RSSSep|30|2007
Reader’s Digest: Living Green
Posted by Hannah Grace as Around The World, Awards, Cities, Destinations, Eco-Friendly, Features, Tips
After the negativity of listing down the most dangerous countries to travel, I decided to come up with a more positive post and here’s what I came up with – a list of the cleanest and greenest countries and cities in the world.
Last August, Reader’s Digest analysed which of the world’s 141 countries ranked as the greenest. The criteria Reader’s Digest used meant not only that the greenest countries were the most environmental friendly but that they really are the most desirable places to live, and hence to visit. After all, as they said, “Just because a country or place is environmentally “fit” doesn’t mean you’d want to spend your life there – think jungles or the Antarctic. But finding the perfect balance between what’s green and what’s livable could lead you to paradise.”
So without further ado here’s the greenest countries and cities in the entire world….
Sep|23|2007
California Dreamin’: Yosemite
Posted by Benj as Americas, Eco-Friendly
California has a lot to offer. From the sprawling cities of the Pacific coast, to the cool and serene atmosphere of the Bay area, it’s clear that the Golden State has all the bases covered. Aside from man-made wonders, California also pulls its weight when it comes to national wonders.
Yosemite National Park is a vast expanse of more than 750,000 acres of breath-taking rock formations, lush greenery, water falls and other inspiring sights. It is found largely Mariposa and Tuolumne counties – a perfect detour for people passing through Fresno or Sacramento. The elevation is highly variable throughout the entire park. In some areas, the ground is 2,000 feet above see level. In other places, the number soars to over 13,000 feet. The dramatic land features are said to be the effects of glacial thawing that happened millions of years ago. As the ice melted, it carved the millions …
Sep|20|2007
In Search Of Vino
Posted by Camica as Americas, Around The World, Eco-Friendly, Europe, Events, Festivals, Food and Drink, Gourmet, Travelogger, United States
It’s the start of autumn, and the days are starting to get shorter and colder. The trees are ready to shed their leaves, gifting us with a brilliant display of colors before they part. Best of all, Fall is the season of harvest, and food and wine harvest festivals are sprouting up all over the northern hemisphere. If you’re a food and wine connoisseur, or, like me, just an ordinary human who lives to eat and drink, this season holds a lot of great travel opportunities for you.
Fall is usually the start of wine harvests in the U.S. and in Europe. I don’t know about you, but one of my to-do lists is to experience an actual grape harvesting. This little romantic dream of mine I can definitely attribute to that scene in a Keanu Reeves …
Sep|19|2007
Visiting The Georgia Aquarium
Posted by Camica as Around The World, Eco-Friendly, Family, Travelogger, United States
My kids love the ocean. They love the smell of it, swimming in it, and if they can live in it (like Ariel), they probably would. In fact, my eldest, who’s 7, announced her plans to be a marine biologist when she grows up, after a trip to the local aquarium. It’s a trait most kids, and even adults, share, this love for the water and the fascination for the creatures dwelling in it. So if you’re ideal vacation is spending time near the water, with loads of learning for the kids as well, why not try visiting your local aquarium? Or better yet, take a special trip to visit the world’s largest aquarium, the Georgia Aquarium.
The Georgia Aquarium is located in Atlanta, Georgia at Pemberton Place, …
Sep|12|2007
How To Sleep In An Igloo
Posted by Camica as Around The World, Destinations, Eco-Friendly, Hotels, Nature, Travelogger
Want to experience something unique? Check out Sweden’s Ice Hotel. Located in the shores of Torne river in the village of Jukkasjarvi, Swedish Lapland, it’s just 200 km north of the Arctic Circle. The Ice Hotel is built from scratch every year, with a team of snowbuilders, architects, designers and artists from all over the world contributing to the creation of the Ice Hotel. It’s one of the most environmentally friendly hotels, since the material used for its construction is the ice and snow supplied by Mother Nature via the Torne River. It normally takes 10,000 tons of crystal clear ice and 30,000 tons of pure snow to build the Ice Hotel every year. When Spring comes, of course, …
Sep|05|2007
Sydney Must-Sees: Taronga Zoo and the Blue Mountains
Posted by Hannah Grace as Around The World, Australia NZ, Destinations, Eco-Friendly, Family
Aside from the Sydney Opera Hourse, the Rocks Market, and Darling Harbour Sydney musts sees for me are the Taronga Zoo and the World Heritage Blue Mountains.
Taronga Zoo
Taronga Zoo won the 2007 ARAZPA (Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria) Exhibit Award for small-scale exhibits which showed the zoos dedication to helping conserve and revive the almost extinct Corroboree Frog. Though efforts like these are laudable in itself Taronga Zoo will awe its visitors not (only) because of their dedication to conservation but also because of the wide variety of animals (340 species) that live there. Like any zoo the animals are the real stars in Taronga Zoo. Aside form the wildlife Taronga Zoo also boasts an excellent “garden”. The “garden” covers a total area of 33 acres of landscaped gardens with exhibits as well as bushland.
Blue Mountain…
Aug|09|2007
Why You Should Consider a Fall Family Vacation
Posted by Noemi as Eco-Friendly, Family, Nature
It is true that families rarely go on trips together during fall because school has just re-opened at this time. Yet if you are anything like me, I would think of this season as the perfect time to take the whole family out of town and take advantage of the absence of tourists. Of course, not wanting to have the kids miss school, it would be best to take a weekend trip or even just a day trip. Still not convinced of the merits of a fall vacation? Here are some ideas that may just change your mind.
What is this season most famous for? I would say trees with fiery leaves and pumpkins! For those in the city or suburbs, why not take the kids out for a drive and hit a pumpkin patch trail? This will not take more …
Jul|25|2007
Protecting Endangered Species: San Diego Zoo
Posted by Jen as Eco-Friendly, Education, Features, Nature, Travelogger, United States
Did you know that in the United States alone, there are 496 species of endangered animals listed? And that worldwide, there are about a thousand more animals whose lives are in danger? These are not just numbers, mind you. These are issues that affect every living being on this planet, whether we are conscious of it or not. Perhaps one of the main causes for the endangerment of these animals is habitat destruction. Over the decades, man has been a little less considerate when it comes to expanding and construction. Sure, there are new roads being paved and new infrastructures being built. Still, at what cost?
In recent years, a lot of things have been done to help the environment recover from past mistakes. Laws have been enacted to protect various wildlife. Organizations have been set up to ensure that these laws are being put into good use.
Also, there are now …
Jul|22|2007
How To Live Like A Fish
Posted by Camica as Adventure, Around The World, Destinations, Eco-Friendly, Hotels, Nature, United States
Want to experience a really unusual vacation? Check out Jules Undersea Lodge in Key Largo, Florida. I already wrote about this hotel in one of my previous posts (Hotel Wish List), but I wasn’t able to post any pictures or write more details. But I promised myself I would rave more about this unique hotel in another post.
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Jun|28|2007
Hotel Wish List 2
Posted by Camica as Adventure, Around The World, Destinations, Eco-Friendly, Getaways, Hotels, Luxurious, Resorts
As I promised in my last post, here’s the rest of the top ten hotels on my wish list:
6. Dromoland Castle, Shannon, Ireland – Almost every girl has dreamed about being a princess and living in a castle. This castle hotel sets a high standard of luxury, blending old world elegance with modern day comforts. Another point to it’s favour is it’s location in Ireland, a country that‘s full of great scenery, history and a touch of the magical.
7. Ariau Amazon Towers Hotel, Manaus, Brazil – For every little boy who’s role-played Tarzan, this next hotel is for you. It’s the world’s largest commercial tree house that lets you sleep in the treetops of the Amazon Rainforest. “Tarzan’s house,” for example, is perched on stilts, 80 feet above ground, with the apartments linked by a series of catwalks.
8. Singita Private Game Reserve, South Africa –You …
