Oʻahu, known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the State of Hawaiʻi. The world famous neighborhood of Waikiki is on Oʻahu home to public places including Kapiʻolani Park, Fort de Russy Military Reservation, Kahanamoku Lagoon, Kūhiō Beach Park, and Ala Wai Harbor.
In the middle of Texas Hill Country lies the charming city of New Braunfels named for Braunfels, in Germany. The city has a sizeable German Texan community. Old fashioned in its mannerisms, New Braunfels will make you feel right at home. Explore Gruene Historic District, float down the Guadalupe River and dine at Bier Gardens where you will enjoy the oompah music.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is a recreation and conservation unit of the National Park Service that encompasses the area around Lake Powell and lower Cataract Canyon in Utah and Arizona, covering mostly desert. Filled with geologic wonders, and a vast panorama of human history the recreation area also offers world class fishing, golf, powerboating, jetskiing and kayaking!
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is a nature reserve, primarily within the Colorado Desert region of Southern California. The park features vast arid landscapes and dramatic mountains. Anza Borrego has natural springs and oases with the state's only native palm, the endangered California fan palm. Some areas of Anza-Borrego Park is the habitat for the Peninsular bighorn sheep, and the oases are filled with wildlife of all types of fauna, especially for bird-watching. Throughout the Park, visitors may see Kit foxes, Mule deer, Coyotes, Greater roadrunners, Golden eagles, Black-tailed jackrabbits, Ground squirrels, Kangaroo rats, Quail, and Prairie falcons.
The Quapaw Quarter of Little Rock, Arkansas is a section of the city including its oldest and most historic business and residential neighborhoods. The name of the area was first given in 1961, honoring the Quapaw Indians who once lived in the area centuries ago. As many as fifteen separate National Historic Register Districts make up the Quapaw Quarter, including more than 200 separate homes and buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. Throughout the Quapaw Quarter, many small and large homes from the Antebellum and Victorian eras can be found, in addition to several examples of Craftsman-style architecture.
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida. The beaches, conventions, festivals and events draw over 38 million visitors annually into the city, from across the country and around the world! The historical Art Deco district in South Beach, is widely regarded as one of the most glamorous in the world for its nightclubs, beaches, historical buildings, and shopping.
Chaco Culture National Historical Park hosts the most close-knit and extraordinary accumulation of pueblos in the American Southwest. The park is located in northwestern New Mexico, between Albuquerque and Farmington, in a remote canyon cut by the Chaco Wash. Containing the most sweeping collection of ancient ruins north of Mexico, the park preserves one of the United States' most important pre-Columbian cultural and historic areas.
Brighton Beach is an ocean-side neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. Brighton Beach was dubbed "Little Odessa" by the local populace long ago, due to many of its residents having come from Odessa, a city of Ukraine. Brighton Beach is replete with restaurants, food stores, cafes, boutiques, banks, etc., located primarily along Brighton Beach Avenue and its cross streets.
Olympic National Park is located in the U.S. state of Washington, in the Olympic Peninsula. The park can be divided into four basic regions: the Pacific coastline, alpine areas, the west side temperate rainforest and the forests of the drier east side. The coastal portion of the park is a rugged, sandy beach along with a strip of adjacent forest. There are two native communities; the Hoh River has the Hoh people and at the town of La Push at the mouth of the Quileute River live the Quileute.
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is a state park in Monterey County, California near the town of Big Sur on the state's Central Coast. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is popular for its hiking trail through the redwood groves and trail to Pfeiffer Falls. The park is centered around the Big Sur River. It has been nicknamed a "mini Yosemite."
Polihale State Park is a remote wild beach on the western side of the Hawaiian island of Kauai. Its remoteness makes it difficult to access however with only sugar cane roads leading there, a four wheel drive vehicle is the best mode of transportation. Nothing is available for purchase anywhere in the park; visitors to the park should bring water, food, an umbrella, and all supplies they feel they need. It is most definitely worth the effort once you arrive.
Cape Cod Bay is a large bay off the Atlantic Ocean adjacent to the state of Massachusetts. Cape Cod Bay is also teeming with endangered whales with visits from over 200 different north Atlantic right whales. The Bay is filled with remote un-crowded beaches, delicious lobster specials and old world charm.
-Tracy Smith
Lake Chelan is the perfect spot for a summer vacation either as a romantic spot for two or adventure with the entire family, the dramatic landscape, direct access to water and warm summer temperatures make it an ideal destination. Take a ferry to Stehekin where the population is a mere 75 permanent residents, a short ride up Lake Chelan, and stroll through the historic district, the Stehekin Pastry Company, and the one-room Stehekin School.
Forest Grove is located in the Tualatin Valley, Oregon a short drive from Portland. One of the largest giant sequoia trees of the state of Oregon can be found in Forest Grove. Hagg Lake, just a few miles away, is a great fishing spot is filled with Rainbow Trout, and is also great for waterskiing, and kayaking. Downtown is a history buff's haven lined with ancient iron streetlamps, restored boutiques and wine bars.
Pyramid Lake is just northeast of Reno, Nevada and is named because of the rock formations peeking through the surface. The lake is completely within the Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation. Whether your visit to Pyramid Lake is incited by the guarantee of outstanding fishing, the allure of the warm, salty water, or simply to satisfy curiosity about the primitive lake, this is one Nevada gem that simply can't be ignored.
Fountain Point is an historic landmark located in Suttons Bay Township, Michigan. Its name is derived from a fountain of sparkling artesian spring water, situated on a large point on Lake Leelanau, which has been continuously gushing since 1867. Fountain Point includes smaller private residences and a large resort called Fountain Point Resort. It is open to the public, reservations only, Memorial Day through Labor Day, and features swimming, boating, tennis and numerous other indoor and outdoor activities.
Dillon Reservoir, sometimes referred to as Lake Dillon, is a fresh water reservoir bordered by the towns of Frisco, Silverthorne, and Dillon in Colorado. During ski season, thousands of people flock to the Dillon Reservoir area. Dillon Reservoir is close to four ski-resorts. The reservoir is also a center of attraction for the area. During the winter months, ice fishing and snowmobiling are common activities. For the warmer months, the Dillon Lake marina is open and hundreds of sailboats can be seen docked or sailing.
Lake Winnipesaukee is the largest lake in the state of New Hampshire. The lake contains at least 253 islands and has been a tourist destination for more than a century, especially for residents escaping the summer heat of Boston and New York City. Lake Winnipesaukee is a popular getaway for celebrities, politicians, and families alike.The area is home to numerous summer theater troupes and offers a variety of land and water recreational activities. There are numerous hiking trails in and around the surrounding mountains, which include the Ossipee Mountains to the east, the Belknap Range to the west, and Red Hill to the north.
Watkins Glen State Park is located on the edge of the village of Watkins Glen, New York, south of Seneca Lake in Schuyler County. The main feature of the park is the hiking trail that climbs up through the gorge, passing over and under waterfalls. Watkins Glen is in New York's Finger Lakes region, which has developed a reputation for crisp white wines, and there are many wineries to be explored. We recommend at least a 3 day trip when heading this way, as there is so much to see and do!
Lake Lure is a town in Rutherford County, North Carolina. The Lake Lure area has been used frequently as a filming location for major motion pictures, best known in Dirty Dancing (the dance scenes at the Lodge). It is also a common recreational area for residents and those within 100 miles of the Lake from four states to come visit, picnic, water ski, boat and fish or spend the summer. Dotted with small businesses Lake Lure is a town that will make you feel right at home with its friendly people and picturesque setting.
Mammoth Lakes is a town in Mono County, California. Mammoth Lakes resides on the edge of the Long Valley Caldera. The area around the town is geologically active with natural hot springs which are great after a day of skiing. The town is best known for its lakes, a soda springs, and an obsidian dome. Mammoth Lakes is north of the Owens Valley, a beautiful scenic area with extensive hiking opportunities and adventure tourism.
Wallowa Lake is a ribbon lake one mile south of Joseph, Oregon. On the south end of the lake is a small community made up of vacation homes, lodging, restaurants, as well as other small businesses. Wallowa Lake has been used for recreation since at least 1880. Located near the lake is an aerial cable gondola lift. It runs from the bottom of the valley to the top of Mount Howard. From the tram car, the passenger can see spectacular views of Wallowa Lake as well as the surrounding mountains.
The Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve is a U.S. National Park in Alaska. It is the northernmost national park in the U.S. (the entirety of the park lies north of the Arctic Circle) and the second largest, about the same size as Switzerland. The wildlife is spectacular with moose, barren-ground grizzlies, Dall sheep, black bears, wolves, and caribou calling this park home. The park also features six Wild and Scenic Rivers.
Zippel Bay State Park is a state park in Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota in the United States. It is on the white sand beach shoreline of the Lake of the Woods, near the United States border with Canada. The park is open for year-round recreation including camping, hiking, fishing and cross-country skiing. The park is a great family destination and the kids will love picking choke cherries, blueberries, cranberries, Juneberries, pin cherries, and strawberries as well as catching glimpses of moose, deers, minks, otters, eagles and marine birds!
-Tracy Smith
Luster, one of the largest municipalities in southern Norway, is located in the glacial mountains where the Sognefjord begins its path to the North Sea making landscapes that seem almost surreal. The municipality is home to Feigumfoss waterfall one of the highest in the Scandinavian area and Urnes stave church built in 1150, Norway's oldest Stave church.
Île aux Cerfs (French for deer island) is an island near the east coast of the island of Mauritius. Nowadays there are no more deer on the island, but it has the most beautiful beaches. Every day, tourists visit the island. They depart in boats from the village of Trou d'Eau Douce and spend the whole day on the island. There are plenty of water sports to do as well just take in the natural beauty the island has to offer.
Trunk Bay is one the Virgin Islands National Park's most famous attractions! World class stretch of white sand, clear cerulean water with a marked underwater snorkeling trail popular with beginner snorkelers, and just pure natural resplendence await you at Trunk Bay. I recommend going on one of the "off days" cruise ships do stop there and it can get crowded.
Hvar is a Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea. The island is characterized by its fresh water springs, hillsides covered in pine forests, vineyards, olive groves, fruit orchards and lavender fields. With its mild winters, and warm summers the island of Hvar is a popular destination for tourists, consistently listed in the top 10 islands by Conde Nast Traveler magazine.
Apo Island is one of the world's top diving spots. It is located off the southeastern tip of Negros Island, in the Philippines. The marine habitat around the island is a marine reserve, and it has become a popular dive site and snorkeling destination because of its 650 species of fish and over 400 species of corals!
Cartagena is a Mediterranean city and naval station located in the Region of Murcia, southeastern Spain. Thanks to its strategic position on the Mediterranean, Cartagena has been inhabited by many different cultures which have left their mark on its rich cultural heritage during a glorious and turbulent history. There are plenty of great Roman ruins to explore including the the recently restored Roman theatre of Carthago Nova shown here.
Zlatni Rat is a narrow white pebble beach on a promontory near Bol, located 2 km west of Bol harbour, on the southern coast of the island of Brač, Croatia. The beach is bordered by a pine tree grove where the remnants of a Roman villa rustica, including a swimming pool. The beach is also popular with windsurfers due to a reliable afternoon westerly wind known as a Maestral.
Holbox is an island in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, located on the north coast of the Yucatán Peninsula. It is separated from mainland Mexico by a shallow lagoon that is home to flamingos, pelicans and other rich bird life. It is still relatively new on the tourist hot spot list but is growing each year because of whale shark viewing.
-Tracy Smith
The Mentawai Islands are a chain of about seventy islands and islets off the western coast of Sumatra in Indonesia. The Mentawai Islands have become a renowned destination for surfing. Mentawai Islands waves are known by all the experienced surfers and it said to be one of two best surfing locations in the world.
Florianópolis is the capital city of Santa Catarina State in southern Brazil. The city has 42 beaches and is a center of surfing activity. Joaquina Beach (pictured below) was made famous in the 70's when it was discovered by surfers, the beach now hosts a number of surfing competitions and is also home to one of the best Samba clubs in Florianópolis.
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles and is one of the 27 regions of France. An amazing blend of French and Caribbean cultures, Guadeloupe caters to all travelers from small beach towns and surf schools to delicious gourmet French cuisine. There are five islands in the archipelago each with its own unique character; so visit them all and experience underwater parks and even an active volcano!
The Samoan Islands or Samoa Islands are an archipelago in the central South Pacific. The Samoan Islands has one of the largest Polynesian populations in the world, and despite colonialism they have retained their Samoan culture and customs. The islands have quite the paradisaical landscapes, lush green valleys, tropical rainforests, blowholes, submerged volcanoes and pristine beaches all make up a part of this picturesque chain.
Lofoten is an archipelago in the county of Nordland, Norway. Though lying within the Arctic Circle, Lofoten experiences one of the world's largest elevated temperature at that latitude. With 24 hours of daylight in the summer and its natural beauty Lofoten has become a rock climbing and cycling paradise. The sea is rich with marine life, and the islands are home to the world's largest deep water coral reef!
Kaikoura is a town on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. The Kaikoura Peninsula extends into the sea south of the town the resulting currents bring with them an abundance of marine life. Due to this Kaikoura has become a popular tourist destination, mainly for whale watching especially sperm whales and swimming with or near dolphins.
The Gulf of California or "Sea of Cortés" as preferred by most local residents is a body of water that separates the Baja California Peninsula from the Mexican mainland. The narrow sea is home to a unique and rich ecosystem; like the critically endangered Vaquita, the Humpback Whale, California Gray Whale, Killer Whale, Manta Ray and Leatherback Sea Turtle, and the world's largest animal, the Blue Whale. There is also unusual resident populations of Fin Whales and Sperm Whales!
-Tracy Smith
Anguilla is a British overseas territory in the Caribbean, one of the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles. Anguilla is noted for its spectacular and ecologically important coral reefs and beaches. Apart from the main island of Anguilla itself, the territory includes a number of other smaller islands and cays, mostly tiny and uninhabited.
Forte dei Marmi is a sea town and commune in the province of Lucca, in northern Tuscany, Italy. The population of the town, close to 7,700, nearly triples during the summer, because of the hundreds of tourists who head there for the famous sandy beaches. Every Wednesday Forte dei Marmi holds a weekly market that deals in designer clothing and bags and is infamous for its bargains.
Kuta is a village in southern Bali, Indonesia. A former fishing village, it was one of the first towns on Bali to see a serious rise in tourist development, and as a beach resort remains one of Indonesia's major tourist destinations. It is renown throughout the world for its long sandy beach, varied accommodations, many restaurants and bars, and famous surfers who visit from Australia.
Lauca National Park is located in Chile's far north, in the Andean range. One of the main attractions of the park is the small lacustrine area formed by Chungará and Cotacotani lakes, which lies at the foothills of the Nevados de Payachata. Other majestic volcanoes forming part of the national park are the Guallatiri and the Acotango. Lauca features include archaeological sites, lava fields and volcanic calderas. Within the park is located the town of Parinacota with its colonial church.
Cocos Island is an uninhabited island located off the shore of Costa Rica. Surrounded by deep waters, the Island is admired by scuba divers for its populations of Hammerhead sharks, rays, and dolphins! The famous oceanographer Jacques Cousteau visited the island several times and in 1994 called it "the most beautiful island in the world". This island is popular in pirate lore as well, with a few small caches discovered it leads many to believe the stories of vast pirate treasures to be valid.
Calp is a coastal town located in the comarca of Marina Alta, in the province of Alicante, Spain, by the Mediterranean Sea. Some of the most important monuments in Calp are the ruins of Els banys de la Reina, (the Queen's baths), the flooded salt flats, a bird sanctuary for migratory birds, its Gothic Catholic church and the tower of La Peça, dating from the 18th century.
Ciudad del Carmen is a city in the Mexican state of Campeche. Ciudad del Carmen is located on the southwest of Carmen Island, which stands in the Laguna de Términos on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The city is nicknamed "The Pearl of the Gulf". Ciudad del Carmen was a small fishing city until the 1970s when oil was discovered; since then it has grown and developed substantially. To this day Carmen is known as one of the best locations to find seafood in Mexico.
Chandigarh translates as "The Fort of Chandi". Also refered to as the "City Beautiful" it serves as the capital of two states, Punjab and Haryana in India. As the first planned city of India, Chandigarh is known internationally for its architecture and urban planning, particularly the numerous architectural projects. Chandigarh has very hot summers and mild winters making it a great destination for those looking to escape colder weather.
-Tracy Smith
Taal Lake is a freshwater lake in the province of Batangas, on the island of Luzon, Philippines. Volcano Island, the location of Taal Volcano's historical eruptions and responsible for the lake's sulfuric content, lies near the center of the lake. There is a crater lake on Volcano Island, which is in Lake Taal, which is located on Luzon Island. Regular tours of the lake are available to tourists.
Lake Malawi, also known as Lake Nyasa in most countries is the eighth largest lake in the world, and is located between Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Its beautiful tropical waters are home more species of fish than those of any other body of freshwater on Earth!
Peyto Lake is a glacier-fed lake located in Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies. During the summer, significant amounts of glacial rock flour flow into the lake, and these suspended rock particles give the lake a bright, turquoise color. It is a popular sightseeing spot for tourists in the park.
Lake Atitlán is a large lake in the Guatemalan Highlands. The lake is volcanic in origin, filling an enormous caldera formed in an eruption 84,000 years ago. It is renowned as one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. The lake is surrounded by many villages, in which Maya culture is still prevalent and traditional dress is worn. There is no road that circles the lake. Communities are reached by boat or roads from the mountains that may have brief extensions along the shore.
Loch Lomond is the largest loch/lake in Great Britain, and contains many islands, including Inchmurrin, the largest fresh water island in the British Isles. It is a popular tourist destination and is open to every kind of watercraft including kayaks, canoes, wind-surfers, jetskis, speedboats and cruisers. Loch Lomond is one of Scotland's premier boating and watersports venues and the scenery draws people from all over the world!
Lake Nakuru is one of the Rift Valley soda lakes, it is south of Nakuru in the rift valley of Kenya and is protected by Lake Nakuru National Park. The lake's abundance of algae attracts the vast quantity of flamingos that famously line the shore. Aside from the famous flamingos the park also has white and black rhinos, giraffes, lions, cheetahs, leopards and large sized pythons that inhabit the dense woodlands, and can often be seen crossing the roads or dangling from trees!
Lake Bled is a glacial lake in the Julian Alps in northwestern Slovenia, where it adjoins the town of Bled. The lake and surrounding area is a popular tourist destination. The lake is situated in a picturesque environment, surrounded by mountains and forests. A medieval castle stands above the lake on the north shore. The lake surrounds Bled Island, the only natural island in Slovenia. The island has several buildings, the main one being the Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Mary, built in the 15th century.
Laguna Verde (Green Lagoon) is a salt lake in the southwest of the altiplano of Bolivia, in the Potosí Department, Sur Lípez Province, on the Chilean border at the foot of the volcano Licancabur. If you're lucky you may find some flamingos dancing in the salt. The laguna verde is well known for its spectacular scenery and hot springs.
Emerald Lake is located in Yoho National Park, British Columbia, Canada. It is the largest of Yoho's 61 lakes and ponds, as well as one of the park's premier tourist attractions. During the summer months canoe rentals are available; in the winter, the lake is a popular cross country skiing destination.
Craighead Caverns is an extensive cave system located in Sweetwater, Tennessee. It is best known for containing the United States' largest and World's second largest underground lake, The Lost Sea. Boat tours of the lake are given and for many people are the highlight of the tour!
Lake McKenzie is a perched lake on Fraser Island in Queensland, Australia. The sands around the lake are composed of pure, white silica and the water in the lake is also so pure it is unsuitable for many species. Fraser island is a popular tourist destination for camping, hiking and seeing dingoes in a natural habitat.
Blanca Lake is located in the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness Area in the Cascade Mountains of the U.S. state of Washington. Blanca Lake is accessible only by foot, along the Blanca Lake Trail. Due to its elevation, and the heavy snow snowpack of the Pacific Northwest, Blanca Lake is typically only easily accessible from July until the snows of October or November. Its beauty makes it a very popular destination for hikers, despite the difficult climb up the mountain trail.
Five-Flower Lake, is the signature lake of Jiuzhaigou Valley. It is a shallow multi-coloured lake whose bottom is littered with fallen tree trunks. The water is so clear that you can see the trunks clearly. The water comes in different shares of turquoise, from yellowish to green, to blue.
-Tracy Smith
