Travel By Design: Landscape
“The landscape affects the human psyche – the soul, the body and the innermost contemplations – like music. Every time you feel nature deeper you resonate better with her, finding new elements of balance and freedom.”
A day trip to Mexico’s Playa Balandra will leave every nature lover speechless
By Thomas SpäterAlthough I usually have a hard time ranking landscape destinations, there is one specific beach I would easily consider the most beautiful in the Baja California area, if not even in all Mexico: Playa Balandra, a spectacular, crescent-shaped bay with crystal clear and shallow water. Read more
Mexico Landscape
Take your time when visiting Croatia’s Plitvice Lakes National Park
By Thomas SpäterIn the central part of Croatia, close to the border of Bosnia and Herzegovina, lies the Plitvice National Park, one of Europe’s most famous and, by far the prettiest. This almost 300-square-foot area consists of a broad range of natural features, such as turquoise water, deep green forest surroundings, limestone … Read more Read more
Europe Landscape Nature & Outdoors
Why is Ireland Known as the “Emerald Isle?”
By Derek CullenIreland is often referred to as the “Emerald Isle,” due to the vast greenery throughout the island. Most of the Irish countryside is dotted with farms and national parks, while the landscape in almost every county is dominated by some of the greenest hills anywhere in the world. But is … Read more Read more
Ireland Landscape History
Lauterbrunnen Valley – Traveling to the world of “The Lord of the Rings”
By Thomas SpäterSwitzerland is known for its beautiful and dramatic landscapes. But there is more than just the natural aspect to it. Some of its most famous places have served as great inspirations for authors and movie directors. One such place is the incredibly picturesque valley surrounding Lauterbrunnen, a small village deeply … Read more Read more
Europe Landscape
A hike to the underrated Shengjergj waterfall of Albania
By Thomas SpäterShengjergj waterfall, which is locally called “Ujëvara e Shën Gjergjit”,offers an amazing 30-meters drop with breathtaking stratified rock formations surrounding the scenery. The water comes straight from the “Mali me Gropa Mountain” and is especially impressive during the fall-to-spring season, when rain increases and snow melts from the mountain tops. Read more
Europe Adventure Landscape Nature & Outdoors
Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes | A Natural Treasure
By Tonya Fitzpatrick, Esq.Do you know that feeling of how a smell, sound, or taste takes you back to some of your fondest memories? That’s what happens to me when something reminds me of my summer family vacations in Michigans Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. So, after all these years, whenever I travel … Read more Read more
United States Landscape Nature & Outdoors
Palatinate Forest – A hidden gem in southwest Germany
By Thomas SpäterWhenever I read about people planning a trip through Europe, Germany seems to be frequently skipped or, at least, at the end of the queue behind Spain, Italy, or France. And those who do decide to visit Germany, sadly often focus on Berlin and Munich only. Read more
Europe Landscape Nature & Outdoors
Underestimating the Climb of Namibia’s “Big Daddy Dune”
By Thomas SpäterAt the end of my second week of traveling through Namibia during the pandemic, I reached the most-anticipated stop of my journey within the Namib-Naukluft National Park: Deadvlei, a white clay pan that represents an inevitable stop for nature lovers and photographers. I will never forget the second I stepped … Read more Read more
Africa Adventure Landscape
Studying the Northern Lights: More Than A Pretty Picture
By Ann-Marie CahillThe official scientific name is the aurora borealis, but they have many names. The northern lights, the Green Lady, merry dancers, guovssahasat, and revontulet or ‘fox fires’. No matter what you call them, they have been tempting travellers forever. Read more
Europe Experiences Landscape
Chasing a Volcanic Summit and its Legend
By Sugato MukherjeeThe small village of Cemoro Lawang is perched on the fringes of an undulating stretch of fine volcanic sand. This is Laut Pasir which, in Javanese, means Sea of Sand. My hotel, Bromo Permai, has a charming lobby that overlooks this unsettlingly unearthly territory. Read more
Asia Landscape History
Niagara Falls: An Intersection of History and Nature
By Terri MarshallFormed during the Ice Age when large torrents of water released from melting ice drained into what is now the Niagara River, Native Americans would have been the first to witness the magnitude of Niagara Falls. Read more
United States Landscape History
Roanoke: Celebrating the Stars of Star City
By Terri MarshallOf course, the state wouldn’t be for lovers if its cities and towns didn’t embody the same coveted qualities. Located in the southwest region of the state, Roanoke checks all the boxes. Read more
United States Landscape History
Gongoni: Bengal’s Grand Canyon
By Sugato MukherjeeGongoni Danga, roughly translated from Bengali, means red-hot land. In the scorching summer months, locals say that the laterite textures of the canyon seem to sizzle from a distance, hence the name. Read more
India Landscape Nature & Outdoors History
Exploring the Paddy Fields in Sekinchan Town, Malaysia
By Farah KasmanMalaysia is one of the beautiful and unique countries to visit in Southeast Asia. It’s a melting pot of cultures, populated by Malays, Chinese, Indians, and the various indigenous groups. Read more
Asia Agritourism Landscape
A Trip Through Tradition on the Tweed Coast
By Ann-Marie CahillWollumbin is not the first site to be ‘renamed’ in Australia, and it certainly should not be the last. Read more
Oceania Landscape Indigenous