Destinations

10 Amazing Things to do in Dubai

April 20, 2018 By Guest Blogger

Editors Note: When Neha asked us to write a guest post on Dubai, we were excited to learn more about a destination we’ve not been to! Read on for her tips and favorite activties!

Dubai is chock full of amazing things to do and see. From the incredible architecture to the scintillating skyline to the pristine desert – there’s so much excitement around and not a single moment of boredom or dullness in Dubai. To make matters more exciting, Dubai is constantly trying to better itself, by building more and more spectacular architectural marvels. We just caught our breath after the Burj Khalifa, and the Dubai Frame is up now drawing oohs and aahs. Very soon, the Dubai Eye will be up and running. Here are 10 amazing things to do in Dubai right now. Don’t miss them!

Pretend To Be A Dolphin At Dolphin Bay

Visit one of the most sophisticated dolphin habitats in the world – Dolphin Bay in Atlantis. You can swim and play with the dolphins and even scuba dive deep into the bay with them. The dolphins are friendly and enjoy playing ball games and hide and seek with their human friends. Book your dolphin bay experience 14 days in advance and save Dhs 100. Enjoy visiting Aquaventure Waterpark as well as Aquaventure Beach along with Dolphin Bay and you’ll see why visiting the Atlantis corner is one of the most amazing things to do in Dubai.

Ooh and Aah at the Dubai Miracle Garden

Dubai Miracle Garden is a lush, verdant landscape full of flowering plants of every description. The difference is that these plants and flowers are shaped to resemble cartoon characters, animals, global landmarks and much more. Every season, the entire display is changed. It’s an organic, growing garden, raised into the shape that they’re raised to fit. Recently, Dubai Miracle Garden unveiled a humungous 18-meter tall Mickey Mouse statue, made entirely of flowering plants and flowers. The floral statue took almost 100,000 flowers to make and weighs close to 35 tonnes. It’s even won the Guinness World Record for the World’s Tallest Supported Topiary Sculpture.

Get Framed by the Dubai Frame

Dubai’s latest picture-perfect architectural marvel is open at Zabee

l Park and is a great success. The Dubai Frame consists of two 152-metre towers, which are connected at the top by a 93-metre glass bridge. When you go up the elevator to the bridge, you’ll at first feel disoriented as the bridge is made of glass. But the panoramic views over old and new Dubai more than make up for it. The ground floor of the Dubai Frame houses a museum where you can observe the city’s transformation from the fishing village it once was to the thriving metropolis it is today.

Stand Tall At The World’s New Tallest Hotel

The mighty Burj Khalifa is also the tallest hotel in the world, at 356 metres high beats the JW Marriott Marquis by one metre. The Gevora Hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road has a rooftop viewing deck from which you can enjoy spectacular 360 degree views of the city. Tickets for Burj Khalifa Dubai are priced at Dhs100 for adults and Dhs50 for children. Still, there’s no problem with queues – just eat your meal, and get on to the rooftop. What’s more, your ticket gets you a voucher from the Le Veryon Cafe for a pastry tray and drink!

Check Out Dubai’s New Beachfront Destination

If you’re looking for an exciting beachfront destination in Dubai, here it is – La Mer, a whole new beachfront district in Jumeirah 1. This cool new hip destination has more shops, cafes and restaurants that you can count. It’s a colourful seaside spot, picturesque and Instagram-worthy. In fact, the Dubai Canvas street art festival was recently conducted on La Mer. During the evenings, it’s the perfect place, all lit up with fairy lights. Best place for a romantic proposal.

Check Out The New Urban Maze

Check out the world’s first urban maze, a series of rooms that twist and turn and present mind-numbing challenges. Visit Jumble, the latest in Dubai’s spectacular offerings for the curious mind. The urban maze allows teams of three to six people to progress through the maze, with each room containing a problem to solve or a physical challenge to overcome. It is youthful, it’s exciting and since it’s Dubai, spectacularly designed with 4D elements.

Experience A 24 Carat Gold Facial

Gold, as we’re taught, is rich in antioxidants. But did you know that a gold facial can reduce sun damage and tighten your skin and create a radiant glow on your face? Leave it to Dubai to come up with a 24-carat gold facial. Apparently, gold, when ingested, heals the issues within the body, according to methods practiced by ancient Egyptians. Guess what? Good old Cleopatra used to go to bed with a gold mask on her face, to enhance her already dangerous beauty.

Stay At The Atlantis Underwater Suite

Here’s your chance to spend a night at a real to goodness underwater suite, at the Atlantis – the Palm hotel. There are only two uber-luxurious underwater suites at Atlantis, offering an incredible view via glass windows at the spectacular marine world. Check out over 65,000 marine creatures through the full-length, roof-to-floor glass wall. Hold your own as deadly sharks see you through the glass and rush at you. Watch colourful fish put on a special show outside the glass. It’s the most incredible experience Dubai offers for an entire night for Dhs. 9500.

Enjoy A Fabulous Dubai Safari

The Dubai Safari wildlife park is a great place to take your whole family to.

It is home to more than 2,000 animals from 250 species, gathered from all over the world. More wildlife will be joining the ranks in the coming months. There’s also the world’s first drive-thru crocodile habitat, where you can sit safe in your car as deadly crocs roll around you and threaten you uselessly. The Dubai Safari Park also has the UAE’s only drive-through hippopotamus and tiger exhibit and also the UAE’s largest aviary exhibit.

Check Out Dubai’s Instagram Lakefront

Check out the brand new sophisticated destination in Dubai – The Yard at Al Khawaneej. Here you’ll find a full-fledged rural farm laden with urban accents, complete with a rustic courtyard, a bakery, a farmers’ market, and a manmade lake with shady walking trails. There’s also some excellent street art that you can check out, worthy of several Instagram shots. Check out the famous ‘Promise Bridge’ where lovers can hang love locks.

About the Author

I am Neha Singh, a full-time travel blogger by profession. You can follow my blog at dubaiwikia.com.

Best Hiking and Walking Trails in Spain

April 20, 2018 By Jillian

If you’re planning on going on a hiking holiday soon, but still haven’t decided on a destination, then you shouldn’t look any further. Regardless of whether you’re an experienced hiker or have just recently started to enjoy this activity, Spain will be the perfect getaway for you. This country’s landscape is incredibly diverse, so exploring it will surely be quite an adventure. Here are some of the best walking and hiking trails in Spain to traverse on your first trip.

The Cami dels Bons Homes

Also known as the Path of the Good Men, this trail takes around 5 days to complete, and is recommended for experienced hikers. It begins in the south of France and ends in Berga, Catalonia. On the Cami dels Bons Homes, you will encounter enchanting forests, ancient ruins, breathtaking valleys, and alluring views. If you like peace and quiet, then it’s recommended that you embark on this journey either before or after high season. In other words, you should plan your holiday either for May or September if you’d like to have the trail mostly to yourself.

Via de la Plata

The Via de la Plata is a hiking trail that will take you from Seville to Santiago and it is in fact the longest pilgrim route in Spain. By completing this hike, you will be able to obtain a certificate of pilgrimage. Although it may be long, you won’t face a lot of rough terrain on this journey, which means that people new to hiking are welcome to enjoy this trail. Most people go on this route in the summer. However, it’s important to note that it can be extremely hot in Spain during this season. With that being said, you can also plan your journey in spring or autumn. If you’d like to share this adventure with a group of people, you can go on an organized tour.

Cami de Rodes

If you’d prefer a much shorter hike, then the Cami de Rodes is the perfect trail for you. This route will take you to an alluring former Benedictine monastery known as the Sant Pere de Rodes. Although there are many walking paths that will take you to this monastery, you will inevitably have to get through rocky terrain and walk uphill for a half an hour in order to reach it. Nevertheless, once you go up here, you will be greeted by a breathtaking view.

El Camino Natural del Ebro

This walking trail will take you on a journey following a river down from its source to the sea. On this expedition, you will be able to see divine Spanish landscapes, beautiful oak forests, and stunning deep canyons. During most of your hike, you will be walking parallel to the Ebro River. Nevertheless, there are some minor deviations from this route that you’ll face along the way.

Via Ferrada de la Cala del Moli

The Via Ferrada de la Cala del Moli is a hiking trail on the coast of northern Spain that involves a lot of rock climbing. It is a protected climbing route and offers safety cables, which means that even novice climbers can enjoy it. It’s suitable for most people. However, beginners may find it challenging. Keep in mind that you will be able to go through an escape route halfway through the trail if you find it too difficult.

Experienced climbers can complete the whole trail in two hours, and are rewarded with amazing views. The route follows cliffs around the inlets of Cala Alga, Es Fjorn, and Cala Moli. One of the highlights of this trail is the four bridges that you’ll be passing, placed right above the clear water.

About the Author

Becca is a traveling translator and night owl, blogging at RoughDraft. While she has been to more than 80 countries so far, she has only properly explored about a dozen, so her travel wishlist only keeps expanding.

Visiting the West Coast: Top 3 Cities to Travel to in California

September 29, 2017 By Guest Blogger

Editors Note: We don’t get to the West Coast as much as we’d like, so when guest blogger Sara S. offered to write this little piece we jumped at it! Let us know what she missed and what we should add to the list! This post includes sponsored links.

Thinking of heading to the west coast for a little getaway? Of all the places to see in the US, California is by far one of the best destinations to check out. When most think of California, they think of surfers, beaches, the rich and the famous. However, as one of the most populous and diverse states in the country, you might be in for a surprise.

Something for Everyone

Why is California such a popular destination to visit? Perhaps because it is one of the few places in the US where you can find something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you enjoy the hot sandy beaches, outdoorsy wooded areas, breathtaking vineyards, or tall mountain tops, you’ll find all that in California. Great food, tons of amusement parks, famed tourist attractions, lots of history and culture, and its agricultural environment makes California a great state to visit. Check out the top cities and things to do listed below:

Los Angeles, California

The second largest city in the country, Los Angeles is one city in California everyone wants to visit. Known as the mecca of America’s entertainment industry, a trip to this beautiful town could result in a celebrity siting. Whether you visit West Hollywood and take a stroll down the Walk of Fame, go on a tour of celebrity neighborhoods, or you want to go shopping on the famous Sunset Boulevard, there is a lot of fun to be had in the city of Los Angeles.

The epitome of life in Sunny California, from the sunny beaches and designer boutiques to its wide, palm tree filled streets and timeless history, Los Angeles is a great city to visit. Some must-see tourist sites include Venice Beach, Santa Monica Beach, the LA Philharmonic Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Huntington Botanical Gardens and La Brea Tar Pits. With Disneyland located just 30 miles away, families are sure to have a great time vacationing in Los Angeles.

San Diego, California

Beautiful weather year-round and several attractions and beaches for you to explore make San Diego a great city to visit while you’re in California. While great for couple getaways and girl’s trips, San Diego is also a great destination in California to visit when traveling with family. The city is packed with expansive green pastures and parks, breathtaking gardens, and astonishing museums. From Balboa Park and Sea World to the San Diego Zoo and La Jolla Beach, which is lined with some of the best restaurants and museums in town, your kids are sure to have a blast exploring the city of San Diego. Here are some more cool things to do in San Diego:

La Jolla Cove
Tour the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier
Coronado Island
Take a harbor cruise
Lego Land

Santa Barbara, California

If you’re after a romantic getaway, there is no better destination in California than Santa Barbara. This ever-popular resort destination is packed with some of the state’s most beautiful beaches. With great weather all year long to attractive beaches along the coastline, couples can experience the perfect getaway. The historic town is also filled with old-world charm. Its Spanish style architecture and culture are warm, inviting, and breathtakingly gorgeous to explore. Here’s some more ways to enjoy Santa Barbara, California

Visit state street
Visit Summerland’s Outlook Park
Check out the Gardens of Ganna Walska Lotusland
Go Kayaking in the Channel Islands
Santa Barbara Zoo
Visit the Shoreline Park
Go on a tasting tour

Whether you like to go hiking and explore nature, parks, mountaintops, and gardens or you prefer to get a tan and catch some waves at the beach or sit poolside in your lavish hotel, you can find something enjoyable to do and see in the above-mentioned Californian cities. Be sure to check for great deals online so that you can explore the west coast without breaking the bank.

Please note that external links do not imply endorsement. Please review our disclosure policy here.

Kayaking Kauai’s Na Pali Coast

September 20, 2017 By Jillian

Kayaking the Na Pali Coast is not a leisurely paddle through some pretty scenery. It is a full on, strenuous 17 mile ocean kayaking experience that happens to have some of the most breath taking views in the world. Deemed by National Geographic as the second best adventure in the country, it doesn’t disappoint. We were fortunate enough to set off in early July, when the weather was calm (read: no wind), the seas were calm (read: no helpfully strong current) and the wildlife active (read: can you ever get tired of seeing sea turtles?). But it wasn’t until we set off from Ha’ena Beach Park and kayaked a mile around to the “last take out point” at Ke’e Beach that I had a real idea of what we were getting into. Like any activity, the first few miles are exciting, exhilarating, and most often than not a period of “breaking in”. Not exactly an avid ocean kayaker (not too many oceans here in Charlotte), and since I haven’t been regular in the whitewater boat for several years my kayaking skills were a bit rusty. Not to mention we were placed in a tandem kayak (read: divorce boat). With so many adventure races behind us that required tandem paddling, you’d think we would have learned to work together in the boat better. Alas, we have not and the tandem boat is still a cause for discord. Our boats always come with too many captains and not enough sailors. So the first mile was a bit of an adjustment, but we were flying high on the fact we had hiked in and out from Kalalalu beach in a day and felt invincible. With 3,000 foot cliffs looming ahead and the promise of some amazing sea caves, unspoiled beaches and wildlife views, I ignored the questioning feeling in my head and set my paddle to moving us down the coastline.

The first seven miles along the Na Pali Coast to Kalalau beach were beautiful. The full Na Pali Coast is in view and you feel like you are on a secret path between the soaring cliffs and the immense Pacific Ocean. The water is a perfect cerulean color, like something straight out of a crayon box, and perfectly clear. You can see the bottom of the ocean 40, 50 in some places 60 feet below. It was incredible to catch a glimpse of an endangered green sea turtle or the many fish swimming below. Our group of 7 got a great kick out of seeing the scenery we had hiked two days before, this time from a different perspective. The trail, which had looked so high while walking, seemed impossibly steep in some areas from a few thousand feet below. When we arrived to Kalalau beach we were all thrilled to see the white sand beach again and spent some time loosening our muscles by swimming off shore.

The stretch to Kalalau Beach was boring in comparison to what happened after we left and paddled further up the Na Pali Coast. Dipping in and out of pitch black sea caves, open-ceiling grottoes, under waterfalls that drop into the ocean, the coast’s twists and turns, we felt as though we had discovered a place of magic. It is hard not to be emotionally swept away by the impressive rock formations bathed in warm sunlight with turquoise water crashing on them as the waves come in. This area of the coast is sacred to the ancient Hawaiians who used the coastline as a training ground. There are some beaches on which it is forbidden to land a boat out of respect for the ancient traditions. Our guides filled us in on the human and natural history of this breathtaking area. And then the endangered green sea turtles began to appear. A few had graced us with their presence earlier in the trip, but at this point we started to see so many it was virtually unbelievable. It seemed that dozens of green sea turtles swam under and around us for the next few miles, with our fellow kayakers shouting “turtle” every few minutes.

As we passed a green sea turtle nest on shore we came to Milolii Beach, at the tip of the Na Pali Coast. I wish we had planned ahead to spend the night there. Not a lush paradise, the beach felt like a shipwreck settlement with a few trees, a faucet for running water and a small shelter for picnic tables. But the peaceful ease of the place, and the sense of being completely at the end of the earth looking out at the vast ocean – that is what drew me to want to stay. Camping is allowed on the beach by permit of the Hawaii State Park system for up to three days. One of our kayak compatriots spent a night there with his children years ago and said the monk seals come at night to rest and relax, making it a wild wildlife experience. No monks seals graced us with their presence while we were there, but all the better.

Past Milolii the geography changes with the wind. Less foliage and smaller cliffs make it less interesting, but no less beautiful. As Catamarans began to pass further out at sea, and boat traffic increased it was clear that civilization was rapidly approaching. Within site of our take out point at Polihale State Park we suddenly spotted dolphins far out to sea. Paddling furiously (read: this is a subjective term, remember we are still on divorce boat) we caught the Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins playing in the water. Swimming directly under us and around us, the pod of dolphins was not shy and spent several minutes entertaining us. Doing their namesake spinning jumps, our whole group realized how lucky we were when our guide, a native to the island, got excited. We never got a truly accurate count, but perhaps we saw two dozen dolphins in our area.

Finally we reached Kauai’s Polihale State Park. Our arms and torsos were tired, our legs were cramped, but we were in great spirits. Attempting to body surf our way onto shore, we looked something like beached whales to the families enjoying an afternoon picnic on the beach. As the water glimmered in the late afternoon sun we packed up our gear and headed back around the island (in a van!) to complete the full circumnavigation of Kauai.

If you go

We booked our Na Pali Coast Kayak Tour through Kayak Kauai. Our guides were highly skilled, professional and fun. Our equipment was in good condition and we would highly recommend using this tour operator. Both of our guides were locals and the organization also helps sponsor a Na Pali Coast annual clean up. This was a strenuous ocean paddle and not for children or people in poor physical condition. We spent nearly 8 hours on the water – bringing adequate sun screen and shade is essential.

The Serengeti In The Summer

June 2, 2017 By Jillian

Editor’s Note: You know we loved seeing animals in Africa, so when this guest post opportunity came up from African Wildlife Content we had to jump on it! Love seeing how much the area has stabilized.

A mere 15 years ago, the Western Corridor of the Serengeti had been devastated by rampant poaching and uncontrolled hunting, leaving this stretch of wilderness nearly barren and dry. Visiting the area today would present you with a dramatically different view. In 2002 the Singita Grumeti Fund was granted the right to conserve and manage the area, which spans 350000 acres, and the animal populations in the area has rebounded significantly since then. In fact, it is hard to imagine the devastation, when we are presented with the thriving eco system we see today. The region once again boasts an impressive variety of wildlife, which makes for exceptional viewing. There is nothing quite like seeing these majestic creatures in the natural habitat from your African safari lodge. Here are some of the highlights we’ve gathered from the region’s recent wildlife reports.

Elephants

Elephants are sighted daily across the concession. Quite a large breeding herd, approximately 300 elephants, was spotted recently on the concession. Visitors were treated to some fantastic sights as the herd remained in the area for a period of 2 weeks.

Lions

The last few months have been exceptional for lion sightings with sightings in a single month totaling as many as 144. The prides in the area are thriving and none of the cubs have been killed or lost. Two prides in the area, the Nyasirori and Butamtam, has recently welcomed a few new arrivals. Each pride now has 3 new cubs, which are approximately 3 weeks old, and more are expected this year. There are several females who are pregnant and 4 active mating pairs have been sighted.

Leopards

Leopard sightings have recently been dominated by a mother and her 2 cubs. The family tallied 32 separate sightings along the Mbogo drainage, making up a large percentage of the leopard sightings. Two territorial males were spotted during the month. There were only a handful of sightings due to the sheer size of their territories.

Cheetahs

Conditions have also been ideal for viewing cheetahs with two families regularly spotted on the concession. A mother with 3 cubs (“mother with 3”) and a mother with one cub (“mother with 1”) were spotted throughout December. Visitors were treated to the holy grail of big cat viewing as the mother’s went out on several hunts, showing us just how hard these creatures work to take care of their young.

Special Sightings

We have also seen increased wild dog activity in general. The pack is on the move, on the hunt for prey, and are currently not denning. Denning is when a pack chooses a den site to remain at, while their new pups are born. Of the 12 wild dog sightings, 8 resulted in a kill, which is incredible given this species’ rarity and endangered status.

The abundance of wildlife here is something we are quite proud of, and it’s fantastic to see these beautiful animals gaining in numbers once more.

If this has wet your appetite for safari and you’d like to see more animal pictures from our time in Africa, click the collage below: