Adventure Travel Photography Blog
Ocala, located in North Central Florida, has a growing population of 63,000+ and counting. With hundreds of horse farms and the famous World Equestrian Center, Ocala is known as the “Horse Capital of the World.” Though Lexington, Kentucky would argue that claim. While the horse industry in the area is substantial, there are other things to do in Ocala.
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If you are picturing relaxing, sandy beaches for your next island vacation, Ubud is not it! Instead, Ubud is the cultural center of Bali with mopeds zipping in every direction. If you are interested in arts, markets, cafes, temples, and a few scattered rice fields and waterfalls, then you have come to the right place while visiting Bali.
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Singapore is an island and city state in Maritime Southeast Asia. Ruled by England, Japan, and Malaysia before becoming an independent country in 1965, Singapore features a diverse culture. It boasts a population of nearly 6,000,000, with 43% being foreign born.
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Cusco, a UNSECO World Heritage Site, is situated at 11,152 feet high in the Andes Mountains of Peru. Once the capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the Western Hemisphere.
The bustling, mountain city of 500,000, features remarkable Inca stonework dating back to the 13th century as well as beautiful colonial architecture from the Spanish conquest in the 16th century.
Being the gateway to Machu Picchu, one of the Seven Modern Wonders of the World, Cusco attracts millions of tourists a year. It’s history and culture, gastronomic delights, and tremendous natural landscape afford tourists many things to do in Cusco.
Plan at least three days to acclimate to the high altitude and explore the city and Sacred Valley. Add more time for visiting Machu Picchu and hiking through the spectacular terrain.
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Spending a long weekend in Philadelphia doesn’t just mean the opportunity to take plenty of great photos but is a chance for you to experience a place that has a distinct role in American history. If you’re looking for a long weekend, Philadelphia provides a mix of historical sites, cultural attractions, and more than a few culinary delights. So, here is a little guide to help you make the most of your time:
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Dauphin Island is an Alabama town located on a barrier island of the same name. The town is part of the Mobile metropolitan area, and the island helps define the mouth of Mobile Bay. Dauphin Island is reached by the scenic, three-mile Gordon Persons Bridge.
Originally known as Massacre Island, it was renamed to Dauphin Island in honor of Louis XIV of France’s great-grandson and heir, known as the dauphin for the dolphin on his family crest. While dauphin means dolphin in French, dauphin was the title given to the heir apparent of France, Louis XV.
Though the Spanish first discovered and mapped the island in 1519, the French were the ones who mistakenly named it Massacre Island in 1699 after finding a large pile of human skeletons which was actually an Indian burial mound.
At the end of the French and Indian War, Dauphin Island was ceded to the British in 1763. After the American Revolutionary War, Dauphin Island became part of the Province of West Florida, controlled by the Spanish.
It wasn’t until the early 1800’s after Spain and the United States signed the Treaty of San Lorenzo that settlers began migrating to Alabama from the Southeast and took the land away from the Indians.
By the Civil War, Dauphin Island was controlled by the Confederacy and captured by the Union Army during the Battle of Mobile Bay.
Today, this charming bayfront town is known for its laid back and natural setting.
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For our third annual girls hiking trip, we visited Mena in the Northwest corner of Arkansas. We normally have a group of 5 or 6, but schedules weren’t aligning, so Carol and I just drove from Dallas to Mena in hopes to soak in some fall colors. The short four-hour drive took us on highways and backroads, and we arrived just before dark.
I was in the area briefly thirteen years ago during my year-long road trip following scenic byways, and I’ve wanted to return for some leaf peeping. Unfortunately, this early November weekend didn’t bless us with vibrant reds and oranges, but we still saw some autumn colors and enjoyed ourselves around town.
Mena, the county seat of Polk County, Arkansas was founded as a railroad town in the 19th Century. It is situated amid the mountains of Ouachita National Forest. Mena has a checkered past. It was once called the sundown town for its unacceptable treatment of African Americans. It was also in the news a lot for its role in a drug-smuggling operation and the Iran-Contra Scandal.
Today, while it has a diversified economy of agriculture and manufacturing, it has become a tourist destination due to its numerous recreational opportunities available in the surrounding national forest and state parks.
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Our final hike on our Mountain Travel Sobek Tour of Portugal Historic Villages began at Lousã Castle on the outskirts of Lousã. We followed route PR2 – LSA to two schist villages, Casal Novo and Talasnal. The 3.2-mile loop hike through the Serra da Lousã was lovely.
HAPPY HIKING!
Salt Lake City is the capital of Utah and its most populated city. It was founded in 1847 by the church followers led by Brigham Young who fled the east to escape persecution. It is now home to the world headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints.
The immigration of church members, mining booms, and construction of the first transcontinental railroad spurred Salt Lake City’s growth. Now Salt Lake City has developed a strong outdoor recreation industry based around skiing, and it is known for hosting the 2002 Winter Olympics.
EXPLORE MORE …Hello Faithful Blog Followers –
I started a new blog called Around Town 5280. It will be a blog focusing on things around the Mile High City such as the Mint, the Art Museum, Sporting Events, the Mustang Sanctuary and more.
If you want to know what’s going on in and around click the follow button. I have posted the link to the blog on the left my travel blog.
At some point I may be shifting my hiking in the Rockies to this site as well.
For a little while I’ll include my posts here too. My first post is about the Butterfly Pavilion. https://aroundtown5280.wordpress.com/2014/08/28/the-butterfly-pavilion/
ETB