awake all night. So we decided to push on to the Algebuckina Bridge where we made camp just as the shadows started to lengthen.

At 580m it was the longest bridge in South Australia until the Seaford suburban railway bridge across the Onkaparinga River was built in 2014. It opened in 1892 and cost 60,000 pounds to build. It makes a nice campsite next to the Neales River which is flood prone.

It’s amazing to see the bridge sitting there high above the river and to think that in 1974 a severe flood almost had the water touching the bridge decks.

A pretty sunset behind the Algebuckina Bridge.

On the road to Dalhousie Springs

We were almost at Oodnadatta and the road going into town showed the worst flood damage so far, with deep tyre grooves each side of the track. Here we took on some fuel and asked about track conditions ahead. Being told all roads were open, we headed off to Hamilton Station. This is where you turn off and head out to Dalhousie Springs. The road deteriorated almost immediately with bad corrugations and rocky surfaces.

We were traversing gibber (desert pavement) country now, and sometimes the gibbers looked smoother than the track. There are a number of floodways and rocky outcrops along this section, so don’t push your vehicle too hard. This very remote country so the last thing you need out here is a serious breakdown. The final 70km took us around 2 hours and we were very glad to see the ruins of the Dalhousie Homestead come into view.

Dalhousie Station originally covered an area of some 4500 square kilometres and was acquired by the state government in 1985, to make up Witjira National Park. It was another 12km to the springs.

No cool, refreshing dip at Dalhousie. More like a hot tub. But refreshing nonetheless.

Arriving at the campground

Arriving at the campground you may expect to be coming into some sort of an oasis. In a way you are, but the campground is pretty basic. It is after all on the edge of a large clay pan, on the edge of the Simpson Desert. There are toilets that are worked with a foot pump and cold showers.

I didn’t see anyone use the showers while we were there. Why would you when there was a 38-degree hot bath the size of an Olympic swimming pool that never got cold.

Any sort of soap is banned from being used in the springs which is understandable. So, most people just float around soaking. Water is piped to various taps around the camping area but it is bore water and may not taste the best. It is better to have your own drinking water. There are large rainwater tanks beside the toilet block if you are running low.

Fires are banned in the Witjira National Park, as they are in the Simpson Desert, even if you bring in your own firewood. Fallen timber is scarce, so what there is needs to be left on the ground as it provides shelter for small animals and insects.

Swimming in the springs

After selecting a campsite we quickly changed and headed for a swim. There are steps to allow easy access, and while the first part is deep, as you make your way into the centre it gets much shallower. It is a bit hot when you first enter the water, but you quickly acclimatise to it and then you can just relax.

Then you meet the fish. There are a several species of fish in the springs, the one you will undoubtedly see is the Dalhousie goby. This little fish, all 2.5cm of it, will love to come up to you and nibble away at any dry skin on your body. They can be very persistent, a bit like flies but under water. They don’t hurt, it is just rather unusual.

You will need a Desert Parks Pass if you are heading into the Simpson, but you can pay a day rate if you are only staying at the springs. We stayed for two and a half days just taking it easy, having an occasional hot dip.

There are walking trails here that take you around the springs, and also across the claypan to some mound springs further away. You can’t swim in these but it is an interesting walk as there are quite a few springs in the area. The scenery is typical of the outback so make sure you bring your camera.

The main pool at Dalhousie is large and is teaming with little goby fish who will invariably exfoliate your body.

The last afternoon

On our last afternoon, I gave the Land Rover and the caravan a check over to make sure all was okay. I also let some more air out of the tyres. I had 25 psi in them coming out so I dropped them down to 20 psi to see if it improved the ride.

It did seem to make a difference as we drove out the next day, and although we didn’t travel a whole lot faster it was a more comfortable ride.

Backtracking to Oodnadatta, then heading towards Coober Pedy

We backtracked to Oodnadatta, then made our way to Coober Pedy. This road was much better and we were averaging about 80km/h, and although there was still the occasional floodway to watch out for, we actually made good time. I’ve done a lot of travelling in Australia and this would have to be the most barren country I have ever seen. For as far as the eye could see there was nothing. Slightly undulating and featureless gibber plains. Here again, the recent rains have made a change to the landscape with carpets of yellow and white wildflowers coming up between the gibbers.

Coober Pedy

Arriving in Coober Pedy, it isn’t half obvious that this is a mining town. Everywhere you look there is an assortment of mining equipment. Some of it was rather old looking and dilapidated, and others looked a little newer. But it is in almost every yard we passed.

We had been to Coober Pedy a number of times so we only stopped long enough to refuel and pump the tyres up to around 40 psi before heading down the highway for about 12km to a large free camp that was well off the road.

The sunset that evening was amazing, with some great colours that made everything glow a warm golden colour. It was a lovely spot with a number of other vehicles here as well.

The last leg – following the Stuart Highway

We were now on the last leg and followed the Sturt Highway down to Port Augusta. So far we had good weather on this trip. But when we arrived at Port Augusta it got rather cloudy then started raining. We went about another 40km to Mambray Creek campground in the Mt Remarkable National Park, for our last night.

The Land Rover and caravan went extremely well, with the only failure being a clearance light lens that went missing off the van on our first day. We did the whole trip in 8 days and travelled almost 2500km. It was a good trip, but we had some long days on the road.

If you are considering heading up to Dalhousie Springs, then give yourself plenty of time. That way you can enjoy the journey more and truly appreciate the beauty of the outback.

Have you ever travelled out to Dalhousie Springs? Any travel tips for other keep outback tourers?

The post A Quick Trip to Dalhousie Springs – Part 2 appeared first on Snowys Blog.

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myriamfoster-blog1 · 6 years ago

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Our guided group tours are expertly designed for travellers who want to see the highlights of a country, or even multiple countries, with a group of like-minded people. Because they leave on set departure dates, these safaris are designed to make the most of the ideal game-viewing seasons and have the added benefit of often being much more affordable than a tailor-made tour. Of course, they are led by an expert guide who brings his or her superior knowledge, unique know-how, and charm along to make sure that the trip is like no other. Jenman African Safaris have been offering guided group tours in Africa for 21 years and our experience and constant striving to be the best tour operator means we’ve left no stone unturned when it comes to providing an unforgettable safari holiday.

Portrait of big lion crossing the road at Masai Mara National Reserve, tourist’s jeeps on background

Africa is a unique destination with unique circumstances and requirements. Preparing for a trip to any of its countries can require quite a bit more planning and research than say Europe or Southeast Asia, but as African experts we are able to provide a perfectly curated experience that is built on years of good relationships with our suppliers and vendors and a constant assessment of what works and what doesn’t.

Besides the ultimate convenience of a guided group tour, where everything is arranged for our guests by expert hands, travellers have the opportunity to connect with other guests and have stimulating interactions while on their holiday. Guests already have something in common with their fellow travellers, a desire to discover the beauty of Africa and a love for nature and wildlife. This shared special interest is able to inspire meaningful conversations (around the fire at night) and build connections that can often last a lifetime. As much as couples and families enjoy their time together on holiday they do sometimes need a bit of a break from each other to keep the peace. A guided group tour is the perfect solution as guests can interact with each other as much or as little as they please while benefiting from the advantage of excellent value for money a guided group tour provides.

The saying that there’s safety in numbers can provide a sense of comfort in the vast open spaces of Africa. Guests on a guided group tour won’t ever have to deal with a broken down car in the middle of the Namibian desert with nightime fast approaching, water supplies running low and no idea of when the next car might come by and whether those people will be able to help them. Or lost in the bush, not sure whether they’re their holding their map upside down or the road they were following has been washed away by a flash flood. Of course the driver and the guide know the route like the back of their hands and there’s no chance of getting lost regardless of whether there’s cellphone signal or not.

African penguin along the shoreline of Boulder’s Beach near Cape Town South Africa.

Tours like World in One Country or our Intimate Botswana and Zimbabwe Encounter are just 2 excellent examples of the many guided group tours that we offer and they are a wonderful way for travellers to experience their first taste of Africa with the unique value and benefits of a guided group experience that we at Jenman African Safaris provide.

The post How Guided Group tours hit that safari sweet spot appeared first on Jenman African Safaris.

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theeasdaleblr-blog · 6 years ago

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Not everyone has heard of Batangas, but it’s about time that it got on the map in regards to the top places to visit. A quaint province situated on the coast in the Philippines, it is definitely one to put on your bucket list. The issue with visiting a place for the first time is that you may get a couple of opinions on what you need to do and see there. This is why we have compiled a list of the top things that must be done when you visit Batangas so that you’ve done the experience justice. We’ve broken them down into the kinds of activities that you may be interested in so that it can cater to your needs more specifically.

Dive into the Sandy Beaches

It’s probably no surprise that the first thing that will attract you to Batangas are the amazing beaches; this is the essence, as it is a coastal province. There are around 10 different beaches that you can choose to visit in Batangas, and all are simply wonderful. If you’re interested in scuba diving that there are certain beaches that provide diving classes. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned diver, Batangas water has rich waters that are exciting to explore. Most resorts in Batangas Philippines are by the beach so you won’t have any issues when setting up a place to stay. You have to be sure to visit the Calatagan Resort though, as it is situated on a beautiful white sandy beach and their cottages that are placed on stilts give you a once in a lifetime experience with the incredible view.

Climb the Majestic Mountains

Batangas doesn’t only provide sandy beaches, but gorgeous, majestic mountains as well. If you really want to experience something beautiful, then you must sign up for a hike on Mount Manabo. There are a couple more mountains as well that are great for hiking, especially if you’re a beginner. But what you cannot miss out on is a visit to the Taal volcano. This is actually one of the world’s smallest active volcanoes and is very exciting to behold. How many people do you know that can actually say they’ve been on an active volcano!

Explore a Wealth of History

You’ll be pleasantly surprised to discover that this small province is actually quite rich when it comes to heritage and historical venues. You can visit the town of Taal, Batangas where the Spanish once colonized and there is still to this day, a lot that has been preserved from the time. There are a number of lighthouses, museums and libraries that date back quite a bit and will give you a deep insight into the history and culture of Batangas and the Philippines as whole. You also have to make it a point to take on the pilgrimage tour, which will take you on a tour of the historical churches in Batang- they are rich in architecture and history, and is really a once in a lifetime experience.

As small of a province as it may seem, and as underrated as it is, Batangas is really a place that will pull on your heartstrings and truly leave a mark. The wealth of nature and history is really quite impressive to say the least! While there’s plenty to do in Batangas, make sure that you get the options listed above because they are experiences that you would not want to miss out on.

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tinalus-blog · 6 years ago

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Autumn in Thessaly – 10 fairytale-like destinations you love

Autumn in Greece is incomparable; no doubt about that! The palette of colours begins to change with yellow, red and orange hues decorating the length and breadth of the country. The deciduous trees create this inspiring backdrop, upon which the first raindrops fall and where the first hint of a crisp north wind signal the change of season in the sweetest way possible.

, it is time for you to take us to 10 fairytale-like autumnal destinations in Thessaly!

Discovergreece.com has chosen 10 that you presented in your comments on the Coca Cola 3E video Autumn in Thessaly”!

Today we “lose ourselves” with you along picturesque footpaths and through tiny villages with a fairy-tale aura tucked between mountain slopes…

Just 18km away from the city of Trikala, Pili presides over the landscape, a town with a long history and rich cultural heritage.

Pelion

Almost hidden in dense vegetation, it is an essential chapter in Thessaly’s book of autumnal wonders!

A gorgeous town between Trikala and Karditsa, very near Lake Plastira, Elati and Pertouli with the famed ski centre Kalampaka and Meteora!

A traditional gem of a village with a unique autumnal ambience! Ideal for a one-day excursion if you happen to be in the city of Trikala.

We couldn’t possibly find a more representative caption than the one by Vaggelis! “The balcony of Kissavos”.

Dating back to the end of the Byzantine era, another destination for an unforgettable expedition to the heart of autumn!

Agios Georgios Nilias – Ano Gatzea. Hop on Moutzouris, the lovely little steam train of Pelion, and stop in Ano Gatzea for a cup of coffee and a visit to the Olive & Oil Museum. A wonderful ride!!

Perhaps one of the hottest options for an autumnal expedition! With a plethora of activities and charming guesthouses, this lakeside destination gives you plenty to do, after which you can just sit back and admire its marvellous scenery.

If you visit Volos or Pelion, grab the chance to see Trikeri, a traditional village by the sea with stone-built houses rising majestically on the mountainside.

The magnificent photo, along with his comment, tells us all we want to know about Panayiotis’ love for his village. Why not post a favourite photo too?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What more proof do you need that Thessaly hides hundreds of autumnal destinations of incomparable natural beauty? Which Thessaly destination for autumn would you recommend? Give us your answer in a comment below.

Do you follow us on Facebook and Instagram ? LIKE us on our social media and travel with us to every fantastic corner of our country! Use so we can see Greece through your camera lens every season of the year!

The post Autumn in Thessaly – 10 fairytale-like destinations you love appeared first on Discover Greece Blog.

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laraehrlich-blog · 6 years ago

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Original content owned & copyrighted by Green Global Travel.

Underground caves are mysterious and mesmerizing places to explore.

From marble caves, glow worms caves and those formed from glacial lagoons, to a cave of crystals, prehistoric rock art and ancient Mayan burial sites, natural caverns come in an incredible range of attractions.

From the Rio Secreto cave in Mexico to 10 BEST UNDERGROUND CAVES

Cave or Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave (Belize)

Glowworm (New Zealand)

Ice Cave (Iceland)

Marble (Chile)

Mountain River Cave, or Son Doong (Vietnam)

Cave (Scotland)

Mine or Cave of the Crystals (Mexico)

Cave (France)

(Australia)

Cave in Belize, photo by Peter Andersen via Creative Commons

Cave

is full of skeletons, pottery and other ceremonial objects left by the Maya. The cave’s most famous skeleton, “The Crystal Maiden,” features bones cemented into the floor by natural processes, leaving them with a sparkling appearance.

Through Get Your Guide

READ MORE: The 16 Best Mayan Ruins To Explore

New Zealand’s Glowworm , photo photo by Kristina D.C. Hoeppner via Creative Commons

glowworm caves, wherein thousands of magical glowworms illuminate a series of caves with their unmistakable light.

The glow worm, Arachnocampa luminosa, is a unique species only found in New Zealand, and makes these famous caves some of the world’s most unique.

Visitors can take a guided tour which explores three different levels of the caves including the catacombs, or opt to take a boat ride under the glowworms and witness a myriad of tiny bright lights dotting the cave ceilings – the lights of a thousand glowworms. Get more info about guided tours and read reviews at Get Your Guide.

READ MORE: Top 5 Ecotourism Attractions in New Zealand

Mogao , photo by intothegreen via Creative Commons

Mogao are known as the of the Thousand Buddhas– 492 cave temples near the city of Dunhuang, China, of which 30 are open to the public. These are the most famous Buddhist grottoes in China, carved into the sandstone cliffs of the Singing Sand (Mingsha) Mountains.

Originally dug out in 366 CE as places of Buddhist meditation and worship, the underground caves now contain religious artwork, murals, Buddhist sculptures and stone carvings which span across 10 dynasties, from the 4th to the 14th century.

There are over 2,000 color statues and 45,000 paintings throughout the caves, making this the greatest shrine of Buddhist art treasures in the world. Get more info on tours and read reviews at Get Your Guide.

READ MORE: Top 7 Things to Do in China for Nature Lovers

Ice Cave, photo by Orvar Thorgeirsson via Creative Commons

, Iceland, Ice Cave is one of the most unique natural wonders in the world. Travelers fortunate enough to step inside the ice cave are transported into a mesmerizing realm of blue glacial ice.

Blue ice is formed from the compression of pure snow, which develops into glacial ice over centuries of extreme pressure. This process eliminates the air originally caught in the ice when the snow fell, leaving very little reflective surface for the light from the sun.

bears more resemblance to an ice tunnel than a cave, and indirect daylight into the cave gives the ice its luminescent blue glow. To get more info on a Ice Cave tour and read reviews, check out Get Your Guide

READ MORE: 10 Incredible Iceland Waterfalls

Marble by Katrin Schulz from Pixabay

Lake General Carrera. These caves are only accessible via boat.

The caves are known for their propensity for constantly changing their appearance. The swirling patterns of the cavern walls are a reflection of the lake’s blue waters, which change in shade and intensity depending on the water levels, which are affected by weather and season.

READ MORE: The 20 Best Things to Do in (South America)

Mountain River Cave, photo by John Spies via Creative Commons

Son Doong Cave (or Mountain River Cave in English) is the largest cave in the world, formed around 2.5 million years ago. Over the years the river water eroded the limestone underneath the mountain, causing the ceiling of the cave to collapse and form what are now huge skylights.

The READ MORE: 20 Longest Rivers in the World (for Your World Travel Bucket List)

Fingals Cave, photo by Graeme Pow via Creative Commons

Cave is a sea cave constructed completely of hexagonal basalt columns and pillars (much like the Giant’s Causeway in Get Your Guide.

READ MORE: Top 10 Things To Do on the Isle of Skye (& How To Avoid Crowds)

Mine (Cave of the Crystals), photo by Paul Williams via Creative Commons

Mine is known as the Cave of Crystals because the main chamber is home to the world’s largest crystals on earth. The big crystal measures 39 feet (12m) in length, 13 feet (4m) in diameter and weighs about 55 tons.

The READ MORE: Top 20 Things to Do in Cancun (for Nature & History Lovers)

Etologic Horse Study in Cave, photo by Thomas T via Creative Commons

Cave is considered one of the world’s most significant sites of READ MORE: 5 Weird Foods the French Consider Delicacies

Cave, photo by Mike Jerrard

are home to the largest dolomite cave in Australia open to tourists, with chambers which started forming tens of millions of years ago.

One of the few caves in Australia formed from dolomite rather than limestone, the underground caves are beautifully illuminated throughout, and also home to a number of strange and fascinating animals.

Over 40 species have been discovered within the caves, many of which remain undescribed and are so used to living underground that they are unable to survive on the surface. To read more about Hasting Tours, check out Get Your Guide. –Meg Jerrard

READ MORE: 10 Awesome Australian Road Trips (for Your World Travel Bucket List)

Megan Jerrard

Megan Jerrard is an Australian journalist, and the founder and Senior Editor of Mapping Megan, an award-winning blog bringing you the latest in adventure travel from all over the globe. With the main aim of inspiring others to embark on their own worldwide adventure, Megan and her photographer husband Mike believe travel has the potential to inspire change in people, and in turn inspire change in the world. They embraced travel as a lifestyle in 2007, and are dedicated to documenting their journey through entertaining, candid articles and brilliant photography. Follow their journey on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram.

If you enjoyed our Amazing for Your World Travel Bucket List, you might also like:

10 Ancient Archaeological Sites For Your World Travel Bucket List

10 Great Lakes For Your World Travel Bucket List

10 Wonderful Waterfalls For Your World Travel Bucket List

10 Exotic Islands For Your World Travel Bucket List

The Best Coffee in the World: A Gourmet’s Guide

The post 10 Famous Underground for Your World Travel Bucket List appeared first on Green Global Travel.

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