5 Popular Trails in North America You will Want to Experience

Whether you do it by yourself or with some friends, hiking along trails can be a fun experience. You not only get great exercise; you can also see some very beautiful things along the way. As you are walking or jogging along a trail, you can admire the wildlife and nature around you. There are thousands of hiking trails in North America, so it can be difficult to choose one. Here are some of the best hiking trails in North America.

Lands End Trail

Lands End Trail is located in San Francisco and offers breathtaking views along the way. The trail is approximately three miles long and fairly easy to complete. When you are walking along this trail, you will see gorgeous views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin Headlands and cliffs. Don’t forget to take your camera with you because you will want to take photos of everything you see.

Photo credit: Frank Fujimoto

Barnes Creek Trail

Located in the northern part of Washington, Barnes Creek Trail offers an experience that you will never forget. The trail starts at about 800 feet in elevation and ascends to 1,600 feet in just three miles. During your hike, you will see red cedar trees, amazing cliffs, beautiful waterfalls and fascinating plants.

Photo credit: Mike Weaver

Highline Trail

Highline Trail is one of the most popular trails in Glacier National Park in Montana. It is almost eight miles long and provides plenty of views of mountains, trees and animals like bears, mountain goats and bighorn sheep. This trail is easier to complete than the other trails in the park because it isn’t too elevated. However, there can be rainy and windy conditions along this trail, so make sure to bring a good rain jacket with you.

Photo credit: Razzu Engen

La Cloche Silhouette Trail 

If you are an experienced hiker and not afraid of a challenge, you should consider hiking at La Cloche Silhouette Trail in Ontario. This trail is 48 miles long and typically takes 10 days to complete. The west side of this trail is pretty moderate and crosses small streams and rivers. The east side, on the other hand, is much more challenging. It crosses forests and wetlands over rocky ridges.

Photo credit: Kevin Walsh

Long Trail

The Long Trail is located in Vermont and is the first long distance hiking trail established in the United States. This trail provides over 273 miles of footpath and 175 miles of side paths and features ponds, hardwood forests, streams and bogs along the way.

Photo credit: dvs

Whether you hike along the Long Trail or Lands End Trail, you will have a memorable experience.

Source : travelerspress[dot]com

DRAMATIC MOSS COVERED WATERFALL IN ROMANIA

This is the Bigar Cascade Falls in Carass Severin, Romania. The dramatic moss-covered falls are situated in the forests of the Anina Mountains and is formed by an underground water spring that spills into the Minis River.

Photograph by SANDRA RUGINA (behindmyblueeyes @ etsy.com)
Looks really Peaceful. 

Source : amazingworldonline[dot]com

9 Travel Apps Every Traveler Should Use

A study by Nielsen, released earlier this year, shows that travel apps, accessed on smartphones, has largely increased in popularity. In fact, in June, travel apps were even more popular than that of mobile sites.

“Findings show that U.S. Android users spent 95% of their time accessing travel information from travel apps, in comparison to five percent from the mobile web,” notes the report.

Its common sense really – accessing travel apps on a mobile device is obviously more convenient than a laptop while out and about on vacation. The beauty, also, is that most cell phones come with affordable data plans. To that end, the Wi-Fi Finder App is a must have as it will help you find free or paid hotspots using your cellphone. It works in more than 650,000 locations and 144 countries.

Below, in no particular order, are some popular and useful travel apps that you should have downloaded on your smartphone before your next travel date. Most of the apps are free, but we did include a few that are low cost.

Travel App Box

This app is ideal for those just want one app to contend with, because it is made up of a collection of 15 tools which includes a tip calculator, country calling codes, offline maps, flight status and more. Cost is $1.99.

TripIt

With this app, there’s no need to search through your bag frantically trying to find a printout of your travel details. The app organizes all of your travel details in one place. Just forward your travel confirmation emails such as flight, hotel and rental car to plans@tripit.com and the app combines them into one digital itinerary. But that’s not all, weather, maps and driving instructions will also be added to the itinerary so you can access the information on your mobile device. Cost is free.

AroundMe

Traveling in an unfamiliar area in search of a nearby ATM, hospital, hotel or gas station? The AroundMe app will list your options while telling you how far it is along with directions to get there. Men may find this app particularly helpful as they don’t typically like to ask for help or directions. Cost is Free.

Weather Channel App

Knowing what the weather will be like when traveling is obviously important. The app can tell you what to expect hourly up to ten days out. Which is particularly helpful when determining your itinerary so you can plan to do things inside on rainy days and outside on sunny days. Cost is Free.

Camera+

Second only to a great vacation is the photos capturing the memories. This app enhances the zoom, timer and stabilizer of your photos among other functions on your iPhone or iPad. It’s happened to all of us – you end up with one or two photos that you just don’t remember taking. But the app can tell you and map it! Cost is $1.99.

Evernote

I use Evernote for everything but it can particularly helpful during travel as well. You can take pictures of receipts and other paperwork as well as taking notes on the go. Personally, I find the mobile app much better than the desktop app. Cost is Free.

Wikitude Location Guide

The app is particularly handy because it draws in helpful information about your surroundings and displays annotations of nearby points of interest.

FlightAware

One of my favorite travel apps by far – check on flight status, gate information and changes, delays and cancellations! I’m late most places that I go despite trying not to be so this app is helpful to keep me on track which is much needed.

Google Translate

If you are traveling abroad, this is the app you need!

There you have it, our list of favorite travel apps! If we are missing an app that you think we must use, please let us know! You can never have too many!

Source : travelerspress[dot]com

Golden Puffer fish Puffed Up..!!

Pufferfish are generally believed to be the second most poisonous vertebrates in the world, after the golden poison frog. Certain internal organs, such as liver, and sometimes the skin, are highly toxic to most animals when eaten; nevertheless, the meat of some species is considered a delicacy in Japan (known as fugu), when prepared by chefs who know which part is safe to eat and in what quantity.

Credits:  Wikipedia

Pufferfish are poor swimmers, but can quickly ingest huge amounts of water to turn themselves into a virtually inedible ball several times their normal size.

Now, here's a disturbed Puffer for you ..!! [VIDEO]

Source : amazingworldonline[dot]com

Abandoned World War II Monuments and Memorials in Yugoslavia

During the 1960s and 70s, the then Yugoslavian president Josip Broz Tito, commissioned several memorial sites and monuments called ‘Spomeniks’ dedicated to World War II battles, and concentration camp sites. Designed by different sculptors and architects, the strong and powerful blending of art and architecture come together in these monuments to  convey the sense of confidence and strength of the Socialist Republic. However, after the dissolution of the Republic in 1992, they lost their symbolism and importance and no longer attracted the millions of visitors a year it once did.

Today there are hundreds of them scattered throughout villages and rural landscapes in the former Yugoslavia. Once the site of pilgrimages by schoolchildren, military veterans, patriots, and mourners who had lost family in WWII, these monuments are today rarely visited.

These pictures are taken by Antwerp-based photographer Jan Kempenaers who travelled the Balkans photographing these eerie objects.

A bit mysterious, isn't it?

Source : amazingworldonline[dot]com

Man with the World’s Largest Biceps – Moustafa Ismail.. Can we say, real-life Popeye? [VIDEO]

Some call him the real-life Popeye..!!

Moustafa Ismail, a man from Egypt is with the world’s largest biceps. The 24-year-old gas station attendant, "Big Mo" who has 79 cm (31 in) biceps confirmed that he will appear in the 2013, Guinness Book of Records. 

During the last ten years he has been practicing 6 hours a day in two separate training sessions, and his upper arms now have the same circumference as a grown man’s waist.

 ' Big Mo' eats 3lbs of chicken and 1lb of meat or fish every day.
  Egyptian bodybuilder can lift 500 lbs.
  His 31 inch biceps are the biggest in the world.

Model, Jessica Jerrard gets a lift from Moustafa Ismail, who is visiting London to launch the new Guinness Book of Records. VIDEO..  (c) Credits: ITN News

Source : amazingworldonline[dot]com

Top Destinations for Multi-Centre Holidays

Anyone that’s been trawling through the web for vaction ideas at the moment might have come across a new option from travel agents. The ‘multi-centre’ holiday/vacation isn’t exactly a brand new idea, more of a re-packaging of an old one, but it’s proving to be a big hit with travelers. The basic idea is that you pay for your trip as one package, but choose multiple locations. Usually vendors offer two places in the same country, or sometimes even two separate counties in the same vicinity. This means you can mix and match top destinations to make one perfect getaway, and often get a bargain as a result. Here are some examples of this new breed of offer.

Rome and Florence

One of the main multi-centre locations that people are taking advantage of at the moment is Italy. Back when recreational travel first became more popular with the upper class in England, visiting Rome and Florence in one trip was a must-do. Now it’s being reinvented with package holidays that take all of the headaches out of organizing a complex trip, and give you an outstanding experience. Take in the incredible Roman remains in the country’s capital, and then travel on to the fruits of the renaissance in a hotel with rooftop views in Florence.

Photo credit: Trey Ratcliff

Bangkok and Phuket

You might be surprised to find that multi-centre deals can take you much further afield too. You can now experience Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand. Several nights in a skyscraper hotel in Bangkok, in the city’s incredible business centre, contrast beautifully with a week on a natural island off the southwest coast. Phuket is opening up to package holidays having long been a hidden treasure, and offers something like the Venice of Thailand, only with incredibly beaches too.

Photo credit: Trey Ratcliff

Hong Kong and Fiji

You might not have thought of combining them before, but Hong Kong and Fiji are another sample of multi-centre creativity. Hong Kong continues to thrive as an economic capital in the Far East, but that doesn’t mean it’s lost its sense of culture. You can take in boat rides and traditional cuisine alongside breathtaking skyscraper views. Fiji on the other hand allows you access to some of the most beautiful coral reefs in the word, and crystal blue pacific waters. Having the chance to enjoy these locations in one trip is a real treat.

Photo credit: Selva

Dubai and Maldives

Another way of combining cityscape with tropical bliss is to take in Dubai and the Maldives in one journey. Dubai is well-known for its luxury. You won’t be disappointed if you come here looking for pampering spas and the best food from around the world. And when you’re done with that, the chance to enjoy the best weather in the Indian Ocean, and experience some great local culture, gives you a really balanced holiday. These are just a few examples of the packages on offer at the moment, but it’s easy to see why it’s really taking off. You can save a lot of money by paying for two or more brilliant locations as a package too.

Photo credit: Ibrahim Lujaz

Source : travelerspress[dot]com

Top 5 Attractions you Can Experience with Fairs and Festivals of Rajasthan, India

The flair of festivals in Rajasthan is not something that only you find yourself attracted towards. The colors of Rajasthan are popular throughout the world and globe trotters keep retracing their footprints to this northern state of Indian subcontinent. Cities of Rajasthan especially, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Udaipur, Bikaner, and many more find themselves crowded with travelers with a taste in history and class India flaunts. Find more such experiences in the Rajasthan Festivals and get the reason to celebrate your vacations in a slightly different yet richer vigor. To start with, you have town of Pushkar and then Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Mount Abu and Kota onwards.

1. Pushkar Camel Fair – The Opulence of Culture (and Camels)

Pushkar is a small town located in the hinterlands of Rajasthan, but size is not the issue when you want to witness a thriving art and culture of this place. The five-day camel fair in the town (organized by Tourism of Rajasthan) is among the most rich portrays of heritage this land boasts of. On the trip to Rajasthan, missing this fair is not an option if you are here in the month of October or November depending on the occurrence of full moon day. Taking a dip in the sacred water of Pushkar Lake during this time is a ritual no Indian tourist should miss. So, Pushkar Fair it is!

Photo credit: Carl Parkes

2. Desert Festival – Among the sand dunes!

Thar Desert welcomes you in one of the most memorable desert vacation with colours and entertainment in it. Sand Dune of Sam is the place where the events are hosted. Music, dance, art, crafts in addition with camel dance, puppet dances, and many such this await to lure you in the month of January and February.

3. Summer Festival – In the Shadow of Mountains of Aravalli

Away from the scorching heat of the desert, Mount Abu is the respite many locals take to. You on the other hand can enjoy one more shade of festivals of Rajasthan. Organized in the month of May or June, the three days of special treatment would carve a special memory in your mind whenever you will thing of India and more specifically about this royal state with a past of valour. Add Shaam-e-Qawalli and boat race to your list as well. Folk dance and music are just not enough here!

4. Dussehra Festival – The Death of Evil in Kota (not in Lanka!)

Every year in the month of September or October (as per the festive calendar of India), Kota celebrates Dussehra in quite elaborate way. Welcoming loads of tourists every year during this time, the town of Kota gets more colours than spectrum can offer. A staged drama portraying the epic Ramayana and win of Good over Evil followed by the torching of statues of Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhakaran (that are made of more than 75 ft height) is much enjoyed everyone attending the festival. Take off for a fortnight during this time and get addicted to it.

5. Camel Festival – Add on to Pushkar Fest

If you do not want to be a part of an overwhelming crowd of Pushkar, then fairs of Rajasthan bring to you the camel Festival of Bikaner. Now this one is also organised by the same Governing body of tourism, but it is more intimate than the one explained above. You can feel it touching all your senses with its heady mix of camel milking, fur cutting design, best breed, camel acrobatics and presentation of camel bands parading on the polo grounds of Junahgarh Fort.

Here, Rajasthan, with all its festivals, has more than you can take in just one visit!

Source : travelerspress[dot]com

Baby Polar Bear Plays In The Snow For The First Time

Here are some of the pictures of 73-day-old Siku playing in the snow.
Siku is seen at Skandinavisk Dyrepark in Djursland, Denmark.  Dec., 2011

Here is Siku, the adorable Danish polar bear. [Video]

Source : amazingworldonline[dot]com

5 Truly Weird and Wonderful Hotels of the World

Choosing hotels when you travel on vacation is usually a pretty standard affair. You usually choose the offer that offers the greatest amount of comfort for your available budget. Sure, that makes perfect sense, but can’t that sometimes get a little, well, boring?

We’ve searched the internet high and low for some of the weirdest hotels in the world. In all honesty, we had to check and double check that these were in fact real hotels, and someone wasn’t just pulling our leg. So without further ado, here’s our 5 of our favourite strange hotels.

Sala Silvermine in Vastmanland, Sweden

Spending the night in a mine might sound like more of a punishment than a holiday, yet the Sala Silvermine in Sweden has been renovated in recent years, incorporating a number of premium suites in the underground shafts. You will take part in a tour of the mine network, where your guide will leave you in your suite for the night with refreshments and candlelight. You’ll have a comfortable double bed, but it’s up to you to provide the entertainment! Your guide will pick you up in the morning and escort you back up to ground level.

CasAnus – Kemzeke, Stekene, Belgium

We can honestly say that we’ve never seen nor heard about a hotel quite like this before. CasAnus is the creation of Belgian artist, Joep Van Lieshout, and you guessed it, it’s a sculpture of the human digestive system, complete with anus.  The main intestine comfortably sleeps two people in the double bed, and the room comes with electricity supply and separate bathroom.

The hotel is located in a sculpture park, making the ideal location for anyone in search of an art-filled break in the beautiful Belgian countryside.

Utter Inn – Lake Mälaren, Sweden

If you like a bit of peace and quiet on your holiday, this is probably just the ticket. In the middle of Lake Maralen, in the beautiful heart of Sweden, the Utter Inn can be found afloat. At first glance, it looks nothing more than a floating shed, yet the structure actually has a sleeping quarter beneath the surface of the water. Complete with panoramic views of the, well, water, the cabin can sleep 2 comfortably.

Your guide will transport you approximately 1km from the shore by boat and leave you alone for the duration of your stay. If you wish to explore the area, there is an inflatable kayak that can be used by guests.

The Crane – Harlingen, Netherlands

This hotel does exactly what it says on the tin. Only in Holland will you find a crane that’s been converted into a swanky hotel. Located in the heart of the Harlingen docklands, The Crane has recently received a lot of love and attention, to transform this one operational dockside crane into a near luxury hotel. The ladders have been replaced with elevators and the operation room has been turned into a spacious double bedroom. This is a little touch of engineering and design genius, not to mention, a unique hotel experience!

IceHotel – Jukkasjärvi, Sweden

This is the world’s biggest (and probably the most impressive) ice hotel. Made entirely from ice and snow and rebuilt every winter with a new design, IceHotel has set the benchmark for ice hotels around the world. A night in the hotel doesn’t come cheap, but this is an experience that will stay with you for a long time. It’s highly advisable that you take your thickest pair of socks as rooms are usually at around -5 °C.

Around 150 artists apply to design the hotel suites, and this really shows with the sheer beauty and detail of each and every room.

Source : travelerspress[dot]com