Here’s our list of the top five things to do in Bali: Island of the Gods
1. Ubud Palace
Now, in the modern day, the palace is open to visitors and hosts events including Balinese dancing and various festivities. When it comes to the recorded history of Bali, this is where it all started.
2. Monkey Forest
The Ubud Monkey Forest is an important site not only for ecological conservation and research on the social behavior of monkeys, but also for historic and cultural preservation, which makes it one of the coolest and most educational things to do in Bali.
3. Pura Besakih
Pura Besakih attracts over 100,000 visitors a year, and at least 70 festivals occur here annually, on a cycle based on a 210 day Balinese calendar called Pawukon. If you can arrange it, it’s definitely worth a visit during one of these events.
4.Seminyak Beach
During your stay, you could even stay in a villa in Seminyak. Consider choosing villa-Bali to help find the best accommodation for you and your family.
5. Tirta Gangga
The whole site is incredibly well kept and boasts entrancing sculpture gardens and amazing buildings, whose greatness is reflected on the many surrounding pools.
There you have it! I hope you enjoyed our list of some of the best things to do in Bali. Let us know in the comments how your last trip went!
Written by Miro Siegel
Written by Miro Siegel
One caution. When you go, make sure to plan ahead. If you are going to camp, plan carefully, but use travel sites like Expedia to book Alberta hotels ahead of time. The popular destinations can be booked out months before the short tourist season.
With that out of the way. Here is a list of some of the less common but amazing activities you can do in Alberta, Canada.
Sharing Your Experiences
While you are traveling, recording your experiences for sharing later on but also to jog your own memory is a must do. Besides photos, video and travel work very well together. Get a GoPro, use your smartphone, or get another good camera to record the amazing things you are doing.
The memories they will hold, and the ways they will remind you of your time in Alberta will make the additional effort as you travel well worth it. Keep a journal or a blog as well, and share these experiences with your friends and others who also share your love of travel and the outdoors.
Biking the Backcountry
One thing you cannot miss in Alberta is biking the backcountry. In the winter, fat tire biking is the way to go. The terrain varies to appeal to all levels and types of cyclists and features panoramic views, rivers, and lakes. Foothill rides throughout the area and trails around Banff are probably the most popular, yet are rarely overcrowded.
The Calgary Stampede
A 10-day long festival, the Calgary Stampede offers literally hundreds of pancake breakfasts, concerts, cultural events, shows and rides along a midway, and a world-class rodeo. There are chuckwagon races and dozens of other types of events that appeal to the whole family.
Even if you are not a fan of large crowds, this event is one you should experience at least once in your lifetime.
Icefields Parkway
This drive follows 144 miles of two-lane road that winds through the Canadian Rockies. You will see ancient glaciers, gorgeous lakes, and many waterfalls. You will also see wildlife like bighorn sheep and other mammals scattered through a unique and beautiful larch forest.
If you have the time, hike or snowshoe (depending on the time of year) to Skoki Lodge, a structure built in 1930. You can stay the night in a log cabin before you hike out the next morning.
Take a Helicopter Tour
In Abraham lake, methane bubbles from various forms of plant life are frozen in the lake, and helicopter tours from December to April take hikers and snowshoe enthusiasts to the lake for a photo safari that will take your breath away. Called the Bubbles Tour, this is a very popular but worthwhile activity.
In addition, there are simple sightseeing tours, skiing tours in the winter, and fishing tours during summer months that offer some of the most spectacular views in the area, world-class recreation, and experienced and knowledgeable guides. No matter what your passion, you can find the type of helicopter tour you are looking for.
Fossil Digging
Dinosaur Provincial Park celebrates the fact that over 75 million years ago, the Canadian Badlands were roamed by 44 species of dinosaurs. You can go fossil digging here with an actual paleontologist, and there is fabulous camping along the Red Deer River. The park is about two and a half hours from Calgary, an easy drive.
Dog-sledding
Want to mush in the wild mountains of Alberta? You can take anything from a 30-minute dog sled tour to a 3-day trip filled with camping and of course Husky cuddles. Trips along the Continental Divide are especially popular. Some tours include fur-lined tents and gourmet meals cooked on the trail by some amazing chefs.
Underground Thermal Pools
At Cave and Basin National Historic Site you can take what is known as the Lantern Tour. This cave adventure takes you inside a watery cave where there are thermal pools often lit by the moonlight through a series of vents.
Known as the birthplace of Canada’s national parks, this is a must-see attraction enjoyed by ancient explorers, indigenous people, and now tourists.
The province of Alberta is vast and filled with some incredible attractions. There are a number of ways you can enjoy them, but you must add these things to your bucket list and experience them for yourself. Getting there is easy, the attractions are not too expensive, and you can camp to help with the budget while interspersing your stay with time in hotels.
Was this article helpful in planning your perfect Alberta trip? Let us know with a comment.
Sharing Your Experiences
While you are traveling, recording your experiences for sharing later on but also to jog your own memory is a must do. Besides photos, video and travel work very well together. Get a GoPro, use your smartphone, or get another good camera to record the amazing things you are doing.
The memories they will hold, and the ways they will remind you of your time in Alberta will make the additional effort as you travel well worth it. Keep a journal or a blog as well, and share these experiences with your friends and others who also share your love of travel and the outdoors.
Biking the Backcountry
One thing you cannot miss in Alberta is biking the backcountry. In the winter, fat tire biking is the way to go. The terrain varies to appeal to all levels and types of cyclists and features panoramic views, rivers, and lakes. Foothill rides throughout the area and trails around Banff are probably the most popular, yet are rarely overcrowded.
The Calgary Stampede
A 10-day long festival, the Calgary Stampede offers literally hundreds of pancake breakfasts, concerts, cultural events, shows and rides along a midway, and a world-class rodeo. There are chuckwagon races and dozens of other types of events that appeal to the whole family.
Even if you are not a fan of large crowds, this event is one you should experience at least once in your lifetime.
Icefields Parkway
This drive follows 144 miles of two-lane road that winds through the Canadian Rockies. You will see ancient glaciers, gorgeous lakes, and many waterfalls. You will also see wildlife like bighorn sheep and other mammals scattered through a unique and beautiful larch forest.
If you have the time, hike or snowshoe (depending on the time of year) to Skoki Lodge, a structure built in 1930. You can stay the night in a log cabin before you hike out the next morning.
Take a Helicopter Tour
In addition, there are simple sightseeing tours, skiing tours in the winter, and fishing tours during summer months that offer some of the most spectacular views in the area, world-class recreation, and experienced and knowledgeable guides. No matter what your passion, you can find the type of helicopter tour you are looking for.
Fossil Digging
Dinosaur Provincial Park celebrates the fact that over 75 million years ago, the Canadian Badlands were roamed by 44 species of dinosaurs. You can go fossil digging here with an actual paleontologist, and there is fabulous camping along the Red Deer River. The park is about two and a half hours from Calgary, an easy drive.
Dog-sledding
Want to mush in the wild mountains of Alberta? You can take anything from a 30-minute dog sled tour to a 3-day trip filled with camping and of course Husky cuddles. Trips along the Continental Divide are especially popular. Some tours include fur-lined tents and gourmet meals cooked on the trail by some amazing chefs.
Underground Thermal Pools
At Cave and Basin National Historic Site you can take what is known as the Lantern Tour. This cave adventure takes you inside a watery cave where there are thermal pools often lit by the moonlight through a series of vents.
Known as the birthplace of Canada’s national parks, this is a must-see attraction enjoyed by ancient explorers, indigenous people, and now tourists.
The province of Alberta is vast and filled with some incredible attractions. There are a number of ways you can enjoy them, but you must add these things to your bucket list and experience them for yourself. Getting there is easy, the attractions are not too expensive, and you can camp to help with the budget while interspersing your stay with time in hotels.
Was this article helpful in planning your perfect Alberta trip? Let us know with a comment.
In any case, those who really want to make the most out of their travels might want to make sure that they actually have the right game plan in place. This means choosing their destination with as much consciousness and care as they would shop for clothes or look for the best place to stay.
So, to help you get the right start to your trip, here are some factors that you’ll want to take into consideration when choosing your destination.
1. Travel Style - The first thing that you’re going to want to consider when you are making travel plans is your travel style. Are you the kind of person who loves swimming in the ocean and sunbathing in white, sandy beaches? Or are you the type to climb mountains, hike through lush forests, and explore an untamed wilderness?
2. Feedback - Naturally, you’ll want to make sure that you take feedback of people you trust when choosing your destination. Read reviews, ask friends and family, and consult experienced travelers. The more information you have to work with, the better equipped you will be to make the right decisions.
What you want to get out of your travel will have a huge impact on how much or how little you will enjoy the trip. You shouldn’t force yourself to go to tropical destinations when you prefer to visit snowy locales. You might enjoy it, but not as much as you would if you actually went to a place that suits your travel style.
2. Feedback - Naturally, you’ll want to make sure that you take feedback of people you trust when choosing your destination. Read reviews, ask friends and family, and consult experienced travelers. The more information you have to work with, the better equipped you will be to make the right decisions.
3. Own Preference - If you have a dream destination in mind, as in a place that you have always wanted to visit for years, this should play a big role in shaping your decision on where you will travel to. As already noted, though, it’s not the only factor to take consideration.
The fact of the matter is that even if you really, really wanted to visit a certain city, province, state, or country, this doesn’t mean that it’s always a good idea. The other items mentioned here will need to be considered too, and if they all reflect well on your dream destination, that’s when you know you can go.
4. Budget - Speaking of factors that you really need to take into consideration, your budget might have the biggest role to play, depending on your financial situation. If you don’t have enough money to afford your destination, you won’t be going to your destination. Period.
Of course, you can always remedy the situation by actually saving up for it and cutting down on expenses.
Once you’ve saved up enough money to travel to your destination without compromising on certain amenities, you can go ahead and make your plans. This will ensure that once you actually get there, you can focus only on enjoying the experience.
5. Climate Conditions - Finally, the weather and climate conditions of a destination is going to affect your experience significantly. If you don’t like rainy days, you might want to steer clear of tropical regions during monsoon season.
Planning the perfect "dream trip" can be difficult at any point in life, But I can assure it is always worth it. If not for the trip itself, then for the adventure it is to plan such a trip.
Do you have any other tips for choosing your own perfect travel destination? Let me know in the comments.
Of course that means that we want to join them!
There are quite a few great reasons we want to visit Iceland but here are the big ones that have us Googling flight schedules and pricing accommodation in the middle of the night.
- The spectacular Blue Lagoon. OK, so this is top of everyone’s list and maybe a little predictable. But what would a trip to Iceland be without a chance to bathe in this iconic location? Why shouldn’t we yearn for selfies like everyone else has? If you’re traveling light and don’t have a towel with you, don’t panic. You can get everything you need (right down to a bathrobe) when you get there. Astonishingly the Blue Lagoon is close to the airport and perfect for the last pit stop as you’re leaving the country. A relaxing few hours spent in the creamy waters would be a fitting last memory of a country like Iceland. Remember to book ahead of time so you don’t miss out.
- The knowledge that we can still do our own thing. When in Iceland self drive tours are a definite possibility. We like to be quite independent and get off the beaten track so knowing we can explore at our own pace and see the sights on our own terms is very attractive.
- A chance to see the Northern Lights. In winter there’s a very real possibility that we’d be able to see the Northern Lights from Iceland. That would be another item ticked off the bucket list for many people.
- Short whale watching tours. If you’ve ever been on a whale watching tour in Australia that went for the entire day you’ll understand why a short tour is appealing to us. To be able to go out on the water for a couple of hours to see whales would be a fabulous privilege. Knowing there was still some day left to do other exploring would be even better.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of all the fun things there seem to be to do in Iceland. But we don’t want to totally spoil it for you if you’re planning on visiting. Especially since we all know that part of the fun of a well anticipated trip is the planning and researching stages. Digging up interesting facts about the latest country you’re about to visit is an enjoyable pastime and leads to some excellent holiday memories. Finding that secret corner that no one else has visited is especially exciting.
If Iceland is on your list of places to visit don’t hesitate to get out there and explore every part of it you can. It won’t be long and you’ll be creating your own buzz about your favorite parts of Iceland.
If Iceland is on your list of places to visit don’t hesitate to get out there and explore every part of it you can. It won’t be long and you’ll be creating your own buzz about your favorite parts of Iceland.
Have you been to Iceland? What would you add to the list?
One of my greatest summer memories growing up was going to the racetrack with my family for the
horse races. We would get up early in the morning and dress in our Sunday best (there is a dress code
for the clubhouse seating) before piling in the car for the 3-hour country drive to the track.
A festival feel greets you immediately at the front gate with a live jazz band on the lawn. Before long
handicappers attempt to sell you their programs for the day’s races and you are glad they do. It almost
makes you feel prepared after reading the horse, jockey, and trainer statistics prior to placing bets.
But a day at the races is not merely about placing a wager or two. The entire spectacle is an incredible
experience. The intensity of competition is alive from the stables to the turf; from the grandstand to the finish-line executive boxes. There is hardly another comparable feeling to the ripple of electricity of cheering your steed to victory as the horses charge down the stretch. It is an unmatched visceral thrill even if you bet only $2 on the race.
Simply put, a day at the races is one of the most enjoyable ways to spend a summer day. But since most of us do not live close to a storied race track, we must travel to these courses for a holiday whether it is a day trip like I used to take as a kid or as a full vacation.
So if you want the ultimate experience in horse racing, you’ll have to visit these top four temples to the sport:
Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, England
The Ascot Racecourse located in the Berkshire village of Ascot in England offers amenities and luxury fit for kings and queens. The facility is frequently attended by the British Royals especially for its largest event - the Royal Ascot - which consists of 24 major races over four days in June. It’s extremely formal and all visitors must adhere to strict dress codes and will be set back a handsome fee just to attend.
Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky
This legendary facility Churchill Downs is the home of the world’s most famous race: the Kentucky Derby in the first week of May. It is the first leg of the Triple Crown races in the United States. The stadium holds up to 120,000 racing fans making the down-the-stretch thunder louder than any other horse track.
Grab a fancy hat (be sure to follow the other dress code too) and plan to drink a mint julep at next year’sDerby.
Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, UAE
No expense has been spared in the design and daily operation of the Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.
Major musicians play during the race season, particularly during big races. Luxury hotels and other amenities are nearby to complete the experience of enjoying the races while exploring one of the most modern cities in the world.
Saratoga Racecourse in Saratoga, New York
Saratoga is the historic course I grew up going to every summer. We were fortunate to live close enough (in Connecticut) to enjoy one of the most classy sporting arenas in one of the cutest small towns in the world. It is considered the oldest active sporting venue in America. With a small capacity of 50,000,there are no bad places to watch the races at Saratoga racecourse.
If you like sports, horses, betting and nice summer days; these stunning facilities are an amazing way to spend a day or two at. Be sure to add them to your travel bucket list. Who knows? You may win the cost of your vacation on that long shot!
horse races. We would get up early in the morning and dress in our Sunday best (there is a dress code
for the clubhouse seating) before piling in the car for the 3-hour country drive to the track.
A festival feel greets you immediately at the front gate with a live jazz band on the lawn. Before long
handicappers attempt to sell you their programs for the day’s races and you are glad they do. It almost
makes you feel prepared after reading the horse, jockey, and trainer statistics prior to placing bets.
But a day at the races is not merely about placing a wager or two. The entire spectacle is an incredible
experience. The intensity of competition is alive from the stables to the turf; from the grandstand to the finish-line executive boxes. There is hardly another comparable feeling to the ripple of electricity of cheering your steed to victory as the horses charge down the stretch. It is an unmatched visceral thrill even if you bet only $2 on the race.
Simply put, a day at the races is one of the most enjoyable ways to spend a summer day. But since most of us do not live close to a storied race track, we must travel to these courses for a holiday whether it is a day trip like I used to take as a kid or as a full vacation.
So if you want the ultimate experience in horse racing, you’ll have to visit these top four temples to the sport:
Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, England
The Ascot Racecourse located in the Berkshire village of Ascot in England offers amenities and luxury fit for kings and queens. The facility is frequently attended by the British Royals especially for its largest event - the Royal Ascot - which consists of 24 major races over four days in June. It’s extremely formal and all visitors must adhere to strict dress codes and will be set back a handsome fee just to attend.
Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky
This legendary facility Churchill Downs is the home of the world’s most famous race: the Kentucky Derby in the first week of May. It is the first leg of the Triple Crown races in the United States. The stadium holds up to 120,000 racing fans making the down-the-stretch thunder louder than any other horse track.
Grab a fancy hat (be sure to follow the other dress code too) and plan to drink a mint julep at next year’sDerby.
Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, UAE
No expense has been spared in the design and daily operation of the Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.
Major musicians play during the race season, particularly during big races. Luxury hotels and other amenities are nearby to complete the experience of enjoying the races while exploring one of the most modern cities in the world.
Saratoga Racecourse in Saratoga, New York
Saratoga is the historic course I grew up going to every summer. We were fortunate to live close enough (in Connecticut) to enjoy one of the most classy sporting arenas in one of the cutest small towns in the world. It is considered the oldest active sporting venue in America. With a small capacity of 50,000,there are no bad places to watch the races at Saratoga racecourse.
If you like sports, horses, betting and nice summer days; these stunning facilities are an amazing way to spend a day or two at. Be sure to add them to your travel bucket list. Who knows? You may win the cost of your vacation on that long shot!