Sintra is one of the most popular day trips from Lisbon, and it’s easy to see why. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to the beautiful Sintra-Cascais Natural Park & Cabo da Roca, as well several architectural & historical gems, including the Castle of the Moors & Pena National Palace. There was so much […]
Sintra is one of the most popular day trips from Lisbon, and it’s easy to see why. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to several architectural & historical gems, including the Castle of the Moors & Pena National Palace, as well as the beautiful Sintra-Cascais Natural Park & Cabo da Roca. There was so […]
About an hour west of Bordeaux is one of the more unique natural wonders you’ll see in France, or even all of Europe. Just south of the town of Arcachon is the Dune du Pilat, the tallest sand dune in Europe. The close proximity of the coast makes a day trip from Bordeaux to Dune […]
My final hike in Seoraksan National Park was to Heundeulbawi Rock, Gyejoam Grotto, & Ulsanbawi Rock. The trail to these landmarks is just past Sinheungsa Temple & its giant Buddha. Saving the temple for my return journey, I crossed the new stone bridges & headed up into the hills. The trail to Heundeulbawi Rock is 2.3 […]
On my 2nd day in Seoraksan National Park, I did two hikes. The first was to Yukdam Falls, then Biryong Falls, then finally to the Towangseong Falls overlook. The second hike was to Heundeulbawi & Ulsanbawi. I decided to do the hike to Biryong, Yukdam, & Towangseong Falls first because earlier in the morning the […]
I arrived back at the main entrance to Seoraksan National Park around 3pm. My hike to Biseondae and back had taken up most of the day. In the morning, I had passed the cable car station that takes visitors up to the top of Gwongeumseong Peak & Seoraksan Castle, also known as Gwongeumseong Fortress. Many […]
Gyeongju, South Korea, is a major city in world history, yet comparatively few people are aware of its rich background. During the time of the Silla Dynasty, which lasted from 57 BC – 935 AD – a remarkable length of time, Gyeongju served as its capital. Around the year 750, Gyeongju was the 4th largest […]
Late during my previous day in Busan, after having spent the afternoon exploring Gamcheon Culture Village, I had learned that Typhoon Chaba was going to be hitting South Korea overnight. The bulk of the storm hit in the early morning hours, but by the early afternoon, the skies were clear. I had spent the storm […]
I spent two full days hiking in Seoraksan National Park, exploring four different areas from the entrance near Sokcho. On my first day, I took the bus into the park from my hotel around 9am. There is just one way into the park, and it is a dead end, so the bus didn’t get too […]
One of the highlights of Busan is Gamcheon Culture Village. In recent years, artists & residents have turned what was once a hilltop slum into a beautiful lively neighborhood. Gamcheon is located outside of central Busan, but it’s fairly easily accessed by the city’s metro system. I took the Metro south from Beomnaegol station, which […]
One doesn’t usually associate massive cities with hiking, but thanks to a ring of mountains surrounding the center of the city, Seoul, South Korea is one of the world’s best cities for urban hiking. While there are many mountainous areas to hike around Seoul, the unique Seoul City Wall & its trails make for a […]
Box Elder County fills the expanse of land that is northwestern Utah. Located north of the Great Salt Lake, the county is a crossroads of natural & historic wonders. The lake & the open spaces around it have attracted birds for thousands of years, while in more modern times, the area has seen many events […]
One doesn’t usually associate massive cities with hiking, but thanks to a ring of mountains surrounding the center of the city, Seoul, South Korea is one of the world’s best cities for urban hiking. While there are many mountainous areas to hike around Seoul, the unique Seoul City Wall & its trails make for a […]
For our final night in the Vasterbotten region, we traveled to Granö Beckasin. Granö Beckasin is a lodge with a variety of accomodations, from bird’s nests in the trees to camping, plus a variety of activities. Following our afternoon of whitewater rafting, we arrived and checked into our rooms. We were staying in the Bird’s Nests […]
While there’s plenty to explore within Gothenburg’s city center, just off the coast lies a perfect day trip destination: the Southern Archipelago. The Southern Archipelago consists of hundreds of islands ranging in size from small rocks in the sea to islands that are a couple of miles across, making them perfect for walking or cycling. Access to the […]
