Category Archives: Unique Places

5 Underrated Vacation Destinations

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Everyone loves going on vacation and most people usually travel to the same destinations every year, or else they choose different places to go but usually these are always popular tourist destinations. There are so many amazing vacation getaways that many people do not know of, and if they do they may have never thought of them as being a nice vacation hotspot. Since there are so many underrated destinations we cannot list them all so we are going to cover 5 of them with a small description and some videos that may make you want to travel there on your next getaway.

Western South Dakota/Black Hills Country

This area of the United States is very well known, and it gets its fair share of tourists but it is still one of the more underrated destinations for vacationing. In the Black Hills country you can see some amazing landscapes as well as some other amazing things such as Mt. Rushmore. There is plenty of history to discover throughout the area as well since this area has a well known town called Deadwood, which even has a show based on the towns history. Some of the other major attractions that may be for you include some extraordinary fishing, camping, hiking and mountain biking.

Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is a historic island nation in the Caribbean, whose national heritage reaches back over 500 years. This rich and metropolitan nation has over 800 miles of coastline, with white sandy beaches, diving attractions, and access to unspoiled nature with a caribbean rental. Two popular destinations in the Dominican Republic are Cabrera and Casa De Campo. Cabrera is an unspoiled paradise, home to a national park reserve, which is rarely visited by tourists. Casa De Campo is a resort town on the southern coast of the island, which features amenities like challenging golf and luxurious, private oceanfront villas in Dominican Republic.

Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada

The Valley of Fire State Park is the oldest state park in Nevada and it was made a State Park in 1935, and it is only about an hour from Las Vegas. The largest attraction in the park is the huge rock formations that were made thousands of years ago from shifting sand dunes. There is a visitor center there which can help you learn the history of the park and can also help you discover some of the adventures that can be found there. Lake Mead is also located in this area and archeological buffs will be amazed by the petroglyphs that are located throughout the park.

Santander Region, Colombia

One of the most beautiful regions in South America is the Santander Region in the Northeast part of Colombia. The beaches and landscapes of the area are covered in white sand which makes for a beautiful view throughout the region. There are many things to do in the area and you will encounter other tourists, just not as many as some of the more popular getaways in South America. The capital city of Bucaramanga is referred to as “The Beautiful City” and one of the amazing natural wonders you can see while there is the Chicamocha river canyon, where you can ride one of the longest cable car systems in the world and see breathtaking scenery.

Chacala, Nayarit, Mexico

Chacala is not nearly as popular as Mexico’s tourist hot spots such as Acapulco, in fact Chacala is just a small fishing village about 60 miles north of Puerto Vallarta in the Mexican Riviera region. The people that do travel to Chacala consider it one of the unknown secrets of Mexico. It is an amazing and tropical destination where you can see all kinds of wildlife and there are all kinds of jungle trails to hike and nice quiet white sandy beaches to roam to make for a romantic and relaxing escape. Find Beach Front Villas for rent in Mexico.

5 of the Most Beautiful Beaches in the World

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Jose Ignacio, Uruguay

Jose Ignacio is an old fishing village in Uruguay that has now become a popular tourist destination. The beach is very beautiful and relaxing and there are plenty of fun things to do, including many water sports, fishing, horseback riding along the beach and some of the best seafood restaurants in the world. There are also many fun nighttime activities on the beach with all kinds of fun music and dance. You may even be surprised and see a celebrity while on vacation there, as it has become a hot bed for famous vacationers because of the breathtaking beauty.

Currimundi Lake, Queensland, Australia

Currimundi Beach is located on the sunshine coast of Australia and is famous for its amazing surfing and fishing. It is a must visit for anyone travelling to the area that enjoys beautiful beaches and fun in the water. Currimundi Lake is what the area is mostly known for, but there are many other exciting things to do that are close to the famed saltwater lake.

Pink Sands Beach, Harbour Island, the Bahamas

Pink Sands Beach is located on Harbour Island, which is one of the less known islands in the Bahamas. It is still popular among tourists, just not as commercial and busy as the larger islands that are always very busy with casinos and many other tourist traps. If you are looking for a laid back vacation with a beautiful beach then Harbour Island and the Pink Sands Beach is probably perfect for you. Find Beach Houses for rent in the Bahamas.

Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Bora Bora is home to another beautiful beach and is another popular getaway for many tourists because of this. The island itself is very secluded and relies heavily on tourism to sustain. Given how beautiful the island is they have no problems attracting thousands and thousands of visitors from around the world year round. If you are a fan of snorkeling or scuba diving then you will definitely want to consider Bora Bora since the lagoon there is one of the best places in the world for these activities.

Anse Source D’Argent, French Polynesia, Seychelles

Anse Source D’Argent is considered by many to be the most beautiful beach in the world. The beach has beautiful pink sands and huge granite boulders arranged naturally around the beach, and these do nothing but enhance the beauty of the beach. These boulders are shaped by the weather over many many years and they have some very unique and interesting shapes and curves. The beach is surrounded by reefs, so there is great snorkeling and scuba diving here as well, and the beach is also one of the most photographed beaches in the world because of it’s beauty. It is a popular tourist island but it is not as commercial as many other well known beach getaways, and it is not loaded with huge hotels and casinos like many other islands that are similar.

Top 5 Popular Water Sports for Adrenaline Junkies

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Anyone who loves the water knows there are many fantastic water sports, ranging from the peaceful escape of fishing to the rush of water skiing, but true adrenalin junkies have taken these sports to the extreme.  Here are five of the most popular water sports, and their extreme counterpart:

Fishing:
Fishing is easily one of the most popular of all water sports, a great way to relax with a great sense of accomplishment when you reel in the “big catch.” It is also one of the least expensive water sports, as anyone can fish for the cost of a fishing license, a fishing rod and a few other essentials such as bait. You can fish from the banks of a river, from a pier, or from a boat.

Those looking for a rush and the thrill of the fight, however,  should look into deep sea fishing.  In order to battle with the seas largest beasts, you must head hours away from shore where you’ll find sharks and giant marlin.  Just watch the video:

Water Skiing/Wake Boarding:
There is no adrenaline rush like putting on some water skis and holding on tight to the ropes streaming from the back of a motor boat – hitting the waves at speeds surfers could only dream of. You can enjoy the fresh air as it hits you head-on and blows past your ears. Water skiing is not to be missed if you love water sports at their most exciting.

In the past 10 years or so, tow sports has been invaded by another extreme: wake boarding.  The snowboard equivalent of water skiing, you’re strapped into a single board (feet sideways) as you glide over the water.  Huge aerials and insane tricks are this extreme sports mantra.

Boating:
Boating is a huge category of water sports and includes many of the most popular water sports. Some people enjoy kayaking, canoeing, or white water rafting, while others enjoy sailing or fishing from a boat. Some prefer the adrenaline rush and noise of a motorboat or personal watercraft, while others prefer to enjoy the fresh air floating along on a sailboat or a luxurious yacht.

Adrenalin junkies can find a variety of ways to get their kicks on boats.  White water rafting, and speed boat racing are probably the most obvious.  But if you’ve never seen what true sailors endure, you’ll see there’s something much more thrilling out there.  This is Yacht Racing:

Swimming and Diving:
Swimming is some of the best exercise available, from swimming at a local pool to swimming in the ocean or in a lake. Some people, however, prefer to see what is under the waves, and engage in such activities as snorkeling and scuba diving. While precautions must be taken with these (as with any water sport), there is no better way to see the sea in all its glory.

Cliff divers are a strange bunch.  If you’ve ever met someone who enjoys this extreme sport (the real 100+ foot cliffs…not the wimpy 30 foot ones) you’ll probably notice there’s something a bit off about them…probably because they enjoy doing things like this:

Surfing:
Surfing is another great water sport for adrenaline lovers, letting you ride the waves and sometimes fall into them. Some also engage in windsurfing, using a sail to ride across the surface of the water at incredible speeds.

Surfing is great and all, but most people who jump out to catch waves don’t have what it takes to be a big wave surfer. The following video is one of the best…ever:

Guest post provided by Pediro.com, a sporting goods directory and resource for all sports enthusiasts.

5 of the World’s Most Amazing & Adventurous Accommodations

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Giraffe Manor:
For the animal lover it doesn’t get much better than Giraffe Manor in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.  The luxury boutique hotel is surrounded by 140 acres of land where the  ”resident herd” of giraffes call home.  These friendly giants feel so welcome at the Manor that they routinely peek their heads through windows and the front door to get fed, pose for pictures and say hi to guests and staff. Giraffe Manor also has well appointed rooms, a friendly staff and a renowned kitchen.

Explorer Overland Hotel:
If you are the kind of traveler that enjoys being on-the-go, the Exploranter Overland Hotel is the perfect hotel for you.  This hotel on wheels, a converted 25-ton truck  that pulls behind it a trailer that can sleep 24 guests comfortably, while it tours the back country of Brazil, Argentina and Chile, stopping at pre-arranged or customized locations.  The hotel has everything you could possibly need to accommodate you and your travel companions…including bringing on chefs from different stops along your journey to prepare local specialties .  And if there is something you want that can’t fit on the truck – er hotel – the Overland Hotel staff can help make it happen for you.  Everything from spelunking and horseback riding, to winery tours and hot air balloon rides and more can be arranged.

Kakslauttanen Glass Igloo

Kakslauttanen Glass Igloo

Kakslauttanen:
The hotel is located near the Urho Kekkonen National Park in Lapland, the most northern part of Scandinavia spreading to the area of the four different countries: Finland, Russia, Norway and Sweden.  Lapland’s extreme climate is what makes a stay at the Kakslauttanen so unique…that and the opportunity to stay in a snow or glass igloo!  The snow igloos have lights inside ice that, when illuminated, create a quiet, serene setting for a cozy night tucked warm into a down sleeping bag.  The glass igloos stay as warm as a regular room, yet give guests the unique opportunity to look up at the Aurora Borealis (August – April) or stay warm inside while watching a romantic snowstorm fall around you.  After staying in either of the igloos, guests are welcome to enjoy the sauna in the morning, followed by a dip in a hole in the ice covering a nearby river – talk about a jump-start to your day!

Huilo Huilo Magic Mountain Lodge:
Nestled in the Huilo Huilo Nature Reserve in Southern Chile, the Magic Mountain Lodge was designed to exist harmoniously in the Patagonian Andes mountain setting and constructed using indigenous materials and other items made by local artisans.  The lodges unique architecture is set around 55 rooms located on 7 floors, each of which has a window that peeks out of the “mountain” lodge and overlooks the forested surroundings.  Nature enthusiasts will enjoy the valleys and mountain ranges covered by the Temperate Rainforest that are a part of an ecosystem that conservationists are trying to preserve.  A variety of outdoor activities and excursions are available, including a hikes to a local volcano, waterfall or through the rainforest where you can observe wildlife.

Kolarbyn Eco-Lodge:
Looking for an overnight experience that falls somewhere between camping and staying in a hostel?   The Kolarbyn Eco-Lodge, billed as Sweden’s most primitive hotel, has forest huts and advertises such swanky accommodations as, “two hard beds,” “cosy sheep-skin rugs,” “primitive kitchen facilities,” and “cord of wood for self-cutting” that you can then use in the hut’s “wood heater.”  If you can get past the fact that you’ll be paying to fetch your own water from a nearby spring, the Kolarbyn does have some cool wildlife safari’s; sign up for the Wolf Howling Tour, Wolf Safari by Horse, Moose Safari, Lynx Adventure, or the Beaver Watching Tour.

5 of the Most Haunted US Cities to Visit

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The US has many very famous haunted cities; some of them are among the most haunted cities in the world. If you believe in haunting and spirits then you can easily understand why we would have so many haunted places since we are an old country that has seen many battles and tragedies through the years. There are literally hundreds of lists that can be found online that cover these haunted cities, and many of the ones listed here will be found among these. This is a short list of 5 extremely haunted cities that are also great places to visit for a vacation, even if a couple you might only want to visit in the warmer seasons.

St Augustine, FL
St. Augustine is a beautiful city to visit and explore since it is full of all kinds of history, the city is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the United States. St. Augustine was first occupied by Spanish settlers in 1565, and has been occupied ever since. The city is also the oldest port in the continental US, so you can only imagine some of the battles that took place in this city hundreds of years ago. That was a time when the city constantly had to defend itself against many attacks, especially from invaders like pirates and others trying to claim the land for themselves.

Salem, MA
Massachusetts is a beautiful State and is home to the city of Salem, which is known worldwide for the Salem Witch Trials and hangings that took place there in the latter part of the 17th Century. The first 2 accused girls were actually the daughter and niece of the local preacher, this turned into a mass hysteria for the village and in the end approximately 24 people were put to death because they were accused of witchcraft. Most of them were hung at Gallows Hill in Salem Town, the rest were locked away and died in prison. There is a lot more haunting Salem than just to victims of the witch trials, and it is a place anyone into the paranormal needs to visit.

Gettysburg, PA
Gettysburg is another town that is considered one of the most haunted in the world, and another place where you could easily understand the haunting because of all the hard fought military battles that took place there during the Civil War. Some of the bloodiest battles took place here and many soldiers died for their bravery, it is estimated that around 50 thousand people lost their lives over a 3 day period. The Battle of Gettysburg is well known between the Confederate troops under General Robert E. Lee and the Union troops under General George Meade. The battle took place at an area called Devils Den, and this is the exact place where the most paranormal activity has been witnessed, but the rest of the town has its fair share of haunting also.

Savannah, GA
Savannah, Georgia is a beautiful city that is right in the heart of the Southeast US; it is also an old city with a lot of history. Since it is such an old city and has such a long and storied history it is another city you can almost assume is haunted if you are a believer in the supernatural, many that do believe consider Savannah to be the most haunted city in the States. Savannah has a very beautiful historic district, and this is where most paranormal activity has been seen and heard by thousands of people. They say that pretty much every establishment in the historic district are haunted. The city, like many others thrives on this though, and many tourists take advantage of the ghost tours and even the haunted pub crawls they offer in Savannah.

New Orleans, LA
New Orleans is also said to be the most haunted city in America, much like many of the others in this list, but more people agree about New Orleans than any other city. There is almost something in the air while in New Orleans that just gives you that creepy, eerie feeling that is hard to explain. The cemeteries in New Orleans all have an extra creepy feeling when you see them and the architecture you will see in the cemeteries just help to contribute to the eerie feeling. The city is also loaded with many haunted mansions, hotels, restaurants, bridges and many homes that are occupied to this day. Thousands of people have seen and heard things in the city on numerous occasions, and when you learn about some of the history in the city you will understand. The city has seen numerous tragedies over the hundreds of years it has been a city, and it was also well known for the Voodoo that has long been practiced there. New Orleans has a rich history and was also another favorite city of the pirates when they were looking for cities to raid and loot, so this also contributed to many gruesome deaths in the past. Another thing many people think of when they think of this great city are vampires, and the Vampire lore also comes from the Voodoo history in New Orleans.


Image Courtesy of PD Photo

3 of the Best Surfing Destinations in the World

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Surfing is an extremely popular water sport that is a favorite of many beach lovers worldwide, and there are many beaches around the world that cause hardcore surfers to salivate just thinking about having a chance to surf some of the best waves in the world. These 3 vacation hotspots are favorites for surfing and because of this they attract surfing enthusiasts from around the globe, and they are also home to some of the world best surfers and surfing competitions.

Australia’s Gold Coast

The Gold Coast is in the Queensland area of Australia and it is world reknowned for having the best beaches and the very best waves for surfing. Thousands and thousands of surfers vacation here every year just to get a chance to ride the waves of the Gold Coast. The Gold Coast City is loaded with beaches that are great for surfing, some of the most popular beaches for surfing are South Stradbroke Island, Mainbeach, The Spit, Surfers Paradise, Mermaid Beach and many more. Duranbah Beach is probably the most popular surfing hot spot worldwide and it is very close to the Queensland Gold Coast City, many people think it is actually part of the Gold Coast City but it is actually a short distance away in the town of Duranbah. The official name of the beach is actually Flagstaff Beach but it has unofficially been known as Duranbah for many years.

Oahu – Hawaii’s North Shore

Oahu is another extremely popular surfing destination, and Hawaii is actually where surfing was first invented by the Polynesian people over 500 years ago. There are many amazing beaches with great surfing waves throughout the Hawaiian Islands but Oahu is the best of the best for the big waves and plenty of surfers. The North Shore of Oahu is about 20 miles of gigantic waves that average 20-30 feet. The North Shore consists of many beaches along the 20 mile stretch of paradise, and the most popular beach on the stretch is called Ehukai Beach, or the “Banzai Pipeline” as it is known to surfers worldwide. The second most popular beach in the area is Waimea Beach, and this is the home of the world famous Quicksilver Eddie Aikau Invitational competition which takes place here every year because of the spectacular surfing conditions.

Jeffreys Bay, South Africa

Another famous surf destination that every surfer should know, Jeffreys Bay is another one of the Worlds very best surfing locations. Jeffreys Bay is located in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, which is about an hour southwest of Port Elizabeth. The area is home to many amazing beaches with names like the Super Tubes, the Boneyards, Magna Tubes, Point and Albatross as well as many others that are in the area. Jeffreys Bay is also well known for being the host of the annual Billabong Pro WCT surfing event, which takes place at Supertubes in Jeffreys Bay every July.

5 of the Strangest Places to Visit

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Most travelers are looking for new experiences, but what about the TRULY unusual?  For the adventurous travelers there are so many amazing places around the world that you can choose to see, some are man-made and others were formed by nature. The 5 places below are all natural and are (most definitely) some of the strangest places and/or biggest mysteries in the world. For hundreds of years scientists of all kinds have tried to uncover the mysteries of many of these places to no avail, and travelers seeking adventure have visited them to stare in amazement and take pictures of these odd places. Enjoy learning a little bit about some of the most out of this world places on Earth, and maybe you will even be inspired to visit one of them yourself someday.

The Devil’s Bath

This ominous looking pool is located in the thermal reserve of Wai-O-Tapu which is in The Bay of Plenty located in New Zealand. The Devil’s Bath is a pea shade of green and it is caused from many different mineral elements in the water. Devil’s Bath was created from heavy volcanic activity in the region and it is thought to date back approximately 160,000 years. Heated streams run underneath the landscape throughout the area and there are many other amazing sites to see along the way.

Vale da Lua (Moon Valley), Bolivia

The Vale da Lua, or Moon Valley is a place that will literally make you feel like you are on another planet, while walking around you may literally feel like an alien is gonna appear. These rock formations were caused by water erosion over many years and along with the terrestrial landscape there are also natural pools throughout. The rock formations seen are mostly quartz and crystaland they are among some of the oldest on Earth.

The Great Blue Hole, Belize

The Blue Hole in the ocean is just off the coast of Belize and this is one that is a great destination for brave scuba divers, and even on your way to Belize for vacation you may see the great Blue Hole as you fly over. I mentioned scuba above and this is one of the top destinations in the world for experienced scuba divers because of how deep the Great Blue Hole is and because it s full of many different caverns and hideaways. Scuba divers also get a close up view of the tropical fish and schools of sharks that inhabit the hole.

Nazca Lines

The Nazca lines are lines that were etched into the ground thousands of years ago by the Nazca people and they are located in the Nazca Desert of Peru. Many of these are just lines but there are also many that resemble people and animals, and they most likely had to do with the religious beliefs of the tribe. There have been many different theories about the lines though, including many about aliens. The Nazca lines definitely make for a great place to visit no matter who you are, and their wonders can be appreciated by all.

Socotra Island

Socotra Island is located in the Indian Ocean about 200 nautical miles off the coast of Africa. It is part of the Republic of Yemen but it is also one of the most isolated groups of inhabited islands in the world. Socotra Island is full of all types of otherworldly vegetation and almost half of the flora and fauna found on the island is only native to the islands. The islands are an amazing and strange place to visit and are a destination for people, especially those that love to se some of the most beautiful plant life in the world.