nature
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Hiroshima Castle: Japan’s Carp Castle
Located in the famous city of Hiroshima in eastern Japan, Hiroshima Castle has played an important part in Japan’s history. One of the most accessible castles, it is not to be missed! History of Hiroshima Castle Sengoku Period The castle’s story begins between in the late 1500s when one of Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s councillors, Mori Terumoto,…
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ABQ BioPark – Botanical Garden in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Located in the heart of Albuquerque, New Mexico is the ABQ BioPark, a complex dedicated to animal and plant life. Including a zoo, an aquarium and a botanic garden along with a beach located on banks the Rio Grande, this city-run park is a big draw for the city. In this article we will be…
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Buttes of Sedona
In northern Arizona lies Sedona, a town known for the surrounding buttes (isolated hills with steep sides and a flat top (similar to but narrower than a mesa). Sedona sits on the border of the lower desert of southern desert turns into the high deserts of northern Arizona and Utah, combining dry, arid landscapes with…
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Hiking in the Kiso Valley
Japan’s Kiso Valley in Nagno Prefecture lies near the Japanese Alps. History of the Kiso Valley Kiso Valley has been important to Japan for at least the past 1,500 years. There are records that mention the Kiso Mountain Road opened in 702 to connect current Nagano Prefecture to lands to the south. The region has…
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Kapa’a Beach: Tropical Paradise (Kaua’i, Hawaii)
If you are on the island of Kaua’i in the Hawaiian islands and need to find a beach ASAP, Kapa’a Beach is just what you need. Located on Kaua’i’s eastern coast near the town of the same name, Kapa’a Beach offers beautiful views of the ocean to the east of the island. Kapa’a is a…
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Hirosaki Botanical Garden
In northern Japan’s Aomori Prefecture lies Hirosaki, a small city. Known for its apples and orchard, this city boasts one of Japan’s few remaining original castles. Within the castle grounds is the Hirosaki Botanical Garden, a beautiful example of Japanese and international flowering and medicinal plants. General Information Hirosaki Botanical Garden is Hirosaki’s largest in-city…
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Kaze no Garden (Wind Garden): Site of a famous TV show (Hokkaido, Japan)
Located on the island of Hokkaido in the well-known town of Furano, which features attractions such as Panorama Road, Lavender Fields and Farm Tomita, also boasts another famous garden that was the setting of a famous television show in Japan. Sharing the same name as the show, Kaze no Garden (or Wind Garden), is an…
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Strokkur Geysir and Geysir Geothermal Area (Iceland)
Located in southwestern Iceland, Strokkur Geysir is a regularly erupting geyser in Iceland’s Geysir Geothermal Area. Located only a short trip from the capital, Reykjavik, it is easy to reach by car or bus and can easily be included in a day trip. History Strokkur Geysir made burst onto the Icelandic scene in 1789 when…
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Fjallsárlón – Lesser Known Glacial Lagoon in Iceland
While everyone who has looked into travelling to Iceland has heard of the famous Glacial Lagoon – Jökulsárlón – fewer have heard of its smaller and much less frequented neighbour: Fjallsárlón. At a tiny 4 km² / 1.5 square miles, Fjallsárlón is much smaller than Jökulsárlón, but in this case size does not matter. While…
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Jökulsárlón – Iceland’s Famous Glacial Lagoon with Icebergs
Situated in southeastern Iceland, Jökulsárlón – or the Glacier Lagoon – is a famous attraction that has people flocking from all over the world. Here you can watch glaciers calf off Vatnajökull in their array of hues from transparent to baby blue. You can also watch them begin their journey, destined to end up as…
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Diamond Beach (Iceland)
Located in the southeastern area of Iceland, Diamond Beach (or Breiðamerkursandur in Icelandic) is a fascinating site. Located just downstream from Jökulsárlón Lake and, more importantly, Vatnajökull, it is the site at which glaciers go to die. The glaciers begin their life cycle here by first calving off of Vatnajökull, Iceland’s largest glacier. From here…
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Litlanesfoss and Hengifoss: Red Stripey Waterfalls
Located in eastern Iceland overlooking Lagarfljót Lake are a pair of waterfalls known as Litlanesfoss and Hengifoss. Oh Iceland and another waterfall, I hear you say. Why should I continue reading this? Well dear reader, while it may be another waterfall, these are not just any old waterfalls. In addition to basalt columns (no, don’t…
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Vestrahorn and Stokksnes: Rugged, Jagged and Windswept (Iceland)
Located in eastern Iceland, Vestrahorn is a mountain that sits on the Stokksnes pensinula that juts out from the mainland into the Atlantic Ocean. With the mountain narly cutting off the rest of the peninsula completely from the mainland, it creates a unique area in this part of Iceland that I can only recommend exploring!…
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Stuðlagil Canyon: Basalt Columns in Iceland’s Northeastern Region
In Iceland’s remote northeastern region is Stuðlagil Canyon, one of the many examples of basalt columns in Iceland. Basalt columns form when lava cools and cracks, forming pentagonal or hexagon shapes. This cracking continues downward, forming the columns that give basalt columns their name. If they are exposed to air, they are usually hexagonal. If…
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Jökulsárgljúfur: Iceland’s answer to the Grand Canyon
Jökulsárgljúfur, located in the north of the main island, is Iceland’s largest canyon. It hosts several interesting features, including three waterfalls, and has some excellent hiking opporunities. Geology and Formation Jökulsárgljúfur was formed during a catastrophic flood of the river Jökulsá, creating a 25-km / 15.5-mile long, 0.5-km / 0.3-mile wide canyon that sometimes has…
