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The Channel Islands are an archipelago of 8 islands in the Santa Barbara Channel, 5 of which were designated the Channel Islands National Park in 1980. Ferry service is available from Ventura Harbor and takes you on an enjoyable 1-2 hour ride through the Santa Barbara Channel—a literal playground for schools of marine life including California sea lions, harbor seals, common and bottlenose dolphins and various species of whales such as humpbacks and blue and grey whales, depending on the season. Channel Islands National Park is comprised of 5 islands: Santa Barbara Island, San Miguel Island, Santa Rosa Island, Santa Cruz Island and Anacapa Island. The second largest island in Channel Islands National Park, Santa Rosa is a popular island and easily accessible by ferry.

The National Park Service controls the recreation and protection of 4 areas: Redwood National Park, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Over 90% of the old-growth redwoods that grew along California’s northern coast were logged in the early 1900s prior to protection of this area. Walk amongst the giant trees at Big Tree Wayside Located right off Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway in nearby Prairie Creek State Park, this short, flat walk takes visitors to “Big Tree”, a 1,500 year old, nearly 300 foot tall redwood. The family-friendly hike at Trillium Falls in Redwood National Park takes you through old-growth redwoods, ferns, fir trees, maples, and trillium flowers to a small waterfall deep in the forest.

If your ideal day includes chilling out on a sun lounger by the beach (Kuta Beach is one of our favorite things to do in Bali), getting a $5 massage before heading out to the bars, and dancing the night away, Kuta could be the perfect place for you to stay. It’s the ideal area for a surfer’s getaway, a lover’s retreat, or a beach bum’s break. Nusa Dua is For: Family Trips, Luxury Resorts, and All the Wining and Dining Nusa Dua, feeling a world away from all of the hustle and bustle happening on the West Coast, is the perfect vacation spot for those looking to indulge in a bit of full-service luxury, and for those dreaming of that quintessential family holiday. Think a little town full of world-class resorts featuring private white sand beaches (home to Gunung Payung: one of the best beaches in Bali) with a calm ocean perfect for swimming, perfectly manicured acres of gardens, water-sports of all kinds, and fine dining overlooking the ocean.

Meanwhile, Central California has a stretch of sunny recreational areas situated along a similar latitude, from Sequoia and Kings Canyon to Pinnacle and Death Valley National Parks, all within reach of Yosemite. There can be nothing in the world more beautiful than the Yosemite, the groves of the giant sequoias and redwoods, the Canyon of the Colorado, the Canyon of the Yellowstone, the Three Tetons; and our people should see to it that they are preserved for their children and their children’s children forever, with their majestic beauty all unmarred.” Yosemite National Park topped that list—and is the most-visited national park in California—for good reason. This is no paradisiacal Yosemite and you won’t find any massive redwoods, but that doesn’t mean the rugged desert and its salt flats—like Badwater Basin, which boasts the lowest point in North America below sea level—don’t offer otherworldly views with vibrant colors. A Joshua Tree, the namesake of one of California’s most-visited national parks, isn’t a tree per say, but in fact a rather fragile but tough-looking yucca.

Whether you’re looking for the perfect picnic place, the hottest spots to snap an Insta pic, or somewhere to make the most of the warmer weather, here are 15 places for the best spring blooms in London. In March, crocus pepper color throughout the grassy spaces, while by April, a tunnel of pale pink cherry blossoms and deep pink plum blossoms run through the middle of the park. April is a particularly wonderful period, from the cherry blossoms of Kyoto Garden to the tulips of the Dutch Garden, you’re sure to find the perfect day out. Cherry blossoms in April and roses in June with a sprinkling of plenty of other varieties in between are just a few of the reasons a visit to Regent’s Park in spring is a must-do.

It’s home to the best right-hand surf break in the world, which means the town is filled with travelers looking to catch that perfect wave. While this sounds like a pat marketing pitch, it does not detract from the fact that there are some exquisite wines to be enjoyed by some of South Africa’s best winemakers. The famous Donkey Trail in Calitzdorp or the Bloupunt Trail in Montagu are both well-worth stretching your legs for, but one of the best places to hike is the Boosmansbos Wilderness Area. For something a little different, you can stop at an ostrich farm in the town of Oudtshoorn and learn all about these stately creatures, buy ostrich eggs, and even try ostrich meat.

The Gloucester Cheese Roll, officially Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling and Wake, is a thing of legend – the perennial focus of SportsCenter Top 10 countdowns, documentary crews, and collectors of offbeat experiences. A 4kg/9lb disc of Double Gloucester is carefully prepared in the weeks leading up to the event, handpicked by experts and wrapped tightly in cloth to ensure structural integrity and maximum speed. They say it’s not official, but we are all [Gloucester] people, and we’re running the cheese today, so it is official,” proclaimed former winner, Helen Thorpe. A word of advice for potential cheese chasers: Cooper’s Hill flattens out a little at the bottom, and after flying down a 50% gradient you might see the final section of the slope as flat land.

Originating in the 13th century, Songkran is a time for purification, to wash away the bad juju from the previous year and enter the new year free of negative spirits and ready for good blessings. While you’re in Bangkok, make sure to stop by the Wat Pho temple (also known as The Temple of the Reclining Buddha) where you can find the story of the history of Songkran engraved in granite slabs and an impressive opening ceremony for the holiday. This 5-star beachfront resort is the perfect option for those looking for some serious R&R. Cape Dara Resort about a 15-minute drive away from Pattaya’s Walking Street, so it’s a great way to escape the pandemonium of Songkran festivities. Away Resorts & Villas is a vegan-friendly resort that boasts a wonderfully relaxing atmosphere and is still just moments away from the bustling centre of Chiang Mai’s Old Town.

Originating in the 13th century, Songkran is a time for purification, to wash away the bad juju from the previous year and enter the new year free of negative spirits and ready for good blessings. While you’re in Bangkok, make sure to stop by the Wat Pho temple (also known as The Temple of the Reclining Buddha) where you can find the story of the history of Songkran engraved in granite slabs and an impressive opening ceremony for the holiday. This 5-star beachfront resort is the perfect option for those looking for some serious R&R. Cape Dara Resort about a 15-minute drive away from Pattaya’s Walking Street, so it’s a great way to escape the pandemonium of Songkran festivities. Away Resorts & Villas is a vegan-friendly resort that boasts a wonderfully relaxing atmosphere and is still just moments away from the bustling centre of Chiang Mai’s Old Town.

just curious and seeking some insight, look no further than right here for a few sometimes-funny, sometimes-scary first-hand accounts of what it’s like to travel while young, female, and Black. The same man from before greeted me, complimented my hair, and said he “liked this look better,” that I “look like an island girl now. Pyrgos itself is a beautiful location in Santorini; the maze-like structure hides many shops and restaurants that other tourists aren’t privy to! Maybe it was because I was traveling with a racially diverse group of friends, but I didn’t have that feeling of sticking out like a sore thumb.