There’s nothing quite like looking at beautiful pictures from a specific destination to instantaneously induce wanderlust. These new “national park photo inspiration” posts are aimed at doing just that: making you want to visit a certain national park. In this case, Acadia National Park. Acadia National Park is the only national park in New England,…
Big Meadows is one of the star attractions in Shenandoah National Park. Situated on milepost 51, this large expanse of grasslands dotted with patches of trees and groups of shrubs is absolutely worth a stop. This is also the location of the excellent Byrd Visitor Center, a complex consisting of an exhibit on Shenandoah National…
When Caroline and I were driving along Shenandoah National Park’s epic Skyline Drive last week, we stopped to check out Dark Hollow Falls, but also at the Byrd Visitor Center at Big Meadows to pick up a hiking guide. The views from that visitor center, incidentally, are pretty great, so definitely make sure to stop…
Shenandoah National Park is famous for many things. There is iconic, absolutely spectacular Skyline Drive. 40% of the park’s surface is designated wilderness; it is home to the densest black bear population in the United States. And there are various spectacular waterfalls. One of the most popular waterfalls in Shenandoah National Park is Dark Hollow Falls….
North Dakota is home to no fewer than five national parks, trails and historic sites, which protect and preserve both Native American and pioneering history, as well as some of the most beautiful landscapes in the northern Midwest.
The northernmost national park in England, Northumberland National Park is situated between the border with Scotland in the north and Hadrian’s Wall in the south. Covering more than 1,000 square kilometers (400 square miles), this is both one of the least populated and least visited national parks in England. Northumberland National Park is one of…
Ireland. The island of legends and leprechauns, of ruined castles and abandoned abbeys, of trad music and pubs, of clovers and St. Patrick. There can be no denying that Ireland is an enchanting country. That is why many people from all over the world dress up in green and drink Guinness on St. Patrick’s Day….
After a handful of blog posts (see below), I think I’ve made it clear that I’m quite fond of Slovenia. We spent a week in that gloriously diverse southeastern European country last summer and were totally overwhelmed by what it has to offer. Hopefully, the selection of Slovenia photos in this photo essay will inspire…
I won’t say that the United States is the world’s best country for road trips—that award goes to Australia, in my opinion—but it’s a darn close second. From the Appalachian Mountains that parallel the East Coast to the Rocky Mountains in the west, and from the Great Lakes to the wetlands of the Deep South,…
I’ve said it before—no other country has ever surprised me in a more positive way than Slovenia did last summer. Visiting it was like taking a breath of fresh air after spending a whole day inside. We spent one week in Slovenia and, based on our experiences, I recommend that you do the same when…
You could dedicate one afternoon to visiting Cinque Terre National Park, but you could just as easily choose it as a destination for a two-week vacation. I suggest going for the latter. Situated on the rugged coast of northwestern Italy, Cinque Terre National Park consists of five villages—the “cinque terre”—, coastal cliffs, uniquely steep vineyards,…
I’ve noticed that I’m beginning to focus more and more on UNESCO World Heritage Sites when I travel. Those places are all unique on their own way, whether it’s because of their natural landscape or historic value. I love them. Belgium happens to be home to no fewer than eleven World Heritage Sites, which is…
In October, Caroline and I hiked the 112-kilometer (70-mile) Müllerthal Trail in Luxembourg’s Little Switzerland. By doing so I checked off one of my main goals for this year: completing a long-distance hike. Although it is definitely one of Europe’s less known long-distance hiking trails—I, myself, didn’t even know it until a week or two…
People who haven’t ventured past it will think that I’m crazy for saying this, but when you’re visiting Slovenia, you can skip Lake Bled. Sure, if the weather is nice, you may want to walk around it and snap some pictures, but the real beauty awaits 26 kilometers (16 miles) to the southwest. After driving…