New National Park in the Caribbean is the Seahorse Capital of the World
Of all the creatures of the oceans, seahorses may be one of the most magical and endearing. And now, a new maritime preserve in the Caribbean with the densest population of seahorses in the world has been designated to protect this weird and wonderful fish. Seahorses are indeed fish! But they are unique among fish species, with that distinctive upright posture, horse-like head, prehensile tail that can grasp onto things… and bony armor instead of scales. If you were asked to...
This Hotel Gives You Access to Rome's Gardens and Private Villas with Top Horticulturalists
Rome’s iconic history, culture, and ‘dolce vita’ come to life in its green spaces, and one of the city’s luxury hotels is letting guests immerse themselves in some of its legendary gardens and access private villas guided by local horticultural experts. Imagine visiting the renowned Borghese, Vatican and Tivoli gardens as well as some of the Eternal City’s private homes with the most exceptional floral displays, and even meeting the owners! The Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese has arranged for guests to have...
VIDEO: Get Active and Immersed into French Lifestyle on an Emerald Rhone River Cruise
It’s a balancing act – French style! Indulgence meets outdoor activity in the south of France on our Emerald river cruise on the Rhone and the Saone. The south of France has a legendary way of life, and a river cruise is one of the best ways to experience it all. That includes its wine, cheese, chocolate, olives, fine cuisine and gastronomic delights as well as an active lifestyle. And on our Emerald river cruise, the cruise line’s Active program of...
Top Countries for Wildlife Viewing - and What to Photograph There
Wildlife photography safaris have never been more popular, as constant advances in technology make incredible image capture more accessible to ordinary travelers. One study of millions of wildlife photos on a photo-sharing website has revealed which countries’ creatures are the subject of the most snaps – indicating the best places to go to photograph some of the planet’s most photogenic wildlife. The survey of photos determined the number of wildlife photos as a percentage of all photos taken in a...
This Alpine Resort Has the World's Highest Snow Maze
Move over corn mazes! The winter version of the classic fall countryside activity is the snow maze. And one ski resort has laid claim to the highest alpine snow maze in the world. Colorado’s Copper Mountain snow maze opened mid-January, and with a base elevation of over 9700 feet, the snow maze’s location on the mountain next to one of its lifts puts it in record-breaking territory.The 2500-acre alpine resort about 75 miles west of Denver has already been blessed...
3 Unique Ways to Get Active Outdoors in French St. Martin
The twin-nation island of St. Martin is one of the Caribbean's most popular destinations. It's the smallest place in the world divided between two countries: the south end is Dutch and the north end is French. Famous for its beaches, shopping and gastronomy, there's much more to St. Martin. Whether you're in St. Martin on a cruise ship port of call or an extended stay at a hotel or resort, we recommend you explore the wild side of French St....
Cruise Travelers to the Great Lakes Could Soon have a New U.S. National Marine Sanctuary to Visit
Cruises in the Great Lakes are spiking in popularity, and a proposed new National Marine Sanctuary adds to the many attractions of a Great Lakes cruise. The Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary isn’t a done deal just yet. In April of 2019, following a New York state community nomination, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) subsequently announced its intention to designate a national marine sanctuary in eastern Lake Ontario. You’ll recognize some other beloved maritime destinations NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuary...
Castles and Coastlines, The Berlin Wall and 'Baths:' Four Incredible Cycling Routes in Germany
Health- and eco-conscious, Germans have embraced bicycles for getting around urban centers every day, and on leisure time in the countryside. Visitors can take a cue from the locals and explore the country on two wheels, too. Germany has a strong cycling infrastructure, including rental, repair and other services catering to cyclists, plus a vast, nation-wide network of cycling trails that give you new perspective into the country’s fascinating ancient and modern history, its culture and lifestyle.Here are four cycling...
The Very First National Park Turns 150
It’s not just the first national park in the U.S. It’s the first national park in the world. In March, 1872, American president Ulysses S. Grant signed into law the establishment of Yellowstone National Park to preserve and protect some of the country’s most emblematic scenery and wildlife for future generations. That first national park represented the start of the entire U.S. National Park system. Today, the National Park Service manages 85 million acres of land, comprising 63 National Parks and...
A New, Underwater "Ocean Highway" for Galapagos
At 2021’s Climate summit in Glasgow, something pretty extraordinary for one of the natural world’s greatest treasures happened. Neighboring countries Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica and Panama got together and agreed to create an ‘ocean highway’ to allow threatened marine species in and around the richly and uniquely biodiverse Galapagos Islands to safely travel to the territories they need to survive. The Galapagos Islands famously inspired the pivotal works about evolution of species by Charles Darwin. The Islands are part of...