Hiking the Great Wall from Beijing – Jinshanling to Simatai
It has been said that if you haven’t been to Walk the Great Wall of China, then you have not truly been to China. Hiking the Great Wall should be on the “to-do” list of every traveler. It’s a truly rewarding experience that does not disappoint.
One of the best places to explore the Great Wall is from Beijing, as there are many sections of the wall one can easily get to in a day-trip from the city. The most popular section of the wall to visit is Badaling. It was the first section of the wall opened to tourists and is located only 70km from Beijing. However, the section has been heavily restored, and has been reported as being very commercialized and crowded. Regardless of the crowds and commercialization, it’s still the Great Wall.
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Nova Scotia Sightseeing
I is one of my personal goals to visit every Canadian provinces, as it is such a wonderful country. So after a belly full of Quebec food, I boarded my berth on VIA Rail’s The Ocean (more on that another day), and relaxed in for an overnight rail journey to Nova Scotia, a peninsula that juts out off Canada’s east coast, dipping down into the Atlantic Ocean. With several friends in the area and having heard nothing but good things, I was looking forward to visiting, and I wasn’t disappointed.
Nova Scotia is very rural – and that’s part of the charm, so many stretches of land nearly untouched. I encourage you to spend some time off the beaten path – which isn’t hard in Nova Scotia, just head towards the coast. However, I’d like to point out a few Nova Scotia sightseeing highlights that you’ll find along your way.
Halifax
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Dusseldorf Sightseeing
We continue our tour of Germany’s most popular sites with a stop in Dusseldorf. One of the largest cities on the Rhine, it is considered a fashion capital, though most tourists skip it in favour of some Cologne Sightseeing in the city’s more popular neighbour. However, if you have the time, I do suggest you spend some time exploring my recommendations for the best of Dusseldorf sightseeing. I was lucky in that my visit was guided by a local and a friend, so I do feel my tips are something special!
Shop
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The Best Ottawa Day Trips
Canada’s capital city, Ottawa, can fill several days with shopping and sightseeing. Once you’ve explored the historic downtown – both the museums as well as the parliamentary district – be sure to explore some of the city’s wonderful neighbourhoods. But then get out of town: some of Ottawa’s best travel experiences can be had just a few miles away in either Ontario or Quebec. Here are a few recommendations for the best Ottawa day trips.
Hiking the Gatineau Hills (Quebec)
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Things to Do in Niagara Falls
I so excited to arrive in Niagara Falls. With all the stories of barrel rides, mist, and amusement, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. In fact, I kind of suspected I might not like it. And the truth it is that in some ways, Niagara is overdeveloped. But if you look hard enough, you can still find plenty of great experiences.
Remember, Niagara Falls straddles the US/Canadian border, so for the most flexibility, bring your passport. In America, you have close access to the water as well as a wonderful hike, whereas in Canada you have shops, hotels, and many of the non-falls attractions. I recommend you stay on the Canadian side and walk over to America. Also, I would recommend not to take an organised tour. It is easy to get around Niagara, and I don’t feel most of the tours offer great value for money, when you could see what you want, when you want, and for as long as you want on your own.
Here were a few of my favourite things to do in Niagara Falls.
Get Wet
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The Mystery of Mystra
This travel journey started with a misty dream: my deceased mother pointing to a place on the map and whispering: “This is Mystra. You must go there.”
Mystra, all but a deserted village near the Peloponnese town of Sparta, has its beginnings in Greece’s Byzantine period. Personally, I’d rather enjoy the Classical or Bronze Age sites of Greece. But my love for Greece is neverending (Delphi travel and the Ionian Islands being personal favorites), but if your dead mother has an opinion, you listen. I packed my bags and picked up my ticket for the five-hour trip to Mystra at the bus station in central Athens.
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Buffalo Sightseeing
The other day I sent out a tweet, saying “Gorgeous day and having a wonderful time in Buffalo.” A follower (and STE reader) replied, saying “You don’t hear that often!” I’m afraid Buffalo totally has a bad reputation for being snow-covered year round, which of course isn’t the case. I was only there for a couple of days, and yes I chose my timing well – summer, not winter – but found heaps of things to do and places to be explored. So, if you find yourself in Western New York, or looking for a travel destination in this area, I recommend Buffalo as the perfect city break or weekend getaway. Here are a few suggestions for Buffalo sightseeing and why I enjoyed it so much.
Downtown Architecture
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Seeing Charleston Your Own Way
More than a few people have told me that when they picture Charleston, South Carolina USA, they think something along the lines of “sleepy, Southern city on the water.” Although far from complete their preconceptions are not altogether wrong. The trouble with preconceived ideas, however, is that often they are exactly what you get. Whether you are visiting this multidimensional city for one day or ten, I would suggest you do some of your own conceiving of the perfect Charleston sightseeing tour. So how to go about this?
You Know You Want to Take a Tour, but Which One?
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Tasting the Finger Lakes Lifestyle in Canandaigua
Canandaigua is a pretty interesting place once you start to look underneath the surface. My good friend Marci lives there, who you may remember introduced us to Canandaigua’s Sonnenberg Gardens last year. I was looking forward to meeting her and seeing the gardens for myself, and I’d been to the Finger Lakes before, near Corning, so I knew the area would be beautiful. But I was surprised to find a destination where life is a lifestyle; many people from bigger cities have moved to Canandaigua for the relaxed atmosphere, quality of life, and not to mention all the things to do in Canadaigua. Let’s take a look by tasting a sample of some of the best examples of the Finger Lakes Lifestyle in Canandaigua.
Food and Fun on Main St
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Rochester: New York’s Other Culture Capital
My travels take me far and wide, to places large and small. So it was no small surprise to find myself in Rochester New York, the state’s third largest city. Just south of Lake Ontario, I’d heard lots of great things about Rochester and was lucky enough to find out what’s hot and what’s not. There’s actually plenty entertain yourself during a visit to what was once known as The Flour City (due the mills), now sometimes called The Flower City (due to the..uhm, flowers). I’d like to think of the place as New York’s other culture capital – purely based on all the things to do. Here’s a sampling.
East Avenue Action
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