Exploring Unseen (2024)

25/01/2022

Whether you're driving along the Road to Hana, enjoying a bird's-eye view of the lush coastline from a helicopter, snorkeling with sea turtles or simply relaxing on the Hawaiian island's honey- or black-colored beaches, you'll find that Maui is unlike any other tropical destination. Don't miss a chance to visit Haleakala National Park, which is home to the world's largest dormant volcano. You should also attend a luau for a dose of local culture and a taste of Hawaiian specialties like poi, poke and mahimahi.

25/01/2022

The magnetic City of Light draws visitors from around the globe who come to see iconic attractions like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe. But what travelers really fall in love with are the city's quaint cafes, vibrant markets, trendy shopping districts and unmistakable je ne sais quoi charm. Get lost wandering along Paris' cobblestone streets, or grab a croissant and relax on the banks of the Seine for hours. If you're up for a quick daytrip, head about 15 miles southwest of the city center to another must-see attraction: the Palace of Versailles.

25/01/2022

New Zealand's South Island brims with majestic landscapes at every turn, from dramatic mountains to fjords to glaciers. Here, you can admire the mountains of Fiordland National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, from hiking trails or a boat on Milford Sound. At night, journey to the University of Canterbury's Mount John Observatory to gaze at the starry skies. You can also indulge your inner daredevil in Queenstown, explore two of the most accessible glaciers in the world on the island's west coast or sample delicious food and wine in the Marlborough region.

20/01/2022

Sri Lanka. The leaf-shaped country is approximately the size of West Virginia and Schultz refers to it as “India in miniature.” One of the lesser known facts about the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (known as Ceylon until 1972) is that it is the world’s largest tea exporter and was among the first country’s to institute ethical production practices. Its citizens are also highly educated and, as Schultz eagerly points out, the island boasts the highest literary rate in Asia.

20/01/2022

Cuba. Thanks to the reestablishment of diplomatic relations with the island nation, Americans will be able to visit for the first time in over 50 years. That said, the country’s relative isolation presents a bit of a Catch-22 for would-be travelers. Its history is well preserved and its rich music and dance traditions remain arguably unrivaled in the Caribbean, but its infrastructure is very limited, especially for tourism.

20/01/2022

Burma, officially called the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, which has recently begun encouraging Western tourism. Schultz compares Burma/Myamar, which borders Bangladesh, India, Laos, Thailand and China, to Bangkok “20 or 30 years ago.” Many citizens can’t get passports and Schultz reports that they are, as a result, very welcoming and appreciative of foreign visitors. She notes the country’s abundance of grand colonial hotels and its “ancient, untouched past.”

18/01/2022

As host city for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Birmingham will be girding itself for an influx of athletes and sporty spectators next year. But a tidal wave of increasingly impressive food offerings are positioning the UK’s ‘second city’ as a prime spot for gourmands too, going beyond its famous ‘Balti Triangle’ to showcase cult burger joints, experimental fine-dining spots and trad, white-tablecloth stalwarts.

There are currently five Michelin-starred restaurants in Brum (more than any other city in the UK, outside of London), from Purnell’s – where best-of-British dishes sit alongside ‘Brummie tapas’ and Bournville honey cake – to buzzy Indian fine-dining spot Opheem, which places Orkney scallops on its progressive seasonal menu alongside lamb pau and cod korma. But it’s hole-in-the-wall spots such as Bonehead on Lower Severn Street and Digbeth burger house Original Patty Men (given the celebrity seal of approval by Drake) that lend Birmingham the sort of gastronomical nuance otherwise found in heavy hitters such as Copenhagen and Paris.

Old favourites have also been given an overhaul for 2022, including the previously dilapidated Grand Hotel Birmingham, which re-opened to much fanfare earlier this year after meticulous renovations. Historic Digbeth pub The Rainbow, known for its associations with the real-life Peaky Blinders, will revamp itself as a friendly reggae destination, while the 19th-century-gothic Hampton Manor in Solihull will offer immersive, food-led escapes for weary city dwellers.

18/01/2022

When Swiss art magnates Hauser & Wirth planted their flag on Menorca’s historic Isla del Rey in summer 2021, they gifted the island the sort of heavyweight credentials that have made the existing outposts bona fide cultural lodestones.

The new art centre, which hosts its exhibitions in the repurposed outbuildings of a former naval hospital, also comprises an outdoor sculpture trail that tiptoes carefully around the archaeological remains of a sixth-century basilica. Although well used to reviving centuries-old gems, the gallerists had to navigate challenging terrain, a lack of electricity and a barrage of building restrictions. The result, however, is a secluded arty idyll, which will draw legions of aesthetically inclined travellers to the UNESCO Bisophere Reserve.

Stretching beyond its creative clout, Menorca has been named one of the world’s most sustainable destinations and is also the European Region of Gastronomy for 2022. Not content with such riches, it has also earned a Starlight Reserve designation for its wonderfully clear, unpolluted skies. On a moonless night, take a walk along La Vall beach and tilt your chin up to the sky. You’ll be just as staggered by the stars that emerge to greet you as you are by the beauty of what’s down at your feet.

18/01/2022

Jamaica’s beating heart has remained somewhat overlooked by holidaymakers, not least because of its long-held rough-around-the-edges rep. But the dynamic capital is shrugging off its unsafe image, claiming a new identity as a spirited cultural hub overflowing with multicultural restaurants, world-class galleries and carnivals to rival the spectacles of Rio.

And 2022 poses a prime opportunity for Jamaica, as the year marks the country’s 60th anniversary of Independence. Festivities will be held throughout the island all year and, come August, the Jamaica Carnival (Bacchanal) will flood the streets with feather headdresses, floats and stirring steelpan drums.

Out of town, hidden cultural enclaves cling like limpets to the land. School of Vision – an active commune and guest house celebrating Rastafarian culture – is reached via a short, sharp trek into the Blue Mountains; visit on the Saturday sabbath and you’ll be welcomed by a glorious cacophony of Nyahbinghi music, dancing and drumming.

Kingston’s surf beaches are also luring in ahead-of-the-curve crowds. Sidestep the no-longer-golden Hellshire Beach to the west and busy Bull Bay to the east and instead join those in the know on the fine-milled sands lining the north coast. Runaway Bay, near the resort town of Ocho Rios, is a fine spot for medium-level surfers and, if you can navigate the pesky corals and urchins, Makka beach, which hosts the island’s only pro surfing contest, offers world-class tubes. If that prospect is too pedestrian, head to the lesser-known ‘DNA’ nearby. The reef break here produces steep, hollow waves. It’s dramatic to observe, but as a TOAD beach (meaning Take Off And Die), it should only be tackled by expert boarders.

10/01/2022

For the mountaineers, Mount Fuji is one of the best places to travel in the world.

It scales 12,388 feet in height and its beauty is worthy of any storybook cover.

Hike at the right time, and you’ll be able to get the summit without the hassle of the overwhelming snow.

Better yet, the area also hosts Lake Kawaguchiko, which is flanked by cherry blossoms that send soft pink petals drifting to the ground magically.

It is also backed by the view of the incredible mountain in all its glory.

10/01/2022

Most people would consider the world-famous Pyramids of Giza to be among the best vacation spots that the world has to offer.

Among them are the gigantic Pyramid of Cheops, the intriguing Pyramid of Chephren, and, of course, the towering Sphinx that gazes over the land with watchful eyes.

Experience the wonders of ancient Egypt within these pyramids, where you will see sarcophagi, passages, statues, and structures all worthy of exploration.

10/01/2022

Lake Bled looks like it came out of a medieval movie featuring brave knights and feisty dragons.

That’s what makes it so compelling among places to go on vacation.

The lake is a deep forest green with a small island nestled in its center, holding a tall ancient castle and an equally rustic church.

You can row around the peaceful, calm waters of the lake or explore its central island.

It’s a truly romantic and gorgeous place that seems to be lost in time.

10/01/2022

This geological phenomenon is located on Navajo territory and it is a slot canyon that boasts the privilege of being the most photographed of its kind universally.

The upper canyon area is more popular and offers a fantastic view of the curving, wavy walls of sandstone, while the lower canyon area boasts a more up-close-and-personal interaction with the magnolias colors it boasts.

10/01/2022

The Vatnajokull Ice Caves are deadly when the ice melts in the spring and summer, but come winter, it’s a tourist’s paradise.

A huge network of caverns, tunnels, and caves appear surreal and breathtaking, reflected in bright teal and cerulean thanks to air bubbles, icebergs, and other factors.

Plus, let’s not forget about the Vatnajokull glacier, which spans 5,500 square miles and is the biggest glacier that the country has to offer.

All in all, this spot is perfect for a wonderful, fantastic vacation full of truly glorious photo opportunities.

Unfortunately, global warming has caused many of these caves to become threatened, so a trip here would be one of the best vacations to plan quickly before it’s too late!

Exploring Unseen

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