If you want to harness your inner Mulder (or Scully), then what better way than to tour Area 51?  Popular for so long with UFO enthusiasts and conspiracy theorists alike you can now take an official tour of the world’s most infamous army facility. Beginning with a ride in an SUV through the desert you will encounter petroglyphs from the ancient Indians, and with their more than passing resemblance to an alien this is a great way to kick off your tour. Next up is the eerie bed of a dry lake, the place of frequent UFO reported sightings. You’ll also stop at a couple of themed stops along the way, including the “Extraterrestrial highway” and the LittleA’le’inn. Here you can meet Capt Clark, a former captain in the air force and you can buy his information booklet at the store. Finally you’ll make it to the guarded facility and take your tour of the mysterious Area 51.

Another tour from Vegas not to be missed is a trip to the Hoover Dam and along the way you’ll get to experience the Colorado River too. You can get a tour that starts with a luxurious van picking you up at your hotel before you head off into the Black Canyon. Here you get to enjoy parts of the Colorado river that are so remote that many people do not get the chance to see them. As you are drifting up the river you’ll get the opportunity to take once in a lifetime photos of the Hoover Dam towering above you into the sky. The raft element of this tours last for around 30 minutes. Once you get to the dam you’ll get into areas that aren’t open to most people, this includes air vents where you can take in phenomenal views across the mountains and river below.

Black Canyon

No trip to Vegas would be complete without an excursion to the Grand Canyon. There are countless offers of tours to the canyon and you need to shop around to find the one that best fits your desires and budget. You can take day tours, night tours, helicopter tours and camping tours to name but a few. One trip however gives you the opportunity to travel by boat, road and air. Starting off in Boulder City, the adventure moves down Diamond Bar Road which offers staggering views of the Joshua Tree Forest which lays in front of the Grand Wash Cliffs. Enjoy your lunch looking out over the Grand Canyon before making the descent down 4,000 feet by helicopter to the Colorado River. From there you’ll board a pontoon boat and take a relaxing cruise down the river. Finally you’ll get back onto the helicopter and fly back to the top of the Grand Canyon where you will return to Las Vegas in an SUV.

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A visit to Na Aina Kai Botanical Gardens gives you the chance to not just improve your botany skills but also offers impressive scenic views across the ocean. Stretching seventeen miles along the coastline, Napali Coast is truly stunning. Waterfalls and sea caves litter the three thousand foot tall cliffs and although not accessible by car you can take a boat or air tour or even hike it. If money is no object then a trip to the upmarket resort of Princeville will let you experience hospitality that is world class. Why not take in a round of golf at one of Kauai’s elite golf courses to finish off your visit.

Often referred to as Coconut Coast, the east side of Kauai boasts groves of splendid coconut palms. In among the coconut trees are places of great historic importance and of course fine beaches. About a quarter of Kauai’s residents live in the Kapaa & Wailua region. In Wailua you can go kayaking in the Wailua River state park, go sightseeing at Opaekaa Falls or enjoy a boat ride to Fern Grotto. Nounou mountains are home to the Sleeping Giant, see if you can spot it.

Beautiful sandy beaches on the Coconut Coast are possibly the biggest draw to the region. You can enjoy another chance to whale watch at Donkey beach, then admire (or even join) the surfers that are on display at Kealia Beach. Perfect for families or inexperienced snorkelers, Lydgate Beach Park includes two lava rock surrounded pools.

Old Koloa Town is found on the southern shores of Kauai, as is Poipu resort.  The area is rich with historic attractions and activity. If you want to learn more about the rich history of Kauai then you can explore the heritage tail at Koloa. More golf courses also await on the south shore. Poipu Beach Park is a fabulous place to spend a day, having once been named as one of the best beaches in America. A great natural wonder can be found at Spouting Horn which has a blowhole that spurts water around twenty feet up in the air. There are two botanical gardens that are well worth a visit and help explain how Kauai gained its nickname of the “Garden Isle”. Covering over two hundred and fifty acres, McBryde Garden features the largest collection in the world of Hawaiian plants. Covering eighty acres, Allerton Garden boasts giant Moreton figs which were used for filming in Jurassic Park and also highly sophisticated designs in its gardens. Finally just west of Poipu is a coffee lovers dream, take a trip to Kauai Coffee farm where you can enjoy a tour and a taste!

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The second largest in the world, the Belize barrier reef is a phenomenal sight. It is home to over five hundred different species of fish and one hundred different species of coral. A snorkelers paradise, Belize offers gorgeous translucent water in its seas, and divers get to swim underwater caves and also the word famous Blue Hole. If you prefer to stay above the water rather than below it, you can kayak to the many sandy palm tree islets. If kayaking is not your scene you can also windsurf or sail using the prevalent breeze. Once you’re finished snorkeling, surfing and sailing you can look forward to tucking into the many seafood delights that Belize has to offer, including the spiny tailed lobster.

Once you’re finished with the sea you can venture inland. Belize has a huge array of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks and these offer safe havens for wildlife. The Tapir is the national animal of Belize, but you can also view some of the five hundred and seventy species of birds which are resident here. A lot of the native animals and birds can be elusive, however eagle eyed visitors can get to see spider and howler monkeys, crocodiles, iguanas and many species of birds. If you are really lucky, you may get to see the keel billed toucan which is the Belize national bird.

If you are feeling adventurous Belize is home to many historic sites relating to the one the most mysterious civilizations on the planet, the Maya. Huge stone temples often given phenomenal panoramic views from their tops, but be warned, there were no elevators in the Maya days so you’ll have to make steep climbs up huge stone steps to get there. If you’ve the stomach for climbing there are many tombs that have been excavated, and these are often coupled with hieroglyphs of great intricacy. If climbing isn’t your scene then you can head in the opposite direction and explore the deep natural caves where the ancient Maya Kings used to perform their rituals and sacrifices to the underworld gods. Arguably the most interesting of the Maya sites is Lamanai. The ruins are surrounded by jungle and overlook the New River Lagoon. The journey in is not easy by road / foot and many visitors choose to take a guided tour along the river to get there to avoid the bumpy and long road in. Either way, the awe inspiring architecture when you get there makes the journey worthwhile.

A marine reserve since the late 90’s, Caye Caulker Marine Reserve spans sixty one square miles and is home to the area of barrier reef running alongside the island. Damaged by hurricanes the reef is in a period of regeneration, but this has not hampered the sea life, and you can expect to see queen angel fish, the brilliantly named Christmas tree worm, parrot fish and many colorful sponges. If you time your snorkeling or diving visit in the period from April & September you’ve a heightened chance of seeing manatees and turtles.

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If you want to understand what the everyday lives of ordinary Maldivians is like, then the one of the best ways is to travel to one of the inhabited islands. Some are more modern than others with their decoratively painted harbors and houses. You will also see quiet fishing villages with their tree swings and traditional holhuashis, which are gazebo like structures built using wooden trunks tied together for a seat and a thatched roof. These hohuashis are normally used for the locals to unwind following a hard day’s work. Fishing and agriculture are the main stays for the economy here on the islands, as well as tourism of course. Local handcrafts can often be found on the islands too and offer the chance for a unique memento from your trip. A custom on the islands is for everybody to finish work at the end of the afternoon, then the first stop is to have a shower before dressing their children in clean clothes and go for a walk on the island to visit friends and family.

Fishing in the hearts and minds of the Maldivians and there great celebrations when there is a good haul brought in. But on the downside there will be complaints if there aren’t enough fish for the dinner tables. Many of the fishermen of the Maldives are up at dawn to collect their bait in the reefs nearby, before starting their day’s work on the blue seas. For some islanders however, sundown  is the signal to start their nights fishing. You too can experience the same satisfaction the locals feel when catching then cooking their own fish as most of the resorts will offer a reef fishing trip at night, and the boats will leave just before sunset in order to locate a good spot at the reef. Your guide will demonstrate how to use the hooks, lines and sinkers. There is a bbq about an hour later so you need to make sure you catch enough or else you could go hungry!

There are over a thousand islands in the Maldives, yet less than half of them are inhabited which means if you want to find some peace and tranquility you should find it easy enough to find an empty island to do so. You can walk down beaches and yours can be the first footprints in the sand for some time and make sure you take a minute to stand still and listen to the undisturbed sounds of nature. Even without man made light you’ll have no problem with your vision due to the sheer number of stars above you, add in the specks of phosphorescence and you really do have a magical scene you’ll never forget.  You can also visit the islands during the day of course and this is a different experience altogether as you try and take in all of the sights around you with the amazing beaches and clear blue waters.

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Located to the south of Melbourne is the largest wilderness coastal area in Victoria, Wilson Promontory National Park. The “Prom” covers an area of fifty thousand hectares and is littered with walking trails that offer up a wide variety of wildlife that shelter all around its vast terrains. If you’re feeling outdoorsy you can try camping at the Prom. You’ve a choice of canvas tents or more modern cabins, but whichever you choose you’ll find yourself in the midst of rivers, coves, mountain tops and forest valleys. As you explore from the campsites you’ll find fern gullies, secret beaches and amazing formations of rocks. As you’d expect from an Australian national park, there is a massive range of wildlife in the Prom including emus, kangaroos, wombats and the colorfully plumed rosella birds. Although you can take a scenic drive from the entrance to the tidal river settlement, the most enjoyable way to take in the scenery is along the plentiful walking trails that are all over the peninsula.

Buchan caves were created hundreds of millions of years ago by the rivers underground working their way through the limestone rock. A great way to see the caves is via one of the guided tours, and forays into either Fairy Cave or Royal Cave run on a daily basis. The caves are both well-lit and boast walkways for your safety. Calcite edged pools can be found in Royal Cave and stalagmites and stalactites are the order of the day in Fairy Cave. If you’re in a small group it is possible to arrange a tour to unlit or “wild” caves. The temperature in the caves is constant and comfortable at seventeen degrees Celsius. Adjoining the caves is Buchan Caves Reserve which contains many walks – short and long, and with Snowy River National Park nearby you’ll have a great chance of seeing wallabies, wombats and kangaroos.

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The Art Museum in Seattle not only has an impressive collection that is on permanent display, it also boasts many notable exhibits from across the globe. Despite Henry Art Gallery being the oldest art museum in the state, it is also a hotbed for some of the new exciting work coming out of the area. The Frye Art Museum is another landmark in Seattle and is home to some fine collections of Chinese, Japanese and Korean art.

The Museum of Flight is one of the finest space and air collections in the states and even boasts the first Air Force One. There is a wing named Personal Courage which is dedicated to the innovations that were developed during the World Wars and is a must see for history buffs and aviation fans alike. If you prefer to keep your feet on the floor then a trip to the Northwest Railway Museum is the place for you.

If heritage & history is your thing then Seattle has much to whet your appetite. You can learn everything about the tribe of great Chief Seattle at the Port Madison Indian reservation, or take a trip to the International District to enjoy the Asian Pacific American Experience. Nordic immigrants had a strong influence on Seattle’s history and this is honored at the Nordic Heritage Museum in the quaint Ballard area. Located at the Naval Reserve Armory and covering circa fifty thousand square feet, the Museum of History and Industry will really help you to connect with Seattle’s history.

During California’s gold rush it was realized that Seattle had the natural resources needed to support the infrastructure necessary to sustain the prospecting. At Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park you can experience for yourself just how important Seattle was to this period in American history. If you are feeling the need to get more involved you can work with your hands at the Center for Wooden Boats.

If you’re travelling with your family then Children’s Museum in Seattle is a great place where the adults are likely to have as much fun as the kids! There are a whole host of exhibits and projects that you can all get stuck into. Another favorite for the kids is the Burke Museum, which was the first museum in Seattle, and they often cater to children with events such as Dino Day and the popular Big Blast. There are other museums that families will not only enjoy but will also learn something, these include EMP Museum, the Seattle Metropolitan Museum and also the Pacific Science Center. The Pacific Science Center goes all out to try and inspire an interest in math, science and technology which lasts long after you’ve left Seattle.

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Among the most beautiful stretches of beaches in Australia (and there’s lots of competition), Burning Palms, Garie and Wattamolla are perfect spots to relax in. If you are feeling more energetic then head to Audleywhere you can hire a boat and enjoy a gentle row across Kangaroo Creek. With so much to do and see in the park (you can surf, swim, go fishing on the beach and go bush walking to name but a few) it is worth making a trip to the visitors center for maps, information and brochures. If you want to learn even more about the park you there is a guided Discovery Ranger tour which you can arrange at the visitors center.

Attracting many visitors every year, Sydney Harbour Islands are one of the country’s great natural attractions. There are six islands, Shark, Rodd, Fort Denison, Clark, Cockatoo and Goat, and each one offers gorgeous scenery, and there are regular ferry services which leave from Circular Quay throughout the summer.

Cockatoo Island is the largest of the islands and you can take a guided tour, camp overnight and partake in one the many activities on offer. If you feel like being pampered whilst still being at one with nature, then theglamping experience on Cockatoo Island is for you. Everything will be organized for you and you can sit back and take in the views of one of the most iconic harbors in the world. There are also walking tours on Cockatoo Island and you will hear some of the many secrets and tales that litter the islands history, including stories of some of its more interesting villains.

You can take a tour led by rangers on the island of Fort Denison and these run three times a day. As well as delving into the island’s history, you can also take a trip to the colonial museum or visit the Martello Tower. There are mesmerizing views on offer if you take lunch at the center of Fort Denison’s Harbor and you can reach it by water taxi or ferry.

Anywhere that states its opening times as “sunrise to sunset” is guaranteed to be a laid back place to visit. The National Park at Ku-ring-gai Chase is full of beautiful sheltered beaches, winding creeks and vast expanses of blue water. Lying at the meeting place of the Hawkesbury River and the sea, the park combines the heritage of the Aborigines with dense forests, mangroves and sandstone ridges. The park opened in the late 1800’s and millions of visitors have been attracted here for walking, swimming, boating and picnicking in the intervening years.  One of the most popular picnic areas is Bobbin Head where you can take in the amazing views across West Head Lookout, and once you’re finished you can take a ferry over to the Basin where you swim at the sandy beach or in the lagoon.

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Bridge Over the River Kwai Photo Credit

A major attraction is the Bridge Over the River Kwai.  It was built during the Second World War, as part of the Japanese plan to build a railway between Thailand and Burma.  Using forced labour and prisoners of war, many people died during the construction.  Now the black arches gracefully span the river below, belying little of its gruesome past.  You can walk across the bridge, or take a train ride across.  There are some temples near the banks of the river, as well as bustling tourist markets and restaurants.

The Japanese built railway that crosses over the bridge is known as the death railway because of the huge loss of life that happened during its construction.  Train rides show astounding scenery, and the tracks hug the sides of steep cliffs, tumbling away to the raging river below.  The Hellfire Pass is located a short distance out of Kanchanaburi town and provides more war history.

Several cemeteries for allied forces, especially Australian, can be found in the town.  These provide a poignant reminder of the troubles in this now peaceful region.  There is a Chinese cemetery, with decorative and ornate curved headstones.

There are also several museums in the town, each with moving exhibits about the war.

Girl At Erawan Waterfall Photo Credit

The seven tired Erawan Waterfall lies a short way out of the main town centre.  Sitting in the Erawan National Park, it is fairly easy to get to independently, although there are many trips taking tourists out to the waterfall.  You can climb to most of the levels and some have shimmering clear pools where you can swim.  There are also some natural rock slides, where you can watch people sliding and whooping, and perhaps join in the fun yourself!   Monkeys swing from the treetops, and there are also caves in the national park.

Tiger Temple outside Bangkiok, Thailand Photo Credit

Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua, also known as the Tiger Temple, is home to many tigers and other animals.   Other animals that live in the temple complex include deer, pigs, birds, water buffalo, and wild boar.  A main reason for people visiting this temple is for the opportunity to get up close and personal with one of the magnificent cats.

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