the Travel Enthusiast
- 07 Marandra88 in Travel Planning | NO COMMENTS
5 great ethnic neighborhoods from around the world
Tokyo sur Seine, photo by firepile on Flickr
One of the best things about large cities is that they are not uniform, and behind every street corner you might as well find something new, something that you haven’t encountered before. And large cities tend to have little pockets of culture where people have retained their own sense of style, and sometimes language and culture.
Ethnic enclaves might have started out as something else, but today they tend to be oases of color and uniqueness inside cities. Plus, they are the go-to place if you are in search of ‘authentic’ cuisine and products, as well as interesting sights. Here are 5 great ethnic neighborhoods from around the world, for travelers who want to break the monotony. …
- 01 Mar
The most fascinating greenhouses from around the world
Royal Greenhouses of Laeken, photo by Luc Viatour on Flickr
Just because an exotic plant native to some remote Pacific island could not possibly survive a temperate weather with its unavoidable cold rains and snows didn’t mean that enthusiastic botanists didn’t try their best to find ways to keep their hobbies alive.
Greenhouses were already being built in the 13th century, but even the ancient Roman new a thing or two about growing plants in controlled spaces.
Nowadays, you can find industrial sized greenhouses in many countries (Holland has some of the biggest greenhouses in the world), but it’s the greenhouses that were built for fun, style, or science that are really worth visiting. Here are some of the most fascinating greenhouses from around the world that make visit-worthy travel attractions. …
- 08 Febtylerd in Travel Planning | 1 COMMENT
The world’s most underrated islands that make great travel destinations
Maluku, photo by Eustaquio Santimano
Bora Bora, the Cayman Islands, the many islands of Thailand and other island destinations that usually catch the traveler’s eye in brochures and guides are often the only kind of island destinations that are mentioned at all.
Not only because they are naturally beautiful, but also because they are have well developed tourist facilities. But there are so many other islands and island nations on the planet that would do just as well, despite the fact that they get fewer visitors and are less well endowed with luxury resorts and touristy restaurants.
Whether you like your islands tropical, exotic, rugged, windswept, tree-covered or cold, there are hundreds of islands is the world that deserve a little more attention from visitors. Here are some of the world’s most underrated islands that make great travel destinations. …
- 27 Janitachan in Travel Planning | NO COMMENTS
Easter skiing: 5 resorts with late-season snow
Saas Fee, photo by Claudio Vosti
Not everyone celebrates Easter, but whatever you are planning to do on Easter Sunday and a few days before or after, mid-April is a great time to go on a short holiday.
With Spring in full bloom it isn’t difficult to find some nice outdoor destinations where you can enjoy the sun, but what if you’re not ready to let go of winter yet?
If you haven’t managed to go frolic in the snow during the winter months,
April is not too late yet. If you’re not planning on spending Easter at home, why not go on a ski vacation?
There are quite a few ski resorts around the world where you can enjoy some subzero temperatures even in April. Here are some destinations for Easter skiing: 5 resorts with late-season snow.
- kachou_n in Fun and Travel | NO COMMENTS
The best wildlife watching destinations in the world
Komodo Dragon, photo by Adhi Rachdian
Nothing compares to the feeling you get when seeing a wild animals in its natural habitat, especially if it comes as a surprise. Now that travel is becoming more and more eco-conscious, an increasing number of people opt for wildlife vacations that allow them to get in touch with nature and get away from the hubbub of the city.
If you’re curious what it’s like to see elephants, gorillas or whales off the TV screen, now it’s easier than ever to embark on a breaht-taking, life-changing adventure that will surely give you a different outlook on wild animals. Here are some of the best wildlife watching destinations in the world, where you get the chance to meet a few of the most fascinating species on the planet. …
- 19 Jantylerd in Travel Planning | NO COMMENTS
The world’s most livable cities, from a traveler’s point of view
Auckland
Year after year, The Economist as well as Mercer compile lists of the most livable cities on the planet. If you want to move to another city and you want to make sure that you’ll get better living conditions than at your last home, it’s a good list to consult. But just because a city has a wealth of stuff to buy and services, or because it has good roads and little crime does not mean that they instantly become hot tourist attractions.
So what are the advantages of visiting the kind of city you’d like to live in? Are they more tourist-friendly than your run of the mill town, or do they only make the tourist’s job harder? Here the pros and cons of visiting the world’s most livable cities, from a traveler’s point of view. …
- 13 Janandra88 in Amazing Places | NO COMMENTS
The best post-holiday trips to recharge your batteries
Salzburg
Having fun and partying for days and nights on end can take their toll on your body and your mind, so what can you do to get back on your feet after the busy holiday season? Instead of lounging at home and watching travel documentaries, here’s a much more enjoyable way to rest – by traveling!
Of course, if you had a busy and exhausting December, maybe going on a backpacking trip is not the suitable plan for you – but going on a lazy vacation that entails only relaxing and enjoying life will do wonders to perk you up.
So if you are in need of an antidote for the post-New Year blues or if you just want to go somewhere and unwind, here are some of the best post-holiday trips to recharge your batteries. …
- 27 Deckachou_n in Travel Planning | 1 COMMENT
The longest train trips in the world
The Canadian, photo by Simon Pielow
In the age of jet travel, fewer and fewer people take the train when traveling, and the reasons are obvious: it takes a fraction of the time needed for a train trip, it is more comfortable and you can travel greater distances without minding the obstacles, across mountains and oceans.
But those travelers who feel some measure of nostalgia for the long-gone days when traveling was not quite as widespread as today will probably still look fondly at trains and railway stations.
A train trip is far from being a waste of time even today, even if it takes as much time as a whole holiday would last. You get to meet interesting people, you rush past wonderful scenery and do some introspection on your way to some great destination. For railway fans, here are the longest train trips in the world. …
- 05 Decitachan in Travel Planning | NO COMMENTS
The best outdoor ice skating rinks in the world
Toronto, photo by santaz_elv on Flickr
In temperate regions, it’s already the beginning of winter, and if you’re lucky to be in the middle of a cold winter with snow and ice, like in the good old times, then people have probably already started enjoying the wonders of frozen water.
Staging snowball fights or ice skating outside are the best parts of winter, especially if you have a whopping huge ice skating rink at your disposal. Even if the technicalities of a double loop jump escape you, ice skating is good fun for everyone (especially if you don’t mind a few scraped knees and elbows). So if you want to ice skate in style, check out some of the best outdoor ice skating destinations in the world. …
- 02 Decpapillon in Travel Planning | NO COMMENTS
The most picturesque walking paths in the world
Camino de Santiago, photo bycompostelavirtual.com on Flickr
Before the time of cars, trains or planes, budget travelers who wanted to see the world didn’t have many options besides walking. And walk they did, so much and for so long that the paths forged by these early travelers still exist today.
And while the traveler of the 21st century can travel thousands of miles in a matter of hours, there are still plenty of people who still enjoy the simpler pleasures of seeing beautiful scenery at a leisurely pace, while walking.
Whatever your reasons for walking are (healthy exercise, a love of nature), there are plenty of walking trails that can awaken the love of walking even in the laziest person. Here’s a list of the most picturesque walking paths in the world. …
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