sightseeing
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Kanazawa Castle: Museum of Stone Walls in Historic Kanazawa
In Japan’s Hokuriku region lies an excellent example of a Japanese castle: Kanazawa Castle. Located in the city of the same name, this partially restored castle is an excellent place to go to beat the crowds at other castles and is a quick trip from Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. Kanazawa Castle – A Rich History…
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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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Rokka no Mori: Wasteland turned Garden and Art Gallery (Hokkaido, Japan)
Located just to the south of the city Obihiro, Rokka no Mori (or 六花の森, literally the forest of 6 flowers) is a garden and art gallery in Hokkaido, Japan. Set up by the Rokkatei company, one of Hokkaido’s (and by extension, Japan’s) leading confectionary companies, the garden opened in 2017 on the site of a…
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Iceland roadtrip: Reykjavik and ‘Round the Island (12 Days)
Iceland – the Land of ice and Fire – should be your next summer travel destination. If you are looking for a combination of untouched nature, friendly people, and excellent examples of natural phenomena, I would definitely suggest Iceland to you. We did a 12-day Iceland roadtrip to take in the sites that travellers who…
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Sunnumörk: Shopping Straddling Continents (Iceland)
The Land of Fire and Ice (Iceland) is dramatic in many ways: massive glaciers, volcanoes and icebergs. Another to add to the list is the fact that the country straddles two continents: the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. While you could go to somewhere like the Bridge between Continents, there is another option for…
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Bru Horsefarm – Feeding Icelandic Horsesnear Iceland’s Famous Geysir
If you are in Iceland’s southern region and love animals, Bru Horsefarm should be on your list of places to visit. Located less than 5 minutes from Iceland’s well-known Strokkur Geyser, the farm features Icelandic horses – a specific pure breed that is unique to the island. About Icelandic Horses Icelandic horses are a breed…
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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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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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Seyðisfjarðarkirkja: Powder Blue Church with a Rainbow Street (Iceland)
Located in eastern Iceland, Seyðisfjarðarkirkja (or Seyðisfjörður Church in English or also known as the Bláakirkja – Blue Church) is a beautiful powder blue church in a beautiful port town that is surrounded by mountains. Sitting in one of the Eastfjords of Iceland, the views of and from this church are simply stunning. Seyðisfjörður is…
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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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Arctic Henge: Iceland’s modern neolithic Monument
Imagine you are driving in the remote northern region of Iceland. You are near the northernmost point of the island when you come across what looks like a stone circle. Is this the Icelandic answer to Stonehenge? If you think so, you are not alone. This is the Arctic Henge. The Arctic Henge is located…
